WSOP Main Event Sees Two Devastating Set-Over-Set Eliminations on Day 6

Day 6 of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event delivered a double dose of heartbreak for seasoned professionals Espen Sandvik and Andy Tsai, as both players were eliminated by brutal set-over-set cooler hands within moments of each other. These devastating hands brought an abrupt end to deep runs for players known for their success in high-stakes cash games and high roller tournaments.

Double Set-Over-Set Disaster

The dramatic turn of events unfolded on different tables, showcasing one of poker’s most feared scenarios. Both Sandvik and Tsai flopped or turned sets, only to discover their opponents held even stronger sets, leaving them with virtually no chance of recovery.

Espen Sandvik’s Exit

Archimedes Arenas opened the action with a raise to 210,000 from early position. Espen Sandvik, seated in the big blind, decided to move all-in for his remaining 2,700,000 chips with pocket threes. Arenas made the call, revealing pocket nines. The flop brought a jolt of excitement as the 3♥ appeared, giving Sandvik top set. However, the celebration was short-lived. The flop also revealed the 9♦ and 8♣, granting Arenas a better set. The turn and river offered no salvation for Sandvik, sealing his elimination from the Main Event.

Andy Tsai’s Cruel Fate

Almost simultaneously on another table, Andy “Andy Stacks” Tsai faced a similarly tragic hand. With a pot already containing around 1,000,000 chips and the board showing 6♥ 5♠ A♠ K♦, Tsai, from the button, bet another 1,000,000. His opponent, Blake Barousse, in early position, moved all-in. Tsai snap-called for his remaining 2,600,000 chips. Tsai confidently tabled 5♥ 5♦ for a flopped set of fives. However, Barousse revealed K♥ K♠, having turned a set of kings, leaving Tsai drawing dead to a chop. The river paired the board with the 6♦, officially ending Tsai’s Main Event campaign.

Impact on High-Stakes Players

Tsai is a well-known figure in the world of high-stakes poker, frequently participating in some of the largest cash games globally. Sandvik, too, is no stranger to the elite circuit, having secured numerous cashes in $25,000 buy-in events. Their simultaneous exits underscore the inherent variance and brutal swings that even the most skilled players can face at the highest levels of poker, particularly in a tournament as prestigious and unpredictable as the WSOP Main Event.

The WSOP Main Event continues to be a proving ground where fortunes can change in an instant, with these set-over-set coolers serving as a stark reminder of the game’s capacity for both incredible highs and devastating lows.

Key facts
| Player | Hand | Opponent | Opponent Hand | Board | Outcome |
|—————–|————-|————|—————|————-|—————————————-|
| Espen Sandvik | Pocket Threes | Archimedes Arenas | Pocket Nines | 3♥ 9♦ 8♣ 6♣ 8♦ | Eliminated by opponent’s higher set |
| Andy Tsai | Pocket Fives | Blake Barousse | Pocket Kings | 6♥ 5♠ A♠ K♦ 6♦ | Eliminated by opponent’s higher set |

Source: PokerNews – Two Brutal Set-Over-Set Coolers Send High-Stakes Pros Out of WSOP Main Event – https://www.pokernews.com/news/2026/07/two-brutal-set-over-set-coolers-send-high-stakes-pros-out-51849.htm

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