Friday, June 6, 2014 11:04 PM Local Time
Break Chip Counts
| Nick Kost | 1,815,000 | -185,000  |
| Kal Raichura | 1,530,000 | -120,000 |
| Jim Bucci | 780,000 | 260,000  |
| Calen McNeil | 540,000 | -110,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 11:01 PM Local Time
Take 20
Break has commenced, and we'll be back in 20 minutes.
Friday, June 6, 2014 10:57 PM Local Time
Bucci Doubles Again
Jim Bucci raised in the small blind and was called by Nick Kost. Bucci bet and got raised on the flop, and he got his last chips in.
Bucci:
Kost: [ts9d9c8]
Bucci had a nice draw with the nut low and the better flush draw, as well as bigger cards to make pairs. The assured him of half of the pot, and the river gave him a flush for all of it.
| Jim Bucci | 520,000 | 220,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 10:53 PM Local Time
McNeil Getting Short, Kost Takes Chip Lead
Nick Kost opened for a raise and Calen McNeil and Jim Bucci called. The flop came and Bucci and Kost checked to McNeil who bet. Bucci and Kost called. The turn was the and it was checked to McNeil who bet a 2nd time. Bucci got out of the way but Kost called. The river was the and it went check-check.
Kost showed for two pair, queens and sixes. McNeil peeked back at his cards, looked at the board, and pushed his hand into the muck.
| Nick Kost | 2,000,000 | 650,000 |
| Kal Raichura | 1,650,000 | -50,000 |
| Calen McNeil | 650,000 | -175,000 |
| Jim Bucci | 300,000 | -500,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 10:33 PM Local Time
Bucci Scoops Raichura
Kal Raichura raised the button and called a three-bet from small blind Jim Bucci. Both players checked the flop, and Bucci check-called the turn. The river led two more checks.
Bucci's gave him the nut low and a pair of eights, but all Raichura could muster was a pair of fours with .
| Kal Raichura | 1,700,000 | -50,000 |
| Jim Bucci | 800,000 | 150,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 10:27 PM Local Time
From Outhouse to Penthouse, Raichura Takes Chip Lead
Calen McNeil opened the action for a raise. Kal Raichura three-bet, Jim Bucci called, Nick Kost folded the big blind, and McNeil called. The flop came and it was checked to Raichura who bet. He was called by both players. The turn was the and it was checked around. The river was the and Bucci led out with a bet inducing a fold from McNeil. Raichura made the call and would take down the pot when his for the nut flush was better than Bucci's for trip 6's. With that pot, Raichura moved into the chip lead and Bucci trails the pack as the short stack.
Raichura would take another 300,000+ from McNeil a few hands later when he made a full house against McNeil's aces up to add to his chip lead and threaten McNeil's shot at winning back-to-back bracelets in this event.
| Kal Raichura | 1,750,000 | 1,420,000 |
| Nick Kost | 1,350,000 | 100,000 |
| Calen McNeil | 825,000 | -775,000 |
| Jim Bucci | 650,000 | -500,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 10:17 PM Local Time
Kost Takes a Chunk From McNeil
Calen McNeil raised under the gun, and Nick Kost three-bet from the big blind. McNeil made it four bets, and Kost called. Kost check-called the flop, but he fired out on the turn. McNeil called, and the prompted two checks.
Kost's for aces with a king and a seven-deuce low bested the of McNeil.
| Calen McNeil | 1,600,000 | -400,000 |
| Nick Kost | 1,250,000 | 150,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 10:09 PM Local Time
Raichura Crippled but Doubles Next Hand
Kal Raichura was crippled in a hand against Calen McNeil when he called bets on the flop, turn, and river on a board and McNeil showed aces up with . He would double up the next hand when he would get his last 165,000 in from the small blind and hit a full house. He's still the short stack and has just over three big bets.
| Calen McNeil | 2,000,000 | 200,000 |
| Jim Bucci | 1,150,000 | -100,000 |
| Nick Kost | 1,100,000 | 110,000 |
| Kal Raichura | 330,000 | -320,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 10:01 PM Local Time
Level 28 started
Level: 28
Blinds: 50000/100000
Ante: 0
Friday, June 6, 2014 9:58 PM Local Time
Alex Luneau Eliminated in 5th Place ($58,769)
Jim Bucci raised from the small blind, and Alex Luneau three-bet. Bucci called, and a flop hit the felt. Bucci and Luneau got the last of Luneau's chips in the middle.
Luneau:
Bucci:
"You got me in bad shape," Bucci correctly observed.
The turn, however, changed everything: , giving Bucci two pair and a flush draw. The river gave Bucci the nuts, and Luneau was done in fifth.
| Jim Bucci | 1,250,000 | 940,000 |
| Alex Luneau | 0 | -450,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 9:35 PM Local Time
Alex Luneau Doubles Through Kal Raichura
Alex Luneau raised pre-flop and was called by Kal Raichura out of the big blind. The flop came and Raichura led out for a bet and was called by Luneau. The turn was the and Raichura bet and Luneau raised an additional 5,000 more putting himself all in. Raichura made the call and the hands were turned over:
Raichura for a pair of fives
Luneau for a pair of tens
Raichura had outs to eliminate Luneau but the river was the and Luneau lived to survive another day.
| Kal Raichura | 650,000 | -350,000 |
| Alex Luneau | 450,000 | -200,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 9:30 PM Local Time
McNeil Nearly Busts Two
Three players saw the flop for three bets, and Alex Luneau bet. Calen McNeil raised, Jim Bucci three-bet, Alex Luneau called, McNeil made it four bets, and Bucci capped all in. Luneau called, as did McNeil. On the turn, Luneau check-called, leaving 5,000 behind, which he put it in on the river.
McNeil:
McNeil's boat was good for half of the pot, while Luneau and Bucci both had in their hands to split the low.
| Calen McNeil | 1,800,000 | 200,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 9:14 PM Local Time
Steve Chanthabouasy Eliminated in 6th Place ($44,055)
Down to just two big blinds, Steve Chanthabousy called for the rest of his stack after posting the big blind when Calen McNeil put in a raise from the button. Their hands:
Chanthabouasy
McNeil
The flop came to move Chanthabouasy squarely into the lead with top two pair. The turn was the giving McNeil bottom pair, a gutshot straight draw, and a low draw. The river was the cruelest for Chanthabouasy as it was the to give McNeil trips. "Sorry man," said McNeil as Chanthabouasy gathered his things.
| Calen McNeil | 1,600,000 | 60,000 |
| Kal Raichura | 1,000,000 | 175,000 |
| Alex Luneau | 650,000 | -175,000 |
| Steve Chanthabouasy | 0 | -80,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 9:14 PM Local Time
Final Table Interview: Calen McNeil
Calen "Big Wheel" McNeil is enjoying his time at his second World Series of Poker final table. The first being the final table last year in this same event, which by now you probably know he won. When you watch McNeil at the table, you can tell he is having the time of his life. We caught up with McNeil as the players were headed to break.
PokerNews: How does it feel to be back at the final table?
McNeil: Feels great. Omaha hi-low is one of my favorite games and I play it well. It feels great.
It looks like you have been having fun out there.
I always have fun. I enjoy playing and I enjoy the World Series. Making a final table is every poker player's dream and for me to be back with a chance to win another bracelet in the same event is magic. Pure magic.
Tell me about the year since the win.
It just affirmed that what I was doing was right. I'm a business man. I own restaurants, but there was a three- or four-year period where I played pretty much full time and then stopped to concentrate on business again. I still played but creating that balance between work and poker really helped. It gave me a better quality of life and more success.
How was the road to the final table for you?
My style of play really fluctuates. My chip stack is all over the map. It goes up and down. I play pretty aggressive. I make some loose calls and some thin value bets. It works out for me but it's very, very high variance.
Every time I got low, I managed to change gears and build it back. I don't feel like I ran great but when I needed to run good, I did. I hit a one-outer for my tournament life yesterday and that was a key hand. Then I was back into the tournament and because it was a big enough pot, I was able to get back into the game. I didn't really look back from there. I just sort of cruised the rest of the way.
What's game plan for the rest of the evening?
I'm chip leader right now, I've got a decent stack but the blinds are getting up there. I have been here before so I am comfortable. I am not going to get into too many big pots. I am basically going to play ABC and see what happens.
I have really good memories of playing heads up against Can Kim Hua. I remember playing real short Omaha 8 or better, so I am prepared to just grind it out.
How do you like your chances?
I like my chances a lot. I have the same feeling as I had last year. I said a month before I played it that I knew I was going to win that event. Throughout the whole tournament last year I felt I was going to win. I got a text from a friend who I played O8 with in Toronto and he said he had a gut feeling I was gong to win on the day I bought my ticket. And I have been just trying to relive what I did last year and try to keep positive.
The fact of the matter is I'm healthy. Life's good and this is a game. No matter what happens, win or lose, I am going to be fine with it. I will shake my opponent's hand and move on. But part of me wants to go back-to-back really bad. I have a competitive nature and I am going to go for it.
Friday, June 6, 2014 9:01 PM Local Time
Level 27 started
Level: 27
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 0
Friday, June 6, 2014 8:06 PM Local Time
Chip Counts at Dinner
Players are on a one-hour break.
| Calen McNeil | 1,540,000 | 140,000 |
| Nick Kost | 990,000 | 65,000 |
| Kal Raichura | 825,000 | -375,000 |
| Alex Luneau | 825,000 | 75,000 |
| Jim Bucci | 310,000 | 35,000 |
| Steve Chanthabouasy | 80,000 | -30,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 7:53 PM Local Time
Greg Raymer Eliminated in 7th Place ($33,510)
After doubling up against Steve Chanthabouasy, Greg Raymer would get the last of his chips in against Alex Luneau on a flop. Their hands were as follows:
Raymer
Luneau
The turn was the and a high card that was not a diamond would give Raymer the entire pot. The river, however, was the giving Luneau the nut low and the nut flush and the 2004 WSOP Main Event Champion would be eliminated. Raymer signed a fossil and handed it over to Luneau as a bust out gift before leaving the table.
| Alex Luneau | 750,000 | 115,000 |
| Steve Chanthabouasy | 110,000 | -130,000 |
| Greg Raymer | 0 | -90,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 7:44 PM Local Time
Raymer in Trouble
Greg Raymer defended his big blind from a raise by Calen McNeil out of the small, and he called every street as the board came .
McNeil showed down for a wheel, and he scooped the pot.
The next hand, McNeil quartered Raymer to leave Raymer under two big bets.
| Calen McNeil | 1,400,000 | 25,000 |
| Greg Raymer | 90,000 | -300,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 7:40 PM Local Time
Adam Coats Eliminated in 8th Place ($25,832)
Jim Bucci raised first to act and Adam Coats called. Nick Kost three-bet it and Bucci called. Coats made it four bets and Kost capped the action with a fifth bet. Both Bucci and Coats called and we had 450,000 in the pot pre-flop.
The flop came and Kost led out and was called by Bucci. Coats called and was all in for his last 20,000. The turn was the and Kost bet again. This time Bucci folded and the cards were turned over:
Kost for the nut flush
Coats for trip deuces with a low draw
The river was the and Coats was unable to improve and was eliminated in 8th place.
| Nick Kost | 925,000 | 325,000 |
| Jim Bucci | 275,000 | -125,000 |
| Adam Coats | 0 | -290,000 |
Friday, June 6, 2014 7:27 PM Local Time
Raymer Dodges Tons of Outs
Greg Raymer three-bet from the big blind over an Alex Luneau open from the cutoff. Luneau called, and the flop came . Luneau raised Raymer's bet and the two got it in for Raymer's stack.
Raymer:
Luneau:
Raymer asked for running hearts, but a turn gave Luneau outs for the nut low. A river was a total brick though, and Raymer's aces up were good for a double.
| Alex Luneau | 635,000 | -90,000 |
| Greg Raymer | 390,000 | 270,000 |