Event #10A: No-Limit Hold'em Main Event

Ryan Rinker pushes all-in from the button, and Dan Harmetz calls. Rinker turns over   , and Harmetz shows   . The flop comes    , giving Harmetz more outs, as a jack would counterfeit Rinkers small pair. The turn is the  , giving Harmetz a straight draw as well. The river is the  . Rinker's pocket fives no longer play, and he is playing the board. Harmetz wins with two pair, jacks and sixes, and his queen kicker.

Ryan Rinker finishes in 2nd place, earning $79,531. He also earns Casino Champion honors and a free entry into the National Championship to be held at Caesars Atlantic City in the spring.

Dan Harmetz wins $128,699 for his 1st-place finish, and his first WSOP Circuit ring. He also earns a free entry in the National Championship as a Main Event winner.

Ryan Rinker raises to 200,000 from the small blind, and Kevin Fleming calls from the big blind. The flop comes    . Rinker puts out a continuation bet, and Fleming folds.

This was the first flop since the beginning of Level 30. Every hand to this point has been won either by a preflop raise or a preflop three-bet.

Kevin Fleming pushes all in from the button. Ryan Rinker squeezes out the    and calls. Fleming turns over   . The flop comes    , pairing Fleming's queen and giving him the lead in the hand. The turn is the  , giving rinker a flush draw and several more outs. The river is the  , missing both players, and Fleming wins the pot with his pair of queens.

Fleming's double-ups have become a frequent occurrence over the past two levels, and the man who started the day last in chips is now second out of the three remaining players.

Kevin Fleming - 2,050,000
Ryan Rinker - 1,575,000

Kevin Fleming moves all in from the small blind, and Dan Harmetz, after giving his cards a slow squeeze to build the tension, quickly calls and tables   . Fleming turns over   , and he would need help to stay alive. The board runs out      , giving Fleming a pair on the river and a double up.

Kevin Fleming - 1,700,000
Dan Harmetz - 2,500,000

Dan Harmetz opened for 150k on the button and Ryan Rinker called from the small blind. The flop came T 3 3 and Harmetz bet. Rinker called quickly. Turn was another 3. Rinker checked, Harmetz bet 225k, and Rinker called. River was a 4 and they checked it down. Rinker showed A9 for Ace-kicker to the board. Harmetz mucked.

Ryan Rinker - 3.3 million

Dan Harmetz - 3.4 million

Dan Harmetz opened for 150k on the button and Kevin Fleming called from the big blind. The flop fell     and both players checked. Turn was the   and Fleming led out for 200k. Harmetz called. River was the  . Fleming checked, Harmetz fired 200k, and Fleming called. Harmetz showed Q9 for two pair and Fleming mucked.

Dan Harmetz - 3.9 million

Kevin Fleming - 1.5 million

For the past 15 minutes, the table has been playing almost exclusively preflop poker. Every pot is won with a raise, three-bet or four-bet, and the occasional walk.

Dan Harmetz raises to 165,000 from the button, and Kevin Fleming calls from the big blind. The flop comes    , and Fleming checks. Harmetz continues for 120,000, and Fleming check-raises to 500,000. Harmetz thinks for few moments, then folds.

As the dealer pushes Fleming the pot, Harmetz asks him, "Ace-Queen no good?" Fleming shakes his head, "No. We were flipping preflop."

Dan Harmetz - 3,850,000
Kevin Fleming - 2,100,000

Play has slowed dramatically since Fleming's double up about 15 minutes ago, with very few big pots. This trend is a noticeable shift from the aggressive, fast-paced action at the start of the day.

Dan Harmetz raises to 80,000 and Kevin Fleming moves all in from the big blind. Harmetz snap-calls and tables   . Fleming turns over   , and he would need help from the board to survive. The flop gives the players a sweat, rolling out    . Harmetz makes top pair, but Fleming has a flush draw. The turn is the  , a complete brick, but the river is the  , completing Fleming's flush and doubling his stack.

Kevin Fleming - 1,450,000
Dan Harmetz - 4,400,000