Alex Kravchenko came over the top all-in to a Jerry Yang raise...Jerry began pacing...counting out his chips...and then he called. Of course.   It's really funny, in a way, that he even stops to think about it.  But, after starting out incredibly hot, Yang has lost nearly every race since.  Especially to Alex.

Jerry Yang A10

Alex Kravchenko KK

This is actually the second time today that Yang would need to hit a three-outer to bust a player.  After the 866 someone in the media room actually called for running sixes.  Brutal.  But the poker gods were kind to Alex as the turn and river fell 32 and Alex has now doubled up for the third time today through Yang.

With his 27m chips, the stoic Russian has suddenly become the favorite to win the main event.  This will be one of the most incredible--and improbable--main event victories.  When Yang had 60m, Alex was staring down at a 6m stack.  Yang has slid to 49m.

Jerry Yang raised under the gun and Alex Kravchenko leaned forward, placed both hands behind his chips and slid them forward.  As was his custom, Alex slowly stood up when he was all in.  While Jerry was sweating his decision, the monitors showed an HD closeup of Alex’ face, his sunglasses offering a clear reflection of the table.  The briefest of smiles crosses his lips but they quickly purse when Jerry announces, “I call.”

Alex Kravchenko 33
Jerry Yang KQ

The crowd stood to their feet and just as someone mutters, “Wow, he’s gottalotta outs,” the dealer ends all drama when he turns over 832.  It’s tough to say “drawing dead” in poker—especially for Jerry Yang—but the turn and river cards were truly meaningless as there were no runner-runner possibilities.

Kavchenko’s impressive run continues.  He’s still on the short stack, but I have a feeling the disciplined Russian won’t be going anywhere anytime soon with his 18m stack.

Alex Kravchenko pushed in from the small blind when everyone folded to him.  Jerry Yang thought for several minutes before making the call.  Kravchenko had him dominated with A10 versus J10...but we know that doesn't mean much to Yang.  Kravchenko's hand held up after the board bricked out.  He now has just under 10m. 

Want a crazy prediction?  Well LA Mike has one for ya.  The Russian is going to win after entering as the short stack.  Kind of like Rocky IV, but the opposite.

Not long after Drago's double-up, Jon Kalmar (pictured) was all-in preflop versus Raymond "I Nap At the Table" Rhame.  Rhame has not been very active today (after taking several hands off last night as well), but did call Kalmer when he came over the top for a total of 10m.  Rhame's JJ held up versus the AK of Kalmer, and he's now second in chips.  Kalmer was somehow all smiles despite being eliminated...LA Mike would be smiling too if he won $1,255,069.

Some chip countage:

Jerry Yang - 70m
Raymond Rahme - 30m
Tuan Lam - 18m
Alex Kravchenko - 10m

Alex Kravchenko doubled up when he moved in on the short stack with KJ through the pocket 33 of “Rain” Khan.  The doubleup gave the stoic Russian nearly 6m and left Khan with 7m.

Alex Kravchenko has a string of cashes dating back to 1999 on the Hendon Mob database. In this morning’s press conference, he described himself as a businessman who plays poker recreationally.  The 36-year old Russian came across poker in a casino almost ten years ago and his business instinct kicked in.  “I saw that the good players made money from bad players.  So I started playing.”

Alex was in the running for the WSOP player of the year after an impressive summer.  He cashed in five events, with two final tables.  However, it was the first cash that counted the most.  Alex pulled down $228,446 and the gold bracelet in the $1,500 Omaha 8OB tournament.

Seat 7:  Alex Kravchenko
Hometown:   Moscow, Russia
Chip Count:  6,570,000
Alex Kravchenko is a 36-year-old businessman originally from Archangel, USSR.  He has been playing poker for about eight years.  He is married and has two children.  Kravchenko became the first Russian citizen in history to win a WSOP gold bracelet when he was victorious in the $1,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low championship at this year’s WSOP – in what was the largest Omaha High-Low field in history.  Russian immigrants have won previously at the World Series.  But Kravchenko’s victory was clearly a milestone.  Kravechenko has an impressive history of poker tournament wins in Europe.  He won the Austrian Masters Pot-Limit Championship in 2001.  He also won the Russian Pot-Limit Championship held that same year and a Limit Hold’em title at the Helsinki Frezeout in 2002.  He has cashed over 30 times in what is becoming an illustrious poker career. 

This is Kravchenko’s fifth time to cash at the WSOP in 2007.  Kravchnko faces the biggest challenge of any player in the finale, as the lowest stack at the table.

Alex Kravchenko pushed all in for 70k from the button and Barry Greenstein called from the small blind. The players showed:

Alex Kravchenko J6

Barry Greenstein AQ

The board came 642KQ for Kravchenko to be eliminated in 13th place with $21,660.

Mark Cole moved all in for 37k total from middle position and Alex Kravchenko called from the small blind. The players turned up:

Mark Cole A9

Alex Kravchenko AQ

The board came 107433 for Cole to be eliminated from the tournament.