Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

World Series of Poker main event winner won’t be a former champion

WSOP Main Event: Day 1

John Locher / AP

A man walks by a sign on the first day of the World Series of Poker main event Saturday, July 5, 2014 in Las Vegas. Players are vying for the $10 million first-place payout at the poker tournament. (AP Photo/John Locher)

WSOP Main Event: Day 1

A man walks by a sign on the first day of the World Series of Poker main event Saturday, July 5, 2014 in Las Vegas. Players are vying for the $10 million first-place payout at the poker tournament. (AP Photo/John Locher) Launch slideshow »

The World Series of Poker main event will have a new champion, as the final 692 players guaranteed themselves a profit by lasting past the money bubble on Friday.

Players short on chips stalled and pleaded in hopes of outlasting a few more opponents and seeing a return on their $10,000 buy-in in the no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament.

Three players were eliminated on the bubble, splitting $18,406 for 693rd place three ways and drawing a high card for a free seat to the event next year.

Zhen Cai of Lake Worth, Fla., won the seat after being eliminated with pocket queens to an opponent with pocket aces. The cash game player, who went to the University of Florida, said his goal was simply to cash after coming into the day's session short on chips.

"The entire day, I've been telling the table I'm only getting it in with aces, but with less than six big blinds and queens I just put it in there," Cai said.

Huck Seed, the 1996 winner and last remaining main event champion in the field, was eliminated earlier Friday.

The players left are guaranteed at least $18,406 each, with the tournament continuing through the weekend and determining the final nine players in a session starting Monday. The top prize is $10 million, to be awarded during the final table in November.

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