shipitfish | Live Blog Main Event, 2006, Hour 2 (Reply)

18:59 EDT: Gold made it 600k and Lee called from the BB. 3-Q-8-6, and they are still checking. It's strange to see them playing pots together as the chip leaders. Lee took it with a pot-sized bet on the turn.

18:57 EDT: Kim limped UTG again. Butler limped too. Lee took it down with position. I don't really understand why all this limping is going on.

18:55 EDT: Wasicka is playing tight, but just raised, and Cunningham reraised. I think Cunningham must have a big hand here (JJ/AQ or better), because Wasicka has been so tight. Kim actually thought for a while, but folded, and Wasicka threw it super-fast.

18:52 EDT: Nassif has admitted in the booth that he was an idiot for not moving all in with his AKo earlier. Nassif's object was trying to get him to fold which was the goal.

Kim and Friberg played a board of 7-Q-T-9-3, and checked to the river. Kim won with A-J high. Everyone is speculating why in the world he didn't bet the turn after Friberg checked. I wonder that too.

18:49 EDT: Nassif (from St. Louis) is finally being interviewed. He says he is ticked and bummed that he is out.

Meanwhile, a big multi-way pot is brewing. Cunningham made a raise from the SB (his first preflop raise). I think it's a play — he's cashing his tight image. Gold has called him. Lee and Wasicka folded. 6 5 T. Cunningham has bet 1.8k, and Gold folded quickly. Gordon called it a continuation bet, which I think it was. Cunningham probably didn't have a hand.

18:43 EDT: Friberg (SB) and Gold saw a limped three way pot and have a lot of money in with 3-A-3-6 (two spades made on turn). Friberg has bet the flop and turn. Gordon is speculating that Gold has a weak ace, and Friberg has a 3. The pot is $3.5k.

I think he probably did as well.

18:37 EDT: Gold made a one-card straight with a King on A-Q-J-T-2. He talked it up like a goofball and talked Friberg into a call, which was totally pointless.

18:30 EDT: Gold is still stacking that last pot; two hands later!

18:27 EDT: Four way limped action with 9 9 8. Friberg checked out of turn, so Gold decided to lead at it. Friberg called, of course, giving Cloutier reason to argue that he was strong.

Cunningham has called as well! The pot is 2.5k now. They checked 5 around to Cunningham, who led the pot and Gold called. River came A .

Cunningham value bet the river (it seemed) and Gold called with A-9 (I think). Someone asked to see Cunningham's cards (!!! at the final table you think they are colluding? !!!) and Cunningham was forced to show 9-7. Friberg must have had a flush draw.

Announcers are saying Cunningham played well by not losing more.

18:23 EDT: Lee is giving Friberg a hard time for the height of his stacks that he is having trouble counting. It's pretty funny to watch, but the announcers are talking about nothing useful and missed it. Anyway, lee let Friberg take it preflop with a reraise even though he eventually got him counted down, more or less.

18:17 EDT: Here comes Kim again with a 3-times-the-blind raise, Gold of course calls. Gold has it on himself to play as many pots a spossible here.

Kim bets 1.5k at 6-A-J-4 on the turn, and Gold lets it go. Gordon claims Kim probably had AQo, which may be right. I think he actualy may have had two pair.

18:13 EDT: BTW, they finally explained why they are not showing hole-cards, which is the obvious reason. Even if they could keep the players from seeing the cards during play, they could hear what happened during breaks. Obviously, this makes sense; amazing people are even asking.

18:11 EDT: Friberg limped UTG and Lee saw a flop with him and they checked down to 2-8-K-A-T. Friberg decided to bet the river and Lee folded. Strangely passive action.

Cloutier is about to join in the booth, and the commentors on ESPN.com asked them to stop calling.

Champion decided by 6AM is where Gordon is setting the over/under.

18:10 EDT: Lee flopped big with QJ after limping under the gun and got J-3-J, and the A completed a possible flush on the turn and they checked through. Gold had called on the flop and then bet the river when another A come and Lee just called and Gold mucked. Announcers are going crazy about how bad it was to limp QJo UTG.

18:06 EDT:

I am live-blogging the pay-per-view ESPN Coverage. I start a new post each hour.