Steven Merrifield made it 52,000 to go from middle position and the action folded around the Andy Frankenberger in the small blind. Frankenberger put in a three-bet, making it 150,000. Merrifield made the call and the two players were off to a flop.
The flop fell and Frankenberger continued out for 200,000. Merrifield went into the tank for about three minutes before finally mucking his cards and allowing Frankenberger to scoop the pot. Frankenberger is now sitting with around 1,900,000 in chips.
Tyler Kenney opened to 55,000 from middle position, and was called by Steve Merrifield on his left, and Andy Frankenberger in the big blind. The dealer fanned , Frankenberger checked, and Kenney continued for 93,000. Only Merrifield called.
The turn was the , and Kenney led out for 215,000. Merrifield folded, and Kenney took down the pot.
Andy Frankenberger opened to 65,000, Robert Shortway called in position, and the flop came down . Both players checked.
The turn was the , and Frankenberger led out with a 75,000-chip bet. Shortway quickly called.
The river was the , Frankenberger checked, and Shortway tossed out 75,000. Frankenberger immediately called, and mucked when Shortway opened for a rivered pair of queens.
Bret Hruby was the first one to enter the pot, moving all in for 356,000. Action folded around to Steven Merrifield who moved all in over the top but received no callers.
Merrifield:
Hruby:
The board came and Hruby was sent home in 9th place as the first victim of this final table.
Robert Shortway opened to 75,000, Steve Merrifield three-bet to 160,000, and the action folded back to Shortway who moved all in for 1.072 million. Merrifield snapped it off.
Indeed, Merrifield could chop with running straight cards, but the on the turn ended that dream. Only a king would do the trick, but the river was a meaningless . Shortway shipped a massive double, while Merrifield is still comfortably over a million in chips.
Steve Merrifield opened to 45,000 and Andy Frankenberger called on the button. The flop fell , and Merrifield led out for 75,000. Frankenberger raised to 164,000, Merrifield called, and the turn brought the .
Merrifield slowed down, check-calling 150,000 from Frankenberger, and the river was the . Both players checked.
Merrifield opened for a pair of eights, but Frankenberger tabled for a pair of jacks and shipped the pot.
After a flurry of eliminations within a short span of time, the field has been reduced to our final nine. Players were sent on an early dinner break and will return to play on the ESPN Main Stage at 8:30 PST.
Geoffrey Lay moved all in preflop holding and was in great shape against Owen Crowe's . Unfortunately for Lay, the flop fell and Crowe rocketed into the lead. The hit the turn, giving Crowe a set of tens. The river came and Geoffrey Lay was sent to the rail.
![[user196676]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and Frankenberger continued out for 200,000. Merrifield went into the tank for about three minutes before finally mucking his cards and allowing Frankenberger to scoop the pot. Frankenberger is now sitting with around 1,900,000 in chips.
, Frankenberger checked, and Kenney continued for 93,000. Only Merrifield called.
, and Kenney led out for 215,000. Merrifield folded, and Kenney took down the pot.
. Both players checked.
, and Frankenberger led out with a 75,000-chip bet. Shortway quickly called.
, Frankenberger checked, and Shortway tossed out 75,000. Frankenberger immediately called, and mucked when Shortway opened 
for a rivered pair of queens.
.
on the turn ended that dream. Only a king would do the trick, but the river was a meaningless 
. Shortway shipped a massive double, while Merrifield is still comfortably over a million in chips.
.
for a pair of eights, but Frankenberger tabled 
for a pair of jacks and shipped the pot.
and Crowe rocketed into the lead. The 
and Geoffrey Lay was sent to the rail.