Five years ago Richard Sklar offered President Barack Obama a free buy-in into the WSOP Main Event. He also booked some big bets on the president playing even a single hand. It was a crazy situation, but Sklar was serious when he said that if Obama did play he would personally donate $1 million to charity. It was a story that captured poker headlines, but unfortunately the president was a bit too busy to play.
Here in Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz, Sklar just played a big pot against 1986 WSOP Main Event champ Berry Johnston. We missed the action, but we arrived in time to see Johnston sweat his last card, which he needed to hit to overcome Sklar's J-7-6-5-2 low. There was about 7,000 in the pot and Johnston was all in, meaning his tournament life depended on the next card. He had a Q-6-3-2-A low going in, and lady luck smiled upon him by delivering him a five to stay alive.
Sklar, who was crippled on the hand, fell a short time later, but we thought it'd still be worthwhile to share this throwback PokerNews video on the President Obama offer.
We didn't pick up the action until the river when Tony Cousineau told Thomas Muhlocker two simple words: "Wheel good."
Cousineau: / /
Muhlocker: (x-x) / /
Cousineau was talking about his own hand, and of course it was good as the wheel is the nuts in razz.
"I play one hand every six hours," Cousineau joked. Meanwhile, Muhlocker took stock of his remaining chips, which have dwindled since the last time we checked in with him.
Players are now on another 15-minute break. When they return they will play four more one-hour levels before bagging and tagging for the night. During this break the tournament staff will be racing off the green T25 chips.
Just prior to the 2014 WSOP, reigning razz champ Bryan Campanello took down the WSOP Circuit Harrah's New Orleans and then made a deep run in the National Championship. How does he feel about his momentum? Does he consider himself a razz expert now? Find out in the latest PokerNews Impromptu.
Phil Ivey jumped into this tournament last level, and things didn't get off to a good start for the nine-time bracelet winner as he lost nearly half his stack. Fortunately for him, he just got them back.
After a player brought it in, Ron "Schifty" Schiffman completed for 400 and a short-stacked Ivey raised to 800. Action folded back to Schiffman and he debated what to do.
"This is your chance," Ivey joked. Schiffman, with whom he was familiar, opted just to call and then bet when he took the lead on fourth. Ivey called and then bet 800, leaving himself just 200 behind, when he took the lead on fifth. Schiffman called, and then Ivey smiled and checked sixth. Schiffman chuckled and then bet the last 200. Ivey called.
Ivey: / /
Schiffman: / /
"Oh shit, I thought I had deuce-three," Schiffman proclaimed when the cards were turned up. Both players actually held two pair, but Ivey was ahead. Seventh street gave Ivey a ten-nine low, and it was good as Schiffman triple paired.
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