Song On Top after Day 5 of the WSOP Main Event

Over then thousand started the World Series of Poker Main Event and there are now just over 1.5% of those left, or to be precise 160 players are left with a shot at the $10m first prize.

American Stephen Song has once again risen to the top of the chip chart, posting an end of Day 5 total of 12,310,000. He is just ahead of Portuguese Carlos Caldas, who has just 200k less on 12,110,000. 

These two are quite far ahead of third placed Diogo Coelho, another Portuguese player, who has 9,950,000 to his name at this stage of the $10,000 buy-in tournament.

Yegor Moroz, also from the USA is half a million further back on 9,470,000 while Manuel Machado on 8,830,000 adds further piri piri spice to the top five, which has a distinctly Portuguese flavour.

Some of those still in contention and with great potential to go really deep include six-time bracelet winner Brian Rast, who ended the day on 6,325,000 and GG Poker Ambassador Ren Lin, who now has 5,660,000. 

Four-time bracelet winner Kristen Foxen is also well placed to make a deeop run, with 5,400,000 chips.

WPT host Tony Dunst, who has three WSOP braceletsa to his name is also still in the running, with 3,190,000. 

When the fifth day of the Main Event of the WSOP began, there were 464 players with chips and chairs living out the dream of chasing the biggest and most sought after prize in poker. By the time another five two-hour levels of play had been completed, over 300 of them had rudely awoken from their dreams and had busted out of the tournament.

It’s a bitter moment when the dream dies, but its sweetened slightly for those on Day 5 when they visit the payout desk, as everyone who made it as far as Day 5 cashed for at least $37,500

WPT Global Ambassador Phil Ivey was one of the players who will play no further part in the championship, exiting in 341st place. 

Both Alex Livingston and Adrian Mateos hit the rail on Day 5. Livingston had been the chip leader earlier in he tournament and had gone into Day 5 with an above average 2m chips, but was busted out in 296th place. 

Surprisingly he lasted a little longer than Adrian Mateos, who exited in 318th, despite holding the second biggest stack of 4.5m chips when play began.

ACR ambassador Nacho Barbero is also out, departing in 302nd place, as is David ‘Bakes’ Baker, who went in 184th.

There are now just eight British players left in the tournament, with Guillermo Sanchez Otero (6,945,000) and Iaron Lightbourne (5,905,000) still going well, with chip stacks close to double the average. 

Joseph Bold (5,470,000), Abdullah Al-Shanti (5,140,000) and Ciaran McCullagh (4,840,000) are the other UK players with above average stacks.

Ho Lee (1,905,000), Christopher Brammer (775,000) and Joe Hamilton (760,000) are the other Brits still left in the tournament. 

They are all now guaranteed to win at least $70,000.

The other British players who started the day have been eliminated, including Bracelet winner Ben Collins, who went in 267th place and high roller Ian Bradley, who started the day short stacked and succumbed in 398th place.

The remaining 160 players will recommence play at the Horseshoe Casino on Friday 12th July, 2024.