WSOP Day 44: Main Event on the Bubble's Edge, Mizrachi's Title Defense Continues

Phil Hellmuth's Double Defeat

The third day of play in the Main Event is where dreams of poker immortality come to fruition or fade away. Out of a starting field of 9,208 entries (the fourth largest in history), only 1,389 players remained after another five two-hour levels.

The remaining hopeful champions are just seven eliminations away from bursting the bubble and securing a minimum payout of $15,000. Day 4 will kick off with a hand-for-hand mode until we identify the unfortunate bubble boy.

The biggest story of the day was the ongoing successful defense by the reigning champion. Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi showcased his signature aggressive play at the TV table, with his stack nearly reaching 1.2 million at one point. However, he hit a major setback with A-K on a board of Q-2-Q-A-4, where Marshall Daigle flopped quads with Q-Q. Mizrachi ended the day with a stack of 615,000 chips and confidently declared he was chasing a "back-to-back" title.

The chip leader of the day, PLO cash game specialist Sasha Liu, also stirred excitement. She entered the tournament only via late registration on Day 2 but finished Day 3 at the top with a massive stack of 2,364,000.

Another former champion, Hossein Ensan, also excelled, with a stack of 1,280,000, placing him in the top twenty. Alongside these names, contenders like Alex Foxen (839,000), Shaun Deeb (938,000), and the legendary Chris Moneymaker (221,000) continue their quest for gold.

However, the day was harsh on Phil Hellmuth, who not only busted the Main Event but also lost $14,000 in a bet with Shaun Deeb. The bet was centered around the performance of his son, Phillip Hellmuth III, whom the proud father believed would make it to the money spots, but that was not the case.

Other iconic players like Joe McKeehan, Will Kassouf, Mike Matusow, and Benny Glaser also exited the tournament.

Top 10 Stacks Event #82 (After Day 3):

'Texas Mike' Aims for Third Bracelet

The popular Event #86: $600 NLH Ultra Stack reached its final phase after a grueling second day. From a gigantic field of 8,007 entries, only the final 16 players remain fighting for the prestigious title and the top award of $400,000 from a total prize pool of $4,035,528.

The play on the second day accelerated as all players were already in the money, and the field rapidly thinned out. The only WSOP winner advancing to the final day, who is a heavily watched favorite for the title, is Michael "Texas Mike" Moncek. His dominant Day 2 performance granted him a provisional third place as he strives for his third gold bracelet. The chip leader spot is held by Frenchman Henry Benamram, with Finnish player Mikko Torkki close behind.

Top 10 Stacks After Day 2 – Event #86: $600 Ultra Stack No-Limit Hold'em

Race for Mystery Bounty Nears Finale

The second and final opening flight Day 1b saw a massive surge in participation for Event #87: $1K PLO Mystery Bounty, with 2,842 entries joining the fray. The total registrations amounted to 4,764, dividing the prize pool into $2,763,120 for placement prizes and $1,429,200 set aside for Mystery Bounty rewards.

Out of flight 1b, 426 players advanced to the final day, led by China's Yuhong Liu. Among the qualifiers are seasoned professionals like Anson Tsang, David "ODB" Baker, Joao Simao, and Mike Matusow.

Top 10 Stacks After Day 1b – Event #87: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha

Kickoff of the Cheapest Bracelet Event

Day 44 also saw the start of the highly anticipated Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker, boasting the lowest buy-in of this year's series. The opening flight Day 1a attracted 1,810 entries, creating a preliminary prize pool of $445,260. Only 66 players survived the grueling 22 levels, highlighting the fast and aggressive pace of the game.

American Jose Cayetano emerged as the chipleader, being the only one to surpass the two-million-chip mark. Other advancing players with solid stacks include bracelet holders Ben Yu and Andrew Brown.

The tournament will continue with three more starting flights before the combined Day 2, scheduled for Sunday, July 12.

Top 10 Stacks After Day 1a – Event #88: $300 Gladiators of Poker

Star-Studded Field Featuring Juanda and Punsri

Event #89: $3K Mid-Stakes Championship kicked off with its opening day 1a, attracting 497 entries. After ten levels, 140 players advanced with Hoi Lee from Hong Kong taking the chip lead.

Legendary Hall of Famer John Juanda drew significant attention as he continues his impressive run, successfully advancing to the next rounds. Punnat Punsri also positioned himself well, aiming for his first career bracelet.

Noteworthy advancements were made by players like Tyler Patterson, Jeffrey Madsen, and Shiina Okamoto. Late registration remains open until the start of Day 2, promising more exciting names in the mix.

Top 10 Stacks After Day 1a – Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship

Sources: WSOP, WSOP Live, YouTube