After completing the first two levels of Event #53, the Limit Hold’em Shootout, players recently went on break to refuel and catch up with what’s going on in the All-In Tournament. Plenty of online players remain to take down their tables, with the exception of one Eric “jakz101″ Crain. (pictured at left) Eric sat with a really fun table of online guys and seemed to be having more fun playing less-than-premium hands. When we first caught up to Crain, he was playing Q2 and taking down a pot as his tablemates laughed.

However, the strategy didn’t quite work out for Eric and he was second to be eliminated, halfway through Level 2; his 58 draw on a 9Q7 flop couldn’t catch up against the other player’s Q-J when the turn and river fell 2Q. Eric was eliminated, but remained positive and chummy with his new friends, asking when the PocketFives party starts tonight. Answer? 7pm-10pm at the Hooters Casino in the Iowa Banquet Room!

Other P5s player remaining include the following, with unofficial chip counts:

Theo Tran - 10.5K
Barry Greenstein - 4.6K
Kenna James - 4.4K
Matt “Hoss_TBF” Hawrilenko - 4K
Brock “t_soprano” Parker - 4K
Jon “pokertrip” Friedberg - 3.4K
Eric “EFro” Froehlich - 3K
Darren “DABADESTCHIC” Nelson - 2.5K
Jonathan “Fiery Justice” Little - 2.5K
Sorel “Imper1um” Mizzi - 2.4K
Jordan “Octavian_C” Rich - 1.9K
Mike “Schneids” Schneider - 1.4K
Scott “gunning4you” Seiver - 1.3K
Shane “shaniac” Schleger - 1K

Meanwhile, Day 2 of Event #52, the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em tournament has resumed as play will theoretically continue down to the final table this evening. Alvin “alsmooth” Zeidenfeld entered the day as one of the top chip leaders, while Cody “thugmoneymkr” Slaubaugh, Scott “ssitron” Sitron and Adam “adamoos” Elpayaa contend for the title.

• July 2, 2008 -- Sitron Sitting Pretty
• July 1, 2008 -- Sitron Making a Run in 1.5k NL
• July 2, 2008 -- The Splendor of Slaubaugh
• July 1, 2008 -- Ryan Doubles Twice in 1.5k NL