Mike Watson and Eli Elezra just battled in a couple of hands that saw Elezra first cripple Watson, then give chips back to him.
In the first, Watson raised from the cutoff, Elezra three-bet from the big blind, and Watson called. Both took one on the first draw and checked, then both took one again and Elezra check-called a bet from Watson.
On the third draw Elezra stood pat and Watson took one, and when checked to Watson bet again. When Elezra called, Watson said "pair," and Elezra tabled to win the pot.
Soon they were at it again, and this time Watson was raising from the button and Elezra defending his blind. Betting after the first draw then saw Watson all in. Elezra drew three, then two, then two, while Watson drew three then stood pat thereafter.
Watson made while Elezra could only make , and now Watson has nudged back up past Elezra while both still occupy bottom spots in the counts.
The good start to Daniel Negreanu's day continues as he just claimed another pot in a three-way battle with David "ODB" Baker and Michael Mizrachi.
They worked their way to the last draw at which point Mizrachi was standing pat and Baker and Negreanu were both drawing one card. All checked, and Mizrachi announced he had a "." "Eight," said Negreanu, fanning and Baker mucked.
Action folded to Brian Brubaker, who raised it up on the button. Eli Elezra called from the small blind, and David Chiu in the big. Elezra and Chiu drew two, while Brubaker drew three. Elezra fired out, and both his opponents called. This time, Chiu stuck with drawing two, while Elezra and Brubaker drew one. It checked to Brubaker, and he fired out a bet, which was called by both.
On the final draw, Chiu and Elezra took one, while Brubaker patted. Elezra tanked for about 45 seconds before checking, and the other two checked as well. Brubaker showed , which was good enough to beat both Elezra and Chiu.
Eric Wasserson raised, David "ODB" Baker three-bet from the button, then Daniel Negreanu made it four bets to go from the small blind, saying "I ain't afraid of finishing 10th!" as he did.
Both Negreanu's opponents called, then he took one while they both took two cards. Negreanu bet and both called, then Negreanu stood pat as both Wasserson and Baker took a single card.
Negreanu bet again, Wasserson raised, Baker folded, and Negreanu called. Both Negreanu and Wasserson stood pat and checked, then Negreanu showed and Wasserson mucked.
Mike Watson raised it up on the button, and Eli Elezra defended his big blind. Elezra drew one while Watson drew three, and Elezra bet out. Watson called, then Elezra stood pat while Watson drew two. Elezra bet in the dark , and Watson made the call. Elezra stood pat again and Watson drew one card. Elezra checked, as did Watson, and Elezra showed . Watson folded, dropping him to 85,000 in the process.
But here's one more preliminary event that should capture the attention of poker fans before the weekend kicks off. The third and final day of Event #59: $2,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball begins in a couple of hours, and with just 10 players left there's much to be excited about as the field includes no less than six WSOP bracelet holders among the talented group of players who remain.
David "ODB" Baker begins the final day with the chip lead. He's in search of his second career WSOP bracelet after having finished third in this same event in 2012. He's excited, too, about the coming day of poker and the chance to compete with several of poker's top players:
Baker isn't exaggerating when he describes his opponents as belonging among the "elite" of poker. In second position is five-time bracelet winner David Chiu, followed closely by Scott Seiver (one bracelet) and Michael Mizrachi (three bracelets). Still in the hunt as well with below average stacks are Daniel Negreanu (five bracelets) and Eli Elezra (one bracelet). Meanwhile Alexander Condon, Eric Wasserson, Brian Brubaker, and Mike Watson are seeking first bracelets today, all of whom will likewise provide stiff competition for Baker.
Play resumes at 2 p.m. local time. Come back here then for start-to-finish coverage of what will surely be another exciting day of poker from the 2013 WSOP.
While we wait for the first discards and draws of the day, here's Lynn Gilmartin with today's update:
to win the pot.
