Twenty-five thousand, six hundred dollars. For some, it's a year's salary, for others, a down payment on a nice house in the suburbs. $25,600 could buy you a fully loaded Honda Accord or cover the cost of tuition for one year at some universities. However, for most of this crowd, it's less than one cash game buy-in or a few extra chips jangling around in the pockets of their cargo shorts. As the online poker crowd likes to say, "must be nice."

The 35 players that made up the field for the NAPT Mohegan Sun's Bounty Shootout represented the elite of both cash game and tournament poker, old-school pros rubbing shoulders with a slew of young internet geniuses outfitted in the latest hipster garb. The format of this event is very special indeed. We began with five tables of six and one table of five, each one playing down to a winner tonight. Juicing up the action was the presence of a lovely aqua $5,000 Mohegan Sun chip next to each player's stack, a cash reward for each man's executioner. The winner of each table took home an additional sum, $50,000 for besting a five-handed table and $60,000 for defeating a six-handed one. Those six players advanced to tomorrow's final table where it's winner-take-all, the champion earning a nifty trophy and $350,000.

And what a sextet we ended up with.

Sam Stein was the first to win his table, defeating Team PokerStars Pro Barry Greenstein in heads-up play. Stein has already made a name for himself on the NAPT, finishing in second place in the Venetian Main Event for a $522,000 haul.

Faraz Jaka is also headed to his second NAPT final table, having finished in fifth place in the Venetian Bounty Shootout. He spent most of his day on the TV featured table, where he collected three bounties, eliminating Joe Gibbons, Perry Horwich and Daniel Negreanu.

Shawn Buchanan is no stranger to a televised final table after winning a World Poker Tour title at Mandalay Bay in 2007. He advanced after a prolonged heads-up battle with WSOP bracelet winner Steve Sung.

Even our least experienced final tablist has a major title to his name. Luis Vazquez won the $3,300 main event at the Foxwoods Poker Classic less than three weeks ago and was the last player to win his table, taking out Canada's Peter Jetten. Vazquez is also tied with Shawn Buchanan for the most number of bounties collected at four apiece.

Rounding out our final six are another two men who have already felt the thrill of victory in a high roller event-- Atlantic City cash gamer Matt Glantz, who took down the £20,000 buy-in tournament at the EPT London in 2009 and Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier, who won the same event one year earlier.

For a look at how each table finished up and all the details on who earned each bounty, head over to our Round 1 results page.

For a more in-depth look at the action, check out any (or all) of the posts below:

Drawing guns
Level 1 updates
Level 2-3 updates
Level 4-5 updates

We'll be back tomorrow at 12:00pm EDT for all the action from the first flop until someone collects this lovely piece of crystal.

All photos courtesy of the incomparable Joe Giron. He gets one of these (©) too.

2:01pm: Break time
Players are now on a 15-minute break.

2.05pm: The Vasquez charge
Luis Vasquez is our first $10,000 man as he has just picked up his second bounty of this tournament and eliminated Curt Kohlberg.

This is one of those hands that was fairly standard pre-flop but then went nuts after three community cards were exposed. There were three players: Kohlberg in the small blind seat, Vazquez in the large and Petter Jetten on the button. Those three cards were: [kd][3h][10d].

Kohlberg and Vasquez checked but then Jetten bet 1,300. Kohlberg announced "Twenty-six hundred more," and threw out the necessary chips, to which Vasquez re-re-raised, making it 15,000 to play.

Jetten was done and he folded, but Kohlberg moved all in. Vasquez called.

Vasquez: [ad][2d] for nut flush draw
Kohlberg: [3c][3d] for bottom set

After the requisite delay for the camera vultures to descend, the dealer turned the [qd], filling Vasquez' flush. Kohlberg still had outs to the full house, but the [6c] was not one of them.

Kohlberg takes his leave and Vasquez now has about triple his starting stack, as well as three bounty chips. The table only started with five players and they're already down to two

2:02pm: Brian Powell doubles through Barry Greenstein
Down to 5,175, Brian Powell open-shoved and Barry Greenstein made the call.

Powell: [Ad][Kh]
Greenstein: [Ac][Qd]

There was little hope for a Greenstein suckout, especially after William Reynolds confessed to folding a queen. The board complied, running out [Ks][8d][7c][Qs][3s] and Powell earned the double-up. Greenstein is still well-stacked, however, with more than 25,000.

2:00pm: Sung scoops a big one
Steve Sung limped in from under-the-gun, Hoyt Corkins followed suit from the button, as did Scott Paston in the small blind. Joe Cassidy raised the price to 1,100 from the big blind all three of his opponents making the call.

Paston checked the [Qc][7s][2c] flop over to Cassidy, who made a 2,600 continuation bet. Sung called and both Corkins and Paston folded. Heads-up to the turn, which fell the [6c]. Cassidy checked and Sung checked behind. The river was the [9h] and Cassidy checked to Sung, who bet 4,200. Cassidy gave up his hand and Sung took down the sizable pot, sending his chip count up to 32,000.

1:53pm: Keep up with the bustouts
We've posted a list of everybody who is playing, their table number, bustouts, and bounties on our Mohegan Sun Bounty Shootout Round 1 results page.

1:45pm: Stein staying alive
Brian Powell will be cursing Sam Stein and the [kd] after that particular card landed on the river - one of only four outs in the deck - to keep Stein alive. It was already a huge pot and four cards were out: [qh][4h][6c][2h] when Stein moved all in for his last 11,975. Powell insta-called and tabled [ad][ah] for an overpair and the nut flush draw. Stein was in big trouble with his [kc][qd].

As Stein prepared for an early exit, the cameras descended in time to see the dealer burn and then turn that [kd]. Bink, Stein was back in it and Powell calmly asked how much it was to count out the double up. Powell is now the short stack.

1:41pm: Chau Giang eliminated
Another all-in during the first level? Say what?

We happened upon the hand on the turn with the board reading [6d][4d][2s][7s]. Chau Giang led out for 5,200 and Matt Glantz moved all-in for 16,475. Giang tanked for well over five minutes, sitting up on his knees.

"I don't care. I call," Giang said defiantly, turning over [As][5s] for straight and flush draws.

Much to his surprise, Glantz revealed [Qd][Jd].

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Giang.

The dealer burned and turned the river, the [9d] making Glantz's flush.

"Oh come on! He hit it!" spat a disgusted Giang.

"But you're still my friend," said Glantz with a warm smile as he extended his hand. Giang shook it with a laugh.

"Come on guys, hug it out," offered Scott Seiver.

A few hands later, Giang moved all-in for 1,875 from the cutoff and Pat Pezzin called from the button. Giang's [As][7d] was dominated by Pezzin's [Ah][Kh] and a king hit the flop, spelling Giang's elimination. Pezzin also claimed Giang's $5,000 bounty.

"I want to go home. I don't want to play with you no more!" Giang quipped as he made his exit.

1.40pm: The Vasquez freeroll
Luis Vasquez, who knocked out Tom Marchese to collect the first bounty of the day, is putting his big stack to good use. He went to a flop with Curt Kohlberg on what is now a four-handed table, and the two of them saw: [jh][9d][2d]. Vasquez checked, Kohlberg bet 1,000 and Vasquez then raised to 2,500. Kohlberg called.

The turn was [3s] and now Vasquez bet 3,000 at it. That was good enough to persuade Kohlberg to lay it down.

Vasquez was one of five players who won their seat in this tournament in last night's $5,000 super satellite. Having collected Marchese's bounty in the first orbit - worth $5,000 - Vasquez has already earned back his investment. Essentially he's freerolling already.

1:25pm: The Internet v. The Real World
Scott Seiver, fresh from the final table at the Main Event, got involved with the Venetian Bounty Shootout champion, Aston Griffin. Seiver raised to 800 under the gun and Griffin called in the cut off. Matt Glantz, who won the High Roller event at EPT London, also called in the big blind and the three of them saw a [2s][ad][2h] flop.

Glantz checked, Seiver bet 11,000 and Griffin called. Glantz got out the way. The turn was [7d], which they both checked, and the river was [9h], which they also both checked. Griffin flipped black pocket tens, and that was enough to get Seiver to muck.

That particular table pitches some of the leading lights of online poker - Griffin, Seiver and Greg Dyer, against the high stakes live game stalwarts Glantz, Chau Giang and the newly minted Team PokerStars Pro Pat Pezzin.

Which style will win out?>

1:08pm: Vasquez KOs Marchese in the day's first elimination
Only eight minutes had ticked off the tournament clock when our first elimination took place. NAPT Venetian champion Tom Marchese got his entire stack in the middle before the flop against Luis Vasquez, his [Ah][Kd] up against the Vasquez's [Ad][Ac].

"How about some hearts or diamonds so I at least get a sweat," Marchese quipped.
He did get two hearts on the [Th][4c][2h] flop and picked up a gutshot straight draw when the [Js] hit the turn, but he couldn't find a miracle queen on the river, the [3h] falling to send him to the rail in rapid fashion.

1:10pm: Raymer mixes it on table two
They're all pretty tasty tables here, but some stand out even in this exalted company. The action on table two is feisty already, where the PCA High Roller champion William Reynolds sits next to the Team PokerStars Pro duo of Barry Greenstein and Greg Raymer, with Sam Stein, Brian Powell and Brett Richey closing it out.

Raymer has been involved a lot in the early stages. After Greenstein raised his button, Raymer three bet from the small blind and forced everyone else out, showing pocket jacks. On the next hand, Greenstein raised the cut off and Raymer three-bet the button, again picking it up. This time he showed a bare [as].

Raymer then raised the hijack, making it 500 to go and Powell called on the button. The flop came [5c][9s][qc] and Raymer bet 900, which Powell called. The turn was [4c] and Raymer slowed down. His check allowed Powell to bet 1,500 and Raymer let it go.

"I can't even beat four deuce," Raymer said.

"That's not four deuce," said Powell as he mucked his hand.

1:05pm: The Negreanu Show
Daniel Negreanu's role today seems to be warming up his table for the TV cameras. Part of the act is playing with his opponent's names. Our favorite so far is his singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with Sorel Mizzi's name inserted.

"The Mizzi Mizzi spider!" sings Negreanu.

This is how the day will go.

And this is how the day will go according to the video blog team:

1:04pm: Cards in the air
The cards are in the air in the $25,000 Bounty Shootout here at Mohegan Sun.

Every player has been given a real $5,000 chip. Bust a player, win their chips. Simple game.

12:58pm: play about to begin
With 35 players in the field and each table more scary than the fanged red-eyed monster that lives under every hotel bed I've ever slept in, we're about to get under way.

We have five six-handed tables and one five-handed table for a total of 35 players.

Here's what the seat draw looked like.

Good afternoon all and welcome back to a very different Mohegan Sun casino for a tournament that is the same - but very different - to the one we finished off yesterday.

In case you didn't see it, Vanessa Selbst completed her cruise to the title in the $5,000 NAPT Main Event at around 6pm, but today we welcome the players for the $25,000 Bounty Shootout. It's smaller, it's more expensive and it's more intense. It's also all under the gaze of the PokerStars.tv live cameras and you can, and should, tune in now.

There are 35 players, each anteing up $25,000, creating a main prize pool of $680,000 plus $170,000 in bounties. There will be five six-handed tables and one five-handed table, and the winners with take either $60,000 or $50,000 and progress through to tomorrow's six-handed final table.

We'll also follow all the action here on PokerStars Blog and will do our best to sketch in all the vagaries of a slightly different format poker tournament. It's not rocket science, so we should all be OK.

The draw has recently been made. Here's how they line up:

Table 1
Seat 1: Chau Giang
Seat 2: Pat Pezzin
Seat 3: Matt Glantz
Seat 4: Greg Dyer
Seat 5: Scott Seiver
Seat 6: Ashton Griffin

Table 2
Seat 1: Barry Greenstein
Seat 2: Greg Raymer
Seat 3: Sam Stein
Seat 4: Brian Powell
Seat 5: Brett Richey
Seat 6: William Reynolds

Table 3
Seat 1: Shawn Buchanan
Seat 2: Hoyt Corkins
Seat 3: Scott Paston
Seat 4: Joe Cassidy
Seat 5: Steve Sung
Seat 6: Marcello Del Grosso

Table 4
Seat 1: Jason Mercier
Seat 2: Daniel Smith
Seat 3: Steven Goosen
Seat 4: Anh Van Nguyen
Seat 5: Matt Woodward
Seat 6: Elijah Berg

Table 5 (television table)
Seat 1: Perry Horwich
Seat 2: Brian Lemke
Seat 3: Daniel Negreanu
Seat 4: Faraz Jaka
Seat 5: Sorel Mizzi
Seat 6: Joe Givens (TBC)

Table 6
Seat 1: Luis Vasquez
Seat 2: Greg Debora
Seat 3: Peter Jetten
Seat 4: Curt Kohlberg
Seat 5: Tom Marchese

Play will likely begin at around 12.45pm.

Round 1 results so far

7:39pm: Jetten eliminated; Vazquez advances to finals
Peter Jenn came in for a raise to 2,600, Luis Vazquez raised to 8,200, and Jetten called. On a flop of [2h][qd][ac], Vazquez checked, Jetten bet 9,000, and Vazquez called. The turn, [9s], went check-check. The [3d] river should've changed nothing, but not Vazquez led for 16,700. Jetten immediately announced all-in, and Vazquez snap-called. Jetten was on a bluff, and showed [js][td]. Vazquez tabled [ah][9h] for the flopped pair of aces. He had Jetten covered. Jetten is gone.

Vazquez won his entry into today's event in last night's $5,200 satellite. Today, he eliminated every player at his table. Including the $50,000 he earned for winning his table and all the bounties, Vazquez has already earned $70,000.

Tomorrow's Bounty Shootout final table will comprise:

Matt Glantz, USA
Sam Stein, USA
Shawn Buchanan, Canada
Jason Mercier, USA, Team PokerStars Pro
Faraz Jaka, USA
Luiz Vazquez, USA

Stay tuned for a full-wrap up.

7.35pm: No change
There have been no notable pots so far in that last match, so the 35 or so people crowded around the table and somewhat disappointed. Meanwhile, the ESPN crew have turned off all the lights. I'm scared.

7.20pm: Back to it
Messrs Vazquez and Jetten are back to the table and play has resumed.

7.05pm: Dinner break scrapped
That's the end of the level but plans for a dinner break have been put on hold in favour of a 15-minute break. It's only the one table between Luis Vazquez and Peter Jetten still playing, and they have the following counts at the break:

Vazquez: 61,250
Jetten: 63,750

7pm: Jetten isn't threatened, leads last table
Peter Jetten is now in complete control of the last remaining table, having doubled up to around 75,000 in the match against Luis Vazquez. Vazquez raised to 3,000 pre-flop and Jetten made it 8,000. Vazquez moved all in and Jetten called all in, for his last 36,025.

Jetten: [td][th]
Vazquez: [jd][8d]

The board threaten Jetten's pocket pair. It came [qs][kh][3c][kc][4s] and he doubles up.

6.55pm: Sung sings no more
Remember that "sick freeroll" between Shawn Buchanan and Steve Sung (see 5.20pm post below)? Well, it just happened again - and this time it hit to send Sung out and Buchanan into the final.

The flop was out: [5c][as][qc] and Buchanan checked. That was the last action in the hand that was anything short of all out aggression. Sung bet 1,500, Buchanan raised to 3,500. Sung three-bet to 6,500; Buchanan four-bet to 18,500 and Sung moved all in. Call.

Sung: [ad][2s]
Buchanan: [ac][2c]

So they had exactly the same hand at this point, but with the clubs Buchanan had a freeroll to the flush. The turn was all it took, coming [kc] and that ended that one. Buchanan will line up tomorrow; Sung won't.

6:45pm: Matt Glantz defeats Scott Seiver
We were looking at a board of [8s][2c][8h][5c] when all of a sudden Matt Glantz and Scott Seiver all-in. Glantz had Seiver covered,both in chips and hand strength.

Seiver: [qs][qh]
Glantz [8d][td]

The [3s] was no help to Seiver, and he lost his chance to repeat on NAPT Bounty Shootout final tables.

6.30pm: Jetten comeback, Buchanan boost, Debora bust
Peter Jetten has put on quite the comeback to halt Luis Vazquez's charge. Jetten now has close to three quarters of the chips on that table, with the approximate stacks as follows:

Peter Jetten: 75,000
Luis Vazquez: 27,000
Greg Debora: 11,500

On the nearby table, Steve Sung is the short stack against Shawn Buchanan. Sung just made a big laydown to leave himself with only 36,000 and the rest with his opponent. Buchanan limped the small blind, adding 500 to call, and Sung bet another 2,000 on top from the big. Buchanan called. The flop came [9h][9s][5s] and Sung bet 3,300. Buchanan raised to 8,500 and Sung called.

The turn was the [6h] and after Sung checked, Buchanan bet 13,000 and Sung folded. "Was that a good fold?" he asked. Buchanan didn't tell him.

STOP PRESS: Greg Debora is out. His [9s][2c] wasn't good enough to beat Vazquez's [8h][9d] on a [4c][9c][kd][7c][5s] board. They're now heads up, too

6:25pm: Berg Busts, Mercier advances
"Don't worry, when I call I'll do it quick," Jason Mercier said to one of ESPN's cameramen only a few moments ago as he folded a hand. He'd end up making good on his promise.
Elijah Berg limped in on the button, Jason Mercier made it 2,300 to go and Berg called. Mercier fired 3,300 on the [Tc][9s][4c] flop. Berg moved all-in and Mercier called in a flash, turning up [Ad][As]. Berg held the [7h][9d].

The turn gave Mercier a bit of a sweat as Berg picked up four more outs, the [6h] falling to give him a gutshot straight draw. However, the [Kd] hit the river and it was all over on Table 4, Mercier picking up $60,000 and advancing to the final table.

6.10pm: Jaka ejects Horwich
Faraz Jaka has broken the resistance of Perry Horwich and sealed his spot in the final. He'll return to the television table tomorrow, where he began today in fact.

The final 11,000 of Horwich went in the middle after a flop of [qs][3c][4d]. It was a big overbet to a small pot, and Jaka had noticed. "Why are you going all in?" Jaka said. "That's a big all in. Tired?"

"You know it," said Horwich.

"Huh? That's why you went all in?"

"Double me up," said Horwich.

"All right," said Jaka as he tossed in three light blue chips to cover the 11,000 bet.

"You have a pair?" asked Horwich.

"Yeah," said Jaka.

"Well, you're ahead of me."

Horwich showed [as][jh]; Jaka showed [js][3s]. Neither the turn nor the river brought the ace Horwich needed, and so that was the end of that.

Jaka takes $60,000 for winning that table, plus $15,000 for the bounties he's picked up along the way. He'll be back tomorrow for a shot at further riches.

6:08pm: Seiver evens it up
Scott Seiver just got his last 35,050 in the middle on a board of [jh][4s][8d][2s]. He was way ahead of Matt Glantz.

Glantz: [kd][8s]
Seiver: [js][3s]

The [2d] on the river chnaged nothing and Seiver has brought his stack up to even with Glantz.

6:00pm: Perry Horwich doubles through Faraz Jaka
Faraz Jaka has been putting the pressure on Perry Horwich in nearly every hand they've played in their heads-up match, but Horwich finally channelled a bit of Jaka's run-good.
Jaka held 141,500 to Horwich's 8,500 to start the hand and moved all-in from the button. Horwich decided to gamble and made the call, his [5d][6c] trailing Jaka's [Ks][4h].

"If I do make it, we have to do this ten more times," Horwich laughed good-naturedly.
Jaka paired his four on the [Tc][Th][4d] flop, but Horwich picked up a open-ended straight draw when the [7d] fell on the turn. He made it on the river with the [8h] and doubled his stack to 17,000.

"Hey, if you don't cheer, I'm gonna cheer for you," said Jaka, giving Horwich a round of applause as he quietly stacked his chips.

6pm: Va-va Vazquez
Table six was the first to lose a player and the first to get down to three handed, but now it is the only table remaining that isn't either playing heads up or is completed. Luis Vazquez, Greg Debora and Petter Jetten are all still there.

That said, I'd still not be surprised to see it end before all the other encounters, largely because Vazquez is still wielding that mighty stack with impunity and there's not much anyone else can do about it.

Just recently, he was at a flop with Debora and they both checked the [10h][kc][4h] board. Vazquez check-called Debora's 3,000 tickle on the [8s] turn, and then he did it again when Debora fired 6,500 on the [4d] river.

"Good call," said Debora and mucked after Vazquez showed [10c][5c].

On the next hand, Jetten raised from the button to 2,000 and Vazquez three bet his small blind, making it 6,400. The other two swiftly got out the way, both now nursing short stacks.

5.45pm: Woodward does it to himself
Matt Woodward has just been knocked out by Jason Mercier - and is angry with his own play. He had lost a couple of pots in succession, one to Mercier and then another to Elijah Berg, who rivered a pair of fours to take it down, much to Woodward's dismay.

Woodward tried to make something happen on the next hand, when he raised from the button to 2,000 and Mercier called in the big blind. Mercier also asked how much Woodward was playing in this point, and heard that he had 41,000 behind.

The two of them went to a flop of [3s][qs][5h] and Mercier check-raised Woodward's bet of 2,800, making it 8,650. Woodward called. The turn came [8c] and Mercier announced that he was all in, sending Woodward staring at the heavens.

"What am I doing to myself?" Woodward lamented. "I'm playing so bad here." Woodward seemed to have priced himself in, but had also got a little bit of the board now, a fact revealed when he called and tabled [10h][8h]. Mercier had [qd][jh].

Woodward needed another eight or a ten, but the river came [9h] to put him out of his misery.

Mercier now has the big stack going into a heads up battle with Berg.

5:42pm: Shawn makes Sung sweat
Steve Sung is a guy who hardly gives off any emotion at the tables, but he sure didn't look thrilled about making this fold.

Sung opened for 2,000 on the button and Shawn Buchanan called. The flop was [9s][9d][4h] and Buchanan checked to Sung, who bet 3,000. Buchanan put in a check-raise to 6,600 and Sung called. The turn was the [7c] and this time Sung took the lead, betting 7,000. Buchanan made a quick call. However, when the [6h] hit the river, Sung slowed down and checked, opening the door for Buchanan to put in a hefty 24,000. Sung tanked for so long it's a miracle there wasn't a clock called, although with only 44,500 behind, the call would have been for more than half his stack. He eventually found a fold and Buchanan raked in the pot, increasing his stack to 105,500.

5.20pm: Sick freeroll doesn't get there
After typical pre-flop tomfoolery, Shawn Buchanan and Steve Sung saw a flop of [5s][3h][3c]. Buchanan bet 3,100 and Sung called, taking them to a turn of [js]. Buchanan bet 7,000, Sung raised to 18,000 and Buchanan moved all in. Sung called instantly.

Their cards, well, they looked pretty similar:

Sung: [ac][3d]
Buchanan: [as][3s]

Buchanan couldn't lose but in his own words, he had a "sick freeroll" with the spades. The ESPN producers weren't interested in the 25% chance though and so Sung didn't have to sweat the delay for the cameras to descend. The dealer sent down the [6c] and that was that.

5:29pm: Glantz sends Pezzin packin'
Matt Glantz and Pat Pezzin were in for Pezzin's final 13,425 and Pezzin was dominating.

Pezzin: [4s][4h]
Glantz: [2h][2s]

That is, Pezzin was dominating until the [2d][6d][ad] flop.

While Pezzin picked up a draw on the [5c] turn, he missed when the river fell [5d]. Pezzin is gone, Glantz picks up the $5,000 bounty, and the feature table is now heads up.

5:12pm: Greenstein eliminated; Stein advances to final
Barry Greenstein's stack was at a pretty severe disadvantage to start the heads-up match against Sam Stein. Ever since Stein cracked Brian Powell's aces in the early going, he's been steamrolling everything. So, perhaps it's appropriate that Stein's final punch was with [ac][ah]. Greenstein's [5d][5h] was no match and Stein advances to the finals. He also wins $50,000 for winning his table and an autographed copy of Greenstien's book "Ace on the River."

Greenstein chatted to the video blog team earlier today:

5:11pm: Elijah Berg doubles through Jason Mercier
Elijah Berg got his remaining 19,850 chips in the middle before the flop and Jason Mercier made the call from the small blind. Berg turned up [Jd][Th] while Mercier showed [9h][9d].

"I'm pretty sure I folded a ten," offered Matt Woodward.

The [As][6s][2h] flop favored Mercier, as did the [2s] on the turn. The [Js], however, hit the river, eliciting a frustrated frown from Mercier as he shipped about a third of his chips across the table.

Berg is now up to 40,000 while Mercier is on 37,800.

5:06pm: Back in action
After an extended break, we're backin action.

4.55pm: Level four under way
Welcome back for level four. There are only 15 players who have made it this far - the others paid $25,000 for less than three hours play. Must be nice.

Anyhow, these are the remaining players and their counts. Table one has been switched to the television table, with the Jaka v Howich heads up battle relegated to the outer areas. Sorry for them, but with Scott Seiver, Matt Glantz and Pat Perrin still pretty even on table one, there should be a lot of excitement there.

Off we go then on level four.

Table one
Pat Pezzin - 31,325
Matt Glantz - 70,050
Scott Seiver - 47,125

Table two
Barry Greenstein - 23,225
Sam Stein - 126,775

Table three
Shawn Buchanan - 78,575
Steve Sung - 71,425

Table four
Jason Mercier - 65,600
Matt Woodward - 63,425
Elijah Berg - 20,450

Table five
Perry Howich - 88,100
Faraz Jaka - 61,400

Table six
Luis Vazquez - 34,950
Greg Debora - 44,925
Peter Jetten - 46,125

Late last night, our plans for the penultimate day, NAPT Mohegan Sun report were left in tatters by the final hand played at the tables. Despite seven hours of competition that were all about the dominance of Vanessa Selbst, Mike Beasley inched into the chip lead going into today's final. We had to tear up that report and start again.

Today, however, neither we nor Selbst were to be denied. Lightning does not strike twice. Selbst flew out the blocks during final table play, seized the chip lead within the first 30 minutes, increased it hour on hour, until in scarcely longer than the time it takes to find a way out of the Mohegan Sun parking lot she was the champion. Selbst took $750,000, her first NAPT title and left this sleepy reservation shuddering in her wake.

This really was an all-star performance from Selbst, who all but led from post to post. She was second only to David Williams in the day one counts, was third after day two, led at the end of day three, and was only nudged back to second last night by the narrowest of margins. But the wisest commentators have had her name etched on the trophy all along. She didn't so much shrug off the challenges presented along the way as simply ignore them.

"I was playing well and I just got the cards and everything came together," Selbst said. "I have a habit of busting out in the fourth level or accumulating a butt-load of chips ... This is by far my biggest win, so I'm really excited about it."

We reconvened under the ESPN studio lights at noon today. But Jonathan "FatalError" Aguiar spent longer getting fitted with a television microphone than he did speaking into it. Within the first orbit, Aguiar was all in and all out, unable to outrace Mike Woods' pocket tens with his [as][qh]. Adios Aguiar.

That swift elimination set a tone we followed for the next couple of hours. Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy departed in seventh - crippled by Derek Raymond's pocket sixes and then finished off by the same foe's [ad][9d]. But the party didn't last long for Raymond. He made a stand against Selbst's power poker, but was under-equipped with his [ac][th] against Selbst's [6d][6s]. She can win races like no other.

The Selbst show paused long enough to allow Beasley to oust Al Melville, the sole Canadian in the field sent back to Toronto with a slightly grim [qh][qs] versus [ah][qc] coup, with an ace binking on the flop. A couple of hands later Scott Seiver's enthralling, entertaining show came to an end when his pocket fours also lost to an ace on the flop, this time connecting with Mike Woods' [ad][3h]. Seiver was severed in fourth.

Again triumph was short lived. Woods got all his chips in the middle with [9h][tc] on a board of [9d][8c][6s]. Selbst, with chilling inevitability, had flopped a set of eights and faded the outs. Woods landed in the rough and we recalled a hand from day three where Selbst cracked Lars Bonding's aces by hitting a set of nines. She had declared then and there: "This is my tournament, I'm sorry." No apology required.

Beasley had shown last night that you can never be 100 percent certain of anything in poker until the big comedy check is in someone's gleeful mitts. But with a six-to-one chip lead and bags of heads up experience, this was as close to a lock as we get.

The heads up exchange between the two will make for some excellent TV, Beasley and Selbst both drawing on encouragement from the crowd and playing to the cameras. In addition to her chip lead, Selbst also had the most supporters, but Beasley continued to crack wise:

"If ever I get heads up in one of these things again, I'm hiring myself a new cheering section," Beasley said. "I'm hiring your cheering section."

But whether it was the support, the chips, or just plain destiny, Selbst did not take long to wrap this one up. It was only about seven hands in when Beasley shoved with [qh][10s] and ran head-long into Selbst's [ah][8s]. Five blank cards later and we were done.

When Selbst won her WSOP bracelet, her friends asked why she was bothering to go to law school. Now, she's going to hear it again, but has a ready answer. "It won't be like: 'Why am I here?' but 'When can I get out of here and play another poker tournament?'" Selbst now moves up to seventh on the all time money list for women players. It's worth bearing in mind that Vanessa Selbst is 25 years old.

Here's what our winner had to say for herself...

And now some words from the runner-up...

Take a look back at the blow-by-blow action with any of the following links. (Short version: Selbst slays everyone.)

Final table player profiles
Level 26 & 27 live updates
Level 28 live updates
Level 29 live updates

As ever, we're grateful to the speedy and superlative snapping of Joe Giron for the photography. Beware his ©.

Join us again tomorrow for the start of the $25,000 Bounty Shootout Tournament. But that's that from the Main Event, crushed by Vanessa Selbst.

Goodnight.

5:55pm: Vanessa Selbst wins NAPT Mohegan Sun
On the seventh hand of heads up play, Vanessa Selbst came in for a raise to 200,000, Mike Beasley moved all-in with [Qh][Ts], and and Selbst snap-called with [Ah][8s]

The board ran out [3d][6c][kd][7c][8c]. Selbst claimed the NAPT title and $750,000. Mike Beasley earned $428,000 for second place.

A full wrap-up will come in just a bit.

5:51pm: Selbst strikes first
Mike Beasley opened for 350,000 and Vanessa Selbst called. Beasley led out for 1,000,000 on the [Kd][8c][3d] flop and Selbst almost immediately moved all-in. Beasley thought for a few minutes before deciding to save his last million or so in chips and released his hand.

5:51pm: Five hands in...
We're five hands in (only one of which has been interesting and we'll tell you about that one in a second). Here's who won them.

Hand 1: Selbst
Hand 2: Selbst
Hand 3: Beasley
Hand 4: Selbst
Hand 5: Selbst

5:43pm: Play resuming
With a 6-1 chip lead, Vanessa Selbst is about to do what she can to put Mike Beasley away in short order.

5:30pm: Brief break
Our players are on a brief break while the TV crew sets up for heads-up play.

5:18pm: Selbst swings her wrecking ball, KO's Woods in 3rd place ($240,000)
Mike Woods raised to 310,000 on the button and Vanessa Selbst called from the small blind. Selbst checked the [9d][8c][6s] flop over to Woods who bet 700,000. Selbst put in the check-raise, making it 1.8 million to go and after a long think, Woods moved all-in for 3,425,000. Selbst snap-called, revealing a set of eights. Woods held [9h][Tc] for top pair and a gutshot straight draw.

Selbst's supporters held their breath as they waited for the turn and river. The [As] on the turn changed nothing, and the [Th] on the river made Woods an inconsequential two pair. He hit the rail in third place, leaving Selbst and Beasley to battle it out for the title.
Right now, though it's a lopsided fight to say the least. Selbst has 18,810,000 million in chips while Beasley holds about 2,755,000 million.

5:11pm: Family pot yields fortune for Selbst
Mike Woods limped in on the button, Vanessa Selbst completed the small blind, and Mike Beasley checked his option. All three players saw a [Kh][3h][3c] flop, Beasley leading out for 205,000. Selbst raised to 580,000 and Beasley came back over the top, making it 1.1 million to go. Never one to give up easily, Selbst shipped her whole stack in, eliciting a grimace from Beasley. He shifted in his chair and frowned at the board for a bit before checking his hole cards one last time and sending them into the muck. Beasley is down to 3.1 million.

5:03pm: Witty signage (and a decent pot) for Selbst
Mike Woods completed the small blind and Vanessa Selbst checked her option in the big. The [Kc][6d][3h] flop brought a 200,000 bet from Beasley and a call from Selbst. Both players checked the [4d] on the turn. Beasley checked again when the [5c] landed on the river and Selbst bet 725,000. Woods looked her up, but mucked his hand after she turned up [Kd][5s] for two pair and the best hand. Selbst raked in the pot to hoots and hollers from her row of supporters, displaying a witty array of signs. Our favorite? "Women love Vanessa (and Vanessa loves women)."

5:00pm: Artist's rendering
There is no topping the images from our photographer Joe Giron. However, in the event he falls and hits his head or something, one of Vanessa Selbst's fans might serve in a pinch. See the artist's rendering of our chip leader below.

4:50pm: Scott Seiver eliminated in 4th place ($190,000)
Tournament short-stack Scott Seiver shoved for 1,145,000 over the top of Mike Woods' button raise and earned a call.

Seiver [4d][4c]
Woods [Ad][3h]

The [As][Ts][6d] flop gave Woods top pair and left Seiver drawing to one of the two remaining fours in the deck. The turn was the [Qc] and the river was the [7d], however, sending Scott Seiver to the rail in fourth place.

4.40pm: Melville sunk in fifth, winning $150,000
Mike Beasley made it 225,000 from the button and Al Melville moved all in from the big blind. Beasley insta-called, but he wasn't in such great shape.

Beasley: [ah][qc]
Melville: [qh][qs]

The flop changed everything, however, as it brought the [as] in the window, alongside the [4c] and [3s]. The turn was [6d], leaving Melville with only one out to stay alive.

The [3d] was not it, and so Melville departs in fifth, winning $150,000. The all in was for 1,025,000, so Beasley adds that to his stack and we go on with four. Incidentally, Melville, a Canadian, was the last non-American player at the table. From here on out, it's USA's game.

4:42pm: Woods wins a small one
Vanessa Selbst limped in on the button, Mike Beasley completed the small blind and Mike Woods checked his option. The Mikes chekced the [Th][Tc][9c] flop over to Selbst, who bet 165,000. Beasley folded and Woods called. Both players checked through on the [Qs] turn and the [Jd] river, Woods turning over [Qc][6c] to take down the pot. Selbst showed the [Jc][7c] for straight and flush draws on the flop.

4.32pm: Resistance is futile
Vanessa Selbst raised to 240,000 two hands in a row, winning blinds and antes without any resistance. On the third occasion she tried it, Scott Seiver called from the big blind and they went to a flop of [ah][7d][js], which Seiver checked. Selbst bet 370,000 and she took it down.

4.25pm: Catch her if you can

We start this level with the following counts. Vanessa Selbst is now in eight figures.

Vanessa Selbst - 10,300,000
Mike Woods - 4,560,000
Mike Beasley - 3,905,000
Al Melville - 1,455,000
Scott Seiver - 1,345,000

4:15pm: Coming back
Here's how we stand:

There are five players remaining.

Vanessa Selbst remains in the chip lead.

The $750,000 first prize is still on the line.

We're back from break.

4pm: Level over
That's the end of level 28; 15 minutes until level 29.

3:55pm: The time is...not now
Alistar Melville open-shoved under the gun for 1,425,000. The similarly short-stacked Scott Seiver asked for a count and then said, "We gotta play some time."  

But not this time.

Seiver and everybody else folded

3:50pm: Woods can't call the shove
Mike Beasley opened for a 225,000 raise and Mike Woods three-bet to 725,000. After a long think, Beasley shipped his entire stack into the middle, 2,450,000 in all. Woods dwelled for several minutes before open-folding his pocket eights. Beasley took down the pot, leaving Woods to wonder what he had.

3:40pm: Selbst's clever rail
A sign held by one of Vanessa Selbst's fans: "We are rooting for Vanessa to win the poker tournament."

3:32pm: Derek Raymond eliminated in sixth place ($115,000)
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition or Vanessa Selbst's raises.

Al Melville limped, Vanessa Selbst made the call, too, and Derek Raymond re-raised from the button to 395,000. Melville got out of the way. And then what? Selbst made it $3.7 million to play. That was enough to put Raymond all-in. He had a little more than two million in front of him.

Yeah, that's right. Selbst limped behind a limper and then raised the button-raiser. We're not sure what David Sklansky would say, but we know Derek Raymond said, after a very long dwell, "Call."

Selbst: [6d][6s]
Raymond: [ac][th]

Woah, mama.

Here's how the board ran out [qh][kc][7c][8s][4d]. Selbst is now back in a dominant chip position with around 42% of the chips in play.

3:25pm: Melville folds under pressure
Al Melville raised to 275,000 from the button and Vanessa Selbst called from the big blind. Selbst checked the [Qh][Jc][4c] flop over to Melville, who bet 375,000. Selbst responded with an all-in reraise and Melville couldn't find a call, conceding the pot to Selbst.

3:20pm: Melville bets Beasley out
Mike Beasley opened for 180,000 and Al Melville looked him up from the big blind. The flop was [Ah][7s][6c] and Melville checked to Beasley, who bet 305,000. Melville called and they went to the turn which fell the [5s]. Melville checked again and this time Beasley checked behind. The [4c] on the river brought a 275,000 bet from Melville. Beasley tanked for a minute before giving up his hand and Melville took down the pot.

3:10pm: Mike Woods, the thinker
A note about Mike Woods. He does not make decisions as quickly as most people expect. In fact, when facing a raise or even an opportunity to check, Woods can take up to two minutes. At least 50% of his decisions result in him thinking for more than one minute. Yesterday at this time, Vanessa Selbst (a woman known for her relatively quick decisions) ended up calling the clock on Woods in an effort to get him to speed up. Woods handled the time-call relatively well, but, just for kicks called the clock on Selbst within five seconds of the action being on her the next time.

Here's Joe Giron's gallery of thinkers. Just call him Rodin.

3:08pm: Raymond takes a shot on the river
Vanessa Selbst opened for 170,000 and Derek Raymond called. Raymond checked the [Ts][9h][2h] flop over to Selbst, who checked behind. The [Ad] hit the turn and both players checked again. The river was the [Jh] and Raymond took a stab at the pot, betting 385,000. It was enough to induce a fold from Selbst and Raymond collected the pot.

3:03pm: Seiver returns to pushing
Mike Woods limped in for 80,000 in the cutoff and opened the door for another shove-session from Scott Seiver. He pushed for 1,085,000 out of the small blind. Play folded back to Woods who folded in short order.

2:57pm: Melville ships, Beasley retreats
Al Melville opened for 250,000 from under-the-gun and Mike Beasley made the call. Beasley led out for 250,000 on the [4c][2d][2h] flop and Melville pushed back with an all-in reraise. Beasley released his hand and Melville took down the pot.

Melville is one of the two short stacks, but just like Scott Seiver, he's firing.

2.55pm: Quiet start
Not a great deal has happened in the opening exchanges of this new level. Al Melville moved all in pre-flop and got it through, and Vanessa Selbst three-bet Mike Beasley out of a hand. We're waiting for the first pot of note. (Tiger Woods bogeyed the first at Augusta.)

2.45pm: Level 28
We're into level 28, where the small blind is now bigger than a player's starting stack all those moons ago on day one. It puts it all into perspective, huh?

The players' counts are always available over on the chip-count page, where any vagaries are owing to the poor math skills of our intern. He got 120% on a test at college recently, which tells you all you need to know.

Vanessa Selbst leads; the Mikes (Woods and Beasley) are not far behind. And here's what they're all playing for:

2.45pm: Level up
That's the level up. Join us on the other side.

2:44pm: Woods takes some from Selbst
Vanessa Selbst came in for a raise to 145,000 ad got the call from Mike Woods. On a flop of [2d][7d][th], Woods checked, Selbst bet 245,000, Raymond folded, and it was back to Woods, who thought for two minutes before calling. The [7c] on the turn drew another check from Woods. This time Selbst bet 570,000. Woods thought for another couple of minutes before pushing in a raise, making it 630,000 more. Selbst muttered a bit and then made the fold.

2:36pm: Raymond wins battle of the blinds
Derek Raymond completed the small blind and Mike Beasley checked his option. The flop came down [6d][7h][Tc] and both players checked. Raymond led out for 80,000 when the [Qc] hit the turn and Beasley called. The river was the [Td] and Raymond slid out 270,000. Beasley made the call and mucked his hand as he watched Raymond turn over [Ad][Th] for trips.

2:34pm: Selbst wasn't folding
Scott Seiver, one-time push-monkey and short-stack ninja, came in for a fairly standard raise of 150,000. Selbst, re-raised to 550,000, and Seiver insta-mucked. Selbst showed pocket kings. The players noted that Selbst revealing her cards was quite a rarity. "I was just showing him that I wasn't folding," she said.

2:30pm: Sneaky Beasley
Vanessa Selbst raised to 145,000 and Mike Beasley made the call. So did Mike Woods. On a flop of [8h][7c][jd], Beasley and Woods checked to Selbst, who also checked. The turn brought the [jh]. beasley checked, Woods bet 380,000, and Beasley called. The river was the [ts]. Beasley checked and Woods thought for a good long while before Woods checked behind. Beasley turned over [js][9s] for the straight and the win. "Sneaky, sneaky," called Selbst.

2:20pm: Scott Seiver, short-stack ninja
Say nothing about Scott Seiver if you're not giving him credit for his ability to use his short-stack well. Moments ago, Mike Woods came in for a raise to 160,000 and Seiver re-raised all-in for 895,000 total. Play folded back to Woods who slipped into what has become his characteristic thinking pose. It didn't last long. Woods flicked his cards in the muck.

2:07pm: Battle of the Mikes
Mike Beasley, while eating a granola bar, raised to 160,000. Mike Woods then re-raised to 460,000. Beasley made the call while finishing off the crumbs of his snack. On a flop of [jc][5h][kd], Beasley checked, and Woods checked behind. On the [ts] turn, Beasley checked again and opened the door to a 600,000 bet from Woods. Beasley folded and opened a bag of Ms. Vickie's Smokehouse BBQ* chips. (Insert your own joke about poker chips vis a vis potato chips.)

*Other brands of potato chips are available. PokerStars Blog does not endorse one brand over any other. Unless box-loads of them happened to arrive out our door. In which case we'd eat anything. And endorse it wholeheartedly.

2:05pm: Raymond squeezes out Woods and Melville
Derek Raymond made it 145,000 to go and both Mike Woods and Al Melville called. They were greeted with a [Js][9s][7c] flop and the action checked to Melville. He bet 275,000, Raymond moved all-in and Woods folded. Melville passed as well and Raymond took down the pot.

2:00pm: Back in action
With six players remaining, we've returned to play.

1.40pm: Break time
We're taking a 20-minute break. Well, we're not, we're writing this, but the players are. Join us them again at around 2pm.

1.35pm: Bax busts in seventh, winning $85,000
Cliff Josephy had one move left in his armoury - an all in shove for his last 220,000. Derek Raymond, who had previously left JohnnyBax crippled, was the player keenest to finish the job and Raymond moved in over the top. All others got out the way and it was the two of them again - this time for Josephy's tournament life.

Josephy: [ah][5h]
Raymond: [ad][9d]

Josephy was going to need to spike a five, or something even more unlikely, to stay in this tournament, but it wasn't to be. The board ran: [as][7d][8s][3h][jc] and out went Josephy in seventh, winning $85,000.

1:32pm: Raymond can't outdraw Selbst's two pair
Al Melville opened for 135,000 and both Vanessa Selbst and Derek Raymond called. The flop was [9d][8s][4d] and the action checked around to Selbst on the button. She led out for 220,000, Raymond called and Melville folded. Both players checked the [9c] on the turn. Raymond bet 450,000 when the [2s] hit the river and Selbst quickly called.

Raymond showed the [6c][7c] for a busted straight draw, no match for Selbst's nines and fours with [3s][4s].

1.20pm: Raymond raises head, doubles up
Derek Raymond has been one of the quieter players at the final table so far, but Cliff Josephy is not prepared to give him any respect - and has now doubled him up. Raymond opened to 145,000 from early position and Josephy moved all in from the big blind, covering Raymond. Raymond called and they were racing:

Josephy: [as][qc]
Raymond: [6c][6s]

The flop added a few outs for Josephy, when it came: [5c][js][10c]. But the turn [3s] and river [7d] gave the pot to Raymond, doubling his stack of 1,135,000. That leaves Josephy with a meagre 275,000 and he is now our tournament short stack.

1:14pm: Selbst reclaims chip lead from Beasley
Vanessa Selbst opened for 160,000 and Mike Beasley flat-called on the button. Selbst led out for 260,000 on the [Kd][7h][7c] flop and Beasley called. The turn came the [5c] and Selbst made it 490,000 to go. Beasley made a quick call. The [3s] on the river elicited a heftly 1,330,000 bet from Selbst. After nearly three minutes in the tank, Beasley gave up his hand and Selbst took down a big one. She's back in the chip lead now.

1:02pm: Bigger blinds
Players are now working with 30,000-60,000-5,000 blinds

1.01pm: Final table flop count...
...three.

12:59pm: Getting knocked out, a photo essay
Here's what it looks like when you get knocked off a final table, courtesy our photographer Joe Giron.

12:40pm: Jonathan Aguiar eliminated in 8th place ($60,244)
Mike Beasley opened for 125,000, and Mike Woods made his second consecutive three-bet and reraised to 450,000. Jonathan Aguiar moved all-in from the small blind, Beasley folded and Woods made the call

Aguiar [As][Qh]
Woods [Tc][Td]

The flop was great for Woods, coming down [8d][3d][2h]. The turn was the [4c], giving Aguiar four more outs with a gutshot wheel draw, but Woods spiked a set on the river with the [Th]. Only three hands into the final table, we have our first elimination, Jonathan Aguiar exiting the stage in eighth place.

12:36pm: Jonathan Aguiar speaks
While we're waiting for our first big hand (and it really shouldn't be long), here's a few words from Jonathan Aguiar.

12:32pm: Now, the poker
Final table action at the NAPT Mohegan Sun is now underway.

12:29pm: Your final eight

12:26pm: About to begin
Next up, some player introductions, and then some poker.

12:25pm: If you don't like us...
...there is always the always-fantastic NAPT live broadcast.

12:02pm: Final table player profiles
While the audience files in and we get ready to start, here's a quick look at the biographies of our final eight players: NAPT Mohegan Sun final table player profiles.

11:42am: Final table to begin soon-ish
We're on the TV set and watching the technical geniuses behind the production of the NAPT do their final prep work before bringing in the players.

Here's a quick catch-up on where we are: Eight players remain. Mike Beasley and Vanessa Selbst are at the top of the chip counts.

The table features four WSOP bracelet winners: Selbst, Seiver, Josephy, and Raymond.

Here's how they stack up.

Seat 1: Scott Seiver -- 1,125,000
Seat 2: Cliff Josephy -- 1,940,000
Seat 3: Vanessa Selbst -- 4,545,000
Seat 4: Derek Raymond -- 1,545,000
Seat 5: Mike Beasley -- 4,985,000
Seat 6: Mike Woods -- 2,950,000
Seat 7: Jonathan Aguiar --1,555,000
Seat 8: Alistar Melville -- 2,940,000

They're all playing for the following prizes:

1. $750,000
2. $428,000
3. $240,000
4. $190,000
5. $150,000
6. $115,000
7. $85,000
8. $60,244

As soon as the action gets started, we'll live blog this sucker into submission.