2008 World Series of Poker

Event 27 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 3
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
$628,417
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$3,693,690
Entries
2,706
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
15,000

Tension Relief on the Rail

After a few bust-outs and a few double-ups, chip stacks are a bit more evenly dispersed than they were an hour ago. Play has predictably tightened, with none of the remaining players willing to get too many chips in the middle without a lock hand. That hasn't stopped the spectators on the rail from continuing their enthusiastic, raucous support. Several spectators have been pounding beer at an impressive rate; we even spotted one guy who was double-fisting.

Updated Chip Counts

Vitaly Lunkin - 2,000,000
Trevor Donaldson - 950,000
Barry Schultz - 635,000
Kenneth Terrell - 950,000
Richard Alm - 460,000
Bobby Firestone - 1,400,000
Brett Kimes - 1,200,000

Heading South

Barry Schultz raises from under the gun and finds a caller in the shape of chip leader, Vitaly Lunkin, in the small blind.

The flop comes {Q-Diamonds} {Q-Clubs} {10-Clubs}.

Lunkin checks to Schultz who continues his aggression with a 150,000 bet. Lunkin responds by raising this up to 375,000. Schultz shakes his head and folds.

Schultz is down to 580,000 now.
Lunkin breaks the two million mark with 2,075,000

Tags: Barry SchultzVitaly Lunkin

Robert Brown Eliminated in 8th Place ($84,954)

Robert Brown eliminated
Robert Brown eliminated
Time was running out for Robert Brown. With just 250,000 chips remaining, he decided to make his stand holding {Q-Hearts} {J-Hearts} in the big blind after Trevor Donaldson raised to 120,000 from middle position. Donaldson made the call and showed {A-Diamonds} {Q-Spades}, dominating Brown. The board helped neither player when it came {K-Diamonds} {5-Hearts} {3-Diamonds} {7-Spades} {K-Hearts}. Donaldson, who just recently was short, is now sitting on a much healthier stack.

Brown collects $84,954 to ease the pain of his departure.

Another Double-Up

Moments later it's folded around to Richard Alm who pushes his last 250,000 over the line trying to steal the blinds. He finds a caller though from Brett Kimes in the small blind.

Alm tables {K-Hearts} {10-Hearts} and is happy to see his cards are live as Kimes shows {A-Spades} {Q-Hearts}.

All the way to the river we go: {9-Spades} {6-Clubs} {10-Spades} {8-Clubs} {K-Clubs}

Cheers comes from Alm's supporters on the rail as he doubles up to over 500,000.

Tags: Brett KimesRichard Alm

Donaldson Doubles Up at the Last Possible Moment

With the final table bubble burst, players are once again looking to mix it up. Trevor Donaldson moved all in for his last 300,000 and was called by Kenneth Terrell. It was a classic race, with Donaldson tabling {5-Hearts} {5-Spades} and Terrell opening {A-Diamonds} {Q-Diamonds}.

The flop came down {A-Clubs} {7-Diamonds} {4-Spades}, drawing a raucous cheer from Terrell's supporters, who had been pleading, "Ace! Ace! Please, one time!" The turn {J-Spades} didn't help Donaldson. He was down to one river card, which had to be one of the two remaining fives. The dealer burned and turned the {5-Clubs}, eliciting a roar from the crowd and a look of pained disgust from Terrell.

He is now down to about one million in chips; Donaldson has some breathing room with 600,000.

Tags: Kenneth TerrellTrevor Donaldson

Tony Gargano Eliminated in 10th Place ($36,567)

Tony Gargano eliminated
Tony Gargano eliminated
On the first hand after the break, action folded to Tony Gargano in the small blind. He moved all in for just over 400,000. Vitality Lunkin, sitting in the big blind, peeked at his cards and snap-called. Gargano was live with {Q-Diamonds} {2-Clubs}, but behind the {A-Diamonds} {J-Diamonds} of Lunkin. A flop of {8-Clubs} {A-Spades} {9-Clubs} had Gargano drawing slim; when the turn came {3-Hearts} he was drawing dead. The {4-Diamonds} on the river completed the board.

Gargano bubbles off the final table, but earns $36,567 for his performance during the last three days.

We will now have a short break while the final table is introduced to the spectators.

Tags: Tony GarganoVitaliy Lunkin

Level: 23

Blinds: 20,000/40,000

Ante: 5,000