As the field continues to dwindle, tensions are running high in the $1.5K NLHE event. Almost every table has called over a floor during person the past couple of levels for rulings about everything from what constitutes a mucked hand to proper cell phone usage.

Cody “thugmoneymkr” Slaughbaugh was the recent benefactor of a ruling by a floor person. Slaughbaugh was recently moved to a table with Bryan Micon, Isaac Haxton, and Leonid Yanovski. As a hand was being dealt, Yanovski was on his cell phone while seated at the table, but hung up as the last card was being dealt to the player on the button. Others at the table contended the hand was dead since the rule stipulates that you have to step a table length away if you are on the phone. The dealer called over a floor person who ruled that since Yanovski hung up before the last card was dealt he had a live hand.

After the delay, the hand finally proceeded and Cody raised from middle position with the blinds at 2K/4K ante 500 and Yanovski moved all-in for approximately 40K more. Slaughbaugh thought for a couple of minutes before making the call with K-Q and Yanovski showed pocket tens. The king on the flop gave Cody the advantage in the hand and with no help for Yanovski on the turn or river, he was eliminated. After the hand, Slaughbaugh had over 300K in chips.

Tom “titantom32″ Braband has also been chipping up these past two levels. Down as low as 50K, he doubled up when his pocket kings held against his opponent’s A-K and he has been building ever since. Going into dinner break, he has 172K. Brian “bparis” Paris has also held on to his big stack and had 180K the last time we saw him.

Players continue to drop in the $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em event. Ben “bfineman” Fineman, Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin and Andy “BKiCE” Seth were all knocked out in the past level and several online stars are short as we inch toward the dinner break. Chad “lilholdem954″ Batista lost a substantial pot to slide down to 3K. With blinds at 200/400, Batista (pictured right) raised to 1150 in early position and a player in middle position called. Both players checked the 976 flop and the J came on the turn. Chad checked and his opponent bet 1650. Chad called and the river was the 3. Batista check-called a bet of 4500, saying “This is the worst call ever made” and quickly mucked his hand when he saw the 99 of his opponent.

Shane “shaniac” Schleger is at the same table and has been moving in the opposite direction. A player in the cutoff raised to 1400, leaving himself with 600 behind, and Schleger called on the button. On the flop of 776, the cutoff moved his last few chips into the pot and Schleger called instantly with KQ, which trailed the 55. The A gave Shane more outs on the turn and he hit the K on the river, eliminating his opponent and building his stack to 10K.

We’re midway through Level 6 (200/400) with 171 players remaining and the average stack at 14K. Here’s a look at some other notable chip counts:

Matt “All In At 420″ Stout - 16K
Eugene Todd - 15K
Jared “TheWacoKidd” Hamby - 10K
Jeff “jeffboski” Sluzinski - 3.5K
Jeff “crzysavage” Gressard - 3.5K
Eric “Rizen” Lynch - 3K

• June 21, 2008 -- Shaniac World
• June 21, 2008 -- He’s a Shaniac!
• June 21, 2008 -- Back from the Break
• June 21, 2008 -- Braband Wakes Up with Aces