We left just after Scott Montgomery found himself on the outside looking in at the final four men who are still vying for over 9 million dollars. The chip counts are as follows:

Dennis Phillips: 17,325,000
Ylon Schwartz: 22,175,000
Ivan Demidov: 49,100,000
Peter Eastgate: 47,625,000

As we pick up the action here in the Penn & Teller theatre we have just begun Blind Level 37 with a Small Blind of 300,000 and a Big Blind of 600,000 with a 75,000 chip ante. After almost 20 hands there has been a little bit of jostling but for the most part not much as changed, we have had a 2nd Ace King, Ace King all-in and just like the first it ended with a chop. Just as was the case the first time we saw this situation there was a 3 flush flop however, Schwartz was able to avoid Peter Eastgate catching a Diamond and they split the pot. After the completion of hand # 140 the chip counts are as follows and with nearly 30 hands since the beginning of the level there is little change:

Dennis Phillips: 27,600,000
Ylon Schwartz: 15,925,000
Ivan Demidov: 49,975,000
Peter Eastgate: 42,725,000

As play continues it seems that these men can taste the money, and thus have very much slowed there action as they jostle to get ever closer to the heads up action on Monday night. As we head to a break we are hoping that after the action returns there will be an increase in the pace of play.

Our last player to find himself on the rail was Scott Montgomery on hand #119, and it took us 36 hands to see another all-in with a legitimate chance of a player going home. The hand (#155) began with Eastgate opening for 1,500,000 and was called by Schwartz, with that both men took a flop of Kh 8h 2s. With that both players make a quick check and when the turn pairs the board with the King of Diamonds, Eastgate bets out 1,750,000 and Schwartz calls.

The river brought the Five of Diamonds and Schwartz checks yet again, that entices Eastgate to bet 4,600,000 which after thinking for a brief amount of time draws a re-raise from Schwartz for all his chips. With that Peter Eastgate can not call quickly enough and tables a full-house (5’s over K’s) to win the pot and eliminate Ylon Schwartz (who had Ah 10c). Ylon Schwartz finishes in 4th place and receives $3,774,974 USD. Leaving just three players to battle for the final two spots their chips counts are as follows:

Dennis Phillips: 19,925,000
Ivan Demidov: 52,375,000
Peter Eastgate: 64,925,000
On hand #169 the action is once again all-in and here is the hand and the outcome. The hand begins with Demidov on Button leaving the hand to be decided between the blinds Phillips and Eastgate. Peter makes it 1.5 million to go from the SB and is called by Phillips. Both men take the flop:

FLOP: Jc 4d 3s

This draws a bet from Eastgate of 1.5 million, as action moves to Phillips he begins counting out an eventual raise of all-in which is called so quickly some here are stunned. With the cards on there backs and the end of the night possibly insight we know this hand will take forever to play out due to ESPN!

Dennis Phillips: 9h 10c (5%)
Peter Eastgate: 3d 3c (95%)

With things looking real bad for Phillips you have to think that the Army is about to be defeated, upon seeing the situation Phillips said “Oh, well” with a shrug. With the Ace of Spades on the turn our initial chip leader coming into today is officially eliminated in 3rd place and we take our final break of the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event. Dennis Phillips will receive $4,517,773. The chip counts for heads up action and payouts are as follows:

Ivan Demidov – 79,500,000
Peter Eastgate – 57,725,000

1st $9,152,416 (Ivan Demidov/Peter Eastgate)
2nd $5,809,595 (Ivan Demidov/Peter Eastgate)
3rd $4,517,773 Dennis Phillips
4th $3,774,974 Ylon Schwartz
5th $3,096,768 Scott Montgomery
6th $2,418,562 Darus Suharto
7th $1,772,650 David “Chino” Rheem
8th $1,288,217 Kelly Kim
9th $900,670 Craig Marquis

With that we will see you tomorrow night at 10pm Las Vegas time right here in the Penn & Teller theatre as Peter Eastgate will look to beat the record of Phil Hellmuth Jr. of the Youngest Main Event winner. Till then goodnight from Las Vegas!