2008 World Series of Poker

39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event
Day: 1d
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
Players Left 9 / 6,844
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Finally -- We Have Official Numbers!

"The numbers are in. They are official," said Tournament Director Jack Effel. Indeed they are. The green box that has been covering the "Entrants" portion of the tournament clock for the last four days is gone. Everyone who had an over/under bet, check your tickets.

The total number of entrants for the 2008 Main Event of the World Series of Poker is 6,844. Those players generated a prize pool of $64,333,600. That means 666 players will make the money (that number drew a murmur and some boos from those players assembled in the Amazon Room currently). 666th place will earn $21,320.

The top prize for the Main Event is $9,119,517. "Good luck to all you guys," said Effel. "We'll see one of you in November for $9 million and a gold bracelet."

"Change the World!"

When the tournament staff announced the prize pool and payouts, we just happened to be standing beside Teddy "The Iceman" Monroe. As soon as he heard, "Nine million..." he turned his head over his shoulder towards us and grinned widely.

"That's what I'm talkin' about, baby! Change the world!" he said, still beaming.

Tags: Teddy MonroeThe Iceman

The Party's Ending

The fun, laid-back atmosphere of the Main Event near Buzio's is nearly at an end, as the tables are breaking rapidly. Everyone, including three brothers, two twins, two girlfriends and one diehard Philly resident, will move into the more tense tournament environment in Amazon. Farewell!

Respect Your Elders

Some of the following was overhead at 95-year-old Jack Ury's table:

"Back in the day when I used to come to Vegas, there was only 20,000 to 30,000 people here."

"I used to play with Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson. I did. I've played so much with Johnny."

"Do you know what my nickname used to be? 'Snake-bit,' 'cause whenever I lose, I only lose on the river."

Tags: Jack Ury

Mortensen Flushed With Success

Carlos Mortensen
Carlos Mortensen
Carlos Mortensen raised it up to 900 preflop from early position before Matt Mezdinsky made it 3,100 to go from the small blind. Mortensen made the call.

They took a flop of {Q-Clubs}{J-Clubs}{8-Clubs} and Mezdinsky led out for 5,100 with Mortensen making the call. The turn brought the {A-Clubs} and this time Mezdinsky checked it over to Mortensen who fired out 11,000. Mezdinsky made the call.

The river paired the board with the {8-Spades} slowing down both players as they checked their hands. Mortensen showed a surprising {K-Clubs}{6-Clubs} for the flopped flush to jump up to 72,000 while Mezdinsky slipped to 58,000.

Tags: Carlos Mortensen

Matthew Cohen Eliminated

Matthew Cohen opened for a raise, Cary Anderson reraised, Cohen three-bet all in and Anderson called.

Cohen {A-Clubs} {Q-Hearts}

Anderson {A-Spades} {A-Hearts}

The board ran out {K-Hearts} {K-Clubs} {9-Hearts} {6-Clubs} {4-Diamonds} and Cohen was eliminated. Anderson is now up to 39,000.

Tilly Busted

Jennifer Tilly's tournament day is over. She was all in against Jimmy Burgess with {A-Clubs} {K-Clubs}. Burgess had pocket tens, which proved victorious when the board ran out nine-high.

Cigar Smokin'

Paul "Cigar" McKinney is here today. McKinney won a bracelet in the 2005 WSOP Seniors event. He also made the final table of the WSOP Main Event back in 1998, finishing 9th. He's 83 years young.

McKinney was just involved in a big hand when he went all in preflop with {9-Diamonds}{9-Clubs} and was up against a player holding {A-Hearts}{Q-Hearts}.

The board ran out {9-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}{7-Hearts}. When that heart came on the river, McKinney's opponent saw he'd made his flush and mistakenly reacted as though he'd won. McKinney's turned full house though had him beat. McKinney is now up to 37,000.

Incidentally, on his WSOP bio sheet McKinney lists his hobbies as "moonshine, cigars and young women."

Tags: Paul McKinney

Ramdin Jacks Himself to the Top

A player in middle position raised the action to 900. The small blind called. Victor Ramdin called in the big blind. Another player that had limped from under the gun called as well.

The flop came down {10-Spades} {7-Diamonds} {2-Clubs}. The small blind checked, as did Ramdin. The next player that had limped under the gun made a bet of 3,000. The preflop raiser folded and then the small blind moved all in. The amount was around 12,000. Ramdin then grabbed all of his orange chips and stuck them out for a reraise to 40,000. The player that bet the 3,000 folded and it would be Ramdin and the small blind heads up.

Ramdin turned over pocket jacks, {J-Spades} {J-Clubs}, to his opponent's {A-Clubs} {10-Clubs}.

The turn came the {5-Diamonds} and then the river landed the {5-Clubs}. Ramdin had the best hand and scooped the entire pot to move to 107,000 chips.

After that hand, Ramdin asked the player that he had just busted if he wanted to exchange phone numbers. They did so and then the player shook hands with Victor and went on his way.

Tags: Victor Ramdin