Event #59: $2,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw

Near the end of the last level, Alexander Condon lost another pot to slip down under 40,000, then after the blinds passed him one time he was down to just 24,000.

The big blind reached him again, and David Chiu — sitting to Condon's right — joked with him as he put out his blind.

"Want to play smaller?" asked Chiu. "I'd like that," said Condon with a grin. "Can we play 500/1,000 for a while?"

Alas for Condon, he had to put in the full 6,000 for the big blind. It folded to Eli Elezra on the button who raised, Chiu called, and Condon called as well. Chiu took two, Condon one, and Elezra one. Chiu then checked, Condon bet, and both of his opponents called.

On the second draw Chiu was taking two again and Elezra one, but Condon stood pat. Chiu checked, Condon bet his last 6,000, and both Elezra and Chiu stuck around.

Chiu took two and Elezra one again on the last draw, while Condon continued to stick with his five cards. Chiu and Elezra both checked, and Elezra showed he picked up a   on the end. Chiu had      , and Condon had       to survive.

David Chiu	325,000	40,000
Eli Elezra	205,000	-5,000
Alexander Condon	75,000	10,000

Scott Seiver raised it up from the small blind, and Eric Wasserson three bet from the big. Seiver called, then drew one, while Wasserson drew two. Seiver bet in the dark, and Wasserson called. Seiver stood pat, while Wasserson drew two, and again, Seiver bet in the dark. This time, Wasserson raised, leaving just 8,000 behind. Seiver put Wasserson all in, and he called it off.

Both players stood pat, and Wasserson showed      . It was good enough to beat the       of Seiver, and Wasserson got the full double up to 131,000, while Seiver is down to 215,000.

Scott Seiver	215,000	-95,000
Eric Wasserson	131,000	-11,000

Mike Watson and Eli Elezra just battled in a couple of hands that saw Elezra first cripple Watson, then give chips back to him.

In the first, Watson raised from the cutoff, Elezra three-bet from the big blind, and Watson called. Both took one on the first draw and checked, then both took one again and Elezra check-called a bet from Watson.

On the third draw Elezra stood pat and Watson took one, and when checked to Watson bet again. When Elezra called, Watson said "pair," and Elezra tabled       to win the pot.

Soon they were at it again, and this time Watson was raising from the button and Elezra defending his blind. Betting after the first draw then saw Watson all in. Elezra drew three, then two, then two, while Watson drew three then stood pat thereafter.

Watson made       while Elezra could only make      , and now Watson has nudged back up past Elezra while both still occupy bottom spots in the counts.

Mike Watson	225,000	140,000
Eli Elezra	215,000	75,000

Action folded to Brian Brubaker, who raised it up on the button. Eli Elezra called from the small blind, and David Chiu in the big. Elezra and Chiu drew two, while Brubaker drew three. Elezra fired out, and both his opponents called. This time, Chiu stuck with drawing two, while Elezra and Brubaker drew one. It checked to Brubaker, and he fired out a bet, which was called by both.

On the final draw, Chiu and Elezra took one, while Brubaker patted. Elezra tanked for about 45 seconds before checking, and the other two checked as well. Brubaker showed      , which was good enough to beat both Elezra and Chiu.

David Chiu	210,000	-53,000
Brian Brubaker	195,000	43,000
Eli Elezra	140,000	-40,000

Mike Watson raised it up on the button, and Eli Elezra defended his big blind. Elezra drew one while Watson drew three, and Elezra bet out. Watson called, then Elezra stood pat while Watson drew two. Elezra bet in the dark , and Watson made the call. Elezra stood pat again and Watson drew one card. Elezra checked, as did Watson, and Elezra showed      . Watson folded, dropping him to 85,000 in the process.

Eli Elezra	180,000	64,000
Mike Watson	85,000	-35,000

Sure, the Main Event starts tomorrow. It's already been a wild week full of highlights, too, at the 2013 World Series of Poker, with bracelets awarded in Event #47: $111,111 One Drop High Rollers No-Limit Hold'em, Event #51: $10,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship, and Event #55: The $50,000 Poker Players Championship, just to list a few.

But here's one more preliminary event that should capture the attention of poker fans before the weekend kicks off. The third and final day of Event #59: $2,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball begins in a couple of hours, and with just 10 players left there's much to be excited about as the field includes no less than six WSOP bracelet holders among the talented group of players who remain.

David "ODB" Baker begins the final day with the chip lead. He's in search of his second career WSOP bracelet after having finished third in this same event in 2012. He's excited, too, about the coming day of poker and the chance to compete with several of poker's top players:

David Baker @audavidb

Nothing in poker more fun than being really deep in a wsop event, especially when surrounded by pokers elite. Excited and prepared for todayJuly 05 2013

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Baker isn't exaggerating when he describes his opponents as belonging among the "elite" of poker. In second position is five-time bracelet winner David Chiu, followed closely by Scott Seiver (one bracelet) and Michael Mizrachi (three bracelets). Still in the hunt as well with below average stacks are Daniel Negreanu (five bracelets) and Eli Elezra (one bracelet). Meanwhile Alexander Condon, Eric Wasserson, Brian Brubaker, and Mike Watson are seeking first bracelets today, all of whom will likewise provide stiff competition for Baker.

Play resumes at 2 p.m. local time. Come back here then for start-to-finish coverage of what will surely be another exciting day of poker from the 2013 WSOP.

While we wait for the first discards and draws of the day, here's Lynn Gilmartin with today's update: