It's the Great Pumpkin, Jess and BJ with Jess and BJ

Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

On this episode of the Jess and BJ Show, Jessica Welman and BJ Nemeth wait for the Great Pumpkin, bet the Bookie's Over/Under on remaining # of players at the end of the day, recap Day 3 of the Foxwoods World Poker Finals, and answer the question, "What is your favorite thing about the Great Pumpkin?"

Day 4 Chip Counts and Seating Assignments

Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

Here are the official chip counts and seating positions for the final 27 players:

TABLE 1
1. Thomas Schreiber - 54,000 (13 BBs)
2. Hoyt Corkins - 235,500 (58 BBs)
3. Cornel Cimpan - 25,000 (6 BBs)
4. Bob Carbone - 156,500 (39 BBs)
5. Jonathan Little - 355,000 (88 BBs)
6. Eli Berg - 152,500 (38 BBs)
7. Peter Politano - 237,000 (59 BBs)
8. Andy Rossi - 352,500 (88 BBs)
9. Steven Brackesy - 339,000 (84 BBs)

TABLE 2
1. Matt Stout - 221,500 (55 BBs)
2. Tony Biceglia - 49,500 (12 BBs)
3. Chris Klodnicki - 236,000 (59 BBs)
4. Matt Glantz - 226,500 (56 BBs)
5. Michael Dentale - 250,000 (62 BBs)
6. Lawrence Greenburg - 360,000 (90 BBs)
7. Jack Schanbacher - 483,500 (120 BBs)
8. Dan Colpoys - 51,000 (12 BBs)
9. Christian Harder - 378,500 (94 BBs)

TABLE 3
1. Dan Colman - 43,000 (10 BBs)
2. Daniel Santoro - 331,000 (82 BBs)
3. Lee Markholt - 61,000 (15 BBs)
4. Josh Bergman - 153,000 (38 BBs)
5. Andy Frankenberger - 658,500 (164 BBs)
6. James Frangoulidis - 134,500 (33 BBs)
7. Bernard Lee - 84,000 (21 BBs)
8. Andy Powderly - 76,500 (19 BBs)
9. Allen Kessler - 43,500 (10 BBs) 

WPT Foxwoods World Poker Finals, Day 3 Recap

Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante

By BJ Nemeth


Day 3 of the WPT Foxwoods World Poker Finals began with 66 players, and they had five levels to see if they could reach the final three tables and burst the money bubble.

The money was reached just as Day 3 came to an end with 27 players, and the surviving players are all guaranteed at least $19,916.

Here are some of the highlights from Day 3:



Defending WPT Foxwoods champion Jeff Forrest came into the day with a short stack, and unfortunately wasn't able to last long. In 10 seasons, the World Poker Tour has never seen a player win the same event twice.



ClubWPT.com qualifier Don Burwell earned his entry in an online freeroll, and managed to play with the pros for three straight days before his elimination.



Dwyte Pilgrim, who won last year's WPT Borgata Poker Open, didn't let a short stack slow him down as he repeatedly challenged reigning WPT Player of the Year Andy Frankenberger in pots on Day 3. Unfortunately, Pilgrim couldn't build any momentum, and he was eliminated.



Andy Frankenberger has been near the top of the leaderboard for much of the tournament so far, but could he keep the trend going until the end of Day 3?



There was a great featured table on Day 3, with big names, plenty of table talk, and even a twist -- the players agreed that whenever somebody won a pot, they would have to show one card. The table included (from left to right) Jason Mercier, Kathy Liebert, and Christian Harder.



Day 2 chipleader Dan Colpoys got off to a strong start, adding more than 100,000 to his stack in the early levels before running into trouble. Colpoys eventually dropped down near the bottom of the leaderboard, but managed to survive the money bubble and reach Day 4.



In the first two levels, Bernard Lee eliminated two former WPT winners -- Erik Seidel and Dwyte Pilgrim. Lee reached the money and survived to Day 4, and he's looking for a WPT title of his own.



David "Doc" Sands is interviewed by the WPT cameras as the field continues playing behind him. Sands had three-bet all in after a flop of Q106 with KK, and Jack Schanbacher called with AQ (top pair, flush draw, overcard). An ace hit the river to send Sands to the rail, while Schanbacher took the chip lead with more than 400,000.



This photo taken from the empty seat 2 gives a more complete view of the featured table. In seat order: Andy Rossi (seat 1), Grant Lang (3), Jason Mercier (4), Kathy Liebert (5), Christian Harder (6), Hoyt Corkins (7), Alistair Melville (8), and Lee Markholt (9).



With the board showing 9624 on the turn, Andy Rossi (left) bet, and Jason Mercier (right) moved all in. Rossi tanked for several minutes before calling with 96 (top two pair), and Mercier turned over AA. The 3 on the river was no help to Mercier, who was eliminated.



Chris Klodnicki stacks his chips after eliminating Jeremiah Fitzpatrick a few spots away from the money bubble. Klodnicki finished the day with an above-average chip stack.



With the board showing 6424 on the turn, Matt Stout (left) moves all in against Christian Harder (right). Harder tanked for a few minutes before folding, and Stout was forced (per the agreed-upon table rules) to show one card -- he showed the K. Both players survived to Day 4, though last-woman-standing Kathy Liebert (center) was eliminated just shy the money.



Two-time WPT winner Cornel Cimpan (standing, center) was short stacked and facing elimination near the money bubble, but doubled up here with KQ against the J10 of Darren Elias (left). Cimpan went on to reach Day 4, while Elias, who finished fifth at the WPT Borgata Poker Open last month, was eliminated a few minutes later.



With 28 players remaining, the final four tables played hand-for-hand on the money bubble.



With the board showing AK963 and a little more than 40,000 in the pot, Matt Stout (center left) studied the board before betting 25,000 -- not quite the full stack of his opponent, Alistair Melville. Melville called, but mucked his cards when he saw Stout's AK (top two pair). Melville was left with less than 2 big blinds on the money bubble.



Alistair Melville (right) was all in from the small blind a few hands later, and three players limped into the pot and checked to the river on a board of Q8457. Christian Harder (left) made a pot-sized bet from the button, and Hoyt Corkins (center) folded.

Harder showed 96 to win the pot with 96 for the nuts -- a nine-high straight. Melville showed J3 (jack high) as he was eliminated in 28th place -- bursting the money bubble to end the day.



Reigning WPT Player of the Year Andy Frankenberger has been dominating so far this tournament, and finished Day 3 with 658,000 for a huge chip lead.

Here's some interesting trivia -- Jonathan Little won the Season V WPT Player of the Year award and won the WPT Foxwoods World Poker Finals the next year. Frankenberger would obviously like to follow in Little's footsteps, though Little is still alive and fifth in chips -- one of three former WPT Foxwoods champions still in the field. (The other two are Hoyt Corkins and Cornel Cimpan.)



Here are the official chip counts and seating positions for the final 27 players:

TABLE 1
1. Thomas Schreiber - 54,000 (13 BBs)
2. Hoyt Corkins - 235,500 (58 BBs)
3. Cornel Cimpan - 25,000 (6 BBs)
4. Bob Carbone - 156,500 (39 BBs)
5. Jonathan Little - 355,000 (88 BBs)
6. Eli Berg - 152,500 (38 BBs)
7. Peter Politano - 237,000 (59 BBs)
8. Andy Rossi - 352,500 (88 BBs)
9. Steven Brackesy - 339,000 (84 BBs)

TABLE 2
1. Matt Stout - 221,500 (55 BBs)
2. Tony Biceglia - 49,500 (12 BBs)
3. Chris Klodnicki - 236,000 (59 BBs)
4. Matt Glantz - 226,500 (56 BBs)
5. Michael Dentale - 250,000 (62 BBs)
6. Lawrence Greenburg - 360,000 (90 BBs)
7. Jack Schanbacher - 483,500 (120 BBs)
8. Dan Colpoys - 51,000 (12 BBs)
9. Christian Harder - 378,500 (94 BBs)

TABLE 3
1. Dan Colman - 43,000 (10 BBs)
2. Daniel Santoro - 331,000 (82 BBs)
3. Lee Markholt - 61,000 (15 BBs)
4. Josh Bergman - 153,000 (38 BBs)
5. Andy Frankenberger - 658,500 (164 BBs)
6. James Frangoulidis - 134,500 (33 BBs)
7. Bernard Lee - 84,000 (21 BBs)
8. Andy Powderly - 76,500 (19 BBs)
9. Allen Kessler - 43,500 (10 BBs)

Day 4 begins Sunday at 12:00 noon ET. Stay tuned to WPT.com for live coverage as they battle it out for the six seats at Tuesday's televised WPT Final Table.

Day 3 Ends with Bubble Bursting

Level 15: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

With the elimination of Alistair Melville in 28th place, Day 3 action is officially complete.  The final 27 players are all in the money and guaranteed at least a $19,916 payday.

Andy Frankenberger and Jack Schanbacher both chipped up during hand-for-hand play and they are out in front of the pack heading into Day 4.  For the second day in a row, Frankenberger ended the day as chip leader.  He bagged up 658,500, while his next closest competitor, Schanbacher, ended with 483,500.

Three past winners in this are still in the running to become the first player to ever win the same event twice.  Jonathan Little and Hoyt Corkins ended above average with 355,000 and 235,000 respectively. Season VIII winner Cornel Cimpan is the shortest stack returning on Sunday.  After starting the day with 35,000 chips, he ended play with 25,000 chips.

The official chip counts are available on the chip count page and we will have a photo blog and the latest episode of "Jess and BJ" available before play gets underway at 12pm on Sunday.

Here are the top five in chips headed into Day 4 action:

1. Andy Frankenberger - 658,000
2. Jack Schanbacher - 483,500
3. Christian Harder - 378,500
4. Larry Greenberg - 360,000
5. Jonathan Little - 355,000

Alistair Melville Eliminated in 28th Place

Level 15: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

Photo: Hoyt Corkins (center) folds after Christian Harder (left) bets the river. Alistair Melville (right) waits to see his fate.

After seeing that Alistair Melville was down to just 3,500 chips, the staff consults the players who previously had an objection with playing to the money.  Those players rescinded their objection and play continues until Melville is all-in in the big blind.  

Dan Colman limps in from middle postion, Christian Harder calls on the button, and Hoyt Corkins completes the small blind.  The three players who still have chips in the hand check the Q84 flop and check again when the turn brings the 5.

The river is the 7 and action checks to Harder, who bets 10,000. Corkins folds and Colman folds KK face up, jokingly saying, "Charder, you asshole."

Harder shows 69 for the nuts and Melville turns over J3. Harder's straight takes the pot and eliminates Melville on the money bubble, bringing Day 3 action to a close.

Matt Stout's Show One Card Strategy

Level 15: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

Matt Stout Cripples Alistair Melville on the Money Bubble

Level 15: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

Photo: Matt Stout (center, left) studies the board on the river before acting against Alistair Melville (foreground, far right).

With around 20,000 in the pot and the board reading AK9, Andy Rossi checks from the small blind and Matt Stout bets 11,000 from middle position.  Alistair Melville is on the button and calls, leaving 30,500 behind.  Rossi folds.

Both players check the 6 on the turn and the river brings the 3. Stout thinks for a bit, then bets 25,000.  Melville elects to call, leaving himself with 5,500 chips behind.

Stout shows AK for top two pair and Melville mucks.  He is now down to just two big blinds with three hands of hand-for-hand action remaining in the day.

Matt Stout - 210,000 (70 BBs)
Alistair Melville - 5,500 (2 BBs)

Kathy Liebert Eliminated by Bob Carbone

Level 15: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

On a flop of 1065, Bob Carbone shoves and Kathy Liebert calls all in.

Carbone turns over 88 for the lead against Liebert's A6.

The turn and river are the 3 and the J, offering no help to Kathy Liebert who is eliminated just two spots shy of the money.

Bob Carbone - 180,000
Kathy Liebert - Eliminated

Darren Elias Eliminated by Chris Klodnicki

Level 15: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

Darren Elias is all in before the flop with 66 against Chris Klodnicki's QQ.

The board comes KQ935, giving Klodnicki middle set on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Darren Elias just a few spots shy of the money.

Chris Klodnicki - 195,000
Darren Elias - Eliminated

The Money Bubble Changes Everything

Level 15: 1,500-3,000, 500 ante

Two players just busted in quick succession (details in a moment), and the field is now on the money bubble with 28 players remaining. There are more than 20 minutes on the clock, so they may reach the money before the end of the day anyway. 

There is also the possibility, since they are so close, that the tournament staff will decide to bust the bubble tonight. Stay tuned.