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

Diamonds, WSOP POYs, Don't Deter

A player in the hijack seat raised to 325, the cutoff called, and 2007 WSOP Player of the Year Tom Schneider also called from the button.

The flop came single-suited -- {9-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}. The original raiser bet 550, the player in the cutoff folded, and Schneider called. The turn was the {J-Hearts}. Schneider's opponent reached for chips, then stopped. He thought a moment and checked. Schneider bet 1,650, and his opponent called.

The river was the {3-Spades} and the player in the hijack seat immediately checked. Schneider considered for a bit, then checked as well.

Schneider's opponent showed {9-Clubs}{2-Clubs} for nines and treys. Schneider studied the board for a moment, then mucked. He's currently at 18,000.

Tags: Tom Schneider

The Ying and The Yang

Jerry Yang
Jerry Yang
With three limpers in the pot Jerry Yang completed from the small blind and the big blind checked his option.

They took a flop of {2-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds} and the action checked to a middle-position player who led out for 400. Sebastien Moreau was considering his options on the button, when Jerry Yang verbally declared "call" -- acting out of turn from the small blind.

Moreau then decided to raise, making it 1,500 to go, and since the action had changed in front of him, Yang was allowed to take back his call and had all options available to act on his hand. Incredibly, he stood and kissed the photo of his children before declaring "OK, gentlemen, the champ is all in!" -- a bet of 6,475 in total.

The action then folded around, with each player very deliberate in his decision-making as they soaked up their 15 minutes of fame with the cameras and media all around the table. The action passed to Moreau, who instantly called and tabled {4-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds} for the flopped flush. Yang flipped over {10-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds} for a bigger flush. He may have thought he was a lock in the hand, but Moreau still had outs with his straight-flush draw.

The turn was the {10-Hearts} and river the {9-Hearts} and Yang gave the double-fist pump and high-fives to the nearby crowd, who celebrated Yang's double-up.

"When I kiss my family, I mean business," said Yang, who is now back up to 14,100 chips.

Tags: Jerry YangSebastien Moreau

Thunder to Lightning

The once very large poker player Thomas "Thunder" Keller is almost unrecognizable now. He's lost 200 pounds. We're now calling him Thomas "Lightning" Keller. Good for him!

He related this hand to us. He raised to 300 preflop and his opponent calls. The flop was {7-?}{3-?}{4-?} and he bet 500. The opponent reraised to 1,500. Keller re-popped to 5,000 and the opponent called. The turn was {2-?} and Keller shoved. His opponent called. Thomas showed {A-?}{A-?} and his opponent {K-?}{K-?}. The river was {9-?} and his opponent busted out. Thomas has 50,000 and has busted two players so far today.

Cunix Picks Off a Bluff

On a flop of {3-Diamonds} {7-Spades} {7-Clubs}, a middle-position player checked to Shawn Cunix in the cutoff, who bet out 1,500. His opponent called. The turn fell the {8-Diamonds} and action was again checked to Cunix , who bet out 3,000. Again, Cunix's opponent called. The river fell the {A-Clubs} and Cunix's opponent bet out 6,000. Cunix made the call.

Cunix showed {A-Hearts} {K-Diamonds} and his opponent showed {4-Diamonds} {5-Diamonds}. After the hand, Cunix said, "Nice river bet. I would have folded if the river didn't help my hand."

Cunix is up to 29,500 in chips.

Tags: Shawn Cunix

A Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma

A player under the gun raised to 250, then the player to his left reraised to 825. Mike Minetti called from late position. Then the original raiser re-popped it to 3,475 total. Both of his opponents called.

The flop came {J-Clubs}{3-Clubs}{3-Spades}. The player under the gun promptly bet 18,000, leaving himself only a few green (25) and blue (100) chips behind. The player to his left thought for two minutes, then folded, as did Minetti. The under-the-gun player rechecked his cards, then showed only the {6-Clubs} before dragging the pot.

Minetti currently has 14,500.

Tags: Mike Minnetti

Paul Wolfe Eliminated

Paul Wolfe
Paul Wolfe
Paul Wolfe was eliminated after pushing in his remaining 1,600 with {A-Hearts} {J-Spades}. He was called by an opponent holding {5-Spades} {3-Spades}. The flop of {8-Diamonds} {6-Spades} {5-Hearts} looked awful for Wolfe. He found some hope in the {J-Diamonds} on the turn, but it was squashed when the {3-Hearts} landed on the river.

Tags: Paul Wolfe

Canseco Hitting Hard

Rob Dunbar limped from early position and then Jose Canseco raised to 500. The big blind called as well as Dunbar. The flop came down {10-Diamonds} {8-Spades} {4-Clubs} and the action checked around.

The turn was the {3-Hearts}. The big blind bet 500 and then Dunbar raised to 1,500. Canseco exercised some muscle and reraised to 5,000. It might have been too much as both the other players folded.

"I didn't hit a set that time," said Dunbar.

"I think I did," replied Canseco as he rolled over two tens to show the table.

Canseco is up to 28,300.

Tags: Jose CansecoRob Dunbar

Orange Out Ovarian

Another feel-good story in the Blue Section is that of David Spencer, a player dressed in an orange shirt and orange hat at Blue #23. Spencer has pledged to donate 100% of all money he makes during the World Series to ovarian cancer research. Spencer's own family was touched by the disease when his mother-in-law, Nancy Blumer, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 64.

Letting Off Steam

This year's WSOP saw a small rule change that permitted players to use profanity in moderation, provided it wasn't directed at another player, dealer, or member of the staff. Despite this relaxation in the rules, the floor persons have been enforcing the hostile profanity penalty very strictly.

"Floor, Green 13!" yelled a dealer near us. By the time the man in the suit arrived at the table, one of the players was already storming out of the room. The dealer proceeded to inform the floor person that the absent player had berated him, screaming, "What the f*ck are you doing?!"

The dealer said, "It didn't offend me, he is just steaming." He'll have a little time to cool down, as the floor staff gave instructions that the offender not be dealt in for one full round.

Tim Vance Eliminated

Tim vance - event #46
Tim vance - event #46
Tim Vance raised to 325 from middle position and Ray Henson called from the button. The flop came down {Q-Spades} {J-Hearts} {10-Clubs}. Vance checked and Henson bet out 500. Vance called.

The turn was the {4-Hearts} and Vance checked again. Henson bet 1,200 and Vance raised it up to 4,000. Henson just called.

The river was the {2-Hearts} and Vance checked. Henson tossed a stack out in the middle that was enough to put Vance all in, about 14,000. Vance made the call.

Henson showed him {A-Hearts} {3-Hearts} for the nut flush. Vance had flopped the straight with {A-Spades} {K-Clubs}.

"F***ing moron," said Vance as he tossed his cards across the table. "It was a pleasure playing with you all, it's been like that the whole Series. Nice hand, sir."

Tags: Ray HensonTim Vance