Event #25: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em
Day 3 Completed
2021 World Series of Poker
Event #25: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2021 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$2,666,025
Entries
604
Level
33
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
31
Players Left
6
Eric Tsai Leads the Final Six Players in Event #25: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
After just seven hours of play on Day 3 of Event #25: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, the official final table of six players has been reached. Leading the way into the final day of competition is Eric Tsai who bagged up a whopping 8,040,000 chips.
Tsai was a bit of an unknown coming into the 2021 World Series of Poker, playing in the first series of his career. In the past few years, the majority of Tsai's tournament cashes have come in his home country of Taiwan. Tsai has already racked up two cashes at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino this fall, collecting payouts in Event #8: $600 Deepstack along with Event #13: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em.
Tsai mentioned after Day 3 that he has mostly been playing cards online over the past couple of years but what a moment it would be for him to capture his first WSOP gold bracelet in his very first appearance in Las Vegas. It won't be easy for the young lad as he will have five well-rounded players hot on his heels who have plenty of experience.
Scott Ball finished the day second in chips with 7,820,000 after a massive cooler late in the day. Ball cracked Craig Mason's pocket aces with his own pocket queens when he spiked a queen on the flop. Mason was left with just five big blinds after the hand and was eliminated just moments later, bringing the field down to just six players. Ball will also be looking to add his first WSOP bracelet to his list of recent accomplishments.
Jonathan Jaffe had a red-hot start to the day, quickly jumping out to the chip lead and holding on throughout. However, a downward spiral in the last level saw Jaffe close out Day 3 in third place with a stack of 6,170,000. Bin Weng (3,980,000), Galen Hall (2,245,000), and John Racener (1,950,000) round out the rest of the field. Hall and Racener already know the feeling of winning a WSOP bracelet and they will be looking to reach the top of the podium once again.
Final Table Seating Assignments
| Seat | Player | Chip Count | Country | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scott Ball | United States | 7,820,000 | 98 |
| 2 | Galen Hall | United States | 2,245,000 | 28 |
| 3 | Jonathan Jaffe | United States | 6,170,000 | 77 |
| 4 | Bin Weng | United States | 3,980,000 | 50 |
| 5 | Eric Tsai | Taiwan | 8,040,000 | 101 |
| 6 | John Racener | United States | 1,950,000 | 24 |
There were 31 players that returned to the felt for Day 3 and the eliminations came fast and furious to kick things off. Some of the early bustouts included Matthew Wantman, Nacho Barbero, George Wolff, and Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu came into the day in the middle of the pack but struggled to win a pot in the early going. His exit came when he shoved with ace-eight and was called by Tsai's king-jack. A king on the turn left Negreanu drawing slim and the river sealed his fate.
Other players to make their way to the payout desk before the final table included Ben Yu (20th place), Justin Liberto (16th place), Nick Petrangelo (13th place), and Vicent Bosca (9th place).
The final six players will return to their seats at 4 p.m. local time on the main stage inside the Amazon Room where they will compete for the first-place prize of $562,667 and a World Series of Poker gold bracelet. They will be live-streamed on PokerGO on a slight delay. There will be just over 30 minutes left in level 26 with the blinds at 40,000/80,000 and a big blind ante of 80,000.
Here's a look at the payouts for the final six positions:
| Place | Payout |
|---|---|
| 1 | $562,667 |
| 2 | $347,757 |
| 3 | $234,781 |
| 4 | $161,756 |
| 5 | $113,775 |
| 6 | $81,736 |
The PokerNews live reporting team will be on the tournament floor to bring you all of the updates on the way to crowning another WSOP champion.
Craig Mason Eliminated in 7th Place ($60,001)
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Craig Mason was down to just five big blinds and moved all in for 430,000 in early position. Tingyi Tsai re-raised to 1,000,000 on the button and Scott Ball flat-called from the big blind. The dealer spread the flop of 
and Ball check-folded to Tsai's bet of 700,000.
Craig Mason: 
Tingyi Tsai: 
The 
on the turn gave Tsai a full house and Mason was down to just three outs. The 
on the river was not one of them and he was eliminated in seventh place. The final six players will now bag and tag their chips and return at 4 p.m. tomorrow for the final table on PokerGO.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
7,500,000 | 580,000 |
|
Busted |
Ball Coolers Mason for Chip Lead
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Scott Ball opened to 160,000 and Craig Mason three-bet to 450,000. Ball then cold four-bet jammed and Mason snap-called.
Scott Ball: 
Craig Mason: 
The board came 
and Ball caught his set to get a full double and leave Mason short.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,900,000 | 4,000,000 |
|
|
435,000 | -4,365,000 |
Up and Down for Racener
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Jonathan Jaffe raised it up to 160,000 and John Racener called on the button. The flop came 
and Jaffe continued for 140,000. Racener called and the 
landed on the turn.
Jaffe led out for another 300,000 and Racener moved all in for 1,650,000. Jaffe asked for a count and gave it some thought but eventually decided to lay it down.
On the very next hand, Racener opened to 185,000 in the cutoff and Craig Mason defended from the big blind. The flop came 
and Mason check-called a bet of 155,000 from Racener.
The turn brought the 
and Mason checked again. Racener fired out another 260,000 and Mason stuck around to see the on the river. Both players knuckled the table and Mason showed 
for the only pair to win the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
6,170,000 | -890,000 |
|
|
4,800,000 | 1,225,000 |
|
2,150,000 | -750,000 |
Weng Raises the Turn
Level 26
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Jonathan Jaffe raised to 160,000 and both Bin Weng and Craig Mason called.
The flop came 
and each player checked.
On the turn 
, Mason bet 425,000 and Weng cut out a bet of 1,025,000.
Mason let it go and Weng picked up another pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,060,000 | -160,000 |
|
|
3,575,000 | -585,000 |
|
3,450,000 | 750,000 |
Level: 26
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 80,000
Two More Pots for Weng
Level 25
: 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Craig Mason raised it up to 150,000 and Jonathan Jaffe three-bet to 425,000 on his left. Bin Weng was next to act and shoved all in for 1,240,000. The action folded back to Mason who quickly folded. Jaffe took some time but eventually came to the same decision and let his hand go.
A couple of hands later, John Racener opened to 135,000 in early position and was called by Galen Hall in the cutoff and Weng in the big blind. The flop came 
and Weng checked to Racener who continued for 130,000. Hall called and Weng check-raised to 400,000 which got Racener to fold but Hall still called.
On the turn card, Weng led out with another bet of 390,000. Hall quickly folded this time and Weng flashed 
as he giggled to himself.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,220,000 | -1,430,000 |
|
|
4,160,000 | -640,000 |
|
|
2,700,000 | 1,600,000 |
|
2,250,000 | -450,000 |
Hall Triples With Queens
Level 25
: 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Galen Hall moved all in for 900,000 and both Jonathan Jaffe and Craig Mason called.
The flop came 
and Mason check-folded to a bet of 525,000 from Jaffe.
Galen Hall:
Jonathan Jaffe: 
The turn was the and the river was the 
and Hall tripled.
Mason then told the table he folded 
on the flop and would have hit the set on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,650,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
4,800,000 | -900,000 |
|
|
2,700,000 | 1,750,000 |
Tsai Goes After Jaffe
Level 25
: 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Jonathan Jaffe raised it up to 140,000 on the button and Tingyi Tsai called from the big blind. The flop fell and both players checked to the on the turn.
Tsai led out with a bet of 125,000 and Jaffe called to see the 
on the river. Tsai reached back for another bet of 475,000 this time but Jaffe quickly mucked his cards.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,550,000 | 950,000 |
|
|
6,920,000 | 840,000 |