Day 5 of the 2023 WSOP Main Event is in the books and after a crazy day on the felt that started with 441 entrants, just 149 bagged a stack for Day 6.
Australia had two heroes left. Mike Lancaster, born in Melbourne, slipped under all of our collective radars due to a USA flag next to his name; speaking to PokerMedia Australia overnight, Lancaster confirmed he is “100% Aussie mate”, and now resides in the USA. Lancaster had bagged a stack of 4,130,000 – but at the time of writing has fallen in 130th, good for a US$67,700 cash.
However, Brisbane’s Daniel Dzian is very much still alive; Dzian bagged a healthy 4,935,000 overnight, and as of the last update, has 5,540,000. 87 players remain at the time of writing, and the average stack is around the 7 million mark. Dzian is guaranteed a minimum of $92,600 for his efforts thus far, and we at PMA, as well as Aussies around the country, will be hoping Dzian can make a deep run in the 2023 Main Event. Dzian is currently on one of the feature tables featuring on the PokerGo live stream, along with Bryan Obregon and all-time WSOP Circuit Ring leader Maurice Hawkins.
Meanwhile, Nicholas “Dirty Diaper” Rigby stole all of the headlines with his patented unorthodox style but hit the rail earlier today, and plenty of famous names hit the rail yesterday, including Jason Koon, Jason Somerville, Chris Moneymaker, Chris Brewer, and Chance Kornuth (at the hands of Rigby).
Michael Duek, who finished third in last years Main Event, was ousted in the penultimate level of Day 5. Bill Klein would also hit the rail after being crippled in one of the most brutal hands you’ll see all year – though Klein did stop to give possibly the most amusing bust-out interview of all time with Kara Scott. Scott and Jeff Platt, incidentally, were both resplendent in fluorescent pink outfits – and they swear they didn’t co-ordinate beforehand.
Some of Aussie’s finest made Day 5 as well. Yita Choong, battling a short stack, fell early on in 436th place for his fifth cash finish of this years World Series, and then Australia’s own 2005 Main Event Champion Joe Hachem bit the dust in 403rd, confirming that this years Champion will not be a repeat winner. Andrew Batey battled gamely with his short stack, despite being seated with the start-of-day chipleader Ryan Tosoc, and bowed out in 373rd; his third cash this summer.
James Obst has been having a stellar summer with seven cashes before the Main Event including a 5th place in Event 17, and a 4th place finish in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship, the latter won for a record-equalling third time by Brian Rast. The Main Event dream is over for Obst, however; he hit the rail in 324th, recording his eighth cash.
Estelle Cohuet, a Winamax Team Pro, has been confirmed as the last woman standing in this years Main Event following the elimination of India’s Nikita Luther. Cohuet was quick to note, however, that she didn’t just want to be the last woman standing, but the last player standing.
And lastly, this hand just has to be highlighted; Will Kassouf may have busted days ago, but Daniel Vampan was certainly channeling his spirit; forcing a fold from 2018 Aussie Millions Main Event Champion Toby Lewis (who held an Ace high flush) on a paired board with just eight high!
A rather amusing video of the Horseshoe rooms reaction to the fold on the big screens when it aired after the delay is well worth a watch. Lewis didn’t make the same mistake today though, calling off with a set of Jacks after a 5-minute tank on a board of J♣5♠8♠Q♠4♦ to double through Sachin Joshi after Joshi put him to the test on the river.
Australian Results
| Rank (87 remain) | Player | Chips |
| 54 | Daniel Dzian | 5,540,000 |
| 130th (US$67,700) | Mike Lancaster | BUSTED! |
| 202nd (US$58,500) | David Sebesfi | BUSTED! |
| 324th (US$44,700) | James Obst | BUSTED! |
| 358th (US$40,000) | Minh Nguyen | BUSTED! |
| 373rd (US$40,000) | Andrew Batey | BUSTED! |
| 388th (US$40,000) | Grant Thomas | BUSTED! |
| 403rd (US$40,000) | Joe Hachem | BUSTED! |
| 436th (US$37,500) | Yita Choong | BUSTED! |
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