The money bubble burst on Wednesday at the 2015 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event as the field was narrowed from 65 to 21. The tournament moves to its penultimate day on Thursday, the day the six-handed final table will be determined. With the championship in sight, it is Kevin MacPhee ahead of the pack with 1.15 million chips, the only player to break the million chip mark.
MacPhee is no stranger to making it this deep in a major tournament. With over $7 million in live tournament earnings, he has made his fair share of final tables. This summer, he won nearly half a million dollars while winning his first World Series of Poker bracelet in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo event. He also added a fourth place finish as one of his seven total cashes this summer. The biggest cash of MacPhee’s career came back in 2010 when he won the European Poker Tour Berlin Main Event for €1,000,000 ($1,356,429). Coincidentally, that tournament was held at Spielbank Berlin, the same casino that is hosting the WSOP Europe.
As mentioned, the money bubble burst on Day 3, which means, of course, that somebody had to be the bubble boy. That unwanted badge of honor went to Tobias Ziegler. According to WSOP.com, after Kilian Kramer opened the betting pre-flop, Andrew “luckychewy” Lichtenberger called and then Ziegler shoved from the small blind for 210,000. Kramer folded and Lichtenberger called with A-K of spades, up against Ziegler’s J-J. The flop was Q-8-9 with two spades, keeping Ziegler in the lead but giving Lichtenberger additional spade outs. One of those spades was produced on the turn, giving Lichtenberger the flush and the pot. Ziegler was forced to the rail in 33rd place, one spot away from the min-cash of €20,000.
Lichtenberger moved his stack to over 700,000 on that hand and ended the day at 718,000, good for third place overall. Also amongst the chip leaders is Erik Seidel, sitting in fourth place with 665,000 chips. Seidel has quietly had one hell of a year, amassing half a dozen six-figure or better cashes. Amongst the many highlights are a win in the EPT Grand Final Super High Roller Event for €2,015,000 ($2,222,222) and a seventh place finish in the Super High Roller Bowl, good for $860,000.
Niall Farrell, chip leader after Day 1 and one of the leaders after Day 2, was eliminated in 34th place.
Spielbank Berlin will host Day 4 of the WSOP Europe Main Event on Thursday. Cards will be dealt until just six players remain. They will then take Friday off before returning on Saturday to determine the WSOP Europe champ.
2015 World Series of Poker Main Event – Day 3 Chip Leaders
1. Kevin MacPhee – 1,150,000
2. Johannes Becker – 894,000
3. Andrew Lichtenberger – 718,000
4. Erik Seidel – 665,000
5. Ardit Kurshumi – 577,000
6. Kilian Kramer – 557,000
7. Mario Sanchez – 550,000
8. Conor Beresford – 503,000
9. David Lopez – 452,000
10. Enver Abduraimov – 434,000