WSOP

Las Vegas is the place to be if you want to hit it big in the world of Poker. Every year this is where players from all places come to make a name for themselves and to compete for the World Series of Poker bracelets. Along with the growing popularity of the game, poker’s best players have also come to take on center stage. Guys like Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, and Scott Nguyen are among those you can expect to see every year in Vegas and on World Series of Poker programming. Good at what they do, these players definitely deserve the wide recognition they’re getting. But there are some who have not taken on the spotlight but have multiple bracelets to their names.

Billy Baxter. Baxter has a total of seven WSOP bracelets. Yet a lot of people do not even know him. Baxter is a true poker legend. He won his first WSOP bracelet in a 1975 deuce to seven event and since then has gone on to cash 28 times so far. In the 80s he won five of his seven titles and won one in the 90s. In 2002, he captured his latest bracelet and soon after made seven cashes. So with all the credentials to back up a superstar personality, why is Baxter not so known in the poker world? The possible reason is that he plays in less popular games like deuce to seven lowball, Razz, and Ace to Five draw. Just recently, he made the final table in event 40, proving that he is still a great player. Seven bracelets and more than one million dollars in WSOP earnings – Baxter is truly deserving of a spot among the greatest poker players of all time.

Layne Flack. Sure, you might have heard the name and know the face. But do you know that he has six WSOP bracelets? Flack has been on television quite a few times, although he isn’t a regular on popular programming. With 19 cashes so far, he has more than $2.2 million in WSOP earnings. His first title came in 1999 when he won a Pot Limit holdem event for more than $220,000. His career took off from there and since then he has won bracelets in No Limit Holdem, Omaha Hi/Lo, and Pot Limit Omaha rebuy. This year, he won his first bracelet in five years, taking home more than a half million dollars. Flack has a current title count of six and has finished in the top five five times.

Berry Johnston. Although a lot of people do not know who he is, Johnston is a main event winner. In 1986, he won the main event and took home the bracelet along with $570,000 in loot. Overall, Johnston has a total of five bracelets and has cashed 56 times in his career. He has won titles in limit and no Limit Holdem, Omaha, Razz, and in Heads Up. This year he cashed in three times. His best finish in 2008 was being 10th in the World Championship of Omaha. He has a total of over $2 million in earnings and is known for being one of the tightest and most solid players in the history of Texas Holdem poker. His playing style has definitely helped him get a lot more cashes in his career and compete for bracelets.

Tom McEvoy. He first took the title in 1983 and has so far won four bracelets and has made 36 career WSO cashes. The highlight of his career was the year 1983 when he won two events which included besting Doyle Brunson himself at the final table of the Main Event. His bracelets were won in four different games: Limit Holdem, No Limit Holdem, Razz, and Omaha. His career earnings has reached more than $1.2 million, which will surely increase as he continues to play in the series every year. Although he has failed to win another bracelet since 1992, he has had seven cashes in the last three years. This year he finished in the top 30 twice and made more than $12, 000.

Chau Giang. Giang has had 46 career cashes and has three bracelets to his name. This year has been amazing for him as he cashed in eight times and finished in the top 15 three times. His first bracelet was won in 1993 and the latest was in 2004 for winning the Pot Limit Omaha event. His total career earnings reach close to $1.5 million, becoming one of the most consistent and best players in the world.

Friday September the 19th the second yearly World Series of Poker Europe will get happening. It’s a no re-buy event with each player starting with 6000 in chips the first event will be a No Limit Holdem. This year there are some modifications, namely that the event will be played under one roof. At the years World Series of Poker Europe the Casino at the Empire will host all four events. The hope is to start a tradition in London as in Vegas where all the events are played at the Rio. For all the North American fans out there ESPN will be airing eight hours of exposure from the tournaments in London. Making four bracelets up for grabs an Event has been added this year. The biggest question coming into these years events are will someone since the other side of the pond be able to walk away with one of the popular bracelets.

By becoming the first player to win two WSOP Europe bracelets Last years victors will be trying to look after there titles and makes history. When he beat Jennifer Harman heads up was Thomas Bihl who won last years HORSE event. Superstars like Jennifer Harman, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson and Kirk Morrison in the HORSE final table was littered with poker last year, no hesitation the event directors will be looking for a similar showing. Last years Pot Limit Omaha event was won by Dario Alioto, who also managed to make a final table in Pot Limit Omaha at the World Series in Las Vegas this year. Omaha last year convey out some large names who made big cashes Tony G ended third and Roland De Wolfe had a reputable eleventh place finish.

Last years Main Event in Europe looked as if a recognizable face may win his first World Series bracelet ever in Europe. Gus Hansen was sailing, but he broken out tenth, the favorite was left and it was anybody’s tournament. Annette Obrestad our up and coming superstar, showed her possible by taking home her first bracelet. Annette showed the world her belligerent bluffing style and may just have won the largest tournament by a woman in poker history. To build on the success she found last year, no doubt Obrestad will show up at this years World Series looking. There were a bunch of big names players in the top thirty last year and the event organizers will be looking for much of the equal. In the previous year Patrik Antonius finished 29th, Erik Lindgren finished 26th, Annie Duke is 21st and Kenny Tran almost completed the final table finishing in 16th.

The North American pros put a lot effort in to trying to win this event and will be geared up. Look for some good performance by top names players like Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu and Erik Lindgren. the North Americans will have to wait as Annette Obrestad wins her second World Series of Poker bracelet. Annette will be looking to demonstrate that she is here to stay and be the first player to win two World Series of Poker will do just that.

The HORSE event is the most fascinating event at every World Series of Poker. The big names for all time show up and you can be guaranteed that they will be at the final table. Scotty Nguyen triumphed the HORSE world championship in Las Vegas at the World Series and you will see a lot of the same names fighting for the win in Europe. Another good result from Erik Lindgren, he is a great multitalented player and is convinced after his player of the year at the World Series in Vegas. The first American to win a World Series of Poker Europe will be Chris “Jesus” Ferguson.

Probably fits right behind Texas Holdem on the popularity scale Omaha has become a big game in the poker world. Europeans have a propensity to be well rounded Omaha players and they will come away with another bracelet in this tournament. Last years winner Dario Alioto will have a first-class showing again, but he will come up undersized as Roland De Wolfe takes home the bracelet. Roland is an exceptional Omaha player and he finally has a big win in this event.

The entire top pro’s wanted to win this title the main event will be everybody’s main goal. Last year a lot of big names had big showings at this tournament, but you will discover a few new ones this year. Jennifer Harman will have a good presentation in this tournament and Patrik Antonius will compose the final table. Hansen will exchange himself and win the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event with the bitter taste of last years bubble finish Gus. Gus will be provoked and he will grind out the victory for his first bracelet.