Just three days and 36 players remain in the 2021 World Series of Poker Main Event. It is shaping up to be a good race at the top, with New Jersey’s Hye Park holding the chip lead entering Monday’s action with 29.5 million chips.
Three other players have over 20 million: Demosthenes Kiriopoulos (24.905 million), Joshua Remitio (21.490 million), and Chase Bianchi (20.765 million).
For most of us, making it this far in the Main Event would be insane. It’s the same for the chip leaders. “I’m just taking it one level at a time,” Remitio said after Day 6. “I am kind of shocked I’ve made it this far. This is my first main event and I don’t really play any tournaments to begin with. I’m just trying to wake up from this dream.”
“This is my first Main Event cash. I’m just trying to enjoy it and blast away,” Bianchi told WSOP.com.
And professional poker player Matthew Jewett said, “I wake up every day having to pinch myself. I’ve dreamt about this my entire life.”
At this point, everyone remaining is guaranteed to cash for at least $198,550. That is already Hye Park’s best-ever live cash. Previously, his high mark was $165,715 for a fifth place finish. Not counting whatever he is about to win, Park has earned close to half a million dollars in his live tournament career.
For a chip leader of the Main Event, Park also flew somewhat under the radar. He reportedly eliminated a couple players late to take the lead, but the live reporting missed them. With just three tables remaining, though, odds are that every hand from here on out – or at least every important one – will be etched in the poker scrolls of time.
Day 6 also meant the end of the tournament for the last remaining women in the field. Dragana Lim, who was one of the big stacks for a couple days, bowed out in 64th place, earning $95,700. She plans to use the money to start an animal foundation. Fatima Nanji also notched a top-100 finish, finally hitting the rail in 90th place.
It’s a pretty simple schedule from here. Play will resume at 11:00am Las Vegas time today and will continue until the nine-handed final table is determined, however long that might take. Players will get a 20-minute break after every level and a 75-minute dinner break after Level 33.
Tomorrow the final table will commence and will go until there are just four players left. The Main Event concludes on Wednesday, or Thursday night if it goes that long (and it often does). During the televised final table, there will be no official, extended breaks between levels, just television breaks during play.
2021 World Series of Poker Main Event – Day 6 Chip Leaders
- Hye Park – 29,500,000
- Demosthenes Kiriopoulos – 24,905,000
- Joshua Remitio – 21,490,000
- Chase Bianchi – 20,765,000
- Koray Aldemir – 18,905,000
- George Holmes – 18,425,000
- Ramon Colillas – 18,200,000
- Alejandro Lococo – 17,950,000
- Ozgur Secilmis – 14,700,000
- David Cabrera – 14,530,000
Image credit: PokerGO.com