Just 407 players of 6494 will be back tomorrow for day five of the 2009 WSOP Main Event. After the money bubble burst midway through day four, 12 Australians have secured in-the-money finishes this year (up from 10 last year).

Charlie Elias (left) with one of last year's November Nine participants Kelly Kim

Two Aussies have broken the one-million chip barrier, Sydney floor and wall tiler Charlie Elias (fifth overall on 1.54 million) and Tian Shou (28^th overall on 1.042 million). The 2005 WSOP Main Event winner, Joe Hachem, is also still in contention for a second title with 490,000 as he again underlined his status as one of the world’s premier No Limit Hold’em tournament players.

ANZPT Sydney winner Paren Arzoomanian was scored in 511^th place, worth USD $23,196, while Perth duo Aaron Lim and Rob Jackson and Brisbane’s Charles Caris bowed out within a whisker of the money.

The official chip count at the end of day four read:

1 Matt Affleck (Seattle, WA) 1,819,000
2 Ludovic Lacay (Paris, France) 1,608,000
3 Tom Lutz (Las Vegas, NV) 1,600,000
4 James Akenhead (London, UK) 1,572,000
5 Charlie Elias (Sydney, Australia) 1,540,000
6 Miika Puumalainen (Kuipio, Finland) 1,492,000
7 Jordan Morgan (Tulsa, OK) 1,489,000
8 Bernhard Perner (Austria) 1,426,000
9 Blair Hinkle (Kansas City, MO) 1,399,000
10 Ben Jensen (Herning, Denmark) 1,394,000

In addition to Elias, other Aussies who’ll be back on day five are

28 Tian Shou (Sydney) 1,042,000
45 Joey Lawrence (Sydney) 878,000
87 Daniel Neilson (Sydney) 721,000
159 Joe Hachem (Melbourne) 490,000
186 Mike Comer (Sydney) 420,000
225 Chad Awerbuch (Sydney) 351,000
336 Jonathan Wertheim (Sydney) 196,000
337 Emma Grace (Gold Coast) 194,000
366 Jarrod Holmes 145,000
388 Craig Ivey (Adelaide) 101,000

Posted by Sean Callander, 10.20pm, 11/7/09

More than 150 players have been sent to the rail since the money bubble burst in the 2009 WSOP Main Event. It seems almost certain that the 400-player mark set by WSOP tournament director Jack Effel will be attained before the completion of four levels, meaning an early finish for all.

A total of 16 players have broken the one-million chip barrier, including a pair of Aussies – Sydney duo Tian Shou and Charlie Elias.

Shou, a PokerStars Supernova Elite, KOed JC Moussa with pocket aces against pocket eights after his A-K held up against the 10-8 of Romica Mihailov on a board of J-K-9-8-2. Shou has climbed above 1.34 million in chips, good for 10^th overall chip position.

Tian Shou is firmly among the chip leaders late on day four

Elias hit a set of eights against pocket aces not long before the bubble to climb to 1.6 million and has since drifted back to the field but still holds more than 1.3 million.

The other players with more one million (from www.worldseriesofpoker.com) are Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier (1.72 million), Ludovic Lacay (1.7 million), Jordan Morgan (1.55 million), Billy Kopp (1.487 million), Matt Affleck (1.45 million), Blair Hinkle (1.45 million), Miika Puumalainen (1.44 million), Harry Kazazian (1.4 million), Ben Jensen (1.4 million), James Akenhead (1.4 million), Phil Ivey (1.1 million), Nick Maimone (1.1 million), Mickey Mills (1.05 million) and Bernard Perner (1.05 million).

But Paren Arzoomanian’s WSOP Main Event is over after he committed his short stack of 125,000 with 5-6 only to find Ryan Gifford waiting with pocket kings. The board ran out 6-4-A-10-A, sending Puzz to the rail but adding a first WSOP Main Event to his record.

With less than 30 minutes remaining in level 16, other Aussies who’ve moved up another prize level include Daniel Neilson 800,000, Joey Lawrence (608,000), Chad Awerbuch (350,000), Mike Comer (375,000), Jon Wertheim (170,000), Jarrod Holmes (130,000), Craig Ivey (130,000) and Emma Grace (100,000).

Phil Hellmuth, Justin Bonomo, Van Nguyen, Alexander Kostritsyn, Ryan Brauer, Paul Wasicka, David Williams, Scott Ian and Kristy Gazes have all been eliminated but finished in the money.

Posted by Sean Callander, 7.40pm, 11/7/09
 

The money bubble has been popped midway through the second level on day four of the 2009 WSOP Main Event, with at least 10 Aussies securing a spot among the top 648 players, thus ensuring a finish in the money.

After more than 90 minutes of hand-for-hand play (13 hands) in which five players suffered one of the most ignominious beats in poker – on the cusp of the money after more than 30 hours at the tables.

There was no shortage of action as some players used the opportunity to chip themselves up with most of the field not bothering to play a hand.

Kevin Schaffel made a runner-runner nut flush to send a shattered Mike Carlson to the rail; Josh Chait kicked himself after folding pocket kings to the all-in bet of Joey Michael (who cheekily flashed a king); actor Lou Diamond Phillips made a straight with pocket fives to take his stack to almost 600,000, leaving JC Tran on less than 160,000 and 1978 world champ Bobby Baldwin rivered the nut flush against the pocket queens of Elias Eldon to survive.

Finally, Kia Hamadani was all-in for his 500-chip ante as Reed Hensel raised to 17,000 and both blinds made the call. The flop landed Q-6-Q, Hensel bet 20,000 and the blinds folded. Hensel showed 9-2 but still found himself ahead of Hamadani who tabled 4-3. Nines landed on both the turn and river to seal the deal, signaling cheers and applause around the Amazon Ballroom as 648 players celebrated their good fortune, and good play.

Congratulations to the Aussies who finished in the money, almost certainly more than the 10 who cashed last year. Now we’re in the money and there are some extremely short stacks in the room, expect some unbridled chaos with 71 spots before the payout scale jumps to the next level.

According to www.worldseriesofpoker.com, the following players now hold more than one million in chips: Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier (1,700,000), Ludovic Lacay (1,400,000), Ben Jensen (1,400,000), James Akenhead (1,200,000), Theo Tran (1,050,000), Billy Kopp (1,040,000), Blair Hinkle (1,030,000) and Miika Puumalainen (1,000,000).

The unfortunate list of players who survived two days only to fall short of the money included Hevad Khan, Andy Fields AKA The Indian, former chip leader Troy Weber, dual 2009 WSOP bracelet winner Greg FBT Mueller.

Posted by Sean Callander, 4.50pm, 11/7/09

Normally the period leading up to the bubble in a major poker tournament is time for tight play, where few risks are taken and fold equity dictates that even folding pocket aces could be considered a correct play.

But that’s hardly been the case early on day four of the 2009 WSOP Main Event, with the rate of eliminations only marginally slower than recent days as the money bubble rapidly approaches.

Aussie to be swept up in the madness of level 15 included Aaron Lim, who went hard from the outset, pushing in all-in with A-J only to find a willing caller waiting with A-Q, and he was out. Rob Jackson and Charlie Caris have also fallen short of the money.

Charlie Elias is starting to become accustomed to his spot in the WSOP Main Event spotlight, and looks right at home seated next o Kelly Kim from last year’s November Nine, while Paren “Puzz” Arzoomanian (currently holding 380,000) is on the same table as 1995 WSOP Main Event winner Dan Harrington.

Emma Grace is seated on the same table as Chad Awerbuch, whose stack wasn’t reported yesterday but we can confirm he’s back today with 300,000 in chips, which he has since built to almost 400,000.

Joe Hachem still holds more than 200,000 in chips is again seated on one of the two TV feature tables (with reigning world champion and PoketStars teammate Peter Eastgate on the same table).

Tian Shou looks ultra-strong on 750,000, Joey Lawrence has 370,000, Dan Neilson holds 355,000, Mike Comer’s stack comprises 175,000 and Jarrod Holmes is hanging tough with 155,000. Special mention to former Sydneysider and PokerStars Asia-Pacific manager Sarne Lightman, who holds a huge stack of 780,000.

Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier remains the overall chip leader on 1,600,000 ahead of fellow Frenchman Ludovic Lacay (925,000), Jason Brice (858,500), Ben Jensen (835,500) and Eli Adler (810,000), with thanks to www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

Posted by Sean Callander, 2.50pm, 11/7/09

Just 789 players remain in contention for the 2009 WSOP Main Event title after the field was trimmed from 2044 yesterday. Heading into day four, we’re just 141 players away from the money, which should be reached during the second level of the day.

WSOP tournament director Jack Effel said play would continue today for four levels or until 400 players are eliminated. There is no prescribed point at which hand-for-hand play will commence.

Level 15: 2000/4000 (ante 500)
Level 16: 2500/5000 (ante 500)
Level 17: 3000/6000 (ante 1000)
Level 18: 4000/8000 (ante 1000)
Level 19: 5000/10,000 (ante 1000)

Overall chip count (after day 3)

1 Bertrand Grospellier (Paris, France) 1,380,500
2 Ludovic Lacay (Paris, France) 896,000
3 Jason Brice (Sugar Land, TX) 858,500
4 Ben Jensen (Herning, Denmark) 835,500
5 Kasper Cordes (Copenhagen, Denmark) 796,000
6 James Akenhead (London, UK) 794,000
7 Billy Kopp (Erlanger, KY) 792,000
8 Tyler Patterson (Everett, WA) 784,000
9 Adam Bilzerian (Frigate Bay, St Kitts) 767,000
10 Christian Heich (Mengesdied, Germany) 735,500

Australians playing on day 4

49 Charlie Elias (Sydney) 539,500
66 Tian Shou (Sydney) 508,000
137 Paren Arzoomanian (Sydney) 379,500
228 Daniel Neilson (Sydney) 304,000
255 Craig Ivey (Adelaide) 290,000
340 Joe Hachem (Melbourne) 239,500
365 Emma Grace (Gold Coast) 223,000
396 Jarrod Holmes 207,000
554 Joey Lawrence (Sydney) 132,500
557 Mike Comer (Sydney) 130,000
663 Aaron Lim (Perth) 90,500
698 Jonathan Wertheim (Sydney) 76,000
748 Rob Jackson (Perth) 52,500
758 Charles Caris (Brisbane) 44,500
787 Chad Awerbuch (Sydney) DNR

Payout structure

1st $8,546,435
2nd $5,182,601
3rd $3,479,485
4th $2,502,787
5th $1,953,395
6th $1,587,133
7th $1,404,002
8th $1,300,228
9th $1,263,602
10-12th $896,730
13-15th $633,022
16-18th $500,557
19-27th $352,832
28-36th $253,941
37-45th $178,857
46-54th $138,568
55-63rd $108,047
64-72nd $90,344
73-81st $68,979
82-90th $57,991
91-99th $47,003
100-162nd $40,288
163-225th $36,626
226-288th $32,963
289-360th $29,911
361-432nd $27,469
433-504th $25,027
505-576th $23,196
577-648th $21,365

• Remember, you can keep up to date with the latest happening from the 2009 World Series of Poker by following twitter.com/bluffaussie.

Posted by Sean Callander, 1.30pm, 11/7/09