Days 4 and 5 of the World Series of Poker Main Event are now in the history books. The 720-strong field that entered Day 4 of play a couple days ago has now been whittled down to fewer than 100 survivors; 97 hopefuls who will begin Day6 in just about an hour.
Who’s Out?
If you read our last update, you’d probably be rooting for some of the biggest names in the game to continue making deep runs, including Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, and Johnny Chan. Unfortunately none of those three all-time greats managed to make it to Day 6.
Negreanu got the furthest among them, nursing the shortest of stacks carefully and patiently through cold decks until eventually his number was called. Getting his final chips in with a suited KQ of diamonds, Negreanu fell to Hollywood actor Kevin Pollack‘s AQ offsuit, when neither hand paired the board. Shortly after eliminating Negreanu in 160th place, Pollack himself got sent to the rail in 134th place on a brutal QQ vs. QQ confrontation where his opponent hit a 4-card flush.
Other notable eliminations on Days 4 and 5 included the “Flying Dutchman” Marcel Luske, 2010 3rd place finisher Joseph Cheong, Perry Green (the 1981 WSOP Main Event runner up to Stu Ungar), Shaun Deeb, 1996 WSOP Main Event Champion Huck Seed, Maria Ho, and Liv Boeree.
Who’s Still In?
Most of the big names to have entered the Main Event have been eliminated, but a few well-known pros still remain, including some players who have won bracelets this year, Vanessa Selbst, Greg Merson, and David Baker. The three poker pros are the only players left in the field who wouldn’t have to outright win the Main Event to overtake Phil Ivey in the race for WSOP Player of the Year. For the record, points accrued during bracelet events in the World Series of Poker Europe also count towards the POY race.
Also still around are Amnon Fillipi, Gavin Smith, and Jason Somerville, as well as Eric Buchman and Sam Holden who made the November Nine in 2009 and 2011, respectfully. If Holden were to make the final table again this year, he would be the first player to do so in back to back years since Dan Harrington in 2004 and 2005.
What to Watch For?
All eyes will likely be on this year’s bracelet winners Selbst and David Baker, each of whom are having a phenomenal World Series of Poker. Buchman, with a decent-sized stack as well as a bracelet win to his credit (2010), is out to improve upon his 4th place finish from three years back. With the 2012 WSOP Main Event final table just a couple days away, keep checking back with us here at Cardplayer Lifestyle for tournament updates.
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