Shaffer, who's won two WSOP bracelets in massive $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em events, navigated a slightly smaller field on Day 5 of the WPT Diamond to lead the final six.
He'll have a stacked lineup to contend with to add a WPT title his resume.
Joining Shaffer for the televised final table today will be German high-stakes regular Tobias Renkemeier, EPT Grand Final champ Mohsin Charania and 2014 WPT Ones to Watch Garrett Greer.
Former WPT champ Jared Jaffee looked to be a lock to join the final table before a runner-runner full house for Renkemeier knocked out his flopped straight.
Ryan Fee and Ryan Julius, brother of pro Kyle Julius, round out the group.
The full final six and chip counts:
1. Brett Shaffer 4,290,000 2. Tobias Reinkemeier 3,625,000 3. Garrett Greer 3,260,000 4. Ryan Fee 3,055,000 5. Mohsin Charania 2,415,000 6. Ryan Julius 940,000
An exceptional $1,477,890 awaits the winner, barring a deal. Second will claim $869,683. Follow along with Live Updates direct from the table starting at 4 pm PT.
Rast, Lichtenberger Eye $2.1m in Alpha8
The star-studded $100k WPT Alpha8 also played down to a final table last night, this one with eight players rather than six.
Leading the way is former $50k WSOP Players Championship winner Brian Rast, who will take 4.5m in chips into the final day.
Zen master Andrew Lichtenberger returns in second with 2.9m followed closely by Bryn Kenney and Jason Les with 2.3m.
Phil Laak hung on to make the final table as the short stack. Just six players will be paid but $2.1m awaits the winner and $1.2m the runner-up. The final eight and chip counts:
1. Brian Rast 4,551,000 2. Andrew Lichtenberger 2,904,000 3. Bryn Kenney 2,384,000 4. Jason Les 2,384,000 5. Tom Marchese 1,867,000 6. Brandon Steven 1,190,000 7. Noah Schwartz 774,000 8. Phil Laak 441,000
Follow the WPT Live Updates starting at 12 pm for hand-by-hand coverage.
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