Bubble Bursts as Dunst Seizes Main Event Lead

Tony Dunst is the man to beat.

Day 4 of the Main Event was arguably the most exciting day on the entire WSOP calendar as players from all around the world realized their dream of cashing in the World Championship of Poker.

Those who were sweating their shorts stacks on the bubble had to wait an extra 90 minutes as tournament officials made the controversial decision to break for dinner only four slots shy of the money.

Frank Kassela sealed up his WSOP Player of the Year win by finishing in the money. All four Mizrachi brothers found a way to cash as well, perhaps ushering in a new era of dominance for "Team Mizrachi."

Only 574 of the 1,203 players that started the day are still remaining. Some of the unlucky players to be sent home before making money include Dan Harrington, Kathy Liebert, Annie Duke, Barry Greenstein and Robert Varkonyi.

Among those sent home in the money were Gavin Smith, Eric Mizrachi and Frank Kassela but perhaps the most painful elimination spot was reserved for Tim McDonald, who ended up filling that unwanted bubble spot and just missing out on a payday.

It wasn't all doom and gloom for McDonald though as he was awarded a Main Event seat for next year, so he has at least one more epic journey ahead of him.

David Chiu was another player to bust - although he made it to just inside the money.

"I am exhausted and totally burnt out,” Chiu said of a draining Main Event for him.

“I’ll probably take one whole week to catch up on sleep!”

By the end of play, there were a number of well known players occupying the top spots, Matt Affleck, Phil Galfond and Theo Jorgensen all in the top ten.

However it was the sharply-dressed Tony Dunst who trumped them all, slicing his way through to the chip lead, and anyone with designs on the title will have to create a few creases in Dunst's otherwise flawless suits if they are to create history and win the 2010 Main Event.

(With files from Jason Phillips.)

For a full account of how the day panned out, click through to PokerLIstings' WSOP 2010 coverage, including news, videos and blogs.