Eric Cloutier was just now tangling with opponents in a couple of hands, losing small pots in each.
In the first, John Monnette opened for 16,000 from middle position and Cloutier called from the BB. Both took one, and both checked. Monnette showed , which just barely beat Cloutier's .
In the second, Andy Bloch raised to 20,000 from middle position, and Cloutier called from the small blind. Again both players drew one card and both checked afterwards. Bloch showed , which bested Cloutier's pair of eights.
Cloutier is at 320,000 now, while Bloch has 175,000 and Monnette 254,000.
Players were just informed that following our first two eliminations today, the remaining eight will be redrawing for seats around a single table.
This was news to some, and a couple -- including John Monnette -- objected to the decision. Andy Bloch noted how he, too, under normal circumstances would prefer they play two four-handed tables when the time comes. However, given his relatively short-stacked status, he admitted he doesn't mind going with an eight-handed table today so as to be able to deal with the blinds less frequently.
An early confrontation between John Juanda (four-time WSOP bracelet winner) and Erik Seidel (eight-time WSOP bracelet winner) to share with you.
Juanda opened for 23,000 from the cutoff, and only Seidel in the SB called him. Seidel took one, and Juanda stood pat. Seidel then bet 30,000, and Juanda tanked for some time before making the call.
Seidel tabled , while Juanda showed his -X-X-X. Seidel grabs a few to move up to 350,000, while Juanda drops to 155,000.
We are just moments away from the restart of Event No. 19, the $10,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw Lowball Championship (No-Limit). Our ten remaining players are gathering around two five-handed tables at the moment. With three more eliminations, we'll move over to one of the feature tables here in the Amazon Room to play out the final seven-handed table.
It was a late, late one last night as play continued until after 4 a.m. in Day 2 of the $10,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw Lowball Championship (No-Limit). When the last level of the evening had finally completed, just ten remained from our starting field of 101, with David "Bakes" Baker our chip leader.
Following our first three eliminations today, we will have arrived at the final seven-handed table. And quite the final table it is shaping up to be!
Baker looks primed to be there, following up nicely the impressive feat of having final tabled Event No. 2, the $50,000 Player's Championship, where he finished sixth. But others are lurking not too far behind, including German pro George Danzer and Eric Cloutier, an early chip leader at last year's Main Event. And down the leaderboard a little further sit multiple bracelet winners Erik Seidel, John Juanda, and Daniel Negreanu, with a couple of players who've come close before -- John Monnette and Andy Bloch -- hoping to be there at the end as well.
Due to the lateness of play last night, we aren't scheduled to get going today until 4 p.m. Vegas time. Come back then to find out who ultimately comes out on top in the star-studded Event No. 19.
, which just barely beat Cloutier's 
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, while Juanda showed his 
