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Chip Reese -- 1,756,000
Doyle Brunson -- 1,227,000
Andy Bloch -- 934,000
Phil Ivey -- 885,000
Jim Bechtel -- 841,000
David Singer -- 745,000
Dewey Tomko -- 438,000
T.J. Cloutier -- 351,000
Patrik Antonius -- 13,000

1st -- $1,784,640

2nd -- $1,029,600

3rd -- $617,760

4th -- $549,120

5th -- $480,480

6th -- $411,840

7th -- $343,200

8th -- $274,560

9th -- $205,920

Seat 1: Jim Bechtel -- 841,000

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Seat 2: Doyle Brunson -- 1,227,000

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Seat 3: Chip Reese -- 1,756,000

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Seat 4: Dewey Tomko -- 438,000

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Seat 5: Andy Bloch -- 934,000

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Seat 6: T.J. Cloutier -- 351,000

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Seat 7: David Singer -- 745,000

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Seat 8: Patrik Antonius -- 13,000

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Seat 9: Phil Ivey -- 885,000

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And it's time to SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL!!!

The very first hand, extremely short-stacked Patrik Antonius moved in, as was quite highly probable.
Small blind Andy Bloch called and so did TJ Cloutier in the big blind.
It check-checked all the way as the board came Qs Ad 4h Qc Js, and as it turns out Patrik's 4s 4h was enough to double him up.

Patrik Antonius moved all in on a flop of Jc 3h 4s with Aspades 4h

Chip Reese's pocket eights held up thanks to the Kh Turn and 6c River

Big pot for David Singer - I think he raised to 50k, and found a big raise from Doyle Brunson - 100k or so more.  He called and there was a flop:
6d 6c Th
Doyle wasn't backing off (or so it appeared) as he bet out 200k fairly sharpish, but found an equally swift "all-in" from Singer, and passed a pot to him which took the dealer three goes to sweep over.  There are properly unwieldy WSOP stacks on that final, look good from an overhead camera angle, but take ten minutes to stack per pot...

Preflop action

Tomko v Ivey

Flop = Ad 3s Tc

Ivey bets 200k

Tomko folds

The blinds (remembering it's NLHE all the way now) are 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante.  Hefty.  They go up every 90 minutes, with a break between each level.

Doyle makes it 60k and gets a call from Andy Bloch in the small blind.
Flop:  Js 7h Ac  Andy checks, Doyle checks.
Turn:  8c  Andy bet out 100k, and Doyle called.
River:  2c  Check-check

Doyle shows Aspades 5d and Andy mucks - looked like that top pair check on the flop got Doyle paid a little bit there.

Phil Ivey raises preflop, Tomko moves all-in, Ivey calls.

Tomko = Ahrt 8s

Ivey = Kd Qh

Board = 4s 9c 5s Jc 5h

Phil Ivey returns the chips he took off Tomko earlier.

Aside from the $2000 NLHE running simultaneously...

Found El Blondie at last - doing well in this event  ;cheerleader; ;cheerleader;

Also John Shipley  (top 10% in chips)
Skalie (Jon Kalmar)  probably chip leader over 50,000
George Danzer     Would have been chip leader if his KK hadn't been cracked by 10 10
Julian Gardner

And that's just on one row of tables... going to keep half an eye on them when there's nothing much going on on the Feature Table.

Andy Bloch raises to 60k from under the gun

Chip Reese (button) and Jim Betchel (Big Blind) call.

They all check an Ac 8d 9h flop.

Turn = 4d

Jim checks, Andy bets 100k, and the other two fold.

Pot to Bloch.

Been taking my tableside shift (well, set-side) and saw a whole bunch of preflop raise-pass stuff.  In case you're interested, it's one each to Singer, Ivey, Reese, Cloutier and Tomko.  So the blinds and antes are migrating.

But then - another hit for Doyle Brunson - he made it 60k to go preflop and was called by Chip Reese and David Singer.
Flop:  2c 3c 7s.  He bet out (first to act) a big old 220k, then after a bit of a think, Chip min-raised him!  David got out of the way and it was quite a dwell before Doyle gave his hand up facing another 220k.  This is the second big hand he's lost like this - betting out big out of position, and getting re-raised off it.  Would love to see the old hole card cams...

Ivey raises, Reese reraises another 600k, Ivey folds after a few minutes of deep thought.

News from the $2,000 NL

Down to just 153 players from 1572 or something ridiculous.  El Blondie still going strong (pictured) - glad I jumped the rope before they get down to fewer than 15 tables or you'd have even worse quality snaps...

Action!  Dewey Tomko doubles up -

In early position he pushed his short stack in and patiently waited to see if he'd be called.  Eventually David Singer took the plunge, with Ac Kc, while Dewey didn't move a muscle as he flipped 9d Td.
Flop:  Qc 9h 3d   and a bit of hope for Dewey...
Turn:  3c   and a bit of hope for David... (I've watched a LOT of poker and I have to say this final is exciting)
River:  4s   

Just prior to this Big Hand, Doyle raised under the gun to 70k and was called by Andy Bloch and small blind Phil. 
Flop:  Ts 9c 3c  and it looks like Ivey might have capitalised on the ragginess, betting out a big old 150k and pushing the other two away.

$2,000

Ran into Skalie having a break - they're all in the money now, by the way - and he said he's still right at the top of the pack with 65,000, although there are apparently two stacks over 80k.  Dave is still above average, from what I could see (table walk ban enforced) while Julian and John are there too.  They're doing "round for round" at the moment - like hand-for-hand but a round.  Kind of obvious, actually.  Anyway, that leads me to believe we're on some kind of money-up bubble over there.

Andy Bloch raises preflop from the button, David Singer calls for 46k more from the blind.

Flop = 3c Kc Ahrt

Both players check.

Turn = 2c

Singer bets 115k, Bloch calls.

River = 2s

Singer checks, Bloch bets 250k, and Singer calls.

Bloch turns over Aspades 2d.

Singer mucks.

We're on level 2 of this final day. The blinds are 12k/24k with antes of 4k. The next level will see the blinds rise to 15/30.

The damage was predominatly derived from a preflop all-in encounter with TJ Cloutier.

Doyle's K-J failed to outdraw Cloutier's T-T, resulting in the 73 year old dropping down to the felt.

The following hand, his remaining chips went in on a flop of 8d 2s Qs.

With Jh 6c, Doyle needed a miracle to outdo Singer's Ac Qd, a miracle that never came.

The turn was the seven of clubs leaving Doyle drawing dead. The River wasn't shown.

As expected, Doyle exited the table to a raptuous applause from the crowd, many of whom offered a standing ovation.

With the exit of Mr. Brunson, the chips remain uneven, with Chip Reese never relinquishing the lead. 

Jim Bechtel   840,000
David 'Chip'  Reese   2,500,000
Dewey Tomko   500,000
Andy Bloch   870,000
T.J. Cloutier   800,000
David Singer   1,200,000
Phil Ivey   600,000

Dewey Tomko is our 7th place finisher - winning himself a cool $343,200

Dewey raised under the gun to 100k (showing strength...) and the next player to act, Andy Bloch, re-raised to 300k (ditto).  This was really an "all-in or not all-in" question, answered when Dewey re-raised an unfoldable amount, and they were on their backs:

Dewey Tomko:  8s 8c
Andy Bloch:  Qd Qh

Flop:  9d 5c 7h   (bit of an intake of breath from the announcer)
Turn:  Kc
River:  4c

And Dewey Tomko headed off the Stage...

I have to say that Chip has played relentlessly from the word go, his chips not yo-yoing but steadily heading skywards.  Take this pot:

Chip raises to 75k preflop, Andy Bloch calls.
Flop:  Th Jh 4d.  Check-check.
Turn:  4s  Chip bets out 125k, Andy calls.
River:  3s  Chip bets a hefty 300k, and this time Andy doesn't call.

Bit by bit, but looks very confident indeed.

Singer was short-stacked before the hand began with just 250,000.

He moved it all-in preflop with Aspades Tc, only to find Chip Reese sitting pretty with Jc  Js

The Tc 3c 7d flop gave Singer 3 extra outs, but the 6d Turn and 4c River failed to deliver any of those 6 cards.

We have a 5th place finisher - it's TJ Cloutier, winning $480,480

After waking up for the last 20 minutes or so - charging limpers' tax to Chip from the big blind, winning another preflop and seemingly getting involved, he raised again, this time to 90k with 7d 7h.
Andy Bloch quickly pushed all-in, and TJ quickly called - but Andy's Ts Td were well in front, staying there (with a flourish) as the board came:
Aspades Ac 2h 3h Tc

So we're down to four....

**************************BREAK**********************

Not too much to report.

Andy Bloch raises Chip's button raise from the small blind, forcing the latter to fold.

Then a small pot between Ivey and Betchel.

Battle of the blinds. Both checked the K-6-Q flop. Ivey called a 40k bet when the turn came a Jack. Betchel checked his King when the river brought a Ten. Betchel wins the pot.

The players are now on a short break. Back soon.

WOW - with 40 seconds left on the clock I was heading for the hotdogs, when a BIG hand kicked off:

Jim Bechtel raised, found a confident-seeming Andy Bloch putting in 200k on top - but then he faced a tough call when Jim pushed in - he had in total c. 750k...
A truly understandable dwell (it actually IS the World Series ;)    ) and he called!  With Td Ts.  Jim shook his head, showing his 7h 7s.

The board came:  2s Jh 3c 2d Qd and a last-minute exit for Jim Bechtel in 4th place winning $549,120

Play has resumed...

Chip Reese -- 3,400,000
Andy Bloch -- 2,800,000
Phil Ivey -- 975,000

Mere minutes after we saw Phil Ivey buying a snack in the Food Tent, he's OUT in 3rd place, winning $617,760!

It took off after Andy called to see a 7d 3d Qh flop.  Andy checked, Phil bet 100k.  Andy raised a huge 400k on top - putting Ivey to the test.  He decided to take the plunge, moving in and receiving the expected call.
Ivey showed:  Ac 7h  (!)
Bloch showed:  4d 5d

Turn:  Ad   (a mixed cheer and groan went up)
River:  6c

And the man many considered a favourite is out third.

Not too much action heads up. As expected, they're playing it pretty cagily, a bet here and there, but nothing too jaw-dropping.

Very little happening in terms of heads up action.

Neither player seems particularly eager to try any moves, it all appears to be abc poker. Very rarely does a player reraise preflop, and a flop bet usually takes it down.

(1) Flop = 2c 5s 2h

Andy bets 90k, Chip folds

(2) Flop = 3h 7s Tc

Chip bets 90k, Andy folds

(3) Flop = Jd Jh Qc

Andy bets 90k, Chip calls

Turn = Th

Andy bets 210k, Chip folds

(4) Flop = Ts Qh Ks

Chip bets 70k, Andy calls

Turn = 6s

Both check

River = Jd

Andy bets, Chip folds

(5) Flop = 5d 6s Qs

Chip bets 90k, Andy folds

Hope this gives you an idea of how the heads-up action is panning up.

Back to the final table, and Andy Bloch kind of weathered Chip Reese into trailing mightily chip-wise... then there was a great crowd-agitating moment as on a flop of 3h 7h 4c Chip put the pressure on by moving his whole 1.3 million into the middle - - Andy Bloch called with........ 7s 2d !!  And found Chip with Tc-5 !!!

I heard one gentleman of the press whisper at that moment, "The 72 now becomes 'The Bloch..."

Turn:  6d    and a huge amount of crowd noise greeted the phenomenal gutshot hit
River:  Kd

They're back to back and forth now, with Chip moving forward, but still shorter.

(1) Andy bets 75k, Chip calls

Flop = Jd 3s Kh

Both check

Turn = 7h

Andy bets 100k, Chip calls

River = Aspades

Andy bets, Chip folds

(2) Andy bets 75k, Chip calls

Flop = 5c 7h 3h

Both check

Turn = 6c

Chip bets 90k, Andy folds

(3) Chip makes a big 240k river bet after the flop and turn had been checked. Andy calls, even though he checked first. Chip wins with a flush, two of which came on the Turn and River.

(4) Chip bets 70k, Andy calls

Flop = 4c 2h 9s

Chip bets 90k, Andy reraises to 270k, Chip folds

(5) Flop = Qd 7h 4s

Chip bets 90k, Andy calls

Turn = 6d

Andy bets 200k, Chip folds

Players are now on a short break.

When they return, blinds will be at 20k/40k

Pretty big hand here (which goes the right way for you AB fans):

They see a 4h 4s Qd flop - check check.
Turn:  6s  Now Andy bets 180k and Chip calls.
River:  Qc  (veeery interesting).   Andy bets 400,000....and Chip calls - he gets shown the Qs 6h for the High House!  Chips to chip...

Chip bets 100k, Andy calls

Flop = Kh 9s 3s

Andy checks, Chip bets 100k, Andy folds.

The last chip count put Andy Bloch ahead with 4.8mil to Chip Reese's 2.4.

And recently an 800k raise preflop (over the top of Andy's raise to 100k) from Chip sent a pot towards his opponent, when the flop came Ad Kc 4s.  They both checked, and when Chip checked the Th turn, Andy's 400k bet gave him that tasty pot.

As for the rest of the last half hour, it's been the bettor on the flop who's taken the pot down.  It has slowed, but even so, this has definitely been one of the swiftest-passing updates I've had the privilege to participate in.

Every hand seems to be following the same pattern. A preflop bet to around 100k, followed by a call. Then, there will be a bet on one of the streets, which will either see a call followed by a later fold, or a fold there and then.

It's wierd how the rest of the final was so hectic and then suddenly, we're in slo-mo mode.

Every hand seems to be following the same pattern. A preflop bet to around 100k, followed by a call. Then, there will be a bet on one of the streets, which will either see a call followed by a later fold, or a fold there and then.

It's wierd how the rest of the final was so hectic and then suddenly, we're in slo-mo mode.

(1) Flop = 9d 3s 5d

Chip bets 120k, Andy calls

Turn = Ac

Both check

River = Qd

Chip bets 200k, Andy folds

(2) Following the current trend, Chip calls a 100k preflop bet from Bloch, who then bets 120k on a T-K-Q rainbow flop. I kninda hoped that this was to be THE hand, but the Ace on the turn seemed to slow things down as both opted for a check. Then, when the River brought a six, both players checked again. Chip and Andy showed a King, but Andy's Ten kicker beat off Chip's seven.

(3) Andy Bloch bet 100k, Chip Reese made the call.

Flop was Q-6-J (2 hearts), both checked

Andy checked the raggy turn, before folding to Chips 190k bet.

Not sure why he didn't round it up to 200k though. hmm

(4) Andy bets 80k, Chip calls

Flop = Qs 4h Qh

Chip checks, Andy bets 100k, Chip folds

(5) Chip Rease made the preflop raise this time, putting in 110k in total, to which Andy called.
The flop came down rainbow 7-4-Q.
Andy checked, Chip bet 110k, and Andy called.
The turn was a nine, which resulted in both players checking.
The Chip folded to Andy's 120k River bet when the six of clubs fell.
Pot goes to Bloch

(1) Flop = 9d 3s 5d

Chip bets 120k, Andy calls

Turn = Ac

Both check

River = Qd

Chip bets 200k, Andy folds

(2) Following the current trend, Chip calls a 100k preflop bet from Bloch, who then bets 120k on a T-K-Q rainbow flop. I kninda hoped that this was to be THE hand, but the Ace on the turn seemed to slow things down as both opted for a check. Then, when the River brought a six, both players checked again. Chip and Andy showed a King, but Andy's Ten kicker beat off Chip's seven.

(3) Andy Bloch bet 100k, Chip Reese made the call.

Flop was Q-6-J (2 hearts), both checked

Andy checked the raggy turn, before folding to Chips 190k bet.

Not sure why he didn't round it up to 200k though. hmm

(4) Andy bets 80k, Chip calls

Flop = Qs 4h Qh

Chip checks, Andy bets 100k, Chip folds

(5) Chip Rease made the preflop raise this time, putting in 110k in total, to which Andy called.
The flop came down rainbow 7-4-Q.
Andy checked, Chip bet 110k, and Andy called.
The turn was a nine, which resulted in both players checking.
The Chip folded to Andy's 120k River bet when the six of clubs fell.
Pot goes to Bloch

Updated chip numbers for you:

Andy Bloch  4,900,000
Chip Reese  1,300,000

The players are now on a break.

The blinds will be on 30k/60k when they return.

Andy bets 100k, Chip calls

Flop = 2d 5c 6d

Chip bets 200k, Andy folds

Board reads 7h Jd 5h Qs

Andy bets 60k, Chip calls

River = Kh

Andy bets 180k, Chip calls

Andy shows Kd 5d, Chip mucks

Current chip counts:

Andrew Bloch = 5.9 million
Chip Reese = 1.3 million

Flop = 8d 2d 6c

Chip bets 50k, Andy calls

Turn = Qd

Chip bets 120k, Andy calls

River = Kd

check, check

Andy wins with 6d

They've moved in to all-in mode.

First Chip, then Andy, then Chip, and then back to Andy.

Folds on all four occasions.

Blinds are currently 25k/50k

Double Up For Chip Reese!

The half-asleep crowd jumped to life when Andy Bloch put Chip Reese all-in preflop and he called, with Aspades Td.  Andy showed Ks Js.

Flop:  9d Kd Jd.  Oh the possibilities.  One guy in the audience piped up: "Ace Queen Ten!!"
Turn:  Ad  And the crowd bay for a Jack, King or straight flush.  Anything exciting in fact.
River:  Ahrt

And we're back into the fray.  It's gonna be another long night.

And Chip Reese doubles up again.

Bloch's preflop raise saw Reese moved all-in. Bloch rose from his seat (this is where I knew he was going for it) and dwelt for 30 seconds, before announcing call.

Bloch = 9s 9c

Reese = Kc Kd

Board = Jc 2d 7h Qc Ad

Reese must have around the 4 mil mark now.

they're now on another short break.

Flop = 6c 8d 7d

Chip bets 120k, Reese calls

Turn - Js

check check

River = Jh

check check

Reese wins with Queen high

Heads up play has surpassed the 6 and a half hours mark.

Well, you're closer...in fact, Andy Bloch just got Chip Reese all-in again, on a flop of 9s 3d 8d.  Chip moved in and Andy made a similar call to his previous ones with his winning pair - 9c 7s.
Chip showed  Kd 6d.
The turn:  5d    (Hence the cheer from the Reese supporters)
River:  Kc

And we're no closer to seeing the end to this extraordinary 7+ hourer.

Bloch was down to 500k after the last hit, and the two players had been taking turns to moving all-in.

After a while, Bloch made his stand with 9s 8c, but found himself up against the wall when Reece flipped over his Ac Qc

Flop = 7s 7c Js

Turn = 4h

River = 4s