WSOP Day 45: Volpe Seeks Bracelet, Dyer Leads Final 6 and Cada in Main

July 13, 2018

Sean Chaffin Contributor

The 2018 World Series of Poker may be nearing its conclusion, but there is still plenty of poker left to be played at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.

The $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT final table continues today, where Texan Michael Dyer returns to a massive chip lead with just six players left from the starting field of 7,874. Joe Cada also remains with a chance at a second WSOP Main Event title.

Meanwhile in other action today, there will be another Day 1 flight in Event #75: The Closer - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels) after Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier finished the first one last night with the chip lead. Also, Paul Volpe has a shot at another bracelet today as he returns as chip leader with 17 left in Event #74: Big Blind Antes $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed Championship.

Event #65: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship

After eight days of play, Michael Dyer returns to a commanding lead on Friday as he looks to take home the top prize of $8.8 million and the gold bracelet. Only six players remain, and with 156,500,000 chips Dyer has more than twice the stack of his nearest rival, Nicolas Manion with 72,250,000.

Following those two are John Cynn (61,550,000), Tony Miles (57,500,000), 2009 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Cada (29,275,000), and Aram Zobian (16,700,000). For Cada, the dream of a second title is still alive, although he is on a short stack and has his work cut out for him to battle back.

The plan today is to play down from six players to three, with a champion finally to be determined on Saturday. Stay with PokerNews for ongoing coverage of the Main Event as play resumes today at 5:30 p.m. Click here to follow the live updates.

Only 17 of the initial 355 players in this event will return on Friday for Day 3 with Paul Volpe as chip leader with 2,190,000. Volpe seeks a fourth career bracelet and his second this summer after winning Event #9: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship.

This event built a prize pool of $3,337,000 and the winner takes home a hefty payout of $814,179. Following Volpe in the counts currently are Martin Zamani (1,944,000), Shaun Deeb (1,610,000), Matthijs Aerts (1,382,000), and Mike Watson (1,291,000).

Day 3 gets underway at 2 p.m. and PokerNews will bring all the updates until someone takes home the title. Click here to follow along.

Event #75: The Closer - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels) - $1 Million Guarantee

Yesterday's first starting flight in The Closer attracted 502 entries with only 54 moving on to Day 2. Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier led this flight with 583,000, followed by Nelson Resendiz (401,000), Marius Kupzmanas (392,000), Erik Lemarquand (351,000), and Leif Force (298,000).

Bertrand Grospellier — Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier

This event features unlimited re-entries and two more Day 1 flights on Friday and Saturday. Officially a two-day event, play is scheduled to wrap on Sunday, July 15. Players begin with 15,000 starting chips and levels last 30 minutes, with late registration available for 12 levels.

Follow along with the PokerNews Live Reporting team for all the big hands starting at 11 a.m. today.

Event #76: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.

After attracting a Day 1 field of 334 players, the U.K.'s Adam Owen bagged the chip lead (99,700) in the $3K H.O.R.S.E. with 152 players returning on Friday.

That entry total made for a $955,800 prize pool with 54 players getting paid and the winner earning a $233,202 first prize.

Rounding out the top five are Kristan Lord (95,100), Carol Fuchs (85,600), Roland Israelashvili (84,900), and Andrew Brown (79,700).

Others advancing include Frank Kassela (76,900), Dan Heimiller (72,600), Greg Mueller (72,400), Christine Hill (70,700), Brandon Shack-Harris (62,500), John Hennigan (62,400), Rep Porter (61,400), Eli Elezra (61,000), and David Bach (44,300).

The mixed-game action resumes on Friday at 2 p.m. and PokerNews will back in the saddle to provide all the H.O.R.S.E. updates. Click here to follow along.

Event #77: $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller (Big Blind Antes)

There is one new event starting today as well. Break out the big bankroll for this one, as the high rollers will be out in force.

This $50K event features one re-entry and a shot clock, and is scheduled as a two-day event. Players begin with starting chips of 250,000 with levels lasting 40 minutes and late registration available for 11 levels.

This is a new event and PokerNews will have every bet, raise, and fold. Check back for all the high rolling updates.

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas. His work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions. He is also the host of the True Gambling Stories podcast, available on iTunes, Google Play, TuneIn Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, PokerNews.com, HoldemRadio.com, and TrueGamblingStories.com.

Sharelines