Event 55 - $10,000 World Championship No Limit Holdem Day 1d | 2007 World Series of Poker

07-09-2007 17:43 UTC-8

Phil Hellmuth Eliminated

Phil Hellmuth was all in for 400 in the big blind. He woke up to A-Q and was in a race situation with an opponent who held {10-Clubs}

. The flop was {J-Clubs}

. The

on the turn paired Hellmuth up, but his opponent now had a club flush draw with the {10-Clubs}

in his hand. The river was the {6-Clubs}

, making his opponent's flush and eliminating Hellmuth from the Main Event.

We're sure to be hearing about that runner-runner flush for years to come on ESPN's broadcasts.

After his elimination, a barrage of cameras followed the Poker Brat out of the Amazon Room and into the hallway. As Nolan Dalla announced to the room that Hellmuth had been eliminated the entire room clapped and cheered... that he was gone.

Tags: Phil Hellmuth

07-09-2007 17:36 UTC-8

Sully Erna Listens to Godsmack -- For Work

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Sully Erna, the lead singer of Godsmack, asks another player at his table what's on his iPod. The other player passes the iPod over and says, "See for yourself."

Erna scrolls to the G's, and says, "This is crap. There's no Godsmack."

Someone then asks Erna if there is any Godsmack on *his* iPod. Erna says that there is, but he calls it "business related," and he only listens to it when he has to -- Erna, who is the primary songwriter for the band, says he doesn't want to forget the lyrics.

Tags: Sully Erna

07-09-2007 17:34 UTC-8

Sometimes You Need The Cards

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John Phan has been playing a lot of hands and on this particular one he raised to 1,100 from middle position and both the blinds called. The flop came {6-Spades}

and when Phan led out for 1,000 the small blind raised to 2,600. Phan re-popped it to 5K and the other player called. "You got me, kid," Phan said and checked in the dark. The other player also chose to check the {A-Spades}

on the turn and they also checked the {5-Diamonds}

on the river. "You either have A-9 or A-J," Phan predicted...and his opponent turned over A-9. Phan mucked and he currently sits with 35,500.

Tags: John Phan

07-09-2007 17:31 UTC-8

The Numbers You've All Been Waiting For

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After four days of Main Event play, the official numbers are in!

6,358 players entered the 2007 WSOP Main Event, creating a prizepool of $59,784,954. 621 places will be paid, and each player who cashes will be guaranteed at least $20,320. First place will win $8,250,000.

2,415 fewer players entered the Main Event in 2007 than in 2006, but this year's number is 739 higher than when Joe Hachem won it all in 2005.

07-09-2007 17:29 UTC-8

Pearljammer Up to 40K

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On a board of {A-Clubs}

, Jon Turner check-raised his opponent to put him all in. He called with two pair. Turner flipped over {6-Hearts}

for a set. His hand held up and increased his stack to 40K.

Tags: Jon Turner

07-09-2007 17:20 UTC-8

Another Player to Break 100k Is....

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..a player by the name of J.T. Santiege.

Santiege was involved in a three-way all-in. Santiege flopped a set of fours, another player flopped a set of twos, and another player was on a flush draw. The set of fours held up and Santiege is yet another of the few players of the day to break 100,000. You'll have to keep tuning in to see if he can maintain the lead and manage to avoid the 100k Day 1 curse (see Phil Ivey, Andy Black, etc).

Tags: J.T. Santiege

07-09-2007 17:20 UTC-8

Fred Goldberg Eliminated by Gavin Smith

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Gavin Smith checked, the big blind checked, Fred Goldberg pushed all-in for 1,375 and both opponents called. They checked the board of {J-Spades}

down. Goldberg showed {A-Spades}

, Smith turned over {A-Spades}

, the big blind mucked, Smith's kicker played to win the pot and Goldberg was eliminated. Smith is at 10,000

Tags: Fred Goldberg Gavin Smith

07-09-2007 17:18 UTC-8

Two Crashes in Two Days?

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Phil Hellmuth may be headed for his second crash in as many days. He's down to only 1,400 in chips.

Tags: Phil Hellmuth

07-09-2007 17:17 UTC-8

David Chiu Doubles Up

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David Chiu's stack was whittled back down to 3,600 when he got involved in this hand. Chiu limped in for 400, an opponent raised to 2,000 and Chiu called, leaving himself 1,200 behind. Before the flop could be dealt, Chiu's opponent declared himself all in for 15,000. The flop came down {K-Hearts}

. Chiu called the all in and showed {K-Diamonds}

while his opponent tabled 7-7. The turn was the {3-Clubs}

, the river was the {J-Clubs}

, and Chiu doubled up to 8,300.

"You're gonna go from a chip and a chair to chip leader!" quipped one of his tablemates.

"Don't be surprised, I've done it before," replied Chiu.

Tags: David Chiu

07-09-2007 17:15 UTC-8

Gavin Smith Doubles Up

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After a flop of 5-4-3, Gavin Smith moves all in with A-5 (top pair, gutshot straight draw), and his opponent calls with 8-8 (overpair).

The turn card is a 2, and Smith takes the lead with a five-high straight. His opponent needs an ace or a six on the river to chop.

The last card is a 9, and Gavin wins the pot to double up to 25,000 in chips.

Tags: Gavin Smith