WPT World Championships 2023

WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas Day 5 Update

By Jonathan Raab

20 Dec 2023

Jonathan Raab 20 Dec 2023

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WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas enters penultimate day
Ben Jacobs chip leader, Maxime Chilaud in second
Princess Love eliminated in 40th place
Chris Moorman and Ben Heath last remaining British players
Calvin Anderson wins WPT Prime Championship for $1,386,280
Last six make final table of Big One for One Drop

Photos Courtesy of WPT

WPT World Championship Day 5 Report

There are just two days of play remaining before the 2023 WPT World Championship reaches its conclusion at Wynn Las Vegas. By the end of the fifth day of play, just 16 poker players survive, all still in with a chance to scoop the $5,678,000 first prize (before taxes) and have their name added to the Mike Sexton Cup.

Ben Jacobs Hold Chip Lead

Ben Jacobs is the overnight chip leader with a 46,400,000, however this represents just 77 big blinds, while the smallest stack of the remaining players, held by Paulius Vaitiekunas accounts on exactly 10m, accounts for 17 big blinds. Jacobs was already in a strong position when assumed the lead, after taking out Andrei Boghean in 17th place. His 10♥ 10♣ was too good for the Romanian’s A♦ 10♠ when they got it in on a Q♠Q♥6♥ flop. There was no further improvement for Boghean and he became the final elimination of the day, taking a tidy $236,300 with him.

Ooh La La

Lying in second place overnight is Maxime Chilaud, who occupies that spot for the second day in a row. The Frenchman propelled himself to the top of the leaderboard after doubling up in a huge pot with then chip leader Mark Mounsey, who is now the second shortest of the remaining contestants on 14m chips.

Brits Heath and Moorman Still Going Strong

Two British players have made it to the latter stages, Ben Heath and Chris Moorman in 8th and 9th positions respectively. ACR sponsored pro Moorman, the sole remaining WPT Champion, boosted his stack when he took out Australian Naj Ajez, but narrowly avoided being eliminated when he rivered a full house versus American Daniel Sepiol’s turned straight. Despite losing most of his stack, Sepiol managed two double ups to remain in contention as one of the bigger stacks going into day six.

Chip Counts of the Last 16

Position	Player	Chip Count
1st	Ben Jacobs	46,400,000
2nd	Maxime Chilaud	38,200,000
3rd	Artus Martirosian	36,200,000
4th	Carl Shaw	29,000,000
5th	Daniel Sepiol	27,900,000
6th	John Richards	26,400,000
7th	Georgious Sotiropoulos	24,600,000
8th	Ben Heath	22,300,000
9th	Chris Moorman	21,200,000
10th	Andrew Lichtenberger	19,500,000
11th	Jason Min	19,200,000
12th	Henrique Zanetti	17,300,000
13th	Ade Olonoh	15,500,000
14th	Raphael Blouet	15,400,000
15th	Mark Mounsey	14,000,000
16th	Paulius Vaitiekunas	10,000,000

Dreams Shattered

But the day wasn’t just about those who made it through, the curtain closed for 29 players, for whom the WPT World Championship is now over. Reality TV star Princess Love was one of those unfortunates, exiting in 40th place for a poker career best payday, amounting to $132,500. Her final hand was unfortunate, as she dominated Mateus Carrion’s A♣10♥with A♠K♠, however the 10♦on the turn sent her to the rail of the televised feature table, watched eagerly by her singer husband Ray J.

Ray J rails Princess Love on Feature Table at WPT World Championship

Husband and wife team (not actually a team) of Alex and Kristen Foxen were both ousted early on in the day. Former WPT Champion Alex departing in 39th, taken out my Maxime Chilaud, while Kristen won the family last longer bet, but eventually succumbed in 33rd place. Both collected $132,500 for their considerable efforts.

Maxime Chilaud also accounted for the exit of the third remaining WPT Champion in the field, when he busted Roberto Romanello in 38th place, defeating pocket jacks with A♥Q♥ for the Welshman’s remaining 3,850,000 chips.

WPT Prime Final Table

The record breaking WPT Prime Championship staged its televised final table today and it was Calvin Anderson who took top honours, claiming the $1,386,280 first prize after defeating Aaron Pinson heads up. In the final hand Anderson’s Q♠7♠ bettered Pinson’s K♣Q♥ when he hit a seven on the flop and then sealed the deal with a further seven on the turn.

One Drop

The Big One for One Drop also reached its final table today with Dan Smith leading the way. However only four players of the remaining six players will be in the money, as just 17 players entered the $1m buy-in showpiece event. Isaac Haxton and Nick Petrangelo have also made it to the business end of the equation.

Day 6

Play resumes at midday in the $40m guaranteed WPT World Championship when the final 16 players will battle it out for a place on the televised six-handed final table.