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The action is heating up here tonight at the Rio. The $1,500 NL Shootout just made the final table and Annette Obrestad was our 11th place finisher. The $2,500 Razz is at the final table and down to just seven players. Jennifer Harman, Vladimir Shchemelev, and Frank Kassela are battling on this table for the bracelet. The $1,000 NL Event is at dinner break with seven players remaining. Adam Richardson is the chip leader with Mick Carlson a close second. The $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Event started a couple hours ago and looks to have the biggest field out of any $10,000 Event of this WSOP.

Cup of Coffee?

Chris Bjorin had a cup of coffee at the final table. Actually, he may not have been there even that long. I happened to be sitting in the media booth at the last table in this event. It started with 9 players and the “official” final table in any stud variant is 8 handed. I went down to take pictures just as the 9th place player left. By the time I was done taking pictures and had came back up to copy them over, Bjorin was gone.

Chris Bjorin made the final table, but he don't look happy.

Vladimir Shchemelev, Jennifer Harman, and Frank Kassela have all made this final table as well. This is the 4th final table for Shchemelev at this 2010 WSOP. From the players I have talked to, a lot say that he has a very strong stud game in general. That may explain why

I am Russian, and I will crush your little chips.

Chop It Up?

A few minutes after Bjorin’s bustout, there were some interesting developments at the final table. Some of the players are in the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Event and there was a proposal on the table for a while to try and delay the final table until tomorrow. Some of the players were for this, but Harrah’s floor staff quickly nixed this idea, referring to the WSOP structure.

Next, some of the players actually proposed cutting a deal and chopping the prize pool or even taking a dive. Jennifer Harman was quick to point out that she “doesn’t buy bracelets. She earns them.” Frank Kassela also stated that if he wins this event and becomes the first multi-bracelet winner of the year, he doesn’t want a cloud hanging over him due to some deal.

This little woman doesn't want to chop...the prize pool that is.

I should point out that Harrah’s policy prohibits them from brokering deals in any WSOP event. If the players do one in private, Harrah’s cannot stop them, but the players must still play it out for the bracelet regardless.

Get on Your H.O.R.S.E.

The $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship drew a total of 241 players. This field wound up being the largest $10,000 World Championship thus far at the World Series of Poker. (The 10k Omaha Hi-Lo had 212 players.) The Main Event has already well surpassed that number, but for a non-NL $10k event, that is pretty impressive.

That all for tonight. Come back tomorrow as we bring you more coverage and stories from the 2010 World Series of Poker.