WSOP MAIN EVENT FINALISTS DOWN TO 79 (Update)

18 July 2008

Day 5 closes with unofficial top chip count at $5.7 million


189 players took their places at the ever reducing number of tables at the 39th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas on Day 5, the survivors of a starting field of 6 844 vying for a share in a prize-pool of $64 333 600. All 189 players will leave with a cash prize, having made the 666th player money bubble that guaranteed a minimum payment of $21 000 or more each.

The players had survived a hectic Day 4, where Jeremy Joseph had maintained a hefty, officially confirmed chip count lead, sitting with on 2 187 000 ahead of Nikolay Losev with 2 110 000, Cristian Dragomir on 2 065 000, Brandon Cantu on 1 981 000 and Davor Lanini 1 958 000.

Former WSOP champion Phil Hellmuth was still in play, albeit apparently a little rattled and with a relatively small stack, although fellow champ, Johnny 'The Orient Express' Chan has not been so fortunate and will not be going any further in this year's Main Event. The average stack in the room was a little over 700 000.

Day 4 eliminations of note were Jean-Robert Bellande, the seven-time World Snooker Champ Steve Davis, and Patrik Antonius's wife Maya. Robert Mizrachi, Tim West, Jason Lester, Van Nguyen and Evelyn Ng have also been knocked out of the Main Event.

Starting out Day 5 among the aggressive field were Tiffany Michelle, Gus Hansen, Kara Scott, Brandon Cantu, Alex Outhred, Victor Ramdin, Hoyt Corkins, Mike Matusow, Allen Cunningham and Internet player Hevad Kahn.

The action was immediately fast and determined, with average stacks in excess of 700 000 and the eliminations coming thick and fast. Hellmuth had a tense confrontation with a rampant Brandon Cantu, and two monster pots had the crowd on their feet - a $1.3 million taken by Mark Ketteringham and a $1.8 million swept up by Niklas Flisberg.

By the end of the day on Level 23 the field had been reduced to 79 players, with Hoyt Corkins, Chip Jett, Gus Hansen, Aussie Millions 2008 champ Alex Kostritsyn, Jeff Kimber, Allen Cunningham, Jeff Madsen and Mark Vos all saying farewell to their ambitions for this year's WSOP crown. Kara Scott also hit the rail in 104th place, earning $41 816 and leaving Tiffany Michelle as the sole woman contender.

The remaining players will all see a handsome return on their $10 000 buy-in investment, having passed the 90th to 82nd positions pay level of $64 333 each.

Going into Day 6 play, the unofficial top five chip counts appear to be Mark Ketteringham on 5.7 million, Andrew Brokos on 4.08 million, Tiffany Michelle with 3.8 million, Jamal Kumbuz on 3.5 million and a tie between Nikolay Losev and Albert Kim, both on 3.4 million. The average chip stack through the 79 strong remaining field is over a million.

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