Event 1 - $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em World Championship | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-01-2008 15:09 UTC-7

Final Table Bios: Seat 9, Kathy Liebert (285,000)

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Kathy Liebert has made a living playing tournament poker for well over a decade and is #1 on the all-time women's money list, with over $4.4 million in earnings. She won her first WSOP bracelet in 2004 in the $1,500 limit hold'em shootout after coming in second in two previous tries. With 23 WSOP cashes, this is Liebert's seventh final table at the World Series. She is also one of the most successful women on the World Poker Tour with three televised final tables.

Tags: Kathy Liebert

06-01-2008 15:14 UTC-7

Money Money Money

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Every player at today’s final table has a lengthy list of major cashes on their resume. Still, there’s something about a neon-lit table piled high with bricks that catches even the most jaded eye.

Mike Sexton was chatting with World Series Media Director Nolan Dalla and said that he thinks this might be the first final table in history where four players have won a million dollars in a single poker tournament. He won a million in the 2006 Tournament of Champions, Kathy Liebert won the Party Poker Million in 2002, Nenad Medic won the WPT World Poker Finals in 2006 and Andy Bloch won over a million when he finished second in the 2006 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event.

“Think about that,” Sexton said, “four players winning a million in a single tournament, and today first prize is $800,000.”

Dalla pointed at the pile of cash just a few feet away and said, “So this is no big deal…” and Sexton laughed and said, “Now, I didn’t say that!”

Tags: Andy Bloch Kathy Liebert Mike Sexton Nenad Medic

06-01-2008 15:24 UTC-7

Bad Karma!!

[user37786]

Phil Laak walked past the pile of cash and, being Phil Laak, picked up three of the bundles and started juggling them as camera shutters clattered away. Mike Sexton said, "I can do that too," but tournament officials came by to politely discourage using the prize money as props.

Kathy Liebert walked past and gingerly touched a few of the bricks, leading to a question--isn't it bad luck to touch the cash (or, heaven forbid, the bracelet) before play begins? Not sure about the karmic rules about touching money before you've won it, but we'll see how this affects Laak's, Sexton's and Liebert's fortunes today.

Tags: Kathy Liebert Mike Sexton Phil Laak

Level: 21

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 0

06-01-2008 15:30 UTC-7

Shuffle Up and Deal!!

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The fans are in their seats, the lights and cameras are just so, the players have been introduced, and so it's time to shuffle up and deal!

06-01-2008 15:32 UTC-7

Hand #1 - Patrik Antonius Doubles Through Phil Laak

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Chris Bell had the button in Seat 2. Phil Laak opened the pot for 90,000, Patrik Antonius moved all in for 230,000 and Laak called.

Laak {J-Spades}

Antonius

The flop was {A-Diamonds}

, the crowd erupting in cheers as Laak spiked a set. The turn was the {10-Hearts}

, opening the door for Antonius with a straight draw. The river was the {K-Diamonds}

and the crowd erupted again as Antonius caught his miracle card on the river.

After the hand, Laak was down to 195,000 while Antonius doubled up to 460,000.

Tags: Patrik Antonius

06-01-2008 15:33 UTC-7

Hand #2 - Mike Sowers

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Amit Makhija had the button in Seat 3. Mike Sowers raised to 80,000 and Andy Bloch called from the big blind. The flop was {K-Spades}

. Sowers led for 105,000, Bloch folded, and Sowers won the pot.

06-01-2008 15:36 UTC-7

Hand #3 - Amit Makhija

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Patrik Antonius had the button in Seat 4. Amit Makhija raised to 80,000 and won the blinds and antes.

06-01-2008 15:36 UTC-7

Hand #4 - Mike Sowers

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Andy Bloch had the button in Seat 5. Mike Sowers raised to 80,000 and won the blinds and antes.

06-01-2008 15:38 UTC-7

Watching Is Harder Than Playing

[user37786]

Phil Laak's girlfriend, Jennifer Tilly, is in the audience, and when that king fell on the river she looked positively stricken. While Phil took the beat with his customary ebullience, Tilly sat shaking her head in disbelief. Sometimes sitting in the bleachers is harder on the nerves than playing.

Tags: Phil Laak