James Martini opened pre-flop to 75,000. Action passed to Brian England in the blinds who announced that he was all in. Martini didn't have many chips behind -- only about 600,000. After a minute of thought he went for the double-up and called with . England showed and once again the race was on.
"Jack of hearts," called one of England's railbirds. Sure enough, right in the window -- . The turn and river sent Martini off to the rail.
John Kulish turned around in his seat to address England's railbird. "Hey get over here, man! I've got to hire you. I wish you were my buddy instead of his."
Adam Hui wanted to compete for the railbird's services also. "Can you call cards for me?"
We haven't called Jon Seaman's name much this whole tournament. He's been a quiet, steady presence, grinding his way to the final table. He got a little value in a small pot against James Martini. Martini limped the button, allowing Seaman to check the big blind. Seaman checked and called 60,000 on a jack-high flop, . Both players checked the turn. When Seaman also checked the river, Martini tried a bet of 110,000 with unimproved ace-high. Seaman called with , jacks and deuces, to collect the pot.
Action folded to the chip leader Chris Johnson on the button. He raised an unknown amount and then Alex Santiago reraised from the small blind to 210,000. Action moved back to Johnson and he four-bet to 405,000. After a couple minutes of thought, Santiago moved all in for around 1.2 million. Johnson tanked and then made the call.
Johnson held the and Santiago the in this massive coin-flip situation. The flop, turn and river ran through and that was all she wrote for Santiago. Johnson scooped the pot and now has a whopping 3.9 million in chips.
With the elimination of Dave Stann in eighth place, Adam Hui has officially made it to at least seventh place in the tournament and has now taken over as Casino Champion, an place previously occupied by Blake Kelso. Right now, Kelso and Hui are tied, but the tiebreaker is most money won at a specific stop, which gives the nod to Hui. Kelso is rooting for Hui to go on to win the event so he can still win Casino Champion, but right now the honors belong to Hui.
Dave Stann was all in on the first hand of the day, but John Kulish opted not to call him. The second time Stann moved all in he was called. Chip leader Chris Johnson opened to 70,000 and was called by Brian England. Stann had on the button and moved all in. His shove folded Johnson, but England snap-called. Stann showed down , a live ace against England's . The hand was all but over after England flopped the nuts, . Only running cards would save Stann. The turn and river were not those running cards. He's out in 8th place, pocketing $17,906, and now we're down to 7 players.
Chris Johnson, now sitting with 2.5 million of the 10 million chips in play, opened pre-flop from late position to 65,000. He was called by big blind Brian England. Johnson continue for 85,000 on a flop of but couldn't shake England. England called to the board-pairing turn, which both players checked. At the river, England made a suspiciously large bet of 245,000. Johnson tanked for two minutes before finally announcing a call. England showed for a full house. It was the winner.
Just one hand after Derrick Kuenzel hit the rail in tenth place, Matthew Leecy moved all in for about 450,000 from middle position and Chris Johnson made the call from the button. Johnson held the to Leecy's .
The flop came down and put Johnson even further in front. The turn brought the and the river the . Leecy failed to come from behind and was eliminated in ninth place for $14,249. Johnson moved to 2.5 million in chips.
On the fourth hand of the day, action passed to Derrick Kuenzel in late position. He open-shoved all in for about 475,000. Chip leader Chris Johnson was in the big blind with and re-shoved to clear out the field. Kuenzel opened and the race was on. Johnson took the lead on the flop, . He had diamonds covered, and a good thing as the turn came and river fell . Each player made a diamond flush, but Johnson's king-high flush was the winner.
Kuenzel's 10th-place finish earned him $11,492, and gives everyone else at the final table a little more elbow room.