Hellmuth makes strong move, one Madisonian still alive at World Series of Poker Main Event
Madison native Phil Hellmuth made a strong move Thursday at the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas, the WSOP reported Friday.
Hellmuth, who was the youngest champion ever when he won the Main Event in 1989, increased his chip total from 196,000 to 475,000, putting him 75th as the field was cut from 1,308 to 474. The chip leader has 1.47 million chips, and the average chip total was 288,776 heading into Friday's play.
Hellmuth and Johnny Chan are the only remaining former champions alive as Chris Moneymaker was eliminated on Thursday.
Of the original 6,844 players who paid the $10,000 entry fee, 666 cashed. The total prize pool of more than $64 million includes a first prize of just over $9 million. The minimum cash prize is $21,230, and everyone still alive is guaranteed $27,020.
Andy Schultz of Madison is the last local player alive with 193,000 chips, after starting Thursday with 125,800 chips.
Cero Zuccarello of Madison started Thursday with 32,300 chips and busted out before reaching the cash level.
The Main Event is scheduled to play through Monday, until just the nine players who will make up the final table remain. The final table will begin Nov. 9 and continue until just two players remain. Heads-up action will begin on Nov. 10 with a champion possibly not crowned until the early hours of Nov. 11.
ESPN will broadcast an edited version of the final table on Nov. 11 from 8 to 10 p.m. ESPN will begin airing its WSOP coverage on July 22, with two hours of programming every Tuesday through Nov. 11. The Nov. 4 show will be a one-hour final table preview that documents what the players have been doing during the break.
Photo courtesy Vin Narayanan/Casino City Times
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Madison native Phil Hellmuth is still going strong at the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas.
