2008 World Series of Poker

39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker

Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
6,844
Players Left
9
Next Payout
Place 9
$900,670
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
120,000 / 240,000
Ante
30,000

Kevin Saul Takes a Hit

Kevin Saul
Kevin Saul
With the board reading {2-Hearts} {Q-Spades} {J-Diamonds} {6-Diamonds} Kevin Saul bet 1,600 and his opponent moved some chips into the pot. He apparently meant to call but the chips he bet were more than a call and he was forced to make a minimum raise. A raise that Saul called, and when the {Q-Hearts} came on the river Saul checked and the other player thought a bit and said, "I don't know where I am," before checking as well. He held {2-Spades} {2-Clubs} for a full house and Saul mucked his hand.

Demetriou Eliminates an Opponent

Harry Demetriou
Harry Demetriou
A player in the cutoff position raised to 600 and Harry Demetriou made the call from the big blind.

On a flop of {5-Clubs} {6-Hearts} {9-Clubs} , Demetriou bet out for 400 and his opponent raised to 1,000. Demetriou reraised to 3,500 more and his opponent called.

On the turn, Demetriou moved all in, and his opponent called. Demetriou had his opponent covered. After tanking for a couple of minutes, Demetriou's opponent made the call.

Demetriou showed {7-Clubs} {8-Clubs} for a straight and with a draw to a flush. His opponent showed {5-Diamonds} {5-Spades} for a set of fives. The {7-Diamonds} on the river failed to pair the board, and Demetriou sends an opponent to the rail.

After the hand, Demetriou moved up to 58,600 in chips.

Tags: Harry Demetriou

A Brutal Misread

Woody Deck in Event #12
Woody Deck in Event #12
On a board of {K-Diamonds} {7-Hearts} {3-Diamonds} {J-Diamonds} {7-Diamonds}, Woody Deck was heads up with an opponent who moved all in. Deck had the player covered and thought for a bit. He eventually made the call and his opponent flipped up {A-Hearts} {7-Spades}. Deck tabled {A-Clubs} {A-Diamonds}.

Deck's opponent slapped the table and said "thank god" in relief. The dealer then pushed out the four diamonds and said "flush" as he pushed the pot to Deck. The confused player finally realized his hand was second best and vacated the tournament area, disappointed and embarrassed at the same time.

Deck now commands a stack just shy of 40,000.

Eli Eliminated

Elezra Busts
Elezra Busts
Preflop, an opponent raises to 600 and Eli Elezra calls. The flop is {4-Spades}{K-Spades}{10-Clubs} and the opponent bets 1,000. Elezra calls.

The turn is {J-Hearts} and the opponent bets 8,000 all in. Elezra calls all in for 4,075. He turns over {K-Hearts}{Q-Spades}, but the opponent has {K-Clubs}{J-Diamonds}. The river is {6-Diamonds} and Elezra is out.

Arieh Loves the Ladies

Josh Arieh raised one early position limper to 700. The two of them took a flop of {10-Diamonds} {K-Diamonds} {10-Clubs} and both checked it. Arieh checked the {6-Spades} turn, then called when his opponent bet 1,100. Rinse and repeat for the {10-Hearts} river, except the bet was 1,500. It was a stone bluff from Arieh's opponent with {Q-Diamonds} {9-Spades}. Arieh's {Q-Clubs} {Q-Hearts} was the best hand and took down the pot.

He is now up to 16,500 chips after taking an early hit.

One Was Enough, Two is Just Plain Greedy

Josh Thomas and two other players see a raised flop of {Q-Spades} {A-Hearts} {7-Hearts}.

It's checked to a player in late position who bets 4,000. The other player in the hand folds before Thomas moves all-in and finds a caller.

Thomas tables {K-Hearts} {Q-Hearts} for middle pair and a flush draw to his opponent's {Q-Diamonds} {Q-Clubs} for middle set with the case queen coming on the flop.

The turn comes {3-Hearts} and river {9-Hearts} to make the flush for Thomas and propel him up to 52,000 while his opponent is heading out the door.

Tags: Josh Thomas

Minaya Sucks Out, Vallo Re-sucks

Manny Minaya raised to 600 and Claus Vallo reraised from the small blind to 1,700. Minaya then made it 5,000 to go and Vallo moved all in. Minaya made the call.

Minaya: {K-Spades} {K-Diamonds}
Vallo: {A-Hearts} {A-Clubs}

The flop came down {J-Diamonds} {5-Spades} {4-Diamonds} and Minaya was still behind. The turn was a whopper for Minaya though, a big {K-Clubs} propelled him to the lead in the hand.

Things looked good for Minaya to double up until a bullet shot to the felt in the form of the {A-Diamonds} and knocked out Minaya.

Tags: Claus ValloManny Minaya

Maureen Feduniak Eliminated

Ryan Jones and Maureen Feduniak both checked a flop of {9-Hearts} {5-Hearts} {3-Spades}. When the turn came the {2-Clubs}, Jones shoved all in for 20,000 from the small blind and Feduniak called all in for less.

Jones {5-Clubs} {5-Diamonds}

Feduniak {A-Spades} {A-Hearts}

Jones was well ahead, having flopped a set of fives, and the {10-Diamonds} on the river gave him the pot. Feduniak was eliminated and ESPN's cameras followed her over to her husband Bob's table, where she sadly recounted the hand.

Jones is now up to 62,800.

Tags: Maureen Feduniak

South Africa's Finest

Rahme Picks Up Chips
Rahme Picks Up Chips
On a turn of {A-Spades}{K-Diamonds}{10-Spades}{4-Diamonds}, Raymond Rahme checks and his opponent bets 2,000. Rahme calls.

The river is {8-Clubs} and Rahme checks. His opponent bets 4,500 and Rahme calls.

The opponent turns over {J-Spades}{8-Spades} and Rahme has {A-Hearts}{6-Hearts}. Rahme is up to 35,000.