2008 World Series of Poker

39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker

Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
6,844
Players Left
9
Next Payout
Place 9
$900,670
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
120,000 / 240,000
Ante
30,000

Was It Worth It?

We recently had an interesting hand involving Simon "The Bubble" Zach in which before the flop there was a raise, a reraise, a third bet, then a fourth bet.

Zach and his opponent made it to the turn with the board showing Q-8-2-2. Zach bet out, and his opponent folded.

"I'll give you $100 if you show me your hand," his opponent said as he folded.

"Make it $200," said Zach.

"I don't have $200," came the reply. But after a quick wallet check he discovered that yes, in fact, he had right at $200.

He paid the required sum, and Zach showed him J-9.

Tags: Simon Zach

Jonas Helness Gets His Aces Cracked

In a blind-vs-blind battle, Jonas Helness called the small blind's all-in on a flop of {Q-Clubs}{9-Hearts}{6-Hearts}. Helness turned up {A-Diamonds}{A-Clubs} and had to fade the small blind's flush draw with the {4-Hearts}{5-Hearts}. The turn was the {3-Clubs}, giving the small blind more outs with an open-ended straight draw and the {2-Diamonds} on the river filled it. A very irritated Helness was down to 21,000 after the hand.

Tags: Jonas Helness

Some Boards Just Get Worse and Worse

A player in middle position raised to 1,700 before Dale Sing reraised to 3,200 from the small blind. The call was made and the flop came {9-Spades}{10-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}.

Sing bet out for 3,000 and called the raise to 14,100 by his opponent. The turn came {9-Clubs} and once again Sing led out , this time for 10,000 and once again he faced a raise. It was to 30,000 and Sing called it.

The river came {J-Spades} and Sing bet his last 15,000 and reluctantly his opponent folded. When you're beat you're beat, no matter what odds you're getting to call.

Sing up to 107,400 now.

Tags: Dale Sing

Vicintini Pacifies Opponents

Earlier on today we mentioned the wide range of cards protectors in use at this year's WSOP but we recently noticed the unique card protector of Reinaldo Vicintini. He is using the old pacifier of his two-year-old daughter Alessia, to help keep his cards safe and to inspire him to play well for his loved ones back home.

At the moment Vicintini in hanging in there with about 17,000 chips.

Tags: Reinaldo Vicintini

Starting a Wave

Yan Chen
Yan Chen
Yan Chen either has the dealer's "All In" cardboard paddle or has found one of his own (there are many around the Amazon Room today), and is merrily holding it up whenever an all-in is called on another table. Or just when he's feeling good.

Which is most of the time here lately. Chen built up a big stack early and currently sits with about 83,000.

Lawson Willing to Muck A-K

Ted Lawson -- Tight is Right?
Ted Lawson -- Tight is Right?
An early-position player opened the pot for 2,300. The action was folded around to Ted Lawson in the big blind. Lawson thought...and thought...and thought for several minutes. Finally, he erupted into a fit of laughter and mucked {A-?} {K-?} face-up. The EP player raked in the pot and Lawson retained his 71,000 stack, but earned a few curious looks.

Tags: Ted Lawson

Slezak Seeking Another Deep Run

Bob Slezak, from Event #37
Bob Slezak, from Event #37
Bob Slezak has moved to amongst our chip leaders to now sit with 93,000 in chips. Bob has a liking for the WSOP Main Event as he finished 15th in this same event last year for a payday of over $400,000.

Bob is a bracelet winner from back in 1991 when he took down the $2,500 Omaha Hi-Lo event, and with one cash at this year's WSOP, will be looking for another deep run this year!

Tags: Bob Slezak

Shuffle Up and Deal!

There are 766 players remaining in Day 1a. This is the last level of the evening, and the remaining players will join the remaining players from Day 1b, on Tuesday at noon on Day 2a. Does that make sense?

Level: 5

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 50