One of the tournament directors came over to Garry Gates and told him to pick a card. Gates drew one of the cards and it was a four, which means the players will be playing four more hands today before coloring up, bagging and tagging.
A player in middle position raised to 8,000, and James Calderaro called from the hijack seat. The flop came and the preflop raiser quickly bet 12,000. Calderaro wasted no time calling. The turn was the and again there came a quick bet from Calderaro's opponent, this time for 20,000. Once more, Calderaro immediately called.
The river brought the , and the pace slowed while the middle position considered what to do. Finally he bet 25,000, and Calderaro instantly called. "Ace," said Calderaro's opponent showing . Calderaro tabled for a straight, beating his opponent's pair and taking the pot.
Calderaro has had a productive evening, moving up to 280,000 as we near the end of play for Day 3.
Jay Carter raised to 7,000 from middle position. The player in the hijack seat called and then Joe Tehan reraised from the small blind to 15,100. Jean-Robert Bellande called from the big blind, Carter called and then the hijack seat called.
The four players took the flop and Tehan checked. Bellande bet 33,000 and Carter called. The hijack seat raised all in for approximately 300,000 and Tehan folded. Bellande folded and then Carter called all in for 137,800. Carter held the and the hijack seat the . It was open-ended straight draw versus bottom set.
The turn was the and the river the . When the river hit and landed Carter's straight, he yelled, "Big Shirley never loses!"
Garry Gates opened in early position, Phil Hellmuth three-bet near the button, and Gates called. The dealer fanned , and both players checked.
The turn was the , and Gates checked again. Hellmuth tossed out 17,000, and Gates moved all in. Hellmuth jumped in his chair, and threw his hands on his head.
"This guy raises fifty times!" Hellmuth griped. He then muttered a few more unpleasantries under his breath before folding.
"Did you call me a monkey, Phil?" Gates asked.
"You don't even speak the language," Hellmuth shot at him.
"You're right," Gates said sarcastically. "I don't speak the language. I'm a monkey."
"You play so bad against me," Hellmuth added.
"That's why I'm raking in the pot," Gates returned, grinning.
"I wish I had today all over again," Hellmuth continued. "This guy raises 50 million times."
"I march to the beat of a different drum, Phil," Gates professed.
The two continued jawing, and we'll keep our eye on the sparring during the last few minutes of play.
Max Heinzelmann opened the action by raising to 6,500 preflop and he received one call from Daniel Negreanu in the big blind. The flop came down and Negreanu checked. Heinzelmann pushed out a continuation bet of 7,600 and Negreanu made the call.
Fourth street brought the and Negreanu checked once more. Heinzelmann counted out a bet of 14,500 and tossed it into the middle. Negreanu called and the river came . Negreanu checked for a third time and Heinzelmann put one more bet into the pot, this time making the magic number 33,700.
Negreanu leaned back in his chair and the contemplation began. After what looked like talking through several scenarios to himself, Negreanu pushed out a call and tabled . Heinzelmann mucked his hand and Negreanu was able to drag in a fair sized pot.
Allen Cunningham, in late position, and a player under the gun went to a flop of . There was 14,000 in the pot and the UTG player bet 8,200. Cunningham called and the turn fell . Both players checked to the river of . The UTG player checked, Cunningham bet 10,000 and the player folded.
Naturally, as soon as we walk away from vulturing his table, Patrik Antonius finds the hand to go with. We didn't see what it was, but we did see him walking out the door with that freshly eliminated look on his face.
With the board showing , an early position player checked and Phil Hellmuth fired 30,000. His opponent called. The river brought the and another check from Hellmuth's opponent. The 11-time bracelet winner promptly announced he was all in, and spent the next minute counting out his chips -- 48,700. His opponent thought about ten seconds, then sent his cards dealerward.
Hellmuth showed his hand -- -- and scooped the pot. He opened the next hand with a raise to 7,500 and claimed the blinds and antes, carrying him up close to 110,000 as we move into the final half-hour of play tonight.
Shannon Shorr opened for 7,000 in the cutoff and Brian Park called from the button. The blinds released and the flop came . Shorr check-called 10,000 and the turn came . Both players checked and the river came . Shorr bet out 12,000 and Park folded.
Shorr is at 320,000 and Park is sitting on 775,000.
Action moved around to a player in late position and he raised to 6,500. Sorel Mizzi called on the button and the flop produced the flop. The preflop raiser bet 11,000 and Mizzi raised to 26,500. His opponent called.
The turn was the and the first player checked. Mizzi fired 40,000 and his opponent check-raised all in, having Mizzi covered. Mizzi called for 91,500 total and tabled a full house with the in the hole. His opponent had the and was chasing a ten or an eight to bust Mizzi.
The river completed the board with the and Mizzi doubled up.