We couldn't hear the preflop action, catching up as the dealer spread out a . Ali Eslami was out of position, and he checked to his lone opponent. It was Tim West on the button, and West fired out a bet of 63,000 which Eslami called.
On the turn, the drew another check and a bet as West made it a healthy 175,000 to go. After some time debating, Eslami slid a couple towers of calling chips into the pot.
That led them to the river, and Eslami checked one last time. West spent a couple minutes considering his play, cutting out chips to bet with and then re-stacking them. It was about two minutes before he surrendered, saying, "Okay, you got it." West held his cards out over the muck as he waited for Eslami to show.
Eslami tabled for a pair of nines, and West dropped his cards into the garbage pile.
That's the biggest pot we've seen in a while, and it helps bolster his chip lead in a big way. Eslami has about 1.4 million now, while West falls back under that million-chip mark.
Steve Brecher raised to 40,000 and D.J. Blanchard called from the big blind to see the flop come down . Blanchard checked and Brecher checked behind.
The turn brought the and Blanchard checked a second time. Brecher moved all in and Blanchard snapped him off, tabling the for a turned top set. Brecher held the and was drawing dead.
The river completed the board with the and Blanchard doubled up, although we're unsure of the amount. Brecher was left with just about 100,000 in chips.
Under the gun, Tim West made it 38,000 to go before Steve Brecher three-bet shoved for a bit less than 300,000 total. When the rest of the table folded, West spent some time in the tank as he finished stacking up that last pot. After some time to consider, West flashed a card (likely an ace), and returned his cards to the dealer face-down.
From under the gun, Ali Eslami raised to 39,000. Tim West flatted in position on the button and everyone else folded. The flop came down and it was a battle of the two largest stacks at the table.
First up, Eslami fired a 72,000-chip continuation bet. West took a minute and then raised, making it 180,000 to go. The dealer pulled in the 72,000 from each player and left the 108,000 in front of West as his raise amount. Eslami tanked and then gave it up.
West now looks to be over a million in chips and inched a bit closer to Eslami by taking this pot.
D.J. Blanchard raised to 36,000 in the middle seat, and Tim West and Steve Brecher folded in turn. When it came to David Peters in the big blind, though, he reraised all in for 161,000 total. Blanchard thought it over for a bit before mucking, and Peters moves back over 200,000.
From under the gun, David Peters raised to 42,000. D.J. Blanchard moved all in for about 200,000 from the button and action folded to Steve Brecher in the big blind. He thought for a minute and then folded his hand. Peters folded shortly after and Blanchard won the pot.
From under the gun, Steve Brecher raised to 40,000. Ali Eslami reraised from the button to 110,000. Action folded back to Brecher and he thought for a minute before giving it up.
It's always good to get a feel for what the players have to think about the final table while they're actually playing it. Even though we provide plenty of updates of the action, we aren't inside the heads of the players and can't read their minds, although sometimes we try. If you're interested in seeing what they have to say themselves, you can always check them out on Twitter.
Our two chip leaders both have accounts. If you'd like to follow Ali Eslami, his Twitter name is @Indigoae. Tim West's is @TheTmay. Also, don't forget to follow @PokerNews and @PokerNews_live for all the latest in poker news and updates!
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. Ali Eslami was out of position, and he checked to his lone opponent. It was Tim West on the button, and West fired out a bet of 63,000 which Eslami called.
drew another check and a bet as West made it a healthy 175,000 to go. After some time debating, Eslami slid a couple towers of calling chips into the pot.
river, and Eslami checked one last time. West spent a couple minutes considering his play, cutting out chips to bet with and then re-stacking them. It was about two minutes before he surrendered, saying, "Okay, you got it." West held his cards out over the muck as he waited for Eslami to show.
for a pair of nines, and West dropped his cards into the garbage pile.
. Blanchard checked and Brecher checked behind.
for a turned top set. Brecher held the 
and was drawing dead.
and Blanchard doubled up, although we're unsure of the amount. Brecher was left with just about 100,000 in chips.
and it was a battle of the two largest stacks at the table.
