DECEMBER NINE: Final Table Set in WSOP Main Event With Joseph Hebert Chip Leader
After two days of action at WSOP.com, the final table is now set in the World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event. The action now shifts to live play at the Rio in Las Vegas on Dec. 28.
Joseph Hebert returns as chip leader when play resumes. The final table of the GGPoker international half was set for Tuesday at King’s Casino in the Czech Republic.
The two winners then battle it out heads-up on Dec. 30 at the Rio for the bracelet and $1 million. It’s been a unique Main Event, but the end appears now in site barring any COVID-related setbacks.
A look at the WSOP Main Event final table
Hebert hails from Metairie, Louisiana, and looks to be in the driver’s seat when action resumes. With more than twice his nearest opponent, he’ll have plenty of chips to battle with.
Three-time bracelet winner Upeshka De Silva may be the most recognizable name remaining in the field. He emerged from Day 1 as chip leader, but now finds himself with work to do.
De Silva sits in eighth and looks to be the most experienced player on this stage. When looking at US online poker markets, three players remain from New Jersey and one from Pennsylvania. Here’s a look at all the final table players.
2020 WSOP US Main Event Final Table
Position Name Chips Hometown Resumé
1st Joseph Hebert 13,052,534 Metairie, Louisiana • $668,000 in live tournament winnings
• Biggest cash (2013) – 2nd in WSOPC New Orleans Main Event for $140,932
2nd Shawn Stroke 5,252,000 Lawrence, New York • $68,175 in live tournament winnings
• Biggest cash (2013) – 2nd in $365 WSOP.com Online event for $94,265
3rd Ryan Hagerty 5,071,572 Somerset, New Jersey • $341,128 in live tournament winnings
• WPTDeepstacks winner (2019) – $70,865
4th Ye Yuan 4,829,459 Madison, Wisconsin • $6,774 in live tournament winnings
5th Michael Cannon 4,408,847 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania • $184,584 in live tournament winnings
• Took 9th in WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open in 2019 for $ 72,842
6th Gershon Distenfeld 3,475,481 Bergenfield, New Jersey • $10,375 in live tournament winnings
• 7th in a WPTDeepstacks event in 2019
7th Ron Jenkins 2,476,746 Los Angeles, California • $388,819 in live tournament winnings
• Won $225 event at the Bicycle Casino in 2010 for $70,012
8th Upeshka De Silva 2,151,969 Katy, Texas • $3.1 million in live tournament winnings
• 3 WSOP bracelets
9th Harrison Dobin 1,581,392 West Long Beach, New Jersey • $101,125 in live tournament winnings
• 8 cashes in recent WSOP Online at GGPoker
Other big names hit the rail
Several other big name players were in the mix for Day 2 but didn’t make the final table. Maria Ho made a deep run, finishing 22nd for $35,194, and Jason Somerville finished 32nd for $29,779.
Scott Seiver finished 39th for $25,718 and Freddy Deeb 46th for $22,334. 2013 WSOP Main Event Ryan Riess took 47th for $22,334.
Four-time World Poker Tour champion Darren Elias took 50th for $22,334. Two-time bracelet winner Shankar Pillai finished 51st for $22,334. 2018 888poker Crazy Eights bracelet winner Galen Hall bowed out in 53rd for $22,334. Poker commentator Nick Schulman took 55th for $20,304.
Key links to follow the action
ESPN will be filming all the action at both final tables and the heads-up match. However, those looking for live coverage of the GGPoker final table will be out of luck. There are a few places fans may want to follow to check out the action.
- WSOP.com – will be providing live updates on the US final table
- GGPoker YouTube – will be posting highlights from the final table in the Czech Republic
- GGPoker Twitter – regular updates throughout the final table
- WSOP and WSOP.com Twitter – regular updates on the final table and heads-up match
The action at the live final table was already underway on Tuesday afternoon. At press time, Damian Salas moved from third to chip leader with three players remaining.
A win would complete quite a Main Event run for Salas after finishing seventh in the event in 2017 for $1.4 million.
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Joseph Hebert photo courtesy WSOP