The WSOP has now released the official chip counts for the eight final-table players, which match the totals displayed on our "Chip Counts" page (click link at right). By winning a large, late pot from Howard Lederer, Sebastian Ruthenberg will arrive at the final table with the chip lead. Here are the eight final-table players in chip-count order:
Sebastian Ruthenberg 663,000
Chris Ferguson 434,000
Alessio Isaia 398,000
Marcel Luske 308,000
Bob Beveridge 280,000
Annie Duke 277,000
Steve Sung 207,000
Bob Lauria 44,000
Some 16 hours ago, in fact, we began play on Day 2 of Event #33. The whole thing kicked off with 261 players; 120 of them came back for the latest installment today. Now, with the last elimination, we are down to eight players, and we can finally call it a night.
Today saw ups and downs for the majority of the players left. Matt Grapenthien was our chip leader at this time last night, and tonight he was knocked out in 15th place. Annie Duke, meanwhile, nurtured a medium to short stack for the duration of the tournament, only to find herself with the chip lead just a couple hours ago. She has fallen off a little bit, and our new chip leader heading to tomorrow is Sebastian Ruthenberg with 663,000. Here's the way they set up for the final table:
Sebastian Ruthenberg: 663,000
Chris Ferguson: 434,000
Alessio Isaia: 398,000
Marcel Luske: 308,000
Robert Beveridge: 308,000
Annie Duke: 277,000
Steve Sung: 207,000
Bob Lauria: 40,400
We are on the "ten hour rule" so we're going to begin just a little later than originally scheduled tomorrow. We expect to kick off the last day right at 5:00pm local time. We thank you for sticking with us tonight, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow for the conclusion of this Stud Hi/Lo World Championship. Goodnight!
Chris Ferguson brought it in, and Steve Sung raised it up. Lederer three-bet it and both opponents called. Howard picked up the on fourth street, and he bet out. Both Ferguson and Sung called. Fifth street brought Lederer the . He bet out again, this time all in for his tournament life. Ferguson raised him, and Sung folded. The hands were turned over as the cards ran out.
Lederer: ( ) ()
Ferguson: ( ) ()
Ferguson's pair of aces takes the pot, as Lederer was unable to make a low or beat Jesus' high pair. Howard looks absolutely gutshot after his early-morning fall from prosperity. He is out in ninth place, on the final-table bubble, and will take home over $30,000. Not a bad payday certainly, but not what he had in mind either.
Howard Lederer has just lost a monster pot to Sebastian Ruthenberg. Ruthenberg had just a pair of deuces, but it was good enough to scoop the whole pot and send The Professor reeling. He is down to just 40,000 now, and is the short stack.
Since we have nine players left, there is one table of four, and one of five. To compensate for this, the tournament staff is swapping a player between tables every half hour. Guess who the lucky player has been each and every time.
The Professor has been bounced back and forth at least five times now since we got nine handed.
Phil Hellmuth has just walked in to the Brasilia Room at the ungodly hour of 6:30am. He is hobnobbing it with the remaining players. Color commentary no doubt forthcoming.