The final table was slated to begin with nine players, but that changed when three-time bracelet winner Upeshka De Silva was deemed ineligible to proceed with participation after reportedly testing positive for COVID-19
The story broke late Sunday night after two-time Global Poker Award winner Joey Ingram tweeted that De Silva had tested positive and had therefore been disqualified.
According to WSOP rules, any player who tests positive for COVID-19 prior to the start of the final table play will be disqualified and receive the minimum final table payout.
De Silva explained more about the situation in a series of follow-up tweets, with the three-time bracelet-winner explaining that he had been quarantining since Dec. 10 but ultimately tested positive on Dec. 20.
The players have arrived and gone through some pregame media while the table and the set is being prepared. The start of play appears to be slightly delayed but should begin momentarily.
In the meantime Sarah Herring talks to some of the mingling players.
The returning eight players just conducted the random seat draw. They took turns drawing a card representative of the seating. As the big stack, Joseph Hebert drew first and the rest of the players went in order from there. Here's how things stack up.
Shawn Stroke will begin with the button in Seat 1.
Tournament Director Jack Effel just welcome the players to the final table. Some instructions were given before he officially announced, "Shuffle up and deal."
Hand #1: Ryan Hagerty opened for 300,000 under the gun and Ron Jenkins called in the big blind.
The board read on the turn when Jenkins led for 300,000 more and took it down.
Hand #2: Action folded to the cutoff, where Shawn Stroke raised to 350,000. Hagerty called in the big blind and Stroke continued for 275,000 on the flop. Hagerty called, bringing a turn. Stroke fired again with 350,000 and Hagerty called. The river would see another barrel come from Stroke, this time 575,000.
Hagerty called and his prevailed over .
Hand #3: Joseph Hebert opened for 325,000 second to act and Gershon Distenfeld called.
Distenfeld check-folded to 225,000 on the flop.
Hand #4: Stroke opened for 350,000 in middle position and took the blinds and antes.
Hand #5: Harrison Dobin moved all in for 1.5 million after the two players ahead of him folded. Distenfeld shoved as well for just shy of 3 million, from the button.
Distenfeld:
Dobin:
The flop brought nothing for Distenfeld. The did, though, as he picked up a straight draw. The ensured a Dobin double, though.
Hand #6: Ron Jenkins raised to 375,000 UTG+2 and Gershon Distenfeld three-bet all in for 1.43 million from the cutoff. Action folded back to Jenkins and he called.
Gershon Distenfeld:
Ron Jenkins:
The flop was no help to Distenfeld while the turn did give him a gutshot straight draw. Unfortunately for him, the river was a brick and his tournament came to an end.
Distenfeld officially finished in eighth place for $125,885, which he's already said he'll be donating to various charities.
Hand #7: Joseph Hebert opened for 350,000 on the button and Shawn Stroke called in the big blind.
Hebert waited until the turn, betting 325,000 on , with Stroke calling. Stroke checked the and Hebert checked back, losing showdown to a hand that wasn't shown on the feed.
Hand #8: Michael Cannon opened for the first time, making it 300,000 on the button. Harrison Dobin called in the big blind.
Dobin checked the flop and Cannon continued for 250,000, winning the pot with the wager.
Hand #9: Cannon opened again for 300,000. Stroke three-bet it to 850,000 in the next seat, folding out the blinds. Cannon jammed for 4,550,000 and Stroke went into the tank for about a minute before releasing.
Hand #10: Tony Yuan made it 300,000 under the gun and Hebert called on his left. Ron Jenkins came along in the small blind and Ryan Hagerty made it a foursome to the flop.
The blinds checked and Yuan continued for 600,000. Hebert called and they went heads up to the . They each checked, bringing the river. Yuan checked, Hebert bet 800,000, and Yuan thought about a minute and called. Hebert won the showdown but the cards weren't picked up again.
Hand #11: Hebert opened for 300,000 under the gun and won the blinds and antes.
on the turn when Jenkins led for 300,000 more and took it down.
flop. Hagerty called, bringing a 
turn. Stroke fired again with 350,000 and Hagerty called. The 
river would see another barrel come from Stroke, this time 575,000. 
prevailed over 
. 
flop brought nothing for Distenfeld. The 
did, though, as he picked up a straight draw. The 
flop was no help to Distenfeld while the 
turn did give him a gutshot straight draw. Unfortunately for him, the 
flop.
. They each checked, bringing the