One of the most prestigious poker titles that any player can win is the Heads-up Championship. After two very long days, we are finally down to 8 players and all three matches will be played today until we have a champion. One of the most feared players in the world is still alive as Johnny Chan is on his game and looking for his 11th bracelet. Here are the matchups for the remaining 8:
Leo Wolpert –vs- Dustin Wolf
Jamin Stokes –vs- Johnny Chan
Nathan Doudney –vs- Bryan Pelligrino
John Duthie –vs- Steve O’Dwyer
Event 28 continued to move slowly and play was stopped at the 3am deadline. However, they still have 27 players left in the tournament and will be back early on Monday to get this one done. Play is scheduled to start at 1pm. Joe Simmons is the current leader with 1,100,000, but there are several players hot on his heels and well within striking distance. It would be a surprise if they don’t get close to the 3am deadline again to get the bracelet decided on.
Event 30 ended up having 436 people enter and they are down to 109. JC Tran is the current leader with 176,900 in chips. He has a lot of competition for the top spot though as John Juanda, Eli Elezra and Andy Bloch are all in the top 20. Event 31 started with 770 players and was the late starting tournament of the evening. Sabic Sebastian is the overall leader with 72,700 in chips and Marco Traniello (55,000) and Andrew Black (54,300) are on the first page of the leader board.
Another World Championship Event kicks off tonight at the $10,000 Limit Hold’em Event will get underway. There were some noticeable absences from the last couple of tournaments which should mean that this field is going to be loaded with a lot of well rested professionals. Don’t be surprised to see the likes of Hellmuth, Negreanu, Lindgren, Brunson and Harmon going deep in this one.
At one point, it looked like Clements was going to run away with Event 27, the Pot Limit Omaha Hi-low Split 8 or Better Tournament. He was making all the right moves and then in a matter of 13 minutes he went from massive chip leader to the rail. He had to feel as though he had been run over by a train. Once they were heads up, the action continued to be fast and furious and eventually Roland De Wolfe would take down Brett Richey for his first bracelet and the $246,616 first place prize.
The final hand did not hold much drama. A nominal raise was made before the flop and both players watched a flop of 10c8c4d. After De Wolfe checked, Richey made a move on the pot, but was rewarded with a pot bet by De Wolfe. Richey continued the action with an all in and the cards were turned. Richey showed a QdJsw10h9h and De Wolfe showed AdQc8d4h. De Wolfe was in the lead, but Richey has a lot to root for on the turn and river. Both fell harmlessly and Richey only walked with the $152,618 second prize.
Event 26 ended not long after as the $1,500 Limit Hold’em Event did not take long at all to decide a winner. This is far and away the earliest evening so far for the WSOP bracelet events. The tournament came down to Tomas Alenius and Jason Tam. Tam held a considerable chip lead when they went heads up, but Alenius make a Parkeresque comeback and ended up winning the event.
The final hand had Tam raising from the button and Alenius coming right back over the top. Tam was committed at this point and put the rest of his chips in the middle for a 4 bet. The cards were turned and Alenius was way ahead with A4 to Q5. The board didn’t hit either player and Alenius had made the comeback complete by putting on a new piece of jewelry and fattening up his back account with $197,488. Tam received $122,000 for second place.
In other tournaments…
Event 28 still has a rather large field left and while it is early, getting down to a final table will definitely take until the 3am limit. If they don’t get there, they will more than likely have to come back early tomorrow to finish off the event. Joe Simmons is the current chip leader with 485,000.
They are down to the Sweet 16 in the Heads Up Championship and there are still two major names floating around. Both Johnny Chan and Jason Mercier are still alive and playing well. The bubble was 32, so these guys are deep into the cash. At stake would be record tying bracelet for Chan and of course the little matter of the $625,682 for first place. The money really starts to jump from this point forward, so expect some tightening up by the less experienced players.
Whether you love or hate Phil Hellmuth you can not deny that he might just be the best player in the history of the WSOP. If he is not the best he at least is on the short list of players that would include Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Stu Unger and Chip Reese. Phil has one thing on all these guys or anyone you can think of , he has more bracelets. In 2007 Phil set the record that he already shared with Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson, by winning his eleventh bracelet. Phil has made more then five million dollars at the World Series of Poker alone and you can’t take that away from him.
The first bracelet came in 1989 and still is Phil’s biggest cash at the World Series of Poker. In 1989 Phil won the $10,000 No Limit Hold’ em Main Event, and took home $755,000. That seems like nothing compared to the fact that the Main Event winner these days can make more then $10,000,000. You need to realize that in those days the Main Event was filled with top professional players, although the field was no where near the size of today’s events. In 1989 Phil was only 24 years old and his first bracelet didn’t come easy, he had to defeat Johnny Chan heads up to take the title. At the time Johnny was going for his third straight title and may have been the best poker player in the world. The two years following Phil’s breakthrough win, he didn’t manage to win a bracelet, but in 1992 he took home the $5000 Limit Holdem poker bracelet.
1993 was the year that Phil Hellmuth officially began the talk that he might be the best player in the poker world. He showed up at the 1993 World Series of Poker with two bracelets on his wrist and left when it was all said and done he left with five. He won three events in 1993 including the $1500 No Limit Hold’ em, $2,500 No Limit Hold ‘em and the $5,000 Limit Hold’ em. Hellmuth walked away from the 1993 World Series of Poker with more then $450,000 in earning and three coveted bracelets. For the three years following Phil’s breakthrough in 1993 he didn’t manage to win a single bracelet, but broke through again in 1997. In 1997 Hellmuth won the $3000 Pot Limit Hold’ em tournament taking home more then $200,000. Heading into 2001 Phil Hellmuth was a poker legend, he had six bracelets and was looking for more. More he would get winning in 2001 and two more in 2003. In 2006 he tied poker legends Chan and Brunson winning his tenth bracelet in the $1,000 No Limit Hold’ em Rebuy tournament. In 2007 Phil captured his second best single tournament earning at the World Series when he won over $630,000 in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’ em event, his record breaking eleventh bracelet.
“The Poker Brat”, is Phil Hellmuth’s nickname when he is sitting at the poker table. As the World Series of Poker gained exposure on television, so did Phil. Hellmuth. He became as popular for his antics at the poker as he was for his excellent play. Phil is known to speak his feelings when he is at the tables, if he thinks you made a bad play he is going to tell you about it, maybe more then once. If you are at a table with Phil and you hit an inside straight to beat his set, you better watch out. This persona has taken Hellmuth along ways, the public want to see him play. Most because of his unpredictable attitude, but some even watch to see a great poker player in action. Look past the commercials and the tirades at the table and you will find an excellent poker mind. “The Poker Brat” has his own style, unique to him and was created through years of experience. If you play like Phil, it will be like walking on a tight rope, you never know when you are going to fall. His passive and slow play opens himself up to get sucked out on, or to win pots with monster hands. Try it play like that and you will find you might get a little upset from time to time at the tables to.
Texas Hold’ em is Phil Hellmuth’s game, all eleven of his bracelets won playing it. He has won bracelets playing Pot Limit, Limit and No Limit Hold’ em, but has never won playing another form of poker. People who criticize Phil tend to look directly at this stat, and I guess if you want to bash the guy that’s about all you got. I am not one of these people, Hellmuth has mastered hold’ em and why not play it as much as you can. I think one day Phil will win a bracelet in say Omaha, Seven Card or maybe he’ll even win the HORSE one day.
No matter what you personally think of Phil Hellmuth you cannot deny the guy the fact that he may just be the best Texas Hold’ em player to ever live. Of course that is something that we will never know, but Hellmuth has won eleven bracelets playing Hold’ em. “The Poker Brat” will always have his critics, but if you ask around the top pros in the world you find they have great respect for his game. People will hate on Phil because of his exposure, much like the way people hate on Tiger Woods in golf, but it is not warranted. Hellmuth is still in his prime and who knows how many bracelets he will win in his life time, but you can be assured that he will try to win them all. Over Five Million Dollars in career World Series of Poker earnings, a record eleven bracelets and more then sixty cashes, Phil Hellmuth is a legend at the World Series of Poker.
Yesterday we started reviewing the top 10 bracelet winners in WSOP history. Today we continue our countdown to #1.
Coming in at #5 is Erik Seidel. Erik Seidel is probably best known from his appearance in the movie Rounders when he was shown finishing second to Johnny Chan in the 1988 World Series of Poker. Since then, Seidel has put together a bracelet run that has him on pace to make a serious challenge at the all time lead. He holds two No Limit Holdem bracelets, 2 Limit Holdem bracelets, 2 Lowball bracelets, 1 Omaha Hi-Lo bracelet, and a Pot Limit Omaha bracelet. His last bracelet win was in 2007 for the No Limit 2-7 Lowball event. Erik is well known for his solid play and quiet demeanor at the table. I have actually had opportunity to play with Erik and he is the consummate professional.
The “Grand Old Man of Poker” comes in at #4. Johnny Moss was the first ever Main Event winner of the World Series of Poker in 1970. That year he was voted in as champion by his pears. Moss also won the 1971 and 1974 Main event. Besides Stu Ungar, Johnny Moss is the only person to ever win the Main Event three times. Overall, Moss held 9 bracelets. He held 3 in No Limit Holdem (all Main Event wins), 3 in Seven Card Stud, 2 in Ace to Five Lowball, and 1 in Stud 8 or better. Moss’s legend was made long before the World Series ever existed. 1949 he played a 5 month marathon session with Nick the Greek. At the end of the marathon, Nick the Greek simply told Moss, “Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.” Moss played professionally all the way up to his death. Johnny Moss passed away in 1995 at the age of 88.
Third and Second place are held by two men that really need no introduction to many in the poker world. Both men hold 10 bracelets at present.
Johnny Chan is the last man to win back to back Main Events, winning both the 1987 and 1988 Main Event. He almost made it three in a row but lost in 1989 to Phil Hellmuth. Chan can always be seen with his signature orange at the table. He started carrying it back in the days were smoking were allowed in poker rooms. He would use it to try and freshen the air a bit. Chan bracelets include 3 in No Limit Holdem, 2 in Pot Limit Omaha, 1 in Limit Holdem, 1 in 2 to 7 Lowball, 1 in Pot Limit Holdem, 1 in 7 card Stud, and 1 in Heads-up Match Play.
Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson is considered both the Godfather of Poker and the greatest poker player alive today. He is legendary for winning both the 1976 and 1977 World Series of Poker holding 10-2 for the final hand. Doyle Brunson’s book Super System and follow up book Super System II have taught millions of player around the world how to play poker of all types. Doyle holds four bracelets in No Limit Holdem, 1 in Seven Card Stud, 1 in Stud 8 or Better, 1 in Razz, 1 in 2-7 Lowball, 1 in H.O.R.S.E., and 1 in Mixed Doubles. His last bracelet was in 2005 for the $5,000 No Limit Holdem event. He won the event with 10-3 offsuit. At 75 Brunson is still a forced to be reckoned with. At this year’s WSOP he finished twice in the money, including the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event.
#1 on the list of all-time bracelet holders at the World Series of Poker is none other than Phil Hellmuth. Phil is commonly known as the “poker brat” for his antics and attitude at the poker table. He won the 1989 Main Event against Johnny Chan and for nearly the last 20 years has been referred to by many, including himself, to be the best Holdem player ever. All of Hellmuth’s eleven bracelets are in Holdem. Seven are in No Limit Holdem, three are in Limit Holdem, and one is in Pot Limit Holdem. To quote Norman Chad, “He is referred to as a one trick pony. But what a trick it is.” Phil will be first to tell you that it is very possible that his 11 bracelets could have very well been at least 14. In 2006, besides winning his 10th bracelet, he finished 2nd and 3rd in two other events. At this year’s WSOP, Hellmuth finished third in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event and made the final table of another event.
With the size of the massive fields in the Main Event and other No Limit Holdem events, many pros are fining it tougher to win a bracelet. Many are turning to mixed events and higher buy-in No Limit events to give themselves a better chance at another bracelet. Also, the number of tournaments held at the World Series of Poker makes for many long days and a long six weeks. Doyle Brunson has admitted that it is a very tough task on him physically to compete for so long. Brunson and I spoke about this in 2006 when he told me that he has to pick his spots now and plays events he feels he has the best shot of doing well.
One thing that you will notice with all the players on this list is that they play multiple games well. While Hellmuth does have 11 Holdem bracelets, you will notice that he has cashes and deep runs in most poker variants. One thing to remember with any of these pros is that no matter how old they are, they still have the experience that years of play has given them. This type of experience is the type you cannot learn by playing online poker only.
The World Series of Poker Europe kicks off in less than two weeks from the Empire Casino in Leicester Square in London, England. Last year was the first ever WSOP Europe and this year promises to be a fantastic event. The World Series of Poker Europe is a set of three bracelet events. The events are H.O.R.S.E, Pot Limit Omaha, and No-Limit Holdem.
Last years H.O.R.S.E. event drew 105 players and the final table was an all-star field. Joe Beevers, Alex Kravchenko, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Kirk Morrison, Jennifer Harman, and Thomas Bihl were all vying for the first ever WSOP-E bracelet. Jennifer Harman and Thomas Bihl faced each other heads up, and after a long heads up match, Thomas Bihl won the bracelet and £70,875 top prize.
165 players entered the Pot Limit Omaha Championship. The final table included pros Tony Guoga, Dario Alioto, and Andy Bloch. Dario Alioto emerged victorious and claimed the £234,390 top prize. This was a European record for a top prize in an Omaha event.
362 players entered the £10,000 buy-in No-Limit championship. It was apparent early on that there was a new rising star of poker in the field. Annette Obrestad skillfully navigated her way through the pro heavy field and made the final table of the event. She was only the third woman in the history of the World Series of Poker to make a main event final table. There was an additional reason her accomplishment was followed so intently by the world. She was 18 years old.
Obrestad masterfully navigated her way through the final table and in the end accomplished three feats. First, she was the first WSOP-E Main Event winner. Next, she was the first female to win a Main Event in World Series of Poker history. Finally, she is the youngest bracelet winner ever. One point I personally find amusing is the fact that although Obrestad is a Main Event Champion, she still will not be able to play at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas until she is 21.
In the end, the three events at the WSOP-E in 2007 were swept by Europeans. The 2008 WSOP-E promises to be just as historic and exciting. Unlike last year, this year’s event is held at only one location. Organizers hope that the central location will give the event greater exposure. The biggest names in the world will turn out for the event including Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harman, and Ted Forrest.
Personally, I predict a very strong showing by Americans in the H.O.R.S.E. event. Many H.O.R.S.E. events become showcases of overall poker talent. Pot-Limit Omaha will likely be dominated by Europeans once again. I have played in PLO tournaments that have been heavy with European players and I will attest that they are very tough Omaha players. One of my proudest moments in poker was a final table I made in PLO. The reason I was so proud was that the field was ½ European. The Main Event will likely be dominated by online players. While many pros don’t like to admit it, the internet players are beginning to dominate NL Holdem. Those that hone their skills online have a huge advantage over live players, and this field will be at least ½ full of online regulars. I don’t see Obrestad repeating as Main Event champion.
The WSOP-E begins on September 19th. During the WSOP-E, I will bring you news and updates regarding the biggest poker event in Europe.
