The 2016 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $10,000 Main Event final table is set. With 27 players returning to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino for Day 7 on Monday, there were only nine seats available at the prestigious Fall finale. Canadian pro Griffin Benger booked his seat and banked a guaranteed prize of $1,000,000.
Benger is no stranger to the world championship level as the former professional gamer is a Counter-Strike world champion under the screen name ‘shaguar’ and a former number-one ranked online poker player. The Torontonian is currently ranked 32nd on the Canada all-time money list with just under $2,400,000 but with $1,000,000 already locked up he’ll boost himself to 15th or better. This is Benger’s second time going deep in the WSOP Main Event. His best finish coming in 2014 where he finished 90th. Benger has a PokerStars Shark Cage and European Poker Tour Berlin High Roller title to his name but a deep run or win in a WSOP Main Event would trump all of his previous accolades.
Benger’s main competition in regards to experience will be chip leader Cliff Josephy, known in the poker community as ‘JohnnyBax’, Josephy has two WSOP bracelets to his name, 17 career cashes, and $810,358 earned at the world series. Gordon Vayo and Kenny Hallaert will also be ones to look out for. Both men have over 20 WSOP cashes to their name and have earned $608,136 and $367,855 respectively. Here is how the November Niners stack up:
| Cliff Josephy | 74,600,000 | New York, US |
| Qui Nguyen | 67,925,000 | Nevada, US |
| Gordon Vayo | 49,375,000 | California, US |
| Kenny Hallaert | 43,325,000 | Hansbeke, Belgium |
| Michael Ruane | 31,600,000 | New Jersey, US |
| Vojtech Ruzicka | 27,300,000 | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Griffin Benger | 26,175,000 | Toronto, ON |
| Jerry Wong | 10,175,000 | New York, US |
| Fernando Pons | 6,150,000 | Palma, Spain |
Each player left the Thunderdome last night with the ninth-place payout of $1,000,000. Their sights now focus on returning at the end of October where first place will receive the balance of $8,000,000! The payouts for the final table are as follows:
1st – $8,000,000
2nd – $4,658,452
3rd – $3,451,175
4th – $2,574,808
5th – $1,934,579
6th – $1, 463,906
7th – $1,250,000
8th – $1,100,000
9th – $1,000,000
When play began on Day 7 the final 27 players took their seat with one thing on their mind – making the November Nine. Two Canadians entered play on Monday but unfortunately Burnaby, BC’s Michael Niwinski seen his dream come up short. Niwinski was eliminated by Vayo when his [AcJc] could not improve against Vayo’s [AhKc] all-in preflop. For his efforts, Niwinski was awarded $427,930 for 15th-place.
Hopes were huge for a number of players on Day 7. Former November Niner Antoine Saout was looking to make history but fell in 25th for $269,430. Early stages chip leader Valentin Vornicu (23rd – $269,430), Tom Marchese (14th – $427,930), and James Obst (13th- $427,930) are a few notables that were unable to survive. A title no player wants on their resume, Josh Weiss busted in 10th to become the 2016 WSOP Main Event final table bubble boy.
The players will now have until the end of October to rest, strategize, and prepare for the biggest moments of their lives. Stay tuned to Canada Poker for up-to-date WSOP news and events. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
