2021 WSOP Day 38: Aleksandr Shevlyakov Bags Overall Chip Lead on Day 1c of the Main Event

The focus of the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was exclusively on the $10,000 buy-in Main Event on Day 38 with Day 1c dominating all the action at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

Aleksandr Shevlyakov not only bagged the Day 1c chip lead but also leads the way with his 392,600 in chips eclipsing that of Day 1a chip leader Mustapha Kanit (363,500) and Day 1b chip leader Steve Foutty (287,000).

The race for the 2021 WSOP Player of the Year race continues to heat up with the likes of Shaun Deeb and Daniel Negreanu putting the pressure on current POY leader Jake Schwartz.

With three more starting flights of the Main Event, why not check out this video from PokerNews' Tiffany Michelle on how to register for the 2021 WSOP Main Event.

Aleksandr Shevlyakov Leads After Three Opening Flights

Day 1c of Event #67: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event attracted 600 runners and by the end of play, 433 players remained with Aleksandr Shevlyakov standing tall as the day’s chip leader after bagging 392,600 in chips. So far, between Day 1a through 1c, there have been 1,968 entries. Of those, 1,392 remain in contention.

Shevlyakov, who is the current overall tournament chip leader (with Days 1a and 1b factored in), was able to build his stack early after getting all-in with aces against Takahiro Kidokoro’s ace-queen and holding. Shevlyakov secured his chip lead near the end of the day after winning a massive pot with a straight against Susan Choi's pocket kings.

Day 1c Top 10 Chip Counts

Interestingly, the Day 1c field contained a number of previous WSOP Main Event final tablists who managed to bag into Day 2. Among them are 2013 fifth-place finisher JC Tran (175,400), 2004 third-place finisher Josh Arieh (154,100), 2009 third-place finisher Dennis Phillips (89,900), 2018 runner-up Tony Miles (53,800), 1988 runner-up Erik Seidel (38,700), 2016 Champion Qui Nguyen (143,800) and 2019 Champion Hossein Ensan (84,000). Jay Farber, who was the 2013 runner-up, was also in the field, but ended up busting during the last level of play following a hand that left him with crumbs.

Other notables who advanced into Day 2 included Matt Glantz (236,000), Lucas Greenwood (106,900), Pete Chen (99,700), Sam Abernathy (40,500), and Sam Greenwood (27,200). Meanwhile, Poker Hall of Fame nominee Ted Forrest got off to a hot start but lost steam late in the day to end with 79,600.

Among those less fortunate and unable to survive the day included Bryce Yockey, Jonathan Dokler, and Shannon Shorr, who nursed a short stack for some time before eventually getting all in with a dominated ace and losing.

All the players who bagged on Day 1c will return on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. to continue their Main Event journey along with the survivors of Days 1e, 1f, and any other new registrants.

Day 1d will welcome a fresh batch of players to battle it out on the green felt beginning on Sunday at 11 a.m. local time. As is the case in all starting flights, the field will play five two-hour levels with a 15-minute break after each level and a 75-minute dinner break after level three.

Be sure to stick with PokerNews as we continue to bring you the action leading to the eventual next WSOP Main Event Champion!