Twenty-two players remained on Day 7 of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event when coverage kicked off on Tuesday night on ESPN. Rob Salaburu (pictured) was the overwhelming chip leader at 23.1 million, more than twice the average stack in the field.

To kick off the two-hour programming block, Jesse Sylviacalled all-in on a flop of 3-8-J with two clubs holding pocket aces. He was up against Greg Merson, who held Q-10 of clubs for a combo draw that hit on the turn when another club fell. However, Sylvia spiked a boat on the river to draw out and continue his Main Event run.

Salaburu’s demeanor at the table continues to be unique. On his fast-paced actions when faced with a decision, ESPN poker commentator Norman Chad observed, “A bolt of lightning is more deliberate than Rob Salaburu.” He has also created a new poker catchphrase, “huevos rancheros.”

Jamie TheNewRobbins bluffed every street of a 4-3-5-Q-7 board and lost out to Russell Thomas, who hit top pair on the turn with K-Q. Robbins, a Daily Fantasy Baseball Championships finalist at FanDuel, lost 40% of his stack in the process. Then, Robert Corcionehit the deck in 21st place when his pocket tens lost a race against Scott Abrams, who had A-Q suited to diamonds. Abrams hit a queen on the flop and never looked back.

In the most talked-about pot of the first one-hour episode on ESPN, Steve Geeopen-shoved all-in before the flop with pocket eights and Danny Wongre-raised all-in with pocket tens. PocketFives fan favorite Paul paulgees81 Volpe called for his tournament life with Big Slick and the board ran out 5-6-7-J-4. Gee spiked a straight on the river, leading to Volpe being eliminated in 20th place and Wong losing half of his stack.

On the hand, which was decided on the final card, ESPN poker commentator Lon McEachern exclaimed, “If the Main Event weren’t interesting enough already.”

Back at the lone outer table in the Amazon Room, Robbins pushed all-in with K-J of diamonds on a board of 4-9-5-10 with two diamonds for flush and straight draws. Jacob Balsiger (pictured) insta-called with nines for a set and left Robbins drawing to 10 outs. The three of spades hit on the river and Robbins, who finished 11th in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, went busto in 19th place.

To start the second one-hour episode, the field consolidated to two tables, with Salaburu still holding court as the chip leader at 21.2 million. Nine of the top ten players were from the United States. Australia’s Last Man Standing, PokerStarsGame Security Manager David Balkin, had aces cracked by A-8 to depart in 18th place and tilt the field even more toward the USA.

Following Balkin out the door was 67-year-old Robert Buckenmayer, the field’s elder statesman, who ran A-Q into the A-K of Wilfried Harigon his final hand. Also leaving the Main Event was Percy Mahatan, whom Salaburu put all-in on a board of K-5-9-7 holding two pair. Mahatan had queens and couldn’t find help on the river, so Salaburu extended his chip lead even further, stacking 25.5 million.

Then, the implosion of Harig began. After Merson moved all-in on the river of a board of 8-9-6-J-5 with Q-10 for the nuts, Harig insta-called all-in with A-7 for a nine-high straight, shedding three-quarters of his stack. In the weekly “Pro Analysis” segment, WSOP One Drop winner and tournament poker’s all-time money leader Antonio Esfandiari labeled the insta-call a “catastrophic, emotional breakdown.”

Harig was subsequently sent packing after aces were once again cracked, this time by Merson, who had K-J. Merson called off 12% of his stack before the flop to put the German at risk and hit two pair on the turn.

On a board of 7-8-10-10-3, Gee (pictured), holding sevens for a full house, checked and Abrams, armed with A-10 for trip tens, bet 1.8 million. Gee check-raised to 4.3 million and, after some deliberation, Abrams made the call. Salaburu, seated at the same table, yelled, “Boat!” right after Abrams called and his read was spot on. Interestingly, the first card in the hand was accidentally dealt to the button, but the players agreed to continue on anyway. Gee scooped the pot, which was worth over 14 million.

Finally, Wong, holding A-10, said, “I feel like I have the best hand” and called an all-in before the flop from Andras Koroknai, who had A-9 of spades. Wong indeed had the best hand, but a third spade on the river gave the pot to Koroknai with a flush. Wong, down to a mere four big blinds, was crippled as the credits rolled.

Catch more Day 7 action next Tuesday at 9:30pm ET on ESPN. As a reminder, the Main Event final table will play out on the ESPN family of networks and online on October 29th and 30th according to the following schedule:

Monday, October 29th
U.S. Poker Fans: 8:00pm ET on ESPN2
Non-U.S. Poker Fans: 8:00pm ET on ESPN3.com and WSOP.com

Tuesday, October 30th
U.S. Poker Fans: 9:00pm ET on ESPN
Non-U.S. Poker Fans: 9:00pm ET on ESPN3.com and WSOP.com