The places are set for the following eight people.

Seat 1: Tony Gregg (2,245,000)
Seat 2: Alex Gomes (8,080,000)
Seat 3: Pieter Tielen (2,010,000)
Seat 4: Dan Heimiller (1,340,000)
Seat 5: Benny Spindler (3,825,000)
Seat 6: Kevin Saul (1,640,000)
Seat 7: Dustin Dirksen (760,000)
Seat 8: Pooyra Nazari (6,790,000)

Thirty-two people started Day 4, including a nice selection of Team PokerStars Pros, tournament rounders, online phenoms, and talented newcomers. With names like Dan Heimiller, Kathy Liebert, Kevin Saul, and Dustin Dirksen in the mix, we knew it was going to be an interesting day.

Though eight people made it to the final table, the day belonged to Alex Gomes. Gomes defined energy as he fought his way to the final table. After a near-ruinous end to Day 3, Gomes battled back from a short stack to become one of the chip leaders. Then, an ill-timed bluff made him a short-stack again midway through Day 4. But then he picked up pocket kings versus Poorya Narazi's pocket jacks and made it to the 4 million mark once more.

Just a few minutes before play broke for the night, Gomes won what was likely the biggest pot of the tournament against Kevin Saul--Gomes' sixes full of aces besting Saul's sixes full of queens.

Saul held the chip lead for most of the day before giving it up in the huge hand against Gomes. Known on PokerStars as BeL0WaB0Ve, Saul made his reputation online, but he has more than $1.7 million in live tournament winnings including at the World Poker Tour (WPT) Bellagio Cup III Championship in 2007, where he won more than $1.3 million there.

Dan Heimiller, a long-time tournament rounder, is no stranger to final tables. He holds a WSOP bracelet, nine major first place finishes, and more than two million bucks in lifetime tournament earnings.

Poorya Nazari is a 22 year old recent university graduate who came to the Bahamas with his uncle. Nine-handed tonight, he scored a key double up with aces versus Dustin Dirksen's A-K. On the last hand of the night, he eliminated Jan Collado Fernandez with A-T versus pocket jacks.

Tony Gregg is a well-respected mid-stakes cash game player. He's been playing cards since he was 18. In August 2007, he finished third in the PokerStars Sunday Million. His father is planning to fly in to watch Gregg play on the final table on Saturday.

Benny Spindler, 23, is from Darmstadt, Germany. The high stakes online cash game player has recently spent a lot of time at live events, including EPT Barcelona, the WSOP-E and EPT London. This is his best live result to date.

Dustin Dirksen is 28 and from Iowa. Known as 'JohnSmiley1' online, Dirksen is a force in
online, high-stakes cash games, regularly pitting his skills against some of the best players in the world. As a Supernova Elite, Dustin was freerolled into the tournament by PokerStars.

Pieter Tielen, 36, is a PokerStars qualifier from Holland. This is his second live tournament ever and he's here for just $33, having made his way through two PokerStars satellites to win his $12,000 package. He's a purchasing consultant who lives just outside Amsterdam.

While our focus is on tomorrow, we can't let the night pass without paying some respect to the people who no longer have chips.

Team PokerStars Pro Vicky Coren spent the past several days in a gritty struggle for a stack. Short on hands, short on chips, and high on good humor, Coren made it all the way to 40th place before falling victim to poker's most villainous combination: advancing blinds and being card dead. Nonetheless, she earned $40,000 for her deep run.

Hafiz Khan, 2008 PCA runner-up, was dead set on making it to his second PCA final table in as many years. An ill-timed bluff in the middle of Day 4 spelled the end of Khan's near-historic run through the field. He finished in 21st place for $50,000.

While nostalgia wills us to pay homage to the people we left behind, it's time we begin to focus on the final table ahead. As one last hymn for the departed check out the historical record in the links below.

The day ahead
Level 19 concluded
Level 20 updates
Level 21 updates
Level 22 updates
Level 23 updates
Level 24 updates
Level 25 updates

And here's a look at our coverage of the World Championship of Battleship Poker finals.

Day 2 begins
Elite Eight results, Final Four set Final Four results; Championship match set
Bahbak "bigredAK" Oboodi Wins 2009 World Championship of Battleship Poker

Finally, don't miss the report on Hevad Kahn winning $200,000 in the $2,000 side event last night and PokerStars Six member and WSOP champion Peter Eastgate taking down the $5,000 side event for more than $300,000 tonight.

Working alongside us here all week long are the PokerStars foreign language bloggers. You can check out their work at the following links: German, Swedish, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian and Polish.

If you prefer video to the written word, we've got you covered over at PokerStars.tv. There will be live coverage of the final table on EPTLive.

Final table chip counts can be found on the PCA chip counts page. A complete list of all prize-winners is on our PCA prize-winners page.

This is where we call it a night and get some rest for the final table. By this time tomorrow, we expect to be crowning a 2009 PCA champion and asking him whether he can spare cab fare to the airport. With $3 million in his pocket, we think we've got a chance.

Until then, adieu.

All photos (c) Joe Giron/IMPDI and Neil Stoddart

Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 40,000-80,000 (5,000).

1:36am--Jan Fernandez Eliminated in 9th Place; Final Table Set

Poorya Nazari raised to 205,000 and Jan Fernandez moved all in. Nazari called with As-10h. Fernandez was ahead with pocket Jacks. The flop was Ad-3h-2s and Nazari took the lead. The turn was the Qd and the river was the 8h. Nazari won the hand and Fernandez was eliminated in ninth place... on the final table bubble. The young German collected $175,000 for his efforts.

With Fernandez's elimination, we're down to a final table of eight players. Action is over for tonight. The final table will resume at 1pm on Saturday. Stay tuned for official end of Day 4 chipcounts.

1:25am--Gomes Doubles Through Saul; Snags Chiplead

On the flop of 6c-6h-2c, Alex Gomes was first to act and bet 355,000. Kevin Saul called. The turn was the 6s. Gomes checked and Saul fired out 500,000. Gomes went into the tank. He took off his sunglasses and massaged his forehead before he called. The river was the Qs. Gomes checked. Saul bet 1.3 million. Gomes announced that he was all in for 2.885 million. Saul tanked for a few minutes before he called. Gomes quickly tabled his hand... pocket Aces for a full house. Saul wanted to muck his hand, but he had to show his cards. He flipped over K-Q for a smaller boat. Gomes picked up one of the largest pots of the tournament. Gomes increased his stack to over 7 million as Saul slipped to under 2 million.

1.15am--Chip counts
We're down to nine and the latest chip counts, after Nazari's double up, can be found on the chip count page.

1.06am--Poorya Nazari doubles up

A great time to find aces. Kevin Saul raised in early position and Dustin Dirksen re-raised to 555,000 one seat to his left. One seat further round, Poorya Nazari announced reraise and said he was all in for a little more than two million. All the blinds and Saul got out the way but Dirksen had a genuine decision, and eventually he called and tabled Ac-Ks. Nazari had two red aces and although a king flopped to make him sweat through turn and river, the Canadian's aces held up and he doubles to about four million. Dirksen is down to about one million.

12:49am--Final Nine Seating Assignments

Seat 1: Jan Fernandez
Seat 2: Tony Gregg
Seat 3: Alex Gomes (Team PokerStars Pro)
Seat 4: Pieter Tielen
Seat 5: Dan Heimiller
Seat 6: Benny Spindler
Seat 7: Kevin Saul
Seat 8: Dustin Dirksen
Seat 9: Poorya Nazari

12:29am--Ryan Karp Eliminated

Action folded to Poorya Nazari on the button. He moved all in. Ryan Karp insta-called with pocket tens. Nazari tabled pocket Queens much to the dismay of Karp. Nazari had Karp covered. Alex Gomes leaned over to Nazari and said, "I folded a ten."

The board ran out Ks-Qc-6c-4d-9s. Nazari's Queens held up and Ryan Karp was eliminated in 10th place. He collected $150,000.

There are nine players remaining. Action has been paused, while the final two tables are consolidated into one. We will continue playing until one more player is eliminated.

12:25am--Chip counts updated

The most recent chip counts from the break have been updated on the PCA chip counts page.

12.19am--Andy Fitzpatrick eliminated in 11th place

Andy Fitzpatrick's day is done. He was the short stack at the last break and got his last chips in with K-10. He was up against Pieter Tielen's As-Qs and he was way behind after the flop of Ac-Qd-9d. Although at this point he had straight and backdoor flush draws, none of them came through turn (8h) and river (7h). Fitzpatrick takes $135,000.

12:13am--Karp Doubles; Silences the Brazilians

On the first hand after the break, Ryan Karp shoved all in for 590,000. Alex Gomes called from the big blind with Qh-10s. Karp held Kd-8h. The flop was the Qs-7d-4d and Gomes took the lead as his posse started an early celebration. The turn was the As and the river was the Kh. Karp's railbirds went bonkers when the King spiked on the river to secure Karp a double up, as Gomes' railbirds went silent.

12:00am--In the midnight hour

We have just past midnight in the Bahamas and 11 players remain. Remember, an EPT final table seats only eight, so we need to lose three more. Chip counts for the last handful will be with you soon.

Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 30,000-60,000 (5,000).

Post last updated at 12:00am

12:00am--Players on break

After 12 hours of play, the remaining 11 players are on a 15 minutes break.

11:54pm--Kathy Liebert eliminated in 12th place

Kathy Liebert's terrific run at the PCA is over. She was super short stacked and shoved all in for her final 415,000 with pocket fives. Kevin Saul, with a massive stack, made what was probably a mandatory call even with only Ks-8s and it turned out to be good when the board ran out Qc-Jd-Qd-Jc-3c, which gave Saul the better kicker on the two-pair board.

That was the last action of level 24 and players are now taking a break.

11:52pm--Fernandez catches and doubles

Dustin Dirksen came in for a raise to 150,000 and got calls from Dan Heimiller and Jan Fernandez. The came down Ks-2c-Tc. Fernandez pushed all in for a few hundred thousand. Dirksen called and Heimiller folded. Dirksen had QQ and couldn't beat Fernandez's K-4.

11:44pm--Poorya Nazari Doubles

Poorya Nazari opened shoved for 735,000. Ryan Karp moved all in from the button. The blinds folded. Nazari flipped over Qh-7h and Karp showed Big Slick. Nazari's friends screamed out to the dealer for a "Queen or a seven! Queen or a seven!" Karp was ahead until the seven of clubs spiked on river. Nazari's railbirds got their wish and Nazari doubled up to over 1.5 million. All Karp do was shake his head in bewilderment.

11:39pm--Gomes improves hand selection, chip stack, smile quotient

Dan Heimiller came in for a raise to 150,000 and Gomes simply pushed all-in for 2,145,000. Safe to say--after he did the same thing with Qc-Jc earlier--the table didn't think much of the raise. Poorya Nazari thought enough of his jacks to move all-in, too. Ryan Karp almost called with A-K. Heimiller got out of the way and Nazari flipped over two red jacks. Gomes...two red kings. The board ran out 2-9-7-7-9 and the room exploded with Brazilian cheer and hugging (You know when somebody mistakes me for a Brazilian, it's getting really late).

Gomes finished the hand with 4.3 million-ish.

11:34pm--Chop It

Battle of the blinds between Kathy Liebert and Tony Gregg. Liebert shoved and Gregg called. Liebert was behind with Ad-4h against Gregg's As-5d. The board ran out 9d-6h-3s-Qh-3h which meant that Liebert and Gregg chopped the pot. Liebert avoided elimination and lived to see another day.

11:12pm--Dirksen Doubles With Aces

Alex Gomes raised to 150,000 from early position. Dustin Dirksen re-raised to 365,000 from the cutoff. Action folded back to Gomes. He asked the dealer for a count of Dirksen's stack. It was a shade under 2 million.

"Don't do it," warned Dirksen.

Gomes did not heed Dirksen's advice and shoved all in. Dirksen quickly called and tabled Ac-Ah. "I told you not to," he said.

Gomes sheepishly flipped over Qc-Jc. The board ran out Kd-5d-5h-6s-Kc. Dirksen's Aces held up and he surged to over 4 million in chips, as Gomes took a massive hit and slipped to 1.4 million.

11:11pm--Andrew Fitzgerald doubles up

After the last elimination, Andrew Fitzgerald was moved to the feature table. Actually, he returned to the feature table that he departed one elimination before that. Anyway, once he was settled back under the studio lights, he got all his last chips all in with 10s-9s in the big blind. Tony Gregg was priced in and was actually ahead with his J-6. But there were two spades on the flop, another on the turn and a flush for Fitzpatrick was good for a double up.

11:01pm--Nate Plotkin Eliminated in 13th Place

Over at the TV table, Nate Plotkin was all in with pocket nines against Kevin Saul's Ad-Jc. The flop was 7d-6h-5h. The turn was the Kh and the river was the Jh. Saul rivered a pair of Jacks and he won the pot. Plotkin headed to the rail in 13th place and collected $105,000. Down to 12.

10:58--Wake up, Dan!

Dan Heimiller just woke up with aces when he most needed them. Ryan Karp raised from the small blind, Heimiller peeked, shoved, and doubled up against Karp's K-2 on a Q-J-3-9-5 board. Heimiller now has 800,000.

10:52--B-b-b-Benny's 'bout to jet

Benny Chen's day went from fantastic to horrible in the course of just a couple of hours. After the big pot with Tony Gregg a couple of minutes ago, Chen put his last 90,000 chips in the middle with 6d-7d. He got called in two spots. By the river, Pieter Tielen's K-9 had made a pair and Chen was out. His 14th place finish earned him $95,000. His exit also leaves us with only one Benny in the PCA main event, Benny Splinder.

10.43pm--Another double up, this time for Gregg

Tony Gregg gets it all in pre-flop against Benny Chen. "All" in this context means his final 1,640,000. Chen calls and shows pocket sevens, Gregg has A-Q. An ace in the window vaults Gregg into the lead and he doesn't relinquish it through turn and river. Gregg now has more than three million and Chen is in trouble.

10:38pm--Double up for Pieter Tielen

Kevin Saul opens for 140,000 from under-the-gun. It's a familiar refrain. However Pieter Tielen, who has been relatively quiet, moves all in for his last 760,000, meaning Saul has to find 620,000 more for the call. After a small bit of mental arithmetic, he does call and has pocket fives. Tilen has jacks and survives an open-ended straight draw for Saul on the turn to double up.

10:27pm--Adam Geyer Eliminated in 15th Place

Alex Gomes raised to 170,000. Adam Geyer moved all in for 970,000. Poorya Nazari also announced that he was all in. Action folded to Gomes and he quickly got out of the hand. Geyer tabled Ad-3d and was behind Nazari's pocket Jacks. The board ran out Qd-Qs-6s-9s-3c. Nazari's Jacks held up and Geyer was eliminated in 15th place. Down to 14.

10:26pm--Back to the action

Cards are back in the air. There aren't anymore 1,000 chips on the table. That means the antes will now be 5,000 (incidentally, 25% of a starting stack here).

10.12pm--Break

Players are taking a quick break while they colour up the 1,000 chips. When we return they will no longer be dealing with yellow chips.

Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 20,000-40,000 (4,000).

Post last updated at 10.05pm

10.05pm--Monster call from Saul, good

Benny Spindler has just learned a valuable lesson: don't try to bluff Kevin Saul. Saul raised 95,000 from the button and Spindler re-popped 275,000 in the small blind. Saul called. The flop was 2s-10c-10d and both players now checked. The turn was the Ks and Spindler bet 375,000, which Saul also called. The river made this board even more threatening: Ah and Spindler seemed to like that too. He bet 650,000. Now Saul went deep, deep into the tank but eventually found a call and Spindler insta-mucked. Saul asked to see it, as is his right, and was shown Q-8c for complete air. Saul didn't have a whole deal better, but his pocket sevens - fourth pair - was good. A breathtaking call from Saul that keeps him well in command of this feature table as we end level 23.

9.50pm--Hoodies go head-to-head

Tony Gregg and Kevin Saul have the most prominent hooded tops on the feature table, and they are also the most eager to get their chip in the pot. This time, Saul raises to 95,000 from under the gun, his standard raise, and Gregg calls on the button. The flop comes 4h-8h-6d and all manner of hooded hell breaks loose. Saul bets 75,000; Gregg makes it 428,000; Saul re-pops to 733,000. That's good enough and Gregg gets out the way, licking wounds of about 500,000.

9:40pm--Gomes Loses Almost 1 Million

Alex Gomes, fresh off his massive double up, opened for a 105,000 raise. Poorya Nazari called. The flop was Ah-Jc-7d. Gomes fired out 185,000 and Nazari called. The turn was the 8s. Gomes slowed down and checked. Nazari bet 274,000 and Gomes called. The river was the 7h. Gomes checked and Nazari pulled out an entire column of white chips and announced a 504,000 bet. Gomes shook his head and called. Nazari tabled Ad-Kh for Aces up. Gomes tossed his hand into the muck and Nazari dragged a pot worth over 2.1 million. Gomes slipped to under 4 million in chips.

9.34pm--Saul on the move again

Kevin Saul just shortened Andy Fitzpatrick's short stack. Fitzpatrick button raised, Saul defended his big blind but they both checked the Qd-8c-6h flop. Saul bet 135,000 on the 4d turn, called, and then Saul fired 250,000 at the 2h river. Fitzpatrick folded.

9.27pm--Gregg gunning at the table captain

Tony Gregg and Kevin Saul get to a flop for 95,000 apiece. They see 8s-6s-2s and both check. The turn is the 5c and Gregg bets 133,000, which Saul calls. The river is the 2d and this time Gregg's bet of 317,000 is good. Saul mucks.

9:21--Gomes takes chip lead

In a classic case of wrong decision, right result, Team PokerStars Pro Alex Gomes just hit what is likely the river of his life. He had come in for a button raise to a little more than 100,000. Adam Geyer re-raised to make it 350,000 straight. The flop came down Tc-6d-5h, Geyer led into the pot for 625,000. Gomes thought for a moment before declaring all-in. Geyer called in an instant and showed Jd-Jh. Gomes held Ad-5c. Geyer's supporters called for a jack. Gomes' friends called for the ace.

And there it was on the river.

Geyer sat short-stacked and devastated about the bad beat. Gomes meanwhile stacked his chips. How many?

"Almost five," he answered

That's five million, folks.

9:14pm--Jan Fernandez Doubles Up

Short-stacked Jan Fernandez shoved from the button for 388,000. Adam Geyer called from the big blind with As-9s. Fernandez tabled Jh-10h. The flop was Jd-Js-3c and Fernandez took the lead with trips. The turn was the 2s and Geyer picked up a couple of outs with a flush draw. The river was the 5c. Fernandez's trips held up and he doubled up to almost 800,000.

9.04pm--Huge pot brews, fizzles out

Tony Gregg opens for 103,000 from two off the button. Benny Chen makes it 275,000 from the small blind. The flop comes 9c-10d-Qs and Chen bets 275,000, which Gregg calls. Both players are more circumspect on the 4h turn and check, seeing a Kc river. That gets Chen betting again, another quarter million, and Gregg counts out the call. Then in a massive anticlimax they both show K-Q to chop the million dollar pot.

8:50pm--David Baker eliminated 16th place

With a raise in front of him, David Baker made his move. All-in was the call. Trouble was, Dustin Dirksen woke up with AdKc, a kew notches better than baker's A-T.

Baker instructed the dealer, "Do it super slow so I can get the most out of my sweat."

The dealer obliged and went as slowly as possible. Baker got his sweat, but no ten or other miracle. For 16th place, he earns $75,000.

8:45pm--In for a long night

If the ensuing levels go anything like the last one, we may very well see the sun come up before bed time. The players are holding on tough. Sixteen players remain on the trek to the eight-handed final table.

Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 15,000-30,000 (2,000).

Post last updated at 8.31pm

8:31pm--Gomes Likes 9-8 Suited

An interesting hand developed on the outer table just before the break. Alex Gomes raised to 80,000. Poorya Nazari called from the button. Dustin Dirksen re-raised to 225,000 from the big blind. Gomes headed into the tank as the clock expired which indicated a break. The spectators at the TV table spilled out into the outer table area and a massive wall of railbirds formed to watch the action. Gomes announced that he wanted to re-raise to 400,000. Nazari and Dirksen quickly folded. Gomes flashed his cards... the 9s-8s... much to the glee of his fellow Brazilians rooting him on. Gomes raked in the pot and players headed onto a break.

8.25pm--A hand at last

It's been exceptionally slow going still here in the Bahamas, but just before the break a major hand brews on the feature table. Benny Spindler opens for 75,000 under-the-gun and Nathan Plotkin calls on the button, as does Benny Chen in the small blind. Just Kevin Saul to act in the big blind, and act he does, reraising to 225,000. Spindler is having none of it and shoves all in. It's 1,973,000 in total and that's quite enough. Plotkin and Chen get out the way and Saul flips 10-10 into the muck.

7:59pm--Feature table domination
The action on the feature table is distinctly one-way. Kevin Saul, reunited with a big stack after eliminated Jason Paster, is three-betting at every opportunity and usually getting players to lay down their hands. Nathan Plotkin did the same when he had the chance, reraising all in over Andy Fitzpatrick's 75,000 late-position bet. That was good enough too.

7:38pm--Getting ready to re-start

Players are returning to their seats. We're still getting a look at chip counts, but at this hour it appears Benny Chen (below) remains our chip leader.

7:19pm--Jason Paster Eliminated in 17th Place

Jason Paster raised from the cutoff for 73,000. Kevin Saul called from the big blind. The flop was As-6h-3h. Saul checked. Paster bet 106,000. Saul check-raised to 256,000. After a couple of seconds of deliberation, Paster called. The turn was the Kd. Saul announced that he was all in. Paster tanked for several minutes as a crowd of media encircled his table. After several minutes, Paster said, "I call."

Saul was ahead with a set of sixes. Paster was behind with Ah-Qs.

"That's what I put you on," said Saul. The river was the 3s. Saul won the pot with a full house and Paster was eliminated in 17th place. Action was paused while the final 16 players redraw for seats.

7.10pm--Slow going

The tournament continues its go slow, with hardly any pots of any note. On one of the outer tables Nathan Plotkin gets involved with Dustin Dirksen, with DD coming out on top. It's three-way to the flop, which is 8s-Ac-3s and after Plotkin checks, Dirksen bets 230,000. Anthony Gregg folds but Plotkin calls. The 2s turns and the pattern repeats exactly - check, 230,000 from Dirksen - but this time Plotkin folds.

7:01pm--Food coma

Even though the dinner break was a quick one, the players seem to have lapsed into a bit of a food coma. It's been pretty quiet for the last 15 minutes or so.

6:45pm--Dessert time

Players are returning from a quick dinner. With 17 players remaining, the tournament will continue until we reach the eight-handed final table.

Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 12,000-24,000 (2,000).

5:43pm--Dinner break
Players take a one-hour dinner break. Alex Gomes, below, is going to enjoy his.

5.40pm--Gomes goes to dinner break with flush, Galluzzo busted
On the final hand before the dinner break, Alexandre Gomes takes a 500,000 chip pot and eliminates Giuseppe Galluzzo. All the money goes in on a flop of 7c-2c-3h, Gomes committed to the call after Galluzzo shoves. Gomes has 9c-5c for the flush draw, Galluzzo has 9h-7h for top pair. The Brazlian supporters erupt when the 10c turns and gives Gomes the flush, busting Galluzzo.

5.32pm--We are family
Six players see a flop - almost unheard of, and Alexandre Gomes, the only player who has folded, desperately wants his cards back. The flop is Kd-Ac-Jd and Adam Geyer's bet of 220,000 thins the field to just Pieter Tielen, who calls. But Geyer's bet of 180,000 on the Jc turn takes it.

5:22pm--Albert Minnullin sees kings cracked and then the rail

All-in pre-flop with K-K vs Jason Paster's 7-7, Albert Minnullin had to watch the board run out 8-6-5-5-7.

The Russian finishes in 19th place for $60,000.

5.19pm--Saul hauls some back

A three-way flop on the feature table: Saul, Gomes and Tielen. It comes 3s-Kd-3h and they all check. The turn is the Qd and Gomes bets 130,000. Saul reraises 280,000, Tielen folds, as does Gomes, eventually.

5:15pm--Paul Greim loses race and chips, wins $60,000

Paul Greim had a little less than 500,000 and pushed it all-in under the gun with pocket eights. Kathy Liebert thought for an age before calling with As-Kc.

Liebert hit both her ace and king to send Greim out in 20th place.

5.10pm--Fitzpatrick doubles through Saul

Andy Fitzpatrick is put to the ultimate test by Kevin Saul, and passes. The flop is As-Jh-5h and Fitzpatrick bets 100,000. Saul moves all in, which comfortably covers Fitzpatrick. "You got ace-jack?" Fitzpatrick says, but calls instantly. He shows A-K and Saul has a flush draw with Kh-10h. The turn and river are not heart-shaped, though, and Fitzpatrick doubles up. Saul takes another hit.

5.05pm--Shift in the chip lead

Massive pot on the feature table that gives Benny Spindler the chip lead. The two table captains see a relatively cheap flop but then it gets feisty. The first three cards were Qd-Qs-3d and Saul checks. Spindler bets 90,000 and Saul check-raises to 300,000. Spindler calls. The Qc comes on the turn and both players check. The river is the 10d and Saul bets 450,000, which prompts an all-in reraise from Spindler. Saul folds and Barry Greenstein, on the EPT Live commentary, is convinced that means the case queen in Spindler's hand. Spindler now has 2.89m, Saul has 2m.

5:04pm--David Baker: "Oh, my God."

David Baker just had a giant sandwich delivered. He ate one bite and put it under his chair. Five minutes later, he had Poorya Nazari on the hook. Baker had pocket aces and wasn't playing them slowly. He bet the flop, turn, and river on a 8h-2d-4h-9h-Jd board.

So, when Nazari called the all-in on the river, Baker nearly threw up his one bite of sandwich. Narari held Jc-9c for runner-runner two pair. Baker lost more than 700,000 on the hand.

4:55pm--Hafiz Khan won't repeat final table appearance

Hafiz Khan's quest to make back-to-back PCA final tables is over. Though we missed the lead up the final bet, on a board of Kc-Jc-4s-Qc-6, Khan bluffed all-in with air and got called by Anthony Gregg's KcTs. Khan is out in 21st place for $50,000.

4.50pm--Chopping

Adam Geyer and Kevin Saul have been tangling all day. Saul seems to have targeted Geyer and again it seems as though he's just bullying with his big stack. There's a raise, a re-raise and a shove by Saul, putting Geyer to the test for his tournament life. Geyer does call and Saul says: "Nice call." Both players show the same hand - A-Q - and although Geyer picks up a freeroll on the flop when is comes all diamonds (Geyer has the ace of diamonds), but turn and river are black and they chop.

4:43pm--Ramos cracked by Chen

Nice-guy Felipe "mojave14" Ramos has just had his aces cracked by Benny Chen. Chen led out on a Jh-6h-4c flop and, after a long think, Ramos pushed all in for around 400,000. Chen snap-called with a set of fours. Ramos missed his couple of outs and he is out in 22nd place.

4.35pm--Gomes has game

Alex Gomes and Benny Spindler get heavily involved pre-flop. Gomes opens, Spindler three-bets and Gomes four-bets up to 510,000, leaving Spindler looking for 350,000 more to call. He reluctantly folds and is shown 4h-5h by Alex Gomes for the monstrous five high.

4.19pm--Latest chips

Action is underway again, and they've returned to these (approximate) chip counts:

Television table
1 - empty
2 - Giuseppe Galluzzo - 560,000
3 - Alexandre Gomes - 1,700,000
4 - Benny Spindler - 2,300,000
5 - Kevin Saul - 2,700,000
6 - Richard Geyer - 1,100,000
7 - Pieter Tielen - 850,000
8 - Andy Fitzpatrick - 973,000

Table two
1 - empty
2 - Ryan Karp - 1,188,000
3 - Nathan Plotkin - 875,000
4 - Daniel Heimiller - 1,500,000
5 - Kathy Liebert - 830,000
6 - Paul Greim - 785,000
7 - Hafiz Khan - 1,150,000
8 - Anthony Gregg - 1,200,000

Table three
1 - Poorya Nazari - 1,068,000
2 - Felipe Ramos - 640,000
3 - Jan Collado Y Fernandez - 560,000
4 - David Baker - 1,555,000
5 - Albert Minnullin - 480,000
6 - Dustin Dirksen - 1,850,000
7 - Jason Paster - 850,000
8 - Benny Chen - 2,250,000

4:12pm--Players returning from break

Players are about to return from break. We hope to be started again soon.

Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 10,000-20,000 (2,000).

Post last updated at 4.00pm

4:00pm--Break time...again

Although we are just 20 minutes away from the last break, we're on a regularly scheduled break for another 15 minutes.

3:55pm--Christian De Leon Angeles finished in 23rd

All-in pre-flop with Ah-Qc, Christian De Leon Angeles got a call from Hafiz Khan who held Ks-Kc. The board ran out 9s-8c-6s-2c-Jd and De Leon Angeles was eliminated in 23rd place for $45,000.

You likely remember, Kafiz Khan finished runner up at the 2008 PCA. Now he is back and looking to do himself one better.

Watch PCA 09: Hafiz Khan on PokerStars.tv

3:54pm--Cero Zuccarello eliminated 24th

Short-stacked and in jeopardy of blinding out, Cero Zuccarello got all-in preflop with Kevin Saul. Saul held pocket nines to Zucarello's Kc-4d. Zucarello flopped his king, but Saul flopped his set. Cero earned $45,000.

3.49pm--Plotkin straightens out Heimiller

Nathan Plotkin and Dan Heimiller saw a flop from the blinds. It came 2c-2s-6d. Plotkin bet 36,000, called by Heimiller. They both checked the 8s turn and then Plotkin fired 100,000 at the 5h river. Heimiller wanted to fold, then he wanted to call, then he wanted to fold and eventually he called. Plotkin showed 9-7d for the rivered straight and took it down. "You have the smaller straight, Dan?" probed Kathy Liebert, tongue very much in cheek. "Yeah. That's right," said Heimiller.

3.30pm--Table draw details

Television table
1 - Cero Zuccarello
2 - Giuseppe Galluzzo
3 - Alexandre Gomes
4 - Benny Spindler
5 - Kevin Saul
6 - Richard Geyer
7 - Pieter Tielen
8 - Andy Fitzpatrick

Table two
1 - Christian De Leon Angeles
2 - Ryan Karp
3 - Nathan Plotkin
4 - Daniel Heimiller
5 - Kathy Liebert
6 - Paul Greim
7 - Hafiz Khan
8 - Anthony Gregg

Table three
1 - Poorya Nazari
2 - Felipe Ramos
3 - Jan Collado Y Fernandez
4 - David Baker
5 - Albert Minnullin
6 - Dustin Dirksen
7 - Jason Paster
8 - Benny Chen

3:20pm--Slight delay

We're on a slight delay due to table re-drawing. Back in just a bit.

3:18pm--Pay jump

Now that we have reached the final three tables, the next person out gets $45,000. Payouts jump to $50,000 for the 22nd place finisher.

3:17pm--One lady remains

With Elizabeth Bennett-Martin's departure, Kathy Liebert becomes the last woman standing with 24 players remaining. Here's an interview she did a bit earlier.

Watch PCA 2009: Kathy Liebert Day 4 on PokerStars.tv

3.15pm--"Gonna need some more racks on table one!"

With 24 players remaining, they're now doing a complete redraw. New seating assignments, and revised chip counts, will be coming as soon as we know them.

3:13pm--Elizabeth Bennett-Martin eliminated

Short-stacked, in the small blind, and in need of a double up, Elizabeth Bennett-Martin called Albert Minnullin's button-shove. She held K-8 to Minnullin's A-Q. Two aces on the flop and Minnullin sent the Canadian lady out in 25th place. She earned $40,000.

3:00pm--Huge pot for Gomes

Alexandre Gomes is a major force now having just accounted for Antonio Bueti in a million-plus pot. Bueti opened for 49,000 from early position and Gomes re-raised to 161,000 from the button. Bueti thought for a while before shoving all in, close to 500,000. Gomes insta-called and showed K-K. Bueti had 9-9. Kathy Liebert, and a few of us on the rail, immediately recognised this match up - it was the one that Gomes doubled up with yesterday, his nines outdrawing Liebert's kings. But this time there were no such outdraws and the board bricked to give Gomes more than 2 million.

2:55pm--Albert Minnullin Doubles; Liebert and Gomes Clash

Kathy Liebert and Alexandre Gomes have been sitting at the same table together on and off the last couple of days. Liebert, the former bracelet winner and Gomes, the Team PokerStars Pro from Brazil, have tangled on several hands including one big one last night when Liebert doubled through Gomes with Kings.

Despite a table redraw, the two are seated at the same table today and continued to spar with each other. Liebert opened for a 55,000 raise. Action folded around to Gomes in the big blind who called. The flop was 5d-5c-4c. Gomes checked. Libert fired out four white chips worth 100,000. Gomes methodically pulled off ten or so red chips and added them on top of a small stack of white chips. He pushed them out in front of him for a 260,000 check-raise. Liebert headed into the tank for several minutes as a small crowd gathered to watch.

Simultaneously, on the adjacent table, there was an all in hand between Albert Minnullin and Dustin Dirksen. EPT Live cameras converged on the that table while Liebert was still pondering Gomes' call on the other table. Dustin Dirksen was ahead with Ks-3c against Minnullin's Qc-3d, who caught running clubs to win the pot with a flush and double up. He won a pot worth over 350,000.

Meanwhile, back at the Gomes/Liebert table, Liebert continued to tank. She took her head phones off and carefully studied Gomes, who aloofly shuffled a stack of red chips. Liebert eventually picked up her cards and folded. Gomes dragged the pot.

"You gotta stop doing that, man!" she told Gomes who smiled.

2.46pm--The usual suspects

It's getting personal between Cero Zuccarello and Christian De Leon Angeles, who have found themselves entangled in consecutive battles of the blinds turned ugly. On the first, Zuccarello made it 45,000 pre-flop and the Mexican player moved all in for about 260,000 more. Fold. The next time the two of them were in the blinds, they got to the turn with a minimum of betting -- board showing 5h-3h-Qd-Kh - before Zucarello tossed in 22,000. The Mexican called. The river was the 8s and Zucarello bet 45,000, and De Leon Angeles immediately reraised all in. Zucarello was again forced out of it.

2.31pm--Paris departs

Bryan Paris is eliminated, the victim of two small pocket pairs in consecutive hands. He shipped a decent chunk of his chips to Cero Zuccarello, as detailed below, and he just got the remainder all in pre-flop with 7-7 against Pieter Tielen's aces. The aces were good.

2.24pm--Zuccarello doubles; Ramos chips some from Spindler

Cero Zuccarello and Bryan Paris go to the races pre-flop, with Paris holding two black eights and the chip advantage against Zuccarello's Ad-Jd. But a jack flopped, and another one rivered, to double up the all in player Zuccarello to about 290,000. On another table, Felipe Ramos called a pre-flop Benny Spindler raise and fired out a bet of 120,000 once the river was dealt, showing a full board of 5s-6h-2s-8h-Ad. Ramos tabled 7c-9c for the straight and Spindler mucked.

2.16pm--Sisley stuffed

"Good game guys," says the PokerStars qualifier Todd Sisley. He got his short stack all in with A-K and was looked up by the bigger stack of Anthony Gregg. Gregg's pocket fives won the flip and Sisley departs in 29th.

2:13pm--Back in action

We're back in action after an extended break. You can see featured table action at PokerStars.tv.

1.52pm--Break time

Players are on their break. Chip counts will be updated at the end of every level and will be available on the chip counts page. Bust-outs - and how much they won - can be seen on the prize-winners page.

Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 8,000-16,000 (1,500).

1.48pm--Small pot for Paster

The final hand on the feature table earns a 150,000 pot for Jason Paster. He calls Hafiz Khan's pre-flop raise then they check the flop and turn which comes 5h-4h-Js-2d. Khan doesn't want to know when Paster bets 55,000 on the river of Jh. That's the end of the level.

1:45pm--New chip in play

The tournament director has introduced a new white chip into play worth 25,000.

1.34pm--Alexandre Gomes doubles up

As one Team PokerStars Pro departs, the other sees his chances of making the final take a huge boost. Alexandre Gomes doubles to close to a million when he and Jan Collado get into a raising war on a flop of J-10-3. Eventually all their chips are in the middle with Gomes's pocket kings better than Collado's A-J. The turn and river brick and Gomes doubles up.

1.29pm--Two players busted from feature table

Vicky Coren moves all in from mid position for her final 65,500. From the small blind, Justin Rollo moves all in for his last 250,000-odd. And David Baker calls! He is the big stack and he has the biggest hand too: he shows Q-Q. Rollo is behind with his Ac-10c and Vicky at least has live cards: 7-5o. The flop is 2c-Kh-5d, the turn is the 2s which takes away some of Coren's outs and the river is the 7s, which gives her two pair, but worse than Baker's two pairs. Coren and Rollo are both done.

1:21pm--Mike Rowe eliminated 31st place

Five years ago Mike Rowe, then in his teens, took on Microsoft in a internationally famous legal battle. Today, he was fighting for the final table. It didn't happen. After he raised pre-flop with A-Q, Jan Collado Y Fernandez re-raised him. Rowe pushed all-in and Fernandez called with A-K. After losing the hand Rowe was left with 47,500 which he put in on the next hand. Kathy Liebert called from the big blind with Ks-8c, better than Rowe's 3s-4s. "Suited AND connected," he declared. No good, though, and he's out in 31st place for $40,000.

1.18pm--Coren doubles up
Unsurprisingly, Coren has to get her chips in the very next hand - and she's actually ahead. She has Qs-9c and David Paster has Js-10c. The flop is cruel for Coren: 10s-3c-8h but she gets some hope on the turn, which is the Kh. And this river is one of her few outs. It's the Jh to make her straight and double her up to more than 50,000. It's still not much, but she's alive.

1.12pm--Paster doubles up; Coren crippled

Two of the feature table short stacks get them all in pre-flop. Victoria Coren just has Jason Paster covered in chips, but she is well behind in terms of the hands. Coren has pocket sixes, Paster has tens, and the best hand stands up. That leaves Coren with a Michael Martin's hope of winning this now - she only has 24,000 - but it can be done.

1:04pm--Happy flop for Paris

When you're all-in with Ac-9c like Bryan Paris just was, there aren't too many flops you'll like more than 4c-8c-Tc. Cero Zuccarello held two red sixes in the pre-flop all-in battle and was drawing dead by the turn. Paris doubled to a little more than 205,000.

12.59pm--Paster finds the all in button
Benny Chen raises to 38,000 from mid position. Jason Paster moves all in for another 336,000 more. Chen tanks and folds. Still no flop on the feature table.

12.57pm--Khan charge
Decked in a San Diego Chargers cap, Hafiz Khan is making his own charge here with another strong re-raise. David Baker makes it 38,000 from the cut off, Khan makes it 110,000 from the button, Baker folds.

12:56pm--Liebert busts Daniel Krätz

On the very fist hand at table four, Kathy Liebert came in for an early position raise to 46,000. She got one call from Jan Collado Y Fernandez. When play reached Daniel Krätz in the small blind, he announced all-in for 419,000. Liebert called and Fernandez went away. Liebert held pocket kings to Krätz's jacks. No jack came on board and Krätz finished in 32nd place for $40,000.

12.52pm--Action at last
On the feature table, it's folded all the way round to David Baker's small blind. He raises and Hafiz Khan re-raises all in for 600,000. Err, fold, says Baker.

12.24pm--Administration
As we wait for the usual admin to be completed - the unbagging of chips, the wiring of microphones for television coverage, etc - why not check in with Alexandre Gomes, the Team PokerStars Pro from Brazil, who made it through to the penultimate day of competition after riding the roller-coaster of day three.

Watch PCA 09: Alex Gomes on his Day 3 of the PCA main event on PokerStars.tv

12:14pm--Top 10 Chips and Day 4 Seating Assignments:

Top 10 in Chips:
1. Kevin Saul (USA) - PokerStars qualifier - 2,675,000
2. Benny Spindler (Germany) - PokerStars player - 2,266,500
3. Benny Chen (Canada) - 1,999,000
4. Daniel Heimiller (USA) - 1,579,500
5. David Michell Baker (USA) -1,454,000
6. Richard Adam Geyer (USA) - PokerStars player - 1,383,000
7. Ryan Karp (USA) - PokerStars qualifier - 1,205,000
8. Dustin Dirksen (USA) - PokerStars player - 1,142,000
9. Nathan Zimmerman Plotkin (USA) - PokerStars qualifier - 972,500
10. Andy Fitzpatrick (USA) - 933,500

Day 4 Starting Seat Assignments:
Table 1:
Seat 1: Ryan Karp - 1,205,000
Seat 2: Nathan Zimmerman Plotkin - 972,500
Seat 3: Todd Sisley - 564,500
Seat 4: Richard Adam Geyer - 1,383,000
Seat 5: Daniel Heimiller - 1,579,500
Seat 6: Anthony Gregg - 859,000
Seat 7: Kevin Saul - 2,675,000
Seat 8: Poorya Nazari - 248,500

Table 2:
Seat 1: Pieter Tielen - 371,500
Seat 2: Dustin Dirksen - 1,142,000
Seat 3: Albert Minnullin - 586,000
Seat 4: Bryan Paris - 238,000
Seat 5: Alexandre Gomes - 407,000 - Team PokerStars Pro
Seat 6: Elizabeth Bennett-Martin - 385,500
Seat 7: Cero Zuccarello - 880,500
Seat 8: Christian De Leon Angeles - 618,000

Table 3 - EPTLive feature table
Seat 1: Benny Chen - 1,999,000
Seat 2: David Michell Baker - 1,454,000
Seat 3: Hafiz Khan - 619,000
Seat 4: Andy Fitzpatrick - 933,500
Seat 5: Victoria Coren - 400,000 - Team PokerStars Pro
Seat 6: Jason Paster - 336,000
Seat 7: Paul M. Greim - 442,500
Seat 8: Justin Rollo - 310,000

Table 4
Seat 1: Giuseppe Galluzzo - 531,000
Seat 2: Daniel Krätz - 419,000
Seat 3: Benny Spindler - 2,266,500
Seat 4: Kathy Liebert - 500,500
Seat 5: Mike Rowe - 658,000
Seat 6: Antonio Bueti - 468,500
Seat 7: Felipe Ramos - 553,500
Seat 8: Jan Collado Y Fernandez - 759,500

12:11pm--Players taking their seats

The remaining 32 players are taking their seats to play out the last 47 minutes 53 seconds on Level 19. Play will continue today until we reach the final table of eight players. Throughout the day, you will find live coverage here and at PokerStars.tv.

By way of introduction to the penultimate day's play, here's a pictorial guide to today's action, courtesy of Joe Giron, one of the PokerStars blog's excellent photographers.

Another packed room of poker action

Day four chip leader Kevin Saul

All eyes today will be on Benny Spendler's stack

The other Benny, Benny Chen

David Baker

Day 1 chip leader Felipe Ramos going strong

Back-to-back final tables for Hafiz Khan?

A second EPT title for Victoria Coren?

WSOP bracelet winner, Team PokerStars Pro member, PCA winner? Only Alexandre Gomes can do it

Kathy Liebert

Elizabeth Bennett-Martin