2008 World Series of Poker

39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event
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

Show Me the Money

This year's WSOP Main Event drew a total of 6,844 entrants creating a total prize pool of $64,333,600. It's worth noting that $32,633,446 (just over 50 percent) of that prize money will be awarded to those who make the final table.

This "top heavy" distribution is in stark contrast to last year's main event in which just under 37 percent ($22,019,901 of the $59,784,954) was earmarked for the top nine finishers.

Jerry Yang took home 13.8 percent of the total prize money last year while this year's champion can look forward to bagging 14.2 percent of the total prize pool.

To walk away with $100,000 or more in 2007, you had to finish in 81st place, essentially outlasting 98.7 percent of the field, whereas this year you'd need to outlast over 99 percent of the field and place 63rd or better to score that same hundred grand.

Here is a quick snapshot of the last two years.

2008 Main Event

Champion - $9,119,517
Runner Up - $5,790,024
3rd Place - $4,503,352
4th Place - $3,763,515
5th Place - $3,088,012
6th Place - $2,412,510
7th Place - $1,769,174
8th Place - $1,286,672
9th Place - $900,670

2007 Main Event

Champion - $8,250,000 - Jerry Yang
Runner Up - $4,840,981 - Tuan Lam
3rd Place - $3,048,025 - Raymond Rahme
4th Place - $1,852,721 - Alex Kravchenko
5th Place - $1,255,069 - Jon Kalmar
6th Place - $956,243 - Hevad "Rain" Khan
7th Place - $705,229 - Lee Childs
8th Place - $585,699 - Lee Watkinson
9th Place - $525,934 - Philip Hilm

It's 50-50: Either You Win or Lose

Mark Wilds was all in with {K-Diamonds}{Q-Spades}, up against Tri Nguyen's {8-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}.

The flop came {5-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}{10-Clubs} and Nguyen was ahead. The turn was a {3-Spades}, and Wilds was in trouble. But the {Q-Hearts} spiked on the river, and Wilds is still alive with 500,000 chips.

"Ahh . . . fifty-fifty," said Nguyen afterwards (although some may want to debate whether it was ever 50-50 on this one). "You win some and you lose some. And I lost." Nguyen tumbles to 300,000.

Tags: Mark WildsTri Nguyen

Jensen Eliminated

Another player moves all in, and another player is eliminated. After Tim Taylor opened the pot with a raise to 55,000, Matthew Jensen moved all in from late position. Taylor was the only caller.

Taylor: {Q-Spades} {Q-Clubs}
Jensen: {K-Clubs} {J-Spades}

Taylor needed at least a king, but he didn't get it. A board of {9-Spades} {4-Diamonds} {6-Spades} {3-Spades} {2-Diamonds} sent him to the payout table to start the paperwork necessary for collecting his prize money.

Taylor now has 1.25 million in chips.

Brewin's Ruin

Will Brewin - Eliminated
Will Brewin - Eliminated
Nikolay Losev raised to 60,000 from middle position, and Will Brewin pushed all in for 275,000 behind him. It folded back around and Losev made the call.

Losev showed {A-Clubs}{J-Diamonds}, and Brewin {10-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}.

The flop brought Losev his better pair -- {J-Clubs}{K-Spades}{K-Hearts} -- and Brewin needed help. But the {8-Diamonds} turn and {8-Hearts} river meant his day was done.

Losev now has 2.3 million.

Tags: Nikolay LosevWill Brewin

Allen Cunningham Eliminated

Allen Cunningham Eliminated
Allen Cunningham Eliminated
Allen Cunningham moved all in preflop from the hijack position for 255,000 and Tim Loecke made the call in the small blind.

Cunningham: {Q-Hearts}{J-Hearts}
Loecke: {A-Spades}{A-Diamonds}

The board ran out {7-Spades}{6-Spades}{3-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}{8-Hearts} to end another deep Main Event run for Allen Cunningham in 117th place for $41,816 in prize money.

Tags: Allen Cunningham

Level: 22

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 3,000

Jens Klaning Eliminated

Jens Klaning - Eliminated
Jens Klaning - Eliminated
Andrew Rosskamm opened for a raise from early position and Nikolay Losev called from late position. Aaron Gordon called from the small blind and Jens Klaning pushed all in from the big blind for about 285,000.

Rosskamm folded and Losev reraised for roughly 250,000 more. Gordon pushed all in for about 650,000 and Losev went into the tank. He thought for over six minutes before finally calling and the players showed:

Klaning: {10-Hearts} {8-Spades}
Losev: {A-Diamonds} {J-Spades}
Gordan: {A-Hearts} {K-Diamonds}

The board ran out {Q-Hearts} {4-Diamonds} {3-Spades} {6-Clubs} {9-Clubs} and Gordon's ace king high was good. He doubled up to about 1,700,000 through Losev and eliminated Jens Klaning.