Play ended Saturday night 10 minutes into Level 18 of the $1,500 Limit Hold'em Tournament with the blinds at 3000/6000. World Series of Poker officials had earlier decided, due to the nature of limit stakes that had the potential to stretch play long into the morning, that play would be suspended for the day at either 3 a.m. or when the field was trimmed to 18 players.

That mark was reached at about 2:40 a.m.

Vinny Vinh is the unofficial chip leader with 335,000 in chips, while other players over the 200,000 plateau include Erick Lindgren at 244,000, Brendan Taylor at 240,000, and Ali Eslami at 208,000. One-time chip leader Steve Shkolnik sits at 199,000.

Average stack is 146,667.

Play resumes today at 3 p.m., and the schedule will conclude with final table play when it becomes necessary.

Eliminations: Roy Thung, Dean Oshiro, Gary Bogdanski, Mitchell Mantin, Kevin Marcotte.







 

Players enjoyed a 20-minute break before returning to find blinds have moved from 2000/4000 to 3000/5000.

Blinds: 3000/5000

Players Left: 24 of 880

Chip Leaders:

Vinny Vinh - 220,000
Joseph Sanders - 204,000
Chung Law - 200,000
Jimmy Schultz - 195,000
Steve Shkolnik - 180,000
Markus Gloser - 165,000
Duc Nguyen - 143,000
Erick Lindgren - 142,000
Ali Eslami - 120,000

Eliminations: David Bergerson, Frank Cremen, John Burnard, Stuart Elkin, Shayne Matyjas, Alexander Laidlaw, Terrence Chan.

Big Hands:

Chan Crippled, Then Eliminated

Terrence Chan was in the big blind and called a preflop raise from Zac Fellows. On a board of AJ7, Chan checked, then put in a raise when Fellows bet. The 3 was the turn card, Chan checked and then called. The 10 came on the river, and both players committed another 10,000 to the pot. Fellows showed A3 for two pair and Chan was whittled down to 20,000 in chips. He was later eliminated by Vinny Vinh, when on a board of A-A-Q-Q-4, Vinh's king-high was enough to take the pot.

Eslami Wins With Cowboys

After Jim Schultz raised to 10,000, Steve Shkolnik went to 15,000 and Ali Eslami raised again to 20,000 from the button. The flop came 875 and all three players checked. The 4 on the turn created even more possibilities, and after two checks Eslami bet 10,000 and was called by Schultz. The K hit the river, there was a bet and call, and Eslami showed the KK for top set.

Sanders Straightens Up

Joseph Sanders put in a reraise to 15,000 and was called by Brendan Taylor. The flop came Q109, and when the 4 hit the turn, Sanders bet, Taylor raised, Sanders three-bet and got a call. After the 8 on the river, Sanders check-called and showed the KJ for the nut straight.

Beral Hits Set

Player under the gun raised to 8000, Steve Shkolnik reraised from the cut-off to 12, and Arash Beral called from the button. The flop came 1082, Shkolnik bet and Beral was the lone caller. The 3 was the turn card and action was repeated. The Q was the river card and action repeated again, before Beral flipped over QQ for a spiked set on the river.

 

Blinds: 2000/4000

Players Left: 31 of 880

Chip Leaders:

Steve Shkolnik - 191,000
Vinny Vinh - 185,000
Erick Lindgren - 180,000
Steve Foutty - 165,000
Zac Fellows - 129,000
Chung Law - 114,000
Ali Eslami - 107,000
Frank Cremen - 103,000
Eric Pratt - 100,000
John Burnard - 92,000

Eliminations: Robert Przygoda, Jonathan Frutkin

Big Hands:

Top Set Got the Help Bottom Set Needed

It was a tough way to get bounced from the tournament, but Robert Przygoda didn't have much choice. After a pre-flop raise, Przygoda and Zac Fellows saw a flop of J74.  Betting continued, and when the 5 came on the turn, both players proceeded to raise and reraise until Przygoda was all-in. Fellows turned over JJ for top set while Przygoda held 44 for bottom set. Przygoda was still alive thanks to the flush draw, but the J on the river gave Fellows quads and sent Przygoda out in 32nd place.

Lucky Sevens -- Once

Just after blinds increased to 2000/4000, Terrence Chen raised from early position and Zac Fellows made the call from the big blind. The flop came K74. Fellows checked, then put in a raise to Chen's bet. The 10 on the turn brought Fellows out betting, and Chen called. The 7 on the river brought the same action and Fellows turned over 75, having flopped middle pair, turned the flush draw, then spiking trips.

Lucky Sevens -- Twice

Steve Shkolnik raised from the button, was reraised by Gary Bogdanski, then raised again. The flop came 777. Shkolnik bet when action was checked to him, and the 4 hit the turn. The same action greeted the 9 on the river, before Shkolnik flipped over AA for the flopped fullhouse.

Ace-King No Good

Jim Schultz called from the cut-off and Fellows raised from the button, drawing a call from the small blind and Schultz. The flop came 832, and Fellows was called by Schultz for 4000. The Q on the turn was checked, as was the Q on the river, and Schultz showed 108 for two pair. Fellows mucked AK.

Bergerson Saved By River

David Bergerson was seemingly headed home, all-in on a board that began Q96, followed by the 10 on the turn. But the A on the river hit Bergerson's AK to keep him alive.

Jonathan Frutkin was eliminated in 33rd place when his queen-10 fell to the queen-jack of Ali Esbumi after a board of 10-7-5-4-4.


 

Blinds: 1500/3000

Players Left: 37 of 880

Average Stack: 71,381

Chip Leaders:

Steve Shkolnik - 177,000
Zac Fellows - 108,000
Steve Foutty - 125,000
Markus Golser - 124,000
Ali Eslami - 117,000
Erick Lindgren - 117,000
Chung Law - 115,000
Frank Cremen - 104,000
Eric Pratt - 103,000
Rob Przygoda - 100,000

Eliminations: Marco Traniello, Anna Wroblewski, Dewey Tomko, Tom Schneider.

Big Hands:

Shkolnik Sets the Pace

Steve Shkolnik has enjoyed a comfortable cushion atop the chip count for the last couple of levels and continues to add to his total. Playing from the small blind, Shkolnik and Arash Beral in the big blind both called a raise from Erick Lindgren on the button. The flop came down K94, and both blinds checked to Lindgren who bet 3000. Both blinds called to see the 8 hit the turn. This time all three players checked. When the J hit the river, Shkolnik used his position to bet out. Beral quickly folded while Lindgren was reluctant, but eventually released his hand.

Fellows Takes on Early Leaders

Zac Fellows raised from the cut-off and was called by both Nadim Shabou in the small blind and Terrence Chan in the big blind. Both players had been among the leaders in Day 1, though  Shabou has fallen on hard times. The flop came 852, both blinds checked, and then called Fellows' 3000 bet. The 6 on the turn brought the same action, this time for 6000. The board paired with the 6 on the river, both blinds checked, and Fellows bet out. Shabou folded while Chan called, but mucked after Fellows showed 1010.

Lindgren Collects from Golser

Golser raised to 6000 from the cut-off and Lindgren reraised to 9000 from the button, getting both blinds to fold. The flop came K87, and after Golser checked, Lindgren bet 3000 and took the pot down, showing 1010.

Wolfe Still on the Prowl

Charlie Wolfe was all-in for his last 2000 and showed ace-seven offsuit. Seat 1 called with ace-queen, but the 7 on the flop kept Wolfe alive. He then doubled up again on the next hand.

Sjavik Can't Connect

Jan Sjavik was all-in with Q10 preflop, and called by a player holding KJ.  The flop of J-5-4 was bad news for Sjavik who was eliminated.

Canh Can't

Canh Phan was all-in pre-flop and showed K9. His lone caller held A4, and filled up on a board of JJ1044.



 

Note: Players have begun a 20-minute break that will begin once the 100 chips have been coloured up.

Blinds: 1000/2000

Players Left: 42 of 880

Big Hands:

Slight Stumble for Shabou

Nadim Shabou began the level as the unofficial chip leader, but suffered a minor hit. Michael Halford raised to 3000, seat 1 reraised to 4,500, and Shabou made the call from the big blind. The flop came down A54, Shabou checked and Halford checked, and after seat 1 led out Halford folded and Shabou made the call. The Q was the turn card and Shabou was able to get a check-raise in. The 7 fell on the turn and seat 1 was all-in for his final 2500. Shabou was committed to seeing the hand down and called, then mucked when seat 1 showed Q9.

Elkin Pushes Above Average

After a raise from the cut-off, Stuart Elkin called from the button and both saw the flop of 862. Both committed another 1500 to see the turn card of the 6. Cut-off checked, and Elkin won the pot with a bet to increase his chip count to 54,000.

Moore Out in 65th Place

With 6000 in the pot, the flop came down KJ5. Alex Moore moved all-in for his final 2500 and was in a heads-up contest with Zac Fellows, one of the current chip leaders.  Moore showed 56 for bottom pair while Fellows tabled the A10 for the flush draw with overcards. After a miss with the K on the turn, the 9 river finished Fellows' flush and sent Moore packing.

Foutty Wins Big Pot

Steve Foutty won about a 35,000 pot when his pocket aces held up against an opponent's pocket 10s. Betting was active as the board came down nine-high.

Crane Makes Hand Stand Up

Ward Crane raised from the cut-off and drew a reraise from Jason Maeroff in the small blind. They saw a flop of Q105. The turn was the 4 and the river the Q, and Crane essentially doubled up as he only had 2000 in chips remaining before he showed 1010 for the full house.



 

Players have returned from their dinner break.

Blinds: 800/1500

Players Left: 81 of 880

Average Stack: 32,593

Chip Leaders:

Nadim Shabou - 90,000
Steve Shkolnick - 86,400
Christoph Niesert - 75,000
Gary Bogdanski - 74,600
John O'Brien - 74,300
Zachary Fellows - 74,000
Terrence Chan - 66,000
Rob Przygoda - 61,000
Steve Foutty - 57,200
Eric Crain - 51,000

Payouts for Event 12 have been released. They can be found at the link provided below:

www.cardplayer.com/tournaments/payout/14410

Blinds: 800/1500

Players Left: 81 of 880

Average Stack: 32,593

Big Hands:

Only one hand to speak of, as players were scheduled to go on a dinner break, but with the field on the bubble for the money, play continued until one further elimination was made. It took 15 minutes of extra time before a short-stack in the small blind was all-in blind for 600. There was a call from the cut-off and from the big blind. The flop came A-8-Q and action was checked. A jack hit on the turn and play was checked again. In the end, the cut-off held ace-deuce for top pair while the small blind had been dealt pocket fours.
Players are now on their dinner break.

 

Blinds: 600-1,200

Players Remaining: 87of 880

Average Chip Stack: 30,345

Chip Counts:

Nadim Shabou: 90,000
Steve Skolnick: 90,000
Rob Przygoda: 61,000
Christoph Niesert: 56,000
Eric Crain: 54,000
Eric Pratt: 53,000
John O'Brien: 51,000
Alex Laidlaw: 49,000
Jimmy Shultz: 48,500
Jon Wall: 48,000

Big Hands:

Um... Quads Are Good

The hand was raised back and forth between Victor Ramdin and his opponent. When the final raise was called, Ramdin turned over 66 - which was pretty good when combined with the A6565 board - giving him quads. Ramdin had around 37,500 at the end of the level.

Lindgren Keeps Steady

Erick Lindgren called his opponent's bet on every street and could only laugh when he saw that his opponent rivered him on a 10837A board, showing AK.
But a few hands later, on a board of K1063, it was Lindgren who rivered an opponent. He bet the turn and was called, and checked the 7 river. His opponent shook his head and flipped over only AJ for only an ace high, and Lindgren showed 74 for the pair and scooped the pot. Lindgren now has around 35,300.


 

Blinds: 500-1,000 (Moving up to 600-1,200)

Players Remaining: 102 of 880

Average Chip Stack: 25,882

Chip Counts:

Steve Skolnick: 85,000
Alex Laidlaw: 59,700
Eric Crain: 48,500
Jimmy Shultz: 48,500
Rob Przygoda: 48,000
John O'Brien: 46,700
Gary Bogdanski: 46,000
Christopher Neisert: 46,000
Paul Siem: 43,000
Tom Schneider: 42,600

Big Hands:

Tom Schneider Climbs Among Chip Leaders

On a AJ9 flop, Tom Schneider check-raised his opponent, who then called. Both players checked the K turn and Schneider bet the 3 river. When his opponent called he quickly mucked when Schneider showed AJ. Schneider's stack was healthy at the end of the level, with around 43,000.

The Friendly 10-9

VIctor Ramdin raised from the button to 2,000 preflop and was called by the player in seat 3. The boardcame Q10897 with betting after each street, and Ramdin turned over 1010 for the winning hand.
A few hands later, Ramdin again bet every street on a 96277 board and showed 109, splitting the pot with his opponent who had 109

Lindgren Fighting Through The Field

After calling a bet of 2,000 on the river on a board of 954510 board, Erick Lindgren mucked when he saw his opponent's 97.
A few hands later, Lindgren bet a Q837 board and his opponent folded. Lindgren ended the level with around 35,000.