Level: 19
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Thunder Valley
$3,250 High Roller
Day: 2
Level 18
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The nine remaining players are off on another 15-minute break.
Level 18
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Ian Steinman was just seen raking in a decently-sized pot with a full runout on board that was in the process of being scooped up by the dealer after sending Steinman the pot. He confirmed afterwards that he had taken the pot down versus Mrityunjay Jha.
A few hands later, Steinman took a small amount more from Jha. He opened to 12,000 from under the gun and Jha called from the button. They went heads up to a flop of 
and Steinman put out a continuation-bet for another 12,000. Jha folded.
With the pots, Steinman now finds himself over a half-million, while Jha is now under 100,000 in chips, making him one of the short stacks with less than 10 minutes left on the clock in Level 18.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
525,500
144,000
|
144,000 |
|
||
|
90,000
-101,000
|
-101,000 |
Level 18
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Mrityunjay Jha opened the action with a raise to 16,000 from early position and was called by Bryant Miller, who was on the button. Action went heads up to a flop of 
and Jha continued, betting 17,000. Miller thought for a few moments and put out a raise to 35,000, just barely more than the minimum.
Jha then found action back on him and went into the tank for about 45 seconds before sending his cards to the dealer to give up contention of the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
263,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
|
191,000
-30,000
|
-30,000 |
Level 18
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Mike Heshmati raised to 16,000 from middle position and was called by Mrityunjay Jha out of the cutoff. The two went heads up to a flop of 
and Heshmati fired a continuation-bet of 16,500. Jha called.
The turn came 
and Heshmati checked. Jha took the initiative and made a bet of 26,000. Heshmati quickly folded and Jha took down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
221,000
36,000
|
36,000 |
|
172,000
-33,500
|
-33,500 |
The final table is off to a slow start, with only one hand of note in the first ten-or-so minutes. Kelly Minkin opened and called a three-bet all in by Ryan Awwad. Both players had ace-king and locked up a chop by the turn on the runout. Here are some photos to keep you entertained as play continues.
Level: 18
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
Level 17
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
| Table | Seat | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Mrityunjay Jha | 185,000 | 37 |
| 1 | 2 | Kelly Minkin | 127,500 | 26 |
| 1 | 3 | Russell Garrett | 124,000 | 25 |
| 1 | 4 | Ian Steinman | 381,500 | 76 |
| 1 | 5 | Bryant Miller | 253,000 | 51 |
| 1 | 6 | Ryan Awwad | 86,000 | 17 |
| 1 | 7 | Noel Rodriguez | 204,500 | 41 |
| 1 | 8 | Mike Heshmati | 205,500 | 41 |
| 1 | 9 | Niv Decalo | 92,500 | 19 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
381,500
45,500
|
45,500 |
|
|
||
|
|
253,000
13,500
|
13,500 |
|
|
205,500
-21,500
|
-21,500 |
|
204,500
9,500
|
9,500 |
|
|
185,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
127,500
-37,500
|
-37,500 |
|
124,000
-7,000
|
-7,000 |
|
92,500
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
86,000
6,000
|
6,000 |
Level 17
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Mrityunjay Jha opened to 11,000 from the hijack and received a call from Bryant Miller, who was in the small blind. Mike Lancaster was in the big blind and squeezed, reshoving all in for the last of his chips. Jha folded and Miller called.
Mike Lancaster: 
Bryant Miller: 
Lancaster was in need of spiking an ace or a jack in order to score a double and make his way back into contention. He was unable to improve beyond Miller's nines upon the completion of the runout 
, resulting in his departure from the tournament in 10th place.
Players are in the process of redrawing for an unofficial final table of nine, with only two more eliminations needed before play reaches the money. An updated seat draw and list of chip counts will be provided shortly.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
239,500
199,500
|
199,500 |
|
|
170,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 17
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Mrityunjay Jha saw action folded to him and limped in from the button. He went heads up to a flop of 
with Noel Rodriguez, who checked his option from the big blind. Both players checked.
The turn came and Rodriguez checked again. Jha bet 7,000 and received a call from Rodriguez. The river fell 
and Rodriguez check-called a final bet of 11,000 from Jha.
Upon being called, Jha tabled 
for kings full of jacks. Rodriguez mucked and the dealer sent the pot Jha's way.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
195,000
-61,000
|
-61,000 |
|
|
190,000
58,000
|
58,000 |