Kevin Elia opened to 36,000 from the cutoff position and action folded over to Travell Thomas in the small bind, who announced he was all in for his last 195,000. The big blind gave it up and so did Elia after asking for a count.
Thomas is short, but still in, with 240,000. Elia, on the other hand is sitting just under 1 million
Paul Sokoloff was under the gun when he shoved his stack all in, holding 165,000 in chips. When the play was folded around to Thomas Conway in the small blind, he would shove his even larger stack in the middle. The big blind folded and the two players tabled their hands.
Sokoloff:
Conway:
The flop was great for Sokoloff and the turn and the river would ensure he would take the double up.
Mario Delis open-pushed all in for his last 90,000 from early position and action folded around to David Forster in the cutoff, who re-raised to isolate Delis. Everyone else got out of the way and hands were revealed.
Delis:
Forster:
The board ran out and Delis was sent to the rail in 15th.
In a hand that would cripple Keven Stammen, Kevin Elia opened to 34,000 from under-the-gun and action folded around to Stammen in the hijack, who three-bet to 80,000. It was folded back around to Elia, who made it 150,000 on top. Stammen fall hard into the tank, and, after a couple minutes, Elia called the clock on him. A tournament director came over and have Stammen 70 seconds to act on his hand.
After a little more deliberation, Stammen announced he was all in and Elia snap-called all in for 491,000.
Stammen:
Elia:
Ouch.
The board ran out and Elia doubled through Stammen, leaving him with just 90,000 behind.
In the very next hand, Stammen open-pushed all in and action folded around to David Forster, who went all in himself to put Stammen at risk.
Forster:
Stammen:
The board left Stammen second-best and he was eliminated.
Nelson Robinson is the first player to crack a seven-figure stack today, courtesy of the following hand. Robinson started the action with a raise to 32,000 from the hijack. Francisco Azeres made the call in the small blind and with the big blind out of the way, the dealer spread a flop across the felt.
Both players checked here and a landed on the turn. This time Azeres lead for 39,000 and Robinson called. On the river, Azeres bet 63,000 and after some though, Robinson again called.
Robinson:
Azeres:
Robinson's hand was strong enough to rake in the pot, while Azeres took a small hit to his stack.
Darren Rabinowitz opened up the action to 32,000 from middle position and only Patrick Karschamroon would call in the small blind.
Flop:
On the flop, Karschamroon checked and it was on Rabinowitz. A bet of 35,000 was sent out onto the felt and it was back on Karschamroon. After a few moments, Karschamroon check-raised to 75,000 and Rabinowtiz folded.
Good afternoon and welcome back to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino for our third and final day of Event 44: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em! Today we will crown an eventual champion, however, with 16 players still vying for the title - there is still a ways to go!
Best positioned to take down the title is Thomas Conway, who bagged up 888,000 last night after taking down some large pots and scoring some knockouts toward the end of the night. Right behind Conway in chips is Nelson Robinson, who will come into Day 3 with 871,000.
Our last woman standing - Anke Berner, is looking to be yet another woman to make a World Series of Poker final table this year. Just yesterday - Jackie Glazier scored a second-place finish in Event 41: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em. Bener actually entered Day 2 with just 7,600 in chips and figured she would be quickly eliminated. However, she is still here and has a chance to become the first woman to win an open WSOP event since Vanessa Selbst - who won a Pot-Limit Omaha event back in 2008.
Here is the seating draw and player chip counts heading into Day 3:
Table
Seat
Player
Chips
440
1
Thomas Conway
880,000
440
2
Patrick Karschamroon
678,000
440
3
Francisco Azares
678,000
440
4
— Empty —
440
5
Jaspal Brar
551,000
440
6
Rocco Palumbo
382,000
440
7
Niel Mittelman
578,000
440
8
Darren Rabinowitz
760,000
440
9
Nelson Robinson
871,000
441
1
— Empty —
441
2
Paul Sokoloff
209,000
441
3
David Forster
437,000
441
4
Kevin Elia
503,000
441
5
Jason Everett
399,000
441
6
Travell Thomas
368,000
441
7
Keven Stammen
654,000
441
8
Anke Berner
655,000
441
9
Mario Delis
234,000
There you have it - can Conway use his chip advantage to propel himself to the final table and claim victory? Will Berner accomplish what the other ladies could not and claim a bracelet this year? Or will another one of our 16 players - such as 2009 bracelet-winner Kevin Stammen - take home the gold?
Stay tuned and be sure to follow the action right here at PokerNews as the drama unfolds and we crown an eventual champion!