Monday, June 20, 2011 10:43 PM Local Time
Gabriel Morin open-shoved for his 510,000 chips on the button, and his roomate Marc-Etienne McLaughlin called in the big blind.
Morin:
McLaughlin:
"Sorry," Morin joked, insinuating that he was going to suck out on his good friend and roommate.
The dealer rapped the table, and the flop fell . Both players sat silently, awaiting the turn, which was the .
There was a beat.
The dealer rapped the table on more time, and dealt the river; the .
The two friends shared a heart-fealt handshake, as the pro-Montreal rail offered Morin praise. Even 2010 Main Event Champion Jonathan Duhamel shouted to Morin from the rafters behind us, congratulating him on his deep finish and his $211,353 payday.
Monday, June 20, 2011 10:27 PM Local Time
We haven't seen many flops over the past hour or so, most pots being won by a preflop raise. This hand is no exception; the only difference is the amount of chips that were traded.
Marc-Etienne McLaughlin made it 125,000 from the cutoff only to have Ben White make it 250,000 to go from the button. It folded back around to McLaughlin who announced a raise to 750,000. White five-bet all in and McLaughlin quickly sent his cards into the muck.
| Marc Mclaughlin | 3,200,000 | -900,000  |
| Ben White | 2,600,000 | 300,000  |
Monday, June 20, 2011 10:18 PM Local Time
We knew both Marc-Etienne McLaughlin and Gabriel Morin were from Montreal from their bio sheets, and we knew they were at least acquaintances because during breaks we've heard them exchanging pleasantries in French, but we just learned moments ago that they're extremely good friends.
"They're living in the same house out here," one of their friends on the rail told us.
Friends always dream about getting heads-up in a major tournament, and if the two French-Canadians continue to play like they have, there's a strong possibility that it might happen tonight.
Monday, June 20, 2011 10:02 PM Local Time
We've only seen a few flops in the past fifteen minutes - and none of them have gone to a showdown. The majority of the hands have been raise-and-takes, with the four remaining players passing chips back and forth.
With so many eliminations to start the final table, the players are now relatively deep. The average stack is 3,181,500 (63 big blinds).
Monday, June 20, 2011 9:47 PM Local Time
Level: 27
Blinds: 25000/50000
Ante: 5000
Monday, June 20, 2011 9:29 PM Local Time
Players are now on a 20-minute break.
Monday, June 20, 2011 9:25 PM Local Time
Gabriel Morin started the action, raising to 80,000. It folded around to Ben White in the big blind who made the call. The flop came and White led out for 100,000. Morin made the call and the turn fell . This time White checked to Morin who fired out a bet of 225,000.
After a bit of pondering, White made the call. The river came and White checked once again. Morin pushed out a bet of 525,000. White announced that he was all in and Morin quickly sent his cards into the muck.
| Ben White | 2,300,000 | 700,000 |
| Gabriel Morin | 975,000 | -725,000 |
Monday, June 20, 2011 9:09 PM Local Time
Marc-Etienne McLaughlin opened in first position, Kirk Caldwell defended his big blind, and the flop came down . Caldwell check-called 110,000, and the turn was the . Caldwell checked, McLaughlin fired 220,000, and Caldwell called.
Both players checked the on the river, and McLaughlin opened up for a pair of aces. They were good, and he shipped the pot.
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:58 PM Local Time
On a flop of , Kirk Caldwell checked to Marc-Etienne McLaughlin who bet 110,000. Caldwell decided to put in a check-raise, making it 300,000 to go. McLaughlin made the call and we were off to the turn.
The turned and both players checked. On the river, Caldwell fired out 500,000 and McLaughlin quickly called. Caldwell tabled for two pair and McLaughlin shipped his cards into the muck.
| Kirk Caldwell | 5,700,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Marc Mclaughlin | 3,700,000 | -1,200,000 |
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:42 PM Local Time
| Marc Mclaughlin | 4,900,000 | 250,000 |
| Kirk Caldwell | 4,500,000 | 50,000 |
| Gabriel Morin | 1,700,000 | 0 |
| Ben White | 1,600,000 | 100,000 |
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:38 PM Local Time
Marc-Etienne McLaughlin opened to 80,000, and Kirk Caldwell defended his big blind. The flop fell , and Caldwell checked to McLaughlin who bet 110,000. Caldwell called.
The turn was the , and Caldwell check-called another bet - this one was worth 260,000 chips.
Caldwell checked a third time after the was dealt on the river, and McLaughlin fired one more time. The bet was 650,000 - about two thirds of the pot - and Caldwell tank-folded.
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:28 PM Local Time
Level: 26
Blinds: 20000/40000
Ante: 5000
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:15 PM Local Time
| Kirk Caldwell | 4,900,000 | 0 |
| Marc Mclaughlin | 4,000,000 | 500,000 |
| Gabriel Morin | 1,900,000 | 100,000 |
| Ben White | 1,700,000 | -700,000 |
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:14 PM Local Time
The action folded to Kirk Caldwell who made in 90,000 in the small blind. Dror Michaelo defended his big blind, and the flop came down . Both players checked.
The turn was the , and Caldwell led for 285,000. Michaelo instantly moved all in for nearly a million chips, and Caldwell snapped it off!!!
Caldwell:
Michaelo:
The river card was not a king, rather it was the to give Caldwell the nut-flush for kicks. Michaelo was eliminated in 5th place, earning him $154,506, while Caldwell is nearing 5 million chips - a whopping 166 big blinds.
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:07 PM Local Time
2010 Main Event Champion Jonathan Duhamel is currently on the rail of this $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em final table. We're not sure who he's rooting for but there are two French-Canadians left in today's field; Gabriel Morin and Marc-Etienne McLaughlin
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:03 PM Local Time
Action folded around to Dror Michaelo who raised to 65,000 from the button. The small blind got out of the way and Ben White made it 205,000 from the big blind. Michaelo decided to four bet to 550,000 and White went into the tank. Eventually after asking the arbitrary "Do you want me to call?" question, White mucked his cards.
Michaelo showed the and the crowd went "Ooooh!".
Monday, June 20, 2011 8:01 PM Local Time
| Kirk Caldwell | 3,700,000 | 1,290,000 |
| Marc Mclaughlin | 3,500,000 | 1,325,000 |
| Ben White | 2,400,000 | -60,000 |
| Dror Michaelo | 2,000,000 | 1,165,000 |
| Gabriel Morin | 1,800,000 | 200,000 |
Monday, June 20, 2011 7:57 PM Local Time
Kirk Caldwell opened to 95,000 from middle position, Randy Haddox three-bet to 345,000, Caldwell moved all in having Haddox covered, and Haddox snapped it off.
Caldwell:
Haddox:
Haddox had Caldwell crushed, but the flop came down , giving Caldwell a set of queens! Haddox sat silently as Caldwell's rail shrieked with excitement.
The turn ( ), and river ( ) were both blanks, and Haddox bolted out of the secondary feature table area without even getting his ticket to get paid. He'll want to pick that up at some point however, it's worth $114,304 for his 6th place finish.
Monday, June 20, 2011 7:49 PM Local Time
Rodrigo got his remaining 80,000 in preflop and was called by Marc-Etienne McLaughlin and Gabriel Miron. The flop came down and Miron led out for 125,000. McLaughlin mucked and Miron tabled for a set of sevens. Portaleoni flipped up and was significantly behind.
The turn and river came and Portaleoni was sent to the rail.
Monday, June 20, 2011 7:48 PM Local Time
Marc-Etienne McLaughlin opened to 60,000 from the cutoff, Alan Stevens three-bet to 185,000 from the small blind, and Kyle Cartwright moved all in for 775,000 from the big blind. McLaughlin went into the tank for nearly two minutes before re-shoving for over 2 million, and Stevens immediately called in for 710,000.
McLaughlin:
Stevens:
Cartwright:
Cartwright and Stevens were at risk, and both players stood up and put their hands on their heads. Dozens of people crowded around the rail as the dealer rapped the table and delivered a flop of .
There were shouts coming from every direction. "Queen! Ten! Jack!"
The turn was the .
"Deuce!" McLaughlin's contingency screamed.
The river wasn't a deuce, but it was the however. McLaughlin exploded, running to his rail to celebrate the double knockout. Stevens looked content with his 9th place finish, while Cartwright was visibly shook by the thunderous river card.
A wave of chips was pushed towards McLaughlin, and he is now our chip leader with over 3.5 million to his name.