Event 18 - $5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw w/ Rebuys | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-11-2008 15:15 UTC-7

Lindgren Draws First Blood

[user75032]

On the first hand of the day, Erick Lindgren raised from the button to 30,000. Tony G called out of the big blind and drew two. Lindgren stood pat.

After the draw, Tony G checked it over to Lindgren, who fired out a bet of 45,000. Tony G went into the tank for over a minute, staring at Lindgren and trying to get a read off of him. Lindgren was stone-faced, and eventually Tony G laid down his hand.

Tags: Erick Lindgren Tony G

Level: 16

Blinds: 5,000/10,000

Ante: 3,000

06-11-2008 15:09 UTC-7

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user40108]

With 24 minutes remaining in level 16 and the button starting in seat 4, play is officially underway.

06-11-2008 15:06 UTC-7

Slight Delay

[user75032]

Play should be underway in a few minutes. There was a long discussion between executives from the Rio, Bluff magazine and ESPN as to whether the final table should be moved into the Milwaukee's Best Light No-Limit Lounge and be broadcast on ESPN360. There apparently was an insurance issue with moving the final table into the lounge and so, for now, players have taken their seats at a table just outside the lounge. Nolan Dalla was overheard saying that if the issue can be resolved during the course of play today, we will move into the lounge.

As to be expected for such a star-studded final table, the rail is full of spectators.

Tags: Final Table

06-11-2008 15:03 UTC-7

Final Table Bios: Seat 1, Jeffrey Lisandro (461,000)

[user40108]

Despite a reputation as primarily a cash game specialist, Jeffrey Lisandro has an impressive tournament poker resume as well. He learned how to play poker at the age of five and has been dominating games ever since. The proud owner of one World Series of Poker bracelet as well as 21 other cashes at the series, Lisandro has over $2.8 million in career tournament earnings. His most recent cash was just a few days ago right here at the WSOP where he finished 16th in the $ 2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo event. Lisandro’s biggest cash to date came in 2006 when he finished 17th in the WSOP Main Event.

Born in Perth, Australisa, Jeffrey has one daughter and currently resides in Salerno, Italy. Lisandro starts the day with 461,000 chips and will take seat 1.

06-11-2008 15:02 UTC-7

Final Table Bios: Seat 2, Mike Matusow (520,000)

[user40108]

Born in Los Angeles, CA, but currently residing in Henderson Nevada, Mike Matusow lays claim to two WSOP bracelets. The 40-year-old has 21 WSOP cashes and dozens of other notable finishes. With earnings totaling just over $6 million in his career, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow is a generally feared opponent in any game he sits in. Currently 24th on the all-time money list, Matusow has two $1 million cashes to his name. He made the final table of the 2005 WSOP main event, finishing in 9th place, then a few months later, bested 35 of the game’s greatest at the Tournament of Champions. This will be Mike’s first cash of this year’s WSOP. Despite a history of well-documented personal issues, Matusow has been working hard to transform himself. He recently lost 60 pounds in a prop bet with Ted Forrest, and is effectively controlling what he calls his patented “blow-ups.” In seat 2, Matusow starts this final table with 520,000 chips.

06-11-2008 15:01 UTC-7

Final Table Bios: Seat 3, Tom Schneider (162,000)

[user40108]

To the casual poker fan, Tom Schneider might be the least recognizable player in this field of greats. In any other lineup, that would likely not be the case. The generally quiet and well mannered Schneider has not yet marketed himself as a "poker personality," but instead lets his results do the talking for him. Schneider holds the distinct honor of winning two WSOP bracelets in the same year, an accomplishment that earned him the 2007 WSOP Player of the Year award. Despite two first-place finishes in WSOP events, Schneider’s biggest cash came when he placed 3rd in the 2006 WPT $ 5,000 Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em in Reno, NV. With over $1.3 million in career tournament earnings, the 48-year-old Phoenix, AZ native has even written a book on poker. A former C.P.A., Schneider’s non-poker background includes careers as a president and C.F.O. of multiple high-profile Arizona companies. Schneider has ten career WSOP cashes, the most recent of which was just a few days ago when he finished 64th in the $1,500 Limit Hold'em event. In seat 3, Schneider comes in as our short stack with 162,000 chips.

06-11-2008 15:01 UTC-7

Final Table Bios: Seat 4, Erick Lindgren (1,104,000)

[user75032]

31-year old Erick Lindgren is one of the winningest tournament players at today's final table, with over $6 million in career tournament earnings. He earned his first WSOP gold bracelet just a few weeks ago in the $5,000 Mixed Hold'em (Limit / No-Limit) event and has several WPT titles to his name. He is one of the name members of Team Full Tilt, a team of 11 poker professionals that are the primary owners and sponsors of online poker site Full Tilt Poker.

Lindgren is widely known for accepting a $350,000 prop bet at the 2007 World Series of Poker from Gavin Smith, Phil Ivey and a syndicate of other people. To win the bet, Erick had to play four consecutive rounds of golf at Las Vegas' "Bear's Best" golf course between sunrise and sunset. He had to carry his own bags and shoot under 100 in each of the four rounds. Temperatures reached 106 degrees during the height of the day, but Lindgren won the bet. He is our chip leader entering the final table and in prime position to win his second WSOP gold bracelet in as many weeks.

Tags: Erick Lindgren

06-11-2008 15:00 UTC-7

Final Table Bios: Seat 5, Barry Greenstein (541,000)

[user75032]

Barry Greenstein brings two WPT titles and two WSOP gold bracelets to today's final table, including one in 2004 in this very event. Sometimes called the Robin Hood of poker, Greenstein is best known for periodically donating his tournament winnings to various charities, the primary of which is Children, Incorporated, a non-profit international organization assisting children of all races and creeds, administering to their physical, emotional, and educational needs. Greenstein has a degree in computer science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and studied for a PhD in mathematics that he never completed. He was engaged in the information technology industry with Symantec before retiring at age 36 to play poker for a living. He has also written a critically acclaimed poker book, Ace on the River.

Greenstein has almost $6 million in career tournament earnings, and is remembered fondly by the poker media for dedicating his win in the 2005 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha WSOP event to Charlie Tuttle, a friend of PokerListings.com reporter Jason Kirk. Tuttle died of cancer a few days later.

Tags: Barry Greenstein

06-11-2008 15:00 UTC-7

Final Table Bios: Seat 6, Tony 'G' Guoga (394,000)

[user75032]

Tony 'G' Guoga is no stranger to WSOP success. He has cashed in nine WSOP events, most recently finishing in 32nd place in this year's Event #11 - $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout for a $16,920 payday. His poker tournament career earnings exceed $2.5 million and he has several first-place finishes to his name, including the 2007 Moscow Millions, where he cashed for over $200,000. Tony G also has several poker-related business interests, including being one of the principal owners of PokerNews.com.

Tony G is perhaps best known for employing a very jovial, verbal style of play at the poker table. That style has provoked some controversy in the past, but at the end of the day Tony G is incredibly good-natured and generous to a fault. We expect to see that humorous, verbal style and good nature on display today as Tony G vies for his first WSOP gold bracelet.

Tags: Tony G