Massoud Eskandari Leads the Final Table of Mega Millions XVI

It took us just over nine hours to get from 43 players to our final nine tonight, and it is a familiar face to the Bicycle Casino who will be bringing in the most chips tomorrow. Massoud Eskandari finished runner-up at the 2014 Legends of Poker Main Event, and late last year, he was part of the three way chop in the SCPC Main Event. He will be bringing in a whopping 22.85 million chips tomorrow.

Below you will see a full seating chart for tomorrow's final table, including everyone's exact chip counts. The blinds will be 200,000-400,000, and the button will be on Benjamin Nguyen. The final table will be starting up at 1 PM, and it will be streamed on Live At the Bike. That will be going online at 1:30 PM. If you would like to come rail the event, it will be shown on the big screen in the cash game area.

Thanks for tuning into the updates all day long. See you guys tomorrow, and good luck to our final nine!

Seat 1: Larry Serebryany - 9.875 million
Seat 2: Raz Mael - 4.15 million (short stack)
Seat 3: Bhagwan Tejwani - 6.625 million
Seat 4: Jonas Hagstrom - 11.975 million
Seat 5: Benjamin Nguyen - 14.050 million
Seat 6: Keyue Wang - 9.625 million
Seat 7: Massoud Eskandari - 22.85 million (chip leader)
Seat 8: Benjamin Chan - 12.7 million
Seat 9: Xiao Ruan - 10.5 million

Jonathan Dahlberg Eliminated in 10th Place ($17,015), the Final Nine is Set!

On the first hand of the ten-handed final table, Jonathan Dahlberg got his final chips in the middle holding [8h][7d]. He was dominated by the [Qd][Qs] of Benjamin Nguyen, and the flop of [Qh][8c][5d] all but ended things. The [3s] on the turn sealed that, and the final nine was set!

Stay tuned for an updated seating chart, along with end of day chip counts for all nine players.

Ron West Eliminated in 11th Place ($17,015)

Ron West and Massoud Eskandari went heads up to a flop of [Kh][8h][4c]. Eskandari bet out 1.05 million, West called, and the turn brought the [9d]. Eskandari fired 2 million, West called again, and the river was the [Kd].

Eskandari bet out 2 million again, and West quickly moved all in for 4.4 million total. Eskandari threw his hands up in the air, and when he got an exact count, he made the call.

Eskandari - [Kc][Qs]
West: [7h][6h]

The bluff didn't work out for West, and Eskandari scooped the huge pot to take a big chip lead going into the final table of 10.

Chris Klodnicki Eliminated in 12th Place ($17,015)

Chris Klodnicki raised to 1.5 million on the button, leaving himself with just 300,000 behind. Benjamin Chan was next to act, and he made it 5 million to go. The big blind tank folded, and Klodnicki tossed his final few chips in.

Klodnicki: [Ks][5c]
Nguyen: [Ad][Qs]

The flop of [8d][6h][5h] gave Klodnicki the lead, but he still had to fade an ace or queen. The [6c] on the turn meant an eight would work for Chan now as well, but he wouldn't need that, as the [Ac] came on the river instead.

Klodnicki came back from dinner break as the chip leader, but most of his chips went to Nguyen in this past hour, who is now the chip leader with 16.2 million

Serebryany Doubles Through West

Ron West raised it up from early position, and it folded around to Larry Serebryany, who moved all in for his final 4 million. West quickly called, and saw he was in great shape to add to his lead.

West: [As][Kd]
Serebryany: [Ac][4s]

The flop came down [9s][5s][2d], and Serebryany pleaded with the dealer "three or four please three or four." The dealer oblidged with the [3s] on the turn, and now Serebryany was calling for cards to fade. "No spade please!" The [8h] completed the board, and Serebryany clapped his hands as he scored a nice double up.

Ron West - 11 million
Larry Serebryany - 8.3 million

Updated Counts From the Final 12

Blinds: 200,000-400,000 Average: 8.5 million

Ron West - 15.5 million
Benjamin Chan - 14.7 million
Jonas Hagstrom - 12.6 million
Massoud Eskandari - 10.6 million
Keyue Wang - 9 million
Jonathan Dahlberg - 7.4 million
Bhagwan Tejwani - 7.2 million
Raz Mael - 5.5 million
Benjamin Nguyen - 4.7 million
Larry Serebryany - 4.3 million
Xiao Ruan - 4.1 million
Chris Klodnicki - 2.7 million

Damien Dreyer Elimineted in 13th Place ($14,320)

Damien Dreyer gets his chips in the middle with [As][Ac] on the turn of a board reading [Kh][9c[Qc][9d], but his opponent, Ron West, caught up to him with that card, as he had [10c][9h]. No miracle ace came on the river for Dreyer, and West scooped the big pot to up his stack to 14 million.

Mael Doubles Through Nguyen

After a raise from Benjamin Nguyen from under the gun, Raz Mael moves all in from the small blind for 2.65 million. The big blind folds, and Nguyen quickly calls.

Nguyen: [As][Ac]
Mael: [8h][8c]

Mael is well behind, but that all changes on the flop of [8s][6c][5s]. The [Ks] on the turn gives Nguyen some flush outs, but the [4h] on the river isn't one of those.

Raz Mael - 5.8 million
Benjamin Nguyen - 2.3 million

Carlos Monteiro Eliminated in 14th Place ($14,320)

Carlos Monteiro shoved his short stack in from under the gun, and it folded all the way around to the big blind, Keyue Wang. She took a look at her cards, then quickly called.

Wang: [As][Qd]
Monteiro: [Ks][Qs]

The board ran down [9c][5c][2s][3c][6s], and Wang's ace high held up, getting us down to 13 players. When we lose four more players, we will be done for the night.

Keyue Wang - 8.5 million
Carlos Monteiro - Out

Mael Doubles Through Ruan

Raz Mael got his short stack in preflop holding [Ac][Qs], and he is in great shape against the [Ah][5h] of Xiao Ruan. The board came down [Js][4d][6s][10d][2d], and Mael notched the double up through Ruan.

Raz Mael - 4 million
Xiao Ruan - 2.6 million

Dahlberg Spikes One Outer to Double

Action folds around to Jonathan Dahlberg on the button, and he moves all in for 4.275 million. Massoud Eskandari is in the big blind, and he tanks for about 90 seconds before calling.

Dahlberg: [9c][9d]
Eskandari: [Kc][Js]

It was a great flop for Eskandari, coming down [As][Ks][10c]. Dahlberg needed a nine now, and he got just that on the [9s] turn. Eskandari could still win with a queen or spade, but the [4c] came instead. As the chips were being  counted, table mate Ron West said that he folded King-Nine, meaning it was a one outer for Dahlberg on the turn.

Massoud Eskandari - 13.4 million
Jonathan Dahlberg - 8.8 million

Dinner Time

The 14 remaining players are taking a 40-minute dinner break. Play will resume at 8:10 PM local time.

Klodnicki Wins the Biggest Pot of the Tournament

Chris Klodnicki just took the chip lead in this tournament after he doubled up through Xiao Ruan in a 17 million chip pot.

Action started with Klodnicki raising to 575,000 from early position. Ruan was the only caller, and the flop came down [9s][5d][5s]. Klodnicki continued for 525,000, Ruan called, and the [4d] hit the turn. Klodnicki fired 1 million this time, and Ruan fired back with a raise to 2.3 million. Klodnicki called, and the [Qs] completed the board.

Klodnicki checked, and Ruan thought for a while before assembling a massive bet of 5 million, and slid it in the middle. Klodnicki had about 250,000 more than the bet, so it was a decision for virtually all of his chips. Klodnicki immediately started shaking his head, and he asked Ruan if his full house was good. Ruan didn't react, and Klodnicki thought it over for about two minutes before he called.

Ruan rolled over [As][5s], but it was no good, as Klodnicki had [4h][4s] for a turned full house. He jumps all the way up to 17 million after that, while Ruan tumbles down to 4.7 million.

Nikoli Sears Eliminated in 15th Place ($14,320)

Nikoli Sears moved all in preflop, and for the second time in about half an hour, Jonas Hagstrom woke up with pocket aces behind him. He moved in over the top, and everyone else folded. Sears had some catching up to do with [Qs][10h], and the flop was about as good as he could ask for, coming [Kd][Jh][7d]. Sears needed an ace or nine now, but the [8s] turn and [4s] river brought no help.

Jonas Hagstrom - 10 million
Nikoli Sears - Out

West Doubles Through Dahlberg With Quads

Ron West started the action with a raise to 525,000 in the cutoff, and in the small blind, Jonathan Dahlberg reraised to 1.425 million. West called, and the flop came down [8s][6d][5d].

Dahlberg thought for about 30 seconds before moving all in, and West could not call fast enough.

West: [8d][8c]
Dahlberg: [Ah][Qc]

Dahlberg was drawing dead to winning the pot, but he could still find a way to chop if a straight ran out. The [7s] hit the turn, and West said "Don't do it." The dealer wouldn't as the [8h] came on the river to give West quads.

Ron West - 10.7 million
Jonathan Dahlberg - 2.4 million

Chan Doubles Through Wang

Benjamin Chan gets his final 4.275 million in the middle preflop holding [Ac][Qd], and he is in rough shape against the [Kh][Kc] of Keyue Wang. Wang asks the dealer for low cards, but instead the flop comes down [Ah][4h][2d]. This gives Chan top pair, and now Wang needs a king or running hearts. She picks up the [5h] on the turn, but the [5d] on the river doesn't complete her flush, shipping a big double up to Chan.

Benjamin Chan - 8.7 million
Keyue Wang - 3.5 million

Fresh Chip Counts From the Final 15

Blinds: 125,000-250,000 Average: 6.78 million

Massoud Eskandari - 17.3 million
Xian Ruan - 11.8 million
Chris Klodnicki - 10 million
Bhagwan Tejwani - 8.8 million
Jonathan Dahlberg - 7.7 million
Jonas Hagstrom - 7.2 million
Keyue Wang - 7.2 million
Ron West - 5.6 million
Benjamin Nguyen - 4.4 million
Larry Serebryany - 4.4 million
Carlos Monteiro - 4.3 million
Benjamin Chan - 4.27 million
Nikoli Sears - 3.5 million
Damien Dreyer - 2.2 million
Raz Mael - 2.2 million

David Malka Eliminated in 16th Place ($12,670)

David Malka, who started the day as a big chip leader, just busted in 16th place. He got pretty unlucky to do it as well.

Action started with Malka raising to 600,000 in middle position. Next to act, Xiao Ruan made it 1.6 million to go. It folded back to Malka, who didn't take long to move all in for about 3 million total. Ruan called, but he didn't look too thrilled about it.

Malka: [Qd][Qs]
Ruan: [Ad][Jc]

The flop of [8s][7d][4h] brought no backdoor outs for Ruan, who still needed an ace to win the pot. Sure enough, the [Ac] came on the turn, and now it was Malka who was hoping for a miracle. The [Kc] might have teased him for a bit, but it was no help, knocking Malka out just before the pay jump.

Xiao Ruan - 11.8 million
David Malka - Out

Eskandari and Klodnicki Separating Themselves From the Pack

Both Massoud Eskandari and Chris Klodnicki have been very happy since we reached the final two tables, as both players have been scooping most of the pots at their respective tables. Klodnicki just took a big pot off start of day chip leader David Malka, vaulting him up to 12.5 million.

However, it's Eskandari who holds the chip lead right now, with a whopping 17 million chip stack. Eskandari has finished runner up at the Legends of Poker Main Event, and finished third in the CSPC Event here last December. Will this be the big win at the Bike that has eluded Eskandari?

Hagstrom Doubles Through Sears

Action folded around to Nikoli Sears in the small blind, and he moved all in, having Jonas Hagstrom covered in the big blind. Hagstrom slowly sweated his cards, but as soon as he saw what they were, he called.

Hagstrom: [Ac][As]
Sears: [7h][7c]

The board runs down [Qs][Jh][6s][3s][4s], and Hagstrom makes an unnecessary flush on the river to score a big double up.

Jonas Hagstrom - 5.2 million
Nikoli Sears - 4 million

Sean Kim Eliminated in 17th Place ($12,670)

Chris Klodnicki raised to 450,000 from early position, and it folded around to Sean Kim in the small blind. He moved all in, and as soon as it got back to Klodnicki, he dropped chips in for the call.

Klodnicki: [Kd][Ks]
Kim: [Kd][Qs]

The hand was all but over after the [10d][7h][6c] flop, and the [10c] on the turn left Kim drawing dead.

Chris Klodnicki - 9.5 million
Sean Kim - Out

Benjamin Chan Doubles Through Chris Klodnicki

After a raise from Chris Klodnicki preflop, Benjamin Chan moved all in for his final 2.2 million on the button. It folded back around to Klodnicki, who called to put him at risk.

Klodnicki: [Jd][10d]
Chan: [Ac][4h]

Chan had a slight edge going to the flop, but that lead blew open after the flop came [Ah][Kd][6s]. Klodnicki needed a queen or running cards now, and the [4c] on the turn gave Chan two pair. Only a lady on the river would do now for Klodnicki, but the [10s] came instead.

Benjamin Chan - 4.8 million
Chris Klodnicki - 4.3 million

Kevin French Eliminated in 18th Place ($12,670)

Kevin French had just lost a good chunk of his stack when he doubled up Jonas Hagstrom in a blind vs. blind situation, and he would be felted on the next hand by Ron West, in another blind vs. blind altercation. French would shove from the small blind with [Ah][9h], but West woke up with a dominating hand [Ad][10d], in the big blind.

The flop of [7h][6d][5d] gave West a flush draw, cutting out one of French's outs. The [Jc] on the turn was no help to him, and the [3d] on the river improved West's hand to a flush.

Ron West - 7.3 million
Kevin French - Out

Carlos Monteiro Triples Up, Malka and Klodnicki Chop a Monster Side Pot

We just had a lengthy hand that went a few minutes into the break, and when the dust settled, Carlos Monteiro tripled up, while David Malka and Chris Klodnicki tangled in an interesting side pot. Here's how it went down.

Action started with Chris Klodnicki raising to 350,000 from under the gun. David Malka called in middle position, as did Xiao Ruan. It folded around to Carlos Monteiro in the big blind, and he moved all in for his final 820,000. It was back on Klodnicki now, and he put out a reraise to 1.75 million. Malka was next, and he tanked for about two minutes before calling. Ruan got out of the way, and we went to a flop.

That flop was [9h][9s][2h]. Klodnicki checked to Malka, who did the same. The [3c] on the turn saw two more checks, and the river was the [3s]. Klodnicki checked one more time, and here's where things got interesting.

Malka thought for over a minute before he put out a bet of 1.2 million. Klodnicki stared at the bet for about 30 seconds before softly announcing "3.8." The bet was for most of his stack, and it sent Malka deep into the tank. He sat motionless for over three minutes, contemplating the big decision. Eventually, he tossed one chip in the middle for the call.

Klodnicki rolled over [Ad][Ks], and Malka let out a sigh of relief, as he turned over the same hand, [Ah][Kc].  Klodnicki looked a bit confused by the call as he pulled his chips back into the stack, while Monteiro triumphantly tabled [7c][7h] for the winning hand.

His stack jumps up to nearly three million, as we move on with play in this final 18.

Final Two Tables With Fresh Chip Counts

Table 1

1. David Malka - 9 million
2. Xiao Ruan - 8.1 million
3. Benjamin Nguyen - 6.7 million
4. Sean Kim - 2.8 million
5. Keyue Wang - 3.5 million
6. Carlos Monteiro - 820,000
7. Chris Klodnicki - 7.1 million
8. Benjamin Chan - 2 million
9. Raz Mael - 3.6 million

Table 2

1. Larry Serebryany - 7.15 million
2. Nikoli Sears - 8.6 million
3. Jonas Hagstrom - 1.3 million
4. Kevin French - 2.6 million
5. Ron West - 4.2 million
6. Damien Dreyer - 5.4 million
7. Jonathan Dahlberg - 7.7 million
8. Bhagwan Tejwani - 8 million
9. Massoud Eskandari - 9.8 million

Down to Just Two Tables Now

We are down to the final 18 players now. We will get a fresh seating chart with chip counts for you guys shortly, but in the meantime, here are the players who all took home $11,160 today.

19. Inhpounh Vongvone
20. Jhovany Argueta
21. Bryan Piccioli

Second Session Underway in the $200,000 Guaranteed Event

Our post Mega Millions Event is in full swing, as another flight in the $200,000 Guaranteed Monster Stack Event has started. Players will be starting with 20,000 in chips, and registration will remain open until 7 PM tonight. The top 12% of players will be advancing to the finals in Friday to battle it out for this huge first place prize. Good luck all!

Next Group of Bustouts: 22-24th Places

The following three players all took home $9,680. Everyone still in has earned at least $11,160.

22. Quincy Weekly
23. Evan Krentzman
24. Raffi King

Next Round of Eliminations: 25-27th Places

We are at the point in the tournament where there is a pay jump for every three eliminations. The following players all won $8,240 today.

25. Juan Godinez
26. Bryce Hampton
27. Yaniv Fligelman

Tomorrow's Final Table WILL be Streamed on Live at the Bike

Originally, the final table was set to play out as it normally would in the tournament room, but Tournament Director Mo Fathipour has made an agreement to have the final table streamed on Live at the Bike. Rather than have a rail set up in the secluded room, the stream will instead be aired, on a delay of course, in the cash game area on the big screen. Those who wish to can come and watch the stream there.

Remember that the final table will be starting at 1 PM, with the live stream beginning online at 1:30 PM.

Three Table Redraw and Full Updated Counts

Table 1

1. Yaniv Fligelman - 1.1 million
2. Inhpounh Vongvone - 2 million
3. Benjamin Nguyen - 5.1 million
4. Sean Kim - 2.1 million
5. Keyue Wang - 1.4 million
6. Carlos Monteiro - 1.15 million
7. Juan Godinez - 1.1 million
8. Benjamin Chan - 3.6 million
9. Raz Mael - 1.95 million

Table 2

1. Larry Serebryany - 2.1 million
2. Nikoli Sears - 4.4 million
3. Jonas Hagstrom - 2.95 million
4. Jhovany Argueta -2.6 million
5. Quicy Weekly - 3 million
6. Damien Dreyer - 3.6 million
7. Bryce Hampton - 1.2 million
8. Evan Krentzman - 2.8 million
9. Massoud Eskandari - 8.2 million


Table 3

1. Ron West - 5.34 million
2. Chris Klodnicki - 5.7 million
3. David Malka - 11.3 million
4. Jonathan Dahlberg - 3.9 million
5. Xiao Ruan - 5.32 million
6. Bhagwan Tejwani - 6.2 million
7. Bryan Piccioli - 5.5 million
8. Kevin French - 3.9 million
9. Raffi King - 2 million

Eliminations 28th-36th Places

The following players all took home $6,875. We are in the process of a full three table redraw now. We will post a fresh seating chart with full, updated counts shortly.

28. Jesse Martin
29. Jesus Jimenez
30. Colleen Long
31. Gary Sewell
32. Dana Kellstrom
33. Kim Lam
34. Matt Salsberg
35. Chienyu Huang
36. Isaac Settle

Massoud Eskandari Leads The Way On First Break

We are down to our final 31 players on this Day 3 of the Mega Millions, and the chip leader is someone who has made plenty of big final tables here at the Bike: Massoud Eskandari. He has 9.5 million at the moment. David Malka was up to over 11 million at one point, but has dropped some since then, and is second with 9 million.

Some Fresh Stacks From the Final 36

When we get down to the three table redraw, we will post a full seating chart along with updated chip counts for everyone still in. Until then, here are how a few of the notables still vying for this title are doing. The blinds are currently 40,000-80,000, with an average stack of 2.8 million

David Malka - 11.3 million
Massoud Eskandari - 8.4 million
Ron West - 4.9 million
Chris Klodnicki - 3.55 million
Jesse Martin - 3.4 million
Bryan Piccioli - 2.95 million
Gary Sewell - 2.9 million
Matt Salsberg - 1.45 million
Colleen Long - 1.02 million

Eliminations So Far Today

We started with 43 players, and we have already lost five players. You can view those players below. They all took home $5,545.

39. Turbo Nguyen
40. Edison Tapiz
41. Michael Brown
42. Mithcell Nong
43. Dante Tabing

Day 3 Now Underway

David Malka leads the final 43 players coming back today for Day 3 of the Mega Millions. We will be playing ten 1-hour levels today, and we will be here all day to provide you guys with all of the live updates, so make sure you don't go anywhere!

Cards in the Air: Opening $200k Flight Today

The $200,000 Guaranteed Monster Stack Event kicked off yesterday, and we have two more flights starting up today. The first of those two has just started up here in the tournament room. Players will be starting with 20,000 in chips today, and the top 12% will be moving on to the finals in Friday to battle it out for a first place prize that will be over $50,000. Good luck all!

Play Ends With David Malka Holding Massive Lead

After twelve hours of play, Day 2 of the 16th installment of the Mega Millions is in the books here at the Bicycle Casino. Tomorrow, it will be David Malka that holds the pole position, with a monster stack of 8.625 million. Malka already had the chip lead when he scored a huge knockout against Peter Hengsakul. Hengsakul had Ace-Queen against the Ace-Ten of Malka, and while his hand was good on the flop and the turn, a ten came on the river to give the huge pot to Malka. No one else left has over 5 million.

Play will continue tomorrow at 1 PM, where we will be playing 10 one hour levels. The final day will take place on Thursday, where one player will walk away with over $300,000. Be sure to come back here tomorrow for all of your updates, as we get closer to crowing the next Mega Millions champion!

Some Notable Big Stacks As We Enter Last Break

Blinds: 30,000-60,000 Players Left: 58 Average: 1.7 million

Massoud Eskandari - 4.5 million
Ron West - 4.35 million
David Malka - 3.9 million
Gary Sewell - 2.7 million
Chris Klodnicki - 2.5 million
Peter Hengsakul - 2.3 million