After another 4 levels today in the Amazon Room at the Rio, the day 5 field is set. The players were due to play 5 levels but there was a long break due to some confusion around the bubble. 720 players started the day and within 2 hours it was bubble time. The hand-for-hand play only took one hand to burst the bubble and it was a dramatic where there were three cases of AA vs KK, one of QQ vs AA and one of 55 cracking KK. All of this action ended with 4 players all being eliminated all of whom would share 666th place prize money of $19,227. They were also due to play a four-player sit n go to decide which of them would get a free place in next year’s Main Event, but one player gave the other $2,500 each and took the seat.

Among those who squeaked into the money but were at the cashier’s desk shortly thereafter were Liv Boeree, Jason Mercier, Huck Seed, Mike McDonald, Antonio Esfandiari and NHL goalkeeper Roberto Luongo. Phil Collins who made the final table last year also busted in 393rd place, with Johnny Chan going out in 353rd and ending hopes of a repeat champion. Towards the end of play Eric Baldwin and Jackie Glazier fell and the last elimination of the day was that of Salman Behbehani in 283th place, leaving us with 282 remaining all of whom are guaranteed $38,453 as the business end of the tournament approaches.

At the end of the day, Paul Volpe is the chip leader on 2,750,000 as the blinds go to 6000/12000 with yesterday’s chip leader Dave D’Alesandro following close behind on just over 2M. There are still a few notable players in the field. Eric Buchman is also sitting at a shade over 2M and Vanessa Selbst is a little further back on 1.7M. John Phan is still in and has right about 1M, while Gavin Smith sits with 830,000. British player JP Kelly is sitting with 780,000 and former final table player Scott Montgomery is on 698,000. Marcel Luske has right around 600,000 and is still in good shape, while the likes of Dan Shak and Sorl Mizzi near the 400,000 mark will need to get moving soon. Daniel Negreanu is getting to the stage where he needs a double up; he has 300,000 while John Juanda is struggling to hang on with 194,000.

All of the 282 remaining players will be back at 12 pm tomorrow to play another 5 levels and by the end of play tomorrow we should be approaching the last 10 tables of the 2012 Main Event.

Author Profile: Rob O’Connor+

written by Rob \\ tags: Bubble, In the Money, Main Event, Poker, World Series of Poker, WSOP