An eventful Day 5 of the 2022 World Series of Poker Main Event saw a field of 380 players whittled down to just 123. The remaining players are all guaranteed $62,500, with the pay jumps on Day 6 coming with 98 ($73,100) and then 89 ($86,000) players remaining.
One name that stands out towards the top of the counts is Alejandro "PapoMC" Lococo who appears to have picked up where he left off last year when he finished seventh for $1,225,000 and is safely through to Day 6 with a stack of more than 10 million.
Event #70: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Hobbs | United States | 12,505,000 | 156 |
| 2 | Efthymia Litsou | United States | 11,675,000 | 146 |
| 3 | Aaron Mermelstein | United States | 10,680,000 | 134 |
| 4 | Alejandro Lococo | Argentina | 10,020,000 | 125 |
| 5 | Gerald Morrell | United States | 9,775,000 | 122 |
| 6 | Jorge Jou | Panama | 9,500,000 | 119 |
| 7 | Dingxiang Ong | Singapore | 9,500,000 | 119 |
| 8 | Philippe Souki | United Kingdom | 9,425,000 | 118 |
| 9 | Robert Minor | United States | 9,160,000 | 115 |
Since his deep run last November, Lococo has cashed for over $600,000 including two titles in the Czech Republic earlier this year. Here at the 2022 WSOP, the Argentinian has cashed in three events so far but nothing compared to his deep run in this year's Main Event.
The most eye-catching hand of the day came after the dinner break, after Lococo tangled with Karim Rebei who had led the remaining players going into dinner.
You can read the full hand history here, but Lococo's six-bet shove got through against Rebei and he vaulted up the counts. Lococo says the importance of this hand cannot be understated, calling it perhaps the most important hand he's played in his life so far.
"It's not my plan preflop to go all-in for 100 big blinds," he told PokerNews. "But I was playing for many hours with this player and there were many factors that went into the decision. I could spend many hours discussing it."
Did Alejandro Lococo Pull Off Best WSOP Main Event Bluff Since Moneymaker?
Some may think Lococo will be experiencing déjà vu heading into Day 6 for the second year in a row, but with a different stack size compared to last year, the Argentinian says it will not be the same at all.
"Last year I started Day 6 with a below-average stack, and this year I have much more, so clearly there will be different decisions and strategy, with different ranges and open raises."
Another notable making another deep run is, of course, defending champion Koray Aldemir. He spent most of Day 5 under the lights of the TV table, but took it in stride eliminating multiple opponents over the course of the day to bag a healthy stack.
Aldemir and Lococo are joined in Day 6 by 2020 WSOP Main Event champion Damian Salas (2,435,000), along with 2018 WSOP Main Event ninth-place finisher Antoine Labat.
Several players who won their first bracelets here at the 2022 WSOP are still in contention for a memorable second, including Espen Jorstad, Andrew Yeh and Dan Smith. Smith nursed his short stack through the day, but with the help of some timely doubles he remained alive to bag 2,030,000.
"You kind of just have to play every hand the way it needs to be played," Smith told PokerNews. "The structure of the tournament does mean there is a lot of play and that does help. Having a short stack here is more valuable than in other tournaments.
"I am fully aware that the most likely result is that I'm not going to make the final table. But, I'm having a great time and I'm trying to enjoy the experience and do my best, and whatever happens, happens."
Other players through to Day 6 include the last remaining women in the tournament Shelby Wells (1,900,000) and Efthymia Litsou (11,675,000). They will be joined by bracelet winners Timur Margolin (1,095,000), Andrew Yeh (5,830,000) and Marco Johnson (2,820,000).
Players falling on Day 5 included Jake Schindler, Ali Imsirovic, five-time bracelet-winners Brian Rast and John Juanda, as well as former tenth-place WSOP Main Event finisher Gaelle Baumann.
Having played five-and-a-half levels on Day 5, play will resume halfway through Level 26 (40,000/80,000/80,000) at 1 p.m. local time in Bally's Event Center.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the updates as they happen as we get that one step closer to crowning a new poker world champion.
from under the gun and only Dan Smith called on the hijack. 
flop gave Smith a pair as he had the 
. Action checked through. The 
turn gave Zhang an open-ended straight draw and Zhang bet 235,000. Smith called.
river and sneakily checked the action to Smith who bet 600,000 with his two pair. 
. 
landed on the turn. Mermelstein checked again and Schumacher slid out a bet of 1,400,000. Mermelstein went into the tank for a couple of minutes before ripping all in for 4,480,000. Schumacher snap-called and the cards were on their backs.
but was given the bad news as Mermelstein held 
for a set of queens. The river was the 
and Mermelstein scored a double up.
, opened to 120,000 and was called by Dan Smith in the big blind with 
. 
and Rast sized up for 625,000. Gisler then shoved all in, covering Rast.
bricked and the five-time WSOP bracelet-winner was sent to the rail.
.
. Smith sailed into the lead on the 
from middle position and Zilong Zhang called with 
flop gave Zhang trips and Trickett checked it over to the Las Vegas resident. Zhang bet 85,000 and was called. 
