With the last 20 minutes of relative inactivity behind us, we have reached the end of the level. The clock is paused, and the players are taking a 15-minute break.
Second to act, John Nixon opened with a raise to 64,000. The betting folded around to Alex Bolotin in the big blind, and he slid out re-raising chips totaling 224,000. Nixon considered for just a moment before saying, "I'm all in... Clock."
Very early in the day, Bolotin clocked Nixon in a big pot, and apparently the young "left-handed" Nixon didn't take too kindly to that.
"You can't call the clock," said Bolotin. Indignantly, Nixon responded, "I just did. Why not?" During this quick exchange, he continued to shoot evil glances across the table at Bolotin.
The table, nearly in unison said, "You have to wait a 'reasonable' amount of time." Nixon didn't seem too thrilled as the tournament staff denied his clock call for the time being.
Bolotin stood up to eyeball his own stack and that of his opponent. Nixon had just about 600,000 in front of him, more or less even with Bolotin. After another moment or two, Bolotin said, "Fold," and the dealer pulled his cards into the muck.
It seems much of the friendliness and jollity at this final table left with the eliminations of Jason Young and Matt Brady. It's all business now.
John Nixon limped in on the button, Frank Vizza completed in the small blind, and Samuel Chartier checked in the big blind. The three players saw the flop come down and action checked to Nixon. He fired a bet of 40,000 and only Chartier called.
The turn brought the and Chartier opted to lead out for 100,000. Nixon then raised all in and Chartier folded.
The last handful of hands have all been taken down preflop with the exception of the following two hands.
On the first hand, Michael "Michnak" Michnik limped from the small blind and John Nixon checked in the big blind. The flop came down and Michnik checked. Nixon fired 35,000 and Michnik called.
The turn brought the and Michnik quickly checked. Nixon sat in the tank, or so it seemed. Nixon didn't know Michnik had checked and sat completely motionless for about five minutes. Finally, he asked who the action was on and was informed it was his turn to act. He then decided to bet 45,000. Michnik folded.
Two hands later, Frank Vizza limped from the small blind and Samuel Chartier checked his option in the big blind. The flop came down and Vizza fired 80,000. Chartier raised to 180,000 and then Vizza quickly reraised to 400,000. A short pause ensued from Chartier and then he folded.
On the very next hand, Samuel Chartier again opened with a raise to 62,000. Matt Brady took his time counting and recounting his stack before grabbing all 147,000 chips and sliding them forward. When it came back around to Chartier, he quickly called.
Showdown:
Chartier:
Brady:
Brady was at risk of elimination but in fine shape for a double up. The dealer ran out a safe flop of . The turn was a dramatic , giving Chartier a heap of additional outs.
"You got the spade," lamented Brady, looking down at the two pocket pairs on the board. As if he knew it was coming, the ripped off on the river, improving Chartier to the winning flush and sending Matt Brady to the payout desk in 6th place. He'll pocket more than $50,000 for his work over the last three days, but Brady was clearly dejected as he made his way towards the door.
John Nixon opened the action from the cutoff to 64,000. Frank Vizza was next to act on the button and reraised to 180,000. Samuel Chartier folded from the small blind before Matt Brady announced that he was all in from the big blind. Nixon folded and Vizza said, "All right, I guess I call."
Showdown:
Vizza:
Brady:
"I mean, I guess I could've folded," mentioned Brady before the dealer ran out the flop . The turn brought the and then the river fell the . "How much you got?" asked Brady.
The dealer counted down Vizza's chips and informed Brady that he needed to pay 558,000. After doing so, Brady was left with only 66,000 chips.