There was a way of momentum to Daniel Negreanu's progress today. In contrast to that of Joe McKeehen, who seems unstoppable. Instead Negreanu looks and plays like a person who doesn't need essentially the most chips, he just needs enough.

Shortly before the dinner break those watching found themselves wondering whether he did have enough. Through the space of a degree he'd dropped from greater than 10 million to not up to six. Then a hand against McKeehen, who would show kings to an agonised Negreanu, sent him right into a tough spot.

With 12 big blinds the Thunder Dome, that where Negreanu has played for the past few days, went quiet, looking forward to the inevitable shove from the Team Pro. They did not need to wait long.

It came moments later, again against McKeehen, the one player with enough chips to name his all-in with no moment's thought.

So with 2.8 million Negreanu shoved with pocket fours, which McKeehen called with ace-seven off-suit. Negreanu knew this was it, the gang new this was it, but we would have liked the board to make a decision for certain. Would this be the top of his Main Event?

In what was one of the vital memorable poker moments I WILL BE ABLE TO remember for some time. Everyone at the stage waited. It's pointless to indicate it's anything but a partisan crowd, they usually all wanted the similar outcome. Nothing personal Joe, however the audience had come to peer Negreanu, and so they didn't' need to see him leave.

"Four!"

The flop came ten-nine--three with two spades. After an agonising wait the turn was a jack, which gave McKeehen four more cards with which to bust the house town hero. He waited, the group waited, we waited, all eyes at the dealer, who burned a card and dealt a king at the river.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Negreanu raised his arms aloft. How could even the most efficient players on this planet be expected to stay calm at a moment like this? Suddenly, wiping the invisible sweat from his brow, he was off the critical list, for now a minimum of. The blinds now go up, and Negreanu is not at all out of danger.

But he has chips, and up to now this week that's all that's mattered.

Stephen Bartley is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.

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