Day 4 of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event saw the money bubble burst, along with the hearts of those who failed to place higher than 666: The Number of the Bust. As it turns out, four players – David Kelley, Dane Lomas, Desmond Portano and Steve Rosen – busted out on the first hand of “hand-to-hand” play, thus they all earned the dubious title of bubble boy(s). However, their simultaneous exit meant they would split the 666th place prize of $19,227. They will also play a special four-handed tourney with the winner receiving his $10k buy-in to the 2013 WSOP Main Event.
Leading the 282 Day 4 survivors with 2.75m chips is Paul Volpe, despite his dropping 650k to Eric Pratt shortly before play wrapped for the night. Erik Hellman is sitting in second with 2.216m, followed by Dave D’Alesandro (2.093m), Kyle Bowker (2.081m), Eric Buchman (2.07m) and Elisabeth Hille (2.014m) as the only players over 2m. Hille leads the six women still battling, followed by 2012 bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst (1.678m), Gaelle Baumann (1.438m), Marcia Topp (760k), Susie Zhao (665k) and Jackie Glazier (190k). Other notable names still in the hunt include Leo Wolpert, Joseph Cheong, David ‘ODB’ Baker, Sorel Mizzi, Dan Shak, Daniel Negreanu, John Juanda and actor Kevin Pollak, who holds a stack of 530k, slightly below the 700k average.
The list of those who finished in the money but will not return for Day 5 includes the two remaining Main Event champs: Huck Seed and Johnny Chan. Others whose Main Event dream died before its time include Jason Mercier, Marvin Rettenmaier, Liv Boeree, JC Tran, Bernard Lee, Grant Hinkle, Justin Young, Shawn Buchanan, Phil Collins, former Premier League striker Teddy Sheringham, Lee Childs, Maria Ho, Shaun Deeb, Claudia Crawford and Eric Baldwin.
Antonio Esfandiari, last seen cashing his $18.3m Big One for One Drop check, busted out in 501st place to earn $24,808 (probably less than the interest his Big One payday has generated since it was awarded). Soon-to-be-ex-Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo exited in 634th place, good for $19,227, which is chump change for the NHL star, but all of it gravy, as his $10k buy-in was paid for by the BC Lottery Corp. Luongo’s brother Fabio was eliminated in 418th place, earning $28,530. Day 5 action will get underway at noon local time.
Find more on WSOP and CalvinAyre.com’s Poker month coverage.
