WSOP 2024 Day 39 Recap: Phil Hellmuth Makes Sensai in Main Event, Francis Anderson Wins Independence Day Event

There was a massive turnout on Day 1c of the WSOP Main Event and another bracelet was won on Day 39 of the 2024 World Series of Poker. Phil Hellmuth was joined by a phalanx of poker faces as he made his world-famous entry into the Main Event and players such as Chris Brewer, Justin Bonomo, and wait... Donnie Peters (?) all starred on the third starting flight of the World Championship. 

Phil Hellmuth Chops on Day 1c of Main Event, Justin Bonomo in Top 10 

The third flight of four in this year's World Championship, the $10,000-entry 2024 WSOP Main Event, featured the biggest field so far for Day 1s. With over 2,500 players taking part on Day 1c, around 2,100 made the cut, with players such as Colin Beveridge (295,500), Mo Nuwwarah (273,300), Alexandru Papazian (235,000), Justin Bonomo (174,000), Donnie Peters (170,300), Chris Brewer (156,800), Andrew Moreno (145,000) Adrian Mateos (143,100), Phil Hellmuth (66,700) and Johnny Chan (45,000) all surviving. 

While the action at the tables was electrifying, there was drama off the felt as Phil Hellmuth made his now-traditional entrance into the Main Event to music and with an entourage. This year, however, rather than a scantily clad female model to represent each of his 17 WSOP bracelets, Hellmuth went with a sporty theme, dressing in a black Karate Combat suit.

Accompanied closest by Dan 'Jungleman' Cates and Shannon Elizabeth, The Poker Brat led an entourage featuring poker media and players such as the 1998 WSOP Main Event winner Scotty Nguyen, poker commentator and stand-up comedian Joe Stapleton and Poker Org presenter Sarah Herring. 

Walking Elizabeth and Cates to the main stage where he would take his seat at the feature table, Hellmuth then stood back to allow for a fairly farcical enactment of karate where Elizabeth kicked Cates to the floor. As Hellmuth called the American Pie star "badass", Cates then lashed out at Hellmuth, sending the Poker Brat to the floor too. 

Once Hellmuth was helped to his feet by Jungle, the action got underway for the 1989 Main Event champion, and made an impressive move with jack-five to bluff his way to a big pot. Eventually, Hellmuth dropped back from having over 125,000 chips, however, ending the day on a stack of 66,700, improving on his 60,000 starting stack by around 10%. 

WSOP Event #81: $10,000 Main Event World Championship Day 1c Chip Counts

Mr. Anderson as Expected on Independence Day

In the $800-entry Independence Day event, a thrilling climax saw players race to the finish as Francis Anderson won his first-ever WSOP bracelet and $501,040. At a final table dominated by American players, only three of the final nine came from outside the United States, and none reached the final five. Canadia Jaskaran Brar lost out first, busting in ninth for $49,613 when his ace-five lost to the eventual winner's pocket tens.

Brazil's Regina Vega Sevilha then lost her stack to Bamshad Azizi when she ran into his pocket aces, before Martin Zamani saw his tournament come to an end without the bracelet as he cashed for the 123rd time at the World Series of Poker. Tens did the damage again for Anderson, Zamani's pocket nines crushed pre-flop and post-board. 

Eliminations for Tom Cohen (6th for $105,960) and the aforementioned Azizi (5th for $138,490) followed before an all-American foursome played down to a winner. Donnie Barnard departed in fourth place for $182,250 when he shoved queen-nine into the pocket queens of Brent Lee and Lee also took out Taylor Williams in a similar way when William's ace-five lost to Lee's pocket fives. 

Heads-up, Lee had a 4:1 chip lead, but Anderson doubled up when ace-jack made a full house against pocket fives, before taking the lead when an overpair of kings triumphed against Lee's top pair of queens. In the final hand, Lee's queen-deuce couldn't get there against Anderson's pocket fours and the latter had the title, the WSOP bracelet and top prize of $501,040.

WSOP Event #80: $800 Independence Day Final Table Results

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