Two poker professionals and a college student have topped nearly 6,600 competitors at the World Series of Poker and are one card session away from poker’s richest prize — an $8.53 million crown.
Arizona State senior Jake Balsiger eliminated Russell Thomas in fourth place early Tuesday with an ace-king, treading past five meaningless community cards to bump his guaranteed payday up nearly $1 million and setting up the Tuesday night showdown.
His opponents are poker pros 24-year-old Greg Merson of Laurel, Md., and 24-year-old Jesse Sylvia of Las Vegas.
Thomas won $2.85 million for fourth place.
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