2009 World Series of Poker

Event 57 - $10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold'em
Day: 1b
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker

Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
6,494
Players Left
9
Next Payout
Place 9
$1,263,602
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
120,000 / 240,000
Ante
30,000

Blind Raises Lead to Jannick Wrang-ling Some Chips

"All in and a call..." cried the dealer.

Those words are not announced often this early in a tournament and when it does happen, there's a flurry of interest in what is happening.

What had occurred was this; on table 79 the player UTG had blind min-raised and the UTG+1, Danish player Jannick Wrang, had blind min-reraised while being lucky enough to pick up {A-Hearts} {A-Clubs}.

With another player in late position picking up {Q-?} {Q-?}, the two took a flop heads-up. The pot was sizeable enough that both players got their remaining chips in on a {10-Clubs} {7-Diamonds} {4-Spades} board.

Wrang's aces held on the {3-Clubs} turn and {5-Hearts} river, which bumped him to a stack of about 60,000.

We are not sure how much more blind raising he will be doing from now on though.

Vroomin' Vrooman

Former light middleweight world boxing champ Ronald Lamont "Winky" Wright is here, taking his shot playing in a different sort of ring.

Just now Wright opened with a raise to 300 from under the gun, and it folded to Allan Vrooman who reraised to 800 from the cutoff. The big blind called, as did Wright.

The flop came {6-Clubs}{K-Spades}{4-Hearts}. It checked to Vrooman who bet 1,250, and both opponents called. All three checked the {4-Spades} turn.

The river brought the {9-Clubs}, and this time the big blind pushed out 5,500. Wright got out of the way, and Vrooman called. Vrooman tabled pocket queens, and his opponent 7-6 -- both black suits (the dealer scooped up the cards quickly). Vrooman is at 40,000.

Tags: Allan VroomanWinky Wright

Dragon Fires the Whole Way

With 950 in the pot, David 'The Dragon' Pham lead out for 600 on a {A-Clubs} {K-Clubs} {9-Spades} flop with Justin Young calling. On the {9-Hearts} turn, Pham bet 1,200 and again Young made the call as the pot began to get fairly sizable.

The river was the {J-Hearts} and Pham now bet 3,000, Young called for the third time and Pham showed {A-Spades} {K-Diamonds} for top two pair. Young flashed the {A-Diamonds} and said, "Good hand, sir."

Pham is up to 35,500.

Don't Fear the Deeb-er

Shaun Deeb raised to 250 in early position and then called a reraise to 950 to see an {8-Hearts} {6-Spades} {4-Diamonds} flop.

Deeb check-called a 1,100 pop from his opponent to see a {6-Diamonds} turn, which they both checked. Come the {Q-Diamonds} river, Deeb bet out for 1,775 and his opponent called -- but mucked to Deeb's pocket {9-Clubs} {9-Hearts}.

The Deebster's up to a comfortably above-average 40,000.

Tags: Shaun Deeb

Standing Out

Some people enjoy standing out at the World Series of Poker. Oftentimes, silly outfits or costumes are seen scattered around the Amazon room and this year is no different. David Icke is over at the end of the blue section at table #41. He's wearing an Eeyore hat that is equipped with blue ears and a little patch of hair between the ears.

When the ESPN cameras stopped by, Icke chimed in so the entire world could know the new rule he has put in place at his table. "If you play like a donkey and win, you have to wear the hat. You'll have to wear it for one full orbit as a penalty."

The entire table couldn't help but laugh as Icke described the rule, although we're not too sure everyone's going to oblige.

A few moments later, Icke took off the hat and offered, "Donkey ears available. Does anyone want to wear the donkey ears?"

"You wear them too well," chimed in one of the other players at the table.

Over on Mike Caro's table, Bobby Willis is seated next to Caro wearing a bright orange Denver Broncos jersey. The player's name on the jersey is Jay Cutler, but Willis has decided to do his own little artwork with a Sharpie marker. He's slashed out and crossed off both Cutler's name and his number. He also wrote "We sent the cry baby packing!" on the jersey.

Tags: Bobby WillisDavid Icke

Steicke Power

The hypnotic David Steicke stare, from an earlier WSOP event
The hypnotic David Steicke stare, from an earlier WSOP event
One of the more intriguing poker personalities in the game is David Steicke, who has developed a cult following in the Asia-Pacific regions.

With strong results in Asia, including a victory in the $100,000 High Rollers event at the Aussie Millions this year, Steicke has the game to win the big events.

Steicke has just arrived and taken his seat in the blue section of the Amazon Room and wasted little time in getting busy. Steicke called a raise on the turn before the river was checked down on a {J-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{2-Clubs}{J-Diamonds}{9-Spades} board. Steicke collected the pot as he tabled {A-Diamonds}{A-Spades}!

Tags: David Steicke

Great Scott

Kara Scott
Kara Scott
Poker host and columnist Kara Scott made a deep run in last year's WSOP Main Event, finishing 104th. And this spring she finished second at the 2009 Irish Open €3,200 No Limit Hold'em Main Event, netting a cool €312,600. Scott is back to try to improve on her impressive 2008 WSOP Main Event finish today.

After a player on the button opened with a raise to 750, Kara Scott reraised to 2,000 from the small blind, and her opponent made the call.

The flop came {2-Clubs}{2-Clubs}{J-Spades}, and Scott led out for 2,500. Her opponent folded his ace-queen face up.

Scott has 33,600.

Tags: Kara Scott

Caro Gets Picked Off

Mike Caro
Mike Caro
Mike Caro put in a raise to 325 from the cutoff and Rolf Slotboom called out of the small blind. The flop produced the {9-Hearts} {7-Spades} {5-Clubs}. Slotboom led with a bet of 400 and Caro flatted in position.

The turn brought the {5-Diamonds}, pairing the board. Slotboom checked and Caro fired a bet of 2,500. Slotboom made the call.

The river was the {4-Clubs} and both players wrapped up the action by checking. Caro showed {K-Diamonds} {Q-Diamonds} for simply king-high. Slotboom turned up ace-high, with {A-Spades} {Q-Clubs}, for the winning hand.

"Excellent call," complimented Caro to Slotboom. He then reached across the table and shook Slotboom's hand. The two had a brief chat and Caro explained he really meant what he said about the call, "That's all that I can do. I mean that sincerely."

Tags: Mike CaroRolf Slotboom

Film Crew Spoils Own Shot; Recovers Admirably

Excellent recovery by the film crew that, while filming an interesting hand, managed to ruin their own shot by knocking the table number down with a boom mic. Rather than abandoning the shot, they proceeded to film the good Samaritan who got up to tie the table number card back on to the lamp suspended above the table. That's entertainment, right there.