The first day back for the World Series of Poker Main Event is done and dusted, and now only five players remain. The $10,000 buy-in event began back in July with a field of 6737 players vying for a total prize pool of $63,327,800 and $8 million earmarked for the eventual winner.
Four players have already had their dream come to a close, but there is still a lot left still to fight for between the remaining five.
Fernando Pons was the first player eliminated from the Final Table. His 9th place finish earned him a cool $1,000,000. Jerry Wong, Griffin Benger and Kenny Hallaert were knocked out in 8th, 7th and 6th places earning them $1,100,076, $1,250,190 and $1,464,258 respectively.
Qui Nguyen is sitting comfortably as chip leader with 128,625,000. Cliff Josephy is second in chips with 63,850,000, closely followed by Vojtech Ruzicka with 62,250,000 chips and Gordon Vayo with 58,200,000. Michael Ruane is the short stack with 23,700,000.
The Curse of the 888 Patch?
Following the success of 888 in sponsoring players in last year’s WSOP Main Event (including the eventual winner Joe McKeehen), wearing the 888 patch this year did not provide the rungood needed to finish on top as all badged 888 players are now out of the tournament. Fernando Pons, Griffin Benger and Kenny Hallaert were all sponsored by 888 and were three of the first four players eliminated.
Unfortunately not even having the hottest player in poker right now Fedor Holz as his coach was enough to save Kenny Hallaert from elimination in sixth place.
Being interviewed straight after you have busted the Final Table of the Main Event must be painful, but here are the bustout interviews with Hallaert, Benger and Wong from PokerNews.
Jerry Wong in 8th Place bagging $1,100,076:
Griffin Benger in 7th Place:
Kenny Hallaert in 6th Place:
Catch all of the Day 2 action as play resumes Monday night on ESPN at 8.30 PM ET.
