Event 20: Hand-for-Hand

$1500 + $150 NL

Twice the short stacks have doubled. Jack Schanbacher hits a set with pocket 6s, doubling through Kalteux at table 1.

On table 3, Ilias Barkoutsis shoves all in for 92k on a board of 10♣ 4♣ 8♦. Rob Saltiel tanks and calls. Barkoutsis has A 10 vs. Saltiel's Q 10. Saltiel picks up a flush draw on the turn, but doesn't connect.

The two short stacks: Ted Geier (table 1) and James Newton (table 3) who are both around 50k.

Level 16 (3k/6k/500 ante) is underway.

Event 20: Stop, Bubble Time

$1500 + $150 NL

22nd - Vinny Pahjula (Hicksville, NY), A Q vs the 33 of Bob Kalteux for 45k.

21st - Mike Leah (Las Vegas, NV via Canada), when he shoves 70k with 5 5. Kalteux calls with K Q off after opening for 10k. Flop brings a king and Kalteux takes his stack to 350k.

20th - Dan Jiacopello (Egg Harbor, NJ), is all in for 60k with A 9 off vs A A of Will Heger. The case ace flops with a nine and Heger's gone.

Event 20: 22 Left

$1500 + $150 NL

Table three is down another man when Carl Restifo (Waretown, NJ) shoves 41k with A 8. Gordon Eng calls with JJ and the board runs clean. Restifo is out in 23rd place, while Eng takes his stack to 190k.

4 more eliminations until the money, the average stack is now 147k.

Event 20: Doubling with Quads

$1500 + $150 NL

Dan Jiacopello is all in for 66k with K♣ Q♣ vs the J♦ J♠ of Jeremy McLaughlin (Washington, D.C.). The flop brings the K♦, the turn brings the K♠ and the river brings the K♥. Quad kings for Jiacopello and 130k, while the hand cripples McLaughlin to less than 15k before busing two hands later in 24th place.

Event 20: Bubble Watch

$1500 + $150 NL

The remaining 24 players are on break and Sirous Jamshidi has added to his chip lead and is up to 480k.

The short stacks are:

Vinny Pahuja 47k (Table 1)
Dan Jiacopello 48k (Table 2)
Mark Pelusso 62k (Table 3)
Ray Shackelford 64k (Table 3)

The average stack is 135k, as Level 15 (2k/4k/400 ante) is set to roll.

Event 20: 3 Down

$1500 + $150 NL

One player at each of the three remaining tables bust early on Day 2. Todd Rebello (Oak Bluffs, MA) is crippled by the two pairs (queens and nines) of Alan Sterberg and eliminated shortly there after.

Maurice Hawkins (Tamarac, FL) loses with pocket 10s when Ilias Barkoutsis' pocket 9s turns a set and rivers a boat. "The worst part," says Hawkins, "he prematurely exposed his hand so I knew I was ahead when I made the call."

Short stack Michael Huguenot (Pleasantville, NY) is also on the rail, as we're now 6 players from the money.

Event 21: Stragglers

$1000 +$90 NL (6 Max)

Other 6 Max Notables:

"Action" Bob Hwang
Will "The Thrill" Failla
James Boyle
Dave Zietlin

Event 20: Ted's Excellent Adventure

$1500 + $150 NL

Geier Grinding Along

One of the more unlikely players on the cusp of cashing in the $1500 is Ted Geier (Sunnyside, NY), who was down to 1900 chips early in the tournament.

"I was bleeding a lot of chips, but was able to pick up a hand," says Geier who doubled with pocket jacks and used the momentum to get himself off life support.

Geier's roller coaster day got him as high as 225k and ended Day 1 third in chips with 196,900. "I just need to keep playing my game," he says, adding, "I'm looking forward to another long day."

Level 14 (1,500/3k/400 ante) is underway.

Event 20: Back in Action

$1500 + $150 NL

Money Watch at Table 1

The final 27 players are in The Signature Room with the bubble looming. The top 18 cash for a minimum of $3,536 as they vie for the top prize of $72,599.

Chip leader Sirous Jamshidi (347,300) is at table 3 along with one of the short stacks Maurice Hawkins.

Table 1 features three of the five largest stacks, Ted Geier (3rd), Todd Rebello (4th) and Alan Sternberg (5th).

Robert Saltiel is second in chips and is at table 2 along with Keith Crowder, who's below the chip average of 120k. 8 players have 75k or less, as Michael Huguenot is the short stack with 19k.

Action resumes with 15 minutes left on Level 13 (1,200/2,400/300 ante).

Event 21: Who Dat?

$1000 +$90 NL (6 Max)

PLO Champion Anna Wroblewski

The early number is 140 players in the field.

Notables:

Roy Winston
Dwyte Pilgrim
Charlie Hook
Matt Brady
Anna Wroblewski
Ryan Eriquezzo

Early Exit

On the third hand of the tournament, Sheree Bykofsky (1st hand played) flats a three bet from the SB with J♣ 10♣.

The flop is J 9 7 with two hearts. Bykofsky leads out and is raised by Anthony Caruso (Medford, NJ). The button calls and Bykofsky shoves all-in. Caruso calls, while the button tank-folds.

Caruso has a set of 9s and Bykofsky needs a jack for a higher set or an 8 for the straight. The board goes brick, brick and Bykofsky is down to 100, while Caruso doubles his 15k starting stack.

Bykofsky is out two hands later after winning a hand with JJ, but busts with pocket 5s. "Oh well," she says with a good attitude, "it's a beautiful day, I'm not sure what I'm going to do."

Level 2 (50/100) is underway.

Event 21: 6 Packs

$1000 +$90 NL (6 Max)

Calm Before the Storm

The Signature Room is where the 6-handed tournament is being played. A strong field is expected, as this is the last event before the start of the Spring Open Championship and the guaranteed $1 million prize pool.

Players get 15k in chips, the blinds start at 25/50 and levels are 50 minutes long.

Cards are in the air!

Event 20: End of Day One Chip Counts

$1500 + $150 NL

At 2am, they called last hand and after the action ceased, started the chip bag & tag process. Play will resume at noon Saturday and players will get new table and seat assignments when they return.

Here are the chip counts:

Player - Chips
Sirous Jamshidi - 374,300
Rob Saltiel - 267,100
Ted Geier - 196,900
Todd Rebello - 185,700
Alan Sternberg - 173,600
William Heger - 163,800
Dan Jiacopello - 153,100
Gordon Eng - 151,100
Doug Rosen - 146,600
Adam Adler - 130,000
Ilias Barkoutsis - 112,000
Jeremy Shor - 109,800
Jeremy McLaughlin - 106,700
Jack Schanbacher - 101,200
Mike Leah - 92,700
Bob Kalteux - 90,000
Ben Klier - 87,900
Mark Peluso - 84,900
Keith Crowder - 83,900
Ray Shackelford - 75,700
Jim Newton - 71,800
Eric Siegel - 70,000
Vitor Coelho - 67,300
Maurice Hawkins - 66,100
Carl Restifo - 63,400
Vinny Pahuja - 49,000
Mike Huguenot - 19,300

Sirous Jamshidi - Chip Leader

Event 20: Myung Busted; 27 Left

$1500 + $150 NL

Jim Newton opened for 15k, then Ted Geier (button) kicked it up to 40k. Gordon Eng (sb) moved all-in for 58,500. Jim folded and Ted called, showing pocket 7s. Gordon held pocket Kings and was ahead. Then the board came K 9 2 2 Q and Gordon was waaaaayyyy ahead. He doubled up.

After Mike Leah opened for 5,500, John Myung shipped it for 26,300 on top. Mike called, showing A7. John held KQ and would need help to survive. He got none from the board, however, and was busted.

Mike 'GoLeafsGoEh' Leah

The fourth table was busted so there are now three tables of 9 players: 27 total remaining as the last minutes of the night tick away.

Event 20: DeLamos Dusted

$1500 + $150 NL

Peter DeLamos min-raised pre-flop and got called by Rob Saltiel. The flop came 6 4 2 and Peter bet. Rob called. Turn was an 8 and Peter shoved for 114k. Rob snap-called, showing 75 for the nut straight. Peter's pocket pair was drawing dead. They had to count down the stacks, but Rob had him covered. Peter headed for the exit.

28 players remain. 18 get paid. About half an hour left to play tonight.

Event 20: Action Resumes

$1500 + $150 NL

Level 13: Blinds 1,200/2,400 with 300 antes. 29 players are back in action.

They will play until 2am, then bag & tag for the night. Day two will begin at noon Saturday.

Event 20: Young Ousted; Taylor Tossed

$1500 + $150 NL

After Carl Restifo shoved from the button, Jason Young called from the big blind, showing pocket Queens. Carl held KQ and was dominated, but the flop came A A K and Carl took the lead. No help for Jason on the last two streets and Carl doubled up. Jason was left short.

Soon after Jason found himself all-in holding K7, only to run into pocket Jacks. The Jacks held up and Jason was busted.

Jason Young

On the river with a board of A 2 2 3 5, Joseph Taylor got all-in. Doug Rosen tanked for a couple of minutes, then called showing A9 for Aces-up. Joseph mucked his hand and walked away.

29 players remain.

End of level and players are taking ten.

Event 20: Quadzilla Sinks the Boat

$1500 + $150 NL

On a flop of J T 2, William Heger got all-in against Bob Kalteux. William's pocket Tens (middle set) were crushed by Bob's pocket Jacks (top set). But the turn delivered the one-outer case Ten, giving William quadzilla and sinking Bob's full boat. William doubled up.

Robert Scattergood and Alan Breece have busted out.

32 players remain.

Event 20: Gregg's a Goner; Dobrilovic Done

$1500 + $150 NL

Jason Young moved all-in utg for 24,500. Action folded to Tony Gregg in the big blind, who put his last ~7k in, showing AhTh. Jason held pocket 3s. The flop came 5h4d2h giving Jason an open-ended to go with his pair, but giving Tony a flush draw. Turn was an offsuit King and changed nothing. River was the Ac and at first Tony acted as if he had survived with a pair of Aces, but then Jason pointed out that he had made a wheel to claim the pot. Tony headed for the door.

Tom Dobrilovic has also busted out.

Tom Dobrilovic - Done

34 players remain.

Event 20: 50/50 Time

$1500 + $150 NL

They're down to 36 players at four tables. 18 players get paid. That means 50% of the remaining players will get paid and 50% of them will leave with nothing.

Goners: Bob Hwang and Ted Begley.

Action Bob Hwang - No Longer in Action

In an earlier hand, Tony Gregg raised, the button re-raised, Tony announced he was all-in (having the other player well covered) and got he call. Tony showed 52 of clubs (I kid you not). The button held AK off and it held up to double him up.

Now Tony has doubled up Mark Peluso, who held AJ on an Ace-high flop. Tony is running on fumes with less than 8k.

Event 20: Final Four (Tables)

$1500 + $150 NL

9 handed play continues at the final four tables.

Here's a look at the 36 remaining players

Table 1

Seat-Name
1 Maurice Hawkins
2 Jack Schanbacher
3 Jeremy McLaughlin
4 Jim Newton
5 Alan Breece
6 Alan Sternberg
7 Ted Geier
8
9 Mike Leah
10 Gordon Eng

Table 2
Seat-Name
1 Adam Adler
2 Mike Huguenot
3 Peter DeLamos
4 Rob Saltiel
5 Eric Siegel
6 Tom Dobrilovic
7
8 Dan Jiacopello
9 John Myung
10 Keith Crowder

Table 3
Seat-Name
1 Ray Shakelford
2 Mark Peluso
3 Carl Restifo
4 Robert Scattergood
5 Tony Gregg
6 Jason Young
7 Vinny Pahuja
8 Ilias Barkoutsis
9 Todd Rebello
10

Table 4
Seat-Name
1 Vitor Coelho
2 William Heger
3 Jeremy Shor
4 Miguel Borrero
5 Sirous Jamshidi
6 Ben Klier
7 Doug Rosen
8 Bob Kalteux
9
10 Joseph Taylor

The plan is to play until 2 am or 18 players whichever comes first