Chris Moneymaker bubbles the WSOP Main Event, shoving with air directly into pocket aces

Chris Moneymaker bubbles the WSOP Main Event, jamming dry against pocket aces

The World Series of Poker Main Event has crossed its most critical milestone — the money bubble. Three players busted simultaneously on the bubble, including 2003 Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker.

Moneymaker started the day with 221,000 in chips but quickly saw his stack dwindle. In the decisive hand, the legendary player decided not to fold, despite missing the board entirely.

Moneymaker opened to 17,000 from the hijack with ♥️♦️ and called a 3-bet from Antonio Vargas, who held ♥️♠️. On the ♥️♠️♦️ flop and the ♣️ turn, Moneymaker check-called. The ♠️ river paired the board to complete a full house, prompting Vargas to bet almost 100,000 and force Moneymaker all-in. The Poker Hall of Famer called, hoping for a chopped pot, but Vargas tables pocket aces.

Alongside Moneymaker, 2020 WSOP Online Main Event winner Stoyan Madanzhiev and Kazakhstan's Zhakyn Seitbekov also busted on the bubble. Seitbekov made an unsuccessful shove with ♥️♥️ against Dan Stavila's ♦️♠️ on a ♦️♣️♠️♦️♣️ board. The three players chopped two $15,000 min-cashes, taking home $10,000 each. Additionally, they ran a flip for a $25,000 ticket to the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event in the Bahamas, which was won by Seitbekov.

Busting later with min-cashes were Daria Krashennikova, Kristen Foxen, Marat Shafigullin, and Nikolay Mamut. Locking up slightly larger payouts were Maxim Bednarskiy, Hall of Fame nominee Chris Moorman, Felipe Boianovsky (each securing $17,500), Chris Brewer, Roman Rogovskiy, Dimitar Danchev ($20,000 each), and Jeremy Ausmus ($22,500).

Day 5 of the Main Event sees 533 players return to the felt. According to WSOP Live, Artur Martirosyan leads the chip counts with a commanding stack of 159 big blinds. Sitting in eighth is fellow Russian Arman Bezhanyan (124 BB). Shaun Deeb is positioned in 114th (60 BB), while former champion Michael Mizrachi sits in 428th with a short stack of just 17 BB. Play resumes today at 22:00 Moscow time.