World Series of Poker: and Now It Begins

Date: Wed, Jul 2, 2008

The beginning of the beginning of the end....

Fifty-One bracelets have been handed out; two more are ready to be presented today; the Player of the Year has been determined, congratulations to Erick Lindgren; the Ante Up for Africa event goes off today. Then, finally, we get to the Main Event and we answer most of the questions everyone has waited for.

Will we have more entries than last year?

Will the professionals somehow continue their dominance they have shown thru 53 preliminary events?

Will it all run as smooth as the tournaments have run so far? By the way, nice job to the WSOP staff this was truly a nicely run Series so far. Minor mistakes, quick fixes and overall solid and uniform floor decisions. Kudos to Tournament Director Jack Effel and his WSOP floor staff.

Another great move comes later this week, when the WSOP Media event is brought back with substantial prizes given to the favorite charities of the final table participants. A great solution to that on again off again event.

Then tomorrow we reach the 2008 World Series of Poker $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event. Four Day One flights, two Day Two flights and five more days to play down to the "November Nine" or the "Fall Final". Then all the WSOP eggs go into that ESPN/November basket and we all wait, watch, hope and pray. No matter who you favor in that mass of poker humanity, say a little prayer that at least one or two "names" make it to the final nine. Nothing could be better for poker than to see Scotty, Mike, Phil, Phil, Erick, Jennifer, Antonio, Gus, Daniel, Joe, Johnny** or heaven help us Doyle! make the final table.

It all starts tomorrow.

**Dewey, Cyndy, Bill, Gavin, Carlos, Chris, Doug, Liz, David, Tony, Lyle, Barry, Berry, Huck, Patrik, David, the other Phil and the other Phil, Greg, Layne, Chad, Isabelle, Todd, Freddy, T.J., Michael, Mike again, Ted, Gabe, Andy, Howard, John, John, John or John, Lee, Annie, Eli, Hoyt, Andy or even Jerry.

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World Series of Poker: Week Five Comparison

Date: Tue, Jul 1, 2008

A short week five to compare as we are now on the threshold of the Main Event. Fifty-three events are in the books or about to be and here are the numbers:

53 Preliminary Events:

25 events had increased entries
15 events had decreased entries
12 events were new tournaments or increased buy-ins
1 tie

Here are the week four comparisons:

2008 Event #48
$2,000 No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 2,319
2007 Entries: 2,038
(Big increase)

2008 Event #49
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 2,718
2007 Entries: 3,151
(down over 400 from the old record, but the event was capped so it had no chance of hitting 3,000)

2008 Event #50
$10,000 Pot Limit Omaha
Number of Entrants: 381
2007 Entries: 314
(a strong increase for a $10K event)

2008 Event #51
$1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
Number of Entrants: 803
2007 Entries: 730
(this was a $1,000 S.H.O.E. event last summer)

2008 Event #52
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 2,693
2007 Entries: new event
(an added 7th $1,500 NLHE event)

2008 Event #53
$1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout
Number of Entrants: 823
2007 Entries: capped at 720
(the cap was raised this year, so we’ll call this an “other”)

Next, I will be watching the four Day Ones of the Main Event to see where those numbers go.

Week Four Comparison
Week Three Comparison
Week Two Comparison
Week One Comparison

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World Series of Poker: the Scotty Nguyen Syndrome

Date: Mon, Jun 30, 2008

First and foremost, congratulations to Scotty Nguyen for taking down the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. and being the first player to hold the Chip Reese trophy. Scotty has an amazing track record over nearly 20 years of playing poker. His record, of course, includes the 1998 World Series of Poker main event championship and tournament earnings approaching Ten Million Dollars. Now Scotty adds to his legend, taking down the most prestigious tournament in professional poker.

But like so many great careers there is a dark side to Scotty's, one episode of which took place last summer at the 2007 WSOP main event. With twelve players remaining in the hunt for the final table nine, Scotty Nguyen was the chipleader and, as we all know, he did not make the final table. That crash and burn troubled Scotty for many months and will probably never be forgotten in poker lore.

Fast forward to this summer, the very next World Series of Poker main event and add to the mixture: the delayed final table. Combine these two events and I offered to you the "Scotty Nguyen Syndrome".

Syndrome: a predictable, characteristic pattern of behavior, action, etc., that tends to occur under certain circumstances

I don't know when it will hit and it will not affect all players at the same moment but somewhere around 18 players or 27 players; maybe even as high as 36 or even 45 players for some, it will appear. This is not just the World Series of Poker Final Table, no this is the "November Nine", the "Fall Final".

And as sure as it will be 108 degrees in Las Vegas, each an every player who survives to Day Six on July 13th and certainly to Day Seven on July 14th, each of those players will experience the "Scotty Nguyen Syndrome".

To get that close to four months of publicity and interviews and endorsements and fame and potential fortune and who knows what else... The "SNS" is going to massively effect play whenever it sets in. Players will get tight, really tight; decisions will take longer, a lot longer; tempers will shorten, in some cases really, really shorten; table talk, hand winning celebrations and anything resembling angle shooting will be scrutinized, analyzed and penalized? Floor decisions will be magnified out of all proportion, imagine giving a player a two round penalty on the bubble!

The final table bubble itself will be much bigger, extending out to at least 27 players. The media coverage will be more intense and more critical than ever before. And the players...? Well the players will not be themselves because they will be playing under the influence of the "Scotty Nguyen Syndrome".

Rumor has it that Corona will lessen but not alleviate the symptoms of the syndrome but there is a rebound effect if you excede a twelve pak in less than two full tournament levels. Perhaps Harrah's should supply extra massage staff for the final four tables or just rig cold showers above the tables like they do in hazardous material labs. And people say poker is not a sport.....

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World Series of Poker: the Calm Before the Storm

Date: Sat, Jun 28, 2008

We are in the final week before the 2008 World Series of Poker main event. There is still a lot of "preliminary" action going on at the Rio; action that should not be overlooked as we all get our over/under bets in for the big show.

The $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament hits Day Four today with 24 survivors including: Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Scotty Nguyen, Erick Lindgren and the eventual winner.

There are two final tables today: Event #47 a six-handed Hold'em event and Event #48 Seven Card Stud that will have to play down from 13 to a champion today. Event #48 is a $2,000 Hold'em event entering Day Two today; they stopped play late last night as the players hit the money at 198th place. So everyone who goes out today walks away with cash.

The big event today is the noon start of another $1,500 No Limit Hold'em tournament. Last year this event (Saturday before the Main Event) broke all existing records for non-Main Event registrations. That record has already been broken this year back on May 31st. All eyes will be on the registration count today, as anticipation is high for another record turnout.

Sunday will bring us the final $10,000 Championship event prior to the Main Event. Expect a heavy European contingent for Event #50 Pot Limit Omaha. Late on Sunday, Event #51 $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. will go off at 5 PM.

Monday brings the 7th and final $1,500 NLHE tournament; speculation is mixed on what a Monday start will mean for these usually big registration events. With two of these low buy-in events the final weekend before the Main Event, it is anyone's guess how many players have come in to town to take a double-shot at a WSOP bracelet.

Tuesday brings us the now traditional $1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout Event #53. Followed by the Ante Up for Africa Charity event on Wednesday.

Finally, the beginning of the end and the arrival of the storm. On Thursday the Main Event will kick off four Day Ones with Day 1A. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will each launch a separate Day One, as the march to the November Final Table begins.

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World Series of Poker: Week Four Comparison

Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008

Through 47 events here is how the '08 Series is standing up to the '07 Series:

47 Events to Date:

23 events have increased entries
15 events have decreased
8 events were new tournaments or increased buy-ins
1 tie

Here are the week four comparisons:

2008 Event #38
$2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 605
2007 Entries: 599
(up a few still counts as UP!)

2008 Event #39
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 2,720
2007 Entries: 2,778
(down a few still counts as DOWN!)

2008 Event #40
$2,500 Deuce to Seven Triple Draw Lowball
Number of Entrants: 238
2007 Entries: 290
(last year this was a $1,000 event with rebuys, not a good comparison)

2008 Event #41
$1,500 Mixed Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 731
2007 Entries: 620
(5 PM event with a nice increase)

2008 Event #42
$1,000 Seniors No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 2,217
2007 Entries: 1,882
(many more seniors)

2008 Event #43
$1,500 Pot Limit Omaha 8 or better
Number of Entrants: 720
2007 Entries: 687
(another increase)

2008 Event #44
$1,000 No Limit Hold'em w/rebuys
Number of Entrants: 879 w/ 2,508
2007 Entries: 1,048 w/ 2,336 rebuys
(many less players, many more rebuys)

2008 Event #45
$50,000 H.O.R.S.E.
Number of Entrants: 148
2007 Entries: 148
(a flat out tie!)

2008 Event #46
$5,000 No Limit Hold'em 6-handed
Number of Entrants: 805
2007 Entries: 728
(11% increase)

2008 Event #47
$1,500 Seven Card Stud 8 or better
Number of Entrants: 544
2007 Entries: 668
($1,000 buy-in in 2007)

Week Three Comparison
Week Two Comparison
Week One Comparison

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World Series of Poker: the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship

Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008

Day One of the $50,000 Hold'em, Omaha 8, Razz, Stud, Stud 8 tournament is in the books. Event #45 of the 2008 World Series of Poker is the fifty thousand dollar World Championship H.O.R.S.E. tournament, which is perhaps even more anticipated than the main event starting next week. The 50K HORSE is a very unique event at the World Series of Poker, here are some random observations from Day One.

Gavin Smith
Josh Arieh
Mark Vos
Darrell Dicken
Tuan Le
Kirk Morrison
John Phan
Carlos Mortensen
Erik Seidel (he has an Omaha final table today)

and the ladies contingent is way down this year, missing from last year:
Kristy Gazes
Jerri Thomas
Maureen Feduniak
Cyndy Violette

1. Freddy Deeb
2. Bruno Fitoussi
3. John Hanson
4. Amnon Filippi
5. Kenny Tran
6. David Singer
7. Barry Greenstein
8. Thor Hansen
9. Gabe Kaplan
10. Dewey Tomko
11. Mark Gregorich
12. Stephen Wolff
13. Tim Phan
14. Greg Raymer
15. Chris Reslock
16. Mike Matusow

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World Series of Poker: the Most Entertaining Day of the Year

Date: Wed, Jun 25, 2008

For poker fans on site and the media, today is the best day of the World Series of Poker. I wonder about the thoughts behind today's schedule as far as player comfort but the who cares today will be fun.

At noon there is the second of the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em w/ rebuys event. As you probably know the professionals play these rebuy events very differently than the amateurs. The pros will show up with the cash for 20 or more rebuys and they play the early rounds to get money out on the table. Building a big stack can only be accomplished at an "action table", so the pros create action. In the early rebuy rounds you will see two things over and over: first, there will be lots of all-ins pre-flop and even more players pushing on the flop; second, you will see a lot of shell-shocked amateurs with one or two rebuys in their pocket being run down by the pros ready to indiscriminately gamble it up.

This is a fun two hours of rebuy poker madness, well maybe not so much fun for those spendthrift rookies with only a single rebuy. And today's event will be even more wild since about 150 or so of the top players will be throwing even more chips around because if they can't build a monster stack than they would rather bust out early because they have another appointment later this afternoon.

You see at 5 PM today, the premiere event of the World Series of Poker is schedule. With apologies to the crusty, olde Main Event; the real superstar of the show is the five day $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament that begins later today. Last year 148 runners put up the $50K to prove who was the best in the world or at least the best for those five days. Freddy Deeb took down the prize last year. The speculation is rampant around how many players will put up the big buy-in this year but you can be sure of a spectacle well worth watching.

ESPN is back after four weeks to capture all the familiar faces for the big H.O.R.S.E. event, if you are anywhere near Las Vegas, this is the day to be at the Rio. Rebuy mania at noon and the big event scheduled at five, which means probably six or so; you can't rush the run for the newly created Chip Reese trophy.

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World Series of Poker: the $1500 No Limit Hold'em Events

Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2008

The size of the World Series of Poker has grown dramatically over the past decade. In 1999, the entire Series was 16 events. In 2002, for the first time, there were more than thirty separate tournaments. In both 2007 and 2008 the WSOP has offered 55 bracelet events. With the "poker boom" has come some conflicts between the desires of the professional players for a more diverse (non-Hold'em) schedule with higher buy-ins and the attempt to make the World Series truly open to all players. The focus of this "low end" diversity has become the $1500 No Limit Hold'em tournaments.

In 2007, there were six $1,500 No Limit Hold'em tournaments, which amounted to about one every Saturday. In 2008, there are seven of these events. But has the increase in "small buy-in" events worked for the WSOP. And, yes we notice, that $1,500 is not what most poker players on the planet consider "small", but that is fodder for another post.

Five of the seven $1,500 NLHE events have been played this year and to date the numbers compared to last year are up about 700 players in total. Perhaps more significantly, we are talking about events that have drawn in excess of 2300 players for each start. The only other WSOP events over 1,000 players this year have been the two $2,000 NLHE tournaments and the $1,000 Seniors event.

If we go back to 2006, we can find three such events, actually two with another at only a $1,000 buy-in. These events were the largest draws outside of the main event back in '06 with an average of over 2,500 entrants. In 2005, just one "low buy-in" NLHE event drew 2305 players. Two eight hundred players $1,500 No Limit tournaments were run in 2004 and 531 players played in the only event in 2003. The boom at the WSOP has at least partially been fueled by the $1,500 events.

It is clear that the WSOP scheduling is balancing the desires of the professionals with the populist demand for more low buy-in events. On the 2008 WSOP schedule a full 21 of the 55 events are $1,500 buy-ins across the full range of poker games and almost unanimously these events are matching or exceeding last summer's registration numbers.

So when the final numbers are in on the 2008 World Series of Poker, expect two themes to emerge:
-the professionals are winning a bunch of bracelets;
-lots and lots of the average poker players are still coming to Las Vegas to play the $1,500 events and the same shiny gold bracelets.

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World Series of Poker: Another Big Final Table Brewing

Date: Sat, Jun 21, 2008

The $10,000 Omaha 8 or better is down to the final two tables and early this evening, we could have another (over)loaded final table. Here is where they stand at present, I will keep updating until the lure of being at the Rio watching my guy play becomes overwhelming.

Ten Handed -the final table technically begins at nine players but it appears they may keep playing rather than break for the traditional Final Table dinner, so I am off to the Rio to sweat the final nine.

1 Hieu "Tony" Ma
2 Jason Gray
3 Ram Vaswani
4 Toto Leonidas
5 Berry Johnston
6 David Chiu
7 Mike Matusow 5th place
8 David Benyamine Champion
9 Greg Jamison
10 Eugene Katchalov

X Ray Dehkharghani 18th place
X William McMahan 17th place
X Danny Dang 13th place
X Brent Carter 16th place
X Shun Uchida 11th place
X Pat Pezzin 14th place
X Chau Giang 12th place
X Stuart Paterson 15th place

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World Series of Poker: Week Three Comparison

Date: Fri, Jun 20, 2008

As we wrap-up week three of the World Series, registration numbers for 37 events are in the books. Here are the comparisons 2007 to 2008.

37 Events to Date:

18 events have increased entries
13 events have decreased
3 events were new tournaments in 2008
2 events had increased buy-ins from $5k to $10K (entries were down)
1 event with capped registration in '08

2008 Event #25
$10,00 No Limit Hold'em Heads Up
Number of Entrants: 256
2007 Entries: 392
(event was capped at 256 this year)

2008 Event #26
$1,500 Seven Card Razz
Number of Entrants: 453
2007 Entries: 341
(a monster increase in Razz players)

2008 Event #27
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 2,706
2007 Entries: 2,628
($1,500 events holding up well)

2008 Event #28
$5,000 Pot Limit Omaha w/rebuys
Number of Entrants: 152 w/ 483 rebuys
2007 Entries: 145 w/ 450 rebuys
(a few more w/rebuys)

2008 Event #29
$3,000 No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 716
2007 Entries: 827
(down over 100+ players)

2008 Event #30
$10,00 Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 218
2007 Entries: 257
(this was a surprise, down 16%)

2008 Event #31
$2,500 No Limit Hold'em 6-handed
Number of Entrants: 1,013
2007 Entries: 847
(big, big increase)

2008 Event #32
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: (2,304)
2007 Entries: 2,315
(down just a bit, but there are three $1500 NLHE in five days)

2008 Event #33
$5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Split
Number of Entrants: 261
2007 Entries: 236
(last year’s event was a $3K buy-in)

2008 Event #34
$1,500 Pot Limit Omaha w/rebuys
Number of Entrants: 320 w/ 1,350
2007 Entries: 293 w/ 880 rebuys
(nice increase in players, monster increase in rebuys)

2008 Event #35
$1,500 Seven Card Stud
Number of Entrants: 381
2007 Entries: 385
(everything is just about the same)

2008 Event #36
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Number of Entrants: 2,447
2007 Entries: 2,541
(off about a hundred)

2008 Event #37
$10,000 Omaha 8 or better
Number of Entrants: 235
2007 Entries: 280
(down 16%)

Week One Comparison
Week Two Comparison

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World Series of Poker: More Tournament Numbers

Date: Thu, Jun 19, 2008

Here are some more numbers through 30 events of the 2008 World Series of Poker. These come to us from the newly math-oriented WSOP media group.

Totals through thirty events:

* 24,642 entrants
* 821 average entrants per event
* $59,117,189 in total prize money awarded
* $1,970,573 average prize pool per event
* $439,545 average first place prize per event

* Most events entered this year:
o Thomas McCormick (23)
o Sirous Jamshidi (22)
o Amnon Filippi (21)
o Justin Bonomo (21)
o Phil Ivey (21)

* Most event cashes to date:
o Nikolay Evdakov (6)
o Rolf Slotboom (5)
o Tom Schneider (5)
o Kathy Liebert (5)
o Alex Jacob (5)
o Roland Isra (5)

* Highest cash percentage this year:
o Kathy Liebert - 62.5% (5 of 8 events entered)
o Sarah Bilney - 50% (4 of 8 events entered)
o Tom Lee - 50% (3 of 6 events entered)
o Peter Debest - 50% (3 of 6 events entered)
o Calen McNeil - 50% (3 of 6 events entered)

* Most final tables: 2 (11 players tied)
o Chris Bjorin; Andy Bloch; Alex Bolotin; Scott Clements; Jacobo Fernandez; Fu Wong;
Minh Ly; Daniel Negreanu; J.C. Tran; Theo Tran

* Money leaders:
o Grant Hinkle - $831,462 (1 cash)
o Phil Galfond - $817,781 (1 cash)
o Nenad Medic - $810,608 (2 cashes)
o Scott Seiver - 781,866 (3 cashes)
o Duncan Bell - $666,697 (1 cash)

*Other Stats:
-new food offerings closed due to lack of business: 1
-new food offerings about to close: 1
-energy drink comsumption: +34%
-windage in food court tent: medium to high today
-media tedium factor: 54%
-player fatigue factor: 44%
-useless information offerings: increasing day by day

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World Series of Poker: What Makes a Professional?

Date: Wed, Jun 18, 2008

There has been a lot of talk in the media this summer about the "Professionals taking back the Series." I know I have written some of those stories, but do we need to ask the question:

"What actually makes a poker player a professional?"

Nolan Dalla and his WSOP media staff have been keeping a running total of bracelet winners this year. Through twenty-nine events their tally stands at: 23 professionals, 4 amateurs and 2 semi-professionals.

Now I personally am more likely to agree than disagree with what some feel is a very liberal definition of "professional" being used in this statistic. But let's explore what might be considered when determining if some is or is not a professional poker player.

Can a person be considered a professional player if they have another job?

How many players are amateurs now but would be upgraded to pro if they won an event? And does that make them a pro when they win or only the day after?

I certainly don't have the answers to those questions but I do have a lot of data on both sid. However, let's focus on just a couple of players. For several years we have heard:

"Not since Carlos Mortensen (2001) has a professional won the main event".

.
That means the following players were amateurs when they won the WSOP main event:

Robert Varkonyi-2002
Chris Moneymaker-2003
Greg Raymer-2004
Joe Hachem-2005
Jamie Gold-2006
Jerry Yang-2007

Really? Let's compare. Carlos Mortensen made a final table at the WSOP in 2000 and finished 7th. In the three months prior to his main event win in 2001, he won a preliminary event at LAPC and another at Bay 101. Under Nolan's standards and most everone's criteria, he was a professional.

Greg Raymer finished 12th in a WSOP event the year before this main event victory. He had at least four cashes in excess of $10K and one over $40K. Anyone who hung out on the 2+2 poker forums back then knew and respected the opinions of "The Fossilman", but Greg was considered an amateur when he won. By today's standards he was definitely not. Applying those same standards, Joe Hachem was also a professional in '05.

Notice that we have not even dealt with the issue of "internet pro", which would open the floodgates to literally thousands of newly minted and well trained poker professionals.

I think rather than labeling bracelets winners as professionals or not; we should require amateurs to prove their status, which is difficult to do when you put up $10,000 to play a game of cards. Perhaps amateur is better understood not as a measure of skill or victories but more as an attitude toward the game.

Amateur: A person who engages in an art, science, study, or athletic activity as a pastime rather than as a profession.

_________________________________________

ADDENDUM: Here is a new comparison released by the WSOP media staff. We are going to need to talk with them about their criteria for professionalism; until then, here are their stats on pro vs. amateur over the last several years:

2000 – Pros 14 to Amateurs 8
2001 – Pros 18 to Amateurs 7
2002 – Pros 18 to Amateurs 16
2003 – Pros 24 to Amateurs 12
2004 – Pros 21 to Amateurs 11

2005 – Amateurs 26 to Pros 18
2006 – Amateurs 27 to Pros 17
2007 – Amateurs 34 to Pros 20

2008 - Pros 23 to Amateurs 7 (thru 40 events)

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World Series of Poker: Half Way Statistics

Date: Tue, Jun 17, 2008

“There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics.” . . . quote often attributed to Benjamin Disraeli

That being said here are some interesting numbers that have come down to us from the WSOP media office as we approach the mid-point (53.22%) of the Series. Some are interesting (22%), some are prophetic (12% or 78%) and a few are pure publicity hype (104%) or at least that is the opinion of some reporters (9 out of 11) in media row. Of course members of the poker media are at this point of the Series likely to be sleep deprived (56.8%) or simply depraved (23.4%).

Through 27 events, only one player has cashed six times to date – Nikolay Evdakov, from Moscow, Russia. Five-time-in-the-money finishers include Tom Schneider, Roland Isra, and Alex Jacob. All are in contention to challenge the record of eight for "Most WSOP Cashes in a Single Year," shared by four players -- Michael Binger ('07), Chad Brown ('07), Phil Hellmuth, Jr. ('06), and Humberto Brenes ('06).

The current "Player of the Year" standings shows Erick Lindgren on top of the points list with one gold bracelet win and four cashes. Vanessa Selbst, Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein and Jacobo Fernandez are all very close (within the margin of error).

Through the 27th bracelet of this year's World Series of Poker, the "Professionals versus Amateurs" gold bracelet scoreboard reads:

Professionals – 21 wins
Amateurs -- 4 wins
Semi-Pros -- 2 wins

I had to include this last “stat” because I have heard the Shrink going on about what passes for a “professional” these days and I want him to put that post up soon (6 to 5, we get it within 48 hours).

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World Series of Poker: Another Loaded Final Table

Date: Mon, Jun 16, 2008

Another packed final table goes off today in Event #28 $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha w/ rebuys. Johnny Chan is after bracelet number eleven and Phil Hellmuth, though short-stacked is in the hunt for number twelve. Add to that mix John Juanda, David Benyamine at another final table, Kirill Gerasimov, some kid named Daniel Negreanu, Phil Galfond enters as chipleader and local professional Brian Rast in second. This will be another of those special final tables.

Here is the line-up as they get ready to go at it later this afternoon.
[We are updating as players are eliminated, summary below]

2 AM: Phil Galfond's sixth WSOP cash is his biggest so far (by about $800,000), as is Adam Hourani's second WSOP cash (about $450K larger). Over 100 hands heads up were needed to settle the bracelet matter between these two well known internet players.

Phil Galfond (Madison, Wisconsin) -- 1st place
Adam Hourani (East Lansing, Michigan) -- 2nd place
David Benyamine (Las Vegas, Nevada) -- 3rd place
Johnny Chan (Las Vegas, Nevada) -- 4th place
Kirill Gerasimov (Moscow, Russia) -- 5th place
John Juanda (Las Vegas, Nevada) -- 6th place
Daniel Negreanu (Las Vegas, Nevada) -- 7th place
Phil Hellmuth (Palo Alto, California) -- 8th place
Brian Rast (Las Vegas, Nevada) -- 9th place

David Benyamine 3rd place. David played his Aces strong but ran into a set of Queens.

Johnny Chan 4th place and the bid for an 11th bracelet is over.

Kirill Gerasimov 5th place.

John Juanda 6th place, Daniel Negreanu 7th place, Phil Hellmuth 8th place Late in level three, three superstars were sent to the rail.

Brian Rast 9th place It took nearly two full levels and lots of chips moving around the table before we lost our first player. Brian Rast, local professional known to many internet players as tsarast, got it in ahead but was run down on the river by the current chipleader: Johnny Chan.

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