The final table of the world’s most prestigious poker tournament has been set, with the nine remaining players to resume play this Friday in pursuit of the World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet and a US$8.15 million first prize.
A huge field of 7,221 players from 38 countries – the fourth biggest in the event’s 48-year history – was whittled down to nine over the course of almost two weeks with those remaining representing four countries – Argentina, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. All are guaranteed at least US$1 million.
Among them is US pro Ben Lamb, who is playing his second WSOP Main Event final table after finishing third in 2011. However, he finds himself a long way behind chip leaders Scott Blumstein and John Hesp.
Blumstein – the youngest remaining player in the field at just 25 – has never before cashed in a WSOP event and is playing in the Main Event for the very first time. He currently tops the field with 97 million in chips.
His nearest rival Hesp, with 85.7 million, is the oldest remaining player at 64 and also boasts the most remarkable story. With just US$2,027 in live poker winnings to his name, playing in the WSOP Main Event was on his life bucket list and after he was given the go-ahead by his wife this year is set to return home with a few million dollars in his pocket.
One man not so lucky is Quan Zhou. The Chinese player was this year’s bubble boy – eliminated one spot short of the money – missed out on a guaranteed minimum of US$15,000 by finishing one spot outside the money, although he at least scored free entry into next year’s WSOP Main Event, worth US$10,000, after winning a flip against another player knocked out on the bubble at the same time.
WSOP Main Event final table stacks:
Scott Blumstein – 97,250,000
John Hesp – 85,700,000
Benjamin Pollack – 35,175,000
Bryan Piccioli – 33,800,000
Daniel Ott – 26,475,000
Damian Salas – 22,175,000
Antoine Saout – 21,750,000
Jack Sinclair – 20,200,000
Ben Lamb – 18,050,000
