Wednesday, March 30, 2011 4:57 PM Local Time
Steve Brecher raised to 40,000 and D.J. Blanchard called from the big blind to see the flop come down . Blanchard checked and Brecher checked behind.
The turn brought the and Blanchard checked a second time. Brecher moved all in and Blanchard snapped him off, tabling the for a turned top set. Brecher held the and was drawing dead.
The river completed the board with the and Blanchard doubled up, although we're unsure of the amount. Brecher was left with just about 100,000 in chips.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 4:43 PM Local Time
Under the gun, Tim West made it 38,000 to go before Steve Brecher three-bet shoved for a bit less than 300,000 total. When the rest of the table folded, West spent some time in the tank as he finished stacking up that last pot. After some time to consider, West flashed a card (likely an ace), and returned his cards to the dealer face-down.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 4:37 PM Local Time
From under the gun, Ali Eslami raised to 39,000. Tim West flatted in position on the button and everyone else folded. The flop came down and it was a battle of the two largest stacks at the table.
First up, Eslami fired a 72,000-chip continuation bet. West took a minute and then raised, making it 180,000 to go. The dealer pulled in the 72,000 from each player and left the 108,000 in front of West as his raise amount. Eslami tanked and then gave it up.
West now looks to be over a million in chips and inched a bit closer to Eslami by taking this pot.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 4:29 PM Local Time
D.J. Blanchard raised to 36,000 in the middle seat, and Tim West and Steve Brecher folded in turn. When it came to David Peters in the big blind, though, he reraised all in for 161,000 total. Blanchard thought it over for a bit before mucking, and Peters moves back over 200,000.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 4:26 PM Local Time
From under the gun, David Peters raised to 42,000. D.J. Blanchard moved all in for about 200,000 from the button and action folded to Steve Brecher in the big blind. He thought for a minute and then folded his hand. Peters folded shortly after and Blanchard won the pot.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 4:23 PM Local Time
From under the gun, Steve Brecher raised to 40,000. Ali Eslami reraised from the button to 110,000. Action folded back to Brecher and he thought for a minute before giving it up.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 4:17 PM Local Time
Level: 24
Blinds: 8000/16000
Ante: 2000
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 4:07 PM Local Time
| Ali Eslami | 1,264,000 | 19,000  |
| Tim West | 923,000 | 103,000 |
| Steve Brecher | 351,000 | 26,000 |
| D.J. Blanchard | 215,000 | 15,000 |
| David Peters | 187,000 | -78,000  |
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:58 PM Local Time
The last level wrapped up very passively, and the players have taken a 15-minute break to find some aggression.
We'll be back with some fresh chip counts.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:47 PM Local Time
Tim West just got a walk in the big blind, the first one of the day.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:43 PM Local Time
From under the gun, Ali Eslami limped in. Action then folded to Steve Brecher in the small blind and he completed the bet. David Peters checked in the big blind.
The flop came down and Brecher checked. Peters bet 30,000 and Eslami folded. Brecher made the call.
The turn card brought the and Brecher checked. Peters bet 40,000 this time and Brecher called.
The river was the to pair the board and Brecher checked. Peters opted to check behind. Brecher turned over the for kings and fives with a seven kicker. Peters mucked and Brecher won the pot to move to 325,000 in chips.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:36 PM Local Time
From the button, Ali Eslami raised to 24,000, a minimum raise. D.J. Blanchard had the small blind and three-bet to 68,000. After Tim West folded from the big blind, Eslami went into the tank for a little bit. He then made the call.
The flop and both players checked to see the fall on the turn. Blanchard checked again and Eslami fired 85,000. Blanchard gave it up and Eslami won the pot.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:28 PM Local Time
In mid position, Dana Kellstrom opened with a raise to 25,000 (or possibly 30,000), and Ali Eslami was the lone caller.
The two men took a flop, and Kellstrom continued out with 40,000. Eslami took pause for a good long while, eventually calling Kellstrom's continuation.
That led them to the action card, the turn . After a long pause of his own, Kellstrom pushed out another bet of 60,000, Eslami moved all in, and Kellstrom called off his final ~120,000. The news was not good for the at-risk player.
Showdown
Kellstrom:
Eslami:
Both players had turned their straights, but Kellstrom's wheel was inferior, He was dead to a chop, looking for a six.
River:
That's not going to do it for Kellstrom, and that's the way his final hand transpired. With his straight coolered off, Dana Kellstrom will pocket more than $50,000 for his sixth-place showing here this week.
Eslami has moved up further, sitting with about 1.25 million chips now.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:19 PM Local Time
Ali Eslami limped under the gun and action folded to Dwyte Pilgirm in the small blind. He made the call before David Peters checked his option in the big blind. The flop came down and action checked to Eslami. He fired 16,000 and Pilgrim made the call. Peters folded.
The turn card was the and Pilgrim shoved all in for 120,000. Eslami took a moment and then made the call, turning over the for a flopped two pair. Pilgrim held the for top pair of aces and a flush draw. Pilgrim could also make a better two pair to stay alive.
The river completed the board with the and Pilgrim whiffed. He was eliminated in seventh place for $38,808 while Eslami climbed to a million in chips.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:11 PM Local Time
These are approximate, as they're counted from about 40 feet away. We got you pretty close, though.
| Ali Eslami | 840,000 | 429,000 |
| Tim West | 820,000 | -49,000 |
| David Peters | 310,000 | -149,000 |
| Steve Brecher | 285,000 | 95,000 |
| Dana Kellstrom | 245,000 | -80,000 |
| D.J. Blanchard | 200,000 | -161,000 |
| Dwyte Pilgrim | 140,000 | -188,000 |
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 3:05 PM Local Time
On a , Ali Eslami and Dwyte Pilgrim kept it friendly with a check apiece, and the landed on fourth street. When Eslami checked again, Pilgrim made a bet of 24,000, and Eslami called to see the last card.
It was the , and Eslami began stacking out a bet. He made it 65,000 to go, and Pilgrim instantly raised to 130,000 with a verbal declaration. Eslami didn't waste much time moving all in for 483,000, and Pilgrim spent a long while soaking in the tank before surrendering to Eslami's shove.
Eslami appears to have taken over the chip lead with that pot; we'll try and get a chip count from afar.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:54 PM Local Time
After D.J. Blanchard raised to 27,000, Dana Kellstrom called out of the blind to see the flop come down . Kellstrom led right out for 25,000 and won the pot, nice and easy.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:51 PM Local Time
Ali Eslami raised to 24,000, the minimum at this level. Action came to Steve Brecher's big blind, and he made a three-bet to 82,000 total. Eslami mulled it over for a bit before releasing.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:43 PM Local Time
Level: 23
Blinds: 6000/12000
Ante: 2000
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:43 PM Local Time
Dwyte Pilgrim and D.J. Blanchard saw the flop of together. Pilgrim was up first and bet 37,000 into his opponent. Blanchard stuck around by making the call.
The dealer placed the on fourth street and Pilgrim slowed down with a check. Blanchard went for some chips and fired out 76,000. Pilgrim mulled it over for a little bit and then folded, giving Blanchard the pot.