Six Players Return to 2018 WSOP Main Event Final Table at 5:30 p.m.; Dyer Runaway Chipleader, Cada's Second Bid Continues
One thing is certain about the winner of the 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event: it's going to be an American. All three non-American final table players busted out during the first stretch yesterday, leaving six hopefuls from the home nation vying for poker's ultimate reward, a place in the history books and the first place prize of $8,800,000 that will await the winner on Saturday, July 14.
Overwhelming chipleader after the first day is Michael Dyer, who will start the penultimate day with a staggering 156,500,000 in chips, more than two times as many chips as his nearest rival Nicolas Manion (72,250,000). Last year, Scott Blumstein found himself in a near equal position after Day 8, and if history bears any indication of what's about to transpire, Dyer is on a path to become poker's next world champion.
However, there's plenty of dangerous contenders left with enough chips to work with. John Cynn returns in third place with 61,550,000 and Tony Miles bagged up 57,500,000 after a late surge in the final level of the night. The shorter stacks going into the final day belong to Joe Cada (29,275,000) and Aram Zobian (16,700,000). For the 2009 world champion, the chance at an improbable repeat performance is still possible, and all eyes will be glued to the Michigan native when cards go back into the air.
Play on the first Final Table day came to an end at the end of Level 37 with 70 hands in the books. Three players fell by the wayside on Day 8, and Antoine Labat was the first to go in Hand #16. Starting the day as the shortest stack, Labat found himself in a great position to double back into it holding pocket kings against pocket queens. However, a different fate awaited as the queen flopped to send Labat home in 9th ($1,000,000).
Artem Metalidi's tournament came to an end in the 37th hand of the final table. Holding pocket fives, Metalidi shoved all in from early position and Zobian reshoved king-queen of diamonds from the small blind. Metalidi flopped a set but Zobian caught a flush on the river to eliminate the Ukranian's hopes in 8th place ($1,200,000).
Alex Lynskey's final table was the stuff of nightmares. Going 0 for 47 at the final table, Lynskey's run came to an end with pocket sixes against Cynn's king-queen. Cynn flopped a gutshot and overcards, turned some counterfeit outs, and eventually completed the straight on the river to send the last non-American home in 7th ($1,000,000).
The six remaining players will line up as follows for the penultimate day.
2018 WSOP Main Event Day 9 Seat Assignments
| Seat | Player | Country | Age | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Cynn | United States | 33 | 61,550,000 | 62 |
| 2 | Tony Miles | United States | 32 | 57,500,000 | 58 |
| 3 | Nicolas Manion | United States | 35 | 72,250,000 | 72 |
| 4 | Aram Zobian | United States | 23 | 16,700,000 | 17 |
| 5 | Michael Dyer | United States | 32 | 156,500,000 | 157 |
| 6 | Joe Cada | United States | 30 | 29,275,000 | 29 |
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) | ||
| 7 | Alex Lynskey | Australia | $1,500,000 | ||
| 8 | Artem Metalidi | Ukraine | $1,200,000 | ||
| 9 | Antoine Labat | France | $1,000,000 |
Day 9 will recommence with Level 38 (500,000/1,000,000, with a 150,000-ante).
The cards will be back in the air at 5:30 p.m. local time. Players will come back in Level 38 with blinds at 500,000/1,000,000 and a running ante of 150,000. PokerNews.com is on the floor as the action unfolds, bringing you hand-for-hand updates directly live from the Amazon room in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.
The final table is broadcasted on a 30-minute delay on ESPN (in the United States) and ESPN affiliated networks (like Australia, Canada, United Kingdom), as well as on PokerGO in territories where ESPN does not broadcast.
