Anyone watching the WSOP Poker Tournament news?

[lfairban]

They are down to 7 players from the 5,619 that started. They will play until only one player is left.

For the latest news, check out this blog.

The last big name player, Mike (the mouth) Matusow, finished 9th. As I recall, Phil Ivey finished 20th, and last years champion, Greg "Fossil Man" Raymer, finished 25th. This year, he only made $304,680. Hardly worth the trip. The last remaining woman, Tiffany Williamsen, finished 15th.

Also, check out [link:home.columbus.rr.com/lfairban/Pages/Holdem%20Start%20Odds.html|My Poker Page}.

[Droopy]

1. Thanks for the update

I was watching the 2004 WSOP the other day and the runner up in that tournament was a 23 year old guy who got 3.5 million for his effort. It made me want to take up poker.

[lfairban]

3. I think that was David Williamson,

he started buddying up with Marcell Luske, who is older and more experienced. David said he kept giving him tips on how to play various hands even though they were competing.

[Droopy]

4. How do you get into the WSOP?

Is there some entry fee that you have to come up with? Can anyone just come in off the street and get into the tournament?

[lfairban]

6. Yes, there is an entry fee.

Anyone with $10,000 can enter. I believe you must be at least 21 years of age. Last year, Mike Murphy, who was a chip leader at one point, had to show ID to the tournament director. I think he was 21 or 22 at most.

The entry fee has been the same since the start of the WSOP in the early '70s. The number of entries has climbed every year since. 10 grand isn't what it used to be.

Many of the players in the last few years gained entry through satellites. These can cost up to a hundred dollars or more. The lower the cost, the more people you must beat to get your entry. Most of them are sponsored by online poker sites. Often you win a package that includes expense money. One player I heard of this year won an entry in a freeroll, that didn't cost him anything.

[Droopy]

7. Interesting. Thanks for the info.

[Doctor_J]

2. I checked in yesterday

saw fossilman was still in the running - a double would've been a miracle.

I'm glad Matusow is done. He's a first-class turd.

[lfairban]

5. About Matusow . . .

. . . you might as well fault a tree for being a tree. It won't change the tree one bit.

Last night, he called a short stack All-In with a 7-2 off suit, and said, "I gotta quit reading Helmuth's book."

The play drug on and on last night when they got down to ten players. They would stop for the night when they got down to nine, just enough for the final table. The nine would achieve instant notoriety, and at least $400,000 more in prize money. Matusow who had the high stack said, "I am going to raise $250,000 every hand until you loosen your tight a---- up."

[lfairban]

8. Bergsdorf is out 7th, receives $1.3 million

Went All-In and was beat by a full house by Tex Barch with pocket 10s.

And then there were six.

They are now playing for $250,000 per chair until they get to the final 3. Sixth place pays $1.5 M, and 5th, $1.75 M, 4th $2M.

[Droopy]

9. What I wouldn't do to have that kind of money.

[lfairban]

10. Scott Lazar is out in 6th place.

Down to 5.

[lfairban]

11. Another good blog.

http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/

and a chance to fix the link for My Poker Page.

[lfairban]

12. You may not have heard of these guys, but you will.

Seat 1 Joseph Hachem 4.3mm
Seat 2 Andrew Black 11.0mm
Seat 3 Tex Barch 14.7mm
Seat 6 Aaron Kanter 17.6mm
Seat 8 Steve Dannenmann 8.2mm

Two hours ago, Andrew Black was the chip leader and in command of the table. Now he is in the middle of the pack. Hachem is holding on to the anchor spot, but has doubled his stack since dinner. Dannenmann is holding steady at forth. Aaron Kanter has surged into the lead with Tex Barch close behind in second. If this keeps up, it is going to be a long night in Vegas.

[lfairban]

13. Andrew Black out in 5th place,

gets $1.75 M.

[Fiona]

14. .... And Joseph Hachem

is the new World Champion. Well done!

[lfairban]

15. He flopped a straight to win.

Flop came 6 5 4 with two diamonds. Hatchem had called with a 7 - 3 off suit! One of the worst starting hands in all of Texas Holdem!

Steve Dannenmann with an Ace 3, had been betting that his straight draw would complete with a 2 or a 7, but the overcard Ace hit on the turn for a pair. With top pair and an open ended straight draw, he couldn't get away from the hand. The only hand that would have him clearly dominated would be the 7-8. The 2-3 he could beat with a 7. Did it occur to him that his opponent might call pre-flop with a 7-3?

Thats when Hachem put him all-in. Heads up, with his lead diminishing, he gambled on one of the worst starting hands in Holdem, and it payed off.

Not only did he flop a straight, his opponent had good starting cards, enough draws after the flop, and hit the top pair on the turn. This is a recipe for disaster when you have the second best hand.

This year's final hand was won by a combination of bold play, a healthy dose of good luck, and the skill to make the right move at every at turn, and Joe Hachem did it at 6:46 in the morning, after playing high pressure poker for SEVEN DAYS STRAIGHT.

[Fiona]

16. not a bad play at all

he had 2.5x the chips Danneman had, and he called half a small bet to see the flop.