Event #73: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship

Hand #97: Scott Blumstein raised to 3.6 million from early position and Dan Ott called from the big blind. The flop came     and Ott checked the action over to Blumstein who bet 3.5 million. Ott called to see the   on the turn. Both players checked to the   on the river. Ott checked for the third time and Blumstein bet 5.5 million. Ott laid his hand down and Blumstein picked up the pot.

Hand #98: Damian Salas pushed all-in from the cutoff for 7,375,000. Dan Ott thought for a minute from the small blind but eventually folded and John Hesp followed suit.

Scott Blumstein	147,450,000	8,900,000
Benjamin Pollak	60,600,000	-400,000
Bryan Piccioli	41,850,000	-1,200,000
John Hesp	40,050,000	-2,000,000
Dan Ott	36,850,000	-8,300,000
Antoine Saout	22,700,000	-400,000
Damian Salas	11,175,000	3,400,000

Hand #93: Benjamin Pollak raised to 3.4 million from under the gun and John Hesp moved all in for 19,425,000 from the button. The blinds folded and Pollak quickly called.

John Hesp:   
Benjamin Pollak:   

Hesp was at risk but well ahead with two black aces, up against the ace-king of Pollak.

The flop came     and Hesp was still well ahead with aces. The turn was the   and Hesp shook Pollak's hand once he realized he locked up the pot. Hesp went to celebrate with his rail as the dealer completed the board with the   on the river.

As Hesp raked in the pot Jack Effel smiled and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world series of doubling!"

Scott Blumstein	147,150,000	-1,200,000
Benjamin Pollak	62,200,000	-21,425,000
Bryan Piccioli	45,050,000	-400,000
John Hesp	42,450,000	22,825,000
Dan Ott	29,750,000	-400,000
Antoine Saout	23,500,000	-2,800,000
Damian Salas	10,575,000	3,400,000

Hand #87: John Hesp raised to 2.5 million from the cutoff and Benjamin Pollak defended his big blind. The flop came     and Pollak checked. Hesp bet 3 million and Pollak called. The turn was the   and Pollak took control of the betting, leading out for 4 million. Hesp thought for a moment and folded. Pollak let Hesp pick a card, and it was the  .

Hand #88: Dan Ott was in middle position and raised to 2.7 million. Action folded to Damian Salas in the big blind, who started the hand with about eight big blinds. He thought about it for a minute but elected to fold.

Scott Blumstein	148,450,000	-400,000
Benjamin Pollak	75,925,000	6,500,000
Bryan Piccioli	48,050,000	-400,000
Antoine Saout	34,300,000	-1,000,000
John Hesp	22,825,000	-5,900,000
Dan Ott	22,550,000	2,800,000
Damian Salas	8,575,000	-1,600,000

Hand #81: Action folded around to Scott Blumstein in the cutoff, and he made it 2.5 million to go. It folded to Damian Salas in the big blind, and he thought it over for about a minute before he called. The flop came down    , and Salas checked to Blumstein, who bet out 2.1 million. Salas counted out his chips, rechecked his hole cards, then folded after about a minute in the tank.

Hand #82: Blumstein raised it up to 2.5 million for the second hand in a row, and Benjamin Pollak called on the button. Bryan Piccioli called in the big blind as well, and the three players saw a flop of    . Piccioli and Blumstein checked to Pollak on the button, and he checked as well. The   hit the turn, and Piccioli checked again. Blumstein bet out 4.5 million, and Pollak made the call. Piccioli called as well, and the three players saw the   complete the board. Piccioli led out for 10 million, and Blumstein and Pollak both released their hands. Piccioli asked everyone if they wanted to see it, and he showed    for a flopped full house that became quad queens on the river.

Scott Blumstein	170,300,000	-2,900,000
Benjamin Pollak	67,325,000	-8,000,000
Bryan Piccioli	49,850,000	15,600,000
John Hesp	31,325,000	-400,000
Dan Ott	16,350,000	-400,000
Antoine Saout	14,550,000	-400,000
Damian Salas	10,975,000	-3,500,000

Jack Effel has made his pregame announcements, and the final table has started once again. There are 56 minutes left in the 600,000-1,200,000 level. Damian Salas will start on the button, with Bryan Piccioli in the small blind, and Dan Ott in the big blind.

While the original plan was to play down to six players remaining, play was halted on Day 7 with still seven players with chips in front of them. With several levels played and just two bust outs, play came to an end around 11 p.m. last night on Day 8 of the World Series of Poker Main Event.

Today, seven players return to the arena in the Brasilia Room inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino for Day 9 of the Main Event. After a clash of historic proportions, Scott Blumstein holds just about half of the chips in play with 178,300,000. John Hesp, who had been dominating the table chip wise for some time, returns to the final table today as 4th in chips.

With one dominating chip leader, four out of six other players return to a sub 20 big blind stack. Just Benjamin Pollak (77,525,000 in chips, 64.6 big blinds) and Bryan Piccioli (35,750,000, 29.8) have a little more wiggle room. John Hesp (22,475,000, 18.7), Dan Ott (16,350,000, 13.6), Damian Salas (15,625,000, 13), and Antoine Saout (14,550,000, 12.1) are in dire need of a double up.

The plan for Day 9 of the Main Event is to play down to just three players remaining. This, however, is not set in stone and the tournament organizers might just decide to play on longer or cut things short.

The cards will be back in the air at 5:30 p.m. local time. Players will come back with 56 minutes left in Level 39 with blinds at 600,000/1,200,000 with a 200,000 ante. You can follow the action all day, live and with no delay, on PokerNews.com.

The final table is broadcasted on a 30-minute delay on ESPN (in the United States), ESPN affiliated networks (like Australia, Canada, United Kingdom), and on PokerGO (territories where ESPN does not broadcast). For a full overview of where to watch, see 'How to Watch the WSOP Main Event Final Table on ESPN and PokerGO'.

Scott Blumstein	178,300,000	0
Benjamin Pollak	77,525,000	0
Bryan Piccioli	35,750,000	0
John Hesp	22,475,000	0
Dan Ott	16,350,000	0
Damian Salas	15,625,000	0
Antoine Saout	14,550,000	0