Born in China, Johnny Chan has become one of the best players in World Series of Poker history. Johnny sits second all time with 10 WSOP bracelets just one behind Phil Hellmuth. Chan’s first World Series of Poker cash was in 1983 and he plays a full schedule to this day with 3 cashes in 2008. Johnny is popular on poker television and is widely considered one of the top 5 players in World Series of Poker history. Chan came to the United States in 1968, he is married and has six children. Johnny won is first bracelet in 1985 and his tenth in 2005.
Heading in to the 1987 World Series of Poker Main Event Chan had already had one bracelet to his name, but the Main Event would be where his career truly started. The Main Event final table in 1987 was littered with poker greats like Howard Lederer, Dan Harrington and Mickey Appleman. At the final table Johnny proved that he was a player to reckon with and beat all those top pros and took home the title. Chan beat Frank Henderson heads up and won $650 000. Once again in 1988 Chan made the final table of the Main Event and once again a lot of names you will recognize were at the table with him, guys like Erik Seidel, TJ Cloutier and Humberto Brenes. Once again Johnny showed that he was one of the top pros in the world besting Seidel heads up to take home the bracelet and $700 000. The 1989 Main Event, Johnny was now the man to watch with back to back wins and three career bracelets. This is where legends are born, Chan once again was there in the end. He battled his way to once again being heads up for the title, and what happened was two future poker legends would take battle. Phil Hellmuth vs Johnny Chan, maybe poker fans didn’t realize it at the time, but it was legend vs legend. Hellmuth would take home the title, but Chan would still take home more then $300 000. We will never see another player make three main event final tables in a row, let alone win 2 and finish second once. Johnny had made his name in the poker world, but he wasn’t done there, he would win more bracelets and even make another Main Event final table in 1992.
Chan wouldn’t win his fourth bracelet until 1994 when he won a seven card stud tournament. His fifth came in 1997 when he outlasted Barry Greenstein, Steve Zolotow and Lyle Berman in winning the deuce to seven lowball bracelet. Chan won his sixth bracelet in 2000 and in 2002 he met an old friend in the no limit holdem heads up tournament. That player was Phil Hellmuth and this time Johnny took home the title and his seventh bracelet. His eighth and ninth bracelet both came in 2003 in event 15 and event 24. In 2005 Chan won his then record 10th bracelet in a pot limit holdem tournament. To win that 10th title he had to beat Phil Laak heads up, which earned him over $300 000. Since then Johnny has cashed eight times and most recently finished 4th in an Omaha event in 2008.
Overall Johnny has 10 bracelets and cashed 41 times in his career. Over his 25 year career Johnny has made more then $4 million at the World Series of Poker alone. 25 years and 27 final tables made, Chan is one of the most consistent poker players in poker history. He has had success playing Holdem of all limits and styles, Omaha and seven card games. The first thing that jumps out at me when I look at Johnny’s WSOP record is the amount of great players he has run into over the years. Chan vs Hellmuth will always be debated, who is the best player of there generation. I am not about to pick, but they will forever be linked in World Series of Poker history.
Johnny is more then just the World Series he commonly appears on Poker After Dark on NBC. He also won Poker Superstars and has career tournament earnings of more then $6.5 million. Johnny has written two books, Play Poker Like Johnny Chan and Million Dollar Holdem. He runs his own online poker site, owns fast food franchises and wants to eventually open his own casino. Chan is a business man and a great poker player who will strive for success in all his endeavors.
I am sure if you took a poll of professional poker players, it would be close to unanimous that Johnny should be considered one of the best players to ever live. With back to back main event titles and 10 bracelets in total Chan has proven that he belongs in that category. He will forever be linked with Phil Hellmuth, and people will wonder who truly is the best player of there generation. Chan is currently sitting tied for second all time in career World Series of Poker wins with poker legend Doyle Brunson, just one behind Phil Hellmuth’s 11 bracelets. I don’t think Johnny is going anywhere, he loves playing poker and I think he will play as long as physically possible. Chan continues to frequently be on poker programming and is still at the top of his game. In the near future Johnny Chan will win his 11th bracelet and the debate will continue Chan or Hellmuth. In a dream world some day they will play heads up to set the record for most career bracelets, but that becomes less likely the bigger the game gets. Chan has proven he could win against the best pros in the world and that he can win in big field events. Johnny Chan is one of the best poker players to ever live, in any generation.
Day 3 of the Main Event of the World Series of Poker Main Event saw 179 players return to try and begin their march towards the 2nd ever Main Event title on European soil. This field is incredibly pro heavy for a Day 2 with many having aspirations of Main Event glory.
Some of the players still alive in this event include Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Marco Traniello, Vanessa Rousso, Scotty Nguyen, Barry Greenstein, Jennifer Tilly, Erica Schoenberg, Joe Beevers, Steve Zolotow, Nenad Medic, Andy Black, Brandon Adams, Scott Fischman, David “DevilFish” Ulliott, Ross Boatman, Mel Judah, Josh Arieh, Phil Laak, and Ted Lawson.
Tom “Durrrr” Dwan was the first big name to fall today. He started the day around 60,000 chips, but he either had a high stakes cash game to get to or he just wanted to game, because he was all in multiple times early on. With a flop of Qs-Kh-9s, Dwan raised Scott Montgomery all-in. Montgomery went into the tank for a while before calling with Ac-As. Dwan showed 3s-4s for a flush draw. The turn and river missed Dwan and he was eliminated. Unfortunately for Durrrr, this wasn’t an online cash game, and he couldn’t buy back in.
Chris “Jesus” Ferguson was eliminated shortly after by Sutha Nirmalananthan. On a board of Qd-5c-Jd-Jh-7d, Ferguson moved all in for 10,600. Nirmalananthan made the call showing Kh-Qh and Ferguson showed a bluff with Ah-Ks. With this, Ferguson headed out the door.
The champion of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at the World Series of Poker departed next in the man known as Scotty Nguyen. He was all in with A-J and was called by a paltry 6-3. Sadly, a six hit the flop and we don’t get to see a repeat performance by the man I consider the “True World Champion.”
In an elimination that made many men sad, Vanessa Rousso was next to go. She was all in with Jh-Jd against Kc-Kd. The turn brought a flush draw for Rousso, but the river blanked out and Rousso is history. Meanwhile, Daniel Negreanu regained his position as chip leader, amassing 225,000 chips.
Doyle Brunson will not be able to catch Phil Hellmuth this year. Brunson was all in with A-K against pocket Kings. An ace did not hit the board, and Brunson was eliminated. His elimination was announced to the room, and he exited to a round of applause. Roland de Wolfe followed shortly afterward. He had flopped two pair holding Ac-Kc but his opponent, Martin Vallo, flopped a set of fours on a flop of Ad-Ks-4h. The turn and river missed both players, and De Wolfe hit the rail.
Phillipe Rouas has some light reading for the rest of the event. He was fortunate enough to knock out Barry Greenstein. As is his custom, Greenstein signed Rouas a copy of his book, Ace on the River. Meanwhile, Daniel Negreanu continued to build his chip lead. At this point, he had 285,000 in chips.
Mike Matusow had one of the funniest comments of the tournament. Gordon Vayo and Phil Hellmuth were in an argument about a hand they had played on Day 1a. Mike Matusow spoke up and said, “Kid, are you trying to have a rational conversation with Phil Hellmuth? That’s like trying to talk to the rail on Full Tilt.” I don’t know if any of you have watched some of the conversations in the high stakes games amongst the railbirds, but if you have, you know that his comment is very true.
Phil Hellmuth and Sherkhan Farnood have a little bit of a history. During the £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. Event, Farnood gave Hellmuth a series of beats and Hellmuth had declared him, “The worst player in history.” After Hellmuth berated a dealer a good part of the evening, Hellmuth then ended up getting sucked out on the river by Farnood to eliminate him from that event. Hellmuth made a couple of comments to Farnood at the beginning of the day trying to needle him.
Later, Hellmuth was all in on a flop of 5d-8h-2c. Farnood insta-called Hellmuth’s bet, showing 5s-5h. Hellmuth showed Ks-Kc. The turn and river were both blanks, and Hellmuth was eliminated from this event. Several people were asking Farnood if he was still the “worst player in the world.” He replied, “I’m trying to prove I’m only the second worst.” Personally, I think its poetic justice that the man that Hellmuth belittled so much got the best of him twice. Maybe next time Hellmuth will be nicer to players and dealers. Right, and Phil Ivey won’t make prop bets.
Bruno Fitoussi was the next to go out as he was all in against Mel Judah. Fitoussi held As-Ks and Judah held pocket Queens. The flop missed both players and Fitoussi was eliminated. Erica Schoenberg was the last of the last women remaining in the field. After eliminating a player, she built her stack up to 70,000.
Brian Townsend eliminated Martin Vallo when Vallo’s Ac-Kh ran into Townsend’s Ah-Ad. It is unclear where the money went in, but chances are it went in after the flop of 3c-7c-As. Vallo needed running clubs to win, but a spade on the turn sealed the deal for Townsend and sent Vallo packing. Steve Zolotow was unable to get anything doing during Day 2 and was soon seen exiting the tournament area.
Out of seemingly nowhere, Erik Seidel took the chip lead shortly after the start of level 10. Jean Thorel bet out 7,000 on a flop of Ac-7d-2c. Talal Shakerchi made the call and Seidel raised to 23,000. Thorel was the only one to make the call. The turn fell the Js and Thorel checked to Seidel. Seidel bet 40,000 and was called. The river came the Ad. Thorel checked again to Seidel and he moved all-in for 61,000. Thorel made the call. Seidel showed Ah-Kd for a set of Aces and Thorel mucked his hand. After the pot, Seidel moved up to 278,000 chips, wrestling the chip lead from Daniel Negreanu.
The rest of the action for Day 2 will be concluded in the next post.
Day 1b of the World Series of Poker Main Event kicked off on Sunday. Day 1a saw 159 players put up the £10,000 buy-in. Day 1b saw 203 players come together to try and stake their claim for the championship.
The big names were out in force. Among those playing were Marco Traniello, Daniel Negreanu, Roland de Wolfe, Brian Townsend, Nenad Medic, Jennifer Tilly, David “DevilFish” Ulliott, John Juanda, Phil Laak, Tom “Durrrr” Dwan, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Doyle Brunson, Mel Judah, Gavin Smith, David Williams, Annette Obrestad, Gus Hansen, Juan Carlos Mortensen, Allen Cunningham, and Jean-Robert Bellande.
The first big name to get knocked out was Allen Cunningham. He apparently showed up about an hour late to the event. Sometime during the second level he was eliminated. John Tabatabai apparently got a good portion of his chips. He claimed that Cunningham had made an incredibly ridiculous bluff.
During the first couple of levels, Jack Effel tried to get a Turbo £1,000 satellite going for the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. 362 players total had registered for the event, which happened to be the exact number as last year’s event. I guess he was trying to push the number over that so they can claim growth in the event. Apparently noone took Jack up on his offer as the field remained at 362 players after the registration period was completed.
Jeff Madsen was one of the next big names to bite the dust. He was the victim of a player that probably 100,000 players have lost to in the past, Doyle Brunson. The flop was 7d-6h-7s when a player in seat one bet 1,100. Madsen moved all in for 3,900 and Brunson made the call. Seat one folded. Brunson had 7c-9c for a set of sevens. Madsen held 9d-8d for a straight draw. The turn fell the Ks and the river the 9h, filling up Brunson’s boat and sending Madsen to the rail. Doyle Brunson just goes to show that no matter how old you are, you can still play poker at a high level.
Sorel Mizzi was eliminated during level 3. Mizzi made a reraise to 2,625 and Florian Langmann made the call. On a flop of 6s-7h-3c, Langmann bet 7,500. Mizzi tanked for a bit before moving all in. Langmann made the call showing Ah-Ad. Mizzi showed As-Kc. The turn fell the 3d and the river the 7d and Mizzi was eliminated.
Sean Deeb made a bit of a splash during the Pot Limit Omaha event here at the WSOP Europe. His deep run will not be repeated in the Main Event. He was all in on a flop of Ac-6s-10. He held Ad-Jd, and his opponent held As-Qs. The turn fell the 9d and the river the 2h, and Deeb was eliminated.
Juan Carlos Mortensen was next to fall to Brian Powell. Powell raised to 850 preflop, and Mortensen raised all-in to 5,500. Powell made the call and showed As-9s. Mortensen showed 4s-4h. The flop hit Powell like a ton of bricks when it fell 9c-5h-9d. Mortensen would need a four, or he would be done. The turn fell the Ks and river the 6d and Mortensen was out.
Daniel Negreanu took the chip lead about the mid way of Day 1b. Preflop, Negreanu raised to 800 and was called by Lars Hougaard from the big blind. The flop fell 9h-8d-6. Hougaard checked to Negreanu, who bet out 800. Hougaard check-raised to 3,200, and Negranu appeared to go into the tank. Negreanu said, “Hmmm. I have to think about the best way to approach this.” He then moved all in for 50,000. Hougaard started talking to himself and Negreanu asked, “You have a pair AND a straight draw? OK, so you hit your miracle flop and have to fold?” Hougaard then proceeded to fold his hand. Negreanu showed 6c-6s for the set of sixes. After the hand, Negreanu moved up to 95,000 in chips and was the chip leader.
The winner of the PLO bracelet, Theo Jorgensen, moved all in preflop for 2,775. Barry Greenstein made the call. Greenstein held Ah-Ad and Jorgensen held 7c-7h. The board missed both players, and Jorgensen will have to settle for just one bracelet at the WSOP Europe this year. Gus Hansen soon followed. On a flop of 3-4-7, Hansen was all-in against Jennifer Tilly. Tilly held A-A and Hansen 3-4 for two pair. The board paired on the turn when a 7 fell, giving Tilly a better two pair. These pairs held up and Hansen was gone.
The World Series of Poker Europe will have a new Main Event Champion. Annette Obrestad was all-in with pocket Kings against the A-Q of Marco Traniello. Unfortunately for Obrestad, Traniello spiked an Ace and Obrestad will not repeat as Main Event Champion.
Gavin Smith got a taste of his own medicine in tonight’s event. He was all in with pocket Kings. His opponent held 9c-10c. The board flopped an open ended straight draw when the board fell J-8-6. The turn missed both players, but the river Q gave Smith’s opponent a straight and sent Smith to the rail.
Day 1b of the World Series of Poker saw 203 players come together to take their shot at the last bracelet of the World Series of Poker Europe. 97 players survived the session and will join the 86 players from Day 1a on Monday to continue play. Many top names were able to survive Day 1b. Among those are Doyle Brunson, Chris Ferguson, Scotty Nguyen, Surinder Sunar, Barry Grenstein, Jennifer Tilly, Nenad Medic, and John Juanda. Daniel Negranu lost the chip lead for a while, but was able to regain it by the end of the day. Below are the current chip leaders for day 1b.
Daniel Negreanu 154050 Jamie Rosen 139225 David Benefield 126775 Sargon Ruya 114100 Jean Thorel 98675 Marco Traniello 96750 Mikael Norinder 91650 Yuval Bronshtein 85675 Roland de Wolfe 84000 Talal Shakerchi 83025
Play for Day 2 of the World Series of Poker Main Event continued on Monday at 1 p.m. London time.
Day 2 of the £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Event at the World Series of Poker saw 45 players return to make their march towards the final table. Among the big names still in contention included Robert Williamson III, Sorel Mizzi, Doyle Brunson, Andy Bloch, David “DevilFish” Ulliott, Allen Cunningham, Max Pescatori, Joe Beevers, Erik Seidel, and Chris “Jesus” Ferguson. Play started at 3 p.m. London time and would continue through to the final table.
The “DevilFish” was the first of the big names to fall and it didn’t take long. On a board of Kd-Jc-5d, Ulliott moved all-in and was called by Markus Golser. Golser claimed to have the Fish in bad shape, but Ulliott disagreed. DevilFish flipped over Ks-Kh-7c-2s for a set of kings. Golser flipped over Ad-Qd-10c-4s for a wrap and a flush draw. Golser was actually the favorite at this point with 17 outs. The turn fell the 9h, giving Golser a straight. DevilFish needed the board to pair, otherwise his day was over. The river was the 6c and DevilFish swam down stream.
Jason Mercier extended his chips lead after eliminating two players, one being Robert Williamson III. On a board of 6d-Ac-10d, Williamson checked to Mercier, who bet out 10,500. Williamson then check-raised pot and Mercier flat called. On the turn of the 5d, Williamson moved all-in for around 16,000. Mercier called and flipped over Kd-Jd with two other cards for a king high flush. Williamson showed two aces with two random cards for a set of aces. He would need the board to pair to win, but alas, the river fell the 8s and Williamson was eliminated. Mercier moved up to 340,000 chips with his win.
Doyle Brunson was the next player eliminated when both he and Erik Friberg flopped a set. Brunson had flopped a set of nines and Friberg a set of tens. All the money went in on the turn and Brunson was unable to catch a fourth nine. Brunson will have to win the Main Event to win his 11th bracelet.
Shortly after the first break, Andy Bloch was all in against Erik Friberg. Bloch had flopped two pair and a gutshow straight draw. Friberg had a better gutshow straight draw and a pair of queens. The turn improved Bloch’s two pair, but the river completed Friberg’s straight and Bloch was out the door.
Erik Seidel was eliminated in 25th place by Theo Jorgensen. Seidel had aces and Jorgensen with some semi coordinated straight cards. Unfortunately for Seidel, Jorgensen flopped two pair and Seidel never improved on his aces. Bruno Fitoussi was the next player to fall just before the dinner break. He moved all in with aces on a jack high flop but Tomi Nyback had flopped two pair. The two pair were good and Fitoussi got an extended dinner break.
Only 18 players would be paid from this event. It wasn’t long before we would reach 19 players and the bubble period began. Pot Limit Omaha is usually a game where the bubble period is not that lengthy due to the drawing potential of a lot of hands. It does induce a bit of gambling. The bubble period didn’t even last 10 minutes in this event as Alex Kravchenko was all in preflop against Ilkka Koskien. Kravchenko held Ah-Ad-9c-10d. Koskien held As-Ac-2c-10c. This hand had split written all over it. That is until the flop anyway. The flop fell Qc-Qd-7c to give Koskien a flush draw. The turn fell the 7h. This pot would be a chop unless a club fell, and indeed a club did fall on the river. The 8c fell, and Kravchenko was this event’s bubble boy.
Elimination then became fast and furious. Jolyne Thompson moved all in with her short stack holding Js-Jc-2c-9h. Allen Cunningham made the call holding Kd-7s-6h-4s. Cunningham would take the lead with trips when the flop fell 7d-3d-7h. Thompson would need a jack to survive, but a jack did not come on the turn or the river. Jolyne Thompson was our 18th place finisher making £14,438.
Stephen Kjaerstad was the next to fall. Kjaerstad raised preflop and was called by Theo Jorgensen. On a flop of 5s-6s-Jd, Kjaerstad bet out 21,500 and Jorgesen potted. Kjaerstad called and was all-in. Jorgensen held 4s-3d-3s-4c and Kjaerstad held 7d-As-8d-Ad. The Qs fell on the turn, giving Jorgensen the flush and eliminating Kjaerstad in 17th place.
About 15 minutes later, Theo Jorgensen raised to 11,000 and Allen Cunnigham potted to 39,000. Jorgensen called. On a flop of 10s-4h-4s, Jorgensen put Cunningham all in holding 9h-4c-Qh-10c for fours full and Cunningham held As-Ah-Qd-2d. An ace did not fall on the turn or river, and Allen Cunningham become our 16th place finisher.
Chris Bjorin followed Cunningham out the door soon after when he was all-in against Joe Beevers. Bjorin held Aces at the river but Beever was sitting on nines full. Bjorin was the 16th place finisher making £16,500. Justin Smith was the next out when Tomi Nyback flopped the nut flush. Smith didn’t have any redraws and exited in 14th place, also taking home £16,500.
Padraig Parkinson was eliminated next. He had flopped a straight draw, but his opponent Jason Mercier caught running aces to make trips and Parkinson was the 13th place finisher. Joe Beevers was knocked out next when his As-5s-Kc-8c ran into the Ah-Ks-Jh-10d of Jason Mercier. Beever flopped a pair of fives on a 5d-Qs-6d board, but the 9d gave Mercier a straight draw. He completed his straight draw with the 8h on the river and Beevers became the 12th place finisher, taking home £18,562.
Neil Channing was knocked out next in 11th place when his pair and straight draw couldn’t outdraw Tomi Nyback’s flopped two pair. Ilkka Koskinen then was our final elimination of the day. He was all in on the turn of 8h-7-h-3d-Jc against Theo Jorgensen. Koskinen held Ac-Jh-10h-9d for a straight and a gutshot straight flush draw. Jorgensen held Js-9s-9c-8c for jacks and eights. The river fell the Jd, which gave Jorgensen a full house and make Koskinen our final table bubble boy.
Our final nine looks like this:
Seat 1: Erik Friberg 189,000 Seat 2: David Penly 162,000 Seat 3: Jason Mercier 650,000 Seat 4: Sorel Mizzi 290,000 Seat 5: Tomi Nyback 434,000 Seat 6: Theo Jorgensen 897,000 Seat 7: Max Pescatori 126,000 Seat 8: Eric Dalby 277,000 Seat 9: Chris Ferguson 282,000
Theo Jorgensen made a late run to take the chip lead from Jason Mercier. Overall, this will be one of the stronger final tables of this World Series of Poker with several big names and a couple of bracelet winners in the mix. The final table will start at 4 p.m. London time on Friday.
Wedneday kicked off the £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha event at the World Series of Poker Europe. 165 players put up £5,000 each to take their shot at the PLO bracelet. This event attracts the best players from both the US and Europe. PLO is the most popular form of poker in Europe, and it is expected that the Americans will have their hands full in the event.
Many big names put up the cash for this event. Daniel Negreanu, Jens Voertmann, Gus Hansen, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, Josh Arieh, Brandon Cantu, Patrik Antonius, Ross Boatman, Phil Hellmuth, Nanad Medic, Layne Flack, John Juanda, Freddy Deeb, Eli Elezra, David Benyamine, Barny Boatman, Andy Black, Tom “Durrrr” Dwan, Thor Hansen, Doyle Brunson, Allen Cunningham, Erik Seidel, Robert Willaimson III, Chris Ferguson, and Andy Bloch all were on hand as well as many other known players.
This event gave each player the option of a free 10,000 chip rebuy that could either be taken at the beginning of their tournament or at the any time during the first 3 levels. Daniel Negreanu was the first big name to be eliminated from the event. He apparently took his rebuy at the start of the event and proceeded to lose it in quick fashion.
Action was hot and heavy early on. The 2007 WSOP Europe Pot Limit Omaha Champion Dario Alioto was eliminated shortly after Negreanu. Jens Voertmann was also eliminated around the same time. Voertmann won the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at the WSOP in Vegas in June.
Gus Hansen was eliminated by Jason Mercier. At showdown the board showed Ad-8-6d-Q-J. Mercier held 8-7-6-4 for two pair and Hansen held 9-7-5-3 for a couple of draws that missed. Mike “The Mouth” Matusow did not make it to the dinner break in this event. We aren’t sure of how he was eliminated but when someone mentioned how quiet it was, we realized it was due to his departure.
Josh Arieh and Phil Ivey were eliminated not long after the dinner break. Arieh was all in against Donnacha O’Dea. Arieh had a straight and O’Dea a set of aces. The river card paired the board, giving O’Dea the full house and Arieh the shaft. Phil Ivey was down to around 3,000 after the dinner break and shortly was eliminated. He’s probably looking for Mike Matusow to try and start a Chinese Poker game.
Sherkhan Farnood was playing in this event while playing the £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. final table. On a board of 4h-Qh-3s-9h-Jd, Farnood was all in against Erik Seidel and Andreas Krause. Farnood showed Qs-8s-10c-9c for the nut straight. Seidel only held a pair of aces. Krause mucked his hand. After the hand Farnood tripled up to 37,000.
Annette Obrestad was soon eliminated by David Williams. Obrestad had flopped a full house with the board showing 5-5-7 on the flop. She had a 5-7 in her hand. Sadly, Williams had pocket sevens for the nut boat. As a result, Obrestad floated down the river.
This event will not bring John Phan his third bracelet of the year. On a flop of 8h-7h-7c, Phan bet out 3,000. Jani Sointula raised the size of the pot, followed by Phan moving all-in. Sointula called. Phan showed Ad-Ah-8c-10c for aces up. Sointula showed Qs-8s-5h-6h for two pair and the straight flush draw. The turn fell the Kh, giving Sointula the flush and the river card fell the Kc, sealing the win for Sointula.
Three big names were eliminated in short order. First Richard Ashby was eliminated by Surindar Sunar. Soon afterwards, Sunar was eliminated when his two pair were outdrawn by another opponents better two pair. Patrik Antonius went all in holding a pair of queens but the hand was outdrawn and he was sent to the rail as well.
Barry Greenstein was eliminated by Neil Channing. As a result Greenstein is short another copy of his book. Channing made the final table in the Event #1 of the World Series of Poker Europe. Adam Junglen and Tom “Durrrr” Dwan didn’t fare much better and were eliminated shortly after the beginning of the last level of the night.
David Williams had a roller coaster of a day. He was down to just 13,000 chips at one point in the evening but increased it to over 100,000 by the last level. Part of that stack came at the expense of Jeff Madsen. Williams crippled Madsen when he flopped a set of kings, outdrawing Madsens’ aces. Then shortly afterwards, Madsen was all in with a straight draw and a pair. Williams had a pair of queens and a backdoor flush draw. The board came running hearts to fill out Williams’ flush and Madsen was out the door.
Jason Mercier finished the day as the chip leader with 209,800 in chips. Shaun Deeb was next with 190,700. Bruno Fitoussi was the high pro of the day with 123,700. Other notables are David Williams at 122,400, Phil Laak at 111,400, and Andy Bloch at 109,200. Chris Ferguson, Erik Seidel, Robert Williamson III and Allen Cunningham are all around the middle of the field. Doyle Brunson is still alive in his hunt for his 11th bracelet, but he is one of the short stacks with 36,500. Don’t count him out however as this a few well timed pots could turn him from a short stack to a chip leader.
Many pros bit the dust in this day one, including fan favorite Daniel Negreanu. David Benyamine and Phil Hellmuth also did not make it through the day. 2007 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Champion Freddy Deeb couldn’t find any magic on this day.
The day started with 165 players but in the end only 45 players remained in this Pot Limit Omaha Championship. While the pace of play on Day 1 was fast and furious, expect Thursday’s play to be a little more subdued due to the large stacks that will be in play. Players will return at 3 P.M. on Thursday London time to make a march towards the final table in this event.
“Texas Dolly” Doyle Brunson, stands alone as a living legend in the poker world. He still plays a lot of competitive poker and it is hard to imagine him not at the World Series of Poker. Doyle has won 10 WSOP bracelets and is still trying to get his 11th. Doyle won his first bracelet in 1976 when the World Series was much smaller and won his last bracelet in 2005. Its been a long journey for Brunson, the kind of journeys you make movies about. I imagine Mr. Brunson could tell stories for days about the old days of playing in back rooms and risking his life to be a poker player. He has been through it all and played against the best in four different decades. Whether you think Doyle is the best ever doesn’t matter, everyone respects him and knows he is one of the best players to ever play the game.
Super System, known as the “poker bible”, was written by Doyle, changed the poker world forever. 1978 the average player now had the ability to see how the pros were making money playing Texas Holdem. If you haven’t read Super System, go out and get it. The book is still relevant today, and will teach you how to play the game like a pro. Doyle said that the book has cost him a lot of money, the amateurs got better because of it.
Doyle is known as a Texas Holdem player, but he might be the best all around poker player to ever live. Brunson has won bracelets in No Limit Holdem, Deuce to Seven Draw, Seven Card Stud, RAZZ and HORSE. In 1979 Doyle even won a Mixed Doubles event with Starla Brodie. With 10 bracelets in total ‘Dolly” won four of them playing No Limit Holdem. The biggest cash that Doyle has at the World Series was he last one when he won the Shorthanded No Limit Holdem bracelet for more then $350,000. That will help you realize how much the game has changed, in 1976 Doyle made $230,000 for winning the main event. In ‘76 Doyle won two bracelets the Main Event and the Deuce to Seven Draw.
The 10 – 2 is Doyle’s hand, he won back to back main events holding those two hole card in 1976 and 1977. In ‘76 Brunson beat Jesse Alto Heads up coming from behind to make a full house, again in’77 holding 10 – 2 Doyle came from behind making a full hose against Gary Berland. 10- 2 is one of the worst hands in poker and forever will be known as “Doyle Brunson”, Doyle will play the hand from time to time when he is on television just for show. Poker has changed a lot since Doyle was winning main events in ‘76 there were 22 players in the tournament and 34 in ‘77 compared to the thousands who enter every year now. Doyle won six bracelets in the 1970′s, but did not win any in the 1980′s. In 1991 Brunson won his first bracelet since 1979, when he took home the $2,500 No Limit Holdem event for more then $200,000. In 1998 Doyle won a RAZZ tournament, and in 2003 he proved he could still win big tournaments when he won the HORSE event. “Texas Dolly” won his tenth World Series of Poker bracelet in 2005 taking home the Shorthanded event.
The family man, Doyle married his wife Louise in 1962. Doyle and Louise had three children, his son Todd became a professional poker player himself. Todd and Doyle were the first father / son combination to win World Series of Poker bracelets. Pamela, Doyle’s daughter also plays and found some success in the 2007 Series. Doyle overcame great obstacles in his life, he had cancer in the early ‘60′s that was said to incurable. After he had an operation no cancer could be found and the doctors said it had to be a miracle. His daughter Doyla passed away at the age of 18 and Doyle turned to religion to get him through the tough times.
To this day Doyle Brunson frequents the biggest cash games in Vegas and plays multiple tournaments a year. He plays in the World Series of Poker every year in both Las Vegas and in Europe. He has made more then $2,800,000 in his World Series career, and continues the chase for his 11th bracelet. In 2008 in had big runs in tournaments twice, finishing 21st in event eight and finished 16th at the World Championship of HORSE. Doyle has finished in the top 10 at a WSOP tournament 23 times and that number will continue to rise in my opinion. He has had 31 total cashes throughout his career and has had six in the last three Series. The HORSE tournament may be the best chance Doyle has at winning more bracelets in the future, he still is one of the best all around players in the world. He has cashed in HORSE events four times since 2003 and sooner rather then later he may win it again.
Doyle revolutionized the game of poker with his writing and after the poker boom he has re-established himself as one of the best players in the world. A lot of people see “Texas Dolly” as the face of poker. Doyle is to poker what Babe Ruth is to baseball, Wilt Chamberlain is to Basketball and what Gordie Howe is to hockey, a legend. The difference is you can compete with Doyle you can play a tournament or sit in a cash game and test your skills against the most legendary poker player of all time. Take the time watch Doyle play, listen to his stories and just enjoy the fact that you got to see a true legend of poker.
110 players put up £2,500 each to take a shot at the World Series of Poker Europe H.O.R.S.E. event. H.O.R.S.E. is a rotation game consisting of limit holdem, limit Omaha 8 or better, limit razz, limit seven card stud, and limit stud 8 or better. Each game is dealt for 8 hands before switching. Top name pros participating in today’s event include Roland De Wolfe, Chad Brown, Andy Black, Layne Flack, Jens Voertmann, Thor Hansen, Dave “DevilFish” Ulliott, Vanessa Rousso, Erik Seidel, Allen Cunningham, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, David Benyamine, Mike Matusow, John Juanda, Andy Bloch, John Phan, Barry Greenstein, Gus Hansen, Phil Hellmuth, and Phil Ivey. Doyle Brunson was also spotted in the field, making his first appearance at this WSOP Europe.
Play progressed somewhat slow to begin with but soon picked up as the structure for this even seems a little fast. Phil Ivey took down a nice three way pot during a stud 8 round against Jason Newitt and Thomas Bihl. Ivey led the action on fourth and fifth streets. Bihl caught a pair of queens on sixth, and bet out showing a board of (X-X)Jc-9s-Qd-Qc. Ivey raised showing a board of (X-X) 6c-5s-6s-Jd. Newitt folded. Seventh Street was dealt face down and Bihl checked to Ivey, who fired out a bet. Bihl made the call. Ivey showed 6d-5c for his down cards for the full house and Bihl mucked. At this point in the event, Ivey was around 18,000 in chips.
Several tables had very strong lineups but none compared to table 8. Table 8 had Doyle Brunson, Chad Brown, Max Pescatori, Thor Hansen, John Juanda, Chris Bjorn, Jean-Robert Bellande, Robert Wiliamson III, and some unknown guy. Oh wait, the unknown guy is the dealer.
Chad Brown ended up being the first big name eliminated from today’s H.O.R.S.E. event. In an Omaha 8 or better round, Chad Brown made it two bets to go on a flop of 5h-2c-7h. Both Robert Williamson III and Jean-Robert Bellande made the call. The turn of the Qc and the river of the 10h were checked down. Williamson showed 8h-6c-3s-Ac for the nut low and Bellande showed 6d-3h-2h-Kc for the flush. Brown mucked his hand and headed out of the tournament area.
Andy Black was the next big name to hit the door. During a stud round, Black made a raise on Fourth Street showing a (X-X) Jd-4h. The original bettor, Ivo Donev, made the call showing (X-X) Jh-5s. Black caught a 3c on fifth and Donev caught the 3s. They both checked. On sixth, Donev fired out a bet after catching an Ah. Black only had three 25 denomination chips and made the call after catching the 2c. Donev showed Js-9h for a pair of jacks. Black showed A-Q for a wheel draw. Donev caught a nine on the river for jacks up and Black only caught a king, and Andy faded to Black.
Phil Hellmuth has been really holding his own today. He has been near the top of the chip lead for most of the session. In an Omaha 8 hand between himself, Layne Flack, and Neal Friets, Hellmuth bet out on a board of 5h-6s-4h-6d and Flack moved all in. Hellmuth and Friets called along. The river fell the Jd and Hellmuth bet out. Friets made the call. Friets showed 2s-3d-9c-7s for a seven high straight and a 6 low. Hellmuth then flipped over Ac-3c-6h-6c for quad sixes and second nut low. Flack commented, “Quad sixes and the second nut low, is that all you got?” He then mucked his hand and departed from the tournament area.
Shortly afterwards Mike “the Mouth” Matusow started razzing Hellmuth about the fact that Hellmuth has not won a bracelet in a non-holdem event. This is actually true. Hellmuth has 11 gold bracelets, but all in one form of holdem or another. Norman Chad has been quoted as saying, “He is a one trick pony, but boy, what a trick.”
H.O.R.S.E. is not the only thing being played today. During the breaks Mike Matusow, Doyle Brunson, John Juanda, and Phil Hellmuth decided to play some $1,000 a point Chinese Poker. Unfortunately for Matusow, he didn’t win a hand. The crowd could hear his tirade across the room after the break.
Thor Hansen again could not summon help from Odin and busted out from today’s event, although we do not have the details of his bustout. Dave “DevilFish” Ulliott busted out shortly after losing a big stud pot against Gary Jones “ace high.” Michael Binger was eliminated by David Williams when Binger’s buried queens could not outdraw Williams split aces. Chris Ferguson and Mike “Timex” McDonald were also casualties of the last level.
After a 12 and ½ hour session, the first day of the H.O.R.S.E. event concluded with Phil Ivey in the lead. This should come as a shock to noone since Ivey is considered by many to be the best overall poker player alive. In a shocking development to all, Phil Hellmuth is in second place with 54,200 chips. Woody Deck is third in chips at 37,500. Daniel Negreanu and Howard Lederer are both hovering around the 30,000 chip mark. At present it appears that Richard Ashby is the short stack at 3,200 in chips. For some unknown reason, Mike Matusow did not report the amount of chips he had remaining, but he is indeed still in this event. It also appears that Doyle Brunson busted somewhere around the end of the day, but we do not have any information on how this occurred.
56 players survived Day 1 of this £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event. Tomorrow promises to be a long day as we are expected to play to the final table. With the fast structure of play, expect a lot of early bustouts and then play to slow to a grind as we approach the money bubble. Only 16 players will be paid in this event with 16th place paying £4,812. The winner of this event will take £76,999 and the coveted gold bracelet. Day 2 of this event will start Sunday at 2 p.m.
Born in China, Johnny Chan has become one of the best players in World Series of Poker history. Johnny sits second all time with 10 WSOP bracelets just one behind Phil Hellmuth. Chan’s first World Series of Poker cash was in 1983 and he plays a full schedule to this day with 3 cashes in 2008. Johnny is popular on poker television and is widely considered one of the top 5 players in World Series of Poker history. Chan came to the United States in 1968, he is married and has six children. Johnny won is first bracelet in 1985 and his tenth in 2005.
