Event 18: $600 No-Limit Hold’em $200,000 Guarantee 

Level 27
Blinds: 25,000-50,000 w/5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5

Marcelo Drumm

Jason Thalas’s control of the chip lead is no more as Marcelo Drumm has wrested that spot away. Drumm has surged thanks to a few big hands in recent levels and just took down another important pot, this time, against Patrick Beirne.

Drumm opened to 125,000 in the cutoff and Beirne defended his big blind. On the ensuing 10♥6♣5♣J♦10♣ run out, Beirne check-called for 150,000, 200,000, and 300,000. Once the final bet was called, Drumm turned over J♣J♥ for a turned full house. Beirne flashed Q♣Q♦ and is now down to 1,400,000.

Drumm is playing 3,200,000 and is about 700,000 ahead of Thalas.

Event 18: $600 No-Limit Hold’em $200,000 Guarantee 

Level 26
Blinds: 20,000-40,000 w/5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5

Daniel Perkins

Patrick Beirne has made the final table a good chunk of money in the last few minutes as he just notched his second elimination of the orbit with Daniel Perkins now heading to the payout cage.

Perkins moved all-in for 240,000 from under the gun and Beirne called out of the big blind. Perkins trailed with K♠J♣ against the A♠J♥ of Beirne and took his leave once the board ran out dry. Beirne is nearing the chip leaders and playing 1,900,000. Jason Thalas and Marcelo Drumm are neck-and-neck with each player having about 2,500,000.

Event 18: $600 No-Limit Hold’em $200,000 Guarantee 

Level 25
Blinds: 15,000-30,000 w/5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8

Marcelo Drumm

Marcelo Drumm was treading water for the earlier portion of the final table but is now second in chips thanks to a double through Will Givens.

Picking up the action on a board of 7♠5♥4♠Q♦, Givens bet 215,000 into a pot of about 300,000 out of the big blind and Drumm called from early position.

Givens put Drumm to the test on the K♣ river for all of Drumm’s chips. Drumm double-checked his cards and slid in his last 655,000, turning over A♦A♥. Givens said a resigned “nice hand” as he showed 10♦7♦. Givens is playing 450,000 and suddenly in danger of being the next player eliminated.

Event 18: $600 No-Limit Hold’em $200,000 Guarantee 

Level 25
Blinds: 15,000-30,000 w/5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8

Keanu Tabali

The start of the final table was not kind to Keanu Tabali as he chipped down to under 250,000. That trend has officially been reversed as Tabali managed to triple up and give himself some breathing room.

Marcelo Drumm opened to 75,000 in the hijack and Tabali three-bet all-in for 225,000. Jason Thalas called from the big blind and Drumm came along. Drumm and Thalas checked down the A♥9♥2♥5♣A♣ board, leaving Tabali to turn over A♦K♣ Thalas showed 3♦3♥ for a pair that missed its draws and Drumm revealed 7♣7♥ for a better flush draw.

Tabali managed to fade the board and is no long the short stack as that distinction falls to Daniel Perkins, who is under 400,000.

Event 18: $600 No-Limit Hold’em $200,000 Guarantee 

Level 25
Blinds: 15,000-30,000 w/5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8

Jason Thalas

Jason Thalas started Day 2 as the chip leader with over 750,000 and was playing a little over that total when the final table began. Thalas is now sitting behind 2,400,000 and in control of about 25 percent of the chips in play thanks to a big pot won against Will Givens and Patrick Beirne.

Givens opened for 60,000 in early position and Thalas called on his direct left. Beirne joined in from the big blind and the flop came down K♣10♠7♣. Beirne led for 110,000 and Givens raised the action to 270,000. With the bets in front of him, Thalas put in a raise of his own to 500,000.

Both Beirne and Givens took their time to fold, giving Thalas the pot. Beirne and Givens are each playing about 1,400,000 and will be looking to regain their lost chips.

Event 18: $600 No-Limit Hold’em $200,000 Guarantee 

Level 25
Blinds: 15,000-30,000 w/5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8

Robert Banto

Robert Banto took a major hit at the start of the Event 18 final table and the new set of blinds did not do him any favors in rebuilding his short stack. Banto’s downfall was finished off by Will Givens, who is still the chip leader.

Givens opened for 75,000 in early position and Banto moved all-in for 120,000 on the button. Once action folded back to him, Givens dropped in a call to put Banto at risk.

Banto’s A♠8♠ had work to do against the A♦J♣ of Givens. The J♦10♠3♦ flop did not help but Banto but the K♥ turn did put a few chop outs in play. The K♣ river was the wrong broadway card and Banto earns eighth place. Givens is nearing 2,000,000 and closing in on improving his fifth place finish in Event 12.