Thursday, May 22, 2014 10:07 PM Local Time
It folds around to Jed Hoffman in the small blind and he shoves for his last 9,400. Action is on Aditya Prasetyo in the big blind and he asks for a count. The dealer breaks down Hoffman's stack and Prasetyo calls.
Hoffman is behind as he shows versus Prasetyo's .
The dealer reveals the board and Prasetyo's jack plays to eliminate Hoffman.
Aditya Prasetyo - 96,000
Jed Hoffman - eliminated
Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:45 PM Local Time
The board reads and 2012 November Niner Russell Thomas bets 12,500 in a heads-up pot. Action is on fellow POY qualifier Matt Stout and he calls.
Thomas shows for a full house. Stout flashes the and before sending his cards to the muck.
Russell Thomas - 88,000
Matt Stout - 65,000
Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:41 PM Local Time
As tables break, players are being consolidated within the Bally's poker rooom. When reigning Main Event champ Ryan Riess' table broke, he headed to a table with none other than Jake Balsiger and the 2012 Main Event champ, Greg Merson. The two winners are chatting between hands about life after winning the Main Event, and it certainly seems like Riess is getting some good tips from Merson about how to make the most of the spotlight.
Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:22 PM Local Time
Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:17 PM Local Time
If you think poker is exclusively a young man's game, you clearly aren't familiar with Circuit regular Charles "Woody" Moore. This poker player is one of two players to qualify for this event all four years, but this year's run is especially impressive considering he sat out the first half of the season after his wife passed away.
Playing a minimal amount of stops in the winter and spring, Moore ended up being one of the top at-large qualifiers and his run good continues today in Atlantic City. After busting two players, including Lac-Leamy Casino Champ Marc Carpentier-Perrault, Moore is the first player into six-figure territory. He is currently sitting on 135,000.
Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:13 PM Local Time
Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:09 PM Local Time
Level: 8
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 100
Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:01 PM Local Time
Robert "Uncle Krunk" Panitch opens from late position and Charles Sylvestre moves all in for his last 8,000 from the small blind. The big blind folds and Panitch calls.
Panitch:
Sylvestre:
The board runs out . Sylvestre, who earned his berth in the event by way of a Lac-Leamy Main Event victory, was bested and hit the rail at the hands of the one they call Uncle Krunk.
Robert Panitch - 21,000
Charles Sylvestre - eliminated
Thursday, May 22, 2014 9:01 PM Local Time
At-large qualifier Robert Edelstein holds an open-ended straight-flush draw with on a - -3 board. He's all in against the K-8 and top pair of Roland Israelashvili.
The turn brings an 8, improving Israelashvili to two pair, but Edelstein still has straight and flush outs.
Alas, it's not meant to be as the river brings a 10 and Edelstein is eliminated.
Roland Israelashvili - 70,000
Robert Edelstein - eliminated
Thursday, May 22, 2014 8:55 PM Local Time
Thursday, May 22, 2014 8:55 PM Local Time
Four players see a flop of . Roland Israelashvili checks from the small blind, Shannon Shorr checks from the big blind, and Marvin Rettenmaier bets 1,625 from middle position. At-large qualifier Robert Edelstein calls from middle position, Israelashvili calls, and Shorr folds.
The turn brings the and Israelashvili bets 4,400. Rettenmaier folds and Edelstein calls. The river brings the and both players check.
Israelashvili rolls over for top pair, Edelstein mucks, and Israelashvili takes the pot.
Roland Israelashvili - 53,000
Robert Edelstein - 16,000
Israelashvili is one of only two players to participate in all four years of the National Championship. The first two years he qualified via the Circuit, while the past two years, he has been one of the players able to buy in for $10,000 thanks to his results at the WSOP. The other player who has taken part in every National Championship? Charles "Woody" Moore, who has qualified on the Circuit every single year.
Thursday, May 22, 2014 8:30 PM Local Time
Jamie Kerstetter limps from early position. Brian O'donaghue calls from the small blind and Juan Mendoza checks his option in the big blind.
The flop comes and O'donaghue and Mendoza check to Kerstetter. Kerstetter bets out 1,100 sending the action back to the blinds. O'donaghue calls and Mendoza quickly moves all-in over-the-top for 13,350. It's on Kerstetter and she asks for a count. It's revealed she has Mendoza covered slightly and she calls. O'donaghue folds.
Kerstetter sees the bad news when Mendoza tables for a flopped straight. Kerstetter holds and is down but not out.
The turn brings the giving Kerstetter a higher straight and rendering Mendoza's hand second best.
A river is no help to either player and Kerstetter sends Mendoza to the rail just a few hands back from dinner break.
Kerstetter earned her way into the National Championship by way of an at-large bid while Mendoza was the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Champion.
Jame Kerstetter - 39,000
Juan Mendoza - eliminated
Thursday, May 22, 2014 8:26 PM Local Time
Thursday, May 22, 2014 8:14 PM Local Time
Thursday, May 22, 2014 8:09 PM Local Time
The 105 players who headed out on the dinner break are now back in their seats and ready to roll through four more hours of poker action. Blinds are up to 300/600 ante 75.
Thursday, May 22, 2014 8:08 PM Local Time
Level: 7
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 75
Thursday, May 22, 2014 6:49 PM Local Time
The remaining 105 players are on a 90-minute dinner break. Cards go back in the air at about 8:10 p.m. ET to blinds of 300/600 with a 75 ante. Players will log four more levels before bagging for the evening.
Thursday, May 22, 2014 6:48 PM Local Time
Foxwoods Main Event Champ Jason Strasser and IP Biloxi Main Event Champ Martin Zentner get it al-lin preflop for Strasser's last 18,700 chips. Strasser holds and is racing with Zentner's .
The flop keeps Zentner out front, as does the on the turn, though it does give Strasser a flush draw to go with his overcards.
Strasser starts to stand up, but stops when the river brings the to pair him up and give him one of the last pots before the dinner break.
Jason Strasser - 40,000
Martin Zentner - 17,500
Thursday, May 22, 2014 6:48 PM Local Time
Foxwoods Casino Champion Ryan Methia checks the board and action is on 2012 November Niner Jake Balsiger (pictured) on the button. Balsiger makes it 2,000 sending the action Methia's way. Methia three-bets to 7,000 and Balsiger sits still debating his next action. He calls and they're off to the turn.
The dealer reveals the and Methia leads for 10,000. Balsiger, again, still as can be, is deliberate in his play. He moves all-in having Methia covered. Methia calls off his stack and shows for bottom set. Balsiger, meanwhile, tables for a better set.
The river brings the and with that, Methia hits the rail while Balsiger jumps toward the top of the counts.
Jake Balsiger - 81,000
Ryan Methia - eliminated
Thursday, May 22, 2014 6:46 PM Local Time
2013 Poker Players Champion Matthew Ashton raises to 800 from under the gun and gets multiple callers. The flop comes and Ashton bets 1,800. At-large qualifier Warren Sheaves raises to 4,200 from middle position, then Harveys Lake Tahoe Casino Champ Ryan Rinker moves all-in for his last 5,175. Ashton takes a look at Sheaves' remaining 15,000 chips or so, then moves all-in, having Sheaves covered. Here is what the players held:
Ashton: overpair of queens
Sheaves: overpair of jacks
Rinker: nut flush draw
The turn brings the and the river the and Ashton's queens hold to bust both players and rake in the big pot.
Matthew Ashton - 71,000
Warren Sheaves - eliminated
Ryan Rinker - eliminated