2011 World Series of Poker

Event #58: $10,000 Main Event
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
ak
Prize
$8,715,638
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$64,531,000
Entries
6,865
Level Info
Level
43
Blinds
1,200,000 / 2,400,000
Ante
300,000

Selbst Stacked, Alexander on the Ascent

Level 4 : 150/300, 25 ante
Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst

We came upon this one on the flop. A small pot had developed involving three players -- the small blind, Vanessa Selbst sitting UTG+1, and Jason Alexander in middle position.

The flop came {7-Spades}{3-Hearts}{2-Clubs}, and the player in the small blind checked. Selbst fired 1,300, then Alexander raised to 2,900. The third player stepped aside, and Selbst waited about a half-minute before declaring she was all in. A count of her chips showed the push was for 18,625 total.

Alexander paused a few seconds, then quietly said "I call." He turned over {2-Diamonds}{2-Spades} for a set of deuces, at the sight of which Selbst said "I'm dead." She turned over her {7-Hearts}{6-Hearts}. Two cards later -- the {9-Spades} and the {Q-Spades} -- Selbst was out.

Alexander was enjoying a massage during that hand which has now completed. He certainly appears relaxed. And sitting behind a stack of about 105,000 at this point can only add to his comfort level.

Tags: Jason AlexanderVanessa Selbst

897 Players

Level 4 : 150/300, 25 ante

It's official: 897 players started Day 1a. And as of now -- about 15 minutes into Level 4 -- 702 of them are still with chips.

Pezzin Pushes Player Out

We only caught up with the action on the river of a {10-Hearts}{9-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{3-Spades}{6-Clubs} board with what looked like just over 24,000 in the pot. The big blind checked to Pat Pezzin who was under the gun and bet 7,100. The big blind laid his hand down as Pezzin chipped up.

Player Chips Progress
Pat Pezzin ca
Pat Pezzin
51,800
7,800
7,800

Tags: Pat Pezzin

Lodden Bets and Bets

Johnny raised to 625 in early position and was called by the cutoff as the two saw a {K-Spades}{7-Hearts}{2-Clubs} flop roll out. Lodden led for 875 and his opponent called. When the {8-Hearts} hit the turn, Lodden bet again, this time for 2,650. The opponent folded and Lodden’s big stack continued to grow.

Player Chips Progress
Johnny Lodden no
Johnny Lodden
109,000
19,000
19,000

Tags: Johnny Lodden

Snow White and the Seven Hundred Poker Players

Level 4 : 150/300, 25 ante
The man in red
The man in red

The Main Event provides an annual challenge to players to negotiate their way through thousands of opponents through a uniquely deep structure in order to make their fortune -- and, perhaps, a bit of fame as well. For some players, the Main Event also provides a challenge to prove themselves fashion-wise, too.

Among the 700 or so players still with chips, we're looking at room full of the usual baseball caps, sunglasses, hoodies, and cowboy hats. But there are few players standing out from the field as we pass through the tables. The one wearing a red velvet robe and red top hat has caught our eye more than once. As has the fellow donning an orange plastic crown and matching lei.

But the gentleman dressed as Snow White over in the Purple section is the current leader in terms of grabbing the most attention, if not chips.

Jackson Takes Down Big Pot, Probable Chip Lead

We just saw a huge pot get taken down by big stack Ronnie Jackson that gave him the likely chip lead of the day thus far.

A middle position player raised it up to 900 preflop and Jackson from the cutoff re-raised to 2,600. The button player called as did the middle position player.

The flop came down {8-Hearts}{10-Spades}{a-Spades} and the middle position player checked to Jackson who bet 7,000. Both players called and saw the turn {8-Clubs} Again the middle position player checked to Jackson who this time bet 15,000. The button folded and the middle position player tanked for a few minutes before finally making the all in call for his remaining 8,000.

Jackson showed {10-Clubs}{10-Hearts} for a full house and the middle position player shook his head and showed {a-Hearts}{j-Hearts} for two pair. He was drawing dead to an ace which did not come on the river and he hit the rail. Jackson scooped what was clearly not his first big pot of the day and is now up to 145,000 and atop the counts as far as we know.

Player Chips Progress
145,000

Tags: Ronnie Jackson

Brikis Turns A Boat

A player in middle position raised the action to 650 and Josh Brikis made the call from the cutoff. The small blind also decided to tag along and three saw the flop come {9-Clubs}{6-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}. The small blind player checked and the preflop raiser continued out with a bet of 1,400. Brikis quickly made the call and the small blind decided to join once again.

The turn put two pair on the board, bringing the {6-Diamonds}. All three players checked the action and the {K-Hearts} rivered. Two checks went to Brikis who fired out 3,500. The small blind folded and the original raiser made the call. Josh Brikis flipped over {6-Spades}{5-Spades} causing the original bettor to shake his head and throw away his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Josh Brikis
Josh Brikis
90,000
9,000
9,000

Tags: Josh Brikis

More Chip Counts

Player Chips Progress
Kai Chang
Kai Chang
70,000
7,000
7,000
TJ Cloutier
TJ Cloutier
43,000
5,000
5,000
Matt Glantz
Matt Glantz
35,000
1,500
1,500
Annette Obrestad
Annette Obrestad
33,000
-3,475
-3,475
Vince Van Patten
Vince Van Patten
26,000
9,000
9,000
Lee Markholt
Lee Markholt
25,000
-900
-900
24,000
1,000
1,000
23,500
Billy Baxter
Billy Baxter
18,000
-3,000
-3,000
Len Ashby
Len Ashby
14,000
-2,000
-2,000
Kevin Schaffel
Kevin Schaffel
9,000
-8,200
-8,200

Lex Gets Respect

A player in middle position opened to 700 and Sammy Farha called in the hijack. The cutoff called as well and it was then on Lex Veldhuis on the button. Usually the aggressor, Veldhuis popped it to 3,500 total on cue. The initial raiser folded and Farha said, “My chance to double up”. Veldhuis responded, “Ya, I’m good at that.” Farha laid his hand down though as did the cutoff as Veldhuis won the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Lex Veldhuis nl
Lex Veldhuis
63,500
10,500
10,500

Tags: Lex Veldhuis