Day 2 of the Montreal Open is now down to 188 players, and they are all in the money now.  The bubble hand was a grand affair, with 21 tables filled with players eager to see one of their opponents head for the rail.  Not to mention the lights, cameras and action!

When our attention was turned to table #32, the flop was out: 

Brian Flood had all of his 5,800,000 chips in front of him and an all-in card on top of his face-down hole cards.  At the other end of the table, Azim Popatia was leaning back, with a grin on his face, and his hole cards face-down in front of him as well.  As is standard in hand per hand play, the dealer had instructed the players to keep their cards face down until they received the “go” from the tournament director to proceed with the remainder of the hand.

When all the other tables had finished their action, play resumed on table #32.  Both players opened their hole cards.

Azim:

Brian:

Azim’s smile was explained by the fact that he had hit a straight on the flop.  Brian needed a divine intervention from Lady Luck to pull this one off.  The rest of the board was revealed: and held no miracle for Brian.

So Brian Flood become the bubble of the event.  Always a gentlemen, Brian exited the tournament hall smiling, as the remaining 188 players applauded their new “In the Money” status.

As is often the case after the bubble hand, eliminations start piling up and players hit the rail at an impressive rate. The action is going to get even more intense as the field shrinks and the players approach the end of the 12 scheduled levels of play today.