WSOP 2019: 106 Survive Main Event Day 5; Timothy Su chip leader; Jiwoon Kim carries Asian hopes

Day 5 of the 2019 WSOP Main Event has been a lengthy day of notable names falling and 354 players being chopped down to just 106 survivors, each with dreams of a final table seat and a seven-figure prize.

There is $10,000,000 set aside for the eventual champion, a crown which Timothy Su has laid convincing claim to by accumulating a huge chipstack through the day.

Event overview: Timothy Su chip leader

The remaining Main Event field for 2019 was decimated on day 5, with more than two thirds of the remaining players hitting the rail. The talking point of the day is Timothy Su, who played out two pivotal hands towards the end of the day to surge ahead of the chasing pack, topping the chip counts with 19,235,000.

This puts him more than 7,000,000 clear of Sam Greenwood in 2nd. Dean Morrone led the way coming in with 4,980,000 but would go on to endure a torrid day, busting out around halfway through for $59,295. Todd Brunson ($50,855), Mike Matusow ($50,855), Joseph Cheong ($50,855), Brian Yoon ($59,295), Chance Kornuth ($50,855), Olivier Busquet ($43,935), Galen Hall ($43,935), Eric Froehlich ($38,240) and Adam Friedman ($59,295) all found a place alongside him on the rail before play concluded at 2am.

For those still scaling the mountain of the Main Event, one hand tomorrow can still change everything. Such is the nature of tournament poker.

Notable names: Alex Foxen and Antonio Esfandiari still in

Despite the rail’s thirst for victims during the fifth day, there are also stories of survival to tell. High-roller regular with over $24 million in live cashes, Jake Schindler is hanging on with 1,390,000 (17BB), four-time bracelet winner Jeff Madsen is still in the fight with 1,795,000 (22BB) and the same can be said of GPI number 1 ranked player in the world, Alex Foxen who has 2,655,000 (33BB).

Bracelet winner Yuri Dzivielevski has also been ticking along beneath the radar during the last couple of days but has now risen into contention with 3,530,000 (44BB). Further up the standings we have the biggest surviving name. With three bracelets and over $27 million in live cashes under his belt, Antonio Esfandiari is currently going strong with 6,630,000 (83BB) and just ahead is Daniel Hachem, who has 6,765,000 (86BB).

Leading the way for the notables, and currently in 2nd place is bracelet winner Sam Greenwood, who has over $18 million in cashes to his name. He will bring 11,950,000 (150BB) into day 6.

Asian survivors through to day 6

Hopes for an Asian Main Event winner were extremely high coming into day 5, with sixteen Asian players still in the hunt, all with playable stacks. That number may have now been cut to six, but this still represents a strong showing and brings realistic chances of an Asian player making the final table, at least.

Here are the counts for the Asian survivors:

16th – Jiwoon Kim (KOR) – 8,490,000 (106BB)
19th – Hiroki Nawa (JPN) – 7,760,000 (97BB)
28th – Steven Au (HK) – 6,635,000 (83BB)
43rd – Kartik Ved (IND) – 5,085,000 (64BB)
80th – Chang Luo (CHN) – 2,365,000 (30BB)
102nd – Fan Fan (CHN) – 1,120,000 (14BB)

There is still cause for optimism in the Australian camp too, with Warwick Mirzikinian bagging up a commanding 4th place chipstack of 11,430,000 (143BB). Daniel Hachem is also still on course to make headlines in 26th place with 6,765,000 (86BB).

In the field

The big story of the day is of course that of chipleader Timothy Su. Competing in his first Main Event, he has had the perfect day, storming ahead of the chasing pack with 19,235,000.

The interesting twist in the tale is that, of all 106 players still in contention, the man at the bottom of the live cashes list is none other than our chipleader. Su has just $2,467 in cashes and it remains to be seen whether financial pressure will play any part in his bid for glory. The other story of day 5 was the elimination of the final female in the field. Jill Bryant bowed out in 116th place for $59,295, meaning that we must wait at least another year to see a female player back at the Main Event final table.

Article by Craig Bradshaw