Defending Champion - Sort Of | 2008 World Series of Poker

Ryan Hughes, who remains the chip leader in this event, won a bracelet in stud-8 here a year ago. Confusingly, though, the $1,000 Stud-8 event from a year ago continues this year as this $1,500 event, and Tom Schneider is considered the defending champion. The event that Hughes won a year ago was the $2,000 event, which did not return in 2008. The $3,000 event from a year ago morphed into the $5,000 Championship this year. Clear as mud?

Incidentally, Schneider did not defend his title in this event, as he was still in the $50,000 HORSE event past the registration deadline.