2007 WSOP Overview, June 26th — Gold for Goldberg, Filippi Leads H.O.R.S.E.
A busy Tuesday of action at the World Series of Poker brought play in five events, including Day Three of the prestigious $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tourney, Event #39. 52 of the original 148 players were alive when play began, with the 21 eventual survivors missing many of the big names alive at day's start, including Eli Elezra, the Day One leader. The day's only bracelet went to Fred Goldberg in Event #40, $1,500 Mixed Hold 'Em.
Goldberg came from the middle of the pack to claim the mixed-event title, the format offering alternate segments of fixed-limit and no-limit play. Goldberg reeled in original chip leader Christoph Niesert and poker author Michael Craig, who began the day in second; Niesert and Craig finished in third and seventh, respectively. Goldberg's last opponent was Rene Mouritsen, who was severely overmatched in chips during the heads-up finale but made a respectable showing before departing. Goldberg claimed $204,935 for the win, with runner-up Mouritsen pocketing $125,895.
Eli Elezra looked strong in the early going of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event's Day Three, but his momentum didn't last and he and many other players were overtaken by the increasing blinds. Elezra departed late in the day, while other players eliminated included defending champion Chip Reese, Annie Duke, Andy Bloch, Cyndy Violette, Rob Hollink and Phil Hellmuth. Late in the session, Amnon Filippi surged to the top of the pack, with Kenny Tran not far behind. The next three spots are occupied by Bruno Fitoussi, John Hanson and David Singer, with Mike Matusow, Greg Raymer, Daniel Negreanu, Justin Bonomo, Gabe Kaplan, Thor Hansen, Freddy Deeb, Barry Greenstein, Dewey Tomko and Chris Reslock among the others still in the running.
Events #41 and #42 played down to their final tables, which will resume today. Event #41, the traditional $1,000 Seniors No Limit Hold 'Em tourney, played from 121 to nine with most of the early leaders bounced during the day's play, including Amarillo Slim Preston, who started action in seventh. Two other Main Event winners were also eliminated during the action, Tom McEvoy and Brad Daugherty. Ernest Bennett takes the lead into the final table, closely trailed by Leon Lewis with the others farther back.
Event #42, $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha High/Low Split, moved quickly down from 98 Day Two starters to the final table. Marcel Luske and Alan Smurfit fell just outside the 63-player money bubble (though Roxci Rhodes and Derrick Smith tied for the 63rd spot, splitting the payout), while Miami John Cernuto, Tony G, Paul Darden, Jeffrey Lisandro, Phil Gordon and J.C. Tran cashed before departing. One big name who did qualify for the final was Chad Brown, who returns today second in chips behind leader David Bach.
Event #43, $2,000 Limit Hold 'Em, kicked off on Tuesday. 61 players from an original field of 472 made it through to today's action, with Tom Koral holding the overnight lead over Noah Boeken and David Plastik. Lonnie Heimowitz and Don Zewin are also in the top ten, while Rehne Pedersen, Joe Sebok, Terrence Chan, Warren Karp and Anahit Galajian are among the others still in the running.
The new event for Wednesday is #44, $2,000 Omaha High/Low Split. Play began at noon PDT in that event with action in the other continuing events resuming in the afternoon hours.
