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

Early Sickness

Scott Lazar raised to 300 from middle position before a player in the cutoff reraised to 800. Gary Germann called from the button, as did Lazar before the flop came {2-?} {4-?} {7-?}.

It was checked to the cutoff player, who bet 2,200. Germann called before Lazar raised it up 5,000. Both opponents called. The turn came {A-?}, prompting Lazar to bet 8,000 and the only player still interested was Germann, who moved all in. Lazar snap-called with {2-?} {2-?} for a flopped set. He was very unlucky, though, as Germann had {A-?} {A-?} for a turned bigger set.

The river came blank, meaning Germann scooped a big pot for this stage. Lazar is down to just 1,050 and looks over at Germann's 44,000 stack, thinking of what might have been.

Tags: Scott Lazar

Kenna Show You a King?

On a flop of {Q-Diamonds} {10-Diamonds} {6-Clubs}, a player moved all in against Stephen Kenna. Kenna made the call. Kenna held {K-Clubs} {K-Hearts} and his opponent held {7-Diamonds} {8-Diamonds}. Kenna's opponent had a lot of potential outs, but none of them came when the {7-Spades} hit the turn and the {J-Spades} hit the river.

After the hand, Kenna moved up to 48,800.

Tags: Stephen Kenna

Bell Takes One Down

On a board reading {10-Hearts} {4-Diamonds} {2-Spades} {A-Clubs}, Duncan Bell check-called an opponent's bet of 1,700. The river was the {8-Spades} and both players checked, with Bell turning over {A-Spades} {5-Spades} and his opponent showing pocket queens.

After the hand, Bell is back up to 21,000.

Tags: Duncan Bell

Harman The Believer

Jennifer Harman, during the HORSE World Championship
Jennifer Harman, during the HORSE World Championship
Jennifer Harman opened with a raise from under the gun to 250 and the big blind made the call.

They took a flop of {10-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}, and the player in the big blind checked to Harman, who fired 500. The BB player made the call.

The turn was the {A-Spades} and both players checked. The river was the {J-Clubs} and the big blind led out for 2,500. Harman thought for a few minutes and said, "I might have the best hand."

Her opponent replied, "No, you don't!"

"OK, I believe you," said Harman as she folded her hand. Her opponent flashed the {10-Spades} as he raked in the pot to leave Harman down to 17,000.

Tags: Jennifer Harman

Guile and Cunningham

Allen Cunningham
Allen Cunningham
Allen Cunningham, who has one chance left here to win a WSOP bracelet for the fourth straight year, was just involved in a decent-sized pot. He faced a tough river decision. The board was showing {2-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{2-Spades}{7-Spades}, and his opponent had bet out 5,000 into an already sizable pot. After some thought, the five-time bracelet winner made the call.

Cunningham showed {K-Spades}{K-Hearts} for deuces full of kings. His opponent had a pair of jacks. Cunningham is up to 26,000.

Tags: Allen Cunningham

The Lucky Lotion a Minute Too Late

David Williams just couldn't get anything going today
David Williams just couldn't get anything going today
From late position, Val Newman raised to 600. David Williams called from the button. The two players saw the flop come down {K-Hearts} {9-Spades} {6-Spades} and Newman checked. Williams moved all in for his last 2,350 and Newman made the call.

Williams held {9-Diamonds} {9-Clubs} for a set and Newman had a flush draw with {Q-Spades} {10-Spades} and a gutshot straight draw.

The turn came the {7-Hearts} and Williams needed to dodge the river to stay alive and double up.

It just wouldn't be in the cards for Williams when the {8-Hearts} hit the river, completing a runner-runner straight for Newman.

Williams was eliminated from the tournament just as his mother showed up to give him his lucky lotion. A little late for that.

Tags: David WilliamsVal Newman

Forrest Fighting a Different Bout Today

Light Heavyweight Champion Forest Griffin
Light Heavyweight Champion Forest Griffin
Less than 12 hours after defeating light heavyweight Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in an upset victory at the UFC 86, mixed martial arts fighter Forrest Griffin is playing in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker.

Griffin looks quite bruised and battered from last night's bout, but has another heavyweight opponent to take on today. He's seated two seats to the right of ten-time bracelet winner Johnny Chan.

Tags: Forest Griffin

That's the Lazar of it

Scott Lazar got down to 700 chips before the last of it went in the middle. He was called by his nemesis, Gary Germann, and the other player involved in the last hand.

Lazar had the best hand with {10-?} {10-?} but Germann flopped a {K-?} to pair his {K-?} {10-?}, putting the last nail in Lazar's coffin.

Tags: Scott Lazar

It's a "Ho" Wide World That We Livin' In

Maria Ho
Maria Ho
We caught up with a hand on Blue #23 between Maria Ho and David Spencer on the turn. Ho had bet 2,500 and Spencer called, with the board showing {9-Clubs} {J-Diamonds} {Q-Diamonds} {6-Clubs}. The river was the {4-Clubs}, and both players quickly checked. Ho turned over {A-Clubs} {A-Diamonds}. Spencer nodded, said, "Pair of eights," and mucked.

Ho is up to 26,000. Spencer has about 22,000.

Fashion note: Ho is wearing a black T-shirt which says on the back, "Look for Maria's hoes." We kept our eyes out for Maria's "hoes" and spotted three of them on the rail by Blue #25. They sported off-shoulder T-shirts which read on the front, "I [heart] Maria Ho".

Gus Gets Jack'd Up

On a flop of {10-Diamonds} {9-Spades} {8-Diamonds}, Gus Hansen made it 1,125 preflop and a player from middle position called. The turn brought the {7-Spades} and Gus fired 2,450 into the middle. His opponent went into the tank, played with some chips, then decided to call. The river was the {8-Hearts} and Gus led out for 4,100. His opponent called and Gus turned over pocket jacks for a straight.

His opponent mucked and Gus is now up to 35,000.