Another day of the poker marathon known as the 2021 World Series of Poker Main Event is in the books, with a new leader as the event moved inside its final 100 players. Austrian star Koray Aldemir thrived on the Main Event's Day 5, finishing with more than 14.3 million chips, more than seven times his start-of-day stack.
Aldemir's surge put him atop the Main Event's 96 surviving players, less than a third of those who began Day 5 play. Aldemir leads an international top three going into Day 6. Day 3 leader Ramon Colillas, from Spain, continued his strong run, ending up with exactly 12 million in chips. Canada's Jonathan Dwek, with more than 10.1 million in chips, begins Day 6 in third.
Chris Moneymaker, Qui Nguyen bust out
The final two prior winners of the Main Event who remained alive both busted during Day 5 play. Fan favorite Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 champ, busted early in the day. Moneymaker collected $38,600 for his 260th-place finish. Soon after, 2016 winner Qui Nguyen also busted. Nguyen finished 241st and collected the same $38,600 payday.
Moneymaker and Nguyen weren't the only notables departing on Day 5. Other prominent players sent to the cashier's cage included Justin Liberto, Matt Waxman, Steve Zolotow, Dan Heimiller, Dan Lowery, Matt Berkey, David Lappin, Marle Cordeiro Spragg, Eric Blair, Jason Koon, Keith Lehr, Jameson Painter, and Cole Ferraro.
Numerous well-known players remain in the chase for the $8 million top prize. California's Jess Lonis begins Day 6 in fifth, while Tennessee's Preston McEwen, who was featured here at Poker.org, continued his strong run and currently sits 12th. Other players remaining include Chase Bianchi, Chance Kornuth, Jeremy Joseph, Stephen Chidwick, Stephen Song, Yuri Dzivielevski, and Asher Conniff.
Just two women remain in the Main Event. The United States' Dragana Lim slipped from her top 10 spot on Day 4 to a 27th-place position starting Day 6. Canada's Fatima Nanji is one of the shortest returning stacks, beginning Day 6 in 92nd spot.
Here are the top ten in chips after Saturday's Day 5 action:
- Koray Aldemir (Germany) - 14,325,000
- Ramon Colillas (Spain) - 12,000,000
- Jonathan Dwek (Canada) - 10,125,000
- Zachary Mcdiarmid (United States) - 9,700,000
- Jesse Lonis (United States) - 8,995,000
- Roongsak Griffeth (United States) - 8,925,000
- Andreas Kniep (Germany) - 8,515,000
- Tonio Röder (Germany) - 8,000,000
- Alejandro Lococo (Argentina) - 7,805,000
- Stephen Gerber (United States) - 7,700,000
Featured image source: Haley Hintze
