Nick Marchington
Nick Marchington finished Day 6 of the 2019 WSOP Main Event with the chip lead

The 2019 World Series of Poker Main Event is down to 35 players, all guaranteed $261,430 and vying for the event’s $10 million first-place prize. After what was an incredibly entertaining day of poker, Nick Marchington is in the lead with 39.7 million.

21-Year-Old Marchington Leads the Way

Marchington hails from England and is 21 years old. Despite his youth, he’s a professional poker player, but Marchington’s success in the game comes from the online poker world and not so much the live tournament world. Entering this event, Marchington had just $12,415 in live tournament earnings, stemming from one cash at this WSOP.

Marchington was one of the biggest stacks remaining as the night neared its close, and then he knocked out Ian Pelz in 37th place with pocket sevens against the AsQc to solidify his position as chip leader.

Behind Marchington on the leaderboard are Hossein Ensan with 34.5 million, Timothy Su with 34.35 million, and Milos Skrbic with 31.45 million. Those are the only players above 30 million in chips.

Top 10 Chip Counts

  1. Nick Marchington – 39,800,000
  2. Hossein Ensan – 34,500,000
  3. Timothy Su – 34,350,000
  4. Milos Skrbic – 31,450,000
  5. Henry Lu – 25,525,000
  6. Garry Gates – 25,025,000
  7. Duey Duong – 21,650,000
  8. Warwick Mirzikinian – 20,700,000
  9. Dario Sammartino – 19,850,000
  10. Cai Zhen – 19,800,000

Dzivielevski and Sammartino Remain

Yuri Dzivielevski, a Brazilian who already has one gold bracelet this summer, bagged 13.75 million for Day 7. Dzivielevski is a former PocketFives #1 and the only former #1 remaining in the field.

Dario Sammartino, who is one of the best players in the world still in search of a WSOP gold bracelet, finished with 19.85 million for Day 7.

Wild and Crazy Hands Steal the Day 6 Show

Day 6 was filled with plenty of action, that’s for sure. There was an enormous clash between Su and Sam Greenwood on the main feature table that could go down as one of the greatest hands in poker history. It will also go down as one of the ultimate bad beats. On one of the outer tables, Garry Gates nailed an ace on the river to crack Robert Heidorn’s pocket kings. On another outer table, at pretty much the same time as the hand between Gates and Heidorn, Kevin Maahs beats aces with his pocket kings to knock out Chang Luo.

The incredible hand between Greenwood and Su started with Su opening to 500,000 from the cutoff position. Greenwood three-bet to 2.5 million out of the big blind, and Su called. The flop was QdJd4c and Green bet 1.8 million Su called to see the Js land on the turn. Greenwood bet 3.5 million and Su raised all in. Greenwood made the call for about 11.5 million total and turned up his AhAc. Su had the Tc9c for a brave semi-bluff. Needing a king or an eight on the river, Su got it when the Kc hit to complete his straight. Greenwood was eliminated in 45th place for $211,945.

On the hand involving Gates and Heidorn, Heidorn opened to 550,000 from middle position before action folded to Gates in the big blind. He three-bet to 2.1 million. Heidorn reraised all in to put Gates to the test. Gates tanked, then called to put himself at risk for 11.35 million total, and turned up the AhKd. Heidorn had the KcKh. The Qc6s4d flop and 5h turn weren’t what Gates needed, but the Ad on the river allowed him to survive with the double up.

For the one with Luo and Maahs, it started with Luo opening with a raise to 550,000 from early position. After Milos Skrbic reraised to 1.675 million on the button, Maahs reraised to 3.75 million out of the big blind. Luo shoved all in for 8.1 million, Skrbic folded, and Maahs made the call. Luo had the AsAh, and Maahs had the KhKc. The board ran out Qc8c3cQhTc to give Maahs a club flush and crack the aces of Luo. Luo was eliminated in 43rd place for $211,945.

Esfandiari, Hunichen, Hachem Among Day 6 Eliminations

Day 6 of the 2019 WSOP Main Event began with 106 players remaining. Greg Himmelbrand was the first player knocked out and then the eliminations began to flow. Four-time gold bracelet winner Jeff Madsen was knocked out in 102nd place, Mukul Pahuja went out in 95th, and Antonio Esfandiari busted in 82nd.

Esfandiari’s bust out came after he was hurt in a big hand against Sammartino that left him with just a handful of big blinds. Esfandiari got the last of his chips in against Chris Hunichen with the 5d5h but Hunichen’s 8c8d did the trick.

Daniel Hachem, son of 2005 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Hachem, fell in 79th place, and Pennsylvania’s Jake Schindler headed out the door in 67th place. Romain Lewis busted in 60th, and Lars Bonding fell in 55th.

Hunichen, a former PocketFives #1 player and the one who knocked out Esfandiari, busted in 54th place for $173,015. Another one of the top tournament players in the world was knocked out in 40th place when Alex Foxen was eliminated.

The highest finish for a Pennsylvania poker player in the 2019 WSOP Main Event belonged to Thomas Parkes. He took 59th for $142,215.

Day 7 On Friday

On Friday, the 2019 WSOP Main Event will play from 35 down to its final table of nine, however long that may take. Action is set to kick off at 12 p.m. PT from the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino, and if Friday is anything like Thursday, buckle up for a thrilling ride.