With registration having closed at the beginning of Level 9, the official numbers are in. With a total of 45 entries received, the players have created a prize pool worth $1,125,000.
The top seven spots will earn a prize with anyone making the money guaranteed at least $56,250. Awaiting the eventual champion is a nice, chunky payday worth $382,500.
A pile of about 250,000 in chips lay in the middle of the pot as Phil Hellmuth and Ralph Perry stared down at a flop. Hellmuth was first to act and slid out a bet worth 100,000. Perry took a moment before eventually laying his hand down and Hellmuth showed him the goods.
"You know I have it," Hellmuth assured Perry as he turned over the , flopping a set of aces.
Phil Hellmuth opened to 16,000 under the gun and called a three-bet of 56,000 from Chris Vitch in the small blind. A flop was delivered and Vitch continued with a bet of 60,000.
"This hurts a bit," Hellmuth stated as he tossed his into the muck.
"That hurt a bit," Hellmuth reiterated as the next hand was dealt.
Benjamin Pollak opened on the small blind and Aaron Katz made it two-bets, which Pollak flatted. Pollak drew two and Katz one. Pollak check-raised a bet from Katz and Katz called.
Pollak stood pat while Katz drew one. Pollak bet and Katz called. Both players stood pat and checked their final betting round.
Pollak tabled the for an eighty-seven and Katz mucked.