Keranan heads WSOP Main Event – just 97 left
Sunday, 15 July 2012
The field at the 2012 WSOP Main Event is below 100 with Kyle Keranen leading the charge for the $8.5m first prize. The Californian will return with 6,935,000 followed by Robert Salaburu (6,195,000), Taylor Paur (5,820,000) and Erik Hellman (4,715,000).
A number of big names pros have made it through to Day 5 including Jason Somerville (1,400,000), David ODB Baker (1,360,000), Vanessa Selbst (1,350,000), Erik Cajelais (1,180,000) and Joseph Cheong who has reached this stage for the third year in a row.
It proved to be a disappointing day for the British contingent with only Sam Holden surviving the day. Last year's November Niner returns with 765,000.
Notable names to fall by the wayside included Sorel Mizzi, John Juanda, Andrew Lichtenberger and Freddy Deeb. Daniel Negreanu hit the rail too when his KQ couldn't come from behind to beat actor Kevin Pollak's AQ. Pollak exited soon after in a hand that would have seemed unlikely had it appeared in one of his movies. The Hollywood star was all in with pocket Queens with opponent Omar Saeed also tabling the ladies. A chop seemed inevitable but two hearts on the flop followed by two more on the turn and river sent Pollak to the rail in heart-wrenching fashion.
The action resumes at 8pm tonight UK time with each player walking away with at least $62,021.
The chip leaders are as follows:
1. Kyle Keranen – 6,632,000
2. Robert Salaburu – 6,154,000
3. Taylor Paur – 5,850,000
4. Erik Hellman – 4,400,000
5. Jacob Balsiger – 3,900,000
6. Robert Corcione – 3,900,000
7. Gaelle Baumann – 3,860,000
8. Jesse Sylvia – 3,800,000
9. Eric Pratt – 3,742,000
10. Charles Coultas – 3,620,000