Justin Young, Amnon Filippi and Hoyt Corkins were all piled up at the bottom of the chip counts with around 2 million each, but the three have now went in different directions.  Justin Young was able to get a big double up through Chino Rheem after he flopped top two pair on an A-5-2 rainbow flop and Chino flopped top pair with his AJ.  Young’s A5 for two pair held up and Young was able to pull himself out of short stack status and move to the middle of the pack.

It wasn’t long before he was able to do more than that, and when his AK held up against Hoyt Corkin’s AQ in an all in preflop pot Justin was able to take the chip lead and at the same time eliminate Hoyt in 6th place.  Corkins (right) earns $216,175 for his finish while Young got to rake in enough chips to put him over 6.5 million and in the chip lead.

Chino Rheem then found himself as the shortstack and moved all in and was called by Evan McNiff.  Rheem had the QJ and needed to outrun the pocket nines of McNiff.  A flop of AKT did the trick, flopping broadway for Chino and leaving McNiff needing runner runner to win the pot.  It didn’t happen and Rheem found himself right back in the mix, while Amnon Filippi was left at the bottom of the chip counts by himself with under 2 million.

Here are some rough counts at this stage of 5 handed play:
Justin Young - 6.3 million
Even McNiff - 6 million
Steve Sung - 4.2 million
Chino Rheem - 4 million
Amnon Filippi - 1.9 million

• December 19, 2008 -- Final Table In Progress
• December 20, 2008 -- Ship It To NC: Young Busts Two and Chino Rallies
• December 18, 2008 -- Straate, Matusow, and McGowan Out: Final Table Set
• December 20, 2008 -- Chino Rheem Wins!