For months 888poker has been qualifying players for the 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. On Tuesday, July 9 the “888poker Squad” returned to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino for Day 4 action.
At the start, 17 of the first 85 888poker qualifiers were still in action.
Here’s a look at how they did.
Down to Final Five; Morrone Leads
Day 4 began with 1,286 of 8,569 players returning to action, all of whom were already in the money. It was a big day as after five more levels of play just 354 bagged and tagged, meaning 932 players hit the rail throughout the day, including a dozen members of the 888poker Squad.
The good news is that five qualifiers survived including Dean Morrone, who bagged the chip lead with a monster stack of 4,980,000. That is nearly a million more than the second-biggest stack.
888poker qualifier Mihai Manole, who currently sits second on Romania’s all-time money list, also did well advancing with 3,781,000, good for the sixth-biggest stack in the tournament.
Others to make it through were well-known Canadian poker pro Sam Greenwood, the Netherlands’ Cornelis De Moree, and Germany’s Patrice Brandt.
Remaining 888poker Squad Day 5 Chip Counts
Dean Morrone – 4,980,000
Mihai Manole – 3,781,000
Sam Greenwood – 1,371,000
Cornelis De Moree – 1,118,000
Patrice Brandt – 765,000
James, Papadopoulos & Sokolovskiy Among the Fallen
One player who didn’t have a good Day 4 was Jason James, who led the 888poker Squad with over a million in chips. Unfortunately for him, his run was cut short by a fellow 888 qualifier in Mihai Manole.
It happened when James raised on the button, and Manole defended his big blind to see a A♦9♦5♥ flop, which brought a check by Manole, a continuation bet by James and a call.
Both checked the 7♠ turn, and Manole also checked the 10♠ on the river. James now bet 75,000 and Manole jammed to send James into the tank. He had around 300,000 behind and called it off after two minutes of consideration.
Manole turned over 8♥6♥ for the straight and James ended up second-best with 9♣7♣ for two pair. James was eliminated in 755th place for $20,200 while Manole continued to build throughout the day.
Another qualifier to fall was Kyriakos Papadopoulos, who bowed out in Level 16 (4,000/8.000/8.000) after getting his last 118,000 all in on a J♥4♥10♣ flop. Papadopoulos had flopped top pair with the A♣J♦ but couldn’t hold as Sarkis Akopyan, who had the Q♦9♥, made a straight on the 10♥ turn and 8♥ river run out.
Likewise, Mikhail Sokolovskiy took his leave in Level 18 (6,000/12,000/12,000) when he check-shoved for 580,000 on a 4♥5♥9s flop holding pocket kings. Unfortunately, he’d been set up by Yaji Ren, who had the 9♥9♣ in the hole. Sokolovskiy failed to find a king and his run came to an end.
Thus far the 888poker Squad has cashed for $242,460!
888poker Squad Results Thus Far
Rob McAdam – 384th for $34,845
Charlie Combes – 575th for $24,560
Andres Korn – 577th for $24,560
Mikhail Sokolovskiy – 600th for $24,560
Diego Ventura – 740th for $20,200
Jason James – 755th for $20,200
Thomas Muehloecker – 771st for $18,535
Timothy Cavalin – 1,098th for $15,000
Florin Ionut Pandilica – 1,185th for $15,000
Bill White – 1,209th for $15,000
David Hu – 1,256th for $15,000
Kyriakos Papadopoulos – 1,265th for $15,000
888poker will be bringing you daily 2019 WSOP Main Event updates on our qualifiers. Check back to see who goes deep and who ultimately finishes as the 888poker Squad last player standing.
