Poker News Daily reported that Han Feng’s World Series of Poker Main Event ended in fifth place, a result worth $2,250,000, after a decisive river card knocked him out at the final table.
Poker News Daily detailed that Feng, reduced to eight big blinds, shoved with pocket aces and was called by Lauri Saaskilahti’s pocket nines after Greg Mueller folded pocket jacks. The 10♦ 3♦ 8♦ flop left Feng with both an overpair and a diamond draw because he held the A♦, but the J♥ turn gave Saaskilahti an open-ended straight draw. When the Q♠ arrived on the river, Saaskilahti completed the straight and Feng was eliminated; Poker News Daily noted that seven river cards would have given Saaskilahti the pot.
Poker News Daily said the hand played out with five competitors still at the final table, where Feng had started among the six players chasing chip leader Lucas Jumalon. Earlier in the session, Jamie Shaevel, whom Poker News Daily identified as a Southern California cash-game pro, had already lost his short stack to Jumalon.
According to Poker News Daily, only two players were knocked out during the first six hours of Day 1 at the WSOP Main Event final table, leaving four contenders still in the race for the championship. Poker News Daily also reported that Feng came into the final table with about $3.5 million in live tournament cashes.
