WSOP: Jerry Wong Leading Main Event With Just 80 Left
Jerry Wong took the chip lead late on Day 5 of the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event in a hand that eliminated Bryan Piccioli in 84th place. Wong ended up with 11,555,000 and heads into Day 6 with the lead and just 71 players between himself and a berth in the 2016 November Nine.
Only two other players finished in the eight figures category. Jan Suchanek finished with 10,305,000 and Day 3 chip leader Kenny Hallaert squeaked in with 10,050,000.
Right behind that group of three is a player who has spent a good deal of time as the #1-ranked player in the PocketFives Rankings. Griffin Benger, who wasn’t going to play the Main Event until he won a seat on 888 poker, has turned his $1,060 satellite investment into 9,860,000, the fourth biggest stack.
Joshua Weiss rounds out the top five with 8,330,000.
Maybe the most talked about player on Saturday was British poker pro William Kassouf who bagged up 8,300,000. Kassouf was given a one orbit penalty after engaging in “taunting” during the course of several hands with Stacey Matuson.
“It’s been a sick day. I do a lot of table talking. It’s a big part of my game, I’ve been doing it for the last ten years and have been very successful doing it,” said Kassouf. “I don’t think I was taunting her. I don’t think I should have been penalized. I spoke to Jack Effel after that and we cleared the air and it’s all good.”
Kassouf eventually eliminated Matuson from the tournament.
Along with Benger, Paul Volpe (7,290,000), Cliff Josephy (6,175,000) are the only other former #1-ranked PocketFivers still alive. Chris Hunichen (114th), Sorel Mizzi (157th) and Shaun Deeb (221st) joined Piccioli as members of this exclusive club who were eliminated on Saturday.
There were a number of notables who were sent packing on Day 5. 251 Andrew Barber, Max Altergott, Jordan Cristos, former world champion Johnny Chan, Adam Friedman, Todd Brunson, david Pham, former November Niner Scott Montgomery, Mukul Pahuja, Greg Raymer, Brandon Adams and reigning WSOP Player of the Year champ Mike Gorodinsky were all ousted on Saturday.
When the day began there were six women still in contention.For those hoping to see a woman make the November Nine for the first time in history, the wait is going to be at least one more year. In just a matter of hours Maria Ho (242nd), Jennifer Shahade (204th), Matuson (169th), Louis Francoeur (142nd), Dee Friedman (132nd) and eventually Gaelle Bauman (102nd) were eliminated, leaving no more females in the field.
The remaining 80 players return to action at Noon PT Sunday and will play a full five levels.
Top 10 Chip Counts
- Jerry Wong – 11,555,000
- Jan Suchanek – 10,305,000
- Kenny Hallaert – 10,050,000
- Griffin Benger – 9,860,000
- Joshua Weiss – 8,330,000
- William Kassouf – 8,300,000
- David Lhonore – 8,265,000
- Chang Luo – 8,090,000
- Jared Bleznick – 7,955,000
- Fernando Pons – 7,930,000
