The T.V. final table is set. The players get a reprieve to catch some Z's, but they will get back to the action tomorrow at 2 p.m with the ESPN cameras rolling. Here are the chip counts for the final nine:
Greg Raymer $613,000
Peter Lee $461,000
Minh Nguyen $375,000
David "Devil Fish" Ulliott $338,000
Steve Rassi $325,000
Mark Seif $305,000
James Carter $263,000
Webber Kang $166,000
Bill Gazes $181,000
Stay tuned to cardplayer.com for coverage of the final table as it unfolds.
Fri Jun 24 00:00:00 PDT 2005
Farzad Rouhani Eliminated in 10th Place ($30,555)
David "Devil Fish" Ulliott makes it $40,000 to go. Farzad Rouhani moves all in for another $58,000 in chips. Ulliott calls, and Rouhani shows Ac-Ks. Ulliott shows 10d-10s. We're racing, and the flop puts Ulliott way in the lead when it comes Jc-6s-4h. Rouhani still has two overcards, and a backdoor straight draw. The turn comes 2h, no help for Rouhani, and the river is the 7h. Ulliott's pocket pair of tens hangs on, and Rouhani is sent home in 10th place.
Thu Jun 23 23:40:00 PDT 2005
The Final Table is Set
Here are the players who made the final table, their seat numbers, and chip counts:
Greg Raymer $700,000 (Seat 9)
Peter Lee $359,000 (Seat 8)
Steve Rassi $350,000 (Seat 3)
James Carter $280,000 (Seat 5)
Mark Seif $273,000 (Seat 10)
Minh Nguyen $250,000 (Seat 1)
David "Devil Fish" Ulliott $200,000 (Seat 2)
Webber Kang $200,000 (Seat 4)
Bill Gazes $200,000 (Seat 6)
Farzad Rouhani $130,000 (Seat 7)
Thu Jun 23 23:34:00 PDT 2005
Markus Stronzinger Eliminated in 11th Place ($30,555)
From late position Markus Stronzinger pushes all in for his remaining $105,000. Steve Rassi goes into the tank for a long time, and then calls, after over five minutes. Stronzinger gets his hand caught in the cookie jar, flipping over J-4, while Rassi shows K-Q. When the flop comes K-K-10 Stronzinger's day is over. The turn and river actually give Stronzinger a running two pair, J-4, but as Bill Gazes puts it, "That's a needle, isn't it?" His two pair are no good, and he is sent home in 11th place.
Thu Jun 23 23:18:00 PDT 2005
Steve Rassi Doubles Up Through Markus Stronzinger
Steve Rassi and Markus Stronzinger are both all in preflop. Rassi has the Ac-7c, and Stronzinger has As-Qs. The flop comes 7h-3h-2d, and Rassi outdraws Stronzinger. Now Stronzinger will need queen to take the lead back in the hand. The turn is the Kc, and the river brings the 3s. Rassi's seven holds on, and he doubles his stack. After the hand was over, Rassi commented that he had gone down from $250,000 to $100,000 just from getting blinded and anted off. Now that's a frozen run of cards.
Thu Jun 23 22:55:00 PDT 2005
David Slowik Eliminated in 12th Place ($30,555)
David Slowik limps, and Minh Nguyen moves all in. Slowik calls. Nguyen shows pocket aces, and Slowik shows 7d-6d. The flop comes Ks-10s-9h. The turn is the Qs, and the river is the Jd. Nguyen makes the broadway straight, although his aces were good enough by themselves. Slowik is sent to the rail after taking a one two punch from a duo of top pros.
Thu Jun 23 22:53:00 PDT 2005
Blinds Increase
The blinds are now $6,000-$12,000 with a $2,000 ante.
Thu Jun 23 22:13:00 PDT 2005
"I'm either a genius or a moron with that call" - Greg Raymer
Greg Raymer makes it $22,000 to go preflop. David Slowik calls. The flop comes 10h-8s-6s. Slowik checks, and Raymer makes it $35,000. Slowik thinks for a moment, and then moves all in for about $190,000. Raymer goes into the tank, occasionally coming up to chat with Slowik, or more aptly chat at him. Slowik doesn't move, and Raymer inspects him for a while before announcing, "call." Slowik shows Qc-9c for no pair, and a double gutshot straight draw. Raymer flips up the 7c-6c, for a pair of 6's, and a gutshot. The turn brings the Kd, and Raymer's sixes are hanging on tight. The river is the 2h, and Raymer's sixes hold up, prompting a number of "What a call"'s from the crowd. Raymer wins the hand, and now has approximately $500,000 in chips. Slowik had Raymer covered so he retains a very short stack.
Thu Jun 23 22:09:00 PDT 2005
Richard Sharpe Eliminated in 13th Place ($30,555)
Greg Raymer raises, and Richard Sharpe moves all in over the top for $87,000. Raymer calls almost instantly, and Sharpe shows Ac-Kc. Raymer shows 10h-10s. Classic race as we head to the flop. The flop comes Ad-2s-3c, and Raymer falls way behind. The turn is the Jh, and Raymer is down to his last two outs. He needs a 10 and a 10 only for the win. Must be the mojo of a world champion because the 10d spikes on the river. Raymer hits his set, and sends Richard Sharpe home in 13th place.
Thu Jun 23 22:02:00 PDT 2005
Approximate Chip Counts
Here are the approximate chip counts for the 13 remaining players:
Table 136
Richard Sharpe $125,000
Peter Lee $190,000
Farzad Rouhani $105,000
Mark Seif $420,000
Greg Raymer $290,000
Minh Nguyen $240,000
Table 125
James Carter $230,000
Bill Gazes $98,000
Markus Stronzinger $330,000
Steve Rassi $255,000
Webber Kang $133,000
David "Devil Fish" Ulliott $220,000
David Slowik $210,000