Shklover entered Event #20 ($1,050 No Limit Hold'em) on a whim after his good friend, who plays on PokerStars under the screen name Harrington10 alerted him to the good structure, and transferred him a little cash for the entry fee. “I really like the bigger tournaments better on [PokerStars] especially when the blind structure is set up for allowing more play in the later rounds.”

The former Wall Street broker has played on PokerStars seriously for about 3 ½ years, focusing on tournament play in the beginning of his career and moving towards cash games as he gained experience. “I am mostly a cash player, and I like heads up NL the most but I do like to play Omaha as well, I am learning from in my opinion the best online short handed Omaha player - Harrington10. I play a lot of live poker as well, and was out at the World Series for the month this year, I did not have any cashes this year, but I only played 5 events, I bubbled a few of them and decided to stick to playing cash. I would say the WSOP is my favorite events just because of the atmosphere and all the players across the world come to prove their skills.”

The field in Event #20 was stacked, especially on Day 2 with Team PokerStars Pro players Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier and Humberto Brenes still in the 43-person field. Shklover recalled one particular hand against Grospellier that propelled him to the final table. “[W]hen I won the hand with AJ against ElkY, I knew I was going to the final table. ElkY raised from the button he had been very aggressive the whole time at the table, raising probably 60% of hands, the orbit before he raised on the button, and I re-raised him with 2-6, and he folded. And next orbit he raised on the button again, and I had A-J suited. I re-raised again and this time he went all in. I did not have a lot of time left in my bank but I knew his range of shoving hands is pretty big here against the small blind re-raise so I decided to gamble. I knew I would have about [1 million chips] left if I lost, so I would not be out. I was in bad shape when I saw his hand A-Q, but I got lucky and hit a Jack, that’s when I knew I could win this tournament.”

Shklover credits his experience playing Heads-Up No Limit cash games with his eventual victory, even though he was a chip underdog going into heads-up play. “I knew I had a good chance to actually win the bracelet when it got HU, I play a lot of heads up cash, and even though Quasi had 2-1 in chips I felt very confident that I could win the tourney. Winning the whole tournament was very gratifying, everyone close to me like my girlfriend Olya and my parents Gene and Alla and my Uncle Max who is my biggest supporter were happier to see me win than I was.”

Not coming from a card-playing family, Shklover cites his Uncle Max as a big influence in his success, discussing strategy with him and supporting him. Living in New York City, Shklover gets plenty of opportunity to play, joining in some of the private games around the city. His next goal is to win a major live tournament, improving on his biggest win prior to the WCOOP, a final table at the Borgata in 2006. We have no doubt that great things are in store for Mike “NYC P.I.M.P.” Shklover as he continues on his career!

PokerStars.tv has put together another fantastic highlight reel from the final table. You can click through to see all the great PokerStars.tv shows or watch the Event #20 highlight reel below.

Watch WCOOP Highlights: Event 20 - $1,050 NL Hold'em on PokerStars.tv

Other Event #20 news

WCOOP Event #20: NYC P.I.M.P claims the bracelet

WCOOP Event #20 Day 2 live blog

WCOOP Event #20 Day 1: Shark in the hunt

WCOOP Event #20 Day 1 Live Blog

Among that number were two Team PokerStars Pros. Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, coming off a second-place finish in Event 19 ($25,000 High-Roller Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em), was joined in the Event 20 restart by teammate Humberto Brenes, who sat in the top 10 chip counts as the day began.

Both men would fare well in the early going when play resumed on Level 23 with blinds at 12,500/25,000 and antes of 2,500. Brenes hovered around where he started for much of the first few hours of play, while ElkY got a quick double-up to nearly 2 million when his A-A was good against Belabasci's Q-Q.

The two were still in the hunt when 21 players remained, but Brenes had to catch a big break to keep himself going. After getting his near-average stack of 2.1 million in the middle before the flop, his As-Kh was able to snap off the Kd-Ks of VuaXi`Tô' with an ace on the flop. There were four outs in the deck for VuaXi`Tô', but none of them came and suddenly the Shark was up to almost 4.5 million.

Brenes would finally bow out in 16th place when he found himself unable to triumph in another Big Slick-versus-Cowboys confrontation. With blinds at 40,000/80,000 and antes of 8000, Brenes opened under the gun for 160,000. When Mary 717 made it 560,000 to go on the button, Brenes moved all-in for 2,085,549 with Ah-Kh; Mary 717 called with Kc-Ks, taking down the pot when the Jd-9s-8c-5d-9h board brought no help for Brenes.

Only two spots later, the only remaining representative of Team PokerStars Pro would also find his way to the rail, despite starting the hand in a great spot. ElkY's stack went in the middle with Ah-Qs against NYC P.I.M.P's As-Js, but it all slid to NYC P.I.M.P after the board came down Jh-6c-3d-Kd-9h to send ElkY home in 14th place.

When play went hand-for-hand it looked like we would see one of the four very short stacks go out to give us our final table lineup. Instead, Numbass would be the final table bubble boy, thanks to this hand:

At 9:00 pm, after more than 15 hours of play, the final table began with the players stacking up like this:

Seat 1: Mary 717 11,817,844
Seat 2: Sumar07 1,223,614
Seat 3: JSchnett 2,093,726
Seat 4: henri72 3,150,664
Seat 5: CamoJr 6,325,276
Seat 6: VuaXi`Tô' 1,096,544
Seat 7: QuasiFiction 17,614,385
Seat 8: C.K. 4,630,228
Seat 9: NYC P.I.M.P 4,068,719

It didn't take long to get the action started. Just five minute into the final table, Sumar07 moved all-in before the flop for 1,559,614 with Ah-Qc and found himself racing with JSchnett's 9c-9s. The nines held up on a board of 2c-6h-Tc-4s-Kc, sending Sumar07 home in ninth place with $31,203.

Less than ten minutes later we would have our second casualty of the final table. VuaXi`Tô' moved all-in under the gun for a total of 1,729,088 holding Jd-Td and got a call from CamoJr in the big blind with Ah-Qh. VuaXi`Tô' caught some outs on the Qd-8s-6s flop and picked up even more when the Kd on the turn gave him an open-ended straight flush draw, but the 2c sealed his fate in 8th place. He took home $45,071.

The game turned tentative for the next twenty minutes, and there was little action with the lone exception of NYC P.I.M.P doubling up to 6,692,350 when he got his stack in the middle preflop with 8-8 against Mary 717's 3-3. Finally, henri72 - who had been clinging to a short stack almost the entire day - made his stand. Facing a preflop all-in from Mary 717, he called with Ac-Qd and found himself in fantastic shape against Mary's Qh-7h - until the board came 6c-5d-3d-4h-8h, giving her the straight and sending henri72 home in 7th place with $72,807.

Only five minutes would pass before JSchnett shoved in his remaining 2,485,340 from middle position before the flop with J-J. His timing couldn't have been worse, as C.K. made the call with Ac-As. When the board came down Kc-6h-2c-3h-7c, JSchnett was out in 6th place, earning $107,477.

As the break began after Level 32, the players agreed on a five-way chop based on chip count, leaving $60,000 and the bracelet on the table.

Heads-up play began at precisely 11:00 pm EDT, with QuasiFiction enjoying a chip lead of better than 2-to-1 over NYC P.I.M.P. After 10 minutes of back-and-forth play, the tables would be turned.

QuasiFiction opened preflop for his standard 900,000 on the button and NYC P.I.M.P re-raised to 2,850,000; QuasiFiction called and the flop came down 9h-3h-2d. NYC P.I.M.P led weak for 375,000, and QuasiFiction called. When the turn came the Qc, NYC P.I.M.P instantly shoved all-in for almost 12.5 million. After thinking it out, QuasiFiction called with Qs-Js, only to find himself up against Ac-Ah; an unnecessary Ad on the river gave him a set and the 3-to-2 chip lead.

NYC P.I.M.P would extend his lead a bit further with a pot worth 10 million when he flopped two pair with 6s-4d and got QuasiFiction to call down his bets on the flop (600,000), turn (1,200,000), and river (3,000,000) with the board reading 6d-4s-Js-Ks-Ac. QuasiFiction would get all those chips back on the next hand when his Kh-Td hit a Broadway straight on the river, but NYC P.I.M.P reclaimed them when he claimed the next pot with a bet on the turn.

At 11:19 ET, the match would end with a bang. NYC P.I.M.P limped in on the button for 300,000 and QuasiFiction checked to see a flop of Qd-9c-6h. QuasiFiction check-called a 550,000 bet and the turn came the 4c. This time QuasiFiction led out for 1,200,000, but NYC P.I.M.P quickly shoved all-in. With only four seconds in his time bank, QuasiFiction was forced to make a fast decision and he elected to call with Ks-9h. He was behind his opponent's Qh-2h, and he would finish in second place once the 4d hit the river.

After taking the smallest share of the chip count chop with five players remaining, NYC P.I.M.P emerged victorious. He might not have claimed the lion's share of the final table money, but he got the WCOOP bracelet - and the money he won is nothing to sneeze at.

WCOOP Event 20 Final Table Results (payouts reflect five-way chop based on chip count)

1. NYC P.I.M.P $257,953
2. QuasiFiction $340,000
3. CamoJr $230,388
4. C.K. $226,965
5. Mary 717 $288,155
6. JSchnett $107,477
7. henri72 $72,807
8. VuaXi`Tô' $45,071
9. Sumar07 $31,203

For full coverage of Event #20 from start to finish, check out the Event #20 Day 1 Live Blog and the Event #20 Day 2 Live Blog. For commentary on the event, check out PokerStars.tv. For full WCOOP results and stats, visit the WCOOP homepage.

Have a story for us? E-mail to blog@pokerstars.com. Click refresh to see the latest information.

11:21pm--QuasiFiction eliminated in 2nd place; NYC P.I.M.P. wins WCOOP Event No. 20!

With nearly a 4-to-1 chip advantage heading into the final hand, NYC P.I.M.P. completed for 150,000 more from the small blind/button, and QuasiFiction checked his option from the big blind.

The flop came Qd-9c-6h. QuasiFiction checked, NYC P.I.M.P bet 550,000, and QuasiFiction called. The turn was the 4c. This time QuasiFiction bet out 1.2 million, and NYC P.I.M.P raised all in. QuasiFiction called with his remaining 10,177,862.

QuasiFiction: Ks-9h
NYC P.I.M.P: Qh-2h

NYC P.I.M.P had the edge with top pair, while QuasiFiction was looking for a king or nine to save him. The river brought the 4d, eliminating QuasiFiction in second. He takes home the biggest cash prize though of $340,000, thanks to having had the chip advantage when the five-way deal was struck.

And NYC P.I.M.P. -- who had been the short-stack when that deal was made -- makes off with the bracelet and $257,953! Congratulations to NYC P.I.M.P. and all of those who cashed in Event No. 20 of the World Championship of Online Poker!

11:17pm--P.I.M.P. pulling away

No matter what happens here in heads-up, QuasiFiction will be the big cash winner in Event No. 20 thanks to the five-way deal made earlier when he was chip leader.

However, NYC P.I.M.P. has certainly gotten the better of it for the first 30 hands of heads-up play. NYC P.I.M.P. just took another nice 10 million-plus chip flop when he managed to flop two pair with 6s-4d, then get QuasiFiction to call a 3 million-chip bet on the river with the board showing 6d-4s-Js-Ks-Ac. NYC P.I.M.P.'s hand was good, and he took the pot.

Another nice pot for NYC P.I.M.P. a few hands later now finds him with a commanding lead with 40.1 million to QuasiFiction's 11.9 million.

11:08pm--Tide turns, NYC P.I.M.P. takes lead

We've seen pocket rockets coming up quite a bit here since the five-way deal was struck back in the middle of Level 33. They came up again in this big hand between QuasiFiction and NYC P.I.M.P., the result being NYC P.I.M.P. now has the advantage as these two battle for the remaining $60,000 and the bracelet:

11:05pm--Chip counts at start of heads-up

1. QuasiFiction 34,796,431
2. NYC P.I.M.P 17,208,569

11:04pm--Down to two, CamoJr elminated in 3rd

Four hands later, and we're down to heads-up.

CamoJr raised to 800,000 from the button/under the gun, and NYC P.I.M.P. reraised all in to 10.5 million from the big blind. CamoJr called with his remaining 5.5 million. NYC P.I.M.P. showed Th-Td, and he had a huge edge over CamoJr who held 7s-7h.

The board came Js-6d-Qh-9c-4s, giving NYC P.I.M.P. the hand.

CamoJr said, "nh, gg, ttyl barry ;)"

CamoJr has reason to smile, taking home $230,388 for the past two days' work.

10:59pm--Very next hand, C.K. out in 4th

On the very next hand after Mary 717's elimination, a severely short-stacked C.K. shoved all in for 1,424,330, NYC P.I.M.P raised to isolate, and the two turned over their hands:

C.K.: 6h-Kc
NYC P.I.M.P: 6d-6s

The board came out Ad-Qh-8c-8d-Td, and C.K. goes out in fourth place, earning $226,965 after the chop.

10:57pm--Mary 717 eliminated in 5th place

Sitting on a stack of 9.8 million-plus, Mary 717 ended up getting it all in versus QuasiFiction with Qc-As. Too bad for Mary, her opponent had the aces this time, as QuasiFiction turned over Ah-Ad. Mary 717 has been eliminated in 5th place, earning $288,155 after the earlier deal.

10:49pm--Waking the Bear?

Not too long ago, CamoJr jokingly typed in chat "hey barry greenstein, if you wanna play hu for rolls, let me know." That was actually just before he lost the chunk back to Mary 717.

Might have seemed to have come out of nowhere, that challenge, if you didn't know that CamoJr is listening to the commentary of Team PokerStars pro Barry Greenstein ongoing over on PokerStars.tv. Greenstein suggested the second hand with Mary was a bit of karma biting CamoJr after that bit of boastful chat.

Click on over to PokerStars.tv to listen to the commentary yourself.

10:46pm--It was just a loan

Those chips Mary 717 handed over to CamoJr just found their way right back into Mary 717's stack after another all in confrontation. Once again Mary 717 had picked up pocket rockets, and this time CamoJr had 9h-9c. Mary's aces held up this time, and she's back up to 11.5 million. Meanwhile, CamoJr slips back to 7.88 million.

10:43pm--Battling for the bracelet

After that big exchange of chips between CamoJr and Mary 717 right after the break, play has quited down considerably, with all five players showing some perhaps surprising post-deal caution. There was one bit of excitement when Mary 717 got it all in preflop with Big Slick and was called by QuasiFiction who also held A-K (they split the pot). Otherwise, most pots have been kept relatively small here for the last 15 minutes or so.

10:28pm--Fireworks

On just the third hand back after the deal-making, Mary 717 raised to 650,000 and CamoJr reraised all in behind her for 7,500,809 total. Mary 717 quickly called, turning over Ad-Ah. CamoJr showed 8c-8h. Not looking good for CamoJr.

But the flop -- 7s-8d-9c -- changed everything. No ace on the turn or river, and now CamoJr suddenly has over 15 million, while Mary 717 slips to 5.55 million.

10:20pm--Deal and shuffle up!

A chip-chop was proposed (with the prize money -- minus $60,000 -- being apportioned according to the current stack sizes), and four of the five players said they agreed to those terms.

However, CamoJr asked for an extra $20,000. None of the others, save QuasiFiction, offered to give up any prize money to accommodate CamoJr. QuasiFiction said he'd give up a grand total of $680 for the cause -- that would leave him an even $340,000. "want a chance at 400k," QuasiFiction explained.

It looked like no deal would be struck, then CamoJr finally gave in -- with, however, the $680 from QuasiFiction!

QuasiFiction: i offered it
QuasiFiction: not gonna go back on it
CamoJr: okay, i accept with the 680

So a deal has been struck. Here is what each player is now guaranteed:

QuasiFiction: $340,000
Mary 717: $288,155
CamoJr: $230,388
C.K.: $226,965
NYC P.I.M.P.: $197,953

The players are taking a short break. Play will resume at 10:25pm ET, at which time they will play on for the remaining $60,000, and the all-important WCOOP bracelet!

10:07pm--Let's make a deal

CamoJr and QuasiFiction have now agreed to discuss a deal, and so the tournament has been paused here in the middle of Level 33 while they players discuss terms.

Chip counts at the moment:

1. QuasiFiction 18,0272,273
2. Mary 717 13,257,888
3. CamoJr 7,950,809
4. C.K. 7,701,680
5. NYC P.I.M.P 5,067,350

As is being explained to the players right now, any deal to divide the remaining prize money must leave $60,000 aside to be awarded to the eventual champion.

9:59pm--Chip counts at 16-hour mark

Level 33
Blinds 125,000/250,000, antes 25,000
Average chip count: 10,401,000
Players remaining: 5
First prize: $468,045

1. QuasiFiction 18,677,273
2. Mary 717 11,457,888
3. CamoJr 8,500,809
4. C.K. 8,376,680
5. NYC P.I.M.P 4,992,350

9:56pm--Holding steady

Chips are moving back and forth, but no drastic changes as far as position goes as we near the next break.

9:44pm--Current chip counts

1. QuasiFiction 17,787,273
2. CamoJr 11,738,364
3. Mary 717 10,840,333
4. C.K. 6,186,680
5. NYC P.I.M.P 5,452,350

9:42pm--No deal as yet

Of the five remaining players, it appears that NYC P.I.M.P, Mary 717, and C.K. are willing to discuss a chop, but the other two -- CamoJr and QuasiFiction -- have not responded to the invitation to do so.

So we play on.

9:38pm--JSchnett runs into rockets, out in 6th

And then there were five. Shortly after henri72 hit the rail, JSchnett decided it was time to make a move and pushed his stack of 2,485,340 from middle position with Kc-Jc. Bad timing, as C.K. woke up in the big blind with As-Ac.

The board ran out Kc-6h-2c-3h-7c, and JSchnett goes out in sixth place, netting a nice payday of $107,477.

9:33pm--henri72 eliminated in 7th place

After hanging on with the short-stack for much of Day 2, henri72 has finally been knocked out in 7th. Down to a little more than 1.68 million, henri72 witnessed another all in bet from Mary 717 and decided to take his chances with Ac-Qd. He must've been delighted at first to see Mary 717 turn over Qh-7h, but the board would wrap a straight around that seven in Mary 717's hand, and henri72 is out, earning $72,807 for the past two days' work.

9:29pm--NYC P.I.M.P. doubles through Mary 717

NYC P.I.M.P just went from 3.19 million to 6.69 million in a single hand. Holding 8d-8h, NYC P.I.M.P decided to call Mary 717's preflop all in and was glad he did when Mary turned over 3s-3d. The eights held up, and NYC P.I.M.P moves up to 4th place. Mary 717 is in 3rd now wiht 9.4 million.

9:24pm--Final seven exercising caution

Following the bustout of VuaXi`Tô' in 8th place, we have only seen one pot exceed 2 million, and most remaining under 1 million over the last 16 hands. QuasiFiction maintains the lead with 14.9 million, with Mary 717 (12 million) and CamoJr (10.5 million) in second and third respectively.

Given the upcoming pay jumps -- about $35K-$40K for each of the next four spots -- it is not surprising to see our players being careful.

9:12 pm--VuaXi`Tô' out in 8th

After hours of torture, our keyboards are breathing a sigh of relief.

The oddly-named VuaXi`Tô' had been short for a while, so when he moved all-in under the gun for just over 1.7 million it was no big surprise. CamoJr's call from the big blind with Ah-Qh was also no surprise, and he was ahead of his opponent's Jd-Td.

The Qd-8s-6s flop gave CamoJr top pair and VuaXi`Tô' a gutshot draw, but VuaXi`Tô' would pick up even more outs on the turn when the Kd fell, giving him the open-ended straight flush draw. Unfortunately, he would fall short when the river brought the 2c, sending him home in 8th place for a payout of $45,071.

9:03pm--Sumar07 first out at final table in 9th

A short-stacked Sumar07 shoved all in for 1,559,614 total and after some thought JSchnett made the call behind him. Sumar07 showed Qc-Ah and JSchnett 9s-9c. The board came 2c-6h-Tc-4s-Kc, and JSchnett's nines knocked Sumar07 out in ninth place, for which he earns $31,203.

9:00pm--Final table set

After over 15 hours of play (not counting the breaks) and the elimination of 3,458 players, we have arrived at our final nine.

Seat 1: Mary 717 (11,817,844)
Seat 2: Sumar07 (1,223,614)
Seat 3: JSchnett (2,093,726)
Seat 4: henri72 (3,134,664)
Seat 5: CamoJr (6,325,276)
Seat 6: VuaXi`Tô' (1,096,544)
Seat 7: QuasiFiction (17,614,385)
Seat 8: C.K. (4,630,228)
Seat 9: NYC P.I.M.P (4,068,719)

Here was the scene at Table 329 as the first hand of the final table was being dealt:

8:58 pm--Numbass finishes in 10th place

We had our eyes on the short stacks, never suspecting that one of the bigger stacks might go out first. But that's just what happened to get us to our final table.

QuasiFiction opened the betting on the button with a bet of 400,000. Numbass, in the small blind, played back at QuasiFiction as he had been doing for the last hour or so with a raise to 1,000,000. QuasiFiction's response was an almost immediate shove, and Numbass called almost as quickly for the rest of his 5.9M stack.

QuasiFiction showed Tc-Ts against Numbass' Ah-Kh and it was good on the Qc-7s-6d flop. Numbass picked up outs on the turn with the Td, even though that card gave QuasiFiction a set. The river gave QuasiFiction quads with the Th, sending a disappointed Numbass home in 10th place. He earns $20,802 for his finish.

8:52pm--Chip counts at 15-hour mark

Level 31
Blinds 80,000/160,000, antes 16,000
Average chip count: 5,200,500
Players remaining: 10
First prize: $468,045

1. Mary 717 11,031,844
2. QuasiFiction 10,457,539
3. Numbass 7,124,846
4. CamoJr 6,999,276
5. C.K. 4,934,228
6. NYC P.I.M.P 3,892,719
7. henri72 2.958,664
8. JSchnett 2,077,726
9. Sumar97 1,527,614
10. VuaXi`Tô' 1,000,544

8:37pm--Tense times for final ten

We are looking at four short stacks at the moment -- Sumar07 (2.7 million), JSchnett (2.06 million), henri72 (1.6 million), and VuaXi`Tô' (1.18 million) -- as we watch the five-handed action on the last two tables.

Meanwhile Mary 717 is enjoying the chip lead with 11.2 million, with QuasiFiction close behind with 10.6 million.

8:29pm--tpreston out in 11th; hand for hand play commences

tpreston raised to 390,000 from middle position, then Mary 717 promptly shoved all in for over 7.4 million. It folded back around, and tpreston called, thereby committing his stack of 2.1 million.

Mary 717 showed Ad-9c, while tpreston had Ac-Qs. It looked to be a good spot for tpreston, but the board came 7h-6d-9d-7d-Kd, giving Mary 717 the flush and knocking tpreston out in 11th place.

We are playing the tournament hand for hand now until we reach the final nine.

8:17pm--JT3013 out in 12th place

JT3013 had 1,661,127 when the hand began, well below the average stack of 4.5 million. JT3013 raised to 259,696 from UTG and it folded to VuaXi`Tô' who called from the big blind. The flop came 5h-Js-4h. VuaXi`Tô' checked, and JT3013 thought for a bit before betting 869,696, well over half his remaining stack. VuaXi`Tô' auto-raised and got the call he wanted.

JT3013 showed Ah-Kc for overcards, while VuaXi`Tô' had Jh-9c for the pair of jacks. The turn and river brought a couple of deuces, and JT3013 was eliminated in 12th place, earning $20,802.

8:08pm--LAPINKY knocked out in 13th place

Having slipped just below a million chips, LAPINKY committed just over half his stack with a preflop raise to 500,000 from middle position, and VuaXi`Tô' reraised to 1 million, enough to put LAPINKY all in. It folded back around and LAPINKY called, showing Jd-Ts. He'd need help against VuaXi`Tô''s Kc-Qh.

The board brought all babies, though -- 3h-5d-3s-8d-2c -- and LAPINKY is out in 13th place. VuaXi`Tô' is currently in 4th with a little more than 5.9 million.

With that elimination, we have another pay jump. While LAPINKY earns $14,561.40, the next three to go will all get $20,802.

8:05pm--Au revoir, mes amis: ElkY out in 14th place

ElkY has had a pretty incredible couple of days in the WCOOP, but his run in this event is over.

The preflop action started when ElkY raised to 245,455 on the button. NYC P.I.M.P was in the small blind and decided to make it 600,000 to go. Mary 717 cleared out from the small blind, leaving ElkY with the decision. He raised all-in for 2,178,735, enough to cripple his opponent should he call.

After considering his move, NYC P.I.M.P called wth As-Js, only to find himself in bad shape against ElkY's Ah-Qs. That all changed when the flop came Jh-6c-3d, leaving ElkY in need of a queen. The board didn't cooperate, though, sending the last remaining Team PokerStars Pro to the rail in 14th place. He earns $14,561 for his efforts.

8:01pm--Oh oh oh oh, stayin' alive

Action started with tpreston raising to 280,000 in early position, leaving himself 1,356,645 behind. Mary 717 called on the button before Sumar07 made the bet 1,000,000 from the small blind. tpreston insta-shoved and Mary 717 folded, getting the call from Sumar07.

It was Ad-Qd for tpreston and Ks-Kd for Sumar07. The Th-9h-8c flop left tpreston in need of either an ace or a jack; he caught the latter on the river with the Jc, shipping the 3.7M pot his way.

7:57pm--Huge pot for Sumar07

We just daw the biggest pot of the night, and it came in a blind-vs.-blind situation. Sumar07 opened for 290,000 in the small blind and JSchnett re-raised to 860,000 from the big blind. Sumar07 called and the two players both checked when the flop came Ah-Qc-2c.

When the 8s came on the turn, Sumar07 bet a cool million and JSchnett flat-called. He wasn't willing to put the rest of his 2.7 million-strong stack in the middle when his opponent shoved on the Jd river, though, sending a pot worth 3.79M over to Sumar07.

7:54pm--Pocket jacks fail kidzero, who goes out in 15th

A huge hand just resulted in the elimination of kidzero in 15th place. Numbass had raised preflop to 250,000 from under the gun, and it folded back to kidzero who repopped it to 744,444 from the small blind. QuasiFiction folded his big blind, then Numbass very quickly reraised all in for 4.36 million. kidzero thought just a short beat, then made the call, committing his entire stack of 3.34 million.

kidzero: Jh-Js
Numbass: Ah-Ks

The flop came 6c-Kh-6s, and suddenly kidzero was way behind. The turn was the 2c and the river the Ac, and kidzero is out in 15th, $14,561.40 richer. Meanwhile Numbass sits atop the leaderboard with more than 8.5 million chips.

7:47pm--Chip counts at 14-hour mark

Level 29
Blinds 50,000/100,000, antes 10,000
Average chip count: 3,467,000
Players remaining: 15
First prize: $468,045

Top ten chip counts:
1. QuasiFiction 7,333,221
2. Mary 717 6,860,763
3. Sumar07 5,422,259
4. VuaXi`Tô' 5,023,500
5. JSchnett 4,603,586
6. Numbass 4,379,193
7. kidzero 4,096,653
8. Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier 2,896,583
9. NYC P.I.M.P. 2,691,560
10. C.K. 1,779,000

7:40 pm--Bye-bye Shark

One A-K versus K-K situation is all Humberto Brenes could survive today.

Brenes raised under the gun for the minimum, making the bet 160,000. When the action reached Mary 717 on the button, she made it 560,000 to go. That cleared out both blinds and Brenes then shoved for a total of 2,085,549. Mary 717 called with 2,537,665 left behind.

Her Kc-Ks had Brenes and his Ah-Kh drawing to just three outs. None of those came on the Jd-9s-8c-5d-9h board, though, and one of our last two remaining Team PokerStars Pros has gone to the rail. He finishes in 16th place, just missing the money jump and earning $8,667.50.

7:34pm--Stacks growing

As players are eliminated (we're down to 16 at present), the average chip stack is starting to get downright gaudy -- more than 3.2 million right now. QuasiFiction maintains the lead with nearly 7.2 million, with Sumar07 in second with a little more than 5.6 million.

7:29pm--We thought this game was played without the joker

Team PokerStars pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier has had a couple of profitable days here in this year's World Championship of Online Poker. Yesterday ElkY finished second in Event No. 19, the $25,500 No-Limit Hold'em Heads-Up event, scoring a nifty $320,000 prize for doing so. And he's looking to make a nice cash today as well, currently sitting in 8th place with 16 players remaining.

Here's a recent interview with ElkY from APPT Macau 2008 where he dressed as the Joker on Day 1b:

Watch APPT Macau 08: Elky the Joker on PokerStars.tv

7:23pm--You know a big pot is brewing...

...when both players in the hand ask for time before the flop.

The hand started innocently enough when the action folded to JSchnett in the small blind. He raised to 240,000, putting the decision to Humberto Brenes. The Shark asked for time before eventually raising to 880,000.

The action came back to JSchnett, and he asked for time. After some thought, he moved all-in for 2,211,586. Brenes didn't dip into his time bank again, but he did let his entire allotted time elapse before folding. That dropped him to 2,181,549, while JSchnett jumped to 4,155,586.

7:19pm--tmmy2win out in 17th place

Numbass opened for 225,000 in the cutoff, which cleared out everyone except tmmy2win, who shoved from the big blind for a total of 1,454,517. Numbass tanked for a bit before making the call with 7c-7h, putting him slightly ahead of tmmy2win's Ac-Ks.

tmmy2win improved his hand on the flop, but unfortunately the As-Qh-7s board was even more help to Numbass. The board ran out 2d-3h to send tmmy2win out in 17th place.

7:17pm--ElMastermind falls in 18th place

The action kicked off with tmmy2win opening for 150,000 in middle position, a bet which kidzero called on the button. ElMastermind then shoved for a total of 1,154,914 from the small blind; tmmy2win got out of the way, but kidzero went into the tank.

When he emerged it was with a call, tabling Ad-Qd against ElMastermind's Ks-Qs. Things got even better for kidzero when the flop came down Ah-As-5d, leaving only a handful of combinations that could give ElMastermind the win. Those all went out the window when the Ac fell on the turn, giving kidzero quads and sending his opponent home in 18th place.

7:14pm--Three more gone; 18 remain

I'am_Sound was just knocked out he ran Ah-Kc up against Sumar07's Kd-Kh. He hits the rail in 21st place. Sumar07 also busted BJKing shortly thereafter when his Ac-Kh outlasted BJKing's Th-Qc. BJKing ends up going home in 20th.

Then we saw pingit's demise in 19th. pingit, who had more than 2 million to start the hand, raised to 180,000 from middle position, and VuaXi`Tô' reraised to 420,000 from the small blind. It folded back around and pingit three-bet to 900,000, prompting VuaXi`Tô' to shove all in with his entire stack (more than 2.6 million). pingit called. VuaXi`Tô' had As-Td, and pingit Qs-Qh. The flop brought an ace -- 4s-Ac-8s -- and the 9h on the turn and the 8c on the river meant pingit was gone in 19th.

7:07pm--Humberto jumps up the leaderboard

Humberto Brenes just vaulted himself up to 3rd place on the leaderboard thanks to a fortunate hand.

The action opened with a raise to 165,000 from CamoJr in the cutoff. Brenes, on the button, then made the bet 480,000 to go. Then VuaXi`Tô' re-raised to a total of 1,458,444. It looked like a squeeze play when CamoJr moved out of the way, but VuaXi`Tô' snap-called when Brenes decided to shove for just over 2.1 million.

Brenes held As-Kh and had only three outs against VuaXi`Tô's Kd-Ks, but one of them came on the Ah-Js-Th flop. That left VuaXi`Tô' with four queens to catch for a straight and a chopped pot, but the board ran out Jd-Jh and Brenes jumped to a stack of 4,448,366.

7:00pm--Evilduke11 out in 22nd place

C.K. moved all-in under the gun for a total of 841,944, and when the action reached Evilduke11 on the button he shoved all-in for just over 1M to isolate. The isolation play worked, but Evilduke11's Ah-Qs couldn't cracked C.K.'s Th-Ts, dropping evilduke11 to just under 200K.

When he found himself under the gun in the next orbit, Evilduke11 shoved for 171,687 with Kd-9d and QuasiFiction isolated with a raise in the small blind. Numbass cleared out in the big blind and QuasiFiction showed Ac-4c to put him ahead. The Qs-Qd-5c flop left Evilduke11 with some outs, but the Ah erased all hope on the turn and sent him home in 22nd place.

6:58pm--diatty outflopped; out in 23rd

Tough one for diatty who shoved all in with pocket queens and was in a good spot against Sumar07's pocket tens. But a ten flopped, and diatty couldn't catch up. He's out in 23rd place.

6:53pm--Things are getting serious

With our new blind level, there's a minimum of 132,000 in the middle on each table before a hand is even dealt. That's encouraging some very aggressive play at the moment, with plenty of preflop re-raises coming in from all corners as all our remaining players jockey for position.

6:50pm--PokerStars pros meeting up at the end

As we return from the break, fellow Team PokerStars pros Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes have been moved to the same table. Both are currently in the top ten with 23 players remaining.

6:44pm--Chip counts at 13-hour mark

Level 27
Blinds 30,000/60,000, antes 6,000
Average chip count: 2,261,086
Players remaining: 23
First prize: $468,045

Top ten chip counts:
1. QuasiFiction 5,241,647
2. VuaXi`Tô' 4,351,157
3. Mary 717 4,048,229
4. Numbass 3,382,676
5. kidzero 3,274,737
6. Sumar07 3,095,948
7. Team PokerStars pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier 3,091,129
8. JSchnett 2,432,086
9. tpreston 2,269,913
10. Team PokerStars pro Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes 2,216,683

6:37pm--Three more out; 23 survive to break

Just before the break, we had three eliminations in rapid succession.

The first occurred over on Table 206. kidzero opened the betting in the hijack for 132,999 and made the call when javel shoved all-in for 665,544 behind him. It was Jh-Js for kidzero against Ah-Kh for javel, but javel was drawing to six outs on the Jc-8c-4s flop. His draw dissipated on the turn when the 8s gave kidzero a full house, and the meaningless 9s on the river sent javel home in 26th place.

Then over on Table 338, action had folded around to a short-stacked Ryan45 who pushed all-in for 547,807 from the small blind and Mary 717 called from the big blind. Ryan45 would need some help, with his Kc-7d being dominated by Mary 717's Kh-Ts. The help didn't come, as the board ran out 6c-9d-6d-4d-Qs, knocking Ryan45 out in 25th.

Finally, back on Table 206, golfsoc also open-shoved from the small blind for 795,613 and got called by the big blind, tmmy2win. golfsoc showed Ah-5c, and timmy2win Ad-9d. The board came 6h-Kc-Kd-4s-Qs, and golfsoc was gone in 24th.

6:24pm--Zugwat zeroed out, eliminated in 27th

Mary 717 raised to 133,332, then Zugwat shoved all in for 1,124,609. Mary 717 made the call, showing Qs-Ac, while Zugwat held Kc-Qd. The flop was Td-7d-2d, giving Zugwat hope for a flush in addition to hitting that king. But the 3c on the turn and the 6c on the river meant Zugwat was out in 27th place.

6:17pm--kidzero goes for broke

QuasiFiction held 9c-9h against kidzero's Ah-Kc, putting him on the right side of the coinflip, but a king on the flop was all it took to double kidzero up to nearly 1.4 million.

Just three hands later, kidzero got himself all-in before the flop again, but was in much worse shape than before, with his Th-Ts running smack up against tmmy2win's Ad-As. But the board came down 2s-7h-8d-Jd... Td, and that two-outer sent kidzero up to 2,782,192 and into 7th place.

6:09pm--Believe it... QuasiFiction flops set, takes chip lead

Just had a huge 2.8 million-plus chip pot go down between QuasiFiction and Numbass, with the result being QuasiFiction has taken over the chip lead with a stack of 5,474,695. Here's how that one played out:

6:06pm--27 remain

We are down to three tables as we begin Level 26 (blinds 25,000/50,000, antes 5,000). Our current chip leader is Numbass with more than 4.38 million chips. The average stack is getting close to 2 million.

The next nine players to be eliminated will each earn $7,280.70.

6:04pm--3scape_plan out in 28th

LAPINKY opened in the cutoff for a pretty standard 120,000, but when the action got to the big blind 3scape_plan moved all-in for a total of 472,912. LAPINKY tanked, running down most of his clock before calling more than half his stack off with Ks-Jd. That turned out to be the right move, as 3scape_plan held Qc-5c. No help from the Ad-8s-Tc-Ts-Jc board and he was out in 28th place.

6:03pm--By the book

Doyle Brunson set the pattern for the modern no-limit games when he wrote Super System and told us all to BE AGGRESSIVE. There's plenty of that aggression in play right now, with short stacks coming over the top of opening raises before the flop like it's going out of style.

We're still not seeing many bustouts, though -- just one in the last 20 minutes -- as those re-raises have often been good enough to claim the pot up to this point.

5:57pm--igdp takes stand, loses seat; is out in 29th place

With 1,102,832 to start the hand, igdp raised to 120,000 and QuasiFiction -- currently third in chips with more than 2.65 million -- reraised behind him to 360,000. This wasn't the first time QuasiFiction had done that. Indeed, just an orbit ago he'd reraised igdp's preflop raise, and when igdp folded, QuasiFiction typed "good fold" & "u were in bad shape."

Well, this time igdp wasn't going anywhere, and when it folded back around repopped all in. QuasiFiction quickly called.

igdp: 9d-9c
QuasiFiction: Jh-Ad

The board came Ah-Js-Td-7d-Tc, and igdp hit the rail in 29th place.

5:43pm--fifa7ever out in 30th

His passing of the 2M mark might not have lasted long for ElkY, but we'll see how passing the 3M mark goes for him.

fifa7ever opened in the cutoff for 120,000 and ElkY called in the small blind to see a flop of 7s-4s-2h. ElkY checked to fifa7ever, who bet 240,000, and then he raised all-in. fifa7ever was covered but made the quick call with Kh-Kd; unfortunately he was in horrible shape against ElkY's 7h-7d.

The turn and river came Th-Qh and fifa7ever found his way to the rail a little earlier than he'd hoped. Players finishing 28th-36th today are receiving $6,587.30.

5:41pm--LAPINKY survives

When do you not want to catch a set? When it fills in your opponent's straight. LAPINKY got his chips in the middle in pretty bad shape with Ah-9s against 3scape_plan's Qh-Qc. The board came Kc-Jd-8h-Ts-Qd, with the ironically-named 3scape_plan's set on the river shipping the 817,274 pot to LAPINKY. Check it out:

5:33pm--Chip counts at 12-hour mark

Level 25
Blinds 20,000/40,000, antes 4,000
Average chip count: 1,733,500
Players remaining: 30
First prize: $468,045

Top ten chip counts:
1. Numbass 4,786,592
2. VuaXi`Tô' 4,051,181
3. QuasiFiction 3,595,863
4. I'am_Sound 3,219,852
5. tpreston 2,555,949
6. JT3013 2,461,607
7. BJKing 2,437,022
8. tmmy2win 2,267,054
9. Team PokerStars pro Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes 2,150,683
10. JSchnett 2,000,727

Team PokerStars pros:
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier 1,648,497 (12th place)

5:29pm--Brenes over 2M

ElkY broke the 2M mark earlier and fell back below; Humberto Brenes is holding steady after crossing the same marker. He opened the betting on the button for 90,000 and saw a re-raise to 210,000 come in from pingit in the small blind. With the big blind out of the way, Brenes contemplated his move before making the bet 720,000. That was good enough to claim the pot and boost him to 2,159,683.

5:26pm--Nice score for Humberto

Humberto Brenes just dragged a healthy little pot to creep close to 1.9M.

He opened in the cutoff for 90,000 and his only caller was Ryan45 in the big blind. Both players checked the Ac-Qs-Js flop, and Ryan45 check-called a 150,000 bet from Brenes on the Kc turn.

The river was the 8h and Ryan45 once again checked. This time Brenes bet 180,000. That had Ryan45 calling for time and eventually folding his handm shipping the 516,000 pot to the Shark.

5:22pm--Two more gone; 30 left

The difficult-to-type VuaXi`Tô' opened the betting in the cutoff for 66,611 and made the call when big blind diegomilek shoved for a total of 376,226. It was Ah-7s for diegomilek and Ad-8c for VuaXi`Tô'; the board ran out As-Jc-3c-6c-5s to send diegomilek to the rail in 32nd place.

Soon afterwards, HappyMeals open-shoved from the button for 304,300 and got called by QuasiFiction in the big blind. QuasiFiction turned over 3c-3s, while HappyMeals had As-4s. Another race situation, Vince!

The flop was Ad-8c-4c, which made HappyMeals happy. Then the turn brought the 3c, giving QuasiFiction a set and making HappyMeals question the truth of it all. The Ts on the river meant HappyMeals was out in 31st.

5:16pm--Can't beat that

Action folded around to Humberto Brenes in the small blind and he raised to 90,000, getting a call from pingit in the big blind. Both players checked the Ks-Jc-2c flop, and Brenes check-called 60,000 from pingit on the turn.

The Shark check-called another 90,000 on the river, only to see his opponent flip up Ac-Qc for the nuts.

Brenes now has 1,691,683.

5:12pm--solvalla08 out in 33rd

Mary 717 opened for 78,885 in second position and solvalla08 called from the big blind with just 187,711 left behind. All those chips went in the middle on the Qs-Jh-Tc flop and Mary 717 made the call. She showed K-K against solvalla08's Kc-Jc, and no straight cards came, giving her the pot.

After challenging for the chip lead for much of Day 1, solvalla08 hits the rail in 33rd place.

5:10pm--BigDunph out in 34th; Numbass crosses 5 million

Just had a huge pot over on Table 206, where there has been some action here in the first hour. BigDunph, with 1.61 million to start the hand, raised to 780,000 from middle position and Numbass -- having him well-covered with 3.42 million -- called from the button.

The flop came 2h-9s-Kd and BigDunph shoved all in with his remaining 829,740. Numbass called. BigDunph showed Ac-Qh for high card ace, while Numbass turned over Ah-9h for a pair of nines. The turn was the 3c and the river the Td, and BigDunph is out in 34th. Meanwhile, Numbass extends his chip lead, currently having a stack of 5,105,149.

5:08pm--Mostly tentative play

On Tables 160 and 338, the mode of play at the moment is mostly tenetative. Most of the pots are being taken down with a preflop raise or, in some cases, a preflop re-raise. We did get one exception on 160 a moment ago, though, when JSchnett opened for 75,000 and got two callers. He bet 180,000 on the 9c-3c-3d flop but let it go when fifa7ever check-raised all-in for just over 950k.

5:06pm--Bulsson68 eighty-sixed in 35th

Bullson68 had slipped under half a million chips and decided it was time to gamble with Ad-Qs. Unfortunately for Bullson68, tpreston woke up behind him with pocket queens. Here's how Bullson68 hit the rail in 35th place:

5:04pm--TrickY ElkY?

The blinds might have gone up -- we just began Level 24 (blinds 20,000/40,000, antes 4,000) -- but ElkY's opening raise hasn't.

Under the gun on the first hand of this new blind level, He bumped the bet to his standard 65,656 from the last round. Despite it only being another 35,000 or so to make the call preflop, kidzero declined to put any more money in from the big blind and folded.

5:02pm--Line forming at cashier's window

Our first seven players eliminated today -- killerkp, sm1le, f!v3_4c3s, Urlings, Riverloser, Rcka, and Scary_Tiger -- each earned $6,240.60 for their efforts. Belabasci picked up $6,587.30 for 36th place, as will the next eight players eliminated.

4:59pm--Two more fall by wayside; 35 remain

A couple more preflop all ins from short stacks, and a couple more eliminations.

First Scary_Tiger pushed all in for 258,266 with Ah-Kd and was called by Numbass who held 8c-8s. No ace or king came to save him, and Scary_Tiger was knocked out in 37th place.

Then, Belabasci, down to 202,403, shoved with Ts-Th and was called by henri72's Ah-Qh. In this case, an ace did come, as the board ran out As-2c-8h-6h-3h, knocking Belabasci out in 36th.

4:54pm--ElkY crosses 2M, falls back below

With two of the last three pots going to Team PokerStars pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier via a preflop raise to claim the blinds and antes, ElkY crossed the 2,000,000 mark - but only just barely. He tried to repeat his feat a third time, but he let his hand go once his continuation bet on the flop was check-raised by big-blind caller fifa7ever.

ElkY now has 1,852,687.

4:51pm--Rcka gone in 38th place

Rcka had just 452,655 entering play today. After 20 hands or so Rcka was sitting on about that same-sized stack when he decided to shove preflop with Qc-9s from middle position. Sumar07 called with Ad-Qd. The board came 6s-Kc-As-5s-Kh, and Rcka was eliminated in 38th place.

4:46 pm--Tough work ahead?

Team PokerStars pro Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes might have some tough work ahead of him. BJKing just played back at him again after Brenes had raised to 75,000 on the button. BJKing re-raised to 300,000 from the big blind, getting the Shark to relent for the time being. Just a few minutes later, Brenes opened for 75,000 under the gun and let his hand go when Numbass re-raised to 200,000 from the button.

4:45pm--Riverloser out in 39th; Urlings out in 40th

Player Urlings just got ousted in 40th. Two minutes later, Riverloser followed him to rail. That hand began with Riverloser sitting on a stack of 787,092 chips. The table had folded around to Numbass who raised to 75,000 from the small blind. Riverloser then pushed all in from the big blind, and Numbass called.

Numbass: 7s-7d
Riverloser: As-Kc

The flop came 7h-9s-6c, giving Numbass a set and just about sealing Riverloser's fate. The turn was the 3c and the river the 4d, and Riverloser was eliminated in 39th place.

Numbass is now up to more than 2.62 million.

4:43pm--Testing the waters

Humberto Brenes is certainly not afraid to get into the action today. He took down one pot from before the flop with a re-raise that shut original raiser Ryan45 out. Then he opened on the button and led out on an ace-high flop after BJKing called from the big blind, only to let it go when BJKing came out with the check-raise.

It's back and forth for the time being, but the Shark's style could very easily lead to a big pot for him in the near future.

4:41pm--Two more eliminations; 40 remain

Player sm1le started the day with just 477,377, well below average, and so after picking up Qs-4h sm1le decided to gamble. Mary 717 came along with Ac-8d. The board came Jh-9s-As-Js-Qh, and sm1le is out in 42nd place.

Shortly after that, a short-stacked f!v3_4c3s got it all in with Ac-5h and was called by tpreston who had him dominated with Ad-6d. A five flopped, but so did a six. And an ace on the river was just salt in the wound, as f!v3_4c3s finishes in 41st.

4:35 pm--ElkY doubles up

ElkY just got a big boost in the early going, at the expense of Belabasci. Action folded preflop to ElkY on the button and he opened for 65,656. Belabasci asked for time and then made it 195,000 straight. Asking for time of his own, ElkY then moved all-in for 951,305. Belabasci called with Q-Q, but ElkY's A-A would hold up against the ladies to boost his stack to 1,950,110.

Belabasci is now in serious trouble with just 199,903 remaining in his stack.

4:32pm--killerkp out in 43rd

Chip leader for much Day 1, killerkp entered today with just over 1.3 million chips -- about an average stack with 43 players remaining. On the second hand of play today, QuasiFiction (2.83 million to start today) open-raised to 65,000, and killerkp reraised to 185,000 behind him. It folded back around and QuasiFiction pushed all in, and killerkp made the call.

QuasiFiction showed 8c-8h, and killerkp Ad-Kh. The flop came Ah-7c-9s, and killerkp took the lead. The turn was the 5h. Then the 8d popped out on the river, ending killerkp's Day 2 early. He finishes in 43rd. Meanwhile, QuasiFiction takes the chip lead with over 4 million.

WCOOP Event #20 Day 2 at 4:30pm ET

Action is about to get underway for Day 2 of WCOOP Event #20 with 43 players remaining.

Event #20, as it turns out, was one of those thirteen events. Nothing fancy, nothing unusual, just straight, full-ring no-limit hold'em without any re-buys or add-ons. PokerStars was so confident of the game's appeal that the guarantee for Event #20 - $1,050 No-Limit Hold'em was an incredible $3,000,000.

There's only one problem when you solicit that many players to play in a single online tournament -- it tends to last for far longer than any human being should stare at a computer in a single sitting. PokerStars solved that issue this year by denoting several of the WCOOP events as two-day events. Event #20 fell into that category.

So today, once the players all settled into their seats, everyone knew that we would not be playing any later than about 5am EST. Given the finish times of some of the single-day WCOOP events, that guarantee only served as a bonus to encourage people to register. It worked; 3,467 players signed up to play, creating a prize pool of $3,467,000 that easily exceeded the $3,000,000 guarantee. Once all of the calculations were made, 540 players were guaranteed at least $1,733,59 each, with whoever finishes first place prize taking down $468,045.

The Team PokerStars Pros were out in force again. Twenty-eight of them were scattered among the 386 tables that started this tournament. Perhaps the most notable of those that started was Barry "barryg1" Greenstein. Greenstein was up until 7:15am EST playing in Event #18 - $215 H.O.R.S.E., just missing out on the final table when he finished in ninth place. Greenstein also played in Event #19 - $25,500 High-Roller Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em, making for a very, very busy and tiring day for "the Bear".

The starting stacks were extremely deep -- 15,000 chips with initial blinds of 25 and 50 -- but that didn't stop players from mixing it up early, with thirty players eliminated in the first half of Level 1. Joe Hachem and Barry Greenstein were two early beneficiaries of this style of play, with each one chipping up to around 20,000 before the first hour of play was completed. Those amounts were nowhere near the top 100 in the chip counts, but a two-day tournament isn't a sprint. On the other end of the spectrum, Chad Brown and John Duthie were early victims, with each going out before 100 players had been eliminated.

Greenstein looked poised for another good day when he moved into the top ten of the chip counts by hitting a flush against Panny3:

But of course, as physics teachers across the world will patiently explain (if you left them), for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. Lee Nelson, Orel Hershiser, Bill Chen and
Isabelle Mercier all busted while Greenstein and Hachem were climbing through the counts.

Noah "Exclusive" Boeken also started out hot, almost matching Greenstein chip for chip as the two sought to claim the title to highest chip count of the Team PokerStars Pros. Both went over 60,000 in chips right around the same time, about three hours into the tournament. Hachem was struggling to keep pace when Katja Thater made her first move of the day. Thater finished in 48th place in Event #18, the same $215 H.O.R.S.E. tournament in which Greenstein took ninth. The two were competing again.

That wasn't the only competition. By the time we were four hours into the tournament, four Team PokerStars Pros were still alive in Event #19. Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Gavin Griffin, Vanessa "LadyMaverick" Rousso, and Victor Ramdin all advanced to the round of 16. Grospellier and Griffin would eventually face off in the semifinals, with Grospellier advancing to the title match and falling to the champion, stevesbets. He also advanced to Day 2 of this event -- an excellent day at the office for Grospellier.

Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes had a charmed day. At least twice, he found himself all in and needing help on the river to stave off elimination. He got that help both times and otherwise seemed to run much better than average in the races he took. That's not to say that Brenes didn't also display a fantastic mix of patience and aggression -- he certainly did. But everyone knows that, in order to go deep in a huge field, you have to get a little lucky. Brenes certainly was luck's beneficiary a few times.

The money bubble approached as play moved into Level 13. By that time, only seven of the twenty-eight Team PokerStars Pros who started the day were still alive: Brenes, Hachem, Grospellier, Noah “Exclusive” Boeken, Andre “Aakkari” Akkari, Maria "Maridu" Mayrinck and Marcin “Goral” Horecki. Greenstein had gone out in 803rd place after running into aces; Thater's demise came when she put Big Slick to work against an opponent and also ran into aces.

Once the money bubble burst, the eliminations came lightning-quick. 100 players were eliminated in just half an hour as the short stacks looked to double or go to bed. Horecki was one of those players, going out in 513th place. Hachem and Boeken seemed poised for deep runs as each flirted with the top 100 in chip counts, but both would fall. Boeken exited in 350th place when he, too, ran into aces after flopping top pair in a limped pot. Hachem at least mixed it up a little bit when he was eliminated in 240th place by running his pocket jacks into diatty's pocket kings.

Mayrinck, Brenes and Grospellier all cracked the final 100. Grospellier was all in at one point with Qc-Tc against pocket sixes, but spiked a ten on the river to stay alive. He then hit two more double-ups in quick succession to build a playable stack, which he quickly put to work. Mayrinck wasn't as fortunate, going from 900,000 chips to out in 72nd place in the span of two hands after her flopped set lost to a flopped straight and she ran ace-jack into ace-queen.

When the forty-three survivors of Day 1 re-take their seats at 16:30pm EST later today, the action will re-start at Level 23, with blinds of 12,500 / 25,000 and an ante of 2,500. Brenes and Grospellier will be among the survivors, with Brenes looking to bludgeon his opponents with his top-five chip stack. The average chip count is 1,209,418. These players top out the counts:

1. I’am_Sound 3,073,340
2. BJKing 2,851,329
3. QuasiFiction 2,839,907
4. diatty 2,494,279
5. Team PokerStars Pro Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes 2,285,850
6. VuaXiTo 2,217,819
7. Ryan45 2,020,589
8. JSchnett 1,971,915
9. Numbass 1,914,718
10. golfsoc 1,826,196

Team PokerStars Pros:

Humberto "Humbero B." Brenes 2,285,850
Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier 843,805

As always, you can join the PokerStars team for live updates via the Event #20 Live Blog. There will also be a live stream of this tournament’s conclusion tomorrow brought to you by Lee Nelson, Gavin Griffin, Vanessa Rousso, and John Duthie. All other things WCOOP-related can be found at the WCOOP home page.

5:07am--Day 1 play has stopped, resumes tomorrow at 4:30pm ET

Considering this is a two-day event, play for Day 1 must be stopped at some point to enable a Day 2 to take place. That is what has happened.

Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes had a stellar first day of this tournament and ends it in fifth place on the leaderboard. After having cashed in the Event #18 HORSE tournament yesterday, Brenes has done one better tonight and guarantees himself a minimum cash of $6.240.60, though there are hundreds of thousands at stake for those making the final table. He is aiming to be one of them.

Play will resume later today at Level 23, and all of the pertinent information is as follows:

Level 23
Blinds: 12,500/25,000, ante 2,500
Average chip count: 1,209,418
Players remaining: 43
First prize: $468,045

Top ten chip counts:

I’am_Sound 3,073,340
BJKing 2,851,329
QuasiFiction 2,839,907
diatty 2,494,279
Team PokerStars Pro Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes 2,285,850
VuaXiTo 2,217,819
Ryan45 2,020,589
JSchnett 1,971,915
Numbass 1,914,718
golfsoc 1,826,196

4:52am--Say it with us now; online poker is so rigged

At the start of a recent hand on Table 338, I'am_Sound had 1.2 million in chips, fabryyy had about 600,000 in chips, and pingit had almost 1.9 million in chips. By the end of the hand, I'am_Sound had over 3 million in chips, pingit was sitting on about 676,000 and fabryyy was out. It seems hard to believe, but that's what happens pocket queens, pocket kings and pocket aces are all out preflop. fabryyy had the aces and was the hard-luck loser when I'am_Sound flopped a king to match the two in his hand. That left pingit with queens and a loser for both the side pot and the main pot.

4:44am--Numbass in fifth on leaderboard

Sure, climbing up into the top ten of this tournament and approaching the 2 million chip mark is worthy of mention here, but more importantly, we had to take this opportunity to put the screen name "Numbass" in an entry title. Some things just have to be done.

4:35am--Humberto can do no wrong

Humberto Brenes is running hot. He seems to be incapable of losing a flip. HappyMeals started things off with a preflop raise from the cutoff to 48,000. Brenes reraised to 160,000, folding both of the blinds. With action back on HappyMeals, he shoved all in for over 1.6 million in chips. Brenes deliberated briefly before calling all in for just less than 1 million in chips. He was the player at risk of elimination.

HappyMeals: Ad-Kd
Brenes: Jc-Jh

The board came down 9d-8s-4c-4h-Qs, allowing Brenes' jacks to hold and vaulting him up the chip counts with 2.3 million total chips.

4:32am--Maridu eliminated in 72nd place

In two huge hands, Maria “Maridu” Mayrinck went from over 900,000 in chips to out in 72nd place.

In the first, BigDunph limped in to the pot, as did Maridu in the small blind, and droniko checked the option. The flop came down Tc-6h-7s, and droniko bet, BigDunph called, and Maridu check-raised to 105,000. droniko got out of the way, and BigDunph reraised to 210,000. Maridu pushed all-in with pocket sixes for three of a kind, and BigDunph called all-in with 9d-8d for the flopped straight. Maridu typed, “sigh.” The turn and river were meaningless, and the 1.3 million pot went to BigDunph.

The second started with MarySmythe raising to 45,000 and Maridu pushing all-in for her last 287,682. MarySmythe called with Ad-Qc, and Maridu showed As-Jd. The board came down 2d-3d-Js-4h-Qs, and the river sent Maridu to the rail. She claimed $5,547.20 for her success tonight.

4:25am--The Shark crosses the one-million chip mark

The shark is still thrasing in the ocean of this tournament. He moved over one million in chips by call the all-in reraise of tweeprise for 291,021 chips in total. Brenes had the best hand with Td-Th against tweeprise's As-Js. His hand held up when the board ran out 8d-Qc-5c-2c-2s. tweeprise was sent to the virtual rail in 71st place, where he colleted $5,547.20.

4:23am--Reversal of fortune for ElkY

Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier is on an extended downswing after riding high and hitting everything for close to two hours. He raised a recent pot preflop to 39,898 from late position and was called by Ryan45, the small blind. The flop was 9s-5h-2d, causing Ryan45 to lead into ElkY for 65,555. ElkY raised that bet to 169,696, bringing a reraise to 405,000 from Ryan45. ElkY finally got the message and folded his hand. That fold left him with 676,023 chips, about 300,000 less than he had just twenty minutes ago.

4:16am--VuaXiTo surpasses the 3 million chip mark

The chipleader in this tournament has just taken his position to a new level by surpassing the 3 million chip mark, leaving second place JSchnett nearly 700,000 behind and the rest of the field in the figurative dust.

Upon looking at some statistics for VuaXiTo, it became clear that this tournament player is no beginner. With nearly $150,000 in tournament winnings on PokerStars this year alone, the money assured VuaXiTo in this event clearly puts him over that level. The one thing missing from this player's list of accomplishments, however, is a WCOOP cash - better yet, a win. Clearly, VuaXiTo is looking for that in this tournament.

4:12am--Ending the night on a tricky table

Eight tables remain in the tournament, yet there's a confluence of big stacks on just one of those tables. JSchnett (2,431,515 - 2nd), pingit (1,961,274 - 3rd), diatty (1,651,590 -5h) and ElMasterMind (1,288,842 - 10th) are all seated at Table 17. We expect to see some fireworks before play concludes for the night in just under an hour.

4:05am--Brenes Over and Out

No, not Humberto Brenes. The other Brenes from San Jose, Costa Rica -- JHBrenes -- is out of the tournament. We were really hoping that both Brenes players would survive to Day 2, but JHBrenes came up just short. With a stack of 180,000, he reraised Bullson68, who had opened the pot to 45,000 from under the gun, to a total of 135,000. Bullson68 shipped all of his chips in, prompting JHBrenes to call for his last 41,624. JHBrenes showed Ah-Jh. He needed hearts or an ace when Bullson68 turned over Ks-Kd. JHBrenes got neither on a board of Ts-3s-3h-7c-Tc. He was eliminated in 78th place, an elimination worth $5,200.50 in prize money.

3:59am--Last break of the night

Level 21
Blinds: 7,500/15,000, ante 1,500
Average chip count: 666,730
Players remaining: 78
First prize: $468,045

Top ten chip counts:

VuaXiTo 2,472,930
JSchnett 2,367,015
kidzero 1,904,354
pingit 1,883,274
diatty 1,713,590
Ryan45 1,483,197
august35 1,290,063
CamoJr 1,054,335
Zugwat 1,043,320

Team PokerStars Pros Remaining:

Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier 955,219 (11th place)
Maria “Maridu” Mayrinck 867,876 (16th place)
Humberto “HumbertoB” Brenes 756,127 (27th place)

3:49am--WCOOP brings out the stars

WCOOP Events don't just attract Team PokerStars Pros and "the rest of us". They also attract stars -- players with stars, that is. Players with gold stars; players with Supernova stars. Table 17 is a great example. Seated at Table 17 are Pokerl)eviL (GoldStar status), ElMastermind (Supernova status) and Scary_Tiger (Supernova status). These are players who have turned their single-minded obsession with poker, and their dedicated play on PokerStars, into a VIP status with some pretty nice benefits.

Those benefits don't come cheaply. GoldStar status requires 4,000 VPPs a month; Supernova status requires 100,000 a year -- over 8,000 a month! Some might call those people "degenerates", but we think they're people that love the game.

3:44am--Two new names cross the 2 million mark

Seemingly out of nowhere, two players have come into view in the top ten - technically the top two - on the leaderboard. VuaXiTo and JSchnett have soared to the top in this tournament, leaving former leaders like killerkp, diatty, and kidzero to do the catching up.

3:40am--Public Service Announcement

Fifteen minutes remain in Level 20. At the conclusion of Level 22, play will be suspended for the night, resuming at 16:30pm ET tomorrow.

3:37am--That other Brenes

JHBrenes is holding steady at about 250,000 chips. He put in a raise to 36,000 that was called by Evilduke11 on the button. The big blind, JD9712, then made it 118,000 to go. JHBrenes went into the tank, taking up about forty seconds of time total before folding.

3:36am--WCOOP events galore

Sure, this is the only WCOOP event going on at this very moment, but we are far from over in this 2008 series!

Take tomorrow, for example. At 2:30pm ET, there is the $530 buy-in 7-Stud 8-or-better tournament. And at 4:30pm ET, PokerStars offers the Mixed Omaha Hi/Lo event. Or wait a day for a NLHE or NL 2-7 Draw tournament. The choices are there. And the entire WCOOP schedule is here, near the bottom of the page.

3:23am--Can anyone stop ElkY?

About ninety minutes ago, after Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier was eliminated in second place from Event #19, he had just fifteen big blinds remaining in his stack in Event #20. What a difference an hour and a half and undivided attention can make! ElkY crossed the 1-million chip mark, moving into the top ten in chip counts for the first time, by firing on every street against cristiaan26. ElkY made it 25,454 to go preflop, 36,363 to go on a flop of 6h-Kh-Ts, 98,989 when the turn came 8s, and 165,659 on a 2c river. christiaan26 called every bet except the river bet, finally giving up any claim to the pot there by folding.

3:17am--Hubertz is just chum in the water for the Shark

Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes picked the wrong time to make a move but was bailed out by the board. He opened the betting preflop to 30,000 from middle position. Action folded to the player on the button, Hubertz, who put in a reraise to 90,000. Although Brenes has been reluctant to call preflop reraises so far today, he called this one.

The flop came down 8d-9c-7c. Brenes promptly shoved his remaining 197,905 chips int the middle, and Hubertz called in a shot.

Brenes: Ah-Kc
Hubertz: Qh-Qc

Brenes was in bad shape, needing either an ace, a king or running clubs to stay alive. The Jc that hit the turn was the first club Brenes needed. The Tc on the river was the second. Brenes runner-runner'ed a king-high flush, one rank better than Hubertz's queen-high flush, to take down the pot and double up to almost 600,000 in chips.

3:13am--Maridu nears million mark

Aggressive is the word. Not afraid to risk it all is the mantra.

Maridu is just took a 518,000 pot to get ever closer to the one million mark. She now sits firmly in the top ten on the leaderboard, and this is one example of how she has gotten there:

3:06am--Watch out, the man has chips now

Nobody ever accused Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier of not knowing how to wield a big stack. He won three pots in a row on Table 462, first with a preflop raise, next with a flop reraise all in on a flop of 9h-7s-7h (netting himself 124,000 chips in the process) and then with a preflop reraise over the top of another player's opening raise. And just like that, inside of three minutes ElkY increased his stack from about 607,000 to about 815,000 chips.

2:59am--kidzero looking for personal best

Over the course of the past two hours, kidzero has taken the chip lead and held on tight. Usually sitting between 300K and 500K above the rest of the pack, kidzero is looking serious about getting to the final table of this event.

However, looking at kidzero’s PokerStars record, there are not a lot of heavy tournament cashes on it. There was an $18,022.50 third place cash in a $200 tournament from 2006, but nothing else in that range. But it seems that the 2008 WCOOP may be where he adds a new accomplishment to that list. He finished 138th out of the 7,218-person field in WCOOP Event #1 this year, and currently, he is guaranteed a minimum $4,507.10 cash in this one. This tournament could be the big one; you could say the cards are in kidzero’s hands.

2:50am--We pause the tournament to bring you these stats

Level 19
Blinds 5,000/10,000 ante 1,000
Average Chip Stack: 393,977
Players Remaining 132
First Prize: $468,045.00

Top ten chip counts:

1. kidzero 1,579,685
2. JSchnett 1,248,158
3. diatty 1,173,478
4. Bullson68 934,694
5. pingit 921,610
6. killerkp 865,062
7. VuaXiTo 823,198
8. Ryan45 817,481
9. HappyMeals 806,739
10. august35 801,204

Team PokerStars pros remaining:

Maria “Maridu” Mayrinck 741,900 (16th place)
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier 589,812 (25th place)
Humberto “HumbertoB” Brenes 248,905 (86th place)

2:40am--Getting to know Mr. Grospellier

As ElkY maintains a decent stack in this tournament and a spot in the top 25% of the field, it might be time to get to know Bertrand Grospellier a little better. And thanks to this profile on PokerStars.tv, that opportunity to familiarize is right here for your convenience:

Watch EPT 3 Copenhagen - Elky Profile on PokerStars.tv

2:36am--A different Brenes with over 200,000

Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes isn't the only Brenes doing well in tonight's tournament. On Table 17, railbirds will find JHBrenes, a player who also lists his location as San Jose, Costa Rica, just like Humberto! We're not sure what the odds are of two players named Brenes from San Jose, Costa Rica going deep in the same tournament and having nearly identical 230,000-chip stacks (probably not as astronomical as they might seem at first glance). We do think that it would be quite a story if both players managed to survive into Day 2...

2:26am--ElkY on a heater!

Missing out on his first WCOOP bracelet in Event #19 may have woken the slumbering beast inside of Bertrand "ElkY" Grosspelier. He has over 450,000 chips after reraising WiscoMurray preflop from 16,600 to 44,444. WiscoMurray came back oer the top of ElkY for almost 300,000 chips, an amount that had ElkY covered. He showed no hesitation in calling all in with Ks-Kd. As might be expected, he had to dodge an ace when WiscoMurray turned over Ah-Qd. The flop brought WiscoMurray's ace, but it also brough three spades -- As-9s-5s. That gave ElkY eleven outs to improve. He missed them all on the turn but hit one, the 4s, on the river to make a flush and double up again.

2:23am--Jumping through payout hoops

Currently, the players still in the tournament are in the eight payout level, which guarantees them $4,160.40 for their play in this event. Not too shabby...

But payouts increase substantially as we get deeper into Event #20. A 12th place finish will be worth $20,802. And just as a reminder, the first place prize in this tournament is a whopping $468,045. Now that's something worth sticking around for.

2:16am--Andre Akkari eliminated

Another Team PokerStars Pro has been eliminated from the tournament. Andre "aakkari" Akkari put in a third preflop raise, from the big blind, to 151,591 after MohammadKam opened from the button for 17,000 and DiPollo reraised fro the small blind to 42,000. DiPollo, who started the hand with 434,384 chips, decided to look Akkari up once MohammadKam got out of the way and folded. The hands may have raised some eyebrows when they were tabled:

Akkari: Kc-3c
DiPollo: 8d-7d

It was all downhill for Akkari after the chips were in. The flop of Ts-5d-6h gave DiPollo an up-and-down straight draw, and he picked up a flush draw with the Qd turn. The river Kd made Akkari a pair of kings but also filled DiPollo's flush draw, knocking Akkari out in the process. His 191st place finish was worth $3,813.70.

2:07am--No-showdown pots are the sweetest pots

Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier has done it again. He called a 24,000-chip bet from tibaloo on a flop of 4c-7s-4h, then raised tibaloo all in on the Jh turn. tiballo, who had fired 48,000 on the turn, wasn't willing to call another 60,000 and let his hand go.

Grospellier's stack is now over 200,000.

2:06am--Brenes can't run down jacks

This is the time of the tournament when, if the cards break the right way, players with above average stacks can really put a hurting to the short stacks and open up big chip leads. The corollary is that if the cards break the wrong way, it's not such a far fall to an average or below-average stack.

Humberto Brenes is moving in the wrong direction. He took a few small hits with preflop raises that didn't work out before he called an all-in raise of 63,703 fro PlayaAAK8. Brenes had Big Slick and found himself trying to catch an ace or a king to beat PlayaAAK8's Jh-Js. It didn't happen, and so Brenes has come bak to the pack and is under 300,000 chips for the first time in over an hour.

1:58am--Maridu crosses 500K mark

There was one hand that set her on the path to climb up the leaderboard. PokerStars Pro Maridu was in the big blind and called her opponent, Otto Doctor, before and after the flop of 3s-Qd-7c. Both players checked the Kh on the turn, but after the 6d on the river, Maridu pushed all-in for 108,264, and Otto Doctor called with Ac-Qh. But Maridu showed pocket sevens for trips and the 337,528 pot.

Since that hand, Maridu has been on the rise and recently cracked the 500,000 chip mark to get ever closer to the top ten section of the leaderboard. With numerous railbirds in the chat box rooting her on, there seems to be no stopping her.

1:55am--River is sweet to ElkY

After a series of preflop raises went awry, Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier found himself with only 65,817 chips left. He pushed them all into the middle from late position and was called by the small blind, tibaloo. They were off to the races after the cards were opened, with Grospellier's Qc-Tc trying to outdraw tiballo's 6h-6c. Nothing changed on a flop of 2c-3d-2s or on a turn of As, but the river was very nice to Grospellier, falling the Th. It made him a pair of tens and gave him new life in Event #20.

1:47am--Break it up!

A 5-minute break for the players... When they return, they will be playing at Level 17.

Level 17
Blinds: 3,000/6,000, ante 600
Average chip count: 240,763
Players remaining: 216
First prize: $468,045

Top ten chip counts:

kidzero 748,107
joe82 710,994
Hoss_TBV 707,051
supernova9 682,596
august35 606,767
Sumar07 599,210
MarySmythe 589,113
sm1le 565,523
killerkp 554,953
Dracospinner 547,172

Team PokerStars Pros in Top 100:

Maria “Maridu” Mayrinck 459,070 (22nd place)
Humberto “HumbertoB” Brenes 391,608 (32nd place)
Andre “aakari” Akkari 227,049 (100th place)

1:35am--Joe Hachem eliminated

After taking another fall to the low 100,000 range with his chip stack, Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem slowly fell to 94,603 and decided it was time to put that shrimp on the barbie. After a raise from diatty to 12,000, Hachem reraised all-in with Jc-Js, but diatty called with Kd-Ks. The virtual dealer gave them 4h-8c-2h-As-5d on the table, and that was the end of Hachem's WCOOP day.

Hachem finished the tournament in 240th place with a payout of $3,467.

1:28am--ElkY's Attention restored

Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier has one less thing on his plate. He was eliminated in second place in Event #19, missing out on a WCOOP bracelet but still walking away with $320,000. Not a bad night, and now that Event #19 is finished, his attention can be completely focused on winning a WCOOP bracelet in Event #20. He has raised three of the last six hands preflop, winning all without a contest. ElkY's stack is still on the short side, with about 16 big blinds total, but anything can happen.

To see the details of the final heads-up match between ElkY and stevesbets that people will be talking about tomorrow, check out the Event #19 Live Blog.

1:20am--Akkari keeps firing

Team PokerStars Pro Andre "aakkari" Akkari made a small raise to 13,500 from early position. He was called in two spots -- by numbass on the button and by MohammadKam in the big blind. The flop was potentially dangerous, as it came out a well-connected 5d-6c-9c. But there was no fear from aakkari. He fired out a continuation-bet of 19,000 that folded both of his opponents. He now sits behind more than 217,000 in chips.

1:14am--Maridu doubles to stay in it

Someone in Rio is happy, and it could be Maridu. She just pushed all-in preflop with A-7, and sms9231 called with K-Q. The first card up was a queen, but the rest of the cards fell right into place for Maridu as the board completed Q-5-4-3-2 to give her the straight. With more than 100,000 to work with, she then proceeded to chip up to 130,000.

1:03am--Brenes slowly building

Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes has been relatively quiet during the last hour. He has taken down a few small pots with timely preflop raises or bets after the flop to chip up to almost 352,000, but it's been slow-going for the Shark. With a top twenty-five chip stack, Brenes has the luxury of time right now.

12:57am--Hachem considers leaving top 100 but changes his mind

A solid chunk of chips left Hachem’s stack just before the last break. On a Qs-3c-6c flop, PocketPayett pushed all-in with pocket aces, and Hachem called with Kh-Jh. The turn and river were Qd and 5s, neither of which assisted Hachem, who lost a 146,900 pot to PocketPayett. That put Hachem down to 50th place.

Post-break, he lost a 50,000 pot against popeyeslr, who moved all-in preflop with Ah-Jh. Hachem called with As-7d, and he lost with it. At that point, he was in 91st place on the leaderboard and falling.

However, Hachem has consistently chipped back up over the past 20 minutes. And part of that process allowed him the opportunity for a little revenge on PocketPayett, who had been crippled by another player. With A-3, Hachem said goodbye to his opponent and his J-7. Hachem not sits with over 215,000 in chips.

12:46am--When you're good, you're good

Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier has almost twice as many chips as stevesbets in the final of Event #19. In Event #20, he has almost twice as many chips as he previously had after calling an all-in raise from the button to 56,226 by tien0. ElkY's Ad-Js had tien's Jc-Th dominated, and was the winning hand on a seven-high board, 7d-2d-6h-4s-2h. ElkY's chip count increased to about 140,000 as a result of winning the pot.

12:42am--Players receive a complimentary 5-minute break

Level 15
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Average chip count: 149,011
Players remaining: 349
First prize: $468,045

Top ten chip counts:

joe82 668,944
DirtBox 595,719
killerkp 555,781
Hoss_TBF 537,516
sm1le 534,556
kidzero 513,585
MarySmythe 445,547
Talent06 443,409
raidalot 437,580
Ryan45 432,530

Team PokerStars Pros in Top 100:

Humberto Brenes 325,109 (25th place)
Joe Hachem 255,128 (51st place)

12:30am--Game over for Boeken

"The 5 minute break will start when hands on all tables are completed." is how the automated message reads that pops up on all tables just before a break. Team PokerStars Pro Noah "Exclusive" Boeken didn't see the other side of that message when he tangled with Game Over 61. Starting the hand with about 58,000 in chips and sitting in the big blind, Boeken took a four-way limped flop of 6d-5c-2d. He opened the betting with a bet of 9,000 that was called only by Game Over 61. The turn was another baby, the 8h. Boeken checked, then raised all in over the top of a bet of 18,777 from Game Over 61. It was the wrong move; Game Over 61 snap-called with pocket aces. Boeken was down to just five outs after showing Ts-6s and did not improve on the river.

He is eliminated in 350th place, earning $2,426.90 for his performance in this event.

12:28am--"sharkkkkkkkkkkkkk"

That was what Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes typed into the chatbox after being congratulated by a railbird for eliminating agriffrod. agriffrod opened the pot to 7,575. Brenes was sitting in the small blind and made it 21,000 to go. agriffrod started the hand with only 41,558 total and shipped it all in after the big blind folded. Brenes called, slightly ahead with pocket tens against agriffrod's ace-queen. The board ran out Kh-9d-Qc-7h-9s, which did not improve agriffrod's hand. His chips now belong to Brenes.

12:26am--Two tournaments are twice as nice

Just because Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier is playing in Event #19 final doesn't mean he can't find time for a double-up in this event. When tien0 opened from the button with a min-raise, ElkY shoved his whole stack of 40,644 into the middle out of the small blind. tien0 called with Kc-Jd and found himself on the short side of a race against ElkY's pocket nines. tien0 did not improve, allowing ElkY to double to 86,988.

Since that hand, ElkY has become a bit more active, raising an additional two hands and taking both down preflop.

12:22am--Restless in Brazil

PokerStars Pro Maria "Maridu" Mayrinck may have gotten used to waiting for action to write about when she was the PokerStars Brazilian blogger, but playing is a different story. Since transitioning to a pro player, she is in the midst of her third 2008 WCOOP cash. But patience doesn't come as easy when the chips are hers to play. Since being moved to Table 381, she has been unable to find much action. She moved all-in twice in three hands and got no callers.

12:16am--Funny meeting you here

With only six Team PokerStars Pros remaining in a field that still numbers 423 players spread across 47 tables, it seems unlikely that two of them should wind up seated across from each other at the same table. Yet that's the situation that Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and Noah "Exclusive" Boeken find themselves in after Boeken was broken to Table 423, Grospellier's table.

They're certainly not afraid to go after each other. Despite simultaneously playing stevesbets in the final of WCOOP Event #19 for $560,000 and a WCOOP bracelet, Grospellier raised to 7,858 from middle position. He was called by LAGJEM before Boeken pushed over the top of both of them, all in for 53,422. Neither ElkY nor LAGJEM wanted to dance.

12:12am--Joe Hachem soars into top ten

How did he do it? Opponent acehighdro was all-in with K-Q against the K-3 of Hachem, and it is quite likely that Hachem yelled at his computer, "One time!" His wish came true, and he catapulted himself into the top ten on the leaderboard. See the hand in all it's glory here:

12:03am--ElkY's divided attention

Now that ElkY is heads-up in the finals of Event #19 playing for the $560,000 first prize, he is attempting to do something with his stack in this tournament. Still just above the 50,000 chip mark here, he pushed all-in from the small blind. With no callers, he is still in this one, though the other tournament just may be getting the better of his attention.

11:52pm--How fast they fall

In the half hour since play resumed after the last break, the money bubble burst and just about 100 players have departed this event. Amazing what making the money can do to reduce the field in a tournament!

11:40pm--*Pop*

The money bubble has burst. moxl was the unfortunate bubble boy who was eliminated in 541st place, the last elimination that didn't earn any money. The remaining 540 players will all be guaranteed at least $1,733.50. Of course, the winner of the tournament will take down significantly more than that -- $468,045.

11:38pm--Shark chomps on more chips

It's good to be the king. Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes amassed one of the largest stacks in the tournament thus far and has been using it to bludgeon his table. He recently called a raise to 6,532, in position, from MohammadKam. Both players checked a flop that came down 3c-2s-Ks. On the Ts turn, MohammadKam made a probing bet of 8,000 that Brenes called. When the river fell Kh, MohammadKam quickly checked it over to Brenes, who fired for 25,000. MohammadKam decided enough was enough and folded. The pot was shipped to Brenes, pushing his stack over 300,000.

11:35pm--ElkY in final round of Event #19

Sure, Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier is no stranger to multi-tabling online tournaments. But this is the WCOOP! Currently, he is maintaining a chip stack of over 50,000 in this NLHE event. And while doing so, he just earned a seat at the final heads-up table in Event #19! With a hard-fought victory over Gavin Griffin in the last round, he is waiting to see who his opponent will be in the final match.

Take a look-see at the action going on over there at the Event #19 Live Blog. But don't forget to come back here!

11:21pm--Chip counts at six-hour mark; just eight from the money

Level 13
Blinds 1,250/2,500, ante 250
Average Chip Stack: 94,899
Players Remaining 548 (8 left to the money)
First Prize: $468,045.00

1. DirtBox 562,420
2. Hoss_TBF 488,188
3. killerkp 467,683
4. sm1le 437,818
5. utreg 355,814
6. Jon9ball 347,767
7. Otto Doctor 336,331
8. RUGONZ 331,927
9. snake8484 326,880
10. javel 324,330

Team PokerStars pros remaining:
Humberto “Humberto B” Brenes 281,001 (14th place)
Joe Hachem 210,412 (43rd)
Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier 58,468 (335th)
Noah “Exclusive” Boeken 54,961 (360th)
Andre “Aakkari” Akkari 52,356 (372nd)
Marcin “Goral” Horecki 25,312 (510th)

11:10pm--No home runs, but enough singles for Joe Hachem to get a top 100 stack

Team PokerStars pro Joe Hachem has his table covered and he’s been letting them know it with frequent pre-flop raises, though for the most part has not been getting involved with overly large pots. We are 10 more levels away from shutting down for the evening to come back tomorrow and battle for that $468,045.00 first prize.

However, in the very last hand before the break Hachem did mix it up with bobbybagpipe. Hachem raised to 3,500 from UTG and the table folded back around to bobbybagpipe who called from the big blind. The flop came 6h-Jh-5s and when bobbybagpipe checked, Hachem promptly put in a big overbet of 40,000, clearly wanting to take it down right there. bobbybagpipe contemplated a bit, then pushed all in for 41,007 total, turning over Ac-Js for top pair. Hachem showed Ah-5h, and when the turn brought the 8h, bobbybagpipe was the last player out before the break in 549th place.

We'll call that one a ground-rule double. Hachem now has 210,142. Just eight more eliminations before the cash bubble bursts.

11:05pm--Players closing in on 500,000

Players killerkp and Hoss_TBF are both threatening to cross the half million chip mark as we careen toward the six-hour break. Both are making life very uncomfortable for the short stacks at their tables as we are just 15 more eliminations off of the money.

10:56pm--Aces make even Humberto Brenes smile

Who am I kidding, it’s very rare you’d see the spicy Puerto Rican not showing off his row of teeth through a wide smile at the tables (perhaps even the virtual ones?). His grin just got bigger as Humberto nears the 300,000 chip mark after this hand with hanji:

10:47pm--It's getting late... do you know where your chips are and where they are going?

With the average stack hovering around 84,000, some players may need to decide if they want to preserve chips and likely make a little profit this evening or bust out in a Twisted Sister-ish frenzy, shout at the table chip captain “WE’RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE!!”, and stand up to the bully for a shot at a bigger payday.

We are about 20 minutes away from the end of Level 12 and the fifteen-minute break scheduled when players reach the six-hour mark. There are exactly 600 players left in the field, meaning we're 60 eliminations from the money. Those lasting to reach the top 540 will all be guaranteed at least $1,733.50 for their efforts today.

10:37pm--It's good to be (holding) king(s), Humberto cracks the top 20 again

Team PokerStars Pro Humbero Brenes took El-Gribbo to valuetown on the below hand collecting a sizable 77,850 chip pot good enough to boost him back into the top 50 with nearly double the average in chips.

Three hands later Brenes would pick up pocket jacks and another 73,000 in chips, vaulting him into the top 20.

10:29pm--At least $160,000 richer, ElkY is last player pulling double duty tonight

After winning his quarterfinal match in the $25,500 buy in WCOOP Event #19 High Roller Heads-up tourney, Team PokerStars Pro Betrand “ElkY” Grospellier is assured $160,000 with a shot at the winner’s share of $560,000.

Currently in this tourney Grospellier is a little under par with 67,000. The average chip stack is around 91,000 at the moment.

In about ten minutes we'll be moving to Level 12, where the blinds are scheduled to increase in to 1,000/2,000 with an ante of 150.

Check out the Event #19 live blog to see how ElkY does.

10:22pm--Clash of the titans on Table 54

Two of the biggest stacks in the tournament are both seated at Table 54 at the moment -- chip leader killerkp and solvalla08, who was in 6th place prior to the following hand.

The hand began with killerp (373,279 in chips at the start) raising to 3,750 from middle position. solvalla08 (258,004 at the start) then reraised to 11,780 from the big blind. It folded back around killerkp who made the call.

The flop 8d-Ac-6s. solvalla08 checked, killerkp bet 19,000, and solvalla called. The turn was the 2s. solvalla08 again checked, and this time killerkp bet 57,000. solvalla08 again called.

The river was the 7s, completing a possible flush. solvalla08 checked one more time, and killerkp promptly shoved his monstrous stack all in. solvalla08 went deep into the tank, taking over 100 seconds from his time bank. Finally he folded, typing "MAN i wanted 2 call geeezzzz" as he did.

After that hand, killerkp has 463,009 (still 1st), while solvalla08 falls to 170,074 (40th at the moment).

10:09pm--Chip counts at five-hour mark

Level 11
Blinds 750/1,500, antes 150
Average Chip Stack: 68,517
Players Remaining: 759 (219 more eliminations to the money)
First Prize: $468,045

1. killerkp 333,879
2. sm1le 321,183
3. gp333 294,141
4. Otto Doctor 281,306
5. solvalla08 263,854
6. Iti12 238,503
7. Rekrul 236,359
8. NPR34675992 228,571
9. jcaddel 222,854
10. javel 216,130

Team PokerStars pros in Top 100:
Humberto “Humberto B” Brenes 129,192 (69th place)

9:59pm--Barry Greenstein limping after running into aces, then down in 803rd

Team PokerStars Pro Barry "barryg1" Greenstein raised UTG+1 to 3,600 after starting the hand with 43,089 chips (blinds 600/1200, ante 100). potstabber10 re-raised to 8,400 cutoff, and Greenstein made the call.

The flop of 7h-5s-4s had Greenstein checking, then potstabber10 made a continuation bet to 7,600. Greenstein sprung to life by check-raising all in for his remaining 34,589 and potstabber10 made the quick call, having Greenstein covered by 7,655.

potstabber10: Ad-Ac
barryg1: 3s-3d

Six outs for Greenstein, none of which would hit, with the 8s and Qd showing by the river, and the 73,368-chip pot went to potstabber10. That left Greenstein with just six big blinds. Eight hands later, the Bear was out in 803rd place.

9:53pm--Moneymaker moves on

It seemed life had been a struggle for Team PokerStars pro Chris "Money800" Moneymaker ever since fellow PS pro Noah "Exclusive" Boeken took a seat to his left. While Boeken was busy catching cards and doubling up -- he currently has more than 67,000 after being down below 1,000 earlier -- Moneymaker didn't seem able to catch a cold.

Down to 34,516, Moneymaker watched Olofsson raise to 3,600 preflop from middle position, then decided to reraise to 12,000 from the button. Player raidalot then unexpectedly repopped it from the big blind, shoving his entire 93,000-plus chip stack in the middle. Olofsson retreated, but Moneymaker decided he'd make a stand.

raidalot: Qc-Qd
Money800: 9c-9s

The board came 3c-7d-2s-Ac-8c, and Moneymaker was eliminated in 826th.

9:48pm--Move made, chips acquired; highway out of the danger zone for Marcin

Team PokerStars Pro Marcin “Goral” Horecki found a decent hand to make his tournament stand with only 15 big blinds remaining.

Horecki found a customer in the original aggressor of the hand, kenny05, who raised preflop to 3,600 (blinds 600/1200, ante 100). Unfortunately for kenny05, he would find out the flat call by Horecki meant strength after the flop…

9:39pm--Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari flops flush, makes space cadet pay up

After making the call of a middle position raise to 2,525 by SpaceyFCB, Team PokerStars pro Andre "aakkari" Akkari checked the monotone flop of Ah-8h-6h from the big blind. The turn brought a 3c which sparked some interest for Akkari as he slid out a 4,000 chip bet which was called by SpaceyFCB.

The river 8c paired the board. Neither player liked the card, as both checked. Akkari flipped up the slowplayed flopped flush with Qh-7h and SpaceyFCB mucked, shipping the 14,225 pot to Akkari as he broke the 100,000-chip mark.

9:33pm--Premier drops in on Marcin Horecki’s table

The man who once used his valuable FPPs to shoot a round of H.O.R.S.E. with the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban, Premier is now sitting behind Team PokerStars Pro Marcin “Goral” Horecki with hopes of chipping up enough to make a run at a final table tomorrow.

Premier is currently under par at 42,000 chips, while "Goral" is sitting with only 16,000

9:30pm--killerkp is killin'

Player killerkp has distanced himself from the pack a bit, nearing the 400k-chip mark with a gaudy-looking stack of 366,882 at the moment. His nearest foe at the moment is solvalla08 with 244,594, followed by Strategovic with 229,181.

9:21pm--Boeken livin' right

Team PokerStars pro Noah "Exclusive" Boeken, down below 1,000 chips not one hour ago, has suddenly catapulted back up to 47,165 on the strength of a series of successful all ins.

A few hands ago, Boeken took pocket sixes up against MPetes' Jc-Ad, flopped a six and doubled up. Then Boeken doubled up against fellow PS pro Chris "Money800" Moneymaker when his Ad-Js outdrew Moneymaker's pocket nines. Here's how the latter hand played out:

9:17pm--1,000 remain

Exactly 1,000 of our original 3,467 entrants are still alive in today's event. Over half -- 540, to be exact -- will get paid.

9:14pm--Coin falls the opposite way for Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano

The Italian Team PokerStars Pro took a risk to gain needed chips in an odd hand with Mad Daniels as Pagano min raised from middle position to 2000 with blinds at 500/1000, ante 75.

A flat call was made by IONA06 one before the button, then Mad Daniels decided to shove for 56,457, putting Pagano into a decision for his tournament life as he had 33,561 behind. Watch the hand play out below:

9:10pm--Defending champ doubles up

After a rough beginning, winner of the 2007 WCOOP $1,050 NLHE event mig.com had built back up to a stack of 33,846 when the following hand took place.

mig.com raised to 2,100 from middle position, and then chip leader Strategovic (sporting a 260,000-plus chip stack) called from the big blind. The flop came Js-Qh-6c. Both checked. The turn was the Jh. Strategovic bet 3,200, and mig.com raised to 8,800. Strategovic called.

The river was the 8s. Strategovic checked, mig.com pushed all in for 22,896, and Strategovic called. mig.com turned over 8d-Jd for jacks full of eights, while Strategovic showed Jc-Ac.

mig.com is currently sitting on a stack of a little more than 80,000, while Strategovic is still among the chip leaders with 224,293.

9:00pm--Chip counts at four-hour mark

Level 9
Blinds 500/1000, antes 75
Average Chip Stack: 47,277
Players Remaining: 1,100 (560 more eliminations to the money)
First Prize: $468,045.00

1. killerkp 297,311
2. Strategovic 227,168
3. gp333 214,787
4. Rekrul 178,357
5. gerndg 178,300
6. Shakunimama8 172,392
7. hassearo228 167,075
8. august35 164,675
9. EmbKings 160,496
10. MagicCoin 157,959

Team PokerStars pros in Top 100:
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier 95,922 (69th place)
Andre "aakkari" Akkari 90,196 (92nd)

8:57pm--Moneymaker lets chips do talking

After raising preflop to 4,800, Team PokerStars pro Chris "Money800" Moneymaker saw platinni reraise him to 10,400. Moneymaker promptly reraised by shoving his entire stack of 49,850 in the middle, and platinni abandoned ship.

Moneymaker currently has 66,050. Fellow PS pro Noah "Exclusive" Boeken sits to his left, still suriving with 14,358.

8:54pm--Recent eliminations

Other Team PokerStars pros recently knocked out: Tom McEvoy (1296th), Hevad “RaiNKhaN” Khan (1254th), and Greg “FossilMan” Raymer (1239th).

8:46pm--Thater takes a big hit with big slick, out seven hands later

The table had folded around to solvalla08 (with 76,465) in middle position who sat on Katja Thater’s immediate left. Thater had a nice, healthy stack of 113,825. solvalla08 put out a 2,200-chip bet which Thater then raised to 7,200. The blinds ran for cover as the two big stacks began a raising war as solvalla08 bet to 26,900, then Thater shoved, getting called immediately by solvalla08. Thater received a 37,360 discount for covering. Their hands:

solvalla08: As-Ad
Katja Thater: Ah-Kc

The board ran out 5s-Js-5d-Ks-5h to give solvalla08 fives full of aces for the win and a huge 154,480-chip pot. Thater would tangle again with solvalla08 just six hands later, running Ah-7d into solvalla08’s pocket tens preflop and with no help on the board she went from top 20 chip stack to out in 1,256th place.

8:37pm--Barry and Joe talk shop, Greenstein collects chips in the middle of the conversation

While Team PokerStars Pros Barry Greenstein and Joe Hachem discussed a WSOP hand that made the television broadcast (where Joe hit the two-outer ten on the river to overcome someone’s flopped set of eights), there was actual poker being played.

Check out how Greenstein recuperated some chips he lost to his fellow Team PokerStars Pro a few minutes earlier in the hand below:

8:34pm--Failed semi-bluff nearly sinks Noah's boat

Team PokerStars Pro Noah "Exclusive" Boeken just took a huge, crippling hit to his stack. With the board showing 2h-4d-7c-6h and 10,450 in the pot already, Reggie&Ollie bet 5,600 from the cutoff, then Boeken reraised all in from the button with his entire stack of 26,064. Then GB2005 surprisingly called for 25,155 worth from the big blind, forcing Reggie&Ollie from the hand.

GB2005 showed 10c-10s for the overpair, while Exclusive had 10h-9h for the big semibluff. The river was the 5s, and Boeken was down under 1,000 chips.

Boeken has since tripled up a couple of times and now sits with 9,504.

8:26pm--LadyMaverick rides into sunset

PS pro Vanessa "LadyMaverick" Rousso had a below average stack of 28,788 when the following, tournament-ending hand took place. Began innocently enough with some limpers and her checking her option from the big blind. The flop brought two fours, and the four in Rousso's hand meant she wasn't going to let it go. Unfortunately for her, someone else had a four as well. Here is how Rousso ended up eliminated in 1,406th:

8:22pm--Griffin gone

Team PokerStars pro Gavin Griffin has just hit the rail in 1435th place.

8:19pm--Katja Thater uses level 19 stealth maneuvers to quietly acquire a top 20 stack

The German Team PokerStars Pro is amassing chips without even making a sound out on Table 46. Instead she’s letting the 110,000 chips in front of her do the talking as we near level 8 and the introduction of antes into the game.

We just witnessed one such hand demonstrating Thater's steathiness. After a flat call from the big blind of HissiProppen’s raise to 2,400, Thater calmly checked the Jh-7h-4s flop, then HissiProppen followed through with a 3,200 chip continuation bet. The bet was met with a raise to 8,000 by Thater and a quick fold by the Norwegian. Thater collected the 11,600 chips and went back into the dark, waiting to strike again.

8:07pm--Hello Barry, Hello Joe

Just as we noticed Barry "barryg1" Greenstein at Andy McLEOD's table, a table change now has him seated with fellow Team PokerStars pro Joe Hachem. Here's the scene currently at Table 134:

8:01pm--WCOOP champ, meet WSOP champ

Andy McLEOD recently took down Event #16 ($215 Pot Limit Omaha, one rebuy/one add-on) and now finds himself sitting on the left of three-time WSOP bracelet winner Barry Greenstein. Let the sparks fly as these two champs take to battle.

7:50pm--Chip counts at three-hour mark; Team PokerStars Pro Katja Thater hanging in the top 50

Level 7
Blinds 400/800
Average Chip Stack: 29,598
Players Remaining: 1757 (540 to make the money)
First Prize: $468,045.00

1. phinster 122,269
2. AlphaMale626 118,805
3. Strategovic 115,529
4. Confiteor 113,979
5. Mr. Tim Caum 112,926
6. javel 109,807
7. killerkp 108,638
8. LEB_BEL 105,245
9. MagicCoin 103,609
10. hanji 102,929

Team PokerStars Pros in Top 100
Katja Thater 83,750 (31st place)
Barry "barryg1" Greenstein 65,888 (82nd)

7:44pm--River saves Brenes

Wpt-jsipf raised to 2,400 from under the gun, and Team PokerStars pro Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes called from late position. Both checked the Qs-6c-7s flop. The turn was the Tc. Wpt-jsipf checked, Brenes bet 5,400, and Wpt-jsipf check-raised all in for 13,825. With only 4,575 left, Brenes made the call.

Wpt-jsipf: Td-Ac
Brenes: Kh-Ad

Brenes would need help to stay alive. And help arrived, with the Jc on the river giving him the Broadway straight. "ffffffffff" said Wpt-jsipf. We can imagine what the rest of the word was he was trying to say.

Brenes lives on with 25,650. Meanwhile Wpt-jsipf, down to less than 4,000, would be eliminated within one orbit in 1,829th.

7:40pm-- Smile, you’re on PokerStars.TV

There will be a live stream of this tournament’s conclusion tomorrow brought to you by Lee Nelson, Gavin Griffin, Vanessa Rousso, John Duthie. Check out the PokerStars.com WCOOP radio page for live streaming commentary of some of the bigger events, including tonight’s $25,500 Heads-up tourney (follow the link to the radio page for the stream).

7:34pm--Double duty for PS pros

Four of the Team PokerStars pros still with chips in this event are also currently still alive in the Round of 16 of Event No. 19, the $25,500 no-limit hold'em heads-up event: Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Gavin Griffin, Vanessa "LadyMaverick" Rousso, and Victor Ramdin. At the moment, Rousso and Ramdin have leads over their opponents, while ElKY and Griffin are behind in their matches.

Also alive in Event No. 19 are fellow PS pros John Duthie and Daniel "KidPoker" Negreanu. Click here to follow the Event No. 19 live blog.

7:27pm--A trio of Team PokerStars Pros hit the rail

Vicky Coren (2031st)
Alexandre “allingomes” Gomes (2189th)
William Thorson (2562nd)

We've moved into level six with blinds at 300/600 and the average stack around 26,344. Former Sunday Million winner Kongsgaard and MTT crusher THE__D__RY have crept up to the top 20.

Team PokerStars Pro Katja Thater has also broken the top 20, currently sitting on ~81,000 in chips.

7:20pm--While he’s gentle to the rail, not so much to the eight other players at his table:

After Team PokerStars Pro Barry Greenstein re-popped alexn124’s 1000 chip raise to 4400 for the second straight hand, alexn124 of the bully tactics and shoved his remaining 6,360 chips into the middle. Greenstein made the called with a suited Big Slick (Ac-Kc) and was well ahead of alexn124’s Ad-Jd.

The board ran out to no avail: 8s-7s-2h-7d-Qd and Greenstein has cracked the 60,000 chip mark while alexn124 is no more.

7:16pm--phinster looking just (100) grand

It looks like phinster is our first player to crack the 100,000-chip mark today. He currently holds a slight lead over outragous76, slowpokes888, AlphaMale626, and JSchnett.

7:14pm--Re: my rights to your chips...

Team PokerStars pro Noah "Exclusive" Boeken has chipped all of the way up to 59,225. After watching him win four straight hands on Table 347, we're starting to understand the significance of that username.

7:11pm--Reflecting on what could have been

Barry Greenstein is always a great chatter, and today he’s showing extra graciousness describing his bust out to a railbird of Event #18 $215 H.O.R.S.E. tourney on the final table bubble:

Fluffdog87 [observer]: good 9th place but always brutal to
bubble since u only play 4 1st
barryg1: yes. rolled ups beat in stud at the end crippled me

This tourney is starting out well, as he's well above average sitting on 56,000 in chips with the average stack hovering 23,000.

7:04pm--Rousso rebounds

Vanessa "LadyMaverick" Rousso just used pocket kings to bounce back up to more than 34,000. Here's how the hand played out:

7:00pm--Blinds not outrageous yet

Currently sitting blinds at 200/400 in level 5 over 1,100 of the original 3,467 entrants have busted including Team PokerStars Pro William Thorson in 2562nd. Outragous76 is your current chip leader with nearly 100,000 in chips and the blinds not increasing for another 15 minutes.

6:56pm--Rough patch for Joe

Team PokerStars pro Joe Hachem raised to 1,000 from middle position, and bambaata reraised to 2,400 from the button. It folded back around and Hachem reraised again to 6,800 total. bambaata called.

The flop was 8s-Jd-8d. Hachem waited a few moments, then bet 8,000. bambaata spent little time before pushing all in for 44,066 total.

Hachem went deep into the tank -- to call would mean leaving himself only 3k or so behind. After taking a about 120 seconds of his time bank, he finally let it go. bambaata moves up to 66,266 on that one.

On the very next hand, Hachem experienced a bit of a cooler when he flopped a set of threes to danglow47's flopped set of sevens. Luckily for Hachem, danglow47 was short-stacked and he only lost about 8k on the hand.

After those two hands, Hachem is down to 34,689.

6:52pm--Cobra seeks to add to his poker library from Barry Greenstein. Greenstein seeks to memorize his zip code

As many people know Team PokerStars Pro Barry Greenstein will hand you a signed copy of his book “Ace on the River” should you manage to knock him out of a live tourney. So, Cobra234 simply asked the question about getting a copy for an elimination today…
hand finishes

Cobra234: hey barry do you give a signed book when getting knocked out online?
barryg1: no cobra
Purrel [observer]: isnt that like the 40th time someone asked u that
barryg1: I'll take way the over
Cobra234: ok :)
Purrel [observer]: i wasnt gonna gamble on that lol
barryg1: if I wasn't lazy, I might do it, but it's too much work, and I don't even know where the post office is around here

6:46pm--A loss of nerve?

In the last hand of Level 4, Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa "LadyMaverick" Rousso lost about a fourth of her stack in a hand against YrrsiNN. YrrsiNN had raised to 780 from under the gun, Rousso called from middle position, allinstevie called from the button, and magicpitch called from the big blind. The flop came 5d-6d-5c, and all four checked.

The turn was the Jc. magicpitch checked, YrrsiNN bet 2,300, and Rousso promptly reraised the minimum to 4,600. The others folded, and after some thought YrrsiNN called.

The river brought the 7h. YrrsiNN checked, and Rousso checked behind. YrrsiNN showed Js-Ac for jacks and fives, and Rousso mucked, having slipped back to 17,705.

6:42pm--Chip counts at two-hour break; a few PokerStars Pros near the top

Level 5
Blinds 200/400
Average Chip Stack: 20,188
Players Remaining 2575 (540 places paid)
First Prize: $468,045.00

1. killerkp 75,400
2. Ma-5 75,157
3. bulez 68,929
4. SaltyDogCP 66,843
5. logical 66,325
6. IRunPS 65,980
7. mx4ever 64,822
8. phinster 64,097
9. Meff1 63,950
10. WeStmOr 62,101

Team PokerStars Pros in Top 100:
Barry "barryg1" Greenstein 54,935 (23rd)
Joe Hachem 53,815 (30th)
Noah "Exclusive" Boeken 49,675 (53rd)

Team PokerStars Pros Eliminated:
Lee Nelson (2872nd)
Orel Hershiser (2819th)
Bill Chen (2929th)
Isabelle "NoMercy" Mercier (3064th)
Chad Brown (3360th)
John Duthie (3400th)

6:32pm--Rousso rustles up some chips

Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa "LadyMaverick" Rousso just had another confrontation with magicpitch. The hand began similarly to the one from earlier today, with magicpitch open-raising to 800 from the button and Rousso calling from the big blind. The flop came Kd-4s-Jc and both checked. The turn was the 6h. Rousso bet 1,200, and magicpitch called.

The river brought the Ac. This time Rousso bet 4,200 and magicpitch made the call. Rousso turned over As-Ks for top two, and magicpitch mucked.

Rousso is currently up to 26,235, while magicpitch has slipped to 15,750.

6:28pm--Things looking up for defending champ

A nice turnaround for defending $1,050 NLHE event champ mig.com after a rough start. Having slipped way down to just 6,000 chips by the middle of Level 3, mig.com built back up to 10,400 before finding himself all in with pocket jacks against Phwap. See how the hand played out:

6:25pm-- Latest updates on Team PokerStars Pros

The following Team PokerStars Pros have met their demise and will not be joining us for the second break in 10 minutes:

Lee Nelson out in 2872nd
Orel Hershiser out in 2819th
Bill Chen out in 2929th
Isabelle "NoMercy" Mercier out in 3064th

6:17pm-- Barry hits a flush again and doubles up to join the top 10

Another huge flush for Team PokerStars Pro Barry Greenstein as he outlasts the presto magic of Panny3 in this hand and vaults himself into a top 10 chipstack:

6:12pm--A few nibbles for the Shark

Team PokerStars pro Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes has begun to get active here in the second hour. In one hand versus oogee Brenes turned two pair with his Qs-Ts to claim a 5,200-chip pot.

Then a few hands later, Brenes won a pot of 6,700 chips without having to show his hand, his river bet on a board of Js-4d-6c-3h-5d being enough to frighten METZMAGNY away.

Brenes is up to 21,350 at the moment with blinds moving up to 150/300.

6:05pm--Thorson caught red handed

bl0wback starting out the hand with 8,945 sniffed out this bluff from Team PokerStars Pro William Thorson holding 26,292 in chips. Thorson open min raised to 200 in middle position, bl0wback 3-bet to 1105 total right next to him, folded back to Thorson who flat called saw the flop of: Ks-9c-9d

Thorson check as bl0wback wagered 1775 which was met by a check-raise to 7600 by Thorson. The bet would nearly put bl0wback all-in, so he pushed his remaining 6065 chips into the middle. Getting 90:1 pot odds, Thorson reluctantly called exposing 5d-3d for the post oak bluff as showed pocket tens (Th-Td) and the board did not run out a runner-runner flush and the 18,190 chip pot went to bl0wback.

Thorson still above the starting stack at 17,347 after the thieving did not work.

6:01pm--I had bigger

PS pro Joe Hachem is starting to have his way with his table, having chipped up to more than 40,000 now.

In a recent hand, bambaata raised to 600, PocketPayett reraised to 1,900, then Hachem three-bet to 10,200. bambaata quickly folded, and after some thought PocketPayett folded as well. "fold big" said PocketPayett, employing some creative syntax.

JoeHachem said, "i had bigger"
JoeHachem said, "gf"

5:53pm--Hachem wins staredown contest at Table 134

We just watched a relatively large pot develop between PS pro Joe Hachem and deamon10 over on Table 134.

Things got started with a preflop raise to 600 by deamon10 from middle position, followed by Hachem's reraise to 2,000 from the button. It folded back around to deamon10 who then reraised again to 5,750. Hachem thought for several seconds, then made the call.

The flop came Ah-Qd-5d, and deamon10 fairly quickly fired out 6,250 into the 11,800 pot. Hachem meditated for a while, using his time bank, before making the call. The turn brought the 5c, pairing the board. This time deamon10 checked, and Hachem didn't wait long before betting his last 9,475. deamon10 took about 20 seconds, then let it go, giving Hachem the pot.

Hachem is now up to 33,775, while deamon10 has slipped to 13,500.

5:50pm--Greenstein flushes the Party Poker fan home

The board may have paired at the end, but that didn’t prevent Team PokerStars Pro Barry Greenstein from delivering the walking papers to PrtyPsux on this cooler:

Greenstein is now up to 26,374 in chips after the hand with blinds at 100/200.

5:45pm--Team PokerStars Pro Marcin “Goral” Horecki displays his stars

A new feature at PokerStars allows the player to choose whether they would like the world to know their current VIP level at PokerStars.com. Search for “Goral” in the PokerStars lobby, and then take a look at our Team PokerStars Pro’s avatar with the five stars beneath his picture, proclaiming him to be a Supernova. You can find the controls for this under “options” then choose “VIP status display options” and volia! Boast your VIP rank with fellow tablemates at any ring or tournament game without chatting.

5:39pm--Duthie down, Brown busto

Looks like two Team PokerStars pros didn't make it through the first hour of today's event. John Duthie went out early in 3400th place, followed shortly thereafter by Chad "ChadBrownPRO" Brown in 3360th.

A much briefer day for Brown today than yesterday, when he led Event No. 17 ($530 pot-limit hold'em) for most of the day before going out in 20th.

5:34pm--Chip counts at one-hour mark

Level 3
Blinds 100/200
Average Chip Count: 16,105
Players Remaining: 3,229
First Prize: $468,045.00

1. Betudontbet 54,110
2. The Doc 51,725
3. Leloudis 50,502
4. Meff1 50,000
5. NoTime2WaZT 49.503
6. wurevolution 46,875
7. M X 5 45,575
8. PokerNoob999 44,325
9. jakoon1985 44,050
10. Staight Up35 43,937

Team PokeStarsPros Top 100:
None

5:30pm--The patience of the Shark

We've watched the first 50 hands over on Table 30 where Team PokerStars pro Humberto "Humberto B." Brenes is seated. Perhaps you'll find it interesting to know how a player like Brenes, who has won two WSOP bracelets and has performed well in past WCOOP events, approaches the start of a deep-stacked tourney such as this.

In the first 50 hands, Brenes has voluntarily put money into the pot exactly four times -- raising three of those, and limping once. He has yet to show a hand. He sits with 14,300 at the moment, just under his original starting stack.

5:26pm--Since this is a TWO-day event, you’ll need to wait until tomorrow for that six-figure transfer:

Our apologies for those figuring on wrapping up this tourney Monday morning, but this is a two-day event in which we will stop the tourney at level 22 and those with chips will be allowed to join us tomorrow for another fun filled day of poker.

5:20pm--Bear wants your chips, and doesn’t wish to show his cards

Barry Greenstein picked up a nice pot off Cobra234 after Greenstein open raised from one off the button for 300 chips with the blinds at 50/100 and Cobra234 made the call from the small blind. Flop of 7h-Kh-Th got Cobra to lead out for 500 which Greenstein raised to 1600 and got a call from Cobra234.

Waiting to strike again, Cobra234 lead out for 1600 on the turn card of 2h which Greenstein decided to fall call this time.

River card of the five of diamonds had Cobra234 apply the brakes suddenly and checked. Bear pounced on his prey and shipped 5,100 chips into the middle which Cobra234 said “grr” and slithered back to his hole and folded.

Greenstein is up to 20,925 in chips after that hand.

5:18pm--Rousso can't make magicpitch disappear

Action had folded around to magicpitch on the button who raised to 300. Perhaps sensing a steal attempt, Team PokerStars pro Vanessa "LadyMaverick" Rousso called from the big blind.

The flop came Kc-6h-2d. Rousso checked, magicpitch bet 300, and Rousso check-raised the minimum to 600. magicpitch called. The turn was the Td. This time LadyMaverick bet out 1,000, and magicpitch again called.

The river was the 2h. Rousso checked, and magicpitch checked behind. Rousso showed 5s-6s for a pair of sixes, and magicpitch turned over Jc-Jd for the better pair. magicpitch now has 17,600, while Rousso has slipped to 12,025.

5:12pm--Keeping the pots small

Team PokerStars Pro Joe Hachem had raised to 250 preflop from middle position, and only O-Totoro called from the big blind. The pair both checked the flop -- 7s-Qc-9s -- as well as the turn -- the Ah. When the river brought the 8s, O-Totoro bet 300, and Hachem promptly raised to 1,400. O-Totoro thought for about 15 seconds, then made the call.

Hachem showed As-5s for the nut flush, and O-Totoro mucked. Hachem is now up to 19,025.

5:10pm--Payouts locked in, big payday in store for someone 17, 18, 19 hours from now…

Registration for WCOOP Event No. 20 is now closed. A total of 3,467 have ponied up the $1,050 entry fee to participate in today's event, a bit more than the 3,325 who entered this same event last year. That makes for a total prize pool of $3,467,000 -- well over the $3 million guarantee. Here are the payouts for the top spots:

1. $468,045.00
2. $329,365.00
3. $225,355.00
4. $178,550.50
5. $142,147.00
6. $107,477.00
7. $72,807.00
8. $45,071.00
9. $31,203.00

Six players going home today with a six-figure score. As the blinds move up to 50/100 here in Level 2, there are already over 100 players who are no longer eligible for the prizes.

5:07pm--Message received

Team PokerStars pro Joe Hachem has been quiet in the early going. However just now player nilsok, sitting to Hachem's right, just woke up the 2005 WSOP Main Event champ.

Near the end of Level 1, nilsok raised to 200 and Hachem reraised to 500 behind him. It folded back around, and nilsok three-bet to 1,350. That prompted Hachem to repop it again to 4,500. That's when nilsok decided he'd had enough.

Hachem now has 17,325.

5:05pm--Three’s company, but I doubt it is welcome

PokerStars random table shuffler decided the Thorson table did not have enough fire power as fellow Team PokerStars pro Marcin “Goral” Horecki has now dropped in to play on Table 325 as well. Tight play is sure to reign here.

5:00pm--mig.com title defense starts slowly

In last year's WCOOP, mig.com won this same event (the $1,050 no-limit hold'em event), outlasting chulwoo for first. mig.com has gotten off to a slow start today, dropping to 10,750 near the end of Level 1.

chulwoo is here again, too, and has 14,750 here in the early going.

4:58pm-- Thorson can dodge bullets baby!

Yes, our own Team PokerStars Pro William Thorson can dodge bullets without taking a huge hit to his stack on these well-placed value bets along the flop and turn by yosef12:

4:45pm--Already?

In the first 15 minutes of play, we've already seen 30 players eliminated. One of those bustouts just occurred over on Table 443.

CryMe@River5 raised from UTG to 100, midastruck and diegomilek both called, the Pappiri raised to 400 from the small blind. CryMe@River5 repopped it to 1,600 forcing the others to fold, and Pappiri just called.

The flop came Js-Jd-4s. Pappiri checked, CryMe@River5 bet 1,600, and Pappiri called. The turn was the 8c. Pappiri again checked, CryMe@River5 bet 3,600, and again Pappiri called.

The river was the 3d. Pappiri checked again, CryMe@River5 went all in for 8,325, and Pappiri made the call with his last 8,000.

CryMe@River5 showed As-Ad, better than Pappiri's Qh-Qc. Pappiri is out, and CryMe@River5 has doubled up early to 30,175.

4:41pm--Redraw for table 325!

Team PokerStars Pro William Thorson will be tested early having #1PEN at his table. #1PEN has enjoyed two final tables (Event #3 and Event #5 and currently sitting at fourth on the money list for the 2008 WCOOP series.

4:33pm--Early fireworks

With 15,000 in starting chips and 25/50 blinds, we anticipate most of the entrants should feel little need to hurry here at the start of today's event.

We did, however, see our first big pot of the day over on Table 142. In the second hand of the day, caio_pimenta raised to 150 from middle position, then SHIPP ITT reraised to 550 from the big blind. caio_pimenta called.

The flop came 2c-5h-Ac. SHIPP ITT bet 750, caio_pimenta raised to 2,000, and SHIPP ITT called.

Both checked the Kh on the turn. The river brought the Ts. SHIPP ITT checked, caio_pimenta bet 3,400, and SHIPP ITT called. caio_pimenta showed 2h-2d for a set of ducks, and SHIPP ITT mucked. caio_pimenta is out to a quick lead today with 20,950, while SHIPP ITT will be working uphill with 9,050.

4:30pm--Line up of Team PokerStars Pros for this event today, let's shuffle up and deal!!:

Andre “Aakkari” Akkari
Alexandre “allingomes” Gomes
Barry “barryg1” Greentstein
Bill Chen
Chad “ChadBrownPRO” Brown
Chris "Money800" Moneymaker
Dario Minieri
Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier
Noah “Exclusive” Boeken
Greg “FossilMan” Raymer
Gavin Griffin
Marcin “Goral” Horecki
Humberto “Humberto B” Brenes
Joe Hachem
John Duthie
Katja Thater
Alex “Kravchenko” Kravchenko
Vanessa “LadyMaverick” Rousso
Lee “LeeNelsonP*” Nelson
Luca Pagano
Isabelle “NoMercy” Mercier
Hevad “RaiNKhaN” Khan
Raymond Rahme
Steve “stevejpa” Paul-Ambrose
Tom McEvoy
Vicky Coren
Victor Ramdin
William Thorson

I know of one Barry Greenstein who will be a little tired after his 9th place finish in Event #18's H.O.R.S.E. tourney this morning but a true competitor in playing in this tourney this afternoon.

9:00am-- At least $3 million on the line

WCOOP Event #20, the $1,050 No-Limit Hold'em event begins at 4:30pm ET. The 2-day event has a $3 million guarantee. Join us here for all the action when it begins.