McKeehen, Blumenfield, Beckley last 3 standing at WSOP final table — PHOTOS

It will be scarves versus sweatpants for the World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet.

Joe McKeehen, a 24-year-old professional poker player from North Wales, Pa., continued to dictate the action Monday and will have a massive lead entering the final day of the $10,000 buy-in No-limit Texas Hold 'em World Championship.

McKeehen finished Day 2 with 128.825 million chips, two-thirds of the chips in play, and is the overwhelming favorite to capture the $7.68 million first prize when the Main Event resumes at 6 p.m. today at the Rio's Penn & Teller Theater.

ESPN will broadcast the tournament on a 30-minute delay starting at 6:30 p.m.

Neil Blumenfield of San Francisco sits in second place with 40.125 million chips after he had an eventful day at the table, while Joshua Beckley of Marlton, N.J., is third with 23.7 million.

"My goal from really early in the day (Sunday) was to try to get heads-up with Joe with some chips," Blumenfield said.

McKeehen, decked out in a red T-shirt and gray sweatpants, was responsible for the last of Monday's three eliminations as he knocked out Las Vegas resident Max Steinberg in fourth place.

Steinberg went all-in for his final 16.5 million chips with ace-jack offsuit and was quickly called by McKeehen, who held ace-queen.

Steinberg, the lone WSOP bracelet winner at the final table, was unable to improve his hand and took home $2,615,361, his biggest cash to date.

McKeehen has declined all interview requests until after the conclusion of the Main Event.

Beckley, who added a scarf to his final-table attire Monday night, was the biggest mover after he started six-handed play as the second-shortest chip stack with less than 20 big blinds (10.875 million).

Beckley, a 25-year-old professional poker player, doubled up with pocket aces on the 26th hand of play Monday against Ofer Zvi Stern of Israel and was able to coast for the final two hours.

"It's been going very smoothly. I'm just happy to be here," Beckley said. "The double-up was key. I got the aces, and then I was able to play my regular style."

Blumenfield, easily recognizable in his fedora and scarf, was one of the most active players Monday. The 61-year-old retired computer software executive sent Stern to the rail in fifth place in his most pivotal pot.

Blumenfield is looking to become the oldest Main Event winner since 67-year-old Johnny Moss won in 1974. Blumenfield also would be the first amateur to capture the bracelet since Jerry Yang in 2007.

"It was tough for a while, and then I made a couple of big hands," Blumenfield said. "It's fun. I think I played well. A few hands I probably could have played a little differently. But overall, I'm happy."

Thomas Cannuli of Cape May, N.J., finished in sixth place as he busted out on the second hand on the day in agonizing fashion.

The 23-year-old Cannuli, the youngest player remaining in the field, had pocket aces but was eliminated when Steinberg, holding pocket 10s, hit one of the two remaining 10s in the deck to make three of a kind.

"I kind of had a feeling Max was going to go all-in," Cannuli said. "It's just a hand that has to play out that way."

— Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him: @DavidSchoenLVRJ

PLAY-BY-PLAY FROM MONDAY

Steinberg out, final 3 set

Las Vegas resident Max Steinberg was eliminated in fourth place at the World Series of Poker, and play was halted for the rest of the night at the Rio's Penn & Teller Theater.

Stern eliminated, 4 players remain

Ofer Zvi Stern was eliminated in fifth place at the World Series of Poker Main Event.

Stern, from Herzilya, Israel, takes home $1,911,423.

Stern opened play Monday in second place but was knocked out by Neil Blumenfield of San Francisco on the 121st hand of the final table.

Stern opened the betting action for 11.5 million, leaving only 425,000 chips behind. After Max Steinberg and chip leader Joe McKeehen folded, Blumenfield went all-in and Stern had no choice but to call.

Blumenfield showed ace-king, dominating the ace-jack of Stern. The 3-7-5 flop missed both players, and the king on the turn ended the Main Event for Stern.

Blumenfield nearly doubled his stack with the hand and is in third place with 31,075,000 (39 big blinds). McKeehen continues to lead with more than 95 million chips.

-Posted 7:48 p.m.

Beckley claims big pot, jumps into 4th place

Josh Beckley of Marlton, N.J., raked in one of the biggest pots so far Monday as he doubled up on the 98th hand of the World Series of Poker Main Event final table to move into fourth place with five players remaining.

Beckley, who had been the shortest stack, woke up in the big blind with pocket aces and quickly called when Ofer Zvi Stern pushed all-in from the small blind holding ten-nine of spades.

The 7-5-2-3-2 board did not improve Stern's hand, pushing Beckley up to 29.7 million (37 big blinds).

Stern is now the shortest stack with 18.225 million (23 big blinds).

Joe McKeehen continues to lead with approximately 80 million chips.

-Posted 6:10 p.m.

5 remain at final table

Thomas Cannuli of Cape May, N.J., was eliminated from the World Series of Poker Main Event in sixth place Monday, earning $1,426,283.

Cannuli, who opened six-handed play with the shortest stack at 10.425 million, busted out on the second hand after play resumed at the Rio's Penn & Teller while holding pocket aces.

Cannuli called Max Steinberg's preflop all-in bet and was well ahead as Steinberg held pocket 10s. However, Steinberg spiked a 10 on the flop to make three of a kind and take the lead.

Cannuli got four more outs when a queen fell on the turn following a flop of jack-six-10, but the eight of spades on the river was no help to Cannuli, the youngest player at the final table.

"I kind of had a feeling Max was going to go all-in," Cannuli said. "It's just a hand that has to play out that way."

With the pot, Steinberg moved up to 31.22 million chips and was nearly even with Ofer Zvi Stern and Neil Blumenfield as the rest of the table chased chip leader Joe McKeehen.

Joshua Beckley is now the short stack at the table with approximately 11 million chips.

-Posted 5:17 p.m.