Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em

James Routos opened for 38,000 from the cutoff position and was called by Chiab Saechao from the small blind. Ray Pulford deliberated for a bit, and then announced, "Raise....I'm all in" from the big blind.

Both Routos and Saechao didn't take much time sliding their hands into the middle, conceding the pot to Pulford.

Ray Pulford	610,000	70,000
James Routos	550,000	-30,000
Chiab Saechao	210,000	-40,000

Action started with Nicolas Vaca-Rondon, who came in for a raise to 26,000 in the cutoff. Ray Pulford was the only caller from the small blind, and the two went heads up to a flop of    . Pulford checked, and Vaca-Rondon bet out 33,000. Pulford thought for about 15 seconds before moving all in, and Vaca-Rondon took about 0.2 seconds to call.

Pulford:   
Vaca-Rondon:   

Vaca-Rondon had flopped top set, but Pulford had just about the worst hand Vaca-Rondon could see. He would have to fade a diamond to double up, and while the   on the turn didn't complete Pulford's flush, it did give him straight draw outs. However, the   on the river completed neither of those, and Vaca-Rondon secured the double up.

Ray Pulford	540,000	-200,000
Nicolas Vaca-Rondon	405,000	145,000

Ray Pulford and James Routos have been fixtures at the top of the leaderboard all day, and the two just tangled in a big pot. Action folded to Pulford on the button, and he raised to 26,000. Patricia Baker called out of the small blind, and it was on James Routos in the big blind. He announced raise, and slid a bet of 55,000 into the middle. Both Pulford and Baker came along, and we had a rare three way pot.

The flop came down    , and Baker checked to Routos, who kept his foot on the gas, betting out 70,000. Pulford thought for just a few moments before putting the chips in for the call, and Baker folded fairly quickly. The turn brought the  , and this time, Routos checked. Pulford saw the opportunity to strike, and fired out 85,000 into the middle. After 15 seconds in the tank, Routos announced "fold" and Pulford's rail celebrated as Pulford showed his hand,    for just third pair . That hand gives him the chip lead, while Routos is still plently healthy, sitting comfortably in 2nd place.

Ray Pulford	740,000	340,000
James Routos	495,000	155,000

Action began with Jay Pinkussoh, who opened for 30,000 from under-the-gun. Directly behind him, Steven Phan went all in for his last 38,000. Ray Pulford then re-raised to 138,000 total. Everyone else folded, including Pinkussoh and hands were revealed.

Phan:   
Pulford:   

The board ran out       and Phan was eliminated.

Steven Phan

0

-152,000

James Routos came in for a raise to 25,000 in early position, and Chiab Saechao was the only caller in the small blind. The flop came down    , and Saechao led out for 35,000. Routos elected to call, and the turn brought the  . Saechao checked, and Routos took little time in assembling a bet of 60,000. Saechao beat him into the pot, and the two saw the   hit the river. Saechao quickly checked, and Routos checked as well after about 15 seconds of thought. Saechao grimmaced, and showed a failed trap, as he tabled    for a rivered boat. Routos mucked, giving the pot to Saechao.

After the hand, Saechao is over 300,000, while Routos, who has been one of the big stacks all day, is now one of the short stacks.

Chiab Saechao	320,000	130,000
James Routos	190,000	-235,000

Patricia Baker limped in from the cutoff, and it folded around to Matthew Wilmot in the big blind, who checked his option. The flop came down    , and Wilmot quickly checked to Baker, who bet out 50,000. Wilmot thought for just a few moments before check raising all in. Now it was Baker's turn, and she too thought for about five seconds before calling! The cards were flipped, and Baker had flopped a monster.

Wilmot:   
Baker:   

Wilmot would need alot of help to survive as the turn brought the  . Wilmot shouted for another five, as that would counterfeit Baker's two pair, but it was close but no cigar for Wilmot, as the   hit the river. Wilmot was sent to the rail, while Baker breaks the 500k mark, and is our new chip leader.

Patricia Baker	510,000	190,000
Matthew Wilmot	0	-230,000

It was a nightmare return from the dinner break for Georgi Ivanov, who is the first casualty of our final table. On the hand that did most of the damage, Patricia Baker and Ivanov both limped in. It folded around to Chiab Saechao, who went all in for 86,000. Ray Pulford folded his big blind, and Baker folded as well. However, Ivanov snap called, and Saechao was shocked to see that he was well out in front when the cards were flipped.

Ivanov:   
Saechao:   

Ivanov gave a celebratory yell when he saw a jack in the window, but he spoke too soon, as the flop was dealt out    . Ivanov would need a miracle to win the hand, but it wouldn't come, as the board completed   and  . Saechao doubled up to 180,000, while Ivanov was left with just 15,000.

That stack went in two hands later, and Baker and James Routos were the only callers in the blind. The flop came down    . Baker fired out 50,000, and Routos folded. When the cards were flipped, Ivanov saw that he was in the lead.

Ivanov:   
Baker:   

The   on the turn gave Baker flush draw outs as well, but she wouldn't need them, as the   hit the river. That send Ivanov to the rail, and he will collect just over $5,000 for his efforts. And just like that, we are down to 8!

Patricia Baker	440,000	45,000
Chiab Saechao	190,000	91,000
Georgi Ivanov	0	-100,000

The announcer has introduced the final 9 players, and the cards are back in the air.