Event 28: Stuck at the Final Eight Players

$5,000 Eight-Handed NLH (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 78

Craig Varnell
Craig Varnell

Craig Varnell was all in from the big blind for 130,000 with AdJc, and he needed his hand to hold to stay alive against the 10c8c of Ray Qartomy in the cutoff.

The board came QdJh4sQc2h, and Varnell won the pot with two pair, queens and jacks, to double up in chips.

Qartomy looked at Varnell and asked, “Am I the only one doubling you up? Four times I’ve doubled you up today.” Varnell just smiles and nods as he stacks the pot.

Craig Varnell  –  275,000  (28 bb)
Ray Qartomy  –  130,000  (13 bb)

After a flop of 7h4d2c with about 65K already in the pot, Mark Guariglia moved all in from the big blind for 135,000, and Craig Varnell went into the tank from UTG+1.

Guariglia said, “You’ll see it either way.” Varnell said, “I just feel like you have tens or something.”

Varnell folded, and Guariglia showed 9d7d for a pair of sevens as he took the pot. Varnell said he folded pocket sixes.

As he was stacking his chips, Guariglia said, “I’ve got to protect my blinds.”

Mark Guariglia  –  200,000  (20 bb)
Craig Varnell  –  245,000  (25 bb)

With eight players remaining, the average chip stack is about 195,000 (20 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $12,875.