The flop was contested three-way, although all three players checked it around. The big blind then checked to Hellmuth in the hijack and he bet 8,000. Kevin MacPhee folded on the button and the big blind followed suit.
"Phew!" said Hellmuth, "I'm glad nobody got stubborn, that could have been expensive!"
Scottish pros Niall Farrell and David Vamplew have both crashed out of the $5,000 event and are heading for the warm Las Vegas air. Maybe they will try jump in the late flight of the Monster Stack event?
Ankush Mandavia had what appeared to be a four-bet to 10,100 in front of him when we arrived at Table 442, and Ole Schemion, who had made it 6,000 to go, called after some thinking time. Both players checked the flop, and Mandavia checked again on the turn. Schemion made a tiny bet, 5,500, but Mandavia immediately folded.
"Are you going to report by real names or screen names?" a player at the table jokingly said.
Either way, we certainly need to keep an eye out for the next battle between "wizowizo" and "pistons87," Schemion and Mandavia's handles, respectively.
Two young stars have started Day 2 fast out of the blocks and have almost doubled their stacks. Both Guillaume Diaz of France and Germany's Manig Loeser lost a few chips on the following hand, but they're still in great shape.
A raise to 2,700 from the hijack was called by Diaz on the button and Loeser in the big blind. All three players checked on the flop, and Loeser checked the turn. The hijack made a delayed continuation bet of 5,800 and both of his opponents let their hands go.
Martin Hanowski opened to 3,000 from early position, and Naoya Kihara shoved for 11,100. Shannon Shorr rejammed out of the blinds for about 40,000 and Hanowski called.
Hanowski:
Shorr:
Kihara:
Kihara liked his hand, but it was Shorr who liked the flop: . That left Kihara drawing very thin, but a turn brought him back to life while also giving Hanowski a Broadway straight. The board didn't pair with the river, and the wild-haired German notched a double knockout.
Frederic Soria raised to 2,700 from early position and British pro Oliver Price called on the button. Loni Harwood looked like she may get involved from the big blind, but she eventually passed.
Soria checked to Price on the flop and Price bet 6,300. Soria paused for a few moments before sending his cards to the muck.
Loni Harwood, who claimed her first World Series of Poker bracelet last year, just busted out in a hand we didn't see. It appeared the dealer shipped her stack over to Ana Marquez.