Who may be poker’s next world champion?

Notable poker pros Kenny Hallaert (10,050,000), Griffen Benger (9,860,000), Jared Bleznick (7,955,000), Paul Volpe (7,290,000), Tom Marchese (7,155,000), Antoine Saout (6,705,000) and Daniel Colman (6,345,000) all have top twenty stacks heading into the business end of the development. Just who will win the 2016 World Series of Poker main event may not be decided until the general table plays out in November, but day 5 did do plenty to make sure just who won’t be the following world champion because the field was narrowed right down to just 80 players.

The 2016 WSOP main event champ won’t be a girl. Several female players made it through day 4, but one after the other all of them hit the rail during today’s action. Maria Ho finished in 242nd place for $36,708, getting all-in with the nut flush draw against Valentin Vornicu’s queen-high flush draw. Vornicu paired one in all his live cards at the river to enhance to the most productive hand.

Jen Shahade (204th – $42,285) and Stacy Matuson (169th – $42,285) also made were eliminated today. Melanie Weisner, who was held the chip lead at one point on day 4, got all-in preflop with the AK. She moved in for just over 1,000,000 in chips after a player opened and Farhad Jamasi three-bet to 425,000. Jamasi ended up making the decision with the 53. The board ran out 44225 to pair Jamasi at the river and send Weisner to the rail in 127th place $49,108.

That left Gaelle Baumann because the last female player in with a shot on the title for the second one time. Baumann, who finished 10th within the 2012 main event, was quite short on the time Weisner was eliminated. She eventually picked up the AJand got her last seven big blinds within the middle against Alex Keating’s AK. She didn't catch up and was knocked out in 102nd place, earning $49,108.

Day 5 also confirmed that the 2016 WSOP main event winner won’t be a repeat champion, either. Ten-time bracelet winner and two-time world champ Johnny Chan was considered one of two prior winners of this event who made it through to today. Chan was left short after shoving 85 from the button when it folded to him and getting called by Shankar Pillai’s pocket tens within the big blind. Chan didn't come from behind and was left short, busting out in 180th place for $42,285 soon thereafter.

That left 2004 winner of this event Greg Raymer because the only world champ with a shot at repeating. He eventually found himself all in with pocket nines against the pocket tens of Kenny Hallaert and did not improve, hitting the rail in 122nd place for $49,108. Raymer’s elimination assured that a new world champion might be decided this year.

Former champs and feminine players weren’t the one possible winners ruled out on day 5. Notables who were eliminated include start-of-day chip leader Bryan Piccioli (84th – $67,855), 2015 WSOP player of the year Mike Gorodinsky (87th – $67,855), Jon Turner (100th – $49,108), Michael Gathy (107th – $49,108), Brandon Adams (117th – $49,108), Dan Heimiller (137th – $49,108), Mukul Pahuja (138th – $49,108), Marc-Andre Ladouceur (139th – $49,108), Todd Brunson (154th – $49,108), Sorel Mizzi (157th – $49,108), Adam Friedman (177th – $42,285), Max Altergott (193rd – $42,285) and Shaun Deeb (221st – $42,285).

The final 80 return for day 6 at noon local time and can play five two-hour levels.

Here is a glance on the top ten stacks heading into day 6:

Rank	Player	Chip Count
1	Jerry Wong	11,555,000
2	Jan Suchanek	10,305,000
3	Kenny Hallaert	10,050,000
4	Griffin Benger	9,860,000
5	Joshua Weiss	8,330,000
6	William Kassouf	8,300,000
7	David L’Honore	8,265,000
8	Chang Luo	8,090,000
9	Jared Bleznick	7,955,000
10	Fernando Pons	7,930,000

For an entire listing of the rest players and their chip counts click here.

Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]