*Chip counts | Prizewinners so far

12:00: Midnight counts

On the stroke of midnight, here's your final table chip counts. And here's how all of the action played out today:

Mike Watson Canada 6,585,000Tony Gregg USA 5,690,000Vladimir Troyanovskiy Russia 5,025,000Toby Lewis UK 4,665,000Phillip McAllister UK 3,040,000Randy Kritzer USA 2,565,000

Mike Watson: Leading the way

11:55pm: Gregg hoovers last of Demlakian; final six setLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

On the very next hand after Tony Gregg's massive double up, he took the last of Ken Demlakian's stack. He opened from under the gun after which instantly called when Demlakian shoved for nine big blinds, certainly one of which was already around the line in front of him.

Ken Demlakian: The sport is up

Demlakian had found a couple: 4♥4♠. But Gregg had too: T♠T♥. There has been nothing at the flop, turn or river to symbolize a lifeline to Demlakian, and he's now free to enroll in his family holiday in Dallas, $110,220 richer.

Ken Demlakian's run is over

That's our final six. We'll have their official chip counts with you very soon. -- HS

11:45pm: Gregg stays not off course for PCA titleLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Here's Tony Gregg doing what Tony Gregg does best: bossing PCA final tables. This latest skirmish leaves Ken Demlakian with a dreadfully small stack, and leaves Gregg closing in on 5 million.

Demlakian opened to 175,000 from under the gun and Gregg raised to 445,000 from one seat to his left. It folded back to Demlakian and he called.

Those two saw the flop of 2♦9♠7♦ and Demlakian checked. Gregg bet 1.86 million and Demlakian instantly moved all in excessive. Gregg, the effective stack, called.

Ken Demlakian and Tony Gregg get all of it in

It was a spectacular mis-step from Demlakian, who had only A♣K♥. Gregg started the hand dominated together with his K♠9♦ but caught up and showed K♠9♦.

It left Demlakian with only 800,000. -- HS

11:40pm: Watson back within the leadLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Mike Watson is back as much as 6.8 million after taking a big pot off of Toby Lewis.

It started off with an effortless limp from the small blind by Lewis. Watson then raised to 240,000 from the massive blind and Lewis called.

Both players checked the 9♠Q♠7♣ flop and a 2♠ came at the turn. Lewis checked, Watson bet 600,000 and Lewis called.

The river brought a 5♦ and Watson bet 1.4 million when checked to.

It was an excessive amount of for Lewis.

Lewis folded and was left with 4.7 million while Watson took back the lead with 6.8 million. --AV

11:35pm: McAllister stays cool; doublesLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Phillip McAllister has had an excellent tournament already--including that ridiculous hand yesterday when he hit a royal flush--but he was just all in for his tournament life for what was, I think, the primary time.

It was a flip. McAllister, who had 1.645 million in his open-shoved stack, showed 5♠5♥ after Vladimir Troyanovskiy called him. Troyanovskiy had A♠Q♥ and McAllister needed to survive a huge sweat.

Phillip McAllister doubles

The flop came T♥J♥7♣. The turn brought much more outs: 9♣. However the 2♠ was not certainly one of Troyanovskiy's 14 outs and McAllister picked up an overly valuable double. -- HS

11:30pm: Ulmer out, right down to 7Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

A short-stacked Timothy Ulmer moved all-in for 1 million from early position and David Eldridge re-shoved from his left.

Action folded around and we had a last table showdown.

Eldridge: A♥Q♣Ulmer: 6♦6♣

Timothy Ulmer: End of the road

The A♦Q♦7♥8♣K♣ board fell heavily in Eldridge's favor and Ulmer was eliminated in 8th place.

Ulmer won $78,540 for the 8th place finish while Eldridge chipped as much as 3.3 million. --AV

11:27pm: Lewis gets a fewLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Tony Gregg raised to 175,000 from the button and Toby Lewis called from the massive blind. Both players checked the 2♥T♥9♣ flop and a K♦ came at the turn. Lewis check-called a 220,000 bet and both players checked the 3♠ at the river.

Lewis showed Q♣T♠ and Gregg mucked.

Then Lewis took down the following hand.

Lewis called from the small blind and Mike Watson checked his option. Lewis bet 125,000 at the 5♠9♣3♦ flop and a T♣ came at the turn. Lews bet 225,000 and and Watson folded.

Toby Lewis is now as much as 5.7 million.

11:15pm: Some for KritzerLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Randy Kritzer sparred with Vladimir Troyanovskiy just a little and came out on top both times.

In one hand, Kritzer raised to 175,000 from under-the-gun and Troyanovskiy called from the massive blind. The flop came 4♠5♥2♥ and Kritzer bet 200,000 when checked to. Troyanovskiy called and an A♣ came at the turn.

Troyanovskiy bet 285,000 but then Kritzer moved all-in. Troyanovskiy folded and Kritzer took down the pot.

He won the following hand too.

Phillip McAllister called from the hijack, Troyanovskiy called from the small blind and Kritzer checked his option.

The flop came 7♣J♠2♣ and Troyanovskiy bet 130,000. Kritzer raised to 500,000 and both players folded.

Kritzer is now as much as 2.6 million while Troyanovskiy dipped to second place with 5.89 million. Mike Watson is within the lead with 5.91 million. --AV

11:05pm: Gregg the monsterLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

We trailed all of it week, and now it has come true. Tony Gregg is at his third career PCA Main Event final table (plus one Super High Roller appearance). Tony Gregg = quite good.

Tony Gregg: Three times

10.55pm: Demlakian shoves, chips upLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Here's another strange one, with Ken Demlakian building his chip stack with an efficient flop squeeze play.

Mike Watson opened from early position to 160,000 and Randy Kritzer called from the cutoff. Ken Demlakian often known as from the small blind and 3 players checked out a 2♠5♦8♥ flop.

Demlakian checked, but Watson continued and made it 250,000 to play. Kritzer shaped to fold, but then called, after which Demlakian saw a very good opportunity. He shoved all in for 970,000 total.

Watson quickly folded. And although Kritzer asked for a count, checked his cards and deeply yawned, he then folded. -- HS

10:45pm: Gregg the uncalledLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

A lot of pots this level has been settled preflop, but that does not mean decisions have been.

In one, Tony Gregg raised to 175,000 from under-the-gun and Phillip McAllister re-raised to 460,000 from early position.

Action folded to Ken Demlakian who thought for over two minutes before he folded. Demlakian is the tournament short stack with slightly lower than 1 million.

Gregg then moved all-in for 2.2 million and McAllister folded. The hand put Gregg as much as 2.9 million while McAllister was left with around 1.7 million. --AV

10.35pm: They're backLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Here are the stacks for the overall eight players. Vladimir Troyanovskiy has a narrow lead, while Ken Demlakian is now the tournament short stack with about 15 big blinds.

Name Country Chips

Vladimir Troyanovskiy	Russia	6,965,000
Mike Watson	Canada	6,425,000
Toby Lewis	UK	5,090,000
Tony Gregg	USA	2,255,000
Randy Kritzer	USA	2,115,000
Phillip McAllister	UK	2,060,000
Timothy Ulmer	USA	1,425,000
Ken Demlakian	Australia	1,235,000

10.20pm: End of the extent. Break timeLevel 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

They're on a longer break. Back soonish.

10.15pm: Lewis finishes the job on EldridgeLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Toby Lewis, having just found kings to double up and cut David Eldridge right down to size, finished the job at the next hand. With aces.

Lewis admitted it was ridiculous, but it surely was the very best call of his poker career when Eldridge shoved with 6♠6♥ and he found A♠A♥. He called, for all of Eldridge's 175,000.

David Eldridge: All in

David Eldridge: All out

There were no miracles for Eldridge at the board of 4♦4♣K♦3♣2♥.

Eldridge goes out in ninth and wins $62,020. -- HS

10:05pm: Lewis doubles right backLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Toby Lewis dealt the primary double up on the final table and now he got one for himself.

Ken Demlakian called from early position and Phillip MCAllister raised to 190,000 from middle position. Toby Lewis re-raised to 450,000 from the hijack and Eldridge moved all-in for 2.195 million from the large blind.

Lewis called with K♣K♦ and Eldridge tabled A♦K♠.

Eldridge hoped for an ace however the J♠9♠3♣5♣6♥ board brought him none.

Lewis doubled to 4.5 million while Eldridge was left with just 175,000. --AV

9:55pm: Eldridge doubles through LewisLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened to 135,000 from under-the-gun and David Eldridge moved all in for 970,000 from early position. Ken Demlakian looked pained, rubbed his head after which verbally announced his fold.

David Eldridge: Lives to fight another day

Toby Lewis re-shoved from the small blind and Troyanovskiy folded.

Lewis: A♠K♠Eldridge: J♠J♦

It was an old school flip that fell heavily in Eldridge's favor.

Eldridge flopped a whole house at the 4♦4♥J♣K♥T♣ board and doubled as much as 2.23 million while Lewis dropped to 2.05 million. --AV

Toby Lewis: Takes a hit

9:40pm: Demlakian dips and risesLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Ken Demlakian was playing a large number of pots on the final table. He called two 135,000 raises from out of position and folded to continuation bets on both.

Then he took a large pot off Vladimir Troyanovskiy.

Troyanovskiy raised to 135,000 from early position and Demlakian called from the button. The flop came 7♣8♦6♣ and Troyanovskiy bet 165,000. Demlakian called and a Q♦ came at the turn.

Troyanovskiy upped the bet to 285,000 and Demlakian moved all-in. Troyanovskiy folded and Demlakian chipped as much as 1.92 million. --AV

9:20pm: Troyanovskiy back out frontLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy doesn't like being out of the lead for extraordinarily long. He has just reassumed his place on the top of the counts after beating Ken Demlakian out of a hand.

Troyanovskiy opened to 135,000 from mid-position and Demlakian's call from the small blind persuaded Tony Gregg to name from the large. That took them to a flop of A♠K♦4♥, which both Demlakian and Gregg checked. Troyanovskiy bet 235,000 and only Demlakian called.

Both remaining players checked the 3♥ turn, after which Troyanovskiy fired 550,000 on the J♦ river. Demlakian called, but then mucked when Troyanovskiy tabled A♦Q♣.

Troyanovskiy now has just about 9 million. -- HS

9:10pm: Troyanovskiy closing inLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

In the primary hand to make it to the river on the unofficial final table, Ken Demlakian raised to 135,000 from early position and Vladimir Troyanovskiy called from the button.

The flop came 2♦Q♠7♠ and both players checked. The turn brought the 5♣ and Demlakian bet 185,000. Troyanovskiy called and the 8♠ completed the board.

Demlakian checked and Troyanovskiy bet 435,000. Demlakian folded and Troyanovskiy chipped as much as 5.9 million. --AV

9pm: Last nineLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Here's the line-up for the unofficial final table. That was the last redraw of the tournament. They should lose another player until they hit the general"" table; three more and and we'll finish for the night.

Seat 1 - Mike Watson, 6,535,000Seat 2 - Vladimir Troyanovskiy, 5,450,000Seat 3 - Randy Kritzer, 2,110,000Seat 4 - David Eldridge, 1,320,000Seat 5 - Timothy Ulmer, 1,765,000Seat 6 - Ken Demlakian, 2,260,000Seat 7 - Tony Gregg, 2,410,000Seat 8 - Phillip McAllister, 3,405,000Seat 9 - Toby Lewis, 2,315,000

8:41pm: In the future only; Waxman outLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Well, Waxman did live to fight another day. However it was only that at some point. He's now out. He shoved again, the second one hand in a row, this time for approximately 1.2 million.

Mike Watson was lurking behind him this time, though, and he picked him off almost instantly. Watson had A♦Q♥ and dominated Waxman's A♠7♥. That domination became much more emphatic at the Q♦T♠Q♣ flop and although the A♥ turn gave him chop outs, the 9♠ was a blank.

Matt Waxman sees the bad news

Waxman gets $51,260 for tenth. Meanwhile Watson takes the chip lead again, with 6.5 million.

They will now redraw for his or her places across the unofficial final table. --HS

Matt Waxman: Adios to Troyanovskiy

8:40pm: Waxman lives another dayLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Ken Demlakian opened from the cutoff and Matt Waxman moved all in from the small blind. Demlakian asked for a count--it was 1,010,000--and Waxman then pondered for somewhat before folding A♥ face up. "You had three outs," Waxman said, suggesting he had a large ace. Demlakian insisted he was in a position to fold ace-king, but didn't confirm whether he had it or not. Because it was, Waxman lived to fight another day. --HS

8:30pm: And they are backLevel 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

And they return. Action is under way again. -- HS

That's dinner!And as Level 27 draws to a close, players are sent on a 75-minute dinner break. Listed below are the 10 remaining players' chip counts:

Name Country Chips

Vladimir Troyanovskiy	Russia	5,845,000
Mike Watson	Canada	5,250,000
Phillip McAllister	UK	3,500,000
Tony Gregg	USA	2,585,000
Ken Demlakian	Australia	2,325,000
Toby Lewis	UK	2,165,000
Randy Kritzer	USA	1,835,000
Timothy Ulmer	USA	1,650,000
David Eldridge	USA	1,310,000
Matthew Waxman	USA	1,100,000

7:20pm: The McAllister Gregg showLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

It's all about two players out at the table, and their chip stacks are swinging back and forth.

McAllister made it 110,000 from the small blind and Gregg called from the massive. We saw a flop of the 7♦5♣4♠ and McAllister reduced hit bet size to simply 90,000; again, Gregg called.

The turn was the K♣ and now the bet from McAllister was 165,000. It didn't take long for Gregg to name and we went to the river.

It was the 9♦ and with the pot quite large the bet had to be too. McAllister put out 555,000 and Gregg went deep into the tank.

Tony Gregg: The thinker

Several times, while he fidgeted uncomfortably and repositioned himself in his seat, he put his hands right into a praying motion - eager to find answers. What did McAllister have?

Well we soon discovered. Gregg made the decision eventually and McAllister flipped over 8♠6♠. He'd flopped the nuts, and his straight had become even bigger by the river. Gregg mucked.

Anthony Gregg 3,025,000Phillip McAllister 3,400,000 --JS

7:15: Demlakian checks when he gets thereLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Let's just agree that there are alternative ways to play poker. A method is that once you demand a double-gutter and get there, you bet it. Otherwise is Ken Demlakian's way. No judgments. That's only a fact.

As the players sit ten-handed, they're playing hand-for-hand, and it's slow going. But that did not stop the action on the feature table where Vladimir Troyanovskiy raised to 110,000 and got a choice from Ken Demlakian. On a flop of K♥T♦7♦, Troyanovskiy bet 140,000 and Demlakian called with...well, little need for drama here...he called with J♣9♦. It is a double gut-shot draw at this point.

The 2♦ was a blank, but Troyanovskiy didn't stop firing. This time it was 225,000. That is smart. Troyanovskiy held K♠Q♣. Still, Demlakian called.

Onto the 8♣ river. If you have been keeping up, filled within the bottom end of Demlakian's gutshot. Troyanovskiy backed off and checked.

This is the purpose at which we again are forced to agree that there are other ways to play poker, and that Demlakian's way was the best way Demlakian chose. He checked behind to expose his straight, good for the win, the pot, and Troyanovskiy's gratitude. --BW

7:05pm: McAllister the thinkerLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Tony Gregg made Phillip McAllister think a lot.

It started when McAllister raised to 125,000 from the button and Gregg re-raised to 345,000 from the small blind. McAllister thought and stared at Gregg. Then he called.

The flop came 3♠J♣9♥ and both players quickly checked. It was the fastest street of the hand.

When the 6♥ came at the turn Gregg bet 390,000 and McAllister took over a minute to name. Then came the river: Q♠.

Phillip McAllister, left, into the tank

Gregg upped the bet to 625,000 and McAllister went into the tank. He cycled his stare between Gregg, his stack and the board for greater than six minutes.

Then he made his decision: fold.

McAllister was all the way down to 2.3 million after the hand while Gregg chipped as much as about 3.5 million. --AV

6:55pm: Gregg's got legsLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

If Anthony Gregg makes the overall table of this event, he'll be the primary person in history to make the general table of the similar EPT event thrice. There aren't that many of us who've been to 3 EPT final tables, period. And Gregg will do all of it within the same spot.

Tony Gregg within the very familiar surroundings of the PCA

He's stepping into contention to do exactly that. His chip stack keeps getting bigger and it sort of feels almost a certainty that he'll do it.

In a hand against Toby Lewis, Gregg opened to 110,000 at the button and Lewis made the decision out of the massive blind. The flop was 5♠5♣4♣ and both players checked.

To the turn then, and it was the 7♣. Lewis now opted to bet 135,000 and Gregg matched it.

On the river the T♥ fell and Lewis decided to test. Gregg's bet of 290,000 was enough to force a fold from Lewis and grow his stack even more.

Anthony Gregg 3,400,000Toby Lewis 1,565,000 --JS

6:50pm: The check-raise makes its comebackLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Matt Waxman, together with his new stack of chips, opened from under the gun and Ken Demlakian called from the small blind. It was only those two to a flop of 6♦8♠3♠ and Demlakian checked.

Waxman bet 140,000 and Demlakian found a check-raise, making it 365,000 to play.

"Do you've got any further white," Waxman asked, referencing the white 100,000-denomination chips."No," Demlakian said. "I'VE about 1.4 something behind.""I trust you," Waxman said as he threw his cards away."I don't sell cars or real estate," Demlakian said, offering his approval of Waxman's decision to fold. -- HS

6:44: Waxman lights his wick, doubles through WatsonLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Matt Waxman have been short-stacked for many of the afternoon, but just managed to get his last 665,000 in with A♣K♣. Mike Watson made the decision with A♠J♥. The board stayed clean, and Waxman doubled up.

6:35m: Old new proLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Ken Demlakian has enjoyed taking over the young pros at their very own game today, even consciously aping their habits and telling the table that he's precisely doing that. "They pretend to forget what they've got," he said, as he peeked again at his hole cards going to a contemporary flop.

The hand started when he raised from under the gun (that's a tender guns' trick too) and Randy Kritzer, from the old school, called. It was just those two to a flop of 4♥9♣5♦.

Demlakian bet 180,000 at it and Kritzer called. That took them to the T♦ at the turn. Demlakian had another stab, this time for 325,000, but clearly smelled a rat when Kritzer called again, from a stack with only about 800,000 behind.

The 8♠ came at the river and Demlakian checked. That allowed Kritzer finally to get his stack within the middle with a shove. Demlakian quickly folded. -- HS

6:25pm: McAllister moves all-inLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

We had an all-in, but nobody called.

It was pure excitement in comparison to the action we have seen this last level though. The hand also took a bit out of David Eldridge's stack.

Eldridge raised to 130,000 from the small blind and Phillip McAllister called from the large blind.

The flop came J♥Q♠8♦ and Eldridge check-called a 110,000 bet. A K♠ came at the turn and Eldridge bet 265,000.

That's when McAllister did it. He moved all-in.

Eldridge folded though and his stack dipped to fourteen. million while McAllister rose to 3.25 million. --AV

6:15pm: Play sloooooooooooows dooooooooooooownLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

With ten left we're now hand for hand on this tournament, and play has naturally bogged down considerably. Players at the outer tables are becoming up and stretching, grabbing some water, or even talking to players from the feature table.

There was one hand worth mentioning: Toby Lewis made it 100,000 to move and two other players called: David Eldridge and Phillip McAllister.

The dealer spread a T♥Q♠J♦ flop and McAllister checked to the pre-flop raiser. Lewis continued for 175,000, Eldridge got out of ways and McAllister made the call.

The turn was 5♥ and McAllister checked it yet another time. Lewis continued all over again for 275,000 and it was enough to take it down. The Brit is as much as 1,640,000. --JS

6:10pm: New level, new chip-countsLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Here's another pot at the feature table that got very weird indeed. Mike Watson and Ken Demlakian were at a flop of 6♥8♣Q♥ and Watson checked. Demlakian bet 80,000 and Watson check-raised to 250,000.

Demlakian said, "I'm gonna must put my glasses on now." He took a deep take a look at the flop. Demlakian then put some chips into the middle, but didn't announce if it was a decision or a raise. "I'm sorry, I'm colour-blind," he said, explaining the error.

But the issue was that no-one even knew his intention and Demlakian didn't make it clear even now. He allowed the dealer to determine that he was wanting a raise so it needed to go as a choice regardless.

They saw the 9♣ at the turn and Watson bombed 450,000 at it. Demlakian took some time to choose again, but this time folded, showing the Q♦. -- HS

6:00pm: Kritzer tries to bluff the ringerLevel 25, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

There's Rounders scene all of us remember through which Mike is within the country club game and gets bluffed by the amateur. That scene alone has led to more bloated pots than the film's makers likely ever imagined.

Fast forward to ten-handed play and Randy Kritzer raising to 135,000. He got calls from Matt Waxman and Mike Watson. At the 9♣T♠8♣ flop, Watson checked, Kritzer bet 105,000, and Waxman called. That's when Watson installed a raise to 400. Kritzer stuck around while Waxman folded.

The turn was the Q♦ and drew two checks.

Once the Q♥ fell at the river, Watson checked again. He had an even reason. His T♦8♦ had just been counterfeited.

So, when Kritzer bet 300,000, there has been no easy decision. It took Watson two minutes to work it out in his head. Ultimately, he called, and it was an even one. Kritzer had A♣5♣ for the missed club draw.

Watson: 5,545,000Kritzer: 1,595,000

5:45pm: New level, new chip-countsLevel 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

We're heading into Level 27 now, and the most recent counts are at the chip-count page. Vladimir Troyanovskiy, who was all in and called twice within the opening couple of orbits, is now the leader of this tournament. Poker, huh.

Troyanovskiy's got chips

5:25pm: Trading blowsLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

There's not numerous space to cover in a five-handed table David Eldridge and Timothy Ulmer keep going back and forth.

Ulmer raised to 100,000 from the button and Eldridge called from the large blind. The flop came J♥A♣J♠ and Eldridge check-raised to 220,000. Ulmer called and both players checked the 7♣ at the turn.

Eldridge checked again when the A♥ fell at the river after which folded when Ulmer bet 225,000.

Ulmer raised to 80,000 the next hand and Eldridge called from the small blind. McAllister called from the large blind and the flop came K♣Q♣4♦. All three players checked and a J♥ came at the turn.

Ulmer bet 160,000 when checked to and Eldridge raised to 360,000. McAllister folded and after a couple of minute of deep thought, Ulmer did the same.

The pot put Eldridge as much as 1.9 million while Ulmer dropped to 2.3 million. --AV

Timothy Ulmer: A slight dip

5:20pm: McAllister and Gregg continue to battleLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Blind on blind hands are crucial in tournaments, and fascinating developments can happen between players who sit next to one another for some time. Phillip McAllister and Anthony Gregg have played a large number of pots together today with the previous within the small blind and the latter within the big. Here's yet another so as to add to the list.

It started out innocently enough: McAllister threw in another 20,000 to finish the large blind. Gregg then raised the cost of poker as much as 115,000 and McAllister made the call.

Phillip McAllister eyes Tony Gregg

The flop was K♣7♥3♠. McAllister kept things light by checking, Gregg bet 90,000 and was called.

The J♦ came at the turn and it slowed things down completely, with both players checking. The river was the 2♥ and play picked back up again - McAllister took the betting lead with a 140,000 bet. Gregg contemplated for a minute or so before making the call.

McAllister flashed queen-jack for a turned pair of jacks, but Gregg had him beat with the K♦T♥.

Anthony Gregg 2,365,000Phillip McAllister 2,550,000 --JS

5:10pm: Eldridge dipsLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

David Eldridge was bet out of some pots and is all the way down to 1.55 million.

In one, Eldridge raised to 85,000 and Timothy Ulmer called from the large blind. Eldridge bet 70,000 at the 7♦3♠3♦ flop and both players checked the 7♠ at the turn. Ulmer fired off a 500,000 when the 7♣ came at the river and Eldridge folded.

Then Eldridge lost a larger one.

Down time for David Eldridge

Phillip McAllister raised to 90,000 from under-the-gun and Tony Gregg called from the cutoff. Eldridge re-raised to 240,000 from the large blind and McAllister made it 485,000. Gregg folded, Eldridge thought, Eldridge called.

The flop came 3♣5♦6♦and McAllister bet 260,000. Eldridge thought some more but decided to fold this time.

The pot put McAllister as much as 3.6 million while Eldridge dipped to 1.55 million. --AV

Phil McAllister

5:00pm: Vladimir Troyanovskiy doubles through Watson, nears chip leadLevel 25, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened from the button to 90,000, and Mike Watson re-popped him to 240,000. Troyanovskiy didn't go into reverse and installed 610,000, essentially 1 / 4 of his stack. Watson decided it was racing time and got Troyanovskiy all-in.

Troyanovskiy: A♥K♥Watson: 9♦9♥

The run out favored the Russian in every way: A♦A♠3♥J♦8♦.

Now, Troyanovskiy is as much as around 4.6 million. He and Watson are on the top of the leader board and putting in place for what can be a pretty amazing final table.

4:40pm: The top Boss keeps crushingLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

When Anthony "End Boss" Gregg raised his button to 90,000, Toby Lewis three-bet to 275,000.

"How much did you begin with?" Gregg asked."Around 1.9 million," Lewis told him.

That was enough for Gregg to make the decision and the dealer burned and turned the 4♠K♥J♦ flop. Lewis decided to not continue, instead checking it over to Gregg who bet 210,000. Lewis called.

The 4♥ arrived at the turn and both players checked, leading us to the T♣ at the river. Lewis checked another time and Gregg considered what he was going to do - eventually decided to bet 585,000. That was an excessive amount of for Lewis who let his hand go.

Tony Gregg: No beating him

Toby Lewis 1,340,000Anthony Gregg 2,000,000 --JS

4:30pm: McCormick, dry of fine luck, goes blindly to 11th placeLevel 25, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

After days of drinking, needling, and staredowns, Martin McCormick has left the building.

He had just worked himself right into a low boil, entering a battle of barbs about Matt Waxman. It had began to get ugly, either one of them taking shots at each other's personalities, neither backing down. McCormick had vowed he was going to bust Waxman, and it appeared we were in for an evening of nastiness.

Then play folded around to Ken Demlakian within the small blind, and McCormick desired to have some fun. So, when Demakian limped from the small, McCormick played his hand blind.

On the 9♠6♠7♣ flop, McCormick convinced Demlakian to play nice and check to the A♠ turn. McCormick again appealed for a check, but now Demlakian bet a trifling 60,000.

McCormick, on his feet, was annoyed.

"Now you will bet and i am going to need to do something," he said. He peeked once at his cards and snap-announced, "All-in."

The amount? 860,000. An overbet if there ever was one.

Demlakian barely considered it. He sighed once and tossed a chip within the middle. "Ace," he said."Well-played," McCormick said."Not yet," Demlakian protested. "YOU HAVE NOT lost yet, brother."

Demlakian: A♣5♥McCormick: K♦7♠

Indeed, McCormick had outs with kings, sevens, and spades.

"I used up all my good luck," McCormick said. And he was right.

And that was it. The Martin McCormick show was over. He shook hands with everyone except Waxman...with whom he hugged it out.

McCormick earns $51,260 for 11th place. -- BW

Martin McCormick and Ken Demlakian on the former's final hand

4:25pm: Gooley goneLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Paul Gooley was all the way down to just 400,000 and moved all-in from the hijack and got action from Tony Gregg.

Gooley turned over T♦T♥ and was flipping for his tournament life against Gregg's A♣Q♦.

Gregg paired his ace at the flop and Gooley hit the rail. --AV

Paul Gooley: Ouch

Tony Gregg -- 1,950,000Paul Gooley -- 12th

4:20pm: No raise intendedLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Even after five days of play, you'll sometimes see a mistake from these guys.

After David Eldridge called from the small blind and Phillip McAllister checked from the massive blind, the 2 saw a flop of 5♥A♦3♣. Both checked and the K♥ at the turn led to a 50,000 bet from Eldridge.

McAllister meant to name but misread the bet - he threw in 75,000 and after the ground was called it was deemed a raise, so McAllister was forced to make it 100,000. Now Eldridge bumped it up even further to 310,000 and took it down.

David Eldridge 1,350,000Phillip McAllister 1,750,000 --JS

4:15pm: Lewis moving within the right directionLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Everything goes to plot for Toby Lewis right now, and he's just won another pot.

He min-opened at the button to 80,000 and David Eldridge called out of the massive blind. The flop came 6♠Q♣K♥ and Lewis continued for a single silver 100,000 chip. Eldridge obliged and called.

The turn was the 8♠ and Lewis made it 300,000 this time. That was an excessive amount of for Eldridge and he threw his hand away. Lewis is as much as 2,000,000. --JS

4:05pm: Meltdown complete: Watson sends Pires homeLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Here is a sentence I BELIEVED I WOULDN'T write all week. But unfortunately it's true: Leonardo Pires is now OUT.

Leonardo Pires: In happy times

He has led for 3 days, and incredibly he managed to increase his chip lead today. But his descent was much more spectacular than his ascent, and Mike Watson has now just picked him off.

In the overall hand Pires played, Watson opened to 90,000 from the hijack and Ken Demlakian called from the button. Pires doesn't play it small ball and he shoved all in from the large blind for 1.6 million total. It was a squeeze play and a half.

Pires took a drink, but he put his glass down when Watson re-shoved excessive. Demlakian folded.

Pires tabled the monster 4♣3♥ and was in numerous difficulty against Watson's T♥T♣.

There was hope at the board: K♥Q♣3♦. However the turn was the T♦ and that's the end of the joys ride for Pires. Watson now has 6.61 million.

"That was an absolute gift, Mikey-boy," Martin McCormick said as Pires headed home in 14th. -- HS

Leonardo Pires bids farewell

4:00pm: Demlakian takes overLevel 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

They're back from the break with a brand new chip leader. Ken Demlakian, the person who was because of be flying to Dallas yesterday for a family holiday, is making his decision to stick look very wise indeed. The newest counts are at the chip-count page.

Ken Demlakian

3:35pm: Break timeLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

They're heading to a break in a moment, at which point we'll have a whole count from the rest players, plus details from a few interesting pre-break hands.

3:35pm: An ace wins it for LewisLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Toby Lewis' stack is asking healthier by the hand. After he opened to 60,000, he faced a 3-bet from David Eldridge to 140,000 and made the call.

The dealer spread a flop containing the A♦T♥J♠, and Lewis checked to Eldridge. He made it 133,000 and Lewis didn't budge.

The turn was the 8♥, and it was enough to make both players check, so we saw the 3♣ at the river. There could be not more betting, and after both players checked Lewis flipped over the A♣5♣, and his pair of aces took down the pot as Eldridge mucked.

Toby Lewis 1,700,000David Eldridge 2,320,000 --JS

3:35pm: McAllister powers throughLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Phillip McAllister has a large stack and was putting it to good use. He's opening numerous pots, however the one we just saw was one among the biggest.

It began with a 65,000 open from McAllister, followed by a 3-bet to 162,000 from Paul Gooley. The decision was made and we went to a flop.

It was the 6♣K♠Q♣ and Gooley put out a gamble of 145,000, which McAllister called. The 6♠ turn can be checked by both players, taking us to the T♦ at the river.

Gooley put out a hefty bet of 354,000. But then Phillip McAllister shoved over the top, putting Gooley at risk.

He decided to let it go, and has dropped all the way down to just 11 big blinds getting into the following level.

Paul Gooley 460,000Phillip McAllister 2,600,000 --JS

3:34pm: Kritzer blitzes PiresLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Yet another huge hand at the feature table right before the break. Randy Kritzer is the most recent to assist himself to an enormous chunk of Leonardo Pires's stack, doubling as much as 2.235 million and leaving Pires with 1.788 million.

They got all of it in on a flop of Q♣2♠2♥ when Kritzer had hit top pair together with his Q♥J♠. Pires's T♠T♥ didn't atone for the J♦ turn or the 3♦ river. -- HS

Randy Kritzer

3:20pm: Chidwick out in 14thLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Stephen Chidwick was all the way down to on the subject of 250,000 and moved all in from under-the-gun. Action folded round to Toby Lewis's small blind and he called.

Chidwick: 8♠7♠Lewis: T♥T♣

The board ran 7♥Q♥4♠2♣6♥ and Lewis's tens took the pot.

Chidwick won $41,360 for his 14th place finish while Lewis chipped as much as 1.7 million. --AV

Toby Lewis -- 1,700,000Stephen Chidwick -- 14th

3:10pm: Eldridge takes a couple ofLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

David Eldridge won a few pots and crossed the two million mark.

In one hand, Eldridge raised to 65,000 from the button and Phillip McAllister called from the small blind while Tony Gregg did the similar from the large blind.

All three players checked the 7♥4♥T♦ flop and a T♥ came at the turn. McAllister bet 138,000, Gregg folded and Eldridge called.

An A♠ completed the board and McAllister bet 346,000. Eldridge thought for some time, counted out the chips and called.

"Good call," McAllister said and commenced mucking his hand even before Eldridge showed A♦5♣.

Then he took just a little more off McAllister and Timothy Ulmer.

Eldridge raised to 65,000 from the cutoff and both McAllister and Ulmer called from the button and massive blind.

Ulmer checked the 3♠J♦A♠ flop and Eldridge bet 83,000. McAllister folded, Ulmer called after which both players checked the 9♥ at the turn and T♣ at the river.

Ulmer showed 8♠5♠ and Eldridge took the pot with Q♣J♣. --AV

David Eldridge -- 2,100,000Timothy Ulmer -- 2,940,000Phillip McAllister -- 1,835,000

3pm: Chidwick well within the danger zoneLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

With Stephen Chidwick within the big blind, Phillip McAllister asked him how much he hand before opening, even if all other players were waiting to behave (Chidwick had "around 500,000"). Anthony Gregg was the primary person to call, everyone else got out of ways and Chidwick installed the additional 35,000.

Stephen Chidwick: Danger

The flop was the 9♥4♥Q♦ and it was checked all over the. 8♦ came at the turn and after Chidwick checked McAllister bet an 150,000. That was an excessive amount of for Gregg who got out of the way, but Chidwick wasn't budging. He made the call.

The river was another eight, the 8♣, and Chidwick checked all over again. Now the bet from McAllister was 355,000. Chidwick only had 290,000 behind, so it was enough to position him all in. He decided to live and fight in another hand and laid it down.

Phillip McAllister 2,420,000Stephen Chidwick 290,000 --JS

2:50pm: More mistimed aggression from PiresLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

The recent down-turn in events for Leonardo Pires has not curtailed his aggressive approach. But it surely just cost him another 400,000 chips, shipped to Vladimir Troyanovskiy.

The lone Russian player remaining within the field opened to 65,000 from under the gun and collected both Ken Demlakian and Randy Klitzer. But then Pires raised to 384,000 from the massive blind.

Troyanovskiy took a short time to weigh up his options and announced that he was all in, a complete of 1.5 million. The opposite two got out the way in which and so, eventually, did Pires. -- HS

2:50pm: Demlakian takes heaps from PiresLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

As spectacularly as Leonardo Pires accumulated his chips, he's now losing them. Ken Demlakian just took a load of them, bombing the turn and getting a fold.

It started with an open from Demlakian from early position, which Pires then made 162,000 from the cutoff. Demlakian called and so they saw a flop of 5♠6♥K♠. Demlakian checked, Pires bet 150,000, Demlakian raised to 360,000 after which Pires four-bet to 925,000. Demlakian called.

That took them to the T♣ at the turn and Demlakian bombed it, for 1.255 million. Pires only had 2.8 million in his own stack, and he finally thought best of it. He folded. -- HS

2:45pm: Pires flopping well, Waxman chopping betterLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

We aren't without action here today. The newest bit came with Matt Waxman staring elimination within the face and getting bailed out.

Mike Watson raised to 65,000 and got calls from Ken Demlakian, Leonard Pires, and Matt Waxman. The flop, 3♣4♦5♣ was an unpleasant little cooler. While Watson led for 125,000, he got out of how after Pires raised to 350,000 and Waxman moved all in. Good thing, too.

Pires: 7♥6♣Waxman: 6♥6♦

Matt Waxman: Good for a chop

Waxman looked ill, nevertheless it didn't last too long. The 7♣ and blank river made for a chopped pot. --BW

2:30pm: Barer stripped nakedLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Ami Barer is out, becoming the newest player to fall foul of Mike Watson's brilliant resurgence. There has been not much either could do about it: they got all of it in pre-flop--creating a 1.24 million pot--with Barer holding A♥K♥ and Watson with Q♣Q♠.

It toyed along with his emotions just a little when the flop came K♠7♦8♦, followed by a 6♠ at the turn. However the Q♥ swung it back towards Watson and sent Barer to the cage. -- HS

Ami Barer: Out-raced

2:25pm: Smallball, Chidwick shortLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Play is slowing down and payouts are becoming big.

Our final 15 players are guaranteed $41,360, but all of them have their eyes at the $833K grand prize.

It will be the single largest payout for lots of of our players, including Stephen Chidwick. Chidwick famously won 100 seats to the WSOP before he was sufficiently old to play and has greater than $4.3 million in live tournament earnings.

He's also the quick stack.

Chidwick's moved all-in once up to now but got no callers. Then Paul Gooley moved all-in from the small blind while Chidwick was within the big. Chidwick thought for a while and the television cameras came to look at the prospective fallout, but Chidwick folded.

Chidwick is now at 460,000.

The other players has been small-balling.

In one hand, Tony Gregg raised to 67,000 from middle position and Timothy Ulmer called from the hijack. Both players checked the [4]A♥5♥ flop and Gregg bet 100,000 when the 2♣ came at the turn.

A 4♠ came at the river and Gregg upped the bet to 242,000. Ulmer folded and Gregg raked within the pot.

Timothy Ulmer -- 2,900,000Tony Gregg -- 1,450,000Paul Gooley -- 980,000Stephen Chidwick -- 460,000

2:20pm: Demlakian got gameLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Another intriguing hand at the feature table when Matt Waxman led four players to a flop after raising to 60,000 from early position. They were Vladimir Troyanovskiy within the hijack, Ken Demlakian at the button and Randy Kritzer within the big blind.

The flop came 6♦4♠6♥ and Kritzer checked. Waxman bet 95,000 and all three players behind him called. Four method to a turn, which came 4♣.

After three players checked, Demlakian desired to play for more and bet 262,000 last to behave. Kritzman folded and Waxman too decided that he had seen enough. He folded, but Troyanovskiy called.

That took them to a Q♣ river and now they both checked. "YOU WERE GIVEN unlucky," Demlakian said, flipping over Q♠5♠ for a rivered pair of queens to compliment the sixes on board.

Ken Demlakian: Creative

Troyanovskiy showed his pocket tens and said, "How did you call flop?"

Demlakian muttered something about being creative, and on they went. -- HS

2:15pm: Pires running out of bombs, Watson new chip leaderLevel 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Folks, the person some are calling the Brazilian Jamie Gold, is not any longer the chip leader of the primary Event. After doubling up Mike Watson, Pires has just lost another pot, this time to Vladimir Troyanovskiy. Pires opened for 100,000 and Troyanovskiy called. At the T♦5♦K♠ flop, Pires led for 150,000, and Troyanovskiy called again.

Mike Watson: All of the chips

The dealer put out the J♣ at the turn, and for the primary time in an extended time, Pires backed off. Both he and Troyanovskiy checked.

That brought the Q♣ at the river. Pires aroused from sleep again and came out with a 350,000 bet. Troyanovskiy made it 750,000 to play, and Pires folded his bluff.

Pires is now right down to 3.8 million. Meanwhile, Mike Watson is the chip leader with 4.1 million.

2pm: Breaktime chipsLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Toby Lewis 2,062,000Paul Gooley 1,085,000Stephen Chidwick 443,000David Eldridge 1,580,000Phillip McAllister 2,350,000Anthony Gregg 1,324,000Timothy Ulmer 2,520,000

Ami Barer 606,000Matt Waxman 1,169,000Vladimir Troyanovskiy 1,656,000Mike Watson 3,668,000Vasken Demlakian 1,931,000Martin McCormick 1,065,000Randy Kritzer 1,669,000Leonardo Pires 4,588,000

1:55pm: Sir Double Up eyes Pires, chip leadLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Mike "SirWatts" Watson, fresh off one double up, now has another after picking off Leonard Pires in a 2.6 million-chip pot.

Watson held 7♣7♦ and opened for 50,000. He got three calls behind...Randy Krtizer, Ken Demlakian, and, indeed, Leonard Pires within the big blind.

Getting ready for the air raid, because that is where Pires starts making it rain.

He bombed 214,000 at the 2♦4♣6♠ flop (only Watson called), 500,000 at the 3♦ turn (Watson called again), after which put Watson all in for 1 million at the J♦ river.

Mike Watson: Decision

Watson had just doubled, but now he was having to make another decision to make a decision whether he stayed or went.

After an excellent long think, Watson called.

"Six," Pires said, and turned up K♥6♥...for the primary time today...no good.

Mike Watson: Success

Now that Watson has a stack, prepare for a poker game, folks. --BW

Leonardo Pires: 4,500,000Mike Watson: 2,600,000

1:50pm: Lewis takes oneLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Right before the break, Toby Lewis raised to 50,000 from the hijack and Paul Gooley re-raised to 130,000 from the cutoff.

Lewis called and both players checked the 7♠5♠3c] flop and a T♣ came at the turn. Lewis bet 250,000 and Gooley called. The river brought a 5♣ and another round of checks.

Toby Lewis: The last day-end chip leaders since Leonardo Pires took over

Lewis showed to red nines and Gooley mucked. --AV

Toby Lewis -- 1,800,000Paul Gooley -- 1,000,000

1:40pm: Fabian Chauriye out in 16thLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

That's all she wrote for Fabian Chauriye as he has just been out-raced and knocked out of the tournament.

It started with an open from David Eldridge to 55,000, which was closely followed by a three-bet from Phillip McAllister to 142,000. Chauriye moved all in for 449,000 total, which got Eldridge out of the pot but not McAllister, who called after soliciting for a count.

Phillip McAllister 7♠7♦Fabian Chauriye A♥K♣

The flop brought no help to the all-in player. It was the 9♦3♣4♦, after which the turn was another nine - the 9♠.

"Ace!" Chauriye called, his version of a "one time".

It wasn't to be though; the 9♥ completed the board and sent him to the rail, with $36,860 for his 16th place finish.

Phillip McAllister is as much as 2,500,000. --JS

1:40pm: Watson doublesLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Mike Watson has doubled his stack within the early stages of this two-table tournament. He got the utmost from Randy Kritzer along with his nut flush--holding A♠4♠ on a board of 8♠T♠9♦3♠A♦. Kritzer had flopped a collection of eights and couldn't allow them to go.

Watson moves as much as 1.4 million.

1:30pm: RedrawLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Here's how they're lining up for the following phase of play:

Outer table

Seat 1: Fabian Chauriye -- 488,000Seat 2: Toby Lewis -- 1,580,000Seat 3: Paul Gooley -- 923,000Seat 4: Stephen Chidwick -- 335,000Seat 5: David Eldridge -- 1,8250,000Seat 6: Phillip McAllister -- 2,093,000Seat 7: Tony Gregg -- 970,000Seat 8: Timothy Ulmer -- 2,550,000

Seat 1: Ami Barer -- 712,000Seat 2: Matthew Waxman -- 1,208,000Seat 3: Vladimir Troyanovskiy -- 1,554,000Seat 4: Mike Watson -- 811,000Seat 5: Vasken Demlakian -- 2,0800,000Seat 6: Martin McCormick -- 1,183,000Seat 7: Randy Kritzer -- 2,539,000Seat 8: Leonardo Pires -- 6,263,000

1:20pm: Pires eviscerates Ortiz, sails over 6 million markLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

There is not any stopping Leonardo Pires. When he do not have it, he has it. When it seems like he's bluffing, he has it. We haven't yet seen some extent today when he hasn't had it. Fabian Ortiz just learned that the hard way.

Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened what turned out to be an important pot for 55,000 from under the gun. Fabian Ortiz, still sore from giving up a large pot to Pires earlier, made the decision. Over at the button, Pires raised to 155,000. Troyanovskiy wasted little time folding, but Ortiz was not yet convinced.

He called to look the Q♦7♦8♣ flop, then checked over to Pires who bet 175,000. Ortiz, holding Q♣J♣ wasn't able to fold top pair. He'd already seen Pires take suited undercards all the way down to the river, and this was a draw-heavy flop.

The 5♥ came in at the turn, Ortiz checked, and Pires simply announced, "All in." Ortiz had 1.1 million in front of him, and he looked miserable about it.

Fabian Ortiz: What could he do?

Why would Pires overbet the pot by so much?

"You have diamonds?" Ortiz asked. Pires said nothing.

Ortiz just couldn't wrap his head around what was happening. He dropped a yellow 1,000 chip at the table, and he scrambled to retrieve it before someone thought he was calling.

Five minutes passed, after which a few minutes more, during all of which Ortiz struggled to determine what the hell was happening. At the beginning of the day, he was third in chips. Now he had a choice for his tournament life.

Finally, he put out calling chips and waited. This time, no surprise, Pires had it again with K♥K♦.

Leonardo Pires always has it

Ortiz stumbled away with a dealer to get paid, Pires shrugged.

"He had the queen," Pires said. "IT IS VERY hard to fold."

Ortiz finished in 17th for $36,860. Meanwhile, Pires has extended his chip lead again. --BW

Leonardo Pires: 6,258,000Fabian Ortiz: Eliminated

1:10pm: Scottish stare downLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

There are some amazing players who've pop out of Scotland. EPT winners Niall Farrell and David Vamplew spring to mind, as does the hyper-aggro UKIPT champ Ludovic Geilich.

But none of them have a stare down quite like Martin McCormick's.

Martin McCormick wants you!

It's commonplace to look McCormick up and out of his chair during pots, much to the chagrin of dealers everywhere. But on this hand something was different; McCormick was as quiet as a mouse.

Let's back up just a little. It started with an enormous open from McCormick - 125,000 to compliment the blinds still at 12,000-24,000. It posed a difficult decision for Ami Barer within the small blind. He clearly had something he desired to see a flop with, but was 125,000 an excessive amount of for a pre-flop investment?

As he considered it, McCormick stood over the table, his focus solely on Barer and nothing else. He even took his sunglasses off to get a greater view. After somewhere between three and five minutes, Barer eventually laid it down, as did Anthony Gregg within the big blind.

"Do you wish to have me to turn it?" McCormick asked. "It's as much as you.""Of course!" said Barer, and McCormick flipped over the A♥K♠.

That was one solid Scottish stare down. Definitely we'll be seeing it again.

Martin McCormick 980,000Ami Barer 613,000 --JS

1:05pm: Regrets, McCormick's had a fewLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

After just calling from his small blind when it was folded around to him, Martin McCormick waited to look what his new table neighbour Mike Watson would do within the big blind. The Canadian opted to test and we saw a flop of the 4♥4♠2♣. A cheeky check from McCormick led to a small 25,000 bet from Watson, just over one big blind.

"Gah. I must have raised," McCormick said as he gave his cards to the dealer, face down. --JS

1pm: UhhMee takes one from 810ofclubsLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

On a 5♥6♠5♣ T♣ board, Ami "UhhMee" Barer bet 47,000 into Toby "810oflcubs" Lewis who made the decision. Another ten landed at the river - the T♥ - and after Lewis checked the bet from Barer was a whopping 205,000. Lewis went into the tank for a fair couple of minutes before deciding to make the fold. --JS

12:50pm: Holz sent packing by DemlakianLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

It's demanding to push Fedor Holz around, but Ken Demlakian just put the WCOOP champion (and all round sensation) to a choice for his tournament--and got him to name off with a worse hand. That was the top of Holz's tournament.

No third title in as many weeks for Fedor Holz

Demlakian actually won two hands at the bounce against Holz, the primary when he managed to get some value with A♠2♣ on a board of 2♦K♠7♦3♥Q♠ (Demlakian bet the flop, but then checked through turn and river).

However, there has been significantly more at stake within the next hand, and Demlakian confused Holz out of the tournament.

Holz limped from the small blind and Demlakian checked his option. It took them to a flop of A♣T♠7♥. Holz bet 30,000 and Demlakian called, which took them to a 7♣ turn.

Holz checked this time, but Demlakian bet, making it 70,000 to play. He also offered Holz just a little chit-chat concerning the shirt being worn by the Australian today; it is a Germany football shirt. Holz called.

The 5♥ came at the river and after Holz checked again, Demlakian shipped for 1.5 million, comfortably covering Holz's last 248,000. "IT IS SO weird, you're confident and nervous on the same time," Holz said. "IT IS SO weird."

Holz also said that he would have a very easy decision here against another player, but he didn't know the way Demlakian played. Eventually Holz opted to pay to determine what Demlakian had and was quickly shown 9♣7♦.

Holz had got cute with pocket queens from the small blind, nevertheless it had cost him. He was sent packing by Demlakian. -- HS

12:45pm: Gooley incredulous, doubles through Chidwick with third pairLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

We're running around with our heads spinning here ("lot of action....lot...of...action"), so we picked this one up at the river. Taking a look at a board of 9♠Q♥7♣T♣7♥, Chidwick had put out enough to get Paul Gooley all-in for his last 510,000. With about half one million within the pot, Gooley had a call to make. His K♣9♦ was only good for third pair. Whatever happened within the early going made Gooley not believe. Though he considered it for nearly two minutes, he finally put out the decision to look Chidwick's bluff: 8♦5♦. --BW

Paul Gooley doubles

Gooley: 1,550,000Chidwick: 600,000

12:40pm: Leonardo Pires back at the riseLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Leonardo Pires's stack dipped slightly when he doubled up Vladimir Troyanovskiy, but he went back to winning large pots fairly quickly.

Losing just hasn't been his style this tournament.

Fabian Ortiz raised from the cutoff and Pires re-raised to 165,000 from the cutoff. Pires then bet 150,000 at the J♦2♠6♠ flop and Ortiz called. Both players checked when the K♠ came at the turn after which Pires bet 523,000 when a 5♦ fell at the river.

Ortiz thought for a while after which called. Pires turned over 4♠3♠ and Ortiz checked out his cards one last time before mucking. --AV

Leonardo Pires -- 4,800,000Fabian Ortiz -- 1,470,000

12:38pm: Paur eliminated in 19thLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

We've just lost Taylor Paur from the principle Event.

When it was folded around to him within the small blind, Paur open shoved for around 340,000 into Timothy Ulmer who snap-called.

Timothy Ulmer A♣Q♦Taylor Paur K♠5♣

Bad news for Taylor Paur

The flop was the K♦9♠A♥, pairing both players. The turn was the 4♦, changing nothing, and the river was the 6♣, ending the PCA Main Event for Paur. He'll collect $32,360 for his trouble.Timothy Ulmer now has 2,800,000. --JS

12:37pm: Paur talks him into itLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

"Damn! How did I talk him into folding?"

Those were the words of Taylor Paur after he was chatting away to Martin McCormick, big ignorant of small blind. McCormick is being aggressive as usual so Paur might need expected - and wanted - him to raise, but instead the Scot gave up his 12,000.

Paur showed pocket nines, a hand he clearly wanted some action with. --JS

12:36pm: You cannot make an End Boss nervousLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

Marty McCormick is constant to be the entertainer, and the aggressor. After Anthony Gregg made it 52,000 at the button, Toby Lewis folded his small blind and so it was over to McCormick within the big.

He wasted little time in sliding out a stack amounting to 300,000, and Gregg wasted no time in folding.

"Am I making you nervous?" McCormick asked Gregg.The answer was an easy "No".

Tony Gregg: Nobody makes him nervous

McCormick turned over his cards and showed the A♥7♥. --JS

12:35pm: Vladimir Troyanovskiy doubles againLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

One double up wasn't enough for Vladimir Troyanovskiy.

Troyanovskiy raised to 55,000 from under-the-gun and Leonardo Pires called from the button. The flop came 9♦7♠5♣ and Pires bet 107,000 after Troyanovskiy checked.

Troyanovskiy called and a 4♠ came at the turn. Troyanovskiy checked again and Pires bet 400,000. Troyanovskiy only had 466,000 behind and moved all in. Pires called and showed Q♦J♥ for queen-high while Troyanovskiy showed a collection of sevens with 7♣7♥.

No want to leave yet, Vladimir Troyanovskiy

The river brought a 3♦ and another double up for Troyanovskiy. --AV

Leonardo Pires -- 4,000,000Vladimir Troyanovskiy -- 1,200,000

12:30pm: McCormick will shove if everyone else does, tooLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Martin McCormick is able to get all of it in right now, but provided that everyone else at his table does as well.

"Has there ever been a prime event where everyone has gone all-in blind?" he asked. Taylor Paur figured not.

"Let's do it!" McCormick said.

Already a polarizing figure on this Main Event, McCormick is the wild one. Hehas had some drinks over the last few days. He has had some penalties. He has, by his own admission, eaten little and lost weight. He's having trouble keeping his trousers up.

And now he just desires to get all of it in, essentially flipping everyone on the table for the entire chips at the felt.

"For all of the chips at the table?" Paur said. "Yeah, I'd do it."

Tony Gregg, perhaps probably the most laid-back poker player in history, looked across the table.

"It's just like the 'Discuss a Deal' button on Stars," Gregg said. "It's two out of six right now.

McCormick doesn't quite understand the reactions people have needed to his antics so far, and Gregg was happy to supply some advice.

"Just cool it down," Gregg said."I think I'M being calm," McCormick protested. "Just me being me." -BW

12:25pm: Kritzer wins it at the flopLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Matters got interesting at the feature table when three players: Ken Demlakian, David Eldridge and Randy Kritzer got to a flop with no pre-flop raise. They saw the 2♥2♦6♣ fall and everybody seemed interested.

Kritzer bet 60,000; Demlakian called; Eldridge raised to 168,000; and Kritzer three-bet to 400,000. There then followed some verbal jostling, but two folds. -- HS

12:24pm: Vladimir Troyanovskiy outraces OrtizLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy will need to have received his shipment of alligator blood, because regardless of how low he gets in chips, he's found the way to stay alive. The newest version of this story has Pauly Gooley opening to 50,000 and Troyanovskiy shoving for 265,000. Fabian Ortiz sat at the button and just called. Gooley folded his open raise and it was off to the races.

Troyanovskiy: 9♣9♦Ortiz: A♠Q♠

Vladimir Troyanovskiy: Alligator blood

It was a fun board from starting to end, however the 7♠3♣6♦K♠4♦ runout doubled up the Russia. -- BW

Troyanovskiy--530,000Ortiz--2,100,000

12:21pm: Pires still stackingLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

It's tough being the chip leader isn't it? Especially in case you have to stack tons and a whole lot chips.

Leonardo Pires hasn't stopped stacking chips since he sat down - any bets as to when he'll finally have his chips (greater than 4,600,000) in a neat and tidy arrangement? --JS

12:20: Bad start for Troyanovskiy, Ortiz at the upLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000 - 24,000 (3,000 ante)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy started the day with 612,000 in chips, but after only some hands he's all the way down to lower than half that.

In a pot against the massive stack of Fabian Ortiz, Troyanovskiy called from the small blind after it was folded around to him, but Ortiz within the big blind raised it as much as 60,000. After Troyanovskiy called, the flop came the K♠Q♣8♠, which was checked over to Ortiz. He now made it 65,000 and got another call.

The 3♥ landed at the turn, and it was an identical story here. After Troyanovskiy checked, Ortiz slid out 83,000 and was looked up again, taking us to the 7♦ at the river. A LAST check from Troyanovskiy led to a 100,000 bet from Ortiz and Troyanovskiy made the decision. Ortiz turned over the K♣J♣ for high pair and that was enough to win him the pot.

Vladimir Troyanovskiy 286,000Fabian Ortiz 2,900,000 --JS

12:15pm: Holz moving chipsLevel 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Fedor Holz is probably the most active player on the feature table on the moment, twice committing all of his stack pre-flop and getting no callers. The primary time was a large raise from the small blind; the second one a shove from the button after Phillip McAllister limped the cutoff. Holz had 448,000 at that point, one of the crucial smaller stacks, but isn't prepared to play short. -- HS

11:10am: Day 5 able to go

It is Day 5 of the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event, and the race for the overall table is entering its latest stages. There are 19 players left, but only eight seats on the final. Furthermore, only six might be invited back tomorrow.

Before anything gets under way, let's look at today's table draw:

(Table, seat, name, country, chips)

1 1 Phillip McAllister UK 21520001 2 Fedor Holz Germany 4530001 4 Mike Watson Canada 9520001 5 Ken Demlakian Australia 13940001 6 Matthew Waxman USA 12280001 7 David Eldridge USA 21000001 8 Randy Kritzer USA 2385000

2 1 Tony Gregg USA 10910002 3 Toby Lewis UK 13960002 4 Martin McCormick UK 10120002 6 Taylor Paur USA 4000002 7 Timothy Ulmer USA 22000002 8 Ami Barer Canada 679000

3 1 Stephen Chidwick UK 14280003 2 Paul Gooley Australia 7050003 3 Vladimir Troyanovskiy Russia 6120003 5 Fabian Ortiz Argentina 23090003 7 Fabian Chauriye Chile 5130003 8 Leonardo Pires Brazil 4566000

Next year, it usually is you! Click here to get a PokerStars account so that you can qualify.

Take a glance on the official website of the PCA, with tournament schedule, videos, news, blogs and accommodation details for the Atlantis Resort within the Bahamas.

Also the entire schedule information is at the EPT App, that is available on both Android or IOS.

PokerStars Blog reporting team at the $5,000 Main Event: Jack Stanton, Howard Swains, Alex Villegas and Brad Willis. Photos by Joe Giron and Neil Stoddart. For more photos from this event by Joe Giron visit Poker Photo Archive.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: PokerStars Caribbean Adventure]