Friday, June 24, 2011 9:29 AM Local Time
Thomas Middleton | 4,030,000 | 0 |
Mikhail Lakhitov | 2,705,000 | 0 |
Hassan Babajane | 2,365,000 | 0 |
Eddy Sabat | 2,030,000 | 0 |
Thomas Miller | 1,885,000 | 0 |
Friday, June 24, 2011 1:52 AM Local Time
We've reached the requisite ten-level mark, and the chips have been bagged up for one more overnight soak.
Once again, we're going to spare a lot of words here; our ears are ringing from the commotion we've just witnessed over the last four hours or so.
From our starting field of 1,734, just five players remain in the hunt for the bracelet. One of them, Thomas Middleton, was the one responsible for most of the noise tonight as his cheering section of countrymen were well lubricated with alcohol and very much a part of the battle being played out before them. Beers were imbibed from shoes -- yep, true story -- spilled onto the floor, and poured two-by-two down the throats of all in attendance as the dull roar rose to a deafening thunder of chanting by night's end.
And there's reason to cheer. Middleton is atop the pack heading into the final day, but the bracelet can not be won by his fans on the rail tomorrow. He'll have to deal with another Thomas on his left, Thomas Miller who held the chip lead for most of the day until a slide late in the evening. Also still in the hunt for his first bracelet is former APPT champion Eddy Sabat, and the two wild cards, Mikhail Lakhitov of Russia and Hassan Babajane from Boston.
The five of them will be back inside the Amazon Room Friday afternoon at 2:30pm to finish this thing out. Here's how they'll stack up when play recommences:
Player | Chips |
Thomas Middleton | 4,030,000 |
Mikhail Lakhitov | 2,705,000 |
Hassan Babajane | 2,365,000 |
Eddy Sabat | 2,030,000 |
Thomas Miller | 1,885,000 |
That's all we have for tonight, and our eardrums need some time to recover. We'll be back in about 12 hours, though, and one of these five men will own their first gold bracelet by the time the day is done.
Until then, all that's left is goodnight!
Friday, June 24, 2011 1:51 AM Local Time
In what has to be the biggest pot of the tournament Thomas Middleton made it 200,000 to go from the small blind. Thomas Miller called from the big blind and they went to the flop of . Middleton bet out 250,000 and Miller didn't waste much time calling.
The turn came and after a moment of thought Middleton pushed out 550,000. Miller sat for a moment and slid out chips to call. The river brought the and Middleton moved all in for a little over 2,000,000. Miller went deep into the tank and sat motionless. With a 4,000,000 pot on the line Miller didn't make a decision for a few minutes.
Miller finally slid his cards to the dealer and the British rail went nuts.
Friday, June 24, 2011 1:29 AM Local Time
Under the gun, Hassan Babajane opened to 175,000, and he found a call from Eddy Sabat in the big blind. Heads up, the flop came , and Sabat check-called a bet of 175,000 from Babajane. That led them to the turn, and Sabat checked again. This time, Babajane fired out what looked like 500,000 straight, and Sabat cut his stack down, thought it over, and released.
Friday, June 24, 2011 1:24 AM Local Time
The Brits are now downing beers -- that they poured in their shoes. They chant "Shoe bomb, shoe bomb, shoe bomb!" and then they chug. We've seen one individual chug three beers out of his shoe -- and then put it back on.
Friday, June 24, 2011 1:21 AM Local Time
Thomas Miller opened for 185,000 on the button and Eddy Sabat moved in from the small blind. Miller called and tabled and Sabat revealed . The board ran and Sabat doubled to three million.
Friday, June 24, 2011 1:11 AM Local Time
First in from the button, Mikhail Lakhitov opened to 175,000, and Hassan Babajane flatted in the small blind. From the big, Thomas Middleton squeezed all in for about 2 million total. "In your eye! In your eye!" come the chants from the rail. Lakhitov reluctantly folded, and Babajane frowned and spun his cards into the muck as well.
And the crowd goes wild!
Friday, June 24, 2011 1:00 AM Local Time
Thomas Miller | 4,300,000 | 200,000 |
Hassan Babajane | 2,625,000 | 1,025,000 |
Mikhail Lakhitov | 2,325,000 | -625,000 |
Thomas Middleton | 2,050,000 | 600,000 |
Eddy Sabat | 1,600,000 | -600,000 |
Friday, June 24, 2011 1:00 AM Local Time
Mikhail Lakhitov opened for 175,000 on the button and Hasan Babajane insta-shoved from the small blind. Lakhitov called and tabled and Lakhitov tabled . The board ran and Babajane doubled up.
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:54 AM Local Time
Level: 30
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 10000
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:50 AM Local Time
From the button, Thomas Miller opened to 125,000, and Matthew Berkey three-bet shoved for about 1.4 million from the small blind. Miller snap-called, then fist-pumped as he knew his was in front. It's the second time we've seen Berkey three-bet shove in this spot, and just like last time, he had ace-rag this time: .
Unlike the last time, however, Berkey could not find his three-out life saver. The board ran out , and Miller and his rail enjoyed a huge celebration at Berkey's expense. The latter is out in 6th place, good for the first six-figure payout of this event. It's worth $119,528, and it's a fine consolation for the pro as he exits his first career WSOP final table.
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:30 AM Local Time
We've been trying to find a way to describe the atmosphere in here right now, but it's almost beyond words. Suffice it to say that there's essentially constant yelling from the British fans, covering the range of topics from Tim Henman to "Port-a-Loos" to the local tourist bar, Stoney's. It's mostly nonsense, and they've begun to press in along the rails as the hands go on and the beverages continue to flow. Just now, one of them (Matt Perrins) spilled an entire beer over the ropes and onto the stage of the secondary featured table. Security is having a word with the gentlemen right now.
This party might be coming to an end as security begins to encircle the group.
Or maybe not. From across the rail, the Americans are now shouting, "Let them stay! Let them stay!"
Even the big man Dennis walked over to talk to the group. He couldn't get a word in as everyone began screaming, "Dennis, give us a wave. Dennis, Dennis, give us a wave!" They spilled beer on his shoes, but he just laughed and asked them one more time to behave themselves.
If we had one word to describe the scene, we'd go with "chaos". If we had two, we'd take "utter chaos". A pair of security guards have just escorted Perrins away from the table, and they had to deal with a barrage of full-throated chants and name calling as they tried to sort out the situation.
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:28 AM Local Time
Matthew Berkey opened to 150,000 on the button and Eddy Sabat called from the small blind. The flop came and both players checked. The turn came and Sabat led out with 60,000. Berkey raised to 200,000 and Sabat folded after some thought.
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:20 AM Local Time
Mikhail Lakhitov | 2,950,000 | 135,000 |
Thomas Miller | 2,700,000 | -250,000 |
Eddy Sabat | 2,200,000 | 450,000 |
Matthew Berkey | 1,800,000 | 100,000 |
Hassan Babajane | 1,600,000 | -650,000 |
Thomas Middleton | 1,450,000 | 50,000 |
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:19 AM Local Time
Matthew Berkey raised to 150,000 to open the pot, and Eddy Sabat called to see a flop. It came , and Berkey continued out with another 185,000 chips. Sabat quickly called, and they checked through the turn. On the river, the drew one last check from Berkey, and Sabat took his cue to bet 220,000 at the pot.
Berkey spent some time shuffling chips, then spoke up. "I feel like you have king-queen just as often as you have, like, pocket sevens." With that, he mustered the courage and slid the call forward. Sabat tabled , and Berkey quickly and quietly mucked.
Sabat is up to 2.2 million now after hanging out in the basement for a while.
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:12 AM Local Time
Thomas Miller opened for 125,000 from the button and Eddy Sabat called from the big blind. The flop came and both players checked. The turn came and Sabat check-called 105,000 from Miller. The river came and both players checked. Sabat turned over and Miller mucked.
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:04 AM Local Time
In a battle of the blinds, Thomas Middleton opened to 150,000, and Thomas Miller eyed up his stack and made the call.
Both men checked through the flop, and Middleton check-called a bet of 160,000 on the turn. The river brought the , and both players checked again. Middleton flipped over , but Miller's was best at showdown.
"Middy" is down to about 1.4 million now.
Friday, June 24, 2011 12:02 AM Local Time
Eddy Sabat opened for a raise on the button and Mikhail Lakhitov and Hassan Babajane came along in the blinds. The flop came and all three players checked. The turn came , Lakhitov bet out 100,000, Babajane folded and Sabat raised to 230,000. Lakhitov called and the river came . Both players checked and Lakhitov turned over and Sabat mucked.
Thursday, June 23, 2011 11:54 PM Local Time
Mikhail Lakhitov | 2,815,000 | 410,000 |
Thomas Miller | 2,650,000 | -950,000 |
Hassan Babajane | 2,250,000 | 950,000 |
Eddy Sabat | 1,750,000 | -265,000 |
Thomas Middleton | 1,705,000 | 5,000 |
Matthew Berkey | 1,700,000 | 760,000 |
Thursday, June 23, 2011 11:53 PM Local Time
Level: 29
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 10000