Luck definitely plays a role in poker. Late in tournaments luck seems to play a pivotal role much to often. The debates about what luck is go around and around. Whatever your feelings on luck, there is little argument that Layne Flack (left) was on the bad end of it when his pocket aces fell to John Phan’s pocket sevens to eliminate Flack in 8th place and just short of a televised WPT final table.

Phan had opened, Flack raised, and Phan moved all in. Flack quickly called off the rest of his chips. After that it was just a matter of watching what happened. Which was Phan flopping a set and turning quads. With Layne collecting his 8th place payout the remaining 7 are just now one elimination away from the TV table and John Phan is almost a lock to make his second consecutive WPT final table.

Matt Keikoan is the player in the most danger, with only 600k chips. Trong Nguyen is also under a million while the field continues to chase a patient and calm Amit “Amak316″ Makhija.

• August 29, 2008 -- Phan Wins! Amit Makhija Left With 2nd
• August 29, 2008 -- Phan Nears 10 Million, Amit Doubles Again
• August 29, 2008 -- Riding The River, Amit Takes Chip Lead
• August 29, 2008 -- Caught, Phan Calls Makhijas Bluff