Phil Hellmuth Leader of the Pack

Level 18: 2,500-5,000, 500 ante

Shooting Star Phil Hellmuth vs. Dan Gamon

Level 17: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

Shooting Star Phil Hellmuth raises from the button to 9,000, Dan Gamon reraises from the small blind to 24,000, and Hellmuth calls. The flop comes J105, Gamon checks, Hellmuth bets 20,000, and Gamon calls. The turn card is the Q, Gamon checks, Hellmuth bets 15,000 (yes, less than the flop bet), and Gamon calls.

The river card is the 5, Gamon bets 60,000, and Hellmuth calls. Gamon shows A-A for an over pair, but Hellmuth shows 75 to win the pot with trip fives on the river.
Phil Hellmuth  -  1,300,000
Dan Gamon  -  170,000

Timothy McDermott Eliminated in 16th Place ($23,400)

Level 17: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

Remember the hands earlier today where Phil Hellmuth would come in for a raise, only to have Timothy McDermott move all in over the top of him? Hellmuth folded each time, but said he was waiting to make his move.

Why bring this up now?

Timothy McDermott raises from the cutoff to 10,500, and Shooting Star Phil Hellmuth looks at his cards and says, "Kid, I think I better raise you this time. I'm all in."

McDermott thinks for a bit, and Hellmuth says, "Let's see if you know when to fold." McDermott thinks a little longer, and he eventually calls with 1010. But Hellmuth dominates him with QQ.

Oops. Probably should've folded.

The board comes 633A8, and the pocket queens hold up for Hellmuth to win the pot and eliminate his nemesis of the day, Timothy McDermott.

Phil Hellmuth  -  1,270,000
Timothy McDermott  -  Out in 16th Place ($23,400)

Lars Elmoe Eliminated in 17th Place ($23,400)

Level 17: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

After a flop of 1052, Lars Elmoe moves all in, and Shooting Star Phil Hellmuth snap-calls with K10 for a pair of tens. Elmoe shows Q10 for a pair of tens with a lower kicker, and he'll need to improve to stay alive.

The turn is the J, the river is the 4, and Phil Hellmuth wins the pot with his king kicker to eliminate Lars Elmoe from the tournament. 

Phil Hellmuth  -  1,150,000
Lars Elmoe  -  Out in 17th Place ($23,400)

Shooting Star vs. Shooting Star: Phil Hellmuth vs. Scotty Nguyen

Level 17: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

Shooting Star Scotty Nguyen raises from middle position to 14,000, and Shooting Star Phil Hellmuth calls from the big blind. The flop comes A-7-2, Hellmuth checks, Nguyen bets 19,000, and Hellmuth calls. The turn card pairs the board with another 7, and both players check. 

The river card is a king (no flush possibilities on the board), Hellmuth bets 23,000, and Nguyen folds Q-Q face up. Phil Hellmuth takes the pot. 

Phil Hellmuth  -  1,125,000
Scotty Nguyen  -  180,000

Phil Hellmuth vs. Lars Elmoe

Level 17: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

Lars Elmoe raises from the cutoff to 11,000, and Shooting Star Phil Hellmuth calls from the small blind. Both players check to the turn on a board of AJ27, Hellmuth bets 11,000, and Elmoe calls. 

Hellmuth bets 17,000 in the dark, putting the chips out as the river card is placed on the board -- it's the 4. Elmoe calls with KK, but Hellmuth shows A5 to win the pot with a pair of aces. 

Phil Hellmuth  -  1,015,000
Lars Elmoe  -  115,000

Hellmuth is the first player to cross the million-chip mark, at a time when the other big stacks have lost chips. Hellmuth has a huge lead over the field at the moment, with everyone else below 700,000 in chips.

Jonathan Tamayo Eliminated in 21st Place ($20,500)

Level 17: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

Shooting Star Phil Hellmuth raises under the gun, Jonathan Tamayo moves all in from the big blind for 59,500 more, and Hellmuth calls with KJ. Tamayo shows A9, and he'll need it to hold to stay alive.

The board comes Q106K5, and Hellmuth pairs his king on the turn to win the pot, eliminating Jonathan Tamayo from the tournament. 

Phil Hellmuth  -  930,000
Jonathan Tamayo  -  Out in 21st Place ($20,500)

Hellmuth has once again caught up with Hasan Habib to be neck-and-neck for the tournament chip lead.

Jonathan Little Eliminated in 22nd Place ($20,500)

Level 16: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

With the final board showing K105KQ on the river, Phil Hellmuth bets 50,000, Jonathan Little moves all in, and Hellmuth immediately calls with KQ for top full house, kings full of queens. Little shows A-J for an ace-high straight on the river, and Hellmuth wins the pot. 

Jonathan Little is eliminated in 22nd place, while Hellmuth moves back into a tie for the chip lead with Hasan Habib.

Phil Hellmuth  -  800,000
Jonathan Little  -  Out in 22nd Place ($20,500)

Phil Hellmuth: "I had the six of spades. That's the key to the whole hand."

Level 16: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

After a flop of 763, Faraz Jaka checks from the small blind, Timothy McDermott bets 6,500 from the big blind, Phil Hellmuth calls from the button, and Jaka check-raises to 27,000.

McDermott moves all in for 89,500, and Hellmuth says, "What did I get myself into here? Wow. Wow. Wow." Eventually, Hellmuth and Jaka both fold, and McDermott takes the pot.

After the hand, Hellmuth says, "Son, I flopped two pair." McDermott asks, "Three-six?"

Hellmuth confirms those were his cards, and then adds, "I had the six of spades. That's the key to the whole hand."

Timothy McDermott  -  130,000
Phil Hellmuth  -  550,000
Faraz Jaka  -  150,000

Phil Hellmuth Is Working On His Mathematical Game

Level 16: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

Phil Hellmuth spent much of the day yesterday battling for the tournament chip lead with two young pros at his table, Faraz Jaka and Andy "BKiCe" Seth. (Jaka is also currently leading the World Poker Tour Player of the Year race with his two final table finishes this season.)

The experience may have left a strong impression on him. Hellmuth was just overheard saying, "It's only recently that I realized I need to work on my mathematical game." 

Jonathan Tamayo quips, "Can you count to ten, Phil?"