With 22 events already in the books, the 2009 World Series of Poker is already well under way in Las Vegas. Millions of dollars in prize money has already been awarded so let’s take a look at the movers and shakers.
The Player of the year race has an early standout leader in John Brock Parker, who added to cashes in two previous events to emerge victorious in two back to back short handed events. He first took down the $2,500 limit hold’em event beating Daniel Negreanu heads-up to win the prestigious bracelet. In a dramatic turn of events he then bested over a thousand competitors to triumph in the $2,500 no-limit hold’em six handed tournament. Having already accumulated $784,527 in prize money at the series, Parker has marked himself out as the man to beat in Sin City.
Talking of Daniel Negreanu, he also appears to be enjoying himself at this year’s WSOP, he and Parker are the only players to have made four cashes including top ten finishes in both the Omaha 8 or better and Seven Card Stud $10,000 World Championship events, Kid Poker has hit a run of form that just might lead to him adding to his impressive tally of four bracelets. Finnish Professional Ville Wahlbeck, who currently sits at second in the Player of the Year, has shown his true mastery of all of poker’s variants as he followed up his third place finish in the Seven Card Stud World Championship, to scoop his first bracelet and the $10,000 Mixed Games World Championship (a tournament which features a whopping 8 different types of poker) and almost half a million dollars in winnings.
Two other players who have reason to smile are Phil Ivey and Jason Mercier. Ivey, who coming into this tournament with five bracelets across the poker disciplines to his name, took down the $2,500 Kansas City lowball title. It is rumoured that Ivey tipped his entire $96,000 first prize winnings to the tournament dealers as he is alleged to have won close to $10 million in proposition bets with well known professionals as he picked up his first bracelet in four years. Mercier, a young 22 year old pro, has been a hot streak this year, first winning his maiden bracelet in the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha event winning well over $200,000, and then picking up two significant cashes in what is sure to be a breakout year for this young man. Keep your eyes on this one; he’s bound to go far!
Be sure to check back regularly for more updates from this year’s WSOP and as the action heats up, we’ll sure to keep you posted on all of the top action!
This article was written by meshuganater.
Tags: Ivey, Negreanu, Player of the Year, poker, WSOP