Break Time

The players went on a 15 minute break then the blind jumped up to $60,000-$120,000 with a $15,000 ante. The players won’t be able to sit on their hands for much longer and not hope to be blinded off.

Ium Wounded

Young Cho moved all in and Michael Ium went into the tank for about five minutes. The clock was then called and Ium finally made the call after making a small complaint about the clock request. Ium turned over A 9 and Cho showed down 8 4. The board was dealt Q J 2 8 6 and Cho paired his eight on the turn to double up through Ium. Ium was crippled after the hand.

Michael Ium Eliminated in Fourth Place ($164,319)

Michael Ium moved all in under the gun for $240,000, Young Cho called from the small blind, and Seth Weinger called from the big blind. The flop came J 9 8 and Cho checked. Weinger bet out and Cho mucked his hand. Weinger showed down J 8 and Ium flipped over J 5 for a pair of jacks. The turn and river brought 7 A and Ium was eliminated in fourth place. He took home $164,319 in prize money.

Young Cho – Table Captain

The table had finally picked up an aggressor. Young Cho was pushing around Seth Weinger and David Stucke like a school yard bully. Weinger kept whining about not picking up hands, three handed. He had now lost the chip lead to Cho.

Leader Board

Seat No. 3: David Stucke - $1,390,000
Seat No. 6: Young Cho - $3,025,000
Seat No. 8: Seth Weinger - $2,300,000

Seth Weinger Eliminated in Third Place ($246,478)

Seth Weinger raised from the small blind and David Stucke called from the big blind. The flop came 9 9 4 and Weinger bet $175,000. Stucke raised to $1,000,000 and Weinger went into the tank. He paused for a minute then moved all in. Stucke quickly called and turned over Q 5. Weinger showed down K 10. The turn and river brought the 6 and 4. Weinger was eliminated in third place by Stucke’s flush, and he took home $246,478.

Heads-Up Chip Counts

David Stucke: $5,610,000
Young Cho: $1,335,00

David Stucke Wins Event #27 ($603,069)

Young Cho had the button and he moved all in with J 3. Stucke quickly made the call with pocket sevens. The board was dealt Q 10 5 A 8 and Stucke won the hand. Cho was eliminated in second place and he took home $382,357. Stucke won the gold bracelet and took home $603,069 in prize money.

 

They’re Back

The players returned from their break and the blinds were kicked up to $30,000-$60,000 with a $5,000 ante. Here’s how the chip stacks looked as the restart of action:

Seat No. 3: David Stucke - $855,000
Seat No. 5: David Woo - $1,130,000
Seat No. 6: Young Cho - $875,000
Seat No. 8: Seth Weinger - $3,095,000
Seat No. 9: Michael Ium - $1,015,000

David Woo Eliminated in Fifth Place ($115,339)

David Woo moved all in with pocket jacks when he was informed by the bad news that Michael Ium held pocket aces. The board was dealt 4 4 2 K 2 and Woo was eliminated in fifth place. He took home $115,339 in prize money.

The Doldrums

Even with the higher blinds and antes action continued slowly and aggression went to the wayside. During the 20 hands after the break not too many chips went into the pot, and few moved from stack to stack. The blinds kicked up to $40,000-$80,000 with a $10,000 ante. Still, the Final Four players seemed content to muck their hands repeatedly. The chip leader, Seth Weinger, complained about not getting any cards at one point. This complaint came while play was four handed. We’ll see if anyone assumes the role of the aggressor anytime soon.

Leader Board

Seat No. 3: David Stucke - $1,125,000
Seat No. 6: Young Cho - $700,000
Seat No. 8: Seth Weinger - $3,240,000
Seat No. 9: Michael Ium - $1,850,000

Blinds Up

The next dozen hands went by unheralded and the blinds were then increased. They jumped up to $30,000-$60,000 with a $5,000 ante. This added $30,000 of dead money to each pot.

Score Board

Seat No. 2: Noam Freedman - $805,000
Seat No. 3: David Stucke - $995,000
Seat No. 5: David Woo - $1,350,000
Seat No. 6: Young Cho - $1,500,000
Seat No. 8: Seth Weinger - $1,525,000
Seat No. 9: Michael Ium - $760,000

Slow and Steady

Now that all the players who remained had a fair amount of chips action continued on slowly. The players were friendly and cordial with each other; they joked around and compared notes about the payout increases. Without a well-known professional presiding at the final table festivities an intimidating presence was absent. The table played into the evening much like a home game at a kitchen table.

Noam Freedman Eliminated in Sixth Place ($83,739)

Noam Freedman and Seth Weinger limp to a flop of 10 6 3. Freedman moved all in and Weinger went into the tank. He then stood up to think for a few minutes. Weinger finally called and flipped over Q 10, while Freedman showed down 10 8. The 7 fell on the turn and it was followed by the J on the river. Freedman was eliminated in sixth place and he took home $83,739 in prize money.

Break Time

The players then went on a 20 minute break.

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Thai Ton Eliminated in Ninth Place ($36,340)

Thai Ton moved all in for $220,000 and Seth Weinger called from late position. Wiegner flipped over K Q and Ton showed down A 6. The board was dealt 9 7 3 K 7. Ton was eliminated in ninth place and he took home $36,340.

Luis Sanchez Eliminated in Eighth Place ($47,400)

Louis Sanchez moved all in from the small blind and David Woo called from the big blind. Woo Flipped over A K, while Sanchez showed down J 7. The board was dealt A 10 2 A Q, and Woo won the pot with trip aces. Sanchez was eliminated in eighth place and he took home $47,400.

Break Time

After an eventful first set of hands the players went to a break while the yellow chips are raced off. The players then returned from break and the blinds were kicked up to $20,000-$40,000 with a $5,000 ante.

Double Down

Tom Dobrilovic moved all in and Young Cho called all in with pocket tens. Dobrilovic turned over pocket sevens. The board was dealt A J 5 8 J and Cho's pocket tens hold up to win the pot. Dobrilovic was crippled by the hand, and he was left with $15,000.

Tom Dobrilovic Eliminated in Seventh Place ($63,200)

Tom Dobrilovic moved all in under the gun and Young Cho, Seth Weinger, and Michael Ium called in succession. The flop was dealt A 4 4. Action was checked around to Cho, who bet. Weinger called and Ium folded. The turn card was the 8 and both players checked. The river brought the 3 and they checked again. Cho showed A 7 to and all the other players mucked, including Dobrilovic. He was eliminated in seventh place, and took home $63,200.

Leader Board

Seat No. 2: Noam Freedman - $1,145,000
Seat No. 3: David Stucke - $1,400,000
Seat No. 5: David Woo - $1,205,000
Seat No. 6: Young Cho - $1,095,000
Seat No. 8: Seth Weinger - $1,560,000
Seat No. 9: Michael Ium - $525,000

Thai Ton moved all in for $220,000 and Seth Weinger called from late position. Wienger flipped over K Q and Ton showed down A 6. The board was dealt 9 7 3 K 7. Ton was eliminated in ninth place and he took home $36,340.