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Thursday, May 31, 2012 6:05 PM Local Time
The best floorman in the business, Robbie Thompson, is making the introductions and we should be underway shortly.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 5:02 PM Local Time
After the last significant hand that saw Koon take a monster lead, Naydenov's short stack got all in on the next hand.
Koon:
Naydenov:
The board ran and the river nine punched Koon's ticket to the Final against Leif Force.
| Jason Koon | 2,034,000 | 882,000  |
| Simeon Naydenov | 0 | -1,152,000  |
Thursday, May 31, 2012 5:01 PM Local Time
Jason Koon slipped back after three-bet folding in the last hand. He was not to do that again.
Simeon Naydenov opened and then shoved when Koon three-bet. Koon made a quick call all-in for his remaining 963,000.
Koon:
Naydenov:
The board ran to pair Koon's queen. Naydenov very short now.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 4:48 PM Local Time
This NLHE level was a fairly cagey affair with few pots getting beyond the flop. One did but that pot was checked all the way down.
Then we had an all-in but no call.
Simeon Naydenov open to 60,000 to face a 160,000 three-bet from Jason Koon. He responded but four-betting all-in for more than a million chips, and that forced Koon to fold.
They're almost even in chips again now.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 4:48 PM Local Time
Level: 5
Blinds: 15000/30000
Ante: 0
Thursday, May 31, 2012 4:41 PM Local Time
After bleeding chips for the better part of an hour the last hand for Julian Powell sealed his fate. They got it all in preflop with Powell at risk.
Showdown
Force:
Powell:
The board ran and Force will play for the bracelet this evening on the Main Stage.
| Leif Force | 2,034,000 | 882,000 |
| Julian Powell | 0 | -1,152,000 |
Thursday, May 31, 2012 4:35 PM Local Time
Jason Koon was really upping the pressure after he took the lead, and had Simeon Naydenov down to a little more than 300,000 before another big one.
Koon raised to 52,000 and Naydenov called to see a flop.
Naydenov check-raised all-in after Koon continued for 100,000. Koon was committed and called.
Koon: for top pair, overs, and backdoor flush draw.
Naydenov: for two-pair.
The board ran out . Koon picked up the flush draw but his opponent filled up on the river.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 4:35 PM Local Time
Julian Powell is on his last bullet and has been leaking chips. He just opened to 40,000 and Leif Force potted to 120,000 and Powell called. The flop came and Force immediately put out enough chips to put Powell all in.
After a short tank Powell folded, leaving himself with around 260,000.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 4:20 PM Local Time
Jason Koon has a six-to-four advantage now after a big double-up.
Simeon Naydenov opened to 32,000 and called when Koon three-bet to 80,000.
The flop fell and Koon continued for 84,000. Naydenov shoved and Koon said, "Okay then" and called.
Naydenov: for middle pair.
Koon: for top pair.
The board ran out .
Naydenov cashed in his final two lammers.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 4:05 PM Local Time
Julian Powell has busted his first lammer and that ends their 'show and tell' game.
All the chips went in on the turn of a board.
Powell had picked the out of Leif Force's hand and he was showing .
Force:
Powell:
Force took the hand with a winning straight for two-to-one chip lead.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:55 PM Local Time
While they are on their first bullet and only during the PLO rounds Julian Powell and Leif Force have decided they would each expose one random card from their hands. It's a pretty fun and exciting way to play PLO.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:52 PM Local Time
Jason Koon is the only player thus far that has cashed in one of his rebuy lammers.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:46 PM Local Time
The match between Julian Powell and Leif Force has been a much slower affair than the Koon vs Naydenov match. There's been a lot of checking and min-raising without much happening at showdown.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:43 PM Local Time
Jason Koon cashed in his second lammer after that pot and is putting those chips to better use.
He min raised the button, checked the flop, bet 21,000 on the turn, and 43,000 on the river.
The final board read and Simeon Naydenov matched him all the way.
Koon opened [ for trips and Naydenov mucked.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:36 PM Local Time
Simeon Naydenov just gave Jason Koon the poker version of a slap on the wrist in their match.
Naydenov opened to 12,000 and Koon called to see the flop.
Naydenov continued for 16,000 and was check-raised to 37,000 by Koon. Naydenov three-bet to 86,000 and when Koon clicked it back he shoved. Koon snap-folded.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:23 PM Local Time
Round 8 has begun and cards are in the air.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 3:20 PM Local Time
Semifinal Matchups
| Jason Koon | vs | Simeon Naydenov |
| Leif Force | vs | Julian Powell |
Thursday, May 31, 2012 2:47 PM Local Time
Due to the late finish of the Merkow vs Powell match, the start time for Round 8 will be at 4:15 instead of 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 31, 2012 2:45 PM Local Time
The match turned into a shove-fest this level as the blinds had gotten very big.
Powell open shoved and Merkow looked down at a monster and called all-in for 478,000.
Powell:
Merkow:
Powell couldn't believe the cooler in front of him and pleaded for a five.
The board ran to give the Australian what he wanted. He'll advance to play Leif Force in the semi-finals.
| Julian Powell | 1,152,000 | 576,000 |
| Gregg Merkow | 0 | -576,000 |
Thursday, May 31, 2012 2:31 PM Local Time
The pots are staying small and Julian Powell is winning most of them without showdown. Through this PLO level he has gone from even in chips to having a two-to-one advantage over Gregg Merkow.
The inevitable showdown will be coming very soon.