Level 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000/10,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,580,000

Like the level before it, no players were eliminated in Level 30. Jonathan Karamalikis and Omar Zazay both picked up pots before the blinds went up with Bob Bounahra and Brett Apter paying the price.

Apter opened to 160,000 in the small blind and Zazay called in the big blind. Apter led for 170,000 on the 9♥7♥2♦ flop and Zazay called. Apter bet 280,000 more on the Q♥ turn and Zazay shoved for 910,000 total. It didn’t take long for Apter to release and Zazay took in the pot.

Bounahra opened to 150,000 in middle position and Karamalikis three-bet to 475,000 on the button. Bounahra checked the A♦10♥5♠ flop and Karamalikis bet 400,000. Bounahra called and they checked the 10♣ turn along with the 3♥ river. Karamalikis’s A♠J♦ was enough to take the pot and he is over 6,000,000.

With the blinds up, there are now six players under 20 big blinds as every decision becomes that much more crucial.

1. Georgios Karakousis – 1,430,000
2. Javier Zarco – 5,365,000
3. Bob Bounahra – 1,500,000
4. Brett Apter – 1,275,000
5. Omar Zazay – 1,775,000
6. Jonathan Karamalikis – 6,240,000
7. Tanveer Dhanjal – 1,225,000
8. Boris Kolev – 1,175,000

Level 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000/10,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,580,000

Jonathan Karamalikis is the new chip leader and playing 5,200,000 at the Event 67 final table.

Play has slowed to a crawl in Level 30. Nearly all pots have been taken down preflop during this level and there have been no showdowns in the last few orbits. Although the action has been primarily small, that doesn’t mean that chips aren’t moving. Jonathan Karamalikis has taken the chip lead over Javier Zarco with a three-bet pot against Georgios Karakousis putting him over that hump.

Karakousis opened to 200,000 under the gun and Karamalikis three-bet to 450,000 on the button. Karakousis called and checked the 9♥8♦4♠ flop. Karamalikis bet 400,000 and that was enough to take down the pot.

Javier Zarco is still doing well with 4,900,000 but Karamalikis’s 5,200,000 currently leads. Karakousis is down to 1,600,000 and in need of a chip resurgence.

Level 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000/10,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,580,000

The short stack to start the level, Boris Kolev has done his part to chip up by using what fold equity he had left to get his opponents to lay down their hands.

The first time, Kolev open-shoved for 1,010,000 and got no takers. Twice, Kolev shoved over the top of an open, one from Brett Apter and another by Jonathan Karamalikis. Both times, they folded after getting a count and as a result, Kolev playing 1,500,000 and has a little bit more breathing room.

Omar Zazay and Tanveer Dhanjal are each playing a stack of similar size to Kolev’s halfway through Level 30.

Level 30
Blinds: 40,000/80,000/10,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,580,000

As the blinds continue to go up without any players being eliminated, chips become all the more of a commodity and Javier Zarco’s  chip lead is being tested after losing a pot to Jonathan Karamalikis.

Karamalikis opened to 175,000 under the gun and Zarco called in the cutoff. Karamalikis bet 225,000 on the K♣8♥3♥ flop and Zarco called. The two players checked the 6♣ turn and Karamalikis fired 385,000 on the 5♥ river. Zarco called and Karamalikis turned over top pair K♠Q♦.

Zarco is down to 4,900,000 and Karamalikis is at his final table peak with 4,000,000.

Level 29
Blinds: 30,000/60,000/10,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,580,000

Omar Zazay caught a double through Brett Apter in the middle of Level 29 and then managed to take down a few more small pots before catching a relatively major one against Tanveer Dhanjal.

Zazay opened the cutoff to 130,000 and Dhanjal three-bet the small blind to 320,000. Zazay called and both players checked the A♣Q♥10♣ flop. They eyed each other down and checked the 3♠ turn and Dhanjal checked the 5♥ river. Zazay bet 295,000 and Dhanjal paid to see Zazay show his turned set 3♦3♥. Dhanjal flashed A♠8♣ and Zazay took in the pot.

Dhanjal is now second-to-last in chips, just a few chips ahead of Boris Kolev. The blinds are about to go up and the updated counts are below.

1. Georgios Karakousis – 2,350,000
2. Javier Zarco – 5,900,000
3. Bob Bounahra – 3,100,000
4. Brett Apter – 2,100,000
5. Omar Zazay – 1,600,000
6. Jonathan Karamalikis – 3,250,000
7. Tanveer Dhanjal – 1,200,000
8. Boris Kolev – 900,000

Level 29
Blinds: 30,000/60,000/10,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,580,000

The post-flop play that has been the theme of the Event 67 final table continues with Brett Apter and Javier Zarco both increasing their stacks with the value received from their big blind hands.

Boris Kolev limped in on the button and Georgios Karakousis completed the small blind. Zarco checked his option and the K♣5♠2♣ flop checked to Kolev. He bet 170,000 and only Zarco called. The two players checked the 5♣ turn and Zarco went a step up with 430,000 on the river. Kolev gave it a think and called. Zarco showed A♣2♠ and took in the pot. He is playing 5,550,000 and Kolev is down to just 1,200,000.

Tanveer Dhanjal opened to 145,000 in early position and Apter defended his big blind. Apter check-called a 150,000 bet on the 8♣6♠4♦ flop and then bet 325,000 on the 4♠ turn. Dhanjal called and Apter bet 550,000 more on the 10♣ river. Dhanjal called and Apter showed him 9♠7♠ for a straight. Dhanjal stared up at the ceiling and watched his stack drop to 1,400,000.

Apter gave a few chips back the next hand by doubling up Omar Zazay but is at his final table peak with 3,000,000.

Level 29
Blinds: 30,000/60,000/10,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,580,000

Two players were sent out during the first level of final table play and the blinds are now up. The average stack remains above 40 big blinds and that has been reflected in the size of non-all-in pots.

Javier Zarco is still the chip leader but is off his pace from post-dinner break play. The biggest move in the last few levels is Bob Bounahra, who is pushing upwards toward 3,000,000. Omar Zazay is the only player in immediate danger with less than 10 big blinds in front of him. Zazay has been short for a few levels now and it will be interesting to see just how much longer he can remain patient. A look at the updated counts is below.

1. Georgios Karakousis – 2,340,000
2. Javier Zarco – 4,400,000
3. Bob Bounahra – 2,950,000
4. Brett Apter – 1,490,000
5. Omar Zazay – 550,000
6. Jonathan Karamalikis – 3,350,000
7. Tanveer Dhanjal – 2,220,000
8. Boris Kolev – 1,815,000

Level 28
Blinds: 25,000/50,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,580,000

Jonathan Karamalikis

Jonathan Karamalikis has gone from under 1,300,000 to second in chips in just two hands. First, he doubled through Georgios Karakousis and then he busted out Jamie Rosen.

Karakousis came in for 100,000 from early position and Omar Zazay along with Karamalikis called from the blinds. The K♥10♠9♠ flop checked to Karakousis and he bet 100,000. Only Karamalikis called and the 9♥ hit the turn. Karamalikis checked and Karakousis bet 300,000. Karamalikis moved all-in for 860,000 and Karakousis called.

Karamalikis’s trips 9♣8♣ had the K♠Q♥ of Karakousis in bad shape and a blank on the river sealed up the pot. Karakousis falls to 2,900,000.

The next hand, Rosen shoved for about 950,000 from middle position with 10♦10♠ and Karamalikis called with J♣J♠. The A♣9♦3♣6♣3♠ board worked for Karamalikis to send Rosen to the rail.

He is now second in chips with 3,500,000 while Rosen, the former poker pro turned entrepreneur, earns his first cash in three years.