Michael Dyer manages to win the WSOP Main Event final table

By Keefer Case (Contact)

Friday, July 13, 2018 | 2:00 am

Michael Dyer Raises

This was the sentence The most commonly pronounced by the announcer on Thursday night in the Rio's Amazon Room, and perhaps the most accurate word summary of the first night of the World Series of Poker's Main Event final table. Houston's 32-year-old professional, has pioneered a huge chip lead in the World Championship. $ 10,000 buy-in, seeming to frustrate at least one of the three players eliminated during the four and a half years. "It's a relentless aggression, and it's probably going to stop working," said Australian Alex Lynskey about Dyer's style after slumping to seventh place [19659007] It worked very well in the last two days

. Dyer took the lead at the start of Wednesday's game when he caught a flush on the river after forcing an opponent to go down with the best pair on the flop, and has only given way to the top for a few hands since. His advantage had reached one of its highest peaks when the game was stopped Thursday.

Dyer will resume his quest for the coveted WSOP gold bracelet and the $ 8.8 million first prize at 5:30 pm. Tonight, with 156.5 million chips, more than double the other carpets of the other six finalists.

"I have a dynamic separation on everyone, so it makes my job easier," says Dyer. "I'm able to play differently."

Two other players had similar results at the opening night of the final table in recent years, Scott Blumstein in 2017 and Joe McKeehen in 2015. to victory.

An American is guaranteed to win the tournament for the third year in a row. Three international players made the final table, but all made their exit Thursday.

Before Lynskey claims $ 1.5 million for seventh place, Ukrainian Artem Metalidi finished eighth for $ 1.25 million and Frenchman Antoine Labat ninth for a million. Labat, whose defeat came in bad play when his Kings Kings fell to Aram Zobian's Queens pocket, was more complimentary than Lynskey when it came to Dyer.

"I really like Dyer's style," says Labat. "I've seen hands that he played yesterday because I was watching the replays, I like the way he plays, I do not really play like he does, but he does really exploit them." people and looks very smart. "

Many, including Metalidi, believe that Dyer's biggest competition comes from the player sitting to his left at the table – Joe Cada, who is looking for # 39, a second historic title for the Main Event.

"I think Joe has a very good chance of winning that," Metalidi said. "Maybe he's going to play with (Dyer) .I think it's the strongest players that remain."

Cada and Dyer did not confuse him in important pots on Thursday. Cada found himself once again in preservation mode, not having many playable hands and contenting himself with choosing his seats and patiently climbing up the ladder of winnings.

The 2009 champion is currently fifth with 29.2 million chips, but along with the rest of the players, we guaranteed a minimum of $ 1.8 million for sixth place.

"I'm just happy to be here," Cada said. "It was a grueling tournament, I am just lucky to be in the place where I am, I have accumulated chips throughout the tournament and I have the impression to be hooked up there. "

Nic Manion, a 35-year-old low-stakes professional from Muskegon, Mich., made his way to the final table, a slight lead and shot past, but his attempts at aggression did not go as well as those of Dyer Manion fell by 30 million chips on Thursday, while remaining second.

Indianapolis pro John Cynn and Jacksonville, Fla. Tony Miles have both been able to add 61.5 and 57.5 million chips, but they all have a long way to go to catch Dyer, who seemed unruffled by becoming the focal point ESPN cameras on the biggest poker scene.

He just kept raising

"I like to play poker. "And it's just more poker."

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer .