Event 16: In the Money!

$350 + $50 NL

They got to 30 players and broke table 4, spreading the big-stacks among the other three tables. Three more players would leave with nothing.

After a raise to 6,800, a short-stack moved all-in for 10,600 more. The raiser called, showing A5 suited. The short-stack held K4 off. The board came J 4 2 8 3 and the raiser made a wheel to take the pot.

One down. 29 players remain.

Seat 4 limped. Todd Rebello raised to 6,700. Seat 9 called. Seat 1 (small blind) was all-in for 2,500. The big blind came along for the flop of Q 7 6 with two clubs. Seat 4 bet 10k. Todd called. Seat 9 folded. Turn was an offsuit 9 and seat 4 bet 70k. Todd gave it some thought, then folded. The all-in player held pocket 5s and needed an 8 on the river because seat 4 held pocket 6s for a set. River was a Ten, however, and seat 4 took both pots.

Two down. 28 players remain. Bubble-time. Hand-for-hand play.

Christopher Smith opened for 8k and Vinny Scavo (Yardley, PA) called. Seat 10 came along from the big blind. The flop came J J T rainbow. Christopher checked, Vinny bet 12k, seat 10 folded, Christopher check-raised to 42k straight, Vinny moved all-in (64,400) and Christopher called.

Vinny showed him pocket Aces. Christopher held KQ suited for the open-ender. He needed a 9 or an Ace (which were in short supply). But the last two cards came 5 2 and Vinny doubled up. He's now the chip leader with over 240k. Christopher was left with less than 7k.

Vinny Scavo

On the next hand, Christopher moved all-in for 6,400 and both blinds called. They checked down the board of K J 4 5 7. Christopher showed QJ for a pair of Jacks, but the small blind held AJ for the same pair with better kicker.

Christopher Smith was busted in 28th place, earning the title of today's bubble-boy (and nothing else).

The final 27 players are now all in the money. They also moved up a level to blinds of 1,500/3,000 with 400 antes.