Wednesday, June 22, 2011 8:14 PM Local Time
Jason Mercier raised to 60,000 under the gun and was called by Steven Merrifield in the big blind. Both players checked the flop, which was followed by the turn. Merrifield led out for 90,000, Mercier called, and the appeared on the river.
This time Merrifield checked, Mercier bet 160,000, and it was Merrifield's turn to call. Mercier showed for flush, which resulted in a Merrifield muck.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 8:01 PM Local Time
Since having removed the towers of yellow T1,000 chips at the dinner break, it appears that Jason Mercier has lost some of his mojo with it, now down to 1.56 million after losing two pots in succession.
Earlier, Hans Winzeler raised to 75,000 from under the gun before the flop; Steven Merrifield called from the cutoff, as did Mercier from the button to make it three-handed to the flop of .
Winzeler checked, Merrifield opened for 90,000 and Mercier called. Winzeler folded, but then Mericer also folded after Merrifield led out on the turn of the .
In the very next hand, Mercier opened for 60,000 from the button and David Chiu called from the small blind, but then both players checked all the way down the board of . Chiu tabled and Mercier mucked his hand.
| Steven Merrifield | 2,400,000 | 360,000  |
| Jason Mercier | 1,560,000 | -290,000  |
| David Chiu | 1,115,000 | -15,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:55 PM Local Time
| Steven Merrifield | 2,040,000 | -5,000 |
| Jason Mercier | 1,850,000 | 425,000 |
| Hans Winzeler | 1,260,000 | -40,000 |
| Joseph Ressler | 1,200,000 | 0 |
| David Chiu | 1,130,000 | -185,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:50 PM Local Time
Joe Ressler raised to 75,000 and received a call from Hans Winzeler in the big blind. Both players checked the flop, leading to the turn. Winzeler took the opportunity to bet 100,000, Ressler called, and the appeared on the river.
Winzeler decided to lead out again, this time 300,000, and Ressler made the call. Winzeler revealed for a queen-high flush, which was good enough to win the hand.
| Hans Winzeler | 1,300,000 | 110,000 |
| Joseph Ressler | 1,200,000 | -410,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:46 PM Local Time
Four players saw a flop of , which all of them checked. When the dealer burned and turned the , Jason Mercier led out for 115,000, David Chiu folded, and both Hans Winzeler and Joe Ressler called. Mercier continued his aggression with a 335,000 bet on the river, which was enough to take down the pot.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:35 PM Local Time
We are pleased to report that one Hans Winzeler has checked back into the ESPN Main Stage. Thank goodness there's no antes!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:33 PM Local Time
With the action temporarily four-handed, Joseph Ressler has used this opportunity to score some chips from both Jason Mercier and Steven Merrifield.
Earlier, Mercier raised to 60,000 from the cutoff before the flop and Ressler called from the button before both players checked the flop of . Mercier then check-called Ressler's bet of 115,000 on the turn of the before both players checked the river of the . Ressler showed and his queen-high straight was good.
Then in the very next hand, Mercier raised to 60,000 again from under the gun before Ressler called from the button, as did Steven Merrifield from the big blind to go three ways to a flop of , which they all checked.
Merrifield then opened for 75,000 on the turn of the ; only Ressler called, but after Merrifield checked the river of the , he folded to Ressler's bet of 140,000.
| Steven Merrifield | 2,045,000 | -140,000 |
| Joseph Ressler | 1,610,000 | 330,000 |
| Jason Mercier | 1,425,000 | -125,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:23 PM Local Time
While the action has resumed, Hans Winzeler has not returned from the break, meaning we are currently playing four handed. Paging Hans Winzeler.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:19 PM Local Time
The last five players have all been fed and watered and the cards are now back in the air!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:18 PM Local Time
Level: 25
Blinds: 15000/30000
Ante: 0
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 6:23 PM Local Time
| Steven Merrifield | 2,185,000 | -155,000 |
| Jason Mercier | 1,550,000 | -350,000 |
| David Chiu | 1,315,000 | 115,000 |
| Joseph Ressler | 1,280,000 | 280,000 |
| Hans Winzeler | 1,190,000 | -50,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 6:20 PM Local Time
Players are now on a one-hour dinner break. We'll have the official chip counts posted shortly.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 6:20 PM Local Time
David Chiu raised to 56,000 from the cutoff and was called by Jason Mercier in the big blind. Both players checked the flop, which was followed by the turn. Mercier led out for 55,000 and Chiu quickly folded.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 6:13 PM Local Time
David Chiu raised to 66,000 on the button and Michael "Timex" McDonald, who has been nursing the short stack, decided it was time to go. He reraised pot and got his entire stack in the middle, which Chiu called.
Chiu:
McDonald:
McDonald was behind and looking for some mid-card help; unfortunately for him, the flop did not deliver. In order to survive, McDonald needed running cards or a non-club seven for a chop. The dealer burned and turned the , giving Chiu a full house and leaving McDonald drawing dead. The was put out on the river for good measure as Timex's time ran out.
He was eliminated in sixth place and will take home $73,965.
| David Chiu | 1,200,000 | 160,000 |
| Michael McDonald | 0 | -245,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 6:04 PM Local Time
Joseph Ressler raised to 52,000 from the hijack before the flop and found two other callers in the form of David Chiu from the cutoff, as well as Hans Winzeler from the small blind before Steven Merrifield raised it from the big blind, making it another 140,000 to go.
Chiu was the only caller, but then Merrifield and Chiu checked down both the flop of and the turn of the before Merrifield fired out a bet on the river . Chiu quickly folded and Merrfield was only too happy to show his for the nizzles.
| Steven Merrifield | 2,340,000 | 855,000 |
| David Chiu | 1,040,000 | -670,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:54 PM Local Time
David Chiu raised to 55,000 from the hijack and received a call from Steven Merrifield in the small blind. When the flop came down , Merrifield check-called a bet of 80,000 and watched as the hit the turn.
Merrifield check yet again, Chiu fired out 225,000, and Merrifield surprised both Chiu and the crowd with a pot-sized raise, making it 969,000. Chiu hit the tank for several minutes before laying down his hand.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:39 PM Local Time
| Jason Mercier | 1,900,000 | 267,000 |
| David Chiu | 1,710,000 | 110,000 |
| Steven Merrifield | 1,485,000 | -40,000 |
| Hans Winzeler | 1,240,000 | -10,000 |
| Joseph Ressler | 1,000,000 | 0 |
| Michael McDonald | 245,000 | -7,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:38 PM Local Time
The action folded to Gregory Brooks who limped in from the small blind before Hans Winzeler checked his option from the big blind to go heads-up to the flop of . Brooks led out for 40,000 and Winzeler called, so then the dealer peeled off the turn of the .
Brooks checked, Winzeler bet 40,000 and then Brooks quickly check-raised the pot. Winzeler snap-shoved and Brooks called all-in.
Brooks:
Winzeler:
With Winzeler having flopped turned the nut straight, Brooks was drawing dead and had already started shaking hands with his tablemates by the time the river completed the board. For his efforts, Brooks will receive $53,210 in prize money.
We are now down to our official final table! Chip counts up shortly.
| Gregory Brooks | 0 | -289,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:27 PM Local Time
Greg Brooks raised to 42,000 from the cutoff and received calls from Hans Winzeler on the button and Steven Merrifield in the big blind. Merrifield checked the flop, prompting Brooks to continuation bet 73,000. Winzeler then woke up with a reraise to 365,000, Merrifield folded, and Brooks three-bet. Winzeler didn't have much left and committed it to the pot.
Winzeler:
Brooks:
Both players had flopped the nut straight, but both had redraws. The turn filled Winzeler's flush and left Brooks looking either for a jack or eight on the river. The crowd was on its feet as the dealer burned and put out the inconsequential . Winzeler doubled to over 1.2 million while Brooks was left with just 289,000.
| Hans Winzeler | 1,250,000 | 690,000 |
| Gregory Brooks | 289,000 | -668,000 |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:20 PM Local Time
The remaining seven players went through the ol'-raise-and-fold routine for almost ten minutes before we saw a massive hand play out between Steven Merrifield and Joseph Ressler.
Ressler raised to 40,000 from under the gun and the action folded around to Merrifield who called from the big blind before checking his option on the flop of . Ressler led out for 45,000 and Merrifield called before checking again on the turn of the .
Ressler opened for 260,000, but Merrifield re-potted, forcing Ressler all-in. Ressler called and the cards were tabled:
Ressler:
Merrifield:
Ressler was in the lead and he got well over the line after the came down on the river to give him the nut flush and the double-up.
| Steven Merrifield | 1,525,000 | -502,000 |
| Joseph Ressler | 1,000,000 | 540,000 |