I would've objected because the point of the side bet was to give the bottom 10 a chance to win something, but you just missed the cutoff for that, so I would've been inclined to allow it. However, the side bet option closed Thursday night, so it was a moot point on Friday when you offered to claim it.I'll take @Skagglio's spot/action in the $5 side bet if nobody objects.
As for the ME field, Day 6 saw the field shrink by 101 players. With 59 players left, we're about double where we need to be.
Play resumes today at noon Vegas time for another 5 two-hour levels. We will most certainly hit 27 players today.
I am playing cards starting at 11 a.m. Vegas time, so I will do my best to monitor chipstacks when we hit 27 players left in the ME. If anyone else out there can watch also, it would be helpful if you could screenshot chipstacks when 27 players are left in the ME, just in case I miss it.