Farzad Rouhani Wins 2008 WSOP Event #10
Date: Sun, Jun 8, 2008
Farzad Rouhani is the winner of Event #10 of the 2008 WSOP. The $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low 8-or-better paid $232,911 for first place plus a coveted WSOP gold bracelet. Rouhani of Germantown, Maryland came to the final table as the chip leader with 513,000 in play money and never looked back as he cruised to his first bracelet.
Tom Chambers took down the $142,784 second place money while well known poker pro Miami John Cernuto finished third and collected $86,117. Another popular professional , Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi went out in the eight spot and received $24,095.
Congratulations to Farzad Rouhani for winning his first WSOP event.
Ralph Rep Porter Wins 2008 WSOP Event #9
Date: Sun, Jun 8, 2008
Late Saturday night Ralph 'Rep' Porter completed the final hand of the final table of event #9, a $1,500 Buy-in No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed affair that drew a field of 1,236 players and amassed a prize pool of $1,687,410. The hard fought win netted the Woodinville, Washington player the first place money totaling $372,929 and his first WSOP bracelet.
Second place went to Nathan Templeton along with $231,981 in cash and Devin Porter completed the top three and collected $151,842. Final table play lasted for 212 hands before only one player remained with chips and only three of those hands were played heads-up. That's all it took for Ralph Porter to eliminate Nathan Templeton. Congratulations are in order for the latest 2008 WSOP champion, Ralph 'Rep' Porter.
Anthony Rivera Wins 2008 WSOP Event #8
Date: Sat, Jun 7, 2008
Local Las Vegas poker player Anthony Rivera took down the $483,688 first place money in the $10K World Championship Mixed Event. He also picked up one of the WSOP gold bracelet that most poker players can only dream about. The shortage of tournament experience didn't faze Rivera as he patiently overcame a pro heavy field to make the final table and then continued his solid play as the players were slowly eliminated.
Finally Rivera found himself across the table from James Mackey, a solid poker professional despite his youthful appearance whose poker accomplishments include a bracelet from the 2007 WSOP. Anthony Rivera continued to follow his game plan until Mackey was all-in with no outs. James Mackey received $297,792 in travel money for the return trip to his home in Colombia, Missouri. Matt Grantz of Philadelphia completed the top three for $184,992.
Congratulations to Anthony Rivera for his victory.
Matt Keikoan Wins 2008 WSOP Event #7
Date: Sat, Jun 7, 2008
When Matt Keikoan takes his first WSOP bracelet home to San Rafael, California he can tell all his friends that he had to defeat an army of poker players, 1,592 to be exact, to capture the gold. He also picked up $550,529 in cash to go with the new jewelry for his first time at a WSOP final table.
The win was no easy task, having taken 68 hands of heads-up play with Shannon Shorr, an experienced final table poker pro. During the final half hour of heads-up play Matt was in complete control of the table taking Shorr's chips with relative ease until the final all-in came and Matt claimed the victory, the cash and the gold bracelet. Of course, it didn't hurt that Matt's cheering section included some well known players including Gavin Smith. Congratulations to Matt Keirkoan for his win.
Thang Luu Wins 2008 WSOP Event #6
Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2008
Another WSOP record was shattered when 832 players showed up for event #6 making it the biggest Omaha Hi/Lo field in the history of the World Series of Poker. When the final hand of the final table hit the board Thank Luu claimed his victory and the coveted gold bracelet. He received $243,356 after defeating Spencer Lawrence for the win in heads-up play. The two traded chips back and forth before Luu finally took charge and drained Lawrence's stacks in rapid fashion for a limit structure game. Lawrence received $156,343 place money. George Guzman completed the top three with his third place finish worth $93,806.
Keep current with all the news, rumors, bad beats, and behind-the-scenes poker stories direct from the 2008 WSOP as reported by our fellow poker bloggers Pokerrati, Tao of Poker and Wicked Chops Poker.
Michael Banducci Wins 2008 WSOP Event #5
Date: Fri, Jun 6, 2008
Michael Banducci opicked up his first WSOP gold bracelet and $636,736 in cash for his win in WSOP Event #5. Banducci, from Traverse City, Michingan, defeated Jeff Williams in heads-up play at the ESPN feature TV table shortly after midnight when his pocket A-J trumped Williams' A-5. Michael Banducci is no stranger to major poker tournament action and has cashed a number of times ; but, this is his greatest poker achievement to date. Congratulations to Michael for his first WSOP jewelry.
Jeff Williams will return to his home in Dunwoody, Georgia with an extra $406,330 in the bank account for his second place finish. Peter Gould finished in third place and pocketed $245,993.
Erick Lindgren Wins Event #4 $5K MIxed Hold'em
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008
Event #4 featured the second stacked final table in the first four events. Several of poker's supsertars were in the mix including Howard Lederer, Erick Lindgren, and David Williams. London's Roland de Wolfe represented the Europeans at the final table. He has the distinction of being one of only two players to win an EPT and WPT event. The other is Gavin Griffin (who actually is the only player with a WSOP bracelet, EPT title, and a WPT title.) One of the top online players, BoDog sponsored Justin "ZeeJustin" Bonnomo was also among the final table players.
Here's Event #4 Final Table Seating Assignments:
Seat 1: Howard Lederer (Las Vegas, NV) 324,500
Seat 2: Roland de Wolfe (London, UK) 194,000
Seat 3: David "Chino" Rheem (Los Angeles, CA) 885,000
Seat 4: Pat Pezzin (Toronto, Canada) 108,500
Seat 5: Isaac Haxton (Syracuse, NY) 115,500
Seat 6: David Williams (Las Vegas, NV) 678,500
Seat 7: Justin Bonomo (Las Vegas, NV) 517,500
Seat 8: Andrew Robl (East Lansing, MI) 162,000
Seat 9: Erick Lindgren (Las Vegas, NV) 345,000
More after the jump...
David Singer Wins Event #3 $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em
Date: Thu, Jun 5, 2008
It was a tough heads up battle between David Singer and Jacobo Fernandez. As Snoopy described the action, "Both players have the patience of a saint."
When it was all over, David Singer prevailed and won his first bracelet.
Event #3 had 713 runners. The top 72 places got paid. Pros who cashed included Brandon Schaefer, Joe Tehan, Tom McEvoy, Will Durkee, Eugene Todd, and the UK's Neil "Bad Beat" Channing.
A complete list of money winners...
.... appears after the jump
Grant Hinkle Wins 2008 Event 2
Date: Wed, Jun 4, 2008
Grant Hinkle wins his first WSOP braelet early this morning after outlasting a record field of 3,929 players in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event #2. The 27-year-old player from Kansas City, Mo was playing in his first ever WSOP. He defeated James Akenhead heads-up to take down the $831,462 first place money in an event that became a poker marathon.
A perfect ending to this record setting event was provided when Hinkle said all-in to Akehead's pre-flop re-raise. Akenhead instantly said call and turned over his big slick. A dejected Hinkle tossed his bluff-with-an-out suited 10-4; but, everything changed when the flop went out...10-4-10 giving Hinkle a full house and leaving Akenhead hoping for a miracle. The turn sealed it when another 10 hit the board for unbeatable quads.
James Akenhead takes away $520,219 for second place and WSOP Main Event winner Chris "Jesus" Ferguson finished third for $388,287.
Stay current with all the news, rumors, bad beats, and behind-the-scenes stories direct from the 2008 WSOP as reported by our fellow bloggers Pokerrati, Tao of Poker and Wicked Chops Poker.
WSOP Event #2 Headed for Final Table
Date: Tue, Jun 3, 2008
A couple of well known players may be headed for today's final table of event #2 of the 2008 WSOP. Former WSOP Main Event winner and 2008 National Heads-Up Poker Champion Chris Ferguson will be dueling for the $831,462 going to the winner. Perry Friedman, popular poker pro and Tilt Boy should be there for the finish of this record setting event.
Two tables of players (18) returned today at 1:30 pm after players pulled an all-nighter and finally voted to call it quits at 6 this morning with 18 players remaining. If this event is any indication of tournament poker and poker in general's future it promises to be a very bright one indeed. After major legal setbacks for Internet poker rooms (UEIGA) the past couple of years, this record turnout proves the world poker community remains dedicated to their favorite card game. Much of the credit for the increasing popularity of the WSOP and poker must be given to Jeffrey Pollack and his staff at Harrah's.
Stay current with all the news, rumors, bad beats, and behind-the-scenes stories direct from the 2008 WSOP as reported by our fellow bloggers Pokerrati, Tao of Poker and Wicked Chops Poker.
Nenad Medic Wins WSOP Event #1 $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em
Date: Mon, Jun 2, 2008
The first final table of the 2008 WSOP was a doozy. The final table of Event #1 $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em seemed like a throwback to a WSOP final table circa 2004 or 2005. The Rio was packed with spectators who cheered on several of the biggest names in poker such as Mike Sexton, Patrik Antonius, Kathy Liebert, Andy Bloch, Phil Laak, Nenad Medic, and Chris Bell. There were two online pros at the final table including Mike "SowersUNCC" Sowers and Amit "amak316" Makhija.
Event #1 featured a prize pool of $3,308,800 with 352 total runners in a pro-heavy field. Andy Bloch started the final table as the chipleader with over 2.1 million in chips. Bloch was trying to win his first bracelet on a his birthday of all days.
More after the jump...
2008 WSOP Breaking Records
Date: Sun, Jun 1, 2008
A capacity crowd of 2048 players took a seat in the WSOP Event #2 Day 1a to set a record for the largest field to enter a WSOP tournament, excepting the Main Event. Another 2050 players are expected on Sunday for Day 1b of the $1,500 Buy-in No-Limit Hold'em event. The total should exceed 4,000 entrants making this the fourth largest poker tournament of all time. The winner of this event is expected to receive upwards of three quarters of a million dollars for their $1,500 investment. The four day event will conclude on Tuesday. For those that must know, the previous record for a non-main event tournament was event #49, another $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em contest, at last year's 2007 WSOP when 3,151 players showed up.
The final table is set for the Monday conclusion of the of the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em World championship. Check out the stats page at PokerNews.com for the nine final table players, their seat assignment, and the chip counts. Follow all the live action complete with Flipchip photos direct from the tournament floor of the 2008 World Series of Poker happening now at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas. Click here for PokerNews' coverage from the finest WSOP media team ever assembled.
WSOP Event #1 Day 1 Recap
Date: Sat, May 31, 2008
Doyle Brunson opens the 2008 WSOP
The 2008 World Series of Poker kicked off Friday at the Rio Casino with Event #1 $10,000 Por-Limit Hold'em. The opening event attracted 352 entrants and the top 36 would get paid.
The pro-heavy event included poker's superstars such as Phil Ivey, Jen Harman, Howard Lederer, Patrik Antonius, Doyle Brunson, Erik Seidel, Max Pescatori, Allen Cunningham, Daniel Negreanu, Vince Van Patten, Barry Greenstien, Isabelle Mercier, Vanessa Rousso, Kathy Liebert, and TJ Cloutier.
More after the jump....
WSOP Kicks Off Today
Date: Fri, May 30, 2008
The WSOP is kind of a big deal. Last year the 2007 World Series of Poker drew record numbers, Phil Hellmuth won his 11th bracelet and the young pros of the online poker world showed they had talent at the live tables as well. Today marks the official start of the 2008 World Series of Poker beginning with the $10,000 Pot Limit Holdem World Championship. This means the Bodog Poker Mini-SOP follows suit with a $100+$9 Pot Limit Holdem event. This online poker tournament series will run through July 3 with each tournament held on the same date as its counterpart in Las Vegas but with buy-ins equal to just 1 percent of the actual buy-in of the WSOP Event. After the completion of the series' 25 events, Bodog will host a final tournament on July 10 that will earn three winners seats to the 2009 WSOP Main Event, making Bodog the first online poker site to give away seats to next summer's Main Event.
There are still plenty of WSOP Main Event online poker satellites at Bodog Poker to win a $12,000 2008 WSOP VIP prize package.
The 2008 WSOP runs May 30-July 14 and features 55 different bracelet events in almost every variation of poker. Also, for the first time in the WSOP's 39-year history, the Main Event final table will be delayed in order to have it taped and broadcast in primetime on ESPN the same day the player actually wins the event.
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