Quality, Not Quantity.
Friday, June 26, 2009 - Gene Bromberg
Kinda of a different vibe in the Amazon Room today. As in past years more space was made around the tables for the players in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, to give the players (and marauding media hordes) additional room to wander around. Most folks seemed to think that the field would be smaller than in the past, but right now we’re sitting at 87 players (a precipitous drop from the 148 who played in each of the last two years) and there are quite a few empty tables in that section of the room. On the other side of the room the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha/8 has just reached the money, with 64 players left to battle it out for the bracelet. That’s the only event on the other side of the room right now and the Amazon Room feels a little empty at the moment, though the star power at the $50K H.O.R.S.E. has drawn vast numbers of spectators to fill the space.
One player who’s near the top of the leaderboard in the $1,500 PLO8 event is hoping to erase the bitter memories of a few nights ago. Brandon Cantu was heads-up with Ray Foley for the $1,500 No-Limit Hold-Em title and had Foley all-in twice in a dominating position, but once the pot was chopped and on the other Foley hit his two-outer on the turn to take the pot. Cantu is the current chipleader and is poised to make a serious run at his second WSOP bracelet.
Sitting across the floor, and standing in his way, is one Phil Hellmuth. Phil just cashed for the 73rd time at the World Series of Poker, yet again extending his record, and with 75,000 chips Phil is no doubt looking to add a record 42nd final table and twelfth bracelet to his resume.
Now, I’ve heard from a few sources that Phil also plans to play in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, which would be some serious multi-tabling. He still has 15 minutes to register; one player who registered a bit on the tardy side was Annie Duke, who’s sitting at a table with Eli Elezra and David Chiu and Alexander Kostritsyn and…well, every table in this event is a tough one, you get the point.
The $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event is a five-day marathon and takes us to the cusp of the Main Event. It doesn’t feel like the World Series is almost over…because it isn’t. Still a long, long way to go.
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- The Glass Half-Full The $1,500 No-Limit Hold-Em event was nearing the bubble and...
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Tags: 2009 world series of poker, 2009 wsop, 50000 horse, Annie Duke, Brandon Cantu, h.o.r.s.e. poker, Phil Hellmuth, Poker Poker Poker, world series of poker, WSOP
June 27th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Bit of Roy Orbison “In Dreams” after that nights Poker.
Blue Velvet.
July 13th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
i wish i was playin in vegas, man i bet it’s so exciting!!!!