Wow. Mark Tenner is, as they say round here, on fire.
Down to 350,000 about 10 minutes back, he's now up to 1.65 million and is our chip leader.
He and Derek Raymond saw an flop and Tenner bet out, and again on the turn. Both times Raymond called, but once they'd both checked the river he just mucked to Tenner's .
Raymond's down from chip leader a little while ago to a 725,000 shortie.
Mark Tenner is really making a comeback now -- not only did he take down a healthy pot when Scott Bohlman just mucked to his flush on a board,but he then managed to river the wheel to take a pot out of the hands of Derek Raymond.
The blinds are coming around so big and so fast that Mark Tenner was down to 350,000 or so when he got involved thus.
He limped in on the small blind and Derek Raymond checked his option. Tenner check-called on the flop and then check-raised the turn. Raymond three-bet, Tenner called all in and they were on their backs.
You remember the gentleman who busted just before the money last night and exited in a cloud of terrible expletives? Of course you do! Well, he just dropped by the final table to remind Scott Bohlman of the dreadful bad beat he dished out to him at that time.
"Yeah," agreed Bohlman, "How bad do you run?"
After a moment the bubbling swearer added, "I hope this guy wins," before wandering off.
It's suddenly very quiet in here now that the Italians have departed.
Derek Raymond raised, and then called a reraise from Fabio Coppola.
Raymond check-called all the way down the board, even when Coppola bet all in on the river. We must admit there was a slight pause before Raymond called that last one, but call he did.
Raymond: for, well, jacks and sevens
Coppola: for nothing more than air
"He called with a seven!" lamented the newly-busted Coppola. "How can he call with a seven?!"
Nevertheless, the gent who according to Max Pescatori trains Patrik Antonius in kickboxing couldn't fight his way back into the tournament, and he is gone.
It's been a pretty slow start to the level so far, with only one hand making it as far as the river.
Derek Raymond raised and Scott Bohlman called out of the big blind. Bohlman check-called a bet on the flop and then both players checked the turn. Then, just for some variety, Bohlman check-folded to a bet on the river.
That's about as exciting as it gets at the moment, I'm afraid.