The table folded to the Eric Cloutier in the small blind, who raised to 70,000. (Remember, no limping in this game -- even if you are the SB. One must bring-in for at least twice the big blind.) Doug Booth called from the BB, and each player drew one.
Cloutier checked, Booth bet 95,000, and after a long think Cloutier called. Booth tabled and Cloutier mucked.
Booth is up to 755,000, while Cloutier is now at 550,000.
Speaking of the those in attendance... German pro George Danzer just took down a pot versus Doug Booth, prompting a chorus or three from the two dozen or so Danzer supporters here to support him. One is waving a couple of medium-sized German flags as well.
The hand began with Danzer raising to 55,000 from the button and Booth calling from the big blind. Both took one. Booth checked, Danzer bet 100,000, and Booth let it go. Danzer chips up to 560,000, and Booth is now at 540,000.
At that point came the song from the German section, the lyrics of which sounded a little like "Go Super Danzer, la la la la la." An order for 20 beers has been put in, we understand, so while there may be more singing, we're less sure about having a better shot at making out those lyrics.
J.C. Tran is here in the audience watching our final table along with approximately 100 other spectators. Tran was just now engaged in conversation with John Juanda.
"What tournament are you in?" asked Juanda. "The limit," answered Tran. Juanda paused a beat. "Do you know how to play limit?" he asked. "Yes," said Tran. "I don't," said Juanda with a grin.
Others players here watching the action include Eric Froehlich, Tommy Hang, Jon Aguiar, Christian Harder, Marco Traniello, Chino Rheem, and Jon Aguiar.
On both of the two hands following that one in which Baker bet Booth out of the pot, Booth opened with raises to 60,000 and took down the blinds and antes before the draw. Booth bounces back to 680,000.
There is 55,000 in the middle prior to the first action, so winning a couple of pots uncontested like that can add up quickly.
Our five remaining players are back and the cards are in the air here at the start of Level 23.
David Baker returns as the chip leader, but George Danzer, Eric Cloutier, and Doug Booth are all three close behind. John Juanda, meanwhile, is the table's short stack at present.
In the last hand of the level, Eric Cloutier opened for a standard raise from under the gun, and it folded to John Juanda who reraised all in for 254,000 more from the small blind. George Danzer stepped aside, and Cloutier tanked for some time before letting it go.
John Juanda opened with a raise to 47,000 from the cutoff, then George Danzer on the button announced he was all in for his stack of 235,000. The blinds folded, and Juanda took his time deciding what to do.
After a few minutes he began dividing the chips left in his stack, appearing to do some arithmetic before finally deciding to call.
Both players had one discard. Juanda tabled and Danzer .
Danzer drew a , but Juanda drew a for a pair, giving Danzer the pot.
Danzer doubles to 485,000, while Juanda slips to 318,000.