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

Klodnicki Foils McManus' Move

James McManus raised to 65,000 from middle position, and it folded around to Chris Klodnicki who reraised to 305,000 from the small blind. McManus shoved all in, and after thinking for some time, Klodnicki made the call.

Klodnicki: {J-Clubs}{J-Diamonds}
McManus: {Q-Hearts}{10-Hearts}

The board ran out {A-Diamonds}{6-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{5-Spades}{A-Spades}, and Klodnicki doubled up to 2.5 million. McManus, once the chip leader, is now at about 2.1 million.

Tags: Chris KlodnickiJames McManus

Victor Ramdin Doubles Up

Victor Ramdin
Victor Ramdin
After Aaron Gordon raised to 65,000, Victor Ramdin moved all in for his last 350,000. Gordon called with {A-Spades} {8-Spades} to Ramdin's {K-Spades} {K-Diamonds}, and when the board ran out {9-Hearts} {9-Spades} {6-Diamonds} {3-Hearts} {7-Hearts}, Ramdin doubled up to 700,000.

Thank Goodness for the Color-up

The Buy-Ins of Dozens of Players
The Buy-Ins of Dozens of Players
As we admire the enormous chip stacks of players like Mark Vos, Tiffany Michelle, and current chip leader Mark Ketteringham, it's interesting to think that they could have been a whole lot bigger.

On Day 1, these players each started with 20,000 in tournament chips which were a total of 29 "actual" chips in front of them. The chip denominations were as follows:

Two orange (T5,000)
Seven yellow (T1,000)
Four light blue (T500)
Eight black (T100)
Eight green (T25)

There have been a total of three color-ups or "race-offs" thus far in the event, during which the green, black, and light blue chips were taken out of play and replaced with larger denomination chips.

Currently, the largest chip in play is the dark green (T25,000.) In the later stages of the tournament a T50,000, T100,000, and for the first time ever, a T250,000 chip will be introduced. There are three more color-ups remaining, the next one scheduled for the completion of level 24 early tomorrow afternoon.

While somewhat trivial, it's interesting to note that if there were no color-ups, there would be roughly 2,420 (over 24 racks) individual chips in front of each player in the tournament right now. If that weren't insane enough, when play reached the final table, each player would sit behind an average of 22,052 (220 racks) individual chips making play physically impossible.

Matt Matros Takes Two Quick Hits

Matt Matros lost about 800,000 chips in two hands in close succession. He dropped a pot to Nhan Le when he held {Q-Clubs} {J-Hearts} to Le's {A-Spades} {J-Diamonds} on a jack-high board and the money went in on the turn. Matros then lost a pot to Ylon Schwartz when Matt raised with {K-Spades} {Q-Clubs}, Schwartz moved in with {A-Clubs} {10-Spades}, Matros called, and the flop came ace high. Matt is now down to 1.2 million.

Demidov Chips Up

Ivan Demidov opened from late position for 75,000, and was called by Jamal Sawaqdeh on the button and Bob Whalen in the big blind. On a flop of {9-Hearts} {7-Hearts} {3-Spades}, Whalen checked to Demidov, who made a continuation bet of 170,000. Sawaqdeh folded, but Whalen called.

The turn was the {A-Clubs}. Whalen checked it to Demidov again, who fired out for 320,000. That was enough to fold Whalen and win the pot.

Demidov now has roughly 2.8 million in chips. Whalen slipped just below the 1 million mark.

And I Just Gave You Candy

Lisa Parsons
Lisa Parsons
Lisa Parsons had taken a couple of small pots with preflop raises, chipping up a bit before the following hand took place. As the dealer dealt the hand, Dennis Phillips asked his tablemates if they'd like any of his Altoids. Several did, and he passed the tin around the table.

Being under the gun, Phillips was first to act. No more friendly stuff. Phillips was raising to 70,000.

It folded to Parsons who called from middle position. Everyone else got out of the way, and the flop came {10-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}. Phillips checked, Parsons bet 100,000, and Phillips called.

The turn was the {J-Clubs}. Phillips again checked, and this time Parsons fired out 200,000. Phillips went into the tank. After a couple of minutes, he asked Parsons what she had left behind. "Just a ballpark," he said. "About four," she replied, indicating approximately 400,000.

Phillips considered a while longer, then let it go. Parsons now has about 1 million, while Phillips has 1.44 million.

Tags: Dennis PhillipsLisa Parsons

Hellmuth Takes Hit

Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth
Aaron Keay opened the action with a raise before Phil Hellmuth popped it up to 220,000 from the small blind. Keay made the call.

The flop came {5-Diamonds}{A-Clubs}{J-Clubs} and Hellmuth led out for 140,000 before Keay instantly moved all in. Hellmuth let it go and Keay takes it down. Hellmuth slips back to about 900,000 chips.

Tags: Phil Hellmuth

Rheem Rivers Flush

Chino Rheem
Chino Rheem
David "Chino" Rheem has just taken down a nice pot off Cristian Dragomir after the board fell {5-Diamonds}{10-Spades}{2-Spades}{3-Clubs}{5-Spades}. Rheem fired out 240,000 on the river and Dragomir tanked before making the call.

Rheem showed {K-Spades}{Q-Spades} for the flush to take it down and move to about 2.3 million in chips.

Tags: Chino RheemCristian Dragomir

Pham Coaxes a Call

Kido Pham raised it up to 60,000 and and Tim Loecke made the call on the button.

The board of {2-Spades}{5-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}{A-Clubs}{10-Clubs} was checked through until the river when Pham fired out about 100,000.

After some table talk, Pham coaxed Loecke into making the call with pocket eights, but Pham flipped {A-Diamonds}{J-Diamonds} for top pair to add to his stack.

Tags: Kido PhamTim Loecke