2024 WSOP Paradise: The Largest-Ever $50 Million GTD Super Main Event Falls Just Short; India’s Santhosh Suvarna Advances in the $50K NLHE High Roller

The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is down to its final two days, and you can practically feel the buzz. Poker fans everywhere have been following along, and now we stand on the brink of a finale that promises to linger in everyone’s memory.

At the heart of all this is Event #9: the $25,000 WSOP Super Main Event. With a massive $50 Million guarantee—the largest ever attempted—the event set its sights impossibly high. There were murmurs early on, people wondering if it could hit that enormous target. Well, it nearly got there. By the time they had counted up the 1,378 players who showed up across the live starting flights and Day 2, plus the 600 who joined online, the total reached 1,978. That left them just 22 entries shy of the 2,000 needed, resulting in a slight $550,000 overlay. Still, there’s no denying the sheer scale of what we’ve witnessed.

Aussie Front-Runner and Legends Still in Contention

After Day 3 ended, only 36 competitors remained. Australia’s Michael Addamo rose to the top, amassing a formidable stack of 85.35 million chips (107 BBs). He’s got a serious edge, but the job is far from done. Brazil’s Marcelo Aziz (60 million ~ 75 BBs) and Uruguay’s Pablo Melogno (54.325 million) aren’t far behind, and they’re hungry to close that gap.

They’re not alone. Huge names still linger, waiting for their moment to pounce. Keep your eyes on Christopher Nguyen (49.35 Million), Yinan Zhou (49 Million), Sirzat Hissou (39.275 Million), Ren Lin (37.85 Million), Joonhee Yea (36.40 Million), Sebastian Toro (36.25 Million), and the iconic Chris Moneymaker (34 Million). Beyond them, there’s another layer of notable pros who’ve made it this far: Chris Klodnicki (30.625 Million), Justin Bonomo (22.45 Million), Nick Maimone (18 Million), Roland Rokita (16.875 Million), Lou Garza (13.125 Million), Liv Boeree (11.875 Million), and Darius Samual (8.70 Million). It’s a line-up that suggests no one should look away, not even for a second.

Day 3: The Field Thins and the Bubble Bursts

On Day 3, 207 players returned to the felt. They were joined by 90 others who had earned their way into the money through GGPoker’s online flights. With 297 places guaranteed at least $50,000, the tension was thick in the air, and it only got more intense as the money bubble approached.

In a shocking twist, the bubble claimed none other than Poker Hall of Famer and 17-time WSOP bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth. If you needed any proof that this event takes no prisoners, there it is.

Indian Aces on the Rise

For Indian poker fans, there was reason to cheer. Two Indian players made it into the money, adding to a growing list of global talents making their mark. Santhosh Suvarna, the country’s all-time money list leader, scored his first cash of the series, claiming $50,000 (~₹42.46 Lakhs) for a 240th-place finish. His run ended in a tense three-way all-in when his pocket eights found themselves up against pocket kings and pocket queens—an exit that would make any player’s heart skip a beat.

Not far behind was another Indian contender, Adesh Tiwari, who also earned $50,000 (~₹42.46 Lakhs) for finishing in 294th place. Together, they’ve helped shine a spotlight on India’s rising presence in the world of high-stakes competition.

Famous Names Cash Out

While many big names have fallen by the wayside, they didn’t leave empty-handed. Nick Petrangelo (48th for $140,900), Danny Tang (60th for $110,200), Ole Schemion (79th for $86,100), the recent $50K PLO Championship victor Stephen Chidwick (86th for $86,100), Adrian Mateos (103rd for $86,100), the recent Triton Main Event champion Alex Foxen (135th for $67,300), Max Neugebauer (160th for $67,300), Erik Seidel (161st for $67,300), Daniel Negreanu (170th for $67,300), John Juanda (171st for $67,300), Kristen Foxen (210th for $50,000), Scott Seiver (286th for $50,000), Artur Martirosian (288th for $50,000), and Jim Collopy (293rd for $50,000) have all added new lines to their already impressive poker resumes.

$50,000 High Roller: Another Shot for Santhosh Suvarna

Meanwhile, Event #13: $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller brought out a smaller but no less fearsome group of 101 entries. With 29 survivors heading into Day 2, Canada’s Daniel Dvoress leads the pack with 3.835 million chips. Right behind him is Fedor Holz with 2.755 million, and among those still in the running is Santhosh Suvarna, stacking up 680,000 chips. With the way things have been playing out for him, who’s to say what surprises still lie ahead?

Top Ten Chip Counts After Day 3

1. Michael Addamo – 85,350,000
2. Marcelo Aziz – 60,000,000
3. Pablo Melogno – 54,325,000
4. Christopher Nguyen – 49,350,000
5. Yinan Zhou – 49,000,000
6. Sirzat Hissou – 39,275,000
7. Ren Lin – 37,850,000
8. Joonhee Yea – 36,400,000
9. Sebastian Toro – 36,250,000
10. Chris Moneymaker – 34,000,000

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP, Card Player & PokerNews

Keep following PokerGuru for all the latest updates from the 2024 WSOP Paradise!