The action seems to be picking up pace with each passing level, as the field is now down to only 37 players after nine levels of play. Despite the end of the late registration and re-entry period, the players in this field are not being shy with their chips. Three-betting has become commonplace, and hardly an orbit goes by without a tournament life on the line.

The chip leader at the last break, Mario Savard, has remained active, which has put his stack on a roller coaster ride, and maintained the top stack in play.  The blinds are creeping up on the field; the chip average now provides slightly less than 30 big blinds.

Here is a look at the action from level 9: