Jim Lawrence min-raised and was shoved on by Ken Pates, who had about 450,000. Lawrence called, but he was in the worst situation possible.
Lawrence: 
Pates: 
Pates' bullets held on the 
runout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,076,000
518,000
|
518,000 |
|
263,000
-309,000
|
-309,000 |
Mike Lang opened for 90,000 in middle position, and Brian Soja announced a raise when action folded to his big blind. He made it 230,000. Lang shoved all in, and Soja snap-called.
"S***," Lang said, turning over 
and obviously fearing the worst.
He was the one in command though, as Soja tabled 
.
"Quick exit this year I guess," Soja said as the dealer spread a flop of 
. Soja took second in this event last year for just over $50,000.
A 
turn changed nothing, and the 
river meant Soja was the first to exit the final table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,813,000
862,000
|
862,000 |
|
Busted |
Play has resumed with 36 minutes remaining in the level.
| Seat | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Lawrence |
| 2 | Jason Smith |
| 3 | Ken Pates |
| 4 | Brian Soja |
| 5 | Harry Behling |
| 6 | Tony Lazar |
| 7 | Mike Lang |
| 8 | Jerome Getz |
| 9 | Mike Wilmes |
| 10 | Dennis Stevermer |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,079,000
79,000
|
79,000 |
|
1,593,000
443,000
|
443,000 |
|
|
951,000
-249,000
|
-249,000 |
|
|
817,000
417,000
|
417,000 |
|
812,000
650,000
|
650,000 |
|
619,000
89,000
|
89,000 |
|
|
572,000
-128,000
|
-128,000 |
|
|
558,000
88,000
|
88,000 |
|
524,000
-76,000
|
-76,000 |
|
290,000
179,000
|
179,000 |
Action folded to Brian Zekus, who shoved all in for 292,000. Tony Lazar called in the small blind.
Lazar: 
Zekus: 
Zekus' dominated hand improved considerably on the 
flop. The paired the board on the turn, no help to Zekus. A 
river meant the final table was set, and a disappointed Zekus silently pushed his stack into the middle.
Players are moving to the final table, at which point stacks will be counted and a dinner break will commence.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Level: 25
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 4,000
When we got to Table 2, Mike Wilmes was announcing a bet of 260,000 on the end with the board reading 
. Jason Smith called relatively quickly, and Wilmes showed 
for a turned broadway straight.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,000,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
|
|
530,000
-390,000
|
-390,000 |
Mike Lang raised to 50,000 on the button, and Harry Behling pushed all in for about 260,000 in the big blind. Lang called.
Lang:
Behling: 
A flop of 
gave Lang top pair, while Behling had a gutter.
"Put a heart out there," Brian Zekus said.
The dealer obliged with the , giving Behling additional outage. The river meant the final table bubbled continued.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,200,000
-150,000
|
-150,000 |
|
|
600,000
469,200
|
469,200 |
Mike Wilmes opened for 55,000 in the cutoff, and Mike Schneider jammed for about 250,000 on the button. Jason Smith woke up with a reshove in the small blind, and Wilmes followed the big blind into the muck.
Smith: 
Schneider: 
Smith was in a very comfortable spot, and the 
flop brought Schneider nothing. A brought a backdoor prayer, but the 
river signaled the end for longtime CardRunners pro "Schneids."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
920,000
420,000
|
420,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 24
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 4,000
