Defending champion Joe Cada eliminated from Main Event

Defending World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Joe Cada was eliminated late Monday afternoon.

Cada, 22, of Shelby Township, Mich., lost to an unknown opponent on the third day of competition in the $10,000 buy-in No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Rio. His ace-king off-suit could not stand up to a pair of tens.

After his elimination, Cada shook hands with the other players at the table and left the room to a round of applause.

Last year, Cada became the World Series of Poker’s youngest-ever champion and he collected more than $8.5 million.

At the dinner break, about 1,450 players out of the 2,557 who started play on Monday, remained in contention. A field of 7,319, second highest in World Series of Poker history, began play last week.

Among the players eliminated Monday included popular professionals Vanessa Rousso and Daniel Negreanu and University of Kentucky student Billy Kopp, who made a valiant run last year, but just missed reaching the final table.

Former World Series of Poker Player of the Year Allen Cunningham was in contention with a chip pile that placed him in the middle of the pack.

Sitting in 20th place was 10-time bracelet winner and 1987-88 world poker champion Johnny Chan of Los Angeles.