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

This Time I'm Being Serious

In late position Andrew Brokos raised to 75,000 and Bob Whalen called from the cutoff. Brandon Cantu reraised to 275,000 from the big blind, and that's when Brokos escalated and moved 700,000 into the pot. Whalen and Cantu withdrew and Brokos picked up a pot that pushed his stack up to 2.78 million.

Karle Wilson Eliminated

Karle Wilson
Karle Wilson
Karle Wilson moved in for his last 187,000 with {A-Diamonds} {5-Clubs}, but Ivan Demidov called in the small blind with a dominating {A-Clubs} {K-Hearts} and when the board came {Q-Hearts} {4-Hearts} {3-Diamonds} {6-Diamonds} {9-Diamonds} that spelled the end of Wilson’s Main Event. Demidov is now up to 3.21 million.

Play Slows Down a Bit

As we approach the nine-table mark, play has slowed down a bit. There is still considerable action, however most players are taking all the time they need to make decisions.

Players are becoming very deliberate and calculated in their actions, being careful not to give anything away.

As is the norm in late stage tournament poker, a majority of pots are being won with a late-position raise or reraise.

Kim Wins Back-to-Back Pots

It's been a good couple of minutes for Kelly Kim. First, he raised preflop to 60,000 and was called by the small blind, Terry Lade. Lade checked the {A-Diamonds} {10-Clubs} {2-Spades} flop, then called when Kim again bet 60,000. Lade check-called a bet of 100,000 on the {Q-Diamonds} turn, and both players checked the {3-Spades} river. Kim opened {Q-Hearts} {J-Hearts} to win the pot with a pair of queens.

Shortly thereafter, Kim opened another pot to 65,000. He was reraised by the small blind, Justin Scott, to 200,000 and made the call after tanking for about a minute. When the flop came down {2-Hearts} {J-Hearts} {4-Hearts}, Scott open-shoved, having Kim well covered. Kim tanked a second time for another couple of minutes before finally making the the call with {A-Diamonds} {J-Clubs}. Scott showed {A-Spades} {10-Hearts}. He made a pair of tens with the {10-Diamonds} turn, but couldn't find a hand that beat Kim when the river fell {A-Clubs}.

After these two hands, Kim jumped to 1,660,000, Lade fell to 2,535,000 and Scott dipped to 1,585,000.

Santeri Valikoski Has Been Eliminated

Santeri Valikoski - Eliminated
Santeri Valikoski - Eliminated
Santeri Valikoski picked up pocket tens and he went with them, moving in for his last 390,000. Trouble was, Bob Whalen woke up with pocket queens, made the call, and when the board ran out {J-Spades} {9-Diamonds} {9-Clubs} {K-Diamonds} {6-Spades} Valikoski was out and Whalen boosted his stack to 980,000.

Pham Misses Opportunity

Kido Pham raised to 60,000 from early position with Tiffany Michelle making the call in the cutoff. Tim Loecke then bumped it up to 250,000 from the button. Pham made a reluctant fold as Michelle called once again.

The flop came {4-Spades}{J-Hearts}{6-Diamonds} and Michelle led out for 300,000. Loecke folded and Michelle collectws the pot, much to the disgust of Pham who claimed that he folded pocket sixes! Pham was so frustrated that he stood and walked away from the table as Michelle increased her stack to 3.4 million.

Tags: Kido PhamTiffany MichelleTim Loecke

Hellmuth Quickly Takes Control

Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is quickly stamping his authority on the table, and has raised three of the past six hands. The first two collected the blinds and antes uncontested, but the third was met with a call from Sean Davis.

They saw a flop of {4-Diamonds}{K-Diamonds}{2-Hearts} and Hellmuth fired out 90,000 to take down the pot. He sits with roughly 1.2 million chips as Matusow jokes with Hellmuth that he has won more hands already than Matusow has won all day.

Tags: Phil Hellmuth

Two Live Cards

From late position, Santeri Valikoski open-shoved for 179,000. He was called by Bob Whalen, sitting in the cutoff. Whalen was ahead with {A-Clubs} {J-Clubs}, by Valikoski had "two live cards" -- {10-Diamonds} {8-Hearts}. The flop {2-Spades} {5-Clubs} {7-Hearts} helped neither player, but Valikoski paired eights with the {8-Diamonds} on the turn and then dodged the river when it fell a harmless {3-Spades}. He doubled up to 423,000, while Valikoski slipped to 584,000.