$6,297 Career, 610K Chips: Tien Pham Leads the $3K Freezeout

Tien Pham has earned $6,297 playing tournament poker in his entire life — and right now he's sitting behind 610,000 chips in the $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em at the Horseshoe.

The Australian has zero bracelets, zero rings, and no recorded WSOP final tables. The field is down to 52. There are no re-entries, no second bullets, no safety net. Freezeout means freezeout.

Tien Pham has earned $6,297 playing tournament poker in his entire life — and right now he's sitting behind 610,000 chips in the $3,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em at the Horseshoe.

The Stack Above Him

Pham isn't the overall chip leader. That belongs to Dohyeok Kim of South Korea, who has amassed 2,375,000 chips — nearly four times Pham's stack. Kim has $83,025 in lifetime earnings and is running over this field.

John Hall sits second at 1,720,000. Between them, Kim and Hall hold roughly a quarter of the chips in play with 52 players left.

But it's Pham's story that stands out. A $6,297 career becoming a six-figure payday in a freezeout format — where every decision is permanent — is the kind of run you watch live.

Who Else Is Still In

Ian O'Hara, the only bracelet winner confirmed in the field, is alive with 475,000 chips. O'Hara has $3.66 million in lifetime earnings and 22 career final tables. He's the experienced hand in a field full of relative unknowns.

Soma Leo of France holds 485,000 with $233,031 in career earnings. Manuel Safian of Argentina, who had 1,125,000 at the 86-player mark, was one of the early Day 2 leaders.

Stefano Spataro of Italy — two career final tables, $253,117 lifetime — busted in 53rd as the field crossed the current threshold.

How to Watch

Event #79 is running on the WSOP live stream from the Horseshoe. Fifty-two players, freezeout format, and a chip leader with less than $6,300 in career tournament earnings. The stream runs through the end of Day 2 play.