To play for 3 full days and then have your tournament life and large sums of money riding on the outcome of one hand is the sickness that tournament poker players expose themselves to time and again. Peter “#1Pen” Neff (left) had all his chips in preflop with AQ and was in a dominating position against Matt “Hazards21″ Giannetti holding of AJ.

Both players paired their ace on the flop, but Neff wasn’t looking to improve his hand, only for Giannetti to not hit his 3 outer. A jack on the turn was all it took to send Neff to the rail though and his 44th place finish put him in the second rung of the payouts for $52,765.

• June 14, 2008 -- Gray Done For the Day
• April 23, 2008 -- Day 3 Complete, Late Eliminations
• April 22, 2008 -- Not So Rich
• April 22, 2008 -- Around The Room

Joe Sebok got the early double up he was looking for but then lost a coinflip that would have given him a solid stack to work with. Joe was up to 250k when a player moved in from middle late position for 170k. Sebok looked down at pocket nines on the button and decided to come over the top.

He was in a race against AK, but his nines did not hold and he saw the pot of almost 400k shipped the other way and his stack back down to a paltry 80k. A couple of hands later Sebok was in the big blind when the action folded to Steve “MrSmokey1″ Billirakis in the small blind. Billirakis moved in and Sebok called off the last of his chips with A-3. Steve had T-8 suited and made a straight to eliminate Sebok in 48th place for $52,765.

Matt “plattsburgh” Vengrin (right) started the day with more chips than Sebok, coming into the day with 423k. Vengrin played his elimination hand against hat of the day wearing Tom “durrrr” Dwan. With about 440k chips to start the hand Vengrin raised with pocket sevens and Dwan reraised from the small blind. Vengrin came over the top all in and Dwan had to make a decision that would put roughly half his stack at risk.

He ended up making the call with pocket tens and was in dominating position to eliminate Vengrin. The bigger pair held and Matt had his tournament ended during the first level of play on day 4. His 47th place finish earned him the same $52,765 that Sebok received.

• April 22, 2008 -- Not So Rich
• April 22, 2008 -- Around The Room
• April 23, 2008 -- Day 3 Complete, Late Eliminations
• April 22, 2008 -- End Of Day 2

• April 23, 2008 -- Final 18
• April 23, 2008 -- Stalled at 19
• April 23, 2008 -- Billirakis Busted
• April 23, 2008 -- Redraw at 27

The fourth day of play at the WPT Championship will start with the final 55 players spread across 6 tables, but after 1 player busts there will be a complete redraw to 5 full 9 handed tables. There was also a complete redraw after the stop of play last night, raising the question if it is time for another rule change. The logic of redrawing at 54 just before the first money jump is arguable, but redrawing at the end of the day and then coming back to redraw after one player busts seems excessive.

A player could easily be in a situation where they finish up play yesterday as the big and small blinds as their last two hands and then draw the big blind today, play a hand or two in the blinds and then redraw again to the big blind.

All complaints aside, the rule is what it is, and after a hand (or two at a few tables) the first player was out and play was paused for the redraw. After everyone had their new seats the final 54 were back in action and play has dropped down to 49 players and into the next pay level, a $13k bump for everyone that is left. The group of players between 41st and 50th will receive $52,675.

Joe Sebok (left) was able to get an early double up through T.J. Cloutier and is up to 260k. Cloutier opened for 40k (blinds 6k/12k) and Sebok moved in from the small blind. Cloutier instantly called the 87k more and showed his KT. Joe had the AQ and his hand held up on a 7 high board to win the pot.

• April 23, 2008 -- Gus Still At The Top
• April 23, 2008 -- Sebok and Vengrin Eliminated
• July 4, 2008 -- Peter Cries De Wolfe
• July 3, 2008 -- Slaubaugh Busts in Level 1