Event 17: James Salmon – 5th Place ($30,000)

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 31:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 699

James Salmon
James Salmon

David Lee raised from the button to 1,000,000, and James Salmon called from the big blind.

The flop came 9c7s5c, Salmon bet 850,000, Lee moved all in, and Salmon quickly called all in for about 5,500,000 with Qc9d for a pair of nines.

But Lee turned over 10h10d, and Salmon needed to improve to stay alive.

The turn card was the 2h, the river card was the 7c, and the pocket tens held up for Lee to win the pot and eliminate Salmon in fifth place.

David Lee  –  31,750,000  (64 bb)
James Salmon  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($30,000)

With four players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 17,475,000 (35 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $39,500 each.

Event 17: Jonathan Wang Doubles Thru Moshe Refaelovitz

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 31:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 699

Jonathan Wang
Jonathan Wang

Jonathan Wang moved all in from the small blind for 1,675,000, and Moshe Refaelovitz called from the big blind with Ks6d. Wang turned over KhJc, and needed it to hold to stay alive.

The board came Qd8s5h5c9s, and Wang won the pot with his jack kicker to double up in chips.

Jonathan Wang  –  3,850,000  (8 bb)
Moshe Refaelovitz  –  19,000,000  (38 bb)

With five players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 13,975,000 (28 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $30,000 each.

Event 17: Alex Rivera – 6th Place ($22,800)

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 31:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 699

Alexis Rivera
Alexis Rivera

Alexis Rivera called all in from the hijack for 100,000, Moshe Refaelovitz completed the small blind, and David Lee checked his option in the big blind.

There was 800,000 in the main pot, and another 800,000 in the side pot. Any additional betting would go to the side pot.

The flop came QdJs10d, Refaelovitz bet 500,000, and Lee called.

The turn card was the 6s, Refaelovitz bet 1,500,000, and Lee called.

The river card was the 4s, Refaelovitz bet 2,550,000, and Lee folded. Refaelovitz took the side pot.

For the main pot, Rivera showed Ac6h for a pair of sixes, but Refaelovitz turned over Qs8h to win the pot with a pair of queens and eliminate Rivera in sixth place.

Moshe Refaelovitz  –  21,700,000  (43 bb)
Alexis Rivera  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($22,800)

With five players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 13,975,000 (28 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $30,000 each.

Event 17: Moshe Refaelovitz Doubles Thru Alexis Rivera; Rivera Down to a Chip and a Chair

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 31:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 699

Moshe Refaelovitz
Moshe Refaelovitz

Alexis Rivera moved all in from the cutoff for 9,000,000, and Moshe Refaelovitz tanked for a while before he called all in from the big blind for 8,900,000 with AsQs.

Rivera turned over Ks7s, and their nearly identical stacks made it do-or-die for both of them.

The board came 9h5s5cQcJd, and Refaelovitz won the pot with two pair, queens and fives, to double up in chips, knocking Rivera down to a single chip and a chair.

Moshe Refaelovitz  –  18,550,000  (37 bb)
Alexis Rivera  –  100,000  (<1 sb)

With six players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 11,650,000 (23 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $22,800 each.

Event 17: John McDonald – 7th Place ($17,500)

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 30:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 699

John McDonald
John McDonald

David Lee raised UTG+1 to 800,000, John McDonald moved all in from the hijack for 2,375,000, and Lee called with Qs8d.

McDonald turned over AsAd, and needed it to hold to stay alive.

The board came Ks10s8c5hQc, and Lee paired his eight on the flop and his queen on the river to win the pot with two pair and eliminate McDonald in seventh place.

David Lee  –  20,825,000  (52 bb)
John McDonald  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($17,500)

With six players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 11,650,000 (29 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $22,800 each.

Event 17: Alexis Rivera Doubles Thru Jonathan Wang

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 30:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 699

Alexis Rivera
Alexis Rivera

Alexis Rivera moved all in UTG+1 for 4,500,000, and Jonathan Wang moved all in over the top for about 9,800,000 with JsJc. Rivera turned over AdKs, and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 7h5c2h4c3s, and Rivera rivered a five-high straight to win the pot and double up in chips.

Alexis Rivera  –  10,000,000  (25 bb)
Jonathan Wang  –  5,300,000  (13 bb)

With seven players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 9,975,000 (25 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $17,500 each.

Event 17: Ari Katz – 8th Place ($13,600)

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 30:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 699

Ari Katz
Ari Katz

Jonathan Wang raised from middle position to 800,000, and Ari Katz reraised from the small blind to 3,500,000, leaving himself just a little bit behind. Stephen Gerber moved all in from the big blind for roughly 7.5 million, Wang quickly folded, and Katz quickly called all in for a little less than 4,000,000 with AcKs.

Gerber turned over 10h10c, and Katz needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came Qs8s4d4h9c, and the pocket tens held up for Gerber to win the pot and eliminate Katz in eighth place.

Stephen Gerber  –  12,950,000  (32 bb)
Ari Katz  –  Eliminated in 8th Place  ($13,600)

With seven players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 9,975,000 (25 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $17,500 each.

Event 17: David Lee Leads the Final Eight at the Break with 17,975,000

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 30:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 699

David Lee
David Lee

The players return from break to begin Level 30, with increased blinds of 200,000-400,000 with a big blind ante of 400,000. Here are the official chip counts:

Seat 1.  Jonathan Wang  –  8,150,000  (20 bb)
Seat 2.  Moshe Refaelovitz  –  9,775,000  (24 bb)
Seat 3.  David Lee  –  17,975,000  (45 bb)
Seat 4.  John McDonald  –  2,575,000  (6 bb)
Seat 5.  Ari Katz  –  5,925,000  (15 bb)
Seat 6.  Stephen Gerber  –  8,025,000  (20 bb)
Seat 7.  Alexis Rivera  –  6,900,000  (17 bb)
Seat 8.  James Salmon  –  10,575,000  (26 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $103,370 + RRPO Trophy
2nd:  $71,000
3rd:  $53,000
4th:  $39,500
5th:  $30,000
6th:  $22,800
7th:  $17,500
8th:  $13,600

9th:  Edward Medoff  –  $10,700

With eight players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 8,750,000 (22 big blinds).

Event 17: Edward Medoff – 9th Place ($10,700)

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 29:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 699

Edward Medoff
Edward Medoff

Edward Medoff raised from the hijack to 600,000, and David Lee called from the big blind.

The flop came Ac9h4h, Lee checked, Medoff bet 550,000, and Lee called.

The turn card was the Qc, Lee checked, Medoff moved all in for about 2,700,000, and Lee quickly called with Ah9d for two pair, aces and nines. Medoff turned over As4c for a lower two pair, aces and fours. Medoff needed a queen or a four on the river to stay alive.

The river card was the Jc, and Lee won the pot with his higher two pair to eliminate Medoff in ninth place.

David Lee  –  18,000,000  (60 bb)
Edward Medoff  –  Eliminated in 9th Place  ($10,700)

With eight players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 8,750,000 (29 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $13,600 each.

Event 17: Final Table Begins with David Lee in the Lead

$1,100 Platinum Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $678,030  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 29:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  9 of 699

After the elimination of Kevin Paustenbach in 10th place, the final nine players redraw for random seats at the final table. With nine players remaining from a field of 699, the average chip stack is around 7,775,000 (26 big blinds).
Here is the lineup with approximate chip counts:

Seat 1.  Jonathan Wang  –  9,500,000  (32 bb)
Seat 2.  Moshe Refaelovitz  –  10,950,000  (37 bb)
Seat 3.  David Lee  –  12,750,000  (43 bb)
Seat 4.  John McDonald  –  3,825,000  (13 bb)
Seat 5.  Ari Katz  –  6,450,000  (22 bb)
Seat 6.  Stephen Gerber  –  7,775,000  (26 bb)
Seat 7.  Alexis Rivera  –  8,100,000  (27 bb)
Seat 8.  Edward Medoff  –  4,700,000  (16 bb)
Seat 9.  James Salmon  –  6,650,000  (22 bb)

And here are the remaining payouts at stake, followed by the recent eliminations:

1st:  $103,370 + RRPO Trophy
2nd:  $71,000
3rd:  $53,000
4th:  $39,500
5th:  $30,000
6th:  $22,800
7th:  $17,500
8th:  $13,600
9th:  $10,700

10th:  Kevin Paustenbach  –  $10,700

11th:  Kamel Mokhammad  –  $9,500
12th:  Anatoly Nikitin  –  $9,500

13th:  Mitchell Tsang  –  $8,400
14th:  Robert-Andrei Burlacu  –  $8,400
15th:  Igor Holdaiy  –  $8,400

16th:  Drew Dodge  –  $7,300
17th:  Manuel Amaro Alvarez  –  $7,300

David Lee
Chipleader David Lee