Still with just 125,000 chips, Phil Hellmuth got it in with and found himself in another race against Johnny Chan's .
The flop was , no help for our short stack and the man who won this heads up match 22 years ago. The turn was the which not only brought the crowd to its feet when many thought it paired Hellmuth's hand, but also gave him four extra outs.
However, it was not to be. The river was a harmless and Johnny Chan got revenge for his loss in what turned out to be an exciting, back and forth battle between two of the greatest this game has ever seen.
If today's next next two matches prove to be as thrilling as this one was, we have one great day of poker on our hands in the Amazon Room. Check back soon when Sam Farha takes on Chris Moneymaker, in a rematch of the 2003 Main Event.
Down to just 125,000, his stack got even shorter when it was announced the blinds were changing to 25,000-50,000.
Chan showed versus the . Both players paired their 6 on the flop and Hellmuth was able to chop. His supporters have been much more vocal lately despite his short stack. The crowd in general seems to have even a stronger buzz than it did earlier as they sense the conclusion of this match around the corner.
Chan completed on the button and Hellmuth checked his option.
The flop came and Hellmuth checked to Chan who bet 50,000. Hellmuth called and the two players saw the on the turn. Once again Hellmuth checked to Chan and this time Chan fired out 250,000. Hellmuth asked for a chip count on Chan's remaining stack and found he had 255,000 behind. He decided to move all in and Chan thought for a minute before calling.
Hellmuth had second pair and a flush draw with which was well ahead of the holdings of Chan. The two time champion needed a non-diamond three, four or five in order to stay alive.
Sure enough the dealer peeled the giving Chan one of the few cards he needed and he has now doubled up to 1,250,000. Hellmuth is left with just 500,000.
With the blinds rapidly raising, Chan has Hellmuth on the ropes again after having picked up a couple of more pots.
The most recent of which saw Chan raise to 90,000 on the button and Hellmuth call. The players checked to the river on a board in which Chan fired 100,000. Hellmuth folded and has now slipped back to 300,000 chips.
Although Phil Hellmuth Jr. fans have had more to cheer about lately, those supporting Johnny Chan have been far more vocal so far. Every time time he rakes in a pot, no matter the size, everyone on his side of this enormous ESPN set claps and cheers.
Chan opened the action preflop with a button raise to 54,000 which Hellmuth called.
The flop came and Hellmuth checked to Chan who fired 85,000. Hellmuth check raised all in for a total of 322,000 and after some thought, Chan folded. Hellmuth has now won seven of the last eight hands and has chipped up to 500,000.