85 Players With a Dream Start Main Event Day 6
Just 85 players remain in the 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event, out of a field of 7,221. All are guaranteed $72,514 at this stage, with the next pay jump at 81 ($85,482). When players return at 11 a.m., the first level on the schedule is Level 28 (40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante).
The goal is to play 5.5 levels and finish half way trough Level 32. There's a hard stop at 18 players. If the tournament reaches the point where just 27 players remain before the end of Level 31, play continues until one hour remains in Level 32. If that point is reached in Level 32, play will halt for the day. There's a full redraw at 27 players remaining.
Levels are once again 120 minutes each with a 20-minute break after each level. The dinner break is scheduled after the third level of the day, around 5:40, and is 90 minutes long.
| Level | Duration | Small Blind | Big Blind | Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 120 minutes | 40,000 | 80,000 | 10,000 |
| 20-minute break (around 1 p.m.) | ||||
| 28 | 120 minutes | 50,000 | 100,000 | 15,000 |
| 20-minute break (around 3:20 p.m.) | ||||
| 29 | 120 minutes | 60,000 | 120,000 | 20,000 |
| 90-minute break (around 5:40 p.m.) | ||||
| 30 | 120 minutes | 80,000 | 160,000 | 20,000 |
| 20-minute break (around 9:10 p.m.) | ||||
| 31 | 120 minutes | 100,000 | 200,000 | 30,000 |
| 20-minute break (around 11:30 p.m.) | ||||
| 32 | 120 minutes | 120,000 | 240,000 | 40,000 |
Germany’s Robin Hegele leads the remaining field with 9,990,000 chips, followed by Joshua Horton (9,360,000) and England’s Max Silver (8,665,000). Silver, who won his first WSOP bracelet this year, has more than $3.5 million in tournament winnings and finished 33rd in the Main Event last year for $216,211. Hegele has a bit over $48,000 in tournament winnings mostly in European tournaments. This will certainly be the biggest score of his career. Horton, of Rainsville, Ala., also has limited tournament experience, with a lone third-place finish in a WSOP-Circuit event in April for $146,245.
Some other notables remaining include: Zhu Zhou (7,345,000), Scott Stewart (7,270,000), Scott Blumstein (6,845,000), Connor Drinan (3,360,000), Christian Pham (2,080,000), Chris Wallace (2,675,000), Dario Sammartino (2,585,000), Marcel Luske (2,290,000), Jonathan Dwek (1,910,000), and Ian Johns (1,085,000).
While not among the top 10 chip leaders, a second-straight final table may still be in the cards for Ruane (3,450,000) and Hallaert (4,370,000). In 2016, Ruane finished fourth for $2,576,003 and Hallaert took sixth for $1,464,258. Two other November Niners also remain: Antoine Saout (8,260,9000) and Ben Lamb (4,725,000). Saout made the final table in 2009 and Lamb in 2011.
Another player who drew some interest throughout the day was 64-year-old John Hesp, not only for his colorful attire but also for making a deep run with little experience. The retired English business owner is playing in his first-ever WSOP and says he has never even played a big tournament. The grandfather of seven is living a dream to play in the Main Event and his experience keeps getting better and better. His massive run continued on Saturday and he’s now made Day 6 with a bit over 4 million chips. PokerNews spoke with Hesp earlier on Saturday about his experience.
The eventual champion wins the gold bracelet and $8.15 million. ESPN2 will have the action from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and PokerGO picking up the stream at 3 p.m. till 6:15, and from 7:45 till midnight.
