PITTSBURGH — TUESDAY 5 p.m. UPDATE -- Chad Power has been eliminated from the tournament in 26th place, winning $262,574.
https://twitter.com/WPXI/status/621068752734580738
Chad Power, a Pittsburgh native, has made it through Day 6 of the World Series of Poker Main Event and is one of 27 players remaining heading into Day 7.
“This whole thing has been completely surreal,” Power told Channel 11 News.
Power, a 2007 graduate of North Allegheny High School, will enter Day 7 with 5,300,000 chips -- good for 16th place (CLICK HERE to see chip stacks heading into Tuesday's action).
FREE APPS | NOW | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
- PHOTOS: Pirates enjoying the 2015 MLB All-Star Game
- 'Most-Wanted' fugitive arrested by sheriff's deputies in Allegheny Co.
- Pizza shop worker takes smoke break, saves 7-year-old boy
- 5-year-old allegedly finds hidden camera in Starbucks restroom
“I dropped out of Slippery Rock with no money because poker was my passion. I started playing small games with $400 I borrowed,” Power said. “I started playing at Rivers Casino, then moved to Atlantic City for bigger games and eventually to Maryland because they were opening up a new casino.”
Power currently lives in Hanover, Maryland, with Chris Brand. Brand is also one of the final 27 players.
“What’s so cool about this is that my roommate is in it with me,” Power said.
Power told Channel 11 News he’s getting tons of support from friends and family in the Pittsburgh area.
“It’s cool to get support from people,” he said. “It’s almost like a high school reunion -- I’m hearing from everybody.”
Power credits “home games” in Pittsburgh when he was younger for getting him started in poker.
“Everyone wants to talk about the games we used to play, you know, $5 buy-in tournaments in someone’s basement,” he said. “That’s really how I learned the game.”
Power’s joined by Daniel Negreanu, chip leader Thomas Kearney and other highly accomplished professional poker players.
According to WSOP.com's payout sheet, the final 27 players are each guaranteed at least $262,574 in prize money. The winner of the 2015 Main Event will take home more than $7.6 million.
The field started with 6,420 players each putting $10,000 on the line.
The main event is the culmination of the 51-day World Series of Poker and the last of 68 events.
The World Series of Poker has been crowning a card-playing champion since 1970.
https://twitter.com/Chad_Power/status/620680588505165824