button in SafariWhy Will Givens Has Been Absent with a Big Stack Deep in WSOP Main Event
Will Givens bagged a big stack on Day 5 in the WSOP Main Event, but he was mysteriously absent when play resumed Saturday morning.
It was a bit strange to see an empty chair this deep in the biggest tournament in the world, where the remaining players were playing for potentially millions of dollars. But Givens, a Will Kassouf of sorts at the poker table, had something better to do than arrive on time, he told PokerNews. Apparently, he can't crush it on the felt without the proper nutrition. More specifically, avocado toast.
"I was at the gym, I went harder, meditated longer," Givens said of why he showed up nearly a half-hour late for Day 6. "I got some avocado toast and eggs, took a longer walk a different way, went outside, got some sun. I really was just in my own world, and now I got here."
Wasn't a One-Time Absence
Givens started Day 6 with nearly 100 big blinds with just 173 eliminations away from the $10 million first-place prize. But he didn't take the traditional routine for getting prepared to play for millions. He instead opted to get some get some exercise in and eat, not concerned with the time he arrived at Paris Las Vegas.
It wasn't the only time on Saturday he was absent, however. Givens showed up late during the first level of play and quickly went to work as soon as he arrived, building up his stack to over 12 million chips at the second break, good for around 120 big blinds. Players were busting quickly on Day 6, and the field had condensed to 106 players remaining. Givens was again late coming back from break despite having a large stack and having massive pay jumps on the horizon.
At the time of publishing, Givens was second in chips, right behind Malcolm Trayner. He's playing at the World Series of Poker for the first time in four years after having his ban from Caesars properties removed.
Givens has over $4.1 million in The Hendon Mob live tournament cashes, including a 2014 WSOP bracelet, which he could more than triple if he wins the Main Event. He's also known to play in high-stakes Pot-Limit Omaha cash games in Texas. But he's playing for the biggest stakes of his life, and he just might win this tournament the unconventional way.
