Welcome back to more exciting coverage of the $25,000 WPT World Championship Event at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Day 6 started out with 10 players left, and the plan was to play down to the final six players. Day 7 is going to be broadcast on television with the six remaining players. For this reason, the Fontana Lounge has been closed down while the stage is set up; play is taking place in the Bellagio poker room. Action for the day will start at Level 22 with 15,000/30,000 blinds and 4,000 ante.
The day started out a lot slower than play on Day 5 which ended after only 4 ½ hours. After the first break Cliff Josephy was the only one to leave the final table. When play got down to the final 9, John O’Shea was the chip leader with 4,100,000, and Phil Hellmuth was the short stack with a mere 508,000.
Nikolay Evdakov would be the 9th place finisher taking home $75,252 in winnings. John O’Shea raised under the gun to 110,000 and Phil Hellmuth called from the small blind. Nikolay Evadkov made an unexpected all in move from the big blind for his remaining 55,000. Both Hellmuth and O’Shea made the call. The side pot was checked down as the board ran 8c 8s 3h As Js. On the river, Hellmuth bet 150,000 to which O’Shea folded. Hellmuth showed Ks 4s for a rivered flush, and Evdakov turned over a Qh 2h.
Scotty Nguyen was the next player to go. After seven hours of play, Scotty Nguyen raised from middle position to 260,000 and David Benyamine made the call from the big blind. The board came out Jh Td 6d both players checks. When the 8h came on the turn Benyamine bet 350,000. Nguyen raised to 1,150,000 and Benyamine tanked before moving all in. Nguyen was at risk for his tournament life, and eventually made the call. Nguyen flipped over 8c 8d for a set, but Benyamine had a higher set of 10’s. The river bricked knocking Nguyen out in 8th place. He took home $105,823 in tournament winnings.
Phil Hellmuth would be the television bubble boy taking home $152,856 for a 7th place finish. He was a short stack with 505,000 in chips and moved all in under the gun. David Williams called from the button. Hellmuth showed Ks Td against Williams’ Ad Js. The board came 8c 7h 6s 6d 7s to knock Hellmuth out.
Tomorrow will be the televised table with the top six contenders. David Benyamine will be the chip leader going into Day 7 with 4,705,000. John O’Shea is the short stack with 1,200,000 in chips.
Scotty Nguyen & Phil Helmuth
