[user46298]
Bansi Takes on All Comers
It seems like sneaking up on the chip lead isn't satisfying enough for Praz Bansi - he's taking a lot of opportunities to take on Negreanu especially heads up. Just now he bet out 80k on a flop, and Negreanu raised to 180k. Bansi made the call.
Both players checked the turn, but on the river Bansi bet out 400k.
"I have a real decision," smiled Negreanu, leaning back in his chair and suddenly aware, like everyone, that the dinner break was officially starting. He thought for a few moments more, then gave up the pot to Bansi, to a cheer from his rail which I think is consuming a good fair amount of beer.
[user46392]
It's a Rist you have to take
Daniel Negreanu opened for 100,000 under the gun and everyone folded, except for Markus Ristola who went all in from the big blind. Some gentle dwelling from Negreanu...
And a call! Again! What's going on here? Monsieur Negreanu, weeth all thees action you are really spoiling us!
Ristola:
Negreanu: a rather surprising call with
Flop:
Turn: to put Ristola in a fine position to double up. "Ace!" requested a pro-Negreanu railer feebly.
Duly, river:
ROAAAAARRRRR!!!! went the crowd, as the luckless Ristola busted out in 5th place and we continue four-handed, the stacks virtually even.
[user46298]
A strange hand just now, where button Daniel Negreanu and under the gun Praz Bansi saw a flop of . Check to Negreanu, who bet the flop (it looked to be between 100 and 160k). Bansi thought for a good long time before making the call. Both players checked the , and then did the same on the river.
Once more these same two guys didn't seem to want to show each other their hands, even though they had to... but Bansi showed for a pair of fours, eliciting a laugh from Negreanu. It became clear this was good, and Negreanu showed that his four was outkicked (he held ).
[user46392]
Daniel Negreanu may be about to break some unexpected records here today.
If he finishes in first or second place, he will pass both Phil Ivey and Jamie Gold in the all-time money list (statistics courtesy of the Hendon Mob Poker Database), and if he only makes third place, he'll be within $16,000 of the top.
Having said that, we're not sure if that list takes into account the minimum 9th-place money that Ivey will take home from the WSOP final table this November. Maybe there is a way for Negreanu to go yet...
[user46298]
Praz Bansi's million chips have all crossed the line in the last ten minutes...and come back again untested, and having collected one of Markus Ristola's preflop raises.
Daniel Negreanu, meanwhile, faced a truly huge shove (2,235,000) from big blind Jason Mercier when he'd come in on the button for 100k. One other caller clearly had an easier decision for their cards were mucked before I could identify them, but Negreanu really looked like he was thinking about continuing with the hand. Asking for a countdown of Mercier's stack, he said, "Boy. A lot!" before eventually laying it down.
[user46392]
Markus Ristola raised and big blind Barry Shulman called; they saw a flop. Shulman now announced all in to cover, and Ristola dejectedly passed.
After five hours of cagey nothing, it is 100% action here at the Empire now.
[user46392]
Daniel Negreanu opened for 100,000 and Barry Shulman called from the small blind. Over to Jason Mercier in the big blind, and he reraised to 395,000. Negreanu called, Shulman passed, and they saw a flop.
The flop came down and Mercier checked. Negreanu bet 350,000, and Mercier passed. Negreanu showed him the for his efforts.
[user46298]
And you know what that's tended to mean on this final table! Tension so thick you could almost see it like heat shimmer was surrounding Bansi as he tortured himself over a threeway flop. Negreanu had bet and he was counting down his stack, in between shaking his head like he had something horrible stuck to it. This thinking period amounted to about five minutes, but ended with his suddenly pushing his stack in, and Negreanu snapcalling. There was some shrugging, and reluctance on both sides to show, but eventually show they had to:
Bansi:
Negreanu:
"There's no freeroll," Mr. Effel helped the crowd, and indeed there wasn't. Chop Chop.
![[user46298]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
flop, and Negreanu raised to 180k. Bansi made the call.
turn, but on the 
river Bansi bet out 400k. 
to put Ristola in a fine position to double up. "Ace!" requested a pro-Negreanu railer feebly.
river. 
for a pair of fours, eliciting a laugh from Negreanu. It became clear this was good, and Negreanu showed that his four was outkicked (he held 
flop. Shulman now announced all in to cover, and Ristola dejectedly passed.
and Mercier checked. Negreanu bet 350,000, and Mercier passed. Negreanu showed him the 
flop. Negreanu had bet and he was counting down his stack, in between shaking his head like he had something horrible stuck to it. This thinking period amounted to about five minutes, but ended with his suddenly pushing his stack in, and Negreanu snapcalling. There was some shrugging, and reluctance on both sides to show, but eventually show they had to:
