Day 5 of the World Series of Poker Main Event is in the books with Jerry Wong, Jan Suchanek, and Kenny Hallaert leading the final 80 players. Dan Colman, Griffin Benger, and Max Silver also had an enjoyable day.

Bryan Piccioli went to bed knowing he had more chips than anyone at the end of Day 4 of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Five tough levels have passed since then. The action folds to him in the hijack seat. Piccioli looks down at his cards and opens to 140,000. A few folds later and Jerry Wong three-bets to 405,000 from the small blind. Back to Piccioli and he moves all-in for his last 2.6m. Wong makes the call. The dealer motions for the players to allow their cards to see the roof.

To crash and burn on Day 1 hurts, but it’s a paper cut compared to the shotgun wound to the head you feel when you tumble out on Day 5. By this time you have begun to believe. The dream has dared come alive. And then in a blink of an eye, it’s gone, and you know you may never find it again.

6,737 players ponied up the $10,000 required to enter this magical kingdom. That meant 107,833 entrants had competed in the 47th Annual WSOP, and it was the most they have ever witnessed. Those players had raised $221,211,336 in prize money. $8m was waiting for the winner of the final tournament of what has been another fantastic series.