Bodog WSOP Qualifier VIP Days: The Helicopter Tour

Date: Fri, Jun 27, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com
WSOP qualifiers will take to the skies in the Heli Tour option

As we mentioned in previous posts Bodog will be adding some extra value to their WSOP qualifier's Las Vegas experienced with Team Bodog members getting to choose from one of three VIP Days.

We covered Day 1 - The Racetrack and Day 2 - The Gun Range in previous posts. This time we'll be looking at the details of Day 3 - The Helicopter Tour.

Day 2 takes place on July 5. Qualifiers who select this day will get to let off some steam at the Las Vegas Gun Range before heading over to do battle against each other at an indoor paintball range. Here are the details:

• Should WSOP qualifiers choose Day 3 as their VIP Day they'll get it off to swank start with limo service to the airport.

• From there they'll board a helicopter and fly over the Mojave Desert with viewings of Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.

• The chopper will land on the canyon floor for half-an-hour for a light snack and drink.

• On the way back WSOP qualifiers will get to buzz the Las Vegas Strip at night.

Bodog's WSOP satellites are still running until this Saturday, July. Find out more about Bodog's WSOP online satellites.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Martin Klaser Wins 2008 WSOP Event #43

Date: Fri, Jun 27, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Martin Klaser, 2008 WSOP $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo Champion

Eric Seidel was looking for his ninth WSOP bracelet Thursday evening but soon found himself out in fourth place in this quickly moving event. This was one of the shorter final table playing sessions at this year's WSOP, somewhat unusual for a pot-limit split game. Event #43 was taken down by first time bracelet winner Martin Klaser playing at his very first WSOP final table. Martin continued to play a brutally aggressive game of raises and re-raises to methodically intimidate and eliminate the other players.

Martin Klaser goes home with the gold and $216,249 in cash. Second place finisher, Casey Kastle, walks away with $137,985 and Michael Fetter receives $83,538 for third. Eric Seidel collected $68,304 on his way to the rail.

Congratulations to Martin Klaser for winning the 2008 WSOP $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Martin Klaser admires his first WSOP gold

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Bodog WSOP Qualifier VIP Days: The Gun Range

Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008

photo courtesy BodogLife.com
Bodog players will warm up at the gun range before turning on each other at the paintball range

Bodog WSOP Qualifier VIP Days: The Gun Range

As you might have read in our previous post about Bodog's WSOP VIP Days, Bodog has something special going on for the winners of their WSOP online satellites.

In the last post we looked at what qualifiers who choose Day 1 could expect at the racetrack. This time we'll be looking at the details of Day 2 - Day of the Gun.

Day 2 takes place on July 5. Qualifiers who select this day will get to let off some steam at the Las Vegas Gun Range before heading over to do battle against each other at an indoor paintball range. Here are the details:

• WSOP qualifiers will get warmed up by shooting 15 rounds with a 9mm handgun. From there they will move on to five rounds with a 12ga shotgun and then let it rip with four different machine guns with a full magazine in each.

• They will get to shoot up a Las Vegas Gun Range shirt and keep it.

• Then they'll compete with other Bodog WSOP qualifiers in a shooting competition with a Desert Eagle.

• Once qualifiers have gotten a taste for shooting it's time to turn the guns on each other at an indoor paintball range!

This Saturday, July 28 is the last chance to get to the WSOP through Bodog and pick your favorite VIP Day. Find out more about Bodog's WSOP online satellites.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

WSOP Stats Through Event #11

Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Michael Mizrachi has played in 30 events

Just got these official numbers from the 2008 World Series of Poker through Event #41.

Most Events Entered Through #41

1. Sirous Jamshidi 33
2. Michael Mizrachi 30
3. Anthony Cousineau 29
4. Thomas Mccormick 28
5. David Williams 28
6. Justin Bonomo 28
7. Amnon Filippi 27
8. Michael Binger 27
9. Jan Von Halle 26
11. Phillip Ivey 26
13. Roy Winston 26
10. Men Nguyen 25
12. Roland Isra 25
13. Nikolay Evdakov 25
14. John Juanda 25

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Chau Giang has six cashes

Most Cashes Through Event # 41:

1. Nikolay Evdakov 6 ($168,015)
2. Chau Giang 6 ($109,233)
3. Alex Jacob 6 ($73,803)
4. Rolf Slotboom 6 ($45,929)
5. Roland Isra 6 ($28,973)

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
David Benyamine has collected almost a million dollars

Most Money Earned Through Event #41:

1. David Benyamine $941,652 - 4 cashes
2. Grant Hinkle $831,462 - 1
3. Phil Galfond $817,781 - 1
4. Nenad Medic $810,608 - 2
5. Scott Seiver $785,393 - 4
6. Duncan Bell $682,729 - 2
7. Mike Matusow $675,919 - 2
8. Chris Ferguson $674,563 - 4
9. Michael Banducci $664,997 - 3
10. Jacobo Fernandez $648,421 - 5
11. David Woo $637,976 - 2
12. Vitaly Lunkin $628,417 - 1
13. Jesper Hougaard $621,805 - 3
14. John Phan $586,700 - 2
15. Andy Bloch $585,620 - 3

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Minh Ly has two final tables appearances

Most Final Table Appearances Through Event #41:

Jacobo Fernandez 3
Chris Bjorin 2
Andy Bloch 2
Alex Bolotin 2
Scott Clements 2
Fu Wong 2
Minh Ly 2
Daniel Negreanu 2
David Singer 2
J.C. Tran 2
Theo Tran 2
Christopher Bell 2
David Benyamine 2
Al Barbieri 2
Greg Jamison 2
Kyle Kloeckner 2
Marcel Luske 2
Chris Ferguson 2

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Bodog WSOP Qualifier VIP Days: The Race Track

Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008

photo courtesy of Bodog Poker
Players who qualify for the WSOP through Bodog this year will be getting the VIP treatment. Among the usual perks that come with qualifying for the WSOP through Bodog (great swag, professional Team Bodog Handlers, Bodog Girls, Bodog Party, etc.) winners of their online WSOP satellites this year will also get to choose from one of three special VIP Days. The choices are between:

Day 1 - Racing cars at a professional racetrack.

Day 2 - Shooting at a gun range and facing off against fellow WSOP qualifiers at an indoor paintball range.

Day 3 - A Helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon and a buzz of the Vegas Strip at night.

For now we'll just focus on Day 1.

Day 1 takes place on July 4. Qualifiers who select this day will get to celebrate Independence Day with the thrill of driving race cars at the Racetrack Club House of Spring Mountain Motorsports. Here are the details:

• Each qualifier will compete against each other as they drive automatic Corvettes. A race course is set up each participant will get at least three runs on the course.

• Hot Laps with a pro-driver involves riding with a professional driver in a 505 horsepower ZO-6 Corvette and going three laps on a 2.2 mile road racing circuit.

• Go- karts. These karts are high performance racing karts capable of speeds of 80MPH! They are driven on a 1.2 mile road racing circuit.

• Lunch in the Members Clubhouse. A real first class facility with pool, poker table and pool table.

There is still time to get to the WSOP through Bodog and pick your favorite VIP Day. Bodog's last chance to qualify is on Saturday, July 28. Find out more about Bodog's WSOP online satellites.

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Dan Lacourse Wins 2008 WSOP Event #42

Date: Thu, Jun 26, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Dan Lacourse, 2008 WSOP $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em World Champion

What better way to end the 2008 WSOP Seniors World Championship than with quads? Dan Lacourse called Dale Eberle all-in with a 7-9 offsuit and calmly watched the flop of 9-9-K, no diamonds, mostly avoid Eberle's K-4 of diamonds. The turn was a deuce and retired fireman Eberle was down to needing a King to stay alive. Instead of the needed paint the river was another 9 giving Lacourse the quads and the championship.

Dan Lacourse takes home his first WSOP gold bracelet and $368,832 in cash. Dale Eberle goes back into retirement with $131,194. Marc Fluss received $156,424 for hanging in to finish in third place.

Champion Dan Lacourse's said he will probably be the only player in his friend's game back home with a WSOP gold bracelet. Congratulations to Dan Lacourse for becoming the 2008 WSOP Senior's World Champion.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Poker Legend Johnny Moss looks down from above as Jeffrey Pollack and Oklahoma Johnny present Dan Lacourse the gold bracelet for the 2008 WSOP Seniors World Championship

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Frank Gary Wins 2008 WSOP Event #41

Date: Tue, Jun 24, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Frank Gary, 2008 WSOP $1,500 Mixed Hold'em Champion

$1,500 Mixed Hold'em attracted a field of 731 entrants all hoping to collect the coveted WSOP gold. When the final river card hit the board it was Frank Gary that claimed the bracelet and the #219,508 that goes along with the jewelry. Jonathan Tamayo received #140,093 for his three days of work at the card mines located inside the Rio All-Suite Resort in Las Vegas. Third place money of $84,814 was doled out to Nick Binger for outlasting all but two players.

Congratulations to Frank Gary for securing a year's worth of WSOP poker bragging rights after winning event #41 and his first gold bracelet.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Jonathan Tamayo played hard and finished second

Read Full Poker Blog Post

John Phan Wins 2008 WSOP Event #40 and Second Bracelet

Date: Tue, Jun 24, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
John Phan, 2008 WSOP $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Champion

John Phan survived the field of 238 playes to take down the gold bracelet and $151,896 in cash in the $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw event #40. This is his second win of the 2008 WSOP making him the only double bracelet winner to date. The field included some past champions with six time bracelet winner Billy Baxter going out on the final table bubble. Prolific author and two-plus-two originator David Slansky lasted into a final table seat only to go out in the six spot for $20,528.

Shun Uchida finished second collecting $95,795 after he was eliminated by John Phan. Gioi Luong rounded out the top three for $61,583 in cash. Although 2-7 triple draw has not proven to be one of the more popular forms of poker it definitely involves a multiplicity of strategies to consistantly win. Billy Baxter is considered to be one of the all-time greats of the game.

Congratulations to John Phan for winning the 2008 WSOP 2-7 triple draw event and his second 2008 WSOP bracelet.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

John Phan shows off 2008 WSOP bracelet #2

Read Full Poker Blog Post

David Woo Wins 2008 WSOP Event #39

Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
David Woo, 2008 WSOP $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Champion

David Woo came to the final table in the middle of the pack then built on hios stacks until he was atop the leader board. He never relinquished the chip lead and continued to build his chip advantage until the final river card of the final hand gave him the win, the cash and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet. David is from South Korea and now makes his home in Atlantic Georgia. He has had three previous cashes in the WSOP during his four years of playing in the tournament with his best being a fifth place finish in a 2007 $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event.

David Woo takes away the coveted WSOP gold bracelet and $631,656 in cash for his win. Matt Wood received $389,844 for his second place effort while Eric Beren collects $278,460 for hanging on to third place. All of the top three receive a nice return for the $1,500 investment they placed only three days ago.

Congratulations to David Woo for topping the field of 2720 players to take the gold.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

David Woo studies his opponent Matt Wood before making the final call

Read Full Poker Blog Post

David Kitai Wins 2008 WSOP Event #38

Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
David Kitai, 2008 WSOP $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Champion

Marathon heads-up poker is alive and well at the 2008 World Series of Poker. Sunday night saw another final table heads-up battle that went on for hours, more than three hours. The chips moved back and fourth across the felt so many times the markings were in danger coming off. Just when it seemed this bracelet event was never going to be decided a Chinese poker game broke out in the audience. Layne Flack and friends were sequestered in a corner of the stands playing their own card game.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

David Kitai ducks under the hood while Chris Bell goes into the tank

When the end finally came it was the kid from Belgium that had all the chips. David Katai eliminated a tough Chris Bell for the WSOP gold. Chris had been down to the felt twice before and played grinder poker to stage a come to the chip lead; but, the third time it just wasn't to be. He fell one short in his quest to eliminate the other 604 players that entered the event. Bell received $155,806 for second place. Keith Greer goes home with $94,695 for finishing in third place.

David Katai brought his own cheering section that filled the stands and clapped, whistled, and yelled their hero to a win. The rowdy crowd rushed the stage when the final river hit the board and Katai raised his arms in victory. David Katai collected $244,546 and his first WSOP bracelet plus the 2008 WSOP $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em bragging rights.

Congratulations to David Katai for taking down a 2008 WSOP title and his first gold bracelet.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Layne Flack and company play Chinese poker

Read Full Poker Blog Post

David Benyamine Wins 2008 WSOP Event #37

Date: Sun, Jun 22, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
David Benyamine, 2008 WSOP $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low World Champion

David Benyamine outlasted a field of 235 players to take down the 2008 WSOP $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low World Champion. A star studded final table that included Mike "The Mouth" Matusow made this event popular with the fans that crowded around the final table. The always entertaining Matusow kept the crowd laughing with his personal commentary of the hands.

Well known poker pro David Benyamine went into the heads-up play with a comfortable 3 to 1 chip lead over opponent Greg Jamison. Heads-up play was a short affair that saw Benyamine use his chip advantage to overpower the short stacked Jamison. Greg Jamison takes down $331,350 for second place. Jason Gray was eliminated in the third spot for $209,855. Toto Leonidas finished fourth for $171,197 and Mike Matusow collected $138,062 for fifth.Congratulations to David Benyamine for his second WSOP bracelet and 2008 WSOP World Champion title.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

David Benyamine, winner 2008 WSOP event #37

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Jesper Hougaard Wins 2008 WSOP Event #36

Date: Sun, Jun 22, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Jesper Hougaard, 2008 WSOP $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Champion

Another day at the 2008 WSOP and we have another $1,500 NLHE winner. This time it's Jesper Hougaard going home with the cash and gold bracelet. Hougaard came to the final table as the chip leader then slipped behind and appeared to have run out of luck; but, after the dinner break he was once again determined to take down the win. The chips began moving back across the table from Cody Slaubaugh until finally Hougaard had Slaubaugh all-in. The flop gave Hougaard a set of Queens and the turn card sealed the win. Along with the bracelet Jesper Hougaard collected $610,304.

Cody Slaubaugh collects $389,128 for second place and Aaron Kanter goes away with $258,862 in cash for second place.

Congratulations to Jesper Hougaard for winning WSOP event #36 and collecting his first WSOP bracelet.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Jesper Hougaard wins event #36

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Mike Rocco Wins 2008 WSOP Event #35

Date: Sat, Jun 21, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Mike Rocco, 2008 WSOP $1,500 Seven Card Stud Champion

Mike Rocco outlasted a field of 381 players in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event at the 2008 WSOP. Rocco collected his first WSOP bracelet and $135,753 in cash after defeating Al Barbieri in heads up play. by the time the event came to an end a crowd of supporters had gathered to watch Rocco take down the prize. Professional poker players in the crowd included Cyndy Violette and Jeff Lisandro. The victory brought tears of happiness to Rocco's eyes as he savored the taste of WSOP gold.

Second place finisher Al Barbiera received $83,210 and third place money of $50,186 went to Levon Torosyan. Congratulations to WSOP Champion Mike Rocco.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Mike Rocco and friends

Read Full Poker Blog Post

Layne Flack Wins 2008 WSOP Event #34

Date: Sat, Jun 21, 2008

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Layne Flack, 2008 WSOP $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha w/Rebuys Champion

World Series of Poker bracelet number six joins Layne Flack's collection of poker gold. He topped the field of 320 players in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha w/Rebuys event #34 on Friday evening. It didn't take Flack very long once the match got to heads-up. Second place finisher Daniel Makowsky watched his chips disappear under the constant pressure of Flack's aggressive game style. The popular pro had an entire section of backers including a number of pros cheering him on to victory.

Layne Flack collected $577,725 and his sixth WSOP gold bracelet. Daniel Makowsky received $355,050 for his second place finish and Jacobo Fernandez rounds out the top three to take the $222,659 third place money.

Congratulations to Layne Flack for the win and WSOP bracelet #6.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Layne Flack with a group of well-wishers moments after winning his sixth WSOP bracelet

Read Full Poker Blog Post