Level 17 (4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total RG Main Event Entries: 379
Players Remaining: 36
Chip Average: 211,000
Garrett Bradley eliminated the dangerous James Mackey and is playing close to 250,000 as a result.
With the average stack down to only 25 big blinds, more all-ins are starting to take place as the field narrows close to the three table redraw.
Garrett Bradley and Sally Rowden are both responsible for lightening the field as the pay jumps become more of a factor.
On Table 12, James Mackey moved all-in for 80,000 in the cutoff and Bradley found a call in the big blind. Mackey's A♣8♠ needed help against the A♥10♠ of Bradley and the A♦K♠5♠Q♦9♦ runout wasn't enough to save his tournament life.
Next door on Table 13, Sally Rowden is up to the chip average after putting a cooler on Edgar Lotero. Lotero opened for a standard raise from the small blind and Rowden jammed for 100,000 from the big blind.
Lotero snap-called with K♣K♦ but the A♦A♥ had him in tough shape. The board ran clean for Rowden and Lotero was out the door on the next hand.
As the blinds continue to increase, we can certainly expect to see more confrontations like this in the immediate future.