Event #46: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better

It's going to take a number of pots, at the current small-ball approach, for one player or the other to close out this final table. Dan Shak has a leg up on Chris Bell and just extended his lead. In a limped pot, Bell checked and then called a bet of 120,000 from Dan Shak on a flop of    . Both players checked the   turn. Bell took a stab at the pot with a bet of 100,000 on the   river but Shak called. Bell's nines and sixes, made with   , were no good against Shak's nines and sevens, made with   . Neither player had a qualifying low, allowing Shak to drag the pot.

While the small-ball PLO8 continued up on the table - virtually every pot limp/checked preflop and going to the first bettor - the rail were amusing themselves.

"Hey BJ!" - Gavin Smith was calling to photographer BJ Nemeth, crouched on the floor by the final table. "Hey BJ! Go take a picture of my favorite Binger!"

Both Binger brothers, Michael and Nick, are at the rail to support Dan Shak.

"Yes," replied Nemeth.

"Do you know which one it is?" Smith went on.

Called over James "Flushy" Dempsey, seated with the Bingers, "How can you choose one?"

Dan Shak potted from the button and Chris Bell called.

They both checked the     flop and Bell checked the   turn too before folding to a 300,000 bet from Shak.

Shak's ever-so-slight chip lead was extended ever so slightly.

Chris Bell made it 150,000 in the small blind and Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott called in the big blind. They saw a flop.

Flop:    

Bell checked and Devilfish bet pot - 300,000 with 330,000 left behind. Bell thought about it for a while and then flat-called. The atmosphere in the room, such as it is, suddenly became rather serious as they went to the turn.

Turn:  

Bell announced all in. Devilfish announced call.

Devilfish:      for a pair of threes, a flush draw, two gutshot draws and a low draw

Bell:      for a pair of queens, also a gutshot and a better low draw

River:  

The river was a complete brick for Devilfish and he is therefore bust in third place.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are heads up.

First hand back, Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott raised to 175,000 under the gun and then called the shove for 210,000 total from Joe Ritzie in the big blind.

Devilfish:     

Ritzie:     

Board:      

The river brought Ritzie a straight and Devilfish a winning low. They chopped it up.

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Next hand, Ritzie raised pot and Devilfish called. Ritzie's remaining 75,000 went in on the flop and Devilfish called that too.

Ritzie:     

Devilfish:     

Board:      

Again, they chopped it, Ritzie again taking the high with deuces and sevens and Devilfish getting the low.

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So next hand, Ritzie potted again and this time Dan Shak made the call. Ritzie's last 50,000 went in, once again, on the flop.

Ritzie:     

Shak:     

Board:      

This time Ritzie got the low and Shak the high, but the outcome was the same - a chop.

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Ritzie picked up the blinds the hand after that. He's now on 300,000, or six big blinds to me and you.

Joe Ritzie limped in on the small blind and Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott announced a raise. Before Ulliott had even counted out the pot-sized raise, Ritzie had announced re-pot. Devilfish called all in, and they were on their backs.

Devilfish:     

Ritzie:     

Board:      

Devilfish flopped a straight and Ritzie failed to improve, meaning that Devilfish scooped the pot for a full double up to 880,000. Ritzie dropped to just 200,000 - five big blinds, and they're about to go on break. When Ritzie returns from break, his 200,000 will be only four big blinds.

Erik Seidel potted under the gun and and Joe Ritzie just flatted in the big blind. The rest of Seidel's chips went in on the flop - we think Ritzie put him in and Seidel called all in - and they were on their backs.

Seidel:      for a flush draw and a low draw on the flop

Ritzie:      for not much more than a low draw

Board:      

Seidel's flush failed to come in, as did the low. Ritzie, however, rivered a queen for two pair, and Seidel will be denied his ninth bracelet in this event. Good thing he's chip leader in the Tournament of Champions right now to make up for it.

It folded around to Dan Shak in the small blind who raised to 100,000. Chris Bell in the big blind paused for some moments, and then called.

The flop came down     and Shak bet out 150,000. Bell paused again, rather longer this time. He had a quiet discussion with the dealer about the size of the pot while Shak periodically glanced at him sidelong, and then, after a while, announced all in for around 350,000 more. Now it was Shak's turn to dwell up - and he eventually folded, to cheering from Bell's rail.

Bell - up to 880,000

Shak - down to 1,550,000, still massive chip leader

Dan Shak opened for 100,000 and Leif Force called in the big blind.

Force checked the     flop and Shak bet 150,000. Force now check-raised all in for another 200,000 or so, and after just a moment Shak nodded and called.

"GO LEEEEIIIIIFFFFFF!!!" said the rail. We imagine Shak's rail were shouting similarly encouraging things to their man across the way, but all we could hear were the Rail Of Force and some vuvuzelas spilling over from the other feature table.

Force:      for a pair of nines and an A-7 low draw

Shak:      for kings and a 2-5 low draw

Turn: a pretty decisive   making Shak a set and eliminating the possibility of a low

River:  

Suddenly the Rail Of Force fell silent.

They've gone now, leaving one entire side of the stands around the feature table completely empty.

After Erik Seidel limped into the pot pre-flop, David Ulliott raised the pot to 135,000. Seidel was the only caller.

"Here, I'm gong to give you a blind bet," said Ulliott. "I've had enough of this tournament." He then bet his last 150,000, dark and out of turn. The flop came     and Seidel folded.

Ulliott's up to 450,000.