2008 World Series of Poker

Event 24 - $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em/Omaha
Day: 1
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kxjx8x7x
Prize
$246,471
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Entries
457
Level Info
Level
25
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0

Farha Not Laughing

Sam Farha and another player got all in on the flop with the board showing {3-Spades} {5-Spades} {4-Spades}. Farha tabled {J-Spades} {J-Clubs}, and his opponent showed down two overs and a gutshot straight draw with {A-Clubs} {Q-Diamonds}.

The turn was disastrous for Farha. The {2-Hearts} filled his opponent's straight, and made Farha the one in need of help. And he got it. The river peeled off the {6-Diamonds}, making the same straight for both players, and chopping up the pot.

After the hand, Farha said, "So sick. I never get hands like this. So sick." He would have no doubt preferred to double up, but after that turn card, hopefully he can be content with splitting the pot and staying alive.

X-22 Gets X'd Out

From mid position, Paul "X-22" Magriel limps into the pot, and John Phan checks his option from the big blind. The flop brings {10-Clubs} {9-Hearts} {6-Hearts}. Phan checks, and Magriel bets 300. John Phan raises it up, putting Magriel all in for his last 1,400 chips. Magriel makes the call, and turns over {A-Clubs} {Q-Spades}. Phan tables {10-Spades} {2-Spades}.

The turn and river blank off as far as Magriel is concerned: {5-Diamonds}, {8-Hearts}, and he goes quietly to the rail.

Level: 8

Blinds: 75/150

Ante: 0

Chan Back to Concentrating on the Cards

Now that the basketball game is over, Johnny Chan has actually been seated for several minutes running.

In his latest action, he and two opponents built a big pot preflop, and the three players saw the flop bring {8-Spades} {5-Diamonds} {4-Diamonds}. The first player to act bet the pot, 5,850, and the second opponent called. Johnny Chan also called, all in for his last 2,900.

Chan's two opponents went on to play a side pot without him, with the turn card coming the {6-Hearts}. The player with the lead bet out the maximum again, this time all in for 5,275. His opponent called having him covered, and the three men turned over their hands:

Chan: {A-Diamonds} {Q-Diamonds} {3-Clubs} {4-Clubs}
All-in Opponent: {7-Hearts} {7-Spades} {6-Diamonds} {5-Hearts}
Calling Opponent: {A-Clubs} {5-Clubs} {8-Diamonds} {9-Diamonds}

Johnny Chan spiked his flush on the river, when the {2-Diamonds} gave him the ace-high flush. He more than tripled up, and now sits at 14,600 after being down early.

So Long, Sammy

Three players come limping into this particular pot, and David Benyamine raises the action up, making it 1,000 to go. The small blind bumps it up further, re-raising to 3,500. Sammy Farha overcalls the bet from the big blind, and Benyamine makes the call as well.

The flop comes {3-Clubs} {10-Spades} {Q-Hearts}. The small blind bets out all in for 2,300, and Farha makes the call with his last 2,375. David Benyamine makes the call as well, closing the action for the rest of the hand. The turn is the {9-Diamonds} and the river is the {5-Diamonds}. The three men turn over their hands:

Small blind: {K-Spades} {K-Diamonds} {A-Clubs} {4-Hearts}
Farha: {Q-Diamonds} {8-Hearts} {5-Clubs} {4-Diamonds}
Benyamine: {A-Hearts} {K-Clubs} {J-Clubs} {J-Spades}

David Benyamine takes down a mammoth pot, and knocks out two players with his king-high straight. After the hand, he is up to 34,000 and appears to have the largest stack in the room.

Final Numbers

After registration closed following the second level, we have tallied up the total entrants. Today's field contained 457 players, and we have lost over half of them already. As the players leave for break, there are just 225 of them remaining. The payout will hit 45 players for this event, with first place taking home $246,271 plus the coveted gold bracelet.

Level: 9

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 0

Poison Ivey

Phil Ivey has decided to join our field here, just a tad under 5 hours late. He has been blinded down to 3,200 and has drawn a table with Ted Forrest, not a good combination.