Sunday, March 23, 2014

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts

Level 18 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average 233,000

Table 38:

  1. Kyle Bowker - 170,000
  2. Munho Choe - 103,000
  3. Joseph Ort - 290,000
  4. Terry Saad - 285,000
  5. James Sita - 300,000
  6. David Greenberg - 175,000
  7. Stephen Hesse - 180,000
Table 39:
  1. John Kostelak - 295,000
  2. Roland Israelashvili - 180,000
  3. Charles Welch - 430,000
  4. Giatautas Punitas - 225,000
  5. Kevin Elia - 360,000
  6. Venkata Emani - 202,000
  7. Cliff Goldkind - 94,000

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): 15th Place - Dinio ($5,591)

Level 18 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average 233,000

Arnold Dinio (Bowie, MD)
15th Place - $5,591

Charles Welch's run good continues as he shoves all-in (having Dinio well covered) on the turn of a board reading 2♣ 6♠ 8♣ 8:

Welch: J♣ 9♣          Dinio: K♠K♣

River: 5♣

Welch's only outs were clubs, and that's exactly what fell on the river, sending Dinio home the first player to collect money.  Arnold is a Maryland Live! regular who just landed his second best live score.  Charles Welch continues to pad his chip lead and now sits with 440,000.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Level Going Up

Level 18 has just started with the blinds going up to 2,500/5,000/500 (chip average is 218,000).  The average sits just over 40 big blinds, so there is still a ton a deep play left.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Sita Doubles Via Bowker

Level 17 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Players Remaining: 15
Chip Average 218,000

James Sita double once again, and now he has one of the top stacks in the room.  Sita's chips got all-in on the flop of J 9 4, and Bowker called:

Flop: J 9 4

Bowker: Q Q       Sita: J J

Turn: 8 

River: 9

James Sita - 350,000
Kyle Bowker - 210,000

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Israelashvili Doubles

Level 17 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Players Remaining: 15
Chip Average 218,000

Roland Israelashvili went from the chip leader with 25 left to the bottom tier with 17 remaining, and he is no back in the middle of the pack after doubling through Gintautas Putinas.  Roland's J 10 > 5 5 of Putinas (all-in pre), and he now is back to 170,000 (but still below chip average).  This level has five minutes remaining, and there will be two more full levels played before the end of the night.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Bubble Has Burst

Level 17 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Players Remaining: 15
Chip Average 218,000

The money bubble has burst as Kevin Elia knocks out Scott Blumenfeld.  Elia opened the pot for 12,000 and Scott three-bet shoved for just over 120,000.  Elia asked for a count, and before the dealer could cut the chip he announced a call:

Elia: 7 7         Blumenfeld: A 9

Flop: 5♠ 2 Q♣

Turn: 10♠

River: 8♠

Blumenfeld would be the bubble boy for the tournament, and the remaining players are all in the money.  The min cash is $5,591, and an updated chip count will be posted shortly.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Level Up

The remaining players have agreed to no longer play hand-for-hand, and have the clock move.  They were taking of 2:00 each hand until the bubble burst, but play will now resume with 43:00 remaining in Level 17 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500).  There is a short pause while the tournament director colors off the black (100 denomination chips).

Live! Classic Mai (Day 2): Out Of Respect

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 16
Chip Average: 204,000

The action was picked up on the flop of A 8 9, and Joseph Ort led out for 30,000 (already 34,000 in the pot).  David Greenberg raised to 60,000, and after asking if Greenberg has a set of eights, Ort declared himself all-in (covering Greenberg).  The talk then continued as Ort told Greenberg he would show the hand if he folded, "Out of respect."  Greenberg would eventually fold A Q face up, and Ort would show him that he flopped two pair with A 9.  Greenberg now finds himself with about 30 big blinds after sitting with close to double that.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Back From Break

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 16
Chip Average: 204,000

Players are back from break and the cards are in the air once more.  Players will be staying in Level 16 until the money bubble bursts.  At the moment the smallest stack is Stephen Hesse with 53,000 (~18 big blinds).

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Break Time

Players are taking a break (15 minutes), and because of hand-for-hand play, it is not yet a level change.  Players will come back with 11:15 in Level 16.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Kumar Busts, On The Money Bubble

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 16
Chip Average 204,000

Sumit Kumar was the shortest stack left after the elimination of David Lackey, and he would shove (35,000) over an open from Kostelak (12,000) and three-bet from Welch (25,000).  Kostelak would iso-shove next to act (70,000), and Welch would call, leaving us a three-way all-in:

Welch: AQ      Kumar: QQ       Kostelak: K♦K♣

Flop: 9♣ 4♣ 3♣

Turn: 5♣

River: 5

Kostelak would have the king of clubs to ice the pot on the turn, but his kings would of been the winning hand regardless.  That leaves us with 16 players, and one elimination from the money.  The clock has been paused and two minutes will roll off each hand until the money has been reached.

LIve! Classic Main (Day 2): Lackey Busts, Putinas Doubles

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 17
Chip Average 192,000

On a flop of 5 6 4, Roland check raised Gintautas Putinas all-in, and after Putinas called the pot would be worth over 300,000:

Flop: 5 4 6

Roland: 10 7       Putinas: K K

Turn: 6

River: J

Gintautas Putinas - 315,000
Roland Israelashvili - 140,000

As that hand was unfolding, Kyle Bowker would eliminate David Lackey in 18th place.  Kyle Bowker's 10 9 > 9 9 of Lackey, and players would be left two from the money.


Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Redraw At 18 (Updated Chip Counts)

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 18
Chip Average 181,000

Table 38:
  1. Kyle Bowker - 216,000
  2. David Lackey - 38,000
  3. Venkata Emani -120,000
  4. Minho Choe - 163,000
  5. Joseph Ort - 370,000
  6. Terry Saad - 280,000
  7. James Sita - 205,000
  8. David Greenberg - 182,000
  9. Stephen Hesse - 68,000
Table 39:
  1. John Kostelak - 81,000
  2. Roland Israelashvili - 340,000
  3. Charles Welch - 410,000
  4. Gintautas Putinas - 140,000
  5. Kevin Elia - 220,000
  6. Sumit Kumar - 39,000
  7. Scott Blumenfeld - 198,000
  8. Arnold Dinio - 214,000
  9. Cliff Goldkind - 78,000

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Hamilton Busts, Redraw

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 18
Chip Average 181,000

Kyle Bowker eliminates Cameron Hamilton, as the board read 6 6 7 x 9, and Bowker's 9 6 > 5 8 of Hamilton.  Hamilton made a straight on the river, but Bowker made a full house with the river 9, and players are now redrawing once more.  Updated counts and seating assignments will be posted shortly.

LIve! Classic Main (Day 2): Lackey Doubles

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 19
Chip Average 172,000

With only four eliminations until the money is reached, there are a handful of short stacks amongst the group.  David Lackey was one of them, but has just doubled through Joseph Ort, as Lackey pushed the button and Ort called from the small blind (A6 > A4 for Lackey).  David's all-in amount was 28,800, so with antes and blinds he is just over 60,000.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): They Have Hesse-tory

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 19
Chip Average 172,000

It was a pot between Stephen Hesse and Charles Welch from Day 1A that would propel Welch to not only the end of day bonus, but chip lead going into Day 2.  The two were just involved in another huge pot, as the word "call" is heard from Table 39:

Board: A 3 Q 8 10

Welch slams down K J knowing he can't be beat, and Hesse helicopters is cards in the muck in disgust. With a pot already close to 50,000, Welch check raised Hesse 60,000 on the river.  So with the call that Stephen made, the pot would be close to 200,000.

Charles Welch - 490,000
Stephen Hesse - 70,000


Live! Classic Main (Day 2): It's A Cruel Game

Level 16 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Players Remaining: 19
Chip Average 172,000

Steven Bottcher and Venkata Emani were two of the shortest stacks remaining as the tournament draws close to the money, and they were also seated at the same table.  It would come down to one crucial pot for the two as they were all-in pre (with stacks within 10,000 of each other):

Emani: A K       Bottcher: 10 10

Flop: 8 7 3

Turn: 6

River: K

Emani would double to 87,000 and give a celebratory clap as he was able to sit back down in his chair.  After the next elimination the players will once again redraw, and the seating assignments and chip counts will be updated.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Level Up

Level 16 will be starting momentarily, with the blinds going up to 1,500/3,000/400.  Arnold Dinio is beginning to make some noise, as he creeps up to 200,000.  A bunch of those chips have come from one time chip leader Roland Israelashvili, who has now relinquished that title for the moment to Charles Welch.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Double-Double

Level 15 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Players Remaining: 20
Chip Average 163,000

James Sita was the short stack of the 21 players remaining a little earlier, but after doubling with A9 > 88, he had a little breathing room.  In a blind v. blind situation with David Lackey, Sita just doubled again to 150,000.  Sita was all in on the river (with a board of J 3 9 10 9), and his 10 9 > 7 8 of Lackey in what was a cooler spot for Lackey.

Lackey was left with 65,000 after losing the hand, and adding insult to injury, had to ask for his card protector back from Sita after the dealer pushed it to James with the pot.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): The Champ Departs

Level 15 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Players Remaining: 20
Chip Average 163,000

Merson was left short after losing the hand to Dinio, and the following hand Greg opened the pot from the hijack.  Roland put enough chips in from the big blind to put Greg all-in, and Merson thought for a few moments before putting a pile of chips in for the call:

Merson: K Q♠             Israelashvili: A 10

Flop: A♠ 10♠ 8♣

Turn: 9♠

River: 5♣

Roland continues to separate himself from the rest of the field, and is the first and only player over 400,000.  Merson falls short of the money by only six spots (eliminated 21st), but wished everyone else good luck as he left the tournament area.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): No Moore

Level 15 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Players Remaining: 21
Chip Average 155,000

John Moore has just been eliminated (22nd) by Charles Welch, as the two got the chips in pre, and Welch's JJ > 88 of Moore.  Welch had come into the day as the chip leader, and hovered around the 220-250,000 range throughout the day.  With that hand he moves over 300,000 for the first time this tournament and is behind only Roland Israelashvili.

While that hand was unfolding, Greg Merson lost a  sizable pot to Arnold Dinio.  After calling a river bet (and losing), Merson would dip below 35,000.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Thomas Out

Level 15 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Players Remaining: 22
Chip Average 145,000

Russell Thomas has just been eliminated after shoving over an open from Joseph Ort.  After asking for a count, Ort made his decision fairly quickly (the call was just over 50,000), and turned over his hand:

Ort: 7 7         Thomas: A Q

Flop: 3 10 4

Turn: 3

River: 8

Thomas goes out in 23rd (seven place from the money), as Joseph Ort eclipses the 200,000 mark.  Ort is another play who is in uncharted waters, as even a min cash in this tournament would surpass his career lifetime earnings.


Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Put On The Seatbelts

Level 15 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Players Remaining: 23
Chip Average 142,000

Players are taking their seats after an hour dinner break, and will play out the next five levels before bagging for Day 3.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Dinner Time

The 24 players remaining in the field are going on a (60) minute dinner break.  Play will resume (as well as the live coverage) at approximately 8:00pm.

Ethan Foxman was eliminated only moments before dinner break, as his AQ < AA of Joseph Ort.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Chada Out

Level 14 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Players Remaining: 24
Chip Average: 136,000

Carlos Chada has just been eliminated in 25th, only nine spots short of the money.  Chada came into the day with 32,200, and went into the redraw with 57,000.  There is (13) minutes remaining in this level, and at it's conclusion the remaining players will be going on a (60) minute dinner break.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Final 25 (Updated With Chip Counts)

Level 14 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Players Remaining: 25
Chip Average: 131,000

Table 37:

  1. Cliff Goldkind - 110,000
  2. John Grimes - Eliminated 27th
  3. Terry Saad - 230,000
  4. Jame Sita - 51,000
  5. David Lackey - 85,000
  6. Joseph Ort - 160,000
  7. Kevin Elia - 190,000
  8. Ethan Foxman - 105,000
  9. Carlos Chada - 57,000
Table 38:
  1. Venkata Emani - 90,000
  2. Arnold Dinio - 91,000
  3. Greg Merson - 93,000
  4. Sumit Kumar - 100,000
  5. Roland Israelashvili - 390,000
  6. Joseph Stiers - Eliminated 26th
  7. Steven Bottcher - 50,000
  8. John Kostelak - 47,000
  9. David Greenberg - 140,000
Table 39:
  1. Gintautas Putinas - 95,000
  2. Charles Welch - 250,000
  3. Stephen Hesse - 120,000
  4. Cameron Hamilton - 70,000
  5. John Moore - 110,000
  6. Russell Thomas - 88,000
  7. Munho Choe - 165,000
  8. Kyle Bowker - 190,000
  9. Scott Blumenfeld - 170,000

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Remaining 27

Level 14 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Players Remaining: 27
Chip Average: 131,000

Here are the new seating assignments after redraw:

Table 37:

  1. Cliff Goldkind
  2. John Grimes
  3. Terry Saad
  4. James Sita
  5. David Lackey
  6. Joseph Ort
  7. Kevin Elia
  8. Ethan Foxman
  9. Carlos Chada
Table 38:
  1. Venkata Emani
  2. Arnold Dinio
  3. Greg Merson
  4. Sumit Kumar
  5. Roland Israelashvili
  6. Joseph Stiers
  7. Steven Bottcher
  8. John Kostelak
  9. David Greenberg
Table 39:
  1. Gintautas Putinas
  2. Charles Welch
  3. Stephen Hesse
  4. Cameron Hamilton
  5. John Moore
  6. Russell Thomas
  7. Munho Choe
  8. Kyle Bowker
  9. Scott Blumenfeld

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Harder Out, Redraw

Level 14 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Players Remaining: 27
Chip Average: 121,000

The tournament clock is paused as players are about to find their new seats.  Only a few hands back from break Christian Harder was all-in pre and at risk against Roland Israelashvili:



Harder came in as the second shortest stack of the 51 to return, and at one point had it up over 100,000.  Roland is one of the chip leaders after scooping that pot, with updated chip counts to come.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Break From The Madness

Players are going on their second break of the day, and when they return to Level 14 the blinds will be 1,000/2,000/300.  The field is still one more elimination away from the redraw.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Merson Crosses 100K, Smith Gone

Level 13 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Players Remaining: 30
Chip Average: 110,000

Greg Merson is now just over 100,000 after winning a sizable pot from Venkata  Emani with KJ on a board of J J x 10 Q.  Emani showed his hand after the action was over (he had AQ).

Richard Smith has just been eliminated in 29th place, as his AQ < KK of Stephen Hesse.  Hesse would turn quads and the only formality was whether Hesse had Smith covered.  While the count was happening at the table, the field also lost Ed Frits (28th place).  Once the next player is eliminated, there will be a full redraw.

Ed Frits - Eliminated in 28th
Richard Smith - Eliminated in 29th

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Bringing The Counts

Level 13 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Players Remaining: 30
Chip Average: 110,000

Once the number gets down to 27 players, there will be a full redraw.  Once the redraw occurs there will be a full listing of the players remaining, the new seating assignments, and updated chip counts.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Huge Call, Gregg Out

Level 13 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Players Remaining: 30
Chip Average: 109,000

Gregg All-In

The action at Table 39 was picked up on the turn, as Anthony Gregg led out the turn and was raised by Venkata Emani (on a board of 8♣ Q 2 5♣).  Gregg would call the raise and the two players would go to the turn (pot was about 25,000).  After the 4 on the river, Gregg would announce himself all-in and Emani would go deep in the tank.  He would ask for a count (35,100), and Venkata would eventually make the call.  Gregg would table 10 9♣, and would be eliminated in 33rd after Emani tabled KQ for the win.

While Gregg's hand was unfolding, there were two more players to bust:

Josh Brikis - Eliminated in 31st
Adam Peterson - Eliminated in 32nd
Anthony Gregg - Eliminated in 33rd

Out about 15 from the money
— Josh Brikis (@JBrikis) March 23, 2014

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Level Up

Level 13 is about to begin, and blinds will be going up to 800/1,600/200.  The chip average is just over 100,000 at the moment, with a break coming at the conclusion of this level.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Parting Tweet

Level 12 (Blinds 700/1,400/200)
Players Remaining: 32
Chip Average: 100,000




James St. Hilaire - Eliminated in 34rd place

Richard Smith had the chip lead bonus snatched from his hands at the end of the night (Day 1B), but still came into Day 2 super healthy (135,800).  Smith was all-in for his remaining 20,000 with J9 on a board of 2 K J 5.  Stephen Hesse has made the call with QQ and Smith was a card away from going home, until a 9 spiked the river to double him up and keep him around.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Toole Is Frits-ed

Level 12 (Blinds 700/1,400/200)
Players Remaining: 33
Chip Average: 99,000

Jacod Toole has just been eliminated in 35th as his QQ < AA of Ed Frits (all-in pre).  Frits is now up to 47,000, and this is all after having a solid craps session during the most recent (15) minute break.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Schakelford Gone

Level 12 (Blinds 700/1,400/200)
Players Remaining: 35
Chip Average: 94,000

Gordon Shackelford was moved to Table 39 with the shortest stack of the field (7,500), and was all-in his first hand dealt.  Greg Merson three-bet next to act (which cleared the rest of the field), and Gordon's 99 < AK of Merson after the 7 K 10 Q 4 runout.  Merson continues to add to his stack and is now over 70,000.

Only moments after Shackelford's departure we also lost Matthew Chang:



Matthew Chang - Eliminated 36th
Gordon Shackelford - Eliminated 37th

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Baker Busted

Level 12 (Blinds 700/1,400/200)
Players Remaining: 36
Chip Average: 91,000

There have been two players eliminated simultaneously, as Robert Kosydar and David Baker are now done for the day.  Kosydar was one of the shorter stacks and all-in against Arnold Dinio (AJ < AA), and at the same time David Baker was all-in against Terry Saad (AJ <AK).

David Baker - Eliminated 38th
Robert Kosydar - Eliminated 39th

Our second table of the day has just been broken, and good friends Anthony Gregg and Greg Merson are now seated together at Table 39.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Merson Doubles

Level 12 (Blinds 700/1,400/200)
Players Remaining: 39
Chip Average: 84,000

Greg Merson

Since winning a pretty sizable pot right before break, Minho Choe has trended steadily downward.  He was involved in a hand with Greg Merson, and on a board of 3 J 2 5, Merson shipped his remaining 18,400 (pot was close to 15,000).  Choe thought momentarily before making the call, and he would be behind as Merson's KK > A2.  Greg now has over 60,000 and is peaking for the day.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Bottcher Doubles

Level 12 (Blinds 700/1,400/200)
Players Remaining: 39
Chip Average: 84,000

Steven Bottcher doubles through Josh Brikis as his KK > AK, bring his chip stack up to 60,000.  After losing the hand, Brikis is down to 50,000, just under the stack that he started Day 2 with only a few hours ago.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Break Time

Players are going on their first (15) minute break of the day, and when they return to Level 12 the blinds will be going up to 700/1,400/200.

Moments before break there was a 170,000 pot between Minho Choe and Day 1B chip leader Terry Saad.  After Saad flatted a three bet from Choe on a flop of A K 6, Choe pushed his remaining 32,200 on the turn (which was the 8♠).  Saad made the call and Choe's KK > A6, in a tough spot for Terry, flopping top and bottom against middle set.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Hofmann's Run Ends

Level 1 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Players Remaining: 39
Chip Average: 84,000

Cullen Hofmann came into the day as the shortest stack, and managed to find himself a double during the first level.  His table broke and he was moved to Table 39, where he was just eliminated by James Sita.  The all-in happened on the river, with a board of Q 3 A 2 K, and Hofmann made a quick exit after showing KQ and throwing it in the much (Sita had rivered broadway with J 10, while Hofmann rivered two pair).


Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Temel Eliminated

Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Players Remaining: 40
Chip Average: 80,000

Charles Welch opened the button, and Izzet Temel three-bet all-in from the small blind for 20,800.  Welch would make the call and eliminate Temel as Charles's KQ > 55 of Temel.  Izzet's run for five cashes in the series falls short, but his last month of poker has been one that anyone would sign up for at the blink of an eye.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Rapid Fire

Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Players Remaining: 42
Chip Average: 77,000

- Michael Phelps is eliminated in 44th place as his 77 < 99 of Scott Blumenfeld.

- Jacob Toole doubles through Jeff Esterling, as he turns two pair with Q9 on a board of Q 4 3 9 2, chipping up to just under 70,000.  Only two hands after Esterling shipped the chips Toole's way, he finds himself all-in against Arnold Dinio, and busts in 43rd place as Jeff's K 10 < A 5 of Dinio.

- Alex Fernandez shoves the button and is called by Roland Israelashvili.  Alex's A6 < AQ of Roland, and Fernandez is knocked out in 42nd place.  Roland has close to doubled the stack that he started the day with, and now sits with 170,000.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Charder Continues, Cashen Busts

Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Players Remaining: 44
Chip Average: 74,000

Christian Harder Doubles Again

It was only a few minutes ago that Christian Harder had 17,000 in front of him, and now after doubling once more through Richard Smith (JJ > 66), he is over 100,000.

Jospeh Cashen was eliminated in 45th place just moments ago by Ethan Foxman, with Cashen super short (7,500), and watching as his A 5 <  A Q of Ethan (2 2 6 J A runout).

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Charder Triples Up

Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Players Remaining: 45
Chip Average: 73,000

Christian Harder had the all-in button in front of him, and 16,900 right next to it.  Stephen Hesse flatted the amount, and Izzet Burak Temel then reshoved for just over 23,000.  Hesse would make the call and the three players would table their hands:

Harder: 99        Hesse: AJ♠       Temel: AK♣

Flop: 5♣ 6♠ 2

Turn: 7

River: 7♣

Harder would triple up to 51,000, while Temel would be left with less than 10 bigs (7,800).

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Level Up

Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Players Remaining: 45
Chip Average: 73,000

Level 11 has just started, and the blinds are going up to 600/1,200/200.  In the final minutes of Level 10 Matt Glantz was eliminated in 46th as his 99 < KK of David Lackey (all-in pre).  Our first table of the day has broken, and there has been some slight shuffling as players find their new seats.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Catching Up

Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Players Remaining: 47 
Chip Average: 70,000

Here is a quick fire review of the recent action:

- Valerie Novak has been eliminated in 49th place.  Novak came into the day as one of the shorter stacks in the field, and there are now no more woman remaining.

- Kevin Elia chips up to 113,000 after knocking out Rafael Sa'adah, as Elia's A♣ 10♣ > 6♣ 7♣ on a runout of K♠ K♣ 5♣ J Q♣.

- Cullen Hofmann doubles to 22,000.

- Anthony Gregg doubles to 45,000.

- Tim Little is eliminated in 47th place as his K J < A 5 of Day 1B chip leader Terry Saad.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): First Level Action

Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Players Remaining: 49
Chip Average: 66,900

The action was missed at Table 37, but Hakima Muhammed has been the second player to be eliminated from Day 2 action.  Izzet Temel (Arlington, VA) doubled through chip leader Charles Welch, as his QQ > AQ, sitting now with 57,000.  Temel has already cashed in four events earlier in the series, and has gotten himself out of the 15-20 blind hole at the moment.

Both players that were mentioned earlier that had not shown up (Phelps and Emani) have now taken their seats, only missing about (20) minutes of play.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Faro First Gone

Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Players Remaining: 50 
Chip Average: 65,500

Russel Thomas opened the pot for 2,000 and Rafael Sa'adah flatted behind.  Tim Faro then three-bet shoved for just over 17,000, and Thomas flatted.  Sa'adah would fold after some brief thought, and the two hands would be tabled:

Faro: A K         Thomas: K K

Flop: 4 Q K

Turn: 5 

River: 4

Faro would find himself in even worse shape after the flop then he was going in, and would need to go runner straight to win the hand.  The turn would have him drawing dead and Faro would be the first player to leave the tournament area today.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Where Are They?

Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Players Remaining: 51
Chip Average: 64,216

Of the 51 players to bag chips going into today, two have yet to arrive to their seats: Michael Phelps (47,800) and Venkata Emani (52,600).  Both players are below chip average, but still have close to fifty big blinds.  Today is the first time that certain players are playing with each other, and there seems to be a feeling out period at the moment.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Getting Settled

Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)

Players are still taking their chips out of the bags, and play will resume shortly after a brief delay.  The tournament director has just announced that the button will be in seat three, and Day 2 play is about to begin.

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Restart At 1:15pm

The 51 players to bag chips will be returning to play at 1:15pm, with blinds in Level 10 at 500/1,000/100.  The chip average coming back is 64,000 (64 big blinds), and the two largest stacks belong to Day 1A chip leader Charles Welch (260,900), and Kyle Bowker (153,500).  Some of the biggest names in poker are still in contention for the title, including (just to name a few of many):

Matt Glantz (88,400)
Russell Thomas (85,100)
Anthony Gregg (51,300)
Greg Merson (45,600)

Live! Classic Main (Day 2): Day 2 Seating Assignments


First Name Last Name Chip Count Table # Seat #
Cliff Goldkind 56,700 36 1
Anthony Gregg 51,300 36 2
Joseph Ort 53,500 36 3
Venkata Emani 52,600 36 4
Joseph Stiers 130,000 36 5
Ray Shackleford 32,900 36 6
Sumit Kumar 94,500 36 7
James St. Hilaire 49,400 36 8
Valerie Novak 26,800 36 9
         
Richie Smith 135,800 37 1
Hakima Muhammed 33,300 37 2
Charles Welch 260,900 37 3
Izzet Temel 37,400 37 4
Scott Blumfeild 43,700 37 5
Alex Fernandez 27,500 37 6
Roland Israelashvili 92,600 37 7
Michael Phelps 47,800 37 8
Christian Harder 14,300 37 9
         
Jacob Toole 55,700 38 1
Arnold Dinio 68,300 38 2
Joseph Cashen 80,700 38 3
Jeff Esterling 50,400 38 4
Adam Peterson                40,800               38                 5
Gintautas Putinas 33,300 38 6
Ethan Foxman 91,800 38 7
Ed Frits 28,000 38 8
EMPTY     38 9
         
David Lackey 68,600 39 1
James Sita 62,000 39 2
EMPTY     39 3
Matt Glantz 88,400 39 4
Cameron Hamilton 120,000 39 5
Terry Saad 136,200 39 6
David Baker 63,800 39 7
Greg  Merson 45,600 39 8
Tim Little 17,800 39 9
         
Robert Kosydar 20,300 44 1
Carlos Chada 32,200 44 2
Kyle Bowker 153,500 44 3
Cullen Hofmann 13,300 44 4
John Kostelak 33,000 44 5
Minho Choe 103,800 44 6
EMPTY     44 7
John Grimes 59,200 44 8
Stephen Hesse 53,900 44 9
         
Matthew Chang 43,300 45 1
Steven Bottcher 67,500 45 2
Russell Thomas 85,100 45 3
Josh Brikis 54,800 45 4
David Greenberg 78,400 45 5
Rafael Sa'adah 41,500 45 6
Kevin Elia 58,300 45 7
Tim Faro 29,800 45 8
John Moore 55,200 45 9