Level 28
Blinds: 25,000/50,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 9
Average Stack: 2,295,000

Muhammad Rahim

One of a few stack below 1,000,000, Muhammad Rahim could have played the waiting game and try to ladder a few spots but instead, he risked his tournament life.

Rahim shoved the small blind for 800,000 with A♥7♥ and Bob Bounahra was there waiting for him with A♠J♠. The Q♥10♠5♥ flop gave Rahim a flush draw but the 4♣ turn and J♣ river did not improve him further.

Rahim earns over $46,000 for his finish and Bounahra chips up to 2,350,000. The whole final table is now $10,000 richer with the pay jump.

Level 28
Blinds: 25,000/50,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 2,065,000

About 1,000,000 behind Georgios Karakousis to start the final table, Javier Zarco is now near even with the chip leader after taking down a multi-way pot.

Zarco opened to 110,000 under the gun and Jamie Rosen called on his direct left. Boris Kolev called on the button and the flop came out A♠8♠7♣. Zarco and Rosen checked to Kolev, and he bet 145,000. Zarco asked Kolev how much he had behind and when Kolev responded, Zarco raised to 485,000. Rosen and Kolev got out of the way and Zarco took the pot.

He is just over 4,000,000 and Kolev takes a small hit to 1,950,000. Karakousis is slightly ahead with 4,100,000.

Level 27
Blinds: 20,000/40,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 2,065,000

It only took a few hands for things to officially get started at the Event 67 final table as Tanveer Dhanjal shipped a double up through Jamie Rosen.

Georgios Karakousis opened under the gun to 100,000 and Rosen called in early position. Action folded to Dhanjal, who moved all-in for 1,300,000 out of the small blind. Karakousis folded and Rosen called to put a 2,800,000 pot up for grabs.

Rosen’s 10♦10♥ led the A♣Q♣ of Dhanjal but the K♠Q♠Q♥ flop put Dhanjal ahead. The remaining board was full of bricks and Dhanjal scooped the pot. Rosen falls to 1,700,000 and is now in the middle of the pack.

The final table is now on dinner break and play will resume at 8:30 pm.

Level 27
Blinds: 20,000/40,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 2,065,000

An amazing day of poker has led to the final table of Event 67. All who have reached this place in a stacked field certainly earned it and are now only nine players away from the $610,000 first place prize. Georgios Karakousis leads the final table with 4,650,000 but has the large stacks of Javier Zarco and Jamie Rosen on his direct left.

The final table is scheduled to play until completion and the Venetian Poker Room blog will be here to capture all the action. A look at the final table draw, chip counts, and payouts are below.

1. Georgios Karakousis – 4,650,000
2. Javier Zarco – 3,640,000
3. Jamie Rosen – 3,145,000
4. Muhammad Rahim – 800,000
5. Bob Bounahra – 1,300,000
6. Brett Apter – 1,125,000
7. Omar Zazay – 825,000
8. Jonathan Karamalikis – 1,240,000
9. Tanveer Dhanjal – 1,340,000
10. Boris Kolev – 2,500,000

Level 27
Blinds: 20,000/40,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 2,065,000

Miguel Riera

Miguel Riera quietly chipped his way up on Day 3 and managed to avoid major confrontations but got quite unlucky in a spot with the final table on the line against countryman Javier Zarco.

Riera raised the cutoff to 85,000 and Zarco three-bet to 325,000 from the small blind. Riera went all-in for 1,305,000 and Zarco called with A♦Q♥. Riera’s K♣K♥ was ahead but an ace on the flop put Zarco ahead. Zarco hit running aces for quads and Riera is out just shy of the final table.

The final 10 are drawing for seats and the updated counts/assignments will be posted shortly.

Event 67: $3,500 No-Limit Hold’em $3,000,000 Guarantee 

Level 27
Blinds: 20,000/40,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 11
Average Stack: 1,875,000

In the most dramatic all-in of the day, Ubaid Habib is out in 12th place and Jamie Rosen is the new chip leader in Event 67.

Habib opened to 90,000 and Muhammad Rahim called on the button. Rosen three-bet to 345,000 out of the big blind and Habib responded by moving all-in for 1,125,000. Rahim mucked and Rosen called right away with A♦A♠. Habib’s 5♥5♠ were in trouble but the Q♥5♣2♦ flop put him in the lead.

Rosen was shaking his head until the A♥ turn came to leave Habib doing a “surrender cobra.” Needing the case five, Habib did not hit and Rosen shipped the huge pot. He is the chip leader on the final table bubble with 3,500,000.

Event 67: $3,500 No-Limit Hold’em $3,000,000 Guarantee 

Level 27
Blinds: 20,000/40,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 12
Average Stack: 1,720,000

Elizabeth Provan had a lot to overcome after doubling up two opponents but was done in at the start of the new level by Ubaid Habib.

Habib shoved the button for about 700,000 with A♦K♣ and Provan called all-in out of the big blind with J♠9♠. An ace hit the flop and Provan was heading to the payout desk shortly after. With her elimination, Javier Zarco has been moved to balance the two tables. The updated draw and chip counts for six-handed play are below.

1. Omar Zazay – 760,000
2. Brett Apter – 950,000
3. Boris Kolev – 2,050,000
4. Jonathan Karamalikis – 1,210,000
5. Tanveer Dhanjal – 1,450,000
6. Bob Bounahra – 1,600,000

1. Muhammad Rahim – 1,300,000
2. Miguel Riera – 1,705,000
3. Jamie Rosen – 2,050,000
4. Javier Zarco – 2,550,000
5. Ubaid Habib – 1,100,000
6. Georgios Karakousis – 2,600,000

Event 67: $3,500 No-Limit Hold’em $3,000,000 Guarantee 

Level 27
Blinds: 20,000/40,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 13
Average Stack: 1,590,000

Once the chip leader just a short while ago, Elizabeth Provan is now the shortest stack left in Event 67. In almost consecutive hands, Muhammad Rahim and Miguel Riera doubled through Provan to boost their tournament hopes while lessening hers.

First, Rahim opened under the gun and Provan shoved from the big blind. Rahim called off with K♣Q♦ and trailed the A♣10♠ of Provan. The 10♣7♣2♣ flop increased Provan’s lead and she let out a “yes!” when the A♠ came on the turn. Drawing to only a jack, Rahim hit it on the J♥ river to double up.

Provan then opened the button to 100,000 with A♦J♠ and Riera shoved for 740,000 in the big blind with 8♦8♥. The board was all good for Riera and he celebrated with his Spanish rail. Provan is down to 300,000 and in need of a double up of her own.

Event 67: $3,500 No-Limit Hold’em $3,000,000 Guarantee 

Level 26
Blinds: 15,000/30,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 13
Average Stack: 1,590,000

Boris Kolev (L) put Brett Apter (R) to the test and ended up picking up a 2,000,000 chip pot without a showdown. 

The barrage of all-ins from earlier in Level 26 has subsided. The chip average of nearly 60 big blinds and huge money implications are certainly playing a role in the action slowing down but over on Table 17, Boris Kolev and Brett Apter playing a 2,000,000 chip pot with Kolev getting the better of Apter.

Jonathan Karamalikis opened under the gun and Omar Zazay called on the button. Apter called in the small blind and Kolev came in from the big. Apter led for 150,000 on the J♠10♠9♥ flop and only Kolev came along.

Apter checked the 5♠ turn and Kolev bet 445,000. Apter thought for two minutes and then called to the Q♥ river. Apter checked again and Kolev went all-in for 925,000. Apter had 1,060,000 and to call would be for most of his stack. After thinking it over for three minutes, Apter folded and Kolev scooped the pot.

Kolev is playing 2,150,000 and chipping up at the right time. Apter is going to be down to 25 big blinds with the level soon to go up and has plenty to think about after making such a huge fold.

Event 67: $3,500 No-Limit Hold’em $3,000,000 Guarantee 

Level 26
Blinds: 15,000/30,000/5,000
Total Entrants: 1,032
Players Remaining: 13
Average Stack: 1,590,000

Jamie Rosen was almost out but is now near the top of the leaderboard with 13 players remaining. 

Jamie Rosen had one foot out the door once the final two tables were reached but is now over 2,400,000 thanks to his elimination of Dong Je.

Rosen opened to 70,000 in the hijack and Je three-bet to 210,000 in the cutoff. Rosen moved all-in and Je called with A♠J♠. Rosen was ahead with A♣K♥. The K♣9♣5♣ flop left Je drawing as thin as could be and a club on the turn locked up the pot.

On the other table, Zazay was all-in for 295,000 over the top of an open to 70,000 from Bob Bounahra. Bounahra called with A♣5♣, trailing the A♠Q♣ of Zazay. The board was clean for Zazay and he escaps temporary danger. Bounahra takes a hit down to 1,950,000.

Zazay (650,000) and Ubaid Habib (500,000) are the two current short stacks.