WSOP

Whether you love or hate Phil Hellmuth you can not rebuff that he might just be the finest player in the history of the WSOP. If he is not the greatest he at least is on the short list of players that would include Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Stu Unger and Chip Reese. Phil has more bracelets has one thing on all these guys or anyone you can think of. He already shared with Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson, by winning his eleventh bracelet in 2007 Phil set the record. Phil has finished more then five million dollars at the World Series of Poker alone.

Phil’s biggest cash at the World Series of Poker is the first bracelet came in 1989 and still. In 1989 Phil won took home $755,000$ in the 10,000 No Limit Holdem Main Event. That seems like not anything compared to the fact that the Main Event winner these days can make more then $10,000,000. Although the field was no where near the size of today’s events you need to understand that in those days the Main Event was filled with top professional players. Phil was only 24 years old and his first bracelet didn’t come easy in 1989, he had to beat Johnny Chan heads up to take the title. At the time Johnny was going away for his third straight title and may have been the best poker player in the world. Phil didn’t manage to win a bracelet, but in 1992 he took home the $5000 Limit Holdem poker bracelet.

1993 was the year that Phil Hellmuth formally began the talk that he might be the best player in the poker world. He succeeded three events in 1993 including the $1500 No Limit Holdem, $2,500 No Limit Holdem and the $5,000 Limit Hold’ em. With more then $450,000 in earning and three coveted bracelets, Hellmuth walked away from the 1993 World Series of Poker. For the three years following Phil’s advance in 1993 he didn’t manage to win a single bracelet, but broke through again in 1997. Hellmuth won the $3000 Pot Limit Holdem tournament taking home more then $200,000 in 1997. Heading into 2001 Phil Hellmuth was a poker star. He had six bracelets and was looking further. He tied poker legends Chan and Brunson, winning his tenth bracelet in the $1,000 No Limit Holdem Rebuy tournament in 2006. In 2007 Phil captured his second best single tournament making at the World Series when he won over $630,000 in the $1,500 No Limit Holdem event, his record infringement eleventh bracelet.

Phil Hellmuth’s nickname when he is sitting at the poker table is “The Poker Brat”. As the World Series of Poker gained exposure on television, so did Phil Hellmuth became as popular for his tricks at the poker as he was for his outstanding play. If he thinks you made a bad play he is going to tell you about it, maybe more then once Phil is known to speak his feelings when he is at the tables. You better watch out if you are at a table with Phil and you hit an inside straight to beat his set. The public want to see him play this persona has taken Hellmuth along ways. Most because of his unpredictable attitude, although some even watch to see a great poker player in action. Unique to him and was created through years of experience “The Poker Brat” has his own style. It will be like walking on a tight rope, you never know when you are going to fall if you play like Phil. His inert and slow play opens himself up to get sucked out on, or to win pots with monster hands. Attempt it play like that and you will find you might get a little disturb from time to time at the tables to.

Texas Hold’em is Phil Hellmuth’s game, all eleven of his bracelets won playing it and has won bracelets playing Pot Limit, Limit and No Limit Hold’ em, but has never won playing a new form of poker. People who criticize Phil tend to look directly at this stat, Hellmuth has mastered hold’ em.

However Hellmuth has won eleven bracelets playing Hold’ em. “The Poker Brat” will always have his reviewers, although if you ask around the top pros in the world you find they have great respect for his game. People will hate on Phil because of his publicity, much like the way people hate on Tiger Woods in golf, but it is not reasonable. Hellmuth is still in his prime and who knows how many bracelets he will win in his life time, other than you can be assured that he will try to win them all. Over Five Million Dollars in career World Series of Poker pay, a record eleven bracelets and more then sixty cashes, Phil Hellmuth is a star at the World Series of Poker.

Don’t let her good looks and sweet smile fool you, Vanessa Rousso knows how to be aggressive when she’s in a No Limit Holdem game. Beauty, brains, and poker smarts all wrapped up in a package, Rousso is a French-American is a law student at the University of Miami and a professional poker player. She was born in White Plains, New York but spent most of her childhood in Paris, France until her parents divorced when she was nine. After the split, she and her mother moved back to the United States.

Rousso has always been an active student even back in her grade school days, participating in many extracurricular activities while keeping focus on her academic pursuits as well. She played basketball, softball, and lacross. She was also a member of the debate team, graduating valedictorian with a full scholarship grant to come study at Duke University. At Duke, she majored in Economics and took a minor in Political Science, all while juggling several extracurricular activities. In 2004, she graduated cum laude and entered law school.

Even while law school is keeping her busy, Rousso still finds time to play more live Poker and has started to cash in various circuit events. The year 2006 was her breakout year as she made the final table at the Five-Star World Poker Classics, earning her $263,625. Soon after, she signed a sponsorship deal with PokerStars.com and then had a streak of cashes before eventually winning a preliminary event at the Borgata Poker Open in September of that year where she took hom $285,450. Shortly after, she started dating fellow poker pro Chad Brown. The two are currently engaged are in the middle of making wedding plans.

After her fantastic year in 2004, Rousso went out of the Poker scene for a while. She had a 2nd place finish in a televised UPC event and other live cashes, which gave her an earning of about $90,000.

PokerStars.com sponsors the annual World Championships of Online Poker and many top pros will usually come out to take a shot at the big prize pools and online bracelets. Vanessa Rousso went on to play at the Main Event of the WCOOP where she achieved her biggest poker score to date. She made the final table, finishing 3rd for $463,940.50. Later on, however, it was discovered that the winner had violated the rules and was thus disqualified. Rousso went up a notch in the standings and her payout became $700,782.50.

Her strong finish at the WCOOP kick started Rousso’s amazing year of poker in 2008. She has had eight cashes so far this year and has made a final table at the EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final along with her first cash in the WSOP Main Event.

Vanessa Rousso’s total poker earnings reach up to a million dollars from live tournament wins. Although mainly known as a No Limit Holdem player, she has already started to branch out with much success to other variants of poker. It wouldn’t be long before we see this girl taking down a major poker title. Who knows, her first bracelet might just be around the corner.

With a total of 10 World Series of Poker bracelets under his name, Johnny Chan is undoubtedly one of the best players in WSOP history. He is just behind Phil Hellmuth by one in the total number of bracelets. Born in China, he came to the United States in 1968. Chan’s first WSOP cash was in 1983. He won his first bracelet in 1985 while his tenth was won in 2005. He still plays a full schedule with three cashes in 2008. He is popular on poker television and is considered to be one of the top 5 players in the entire World Series of Poker history.

The Main Event of the 1987 World Series of Poker Main was where Chan’s career truly started, although he already had one bracelet at that time. The final table in 1987 was full of poker’s great players such as Howard Lederer, Dan Harrington, and Mickey Appleman. But Chan proved that he was a poker player to reckon with. He beat all the top pros at the table that day and took home the title. He was up against Frank Henderson and beat him heads up to win $650 000.

In 1988, Chan again made the final table of the Main Event this time with guys like Erik Seidel, TJ Cloutier and Humberto Brenes. He again showed that he was one of the top pros in the world, besting Seidel heads up. He took home the bracelet and $700 000. In the 1989 Main Event, Chan was already the man to watch, already with back-to-back wins and three bracelets. He battled his way to be in contention for the title, and what happened was a battle that made poker history. It was Phil Hellmuth against Johnny Chan. Hellmuth took home the title, but Chan still brought home more than $300 000. After that, Chan won more bracelets and made another final table appearance in 1992.

His fourth bracelet wouldn’t be until 1994 when he won a 7 card stud tournament. His fifth was in 1997. That year, he outlasted Barry Greenstein, Steve Zolotow and Lyle Berman, winning the deuce to seven lowball bracelet. His sixth bracelet was in 2000. And in 2002, he found himself up against once more with Hellmuth in the no limit holdem heads up tournament. But this time Johnny took home the title and his seventh bracelet. His eighth and ninth bracelet were both won in 2003 in event 15 and event 24. In 2005 Chan made record with his 10th bracelet in a Pot Limit holdem tournament where he had to beat Phil Laak heads up. He had a total win of $300 000. Since then Johnny has cashed eight times. Most recently in 2008, he finished 4th in an Omaha event.

Overall Chan has 10 bracelets and cashed 41 times under his name with 27 final tables made in his 25-year career. At the World Series of Poker alone, he has already made more than $4 million. Chan is considered to be one of the most consistent poker players in poker history, having significant success playing Holdem of all limits and styles, Omaha and seven card games.

Johnny Chan is happily married and has six children. He has written two books, Play Poker like Johnny Chan and Million Dollar Holdem. He is a frequent figure on the NBC show Poker After Dark. He owns fast food franchises. He runs his own online poker site and even has plans of opening up his own casino. A business man and a legend in poker, Chan is one guy who strives for and most certainly already has success in the endeavors he has made in life.

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Event Day 1 World Series of Poker Europe – £2,500 HORSE

H.O.R.S.E. is an alternating game consisting of Limit Holdem, Limit Omaha 8 or better, limit Razz, limit 7 card stud, and limit stud 8 or better. Every game is dealt for 8 hands before switching. Top name pros participating in today’s event comprise of Roland De Wolfe, Chad Brown, Andy Black, Layne Flack, Jens Voertmann, Thor Hansen, Dave “DevilFish” Ulliott, Vanessa Rousso, Erik Seidel, Allen Cunningham, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, David Benyamine, Mike Matusow, John Juanda, Andy Bloch, John Phan, Barry Greenstein, Gus Hansen, Phil Hellmuth, and Phil Ivey. Doyle Brunson was also seen in the poker field, making his primary appearance at this WSOP Europe.

As the structure for this even seems a little fast the play progressed somewhat slow to begin with but soon picked up. Throughout a stud 8 round against Jason Newitt and Thomas Bihl. Phil Ivey led the action on fourth and fifth streets, as he took down a nice three way pot. Bihl bet out showing a board of (X-X)Jc-9s-Qd-Qc and caught a pair of queens on sixth. Ivey raised showing a board of (X-X) 6c-5s-6s-Jd and Newitt folded. Bihl checked to Ivey, who fired up out a bet. Bihl made the call as Seventh Street was dealt face down. Bihl mucked and Ivey showed 6d-5c for his down Poker cards for the full house. Ivey was around 18,000 in chips at this point in the event.

None compared to table 8 though Several tables had very strong lineups. Table 8 comprised of Doyle Brunson, Chad Brown, Max Pescatori, Thor Hansen, John Juanda, Chris Bjorn, Jean-Robert Bellande, Robert Wiliamson III, and some unidentified guy.

First big name eliminated from today’s H.O.R.S.E. event was Chad Brown. Chad Brown made it two bets to go on a flop of 5h-2c-7h in an Omaha 8 or better round. Jean-Robert Bellande made the call and Both Robert Williamson III. Bellande showed 6d-3h-2h-Kc for the flush and Williamson showed 8h-6c-3s-Ac for the nut low. Brown mucked his hand and went out of the poker tournament area.

During a stud round, Andy Black made a raise on Fourth Street showing a (X-X) Jd-4h. Ivo Donev, made the call showing (X-X) Jh-5s the original bettor. Donev caught the 3s and.Black caught a 3c on fifth and they both checked. Donev fired out a bet after catching an Ah On sixth. Black made the call after catching the 2c and only had three 25 denomination chips. Donev showed Js-9h for a pair of jacks and Black showed A-Q for a wheel draw. Donev trapped a nine on the river for jacks up and Black only caught a king, and Andy washed out to Black.

Phil Hellmuth has been close to the top of the chip lead for most of the session. In an Omaha 8 hand involving himself, Layne Flack, and Neal Friets, Hellmuth bet out on a board of 5h-6s-4h-6d and Flack moved all in. Hellmuth bet out as the river fell the Jd. Friets made the call and showed 2s-3d-9c-7s for a seven high straight and a 6 low. Hellmuth then flipped over second nut low ndAc-3c-6h-6c for quad sixes a. Flack commented, “Quad sixes and the second nut low, is that all you got?” then mucked his hand and living from the tournament area.

Mike “the Mouth” Matusow started razzing Hellmuth about the fact that Hellmuth has not won a bracelet in a non-holdem event shortly afterwards. Though all in one form of Holdem or another, Hellmuth has 11 gold bracelets.

At some point in the breaks Mike Matusow, Doyle Brunson, John Juanda, and Phil Hellmuth unfaltering to play some $1,000 a point Chinese Poker. Unluckily for Matusow, he didn’t win a hand.

Although we do not have the details of his bustout, Thor Hansen again could not summon help from Odin and busted out from today’s event. shortly after losing a big stud pot against Gary Jones “ace high.” Dave “DevilFish” Ulliott busted out. Eliminated by David Williams when Binger’s buried queens could not outdraw Williams split aces was Michael Binger. Chris Ferguson and Mike “Timex” McDonald were also sufferers of the last level.

In the first day of the H.O.R.S.E. Event concluded with Phil Ivey in the lead After a 12 and ½ hour session. Ivey is well thought-out by many to be the best overall poker player alive. In a shocking development to all, Phil Hellmuth is in second place with 54,200 chips, this should come as a shock to noon since. Woody Deck is third in chips at 37,500 while Daniel Negreanu and Howard Lederer are both hovering around the 30,000 chip mark. It appears that Richard Ashby is the short stack at 3,200 in chips at present. Mike Matusow did not report the amount of chips he had remaining, but he is indeed still in this event for some unknown reason. It also seems that Doyle Brunson busted somewhere around the end of the day, but we do not have any information on how this occurred.

With 110 Poker players trying to make their way to the final table Day 2 of the £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. started. Barry Greenstein, Mike Matusow, Patrik Antonius, Andy Bloch, Gus Hansen, Robert Williamson III, John Juanda, Joe Beevers, Barny Boatman, David Williams, Max Pescatori, Jeff Lisandro, Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, and Howard Lederer are among the names that are at a halt in controversy.

Barry Greenstein was the first victim of the day. Greenstein was all in with A-10 against John Phan’s A-9. Phan caught a nine on the flop, and Greenstein was left hoping to catch one of the remaining 10’s shortly after the beginning of play. Phan now has a copy of Ace on the River and a ten did not arrive.

When his pair of kings were no match for Bruce Yamron’s sixes and fives Bruno Fitoussi busted out shortly afterwards in an Omaha 8 round and was the runner-up in the 2007 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Event at the World Series of Poker. Freddy Deeb was the champion of the Online Poker event.

Phil Hellmuth has expected a tough table draw for this Day 2. His challengers include Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Mark Gregorich, Sherkhan Farnood, and Gary Jones. Gus Hansen started razzing Phil when he inquires Howard Lederer if Phil was the 7th or 8th best player at Poker Games table. Hellmuth mentioned that he had only played 5 hands to that point but Lederer would not respond.

In a stud round when his queens ran into Ivo Donev’s kings up, Jean-Robert Bellande was voted off the island. Brandon Cantu was out in a moment afterwards. Cantu bet out and was raised by Yuval Bronshtein in a Holdem round with a flop of 8d-4h-3d, enough to put Cantu all-in. Cantu showed Qh- and Jc Bronshtein showed 8s-8c for a set. Cantu wanted running straight cards to win, but they did not come and Cantu hit the rail.

In a holdem hand against Gus Hansen, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow called bets from Hansen all the way to the river, where he was all in. when Hansen tabled pocket threes for a full house, the board showed Jd-Js-Jc-Ks-Qc.

John Phan was caught up in a three way pot that included Max Pescatori and Raul Paez. Phan bet out the last of his stack and was called by both opponents on a flop of Qs-Kh-5h. Pescatori bet both the river of the 6d andthe turn of the 3d. Pescatori showed Ad-Kc-5c-3c for two pair, Paez showed As-3h-4c-Jc for the low, and Phan showed Ah-Jd-7h-6s, for a pair and a weaker low at showdown then Phan was eliminated from this H.O.R.S.E. event.

During a holdem round, Andy Bloch was all in. He had hit a pair of sevens on the flop, however John Juanda he flopped a pair of kings. Neither player improved nor Bloch was eliminated from today’s event. At the World Series of Poker Bloch was the runner up of the first ever $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. He came up on the short end of the long-drawn-out heads-up match with the late Chip Reese.

With Williams folding on fourth and Hellmuth calling along, Ivey bet out on fourth and fifth. Hellmuth after that bet out on sixth showing (X-X) Ad-Qs-6c-5h. Ivey raised showing a board of (X-X) Jc-7s-Kh-4d while Hellmuth three-bet and Ivey made the call. Hellmuth showed a bluff and Ivey showed a pair of kings to take another big pot off of Hellmuth at showdown.

Howard Lederer has been the biggest surprise of this Day 2 so far and he has been near the chip lead a good portion of the day. Lederer was able to eliminate both Gus Hansen and Barny Boatman with kings up in one hand in a stud round. After the hand not long afterwards he was up to 85,000 but moved up to around 100,000.

Both John Juanda and Robert Williamson III were eliminated during a stud 8 round. When his 7-6 low in razz ran into a perfect 6 of Jeff Lisandro Joe Beevers finished in 18th place.

In a hand against Sherkhan Farnood, Max Pescatori was all in on Sixth Street showing Ah-5d-2h-8h-3s-7d for a wheel draw and a seven low. Farnood showed a weaker seven low 4h-6d-8s-5c-As-7s for and an eight high straight. Giving Farnood a seven high straight and a six low 3h on the river, Pascatori did not catch a four and he was eliminated.

The first player to make the money with a 16th place finish was David Williams. With the flop showing 10c-3h-Kd, Yuval Bronshtein bet out 2,000 and Raul Paez raised to 4,000 in an Omaha 8 round. Bronshtein three bet to 6,000 and Williams made the call. Equally opponents made the call. Bronshtein bet out 4,000 and the turn of the 10s fell. Paez flickered pocket threes for a weaker full house and Williams mucked his hand. He then went and collected his £4,812 for his finish at showdown.