2018 WSOP Main Event Day 9: Miles Busts Cada, Rises to Lead Over Cynn and Short-Stacked Dyer
Just three contenders remain in the hunt for $8.8 million and a place in poker history as the 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event champion: Tony Miles, John Cynn and Michael Dyer.
Those three outlasted Aram Zobian, Nicolas Manion and 2009 Main Event champ Joe Cada on what proved to be a wild day in which the chip counts and final standings look nothing like where they started about seven hours earlier.
Whereas it looked like Dyer might run away with things a la Joe McKeehen in 2015 — he came in with about 40 percent of the chips in play — he's now been reduced to the short stack after a downhill slide that saw him bag just 26.2 million, good for only 16 big blinds.
Instead, it's Tony Miles who has risen from fourth place to finish the day with a sizable edge, racing out ahead of his final two competitors and bagging 238.9 million; about 60 percent of the total chips.
"It's indescribable," Miles said of bagging the lead with just three players remaining. "It's a dream come true. It's truly magical."
Cynn rounds out the field with 128.7 million.
Final Three Players
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Cynn | United States | 128,700,000 | 80 |
| 2 | Tony Miles | United States | 238,900,000 | 149 |
| 5 | Michael Dyer | United States | 26,200,000 | 16 |
The story dominating headlines coming in, Cada's attempt to win an unprecedented two post-boom Main Event titles, ended about 30 hands into Day 9 at the hands of Miles. With five players left — Zobian fell victim to Dyer early on — Cada opened for 2.2 million under the gun at 500,000/1,000,000/150,000 and Miles three-bet it to 6.9 million on the button. Cada, who repeatedly showed a willingness to put his stack at risk leading into and during Day 9, shoved for 47.65 million.
Miles went into what looked to be a pained thinking process before he found the call button with ace-king. Cada rolled over pocket tens and the race was on. The hallmark of Cada's 2009 final-table run was his ability to win preflop all ins with pocket pairs, often times against bigger ones, but the flip wouldn't go his way. Miles flopped a king, much to the delight of a rail that ranked as easily the most raucous in the house.
"I didn't think that he would be shoving that wide," Miles said of the hand. "I thought that he would be flatting a lot of stronger hands just because of some things that I was taking into consideration. We are playing for a lot of money and there's a lot of pressure, so I just wanted to take my time and get the decision right."
After fading the turn and river, Miles suddenly found himself over 100 big blinds and within striking distance of Dyer. A lead that seemed insurmountable melted away when three players saw a king-four-three flop, with Miles holding a set of threes. He bet when checked to and Dyer raised to 14.3 million. He barreled again for 21.4 million on a five turn and then check-called a big bet of 27 million when the king paired on the river.
The stream would later show Dyer had flopped bottom two pair.
Miles: "I'm always telling him one day you could win life-changing money."
Dyer reclaimed his lead a bit later but then paid off two streets to Miles when the latter made aces full on a double-paired board and bet the river big. Dyer also got unlucky when he couldn't fade a flush draw that Manion jammed on the flop.
The start-of-day leader couldn't do anything with those chips though, following his fellow Michigan native Cada to the payout desk when he ran ace-ten into Cynn's kings.
That meant bagging time for the final three. There remains just over 50 minutes in Level 40 (800,000/1,600,000/200,000). The players will return at 5:30 p.m. local time on Saturday and play until the face that will adorn the next banner is the only one left.
Miles and his rowdy rail have positioned themselves for the party of a lifetime if he can finish the job.
"Those people are my heart," he said. "It means the world to me to be able to come out here and show them what we work so hard for all the time. My dad's always asked me, 'Why do you play tournaments? Why don't you just stick to cash games?' and I'm always telling him one day you could win life-changing money."
"It's a dream come true, I'm truly blessed and I'm honored to be here."
Miles still has two more opponents to get through, though, and the poker world's collective eyes will be trained on the final day of poker's biggest tournament on Saturday to see who emerges as champion.
Final Table Payouts Thus Far
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8,800,000 | ||
| 2 | $5,000,000 | ||
| 3 | $3,750,000 | ||
| 4 | Nicolas Manion | United States | $2,825,000 |
| 5 | Joe Cada | United States | $2,150,000 |
| 6 | Aram Zobian | United States | $1,800,000 |
| 7 | Alex Lynskey | Australia | $1,500,000 |
| 8 | Artem Metalidi | Ukraine | $1,250,000 |
| 9 | Antoine Labat | France | $1,000,000 |
The Biggest Hands of Day 9 of the 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event
Aram Zobian Eliminated in 6th Place ($1,800,000)
Hand #75: Action folded to the small blind, where Aram Zobian shoved all in for 17.35 million. Big blind Michael Dyer called fairly quickly with A♥8♣. Zobian had a dominated 8♦6♦ and needed help.
The Q♦K♣2♥ flop brought nothing for Zobian besides a backdoor diamond chance. The 7♥ ended those hopes so he needed a six. The 10♥ river didn't do it, eliminating Zobian in sixth place less than 20 minutes into the penultimate day.
| Player | Country | Chip Count | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Dyer | United States | 181,925,000 | +18,100,000 |
| Aram Zobian | United States | Busted |
Joe Cada Eliminated in 5th Place ($2,150,000)
Hand #105: Cada raised under the gun to 2.2 million and Tony Miles made it 6.9 million on the button. Cada moved all in for 47.65 million. After several minutes in the tank, Miles called with A♥K♣. Cada turned over 10♠10♥ and it was a race for about 85 million.
The K♠8♦9♥ flop had Miles' rail going nuts. The Q♦ turn gave Cada outs to a straight. The river was the 9♠, sending Cada out in fifth place.
| Player | Country | Chip Count | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Miles | United States | 104,450,000 | +49,750,000 |
| Joe Cada | United States | Busted |
Hand #121: Miles Takes Over the Chip Lead
John Cynn raised to 2.1 million from the under-the-gun position and got called by Tony Miles on the button and Dyer in the big blind.
The flop came K♠4♥3♠, both Dyer and Cynn checked. Miles bet 4.3 million. Dyer raised to 14.3 million. Cynn quickly folded. Miles considered his options and decided to call.
The 5♣ was brought on the turn. Dyer now took the initiative and bet 21.4 million. Miles called after a minute or so.
The K♣ completed the board on the river. Dyer now opted to check. Miles decided to bet 27 million and Dyer snap-called. Miles tabled 3♥3♦ for the flopped set of treys and even improved to a full house on the river.
| Player | Country | Chip Count | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Miles | United States | 182,625,000 | +67,175,000 |
| Michael Dyer | United States | 129,950,000 | -63,025,000 |
Hands #132: Manion Bluffs for a Cynn Double
Cynn made it 2.4 million from the button and Nicolas Manion defended big blind. On the 2♠6♣9♣ flop, Manion fired out 3 million. Cynn called, bringing the 2♥. Manion kept up the aggression with 5.5 million. Cynn called and the river was an A♣. Manion jammed for 11.2 million and Cynn quickly called with J♣10♣ for a flush.
Manion was forced to show his Q♥J♥.
| Player | Country | Chip Count | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Cynn | United States | 45,500,000 | +21,050,000 |
| Nicolas Manion | United States | 18,900,000 | -22,650,000 |
Hand #159: Big Value for Miles
Michael Dyer raised to 2.4 million on the button and Tony Miles defended his big blind with a raise to 9.6 million. Dyer peeled and 7♦A♠Q♣ flopped. Miles bet 9.5 million and Dyer called. The turn was the A♥. Both checked, bringing the 7♠. Miles fired 27 million. Dyer tanked a couple of minutes and called, losing showdown to A♦9♦.
| Player | Country | Chip Count | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Miles | United States | 199,900,000 | +47,300,000 |
| Michael Dyer | United States | 101,400,000 | -46,300,000 |
Nicolas Manion Eliminated in 4th Place ($2,825,000)
Hand #224: John Cynn raised to 3.8 million from the button and Nicolas Manion shoved from the big blind for 23.8 million. Cynn snap-called.
Nicolas Manion: A♠10♦
John Cynn: K♠K♣
The flop came 6♣Q♣3♠ to keep Cynn ahead.
The turn brought them the 2♦ and Cynn was still looking good.
The 6♥ completed the board on the river and Cynn's rail went mental as Cynn's pocket kings held up. Manion was eliminated in 4th place for $2,825,000.
Play has finished for today and a full recap of today's action is to follow.
| Player | Country | Chip Count | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Cynn | United States | 128,700,000 | +25,200,000 |
| Nicolas Manion | United States | Busted |
In this Series
- 1 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 1a: Truyen Nguyen Leads WSOP Main Event; Blumstein Busts
- 2 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 1b: Alex Foxen Among Big Stacks
- 3 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 1c: Record Turnout, Second-Biggest Overall Field Ever
- 4 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 2ab: Shawn Daniels Finishes On Top
- 5 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 2c: Sanchez Bags the Chip Lead; Ivey Near the Top of the Counts
- 6 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 3: In Sun Geoum Leads Final 1,182 in the Money
- 7 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 4: Hutter & Altman Bag Big; ~300 Remain
- 8 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 5: Dyer Races to Big Lead Before Power Outage
- 9 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 6: Aram Zobian Leads Final 26, Cada Still In
- 10 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 7: Final Table Set With Joe Cada Gunning for Second Title
- 11 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 8: Dyer Establishes Commanding Lead; Cada Still In Contention With Six Left
- 12 2018 WSOP Main Event Day 9: Miles Busts Cada, Rises to Lead Over Cynn and Short-Stacked Dyer
- 13 John Cynn Wins the 2018 WSOP Main Event for $8,800,000!
