Kenny Hallaert Misses Out On Rerun as WSOP Main Event Rolls On

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is hurtling towards a conclusion and, on top of the chance to win $8 million, the annual event is providing some inspiring stories.

Kenny Hallaert couldn’t make it back-to-back WSOP Main Event final tables, but Antoine Saout (pictured) still has the chance to make a return to the spotlight. (Image: Flickr/World Poker Tour)

Following a weekend of action inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, the WSOP’s $10,000 Main Event has worked its way down to just 27 players.

With the home straight in sight, the WSOP Main Event was awash with talented pros, but it was 2016 final tablist Kenny Hallaert making the headlines.

Hallaert Close But Not Close Enough

The Belgian pro famously finished 6^th in last summer’s WSOP Main Event and looked as though he was going to make it back-to-back appearances this time around. When Day 5 finished, Hallaert was sitting in 35^th place with more than 4 million chips to his name.

Although some way off the Day 5 leader Robin Hegele, Hallaert was in a comfortable with 85 left. That momentum had many on the rail predicting a repeat of 2016’s run. However, when the chips started to fly on Day 6, Hallaert was caught in the crossfire and eventually fell in 64^th.

While Hallaert was heading off to collect his $101,444 consolation prize, Christian Pham cruised to the top of the Day 6 chip counts. With almost 3 million more chips than his closest rival, Valentin Messina, Pham looks a strong bet to make the final table.

Saout Looking to Roll Back the Clock

However, of the 27 players left in the mix, France Antoine Saout will be looking to use experience to his advantage and return to the site of his best ever tournament cash. During the 2009 WSOP Main Event, Saout made his way passed more than 6,400 players to find himself at the final table alongside the likes of Phil Ivey and Joe Cada.

Although Saout wasn’t able to outlasted the eventual winner Cada, he did overcome Ivey to finish 3^rd for $3,479,670. Whether this experience will help him to another Main Event final table remains to be seen as there are some strong players left in the race for this year’s $8.1 million top prize.

With the final table hiatus now a distant memory, the 2017 WSOP Main Event will come to a conclusion later this week. Once the final table starts on July 20, the action will be broadcast live on ESPN over the course of three sessions before the 2017 WSOP World Champion on July 22.

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