Day 5 of the WSOP Main Event Hits Full Stride
Sorely missed Amazon Room vibes filled the Horseshoe on Thursday.
Day 5 of the $10,000 World Series of Poker Main Event finally brought Main Event vibes to the convention center of the Horseshoe Las Vegas. Three of the feature tables were in action, cameras were mounted on huge, sweeping booms and cameramen wearing five-figure Steadicam rigs bull rushed their way through the aisles to get the shot.
A crowd formed on the rail, the $50,000 High Roller played its money bubble in the Silver section adjacent to the Main Event. The game’s biggest and brightest were gathered in the same room with the final 5% of the Main Event, giving Amazon Room vibes.
The tournament returned 522 players to action and 202 players remain with Sebastian Schulze leading the field with 12.7 million. American Chad Power sits second in chips with 9.5 million and then it’s another million until Braxton Dunaway in third with 8.6 million.
PokerGO viewers are quick to tell you William Kassouf is not only in the top ten stacks but has been on the live stream feature tables for consecutive days. For the most part, he’s about as well-received as a hemorrhoid within the community for his shady dealings, hit and runs and accusations of theft from friends.
Arnaud Mattern, Kenny Hallaert and Wagner Wysotchanski bagged up in the 25 spots. Adam Hendrix, Eric Afriat, Michael Mizrachi and Nick Pupillo landed in the top 50 chip stacks. Greg Merson is the only remaining Main Event champ in the field.
Theo Tran, Anthony Gregg, Isaac Haxton return for Day 6 and Leo Margets leads the final five women remaining in the field. Esther Taylor, Alan Sternberg, Michael Gagliano and Donnie Peters are in the mix for Day 6.
We spoke to Adam Hendrix on the money bubble, and today he found himself playing at the feature table. “The stage is really warm with all the lights,” he said. “There’s already all the pressure and it feels even more intense now.”
“It feels like a fever dream at the feature table,” said Hendrix. “I don't know what's going on. I felt like I was in Dreamland.”
Michael Mizrachi was to Hendrix’s direct left at the feature table. “Everybody made it fun tonight,” he said. “No one was sitting there tanking, a lot of players lock up when they get to this stage. This is what I’m accustomed to.”
In the most Grinder-esque fashion, he said he was on his way to find a cash game tonight after bagging his chips.
Fans of poker will recognize poker media veteran Donnie Peters, commentator and podcast host at PokerGO, heading into Day 6. “It’s weird because I kind of don’t feel anything,” he said. “Which is good, but it’s making me question if I should be feeling something.”
Peters happens to be close friends with Garry Gates, who finished in third place in the 2019 Main Event. “Garry knows the ups and downs, he knows what it takes, and how grueling it is,” said Peters. “He’s sent some words of encouragement, but he understands to kind of leave me alone, offer a little bit here and there. Then just be that support system, should I need it.”
With so many years in the industry, Peters has seen players implode before. “I’ve seen success in this event and I’ve seen people fall apart, so I’m trying not to do that.”
As if his ears were burning, Gates appeared on the rail for the last level of the night. He was beaming, watching his friend go through the same steps he went through six years ago. “I’m so excited for him,” Gates said. “Day 5 is when it starts to feel real.”
Friday returns to action at noon again when Day 6 gets down to business. Each returning player has $60,000 locked up. The plan is to play five more two-hour levels, which should trim the field dramatically; media row pundits agreed to a line of 80 remaining players on Day 6 as a reasonable expectation.
Day 5 Main Event Top Ten Chip Counts
1. Sebastian Schulze – 12.7 million
2. Chad Power – 9.5 million
3. Braxton Dunaway – 8.6 million
4. Sergio Da Silva Veloso – 8.2 million
5. Richard Buckingham – 7.6 million
6. Albert Calderon – 7.4 million
7. Muhamet Perati – 7.0 million
8. William Kassouf – 6.9 million
9. Pedro Chaves – 6.8 million
10. Michael Garner – 6.5 million
Photos courtesy of PokerOrg.