Scott Seiver Laughs Last

Level 30: 100,000-200,000, 20,000 ante

Hall closed that gap by eliminating Justin Young in sixth place when Young's AJ failed to improve against Hall's AK, but Seiver fired right back.  The very next hand after Young's elimination, Tony Gargano and Scott Seiver got it all-in preflop with Gargano holding KJ to Seiver's AK.  Once again, Big Slick prevailed, and the field was quickly cut to four.

That pot put Seiver near the 10-million chip mark and gave him a more than comfortable lead, so when Hall eliminated Roger Teska in fourth place a couple of orbits later, he still had only around half the stack Seiver did.  Hall shoved from the small blind on the short-stacked Teska with J9 and Teska called all-in with A10.  Hall flopped a jack and Teska hit the rail.

The first double up was a lucky catch for Bonyadi, whose A3 binked a trey against Hall's AQ.  The second time around, it was Bonyadi with AQ and Hall held the inferior AJ.  That hand left Hall on the short stack and it only took a few orbits before Hall open-shoved the small blind with J7.  Seiver called from the big blind with K10 and flopped trip tens to take play to heads-up.

On the final hand of play, Seiver min-raised the button and Bonyadi called.  the two players checked it down on the flop and turn as the board ran out 1062QK. The action blew up on the river as Seiver bet, Bonyadi raised, and Seiver moved all-in.  Bonyadi thought for three minutes before calling with Q10 for two pair, but Seiver had J9 for the straight to take the pot and the victory.

Mittens Makes His Exit

Level 29: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante

Galen Hall's rail is waiting for him to finish up interviews and head to the cage.  The group spent the afternoon supporting Hall, cheering him on, and frequently referring to him as "Mittens."

The nickname apparently came about because during the stretch of tie when Hall played online a lot, he had a couple of instances of misclicking his mouse.  In order to avoid more potentially costly mistakes, he started wearing a mitten while playing.  The hand gear forced him to take time to click with care and a nickname was bored.

The deliberate play paid off for Hall in this tournaments.  He is having an impressive 2011, having won the PCA in the Bahamas in January and final tabling the EPT Madrid High Roller event earlier this month. 

Hand #113: Galen Hall Eliminated in 3rd Place ($589,355)

Level 29: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante

Galen Hall moves all in from the small blind for about 2.4 million, and Scott Seiver asks for a count from the big blind before he calls with K10.  Hall turns over J7, and he'll need to improve to stay alive.

The board comes KKQ96, and Scott Seiver winst he pot with trip kings to eliminate Galen Hall in third place.

Seat 1.  Galen Hall  -  Out in 3rd Place ($589,355)
Seat 5.  Scott Seiver  -  16,265,000
Seat 6.  Farzad Bonyadi  -  5,735,000

There will be an extended break for the money presentation before heads-up play begins.

Hand #98: Farzad Bonyadi Doubles Thru Galen Hall

Level 29: 80,000-160,000, 15,000 ante

Farzad Bonyadi moves all in from the button for about 2.7 million, and Galen Hall moves all in over the top from the small blind for about 6.5 million. Scott Seiver folds the big blind.

Hall shows AJ, but Bonyadi turns over AQ, and he's a favorite to double up here.

The board comes 865105, and Farzad Bonyadi wins the pot with his queen kicker to double up in chips.

Seat 1.  Galen Hall  -  3,840,000
Seat 5.  Scott Seiver  -  12,515,000
Seat 6.  Farzad Bonyadi  -  5,645,000

Hand #88: Farzad Bonyadi Doubles Thru Galen Hall

Level 28: 60,000-120,000, 15,000 ante

Scott Seiver limps from the button for 120,000, Farzad Bonyadi completes the small blind, and Galen Hall raises from the big blind to 460,000. Seiver folds, and Bonyadi moves all in.

Hall calls with AQ, and Bonyadi turns over A3. Bonyadi needs to improve to stay alive.

The board comes J934A, and Farzad Bonyadi wins the pot with two pair, aces and threes, to double up in chips.

Seat 1.  Galen Hall  -  6,270,000
Seat 5.  Scott Seiver  -  12,405,000
Seat 6.  Farzad Bonyadi  -  3,325,000

Hand #84: Galen Hall

Level 28: 60,000-120,000, 15,000 ante

Galen Hall raises from the button to 250,000, and Farzad Bonyadi calls from the big blind. The flop comes 744, Bonyadi checks, Hall bets 275,000, and Bonyadi check-raises to 650,000. Hall thinks for nearly a minute before he moves all in.

Bonyadi thinks for nearly three minutes before he folds, and Hall takes the pot.

Seat 1.  Galen Hall  -  7,870,000
Seat 5.  Scott Seiver  -  12,235,000
Seat 6.  Farzad Bonyadi  -  1,895,000

Galen Hall Slows Down

Level 28: 60,000-120,000, 15,000 ante

Since play went three-handed on Hand #58, Galen Hall appears to be taking a slightly less aggressive approach to the final table.  He has only voluntarily put chips in the pot five times and is letting Scott Seiver and Farzad Bonyadi handle playing most of the pots. 

Hand #58: Roger Teska Eliminated in 4th Place ($371,665)

Level 28: 60,000-120,000, 15,000 ante

Galen Hall moves all in from the small blind for 4,295,000, and Roger Teska calls from the big blind with A10. Hall turns over J9, and Teska needs to win this pot to stay alive.

The board comes J5254, and Galen Hall wins the pot with two pair, jacks and fives, to eliminate Roger Teska in fourth place.

Seat 1.  Galen Hall  -  6,655,000
Seat 4.  Roger Teska  -  Out in 4th Place ($371,665)
Seat 5.  Scott Seiver  -  12,325,000
Seat 6.  Farzad Bonyadi  -  3,020,000

Hand #48: Roger Teska Wins a Pot Worth 2 Million Against Galen Hall

Level 27: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Galen Hall raises under the gun to 235,000, and Roger Teska calls from the button. The flop comes Q74, Hall bets 225,000, and Teska calls. The turn card is the J, and both players check.

The river card is the 3, Hall thinks for a bit before he bets 475,000, and Teska thinks for nearly a minute before he calls. Hall shows K-Q for a pair of queens, but Teska turns over A9 to win the pot with a nine-high spade flush.

Pot Size:  2,060,000

Seat 1.  Galen Hall  -  5,220,000
Seat 4.  Roger Teska  -  2,835,000
Seat 5.  Scott Seiver  -  9,720,000
Seat 6.  Farzad Bonyadi  -  4,225,000

Hand #45: Justin Young Eliminated in 6th Place ($225,654)

Level 27: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante

Galen Hall raises from the button to 205,000, Justin Young reraises from the small blind to 550,000, and Hall asks Young for a rough count of his remaining stack before moving all in.

Young thinks for about 15 seconds before he calls with AJ, but he'll need to improve to stay alive against Hall's AK.

The board comes 543106, and Galen Hall wins the pot with his king kicker to eliminate Justin Young in sixth place.

Seat 1.  Galen Hall  -  6,410,000
Seat 2.  Justin Young  -  Out in 6th Place ($225,654)
Seat 3.  Tony Gargano  -  2,030,000
Seat 4.  Roger Teska  -  1,890,000
Seat 5.  Scott Seiver  -  7,315,000
Seat 6.  Farzad Bonyadi  -  4,355,000