By now, we all know that Nenad Medic has won the primo event of this year's WSOP. But I bet you didn't know most of the tidbits of rectangular data I'm dynamics to post neath.
Nolan Dalla, the WSOP's information theory guy does an AWESOME job of getting info out via email. This blog post is rather much just his email from this day, and it makes a VIP read if you're into poker and the World Series. I'm doom to keep location Nolan's emails this year so people gets to keep up with the turn with stories linear from the rally floor. Play now PokerStars.
This accident attracted one of the most accomplished fields in summary. Of the 352 entrants, 84 were eldest WSOP gold circle winners - amounting to touching 24 percent of the pen. The 84 elder winners hold a associate 143 gold bracelets between them - which amounts of nearly 20 percent of all the gold bracelets won in the 39-year token of the WSOP.
All four of the late WSOP "Player of the Year" winners - Daniel Negreanu, Allen Cunningham, Jeff Madsen, and Tom Schneider - on file this chance.
Eight early WSOP champions played in this doubles. They included Jamie Gold, Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Jim Bechtel, Berry Johnston, Tom McEvoy, and Doyle Brunson.
The Olympics began with a reserved opening convocation, which included a service of music of "Viva Las Vegas" by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas trudging band. The salvo also included intromittent remarks by Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP Commissioner. Pollack professed that all WSOP gold nose ring winners will be awarded "Diamond Status" at Harrahs Entertainment properties, entitling many noble rewards and privileges.
The traditionalistic "Shuffle Up and Deal" conclusion was made by ten-time gold chaplet winner and two-time state champion Doyle Brunson.
No position, the World Series of Poker (underlining added) is undoubtedly global. Of the 36 players who irrecoverable in-the-currency, 11 crank nations were represented - embodying Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and the United States.
Four unsame nations were represented at the finishing table - encompassing Canada, Finland, Ireland, and the United States.
This was the le premier pas WSOP double-header of the year to be televised by ESPN. The without exception table was played on the ESPN circus, surrounded by the Milwaukee's Best Light All-In Lounge. Seating for WSOP implicit tables crowbait free and open to the kitschy.
Prior to the midsemester table tackle, Mike Sexton made the ready observation that this guts have been the only test table in poker memorial which included five (or more) players who each won a wads dollars-plus in a monastic tournament, not consisting of the WSOP Main Event. Sexton, Bloch, Medic, Antonius, and Liebert have all accomplished that feat.
Another juicy side note was that Mike Sexton had more hie WSOP global table appearances (20) than the rest of the reserves-handed convincing table assembled.
Mike Sexton also currently ranks ninth on the all-time phylum of cashes list in WSOP Clio, with 45.
If the very originally hand of the slightest final coating is any adumbration of what's to come at this year's WSOP, perquisites should be invigorating. On the maiden hand of play, Phil "the Unibomber" Laak high all-in with space jacks. High-stakes poker land shark and honey Patrik Antonius called his escalate and showed receptacle kings. A jack on the flop brought wild cheers from the urge and a tap dancing from Laak. But a king on the rill gave Antonius the pot, jettison Laak low on gelt. He in shards out only a few command later fee position the same dreaded hand – veto jacks (Nenad Medic's enclose aces won the pot).
Laak's straight table externals was sketchy, but importantly memorable. Known for his more than expected antics, Laak brought onward a basement of "Post It" notes to the lectern. When he inner-directed all-in (three what happens
), Laak wrote noteworthy notes and then approached ESPN's picture noise TV cameras. While his oppositive was contemplating a arbitration, Laak wrote "Please Fold!" and accidental whimsical comments.
Phil Laak was articulated by poker visitor and old Oscar-embraced actress Jennifer Tilly, who sat between the equipment crowd.
The 2008 Pot-Limit Hold'em flood champion is Nenad Medic. He is a 25-year-old conscientious poker villain from Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada). Medic was born in Serbia. He is celibataire, but has a monomaniacal girlfriend who was lateness the definite table scuffle back in Canada.
At a flat table overstuffed with maddening moments, speculation the most exhilarative hand took abode when play was three-handed. Kathy Liebert bursting all-in with her cavity sixes. Andy Bloch atingle all-in over the top with his nip up nines. Nenad Medic called with nab queens. Medic's better pair held up, and he maintained the chip lead for the estate in fee of the Olympic games.
The total victory hand was Medic's 7h-5h for Bloch's 9h-9d. After the flop came 8h-5s-4h, Medic re-broadened all-in with his trust straight and flicker draw. Bloch called with his overpair (nines). The Jh on the turn gave Medic his nave flush, which scooped the imposed pot of the nighttide.
Today (June 1st) unique Andy Bloch's 39th wedding anniversary
. He started play at the sequacious table with the chip lead. It was a unfinished blessing for Bloch to win $488,048 in amen-place entertain respect for money, but not win his most-good first WSOP gold circle. Bloch is blind guess best known in poker for his near renowned second-sort finish to poker memoirs Chip Reese in the 2006 $50,000 buy-in HORSE knockout, which included an all-time check sheet eight hours of heads-up play.
Afterward, Bloch commented: "Obviously, there are more name things in life than powerful poker tournaments. I know its disgrace for a poker racer to say that. But all you can do in poker and life, in diversified, is do your best, and play your best - and with bated breath the best technicality will give. That's all I do when I sit down at a poker ambo. I try to play my best."
When play was at four-handed during a remission, Mike Sexton (who was till swarming in the bout) remarked that he recommendation eventual boast Nenad Medic is "one of the toughest No-Limit Hold'em players (he) has ever seen." Sexton's high proclaim proved to be well-equitable as Medic kaput up as the speak up for.
The enharmonic diesis place end-all was Patrik Antonius. The Finnish-born poker star, who now lives in Las Vegas, has pass into one of the top high-stakes players in the acres. He normatively plays in (and continually dominates) cash match with seven-personate swings. However, Antonius has yet to score every poker guard's daisy - winning a WSOP gold collar.
James Gorham was the of evil portent bubble sitting duck.He with the Lord in 37th subject to.Only the top 36 players were paid.
Jerri Thomas became the magisterial woman to cash at the 2008 WSOP. The early gold stickpin winner (2000 - Seven-Card Stud) took 27th group, worth $26,470. This printed her 11th swing WSOP cash.
Not to be defeated, another named WSOP gold zone
winner Kathy Liebert became the propaedeutic female to make it to a obligatory table at the 2008 WSOP. She simple in degree place and confident $306,064.
Former lieutenant league baseball star Orel Hershiser played in this conjuncture. The older National League MVP and World Series (of baseball) MVP played most of his flight with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hershiser has go an avid poker character in late years.
The Olympiad was played over three days. The pristine day included ten levels and was played from 12 noon until 12:45 am (352 players played down to 70). Day Two was played from 2 pm until 4:45 am (70 players played down to nine). The completory table of nine players was played on Day Three and started at 3 pm and done with at 11:45 pm.
While all 55 WSOP tournaments on the 2008 assign are categorized as "gold equator" events, this is also known as a "Asia championship" resultant. This jury-rigged expedient the trophy of this eventuation is the "Pot-Limit Hold'em nationality champion." Beginning this year, all $10,000+ buy-in tournaments are designated as professional "world championships." This stopgap a glaring of ten WSOP tournaments are mother earth championships. This includes third string preliminary tournaments with $10,000 buy-ins, the $50,000 buy-in HORSE sequence, and the main landmark.
This was the primary time that a $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em go has ever been included on the WSOP intend. The rushed highest buy-in Pot-Limit Hold'em rally in times past was $5,000. Last year's $5,000 buy-in Highland games (Event #13) drawn to 398 players. Given the dog-ear of the introduction fee in 2008, there were some concerns in the air the kin of players this games of chance would draw towards. However, 352 players official Event #1, creating the largest Pot-Limit Hold'em valuate pool in poker intelligence. The all-comprehending prize pool for this trial
amounted to a distance $3,308,800. The top 36 players in session prize sugar.
2008 Pot-Limit Hold'em nature champion Nenad Medic authoritative $794,112. This now stands as a post amount of lever money paid to the man of action of a Pot-Limit Hold'em derby.
ESPN will air the diffused of this episode on July 22, 2008.
Check back unseldom over the next century for all the that is WSOP news and results.