Yesterday’s Day 5 at the 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event was mainly notable for two things, neither of which was necessarily Michael Dyer’s elevation to the top of the chip counts as 109 players remain.
More likely even than that amazing surge–Dyer bagged 12.18 million to lead by close to 4 million–players and spectators are going to be talking about the storm and then the power outage that brought the day to an abrupt halt.
Power outage at WSOP
The storm recalled similar scenes from 2015. The wind was howling, the rain torrential. And then the Amazon Room was plunged into darkness, which took us all back to EPT Kyiv in 2009. What links them both? Well, Shaun Deeb was playing in both, so let’s blame Shaun.
FULL DAY 6 CHIP COUNTS FROM WSOP MAIN EVENT
This time Deeb is right around the middle of the pack as the really big money appears on the horizon in poker’s most prestigious tournament. At different points yesterday, all of Hari Bercovici, Bart Lybaert, Brian Yoon, Frederik Jensen, Samuel Bernabeu and Barry Hutter held the chip lead, before Dyer took over and the lights went out. All are now guaranteed $57,010 at least, but anyone lasting today will be set for $282,630 minimum, and maybe $8.8 million.
Bart Lybaert: One-time chip leader
The early end to the day may yet have worrying consequences for the Main Event schedule. The plan today is to play down to the last 27, but we’ll have to do it with more players (and more chips in play) than ever before.
| Year | Total | 6 start | 6 end | % | Lead | SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 7,874 | 109 | ||||
| 2017 | 7,221 | 85 | 27 | 32 | 31,440,000 | 629 |
| 2016 | 6,737 | 80 | 27 | 34 | 26,415,000 | 528 |
| 2015 | 6,420 | 69 | 27 | 39 | 14,400,000 | 480 |
| 2014 | 6,683 | 79 | 27 | 34 | 22,335,000 | 745 |
| 2013 | 6,352 | 68 | 27 | 40 | 21,955,000 | 732 |
| 2012 | 6,598 | 97 | 27 | 28 | 15,875,000 | 529 |
| Average | 6,841 | 80 | 27 | 34 | 22,070,000 | 607 |
| Average since 50K | 83 | 27 | 33 | 28,927,500 | 579 |
Usually we are down to around 85 players when Day 6 begins, yet there are 109 left right now. We will likely need at least six two-hour levels of play to get close to the last three tables. It’s going to be a long one.
Michael Dyer: Chip leader
It’s also notable this year that no overnight chip leader has managed to hang on to his or her lead through the next level. The likelihood of that obviously increases as the field thins, so can Dyer make his lead stick? We will soon find out.
DAY 5 | DAY 4 | DAY 2AB | DAY 2C | TEAM PRO’S PROGRESS/RESULTS
Previous 2018 WSOP coverage:
The regulars, the decorated and the knockers
From the archive: The Fukuburger flood of 2015
Then and now: Jake Cody
From the archive: K.L. Cleeton’s inspiring run
Is Andreas Kniep this year’s Ylon Schwartz?
Inside the ideas factory: Jason Somerville’s Run It Up Studios
Stop, start, break, start, bubble for Matt Hopkins
Then and now: Barry Greenstein
A comprehensive guide to the WSOP bubble
The field converges for bubble day…perhaps
The rough and tumble of Day 2
From the archive: Blood, sweat and other bodily fluids
Untangling the cake riddle to discover the key to Liv Boeree’s heart
Meet Muskan Sethi: India’s presidential poker ambassador
A return of the masses for the long, slow dance
Then and Now: Daniel Negreanu
Records broken and Red Spades flying
“Thanks Daniel” — A letter to Negreanu from Phil Galfond
A flippin’ fantastic way to enter a poker tournament
Jeff Gross: A momentary pause in the perpetual motion
From the archive: Stages
Moneymaker surveys the world he created
Negreanu continues preparations for PokerStars Players Championship
Then and Now: Andre Akkari
An exceptional Day 1A
From the archive: Rio here, Rio there
Then and Now: Maria Konnikova
All systems go on ‘cattywumpus’ World Series
WSOP photos by PokerPhotoArchive.com.
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