Players hit the money at the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas on Friday, with each of the 693 top finishers getting at least $19,359 each.
Reza Kashani, a 31-year-old flooring company owner from Irvine, Calif., busted in 694th place, sending the remaining players into a frenzy as they learned they would profit from a $10,000 entry in the no-limit Texas Hold ’em tournament.
Kashani moved in for the last of his roughly 150,000 in chips with a pair of kings and an inside straight draw, but was called by Joseph Cheong, last year’s third-place finisher. Cheong had a set of queens, which held on the turn and river.
Just before the money bubble burst, tournament officials slowed play to a crawl, forcing all dealers to play one hand at a time then wait until all tables were finished. It took about 40 minutes — six hands — to eliminate the two players.
Through five hours of play Friday, 299 players had been eliminated. The players will continue toward determining the final table by Tuesday night or early Wednesday.
