TOAST OF THE TOWN: TRISTAN WADES SHINES IN CANNES
2011 World Series of Poker Europe
Hotel Majestic Barriere / Le Croisette Casino Barriere
Cannes, France
Official Report
Event #4
No-Limit Hold’em Shootout
Buy-In:  3,000 + 200 (Euros)
Number of Entries:  258
Total Prize Pool:  743,040 (Euros)
Number of Places Paid:  30
First Place Prize:  182,048 (Euros)
October 11-13, 2011



TOURNAMENT HEADLINES


Toast of the Town:  Tristan Wade Shines on the French Riviera

American Poker Pro from Florida Wins First WSOP Gold Bracelet in Cannes

Poker Teacher/Instructor Wins 2011 WSOP Europe’s Fourth Event

No-Limit Hold’em Shootout Draws Another Epic World-Class Field

French Superstar “Elky” Makes Final Table – but Finishes Fifth

Host Nation Hangover?  French Players Continue to Disappoint – Fourth Place Best Showing So Far, through Four Events

2011 WSOP Europe Continues to Smash Records – Attendance Up 48 Percent


OVERVIEW

Cannes, France (13 October 2011) – Tristan Wade made poker history tonight as the latest gold bracelet champion at the 2011 edition of World Series of Poker Europe.

Wade won the 3,000 (Euro) buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout, which was the fourth of seven events on this year’s schedule at Cannes.  The tournament, which was played along the French Riviera, attracted 258 entrants from more than two-dozen different nations.

The American poker pro from Boynton Beach, Florida walked away with the most prestigious prize in the game.  This was Wade’s first WSOP victory, after pretty much destroying the competition in online poker games in recent years.  He has in excess of $1.5 million winnings in online poker alone.  This was Wade’s third final table appearance this year and 14th career cash in WSOP events.  His best previous showing was a fourth-place posting in the $10,000 Six-Handed Championship, held earlier this year in Las Vegas.  Wade collected 182,048 (Euros) in prize money for this well-deserved victory, giving him combined lifetime earnings of more than $800,000 in WSOP events.

Wade personifies the concept of gradually developing as a poker player one step at a time and consistently pushing himself to improve every aspect of his game.  He has been a poker instructor at two websites -- Pocket Fives and Deep Stacks University, which are well-respected sites which help teach poker strategy and foster greater understanding for the game.  Wade also acknowledged 2+2 as a imminently helpful source to himself and other poker players.

The runner up was Michael Watson, from Toronto, Ontario (Canada).  He is a 27-year-old poker pro.  Watson has a number of big finishes on his poker resume, including a win at the Bellagio Cup and a third place finish in the High Roller event in London three years ago.  This was his highest WSOP finish, which paid 112,526 (Euros).

Among the other players who made things interesting, but fell short of gold bracelet glory was Bertrand Grospellier, better-known for his anomalous moniker, “ElkY” (that’s not typo – the Y is capitalized).  Grospellier, who is from France but now resides in London, is the perfectly-packaged global poker superstar who finally won his first WSOP gold bracelet earlier this year in Las Vegas ($10,000 buy-in Seven-Card Stud World Championship).  Grospellier finished fifth in the Shootout, which somewhat illustrates the disappointing results of French players so far that this, the first-ever WSOP event held in France.
 
Indeed, the host nation had only one player at this most recent final table.  Although French players won four gold bracelets at this year’s WSOP, none has really come close to achieving a victory here in Cannes.  The current trend mirrors the unexpected early results of WSOP Europe when it first arrived in London, England.  From 2007-2009, a native champion was not crowned by the host nation until the third year of WSOP Europe, when J.P. Kelly won the opener.  French poker players still have three more events to win a gold bracelet and make poker history.  But they will continue to face an uphill climb, playing against many of the world’s best players from other nations.
 
Attendance at 2011 WSOP Europe continues to exceed everyone's expectations and smash previous records.  Through the conclusion of the first four events, overall attendance is up a staggering 48 percent over the first four events held last year, in London.  No doubt, wherever it’s held -- the WSOP continues to surpass all expectations and overcome every challenge, no matter how daunting.

This was the first time that a No-Limit Hold’em Shootout tournament has been included as part of the WSOP Europe schedule.  The event was played over three consecutive days and nights, ending on a perfectly warm and mild Thursday evening along the Mediterranean Sea.  With ocean waves surging up the nearby beaches, the new poker champion began the early celebration by posing with his first gold bracelet out in front of the Hotel Majestic Barriere, in front of a swarm of curious onlookers and fellow players offering their congratulations.

There’s a lot more poker still to come.  The world’s most exciting and prestigious poker series has three WSOP gold bracelet events remaining, including the internationally-televised Main Event Championship, which runs 15-20 October in Cannes. 

For more information about the WSOP and WSOP Europe, please visit the portal page at WSOP.com.  A full official report of this tournament, with more notes and winner quotes, will be available shortly.

For more information about the WSOP and WSOP Europe, please visit the portal page at wsop.com.


THE WINNER – TRISTAN WADE

The winner of the 3,000 (Euro) buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout (WSOP Europe -- Event #4) was Tristan Wade, from Boynton Beach, Florida (USA).

Wade is a 26-year-old professional poker player, as well as a writer and online instructor.

Wade was also born in Boynton Beach, FL.  He says he had an ideal childhood growing up in South Florida.  Wade noted that he had the perfect parents and would not change anything about them or his early years.

Wade earned a college degree in psychology from Central Florida University.  He initially majored in information technology because he was interested in computers and other high-tech subjects.  However, Wade decided to focus on psychology instead.  He graduated four years ago. 

Wade has been playing poker seriously since 2003.  He says he earned his college degree as a “back up plan,” in case his poker career did not work out.  Nonetheless, Wade has taken a deliberately steady approach to the game almost from the start.  He has gradually moved up the ranks and is now among the best players who are now touring as pros.

Wade is currently the Director of Training for the poker teaching site called Deep Stacks University.  He has also been affiliated with Pocket Fives.

Wade has been in a state of semi-limbo since the developments of April 2011 (online poker indictments).  He once concentrated most of his time and energy on online play.  But since he can no longer indulge in online poker games, he is now considering moving elsewhere.  At the very least, Wade expects to play significantly more live action and poker tournaments.

Wade bought a one-way airline ticket from his home, initially flying to London for another poker tournament.  He was not sure how long he would stay or how many events he would attend.  Wade decided to come to Cannes and play at WSOP Europe.  That turned out to be a wise decision.  Wade also says he is unsure where he will play next.

This is the first year that Wade as played at WSOP Europe.  He has been playing at the WSOP during the past six years.

Wade’s overall online poker winnings now total more than $1.5 million.  This victory at WSOP Europe puts him close to the $1 million mark in career live tournament earnings, as well.

Wade collected 182,048 (Euros) for first place.  The payout is equal to about $249,965 (USD).

With his victory, Wade now has one win, three final table appearances, and 14 cashes at the WSOP.  Wade’s WSOP earnings now total $826,265.

Wade has now made it to three final tables this year in WSOP play.  His previous finales included fourth place in the $10,000 buy-in Six-handed No-Limit Hold’em Championship and seventh place in a $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold;em event.

Wade has two WSOP Main Event cashes, in 2006 (163rd) and 2010 (113th).

Wade is to be classified as a professional poker player, since he has been playing full time for about seven years and has been successful both in online play and tournaments.

At 26, Wade is the oldest gold bracelet winner at 2011 WSOP Europe, through the first four events.


WINNER QUOTES

On his feelings immediately after winning a WSOP gold bracelet:  “It is absolutely amazing.  The win really hasn’t sunk in yet.  It will probably take a while.  I have been playing poker for a long time, a little over eight years.  I have been to the World Series.  I think this was my sixth year.  I have been close, but I never really captured a big tournament.  So, to win a World Series bracelet means everything.

On the so-called “validation” question about whether winning the gold bracelet is the benchmark of excellence in the game:  “The World Series of Poker is the best tournament series in the world.  So, winning a gold bracelet in one of these events is a feat that most people will never accomplish.  And, I understand that.  I have played enough poker and enough events to understand that when you actually do win a bracelet, you can’t take it for granted.  You have to realize how it is to win.  I would rather win a World Series bracelet rather than any other tournament.  I am so glad I did.  Now, I hope I can knock down some other tournaments, as well.”

On coming to WSOP Europe on a one-way ticket and living what many might consider to be a jet-set lifestyle:  “Luckily poker gives you that kind of freedom.  I can pick and chose what I want to do and make spontaneous decisions.  I came over here first to London.  Then, I went to Amsterdam.  And now I am in Cannes.  Maybe I will go to San Remo (Italy) next and try to win another tournament.”

On his success earlier this year at the WSOP in Las Vegas, but not winning a gold bracelet until now:  “That was a tough final table when I finished fourth in the 10K.  Everyone was a really accomplished player at that final table.  So, I could not really be upset getting fourth.  I did my best.  It just did not go my way.  I did have another final table which was a seventh-place finish.  That was much more disappointment, because I had some bad luck go against me at the final table.  Such is poker.  I am a professional.  I know how to handle it.  Even if it was heads-up on a bad beat, that’s just the way it goes.  And that is what makes me really appreciate winning this tournament.  Because I know you need skill and luck.  You can be the best player, but you still have to avoid bad luck going against you and instead get some breaks.  That is what happened for me tonight.”

On working as a writer-teacher-instructor and what that has meant to his development as a poker player:  “Pocket Fives and Two Plus Two have been great poker websites that I have visited often in order to learn poker and see what people are taking about in the game.  It helped me to better understand fundamentals and concepts in the game that I would probably not have gotten anywhere else.  I also met a lot of very good friends in poker though the sites.  I mean not just good poker players, but good people.  I want to thank them for all their help.  I also want to thank Deep Stacks, as well.  Deep Stacks is a company where we do poker education, we do live seminars, we do online training.  We also have a poker tour we are starting.  That is just an unbelievable organization with a lot of big things on the horizon.”

On his support group and what they mean to him:  “My parents are the best people that could have raised any kid in the world.  Without a doubt, there’s not one single thing I would change about my family, including my brother and sister.  I have the best friends anyone could hope for.”


THE FINAL TABLE

For the purposes of WSOP records and results, this official final table was comprised of the final ten players (top ten finishers).  Normally, official final tables are counted at nine-handed.  But the Shootout is unique and brings ten players together for the finale.

The final table included only two former WSOP gold bracelet winners – Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier and James Dempsey.  This was the only final table -- of the four played to date -- which included multiple former winners. 

Five different nations were represented at the final table – including the United States (5), Great Britain (2), Canada (1), France (1), and Hungary (1).

Seven of the ten finalists were aged in their 20s.  The eldest player was 32.

The runner up was Michael Watson, from Toronto, Ontario (Canada).  He is a 27-year-old poker pro.  Watson has a number of big finishes on his poker resume, including a win at the Bellagio Cup and a third place finish in the High Roller event at EPT London three years ago.  This was his highest WSOP finish, which paid 112,526 (Euros).

The third-place finisher was Richard Toth, a 32-year-old Hungarian poker pro now residing in the U.S.  Toth is originally from Miskolc, Hungary.  Toth has many poker accomplishments to his credit, including a gold ring victory at the WSOP Circuit event held in New Orleans, two years ago.  Toth also has final table appearances on the EPT and WPT.  Toth finished as runner up in a WSOP event back in 2008, and came close again to winning this time, but fell just short.  Third place paid out 84,016 (Euros).

The fourth-place finisher was Max Silver, from Dublin, Ireland.  He is a 21-year-old poker pro.  Silver enjoyed a victory at a major event held in Dublin a few years ago and then final tabled the same tournament the following year.  This marked Silver’s first time to cash at the WSOP.  He received 63,151 (Euros).

The fifth-place finisher was international poker superstar Bertrand Grospellier.  Unquestionably France’s best-known and most accomplished player, Grospellier hoped to win what would have been his second gold bracelet victory this year.  But Grospellier’s chips did not last long once he had the chip lead.  He appeared to be the player to beat when play was seven-handed.  But an hour of play later, the famous Frenchman was broke and ended up in fifth place.  “ElKy” earned 47,673 (Euros) in what was his 16th WSOP in-the-money finish.  He now has more than $1 million in WSOP earnings and more than $8 million overall in tournament poker.

The sixth-place finisher was Steve O’Dwyer, from Philadelphia, PA.  He is a 29-year-old poker pro who previously worked in radio broadcasting.  He holds a college degree in communications from East Carolina University.  O’Dwyer was the runner up in the EPT London finale the previous month, which gave him his biggest payday, to date.  He now has more than $1.8 million in live tournament career earnings.  O’Dwyer collected $36,357 (Euros) for sixth place in this tournament.

The seventh-place finisher was Emil Patel, from New York City.  He is a 27-year-old poker pro.  Patel was previously a graduate of New York University.  He now has five WSOP cashes, including three final table appearances (6th, 7th, and 8th).  He collected 27,842 (Euros) in prize money for this fine effort.

The eighth-place finisher was Taylor Paur, from El Dorado Hills, CA.  He is a 23-year-old poker pro.  This was Paur’s first time to attend WSOP Europe.  He was Card Player Magazine’s “Online Player of the Year” in 2010.  This marked Paur’s sixth time to cash in 2011 WSOP events.  He previously took fifth place in the $10,000 buy-in Six-Handed NLHE World Championship.  Paur collected 21,459 (Euros) for finishing eighth which brings his career WSOP earnings close to $250,000.

The ninth-place finisher was James Dempsey, from Brighton, UK.  This marked Dempsey’s fourth time to cash in a WSOP tournament this year.  He also had four cashes last year, including a gold bracelet victory in the $1,500 buy-in Pot-Limit Hold’em event.  Dempsey lasted nearly two hours in this finale, but went out in ninth place holding pockets eights losing to pocket nines.  The final table appearance paid 16,637 (Euros).

The tenth-place finisher was John Armbrust, from Austin, TX.  He is a 30-year-old middle-school principal.  Armbrust is an exceptional character who embodies the concept of giving and civic duty.  He says he would very likely play poker professionally full-time, but his passion for education is so strong that he has dedicated much of his life to helping at-risk youth, particularly in inner cities.  Armbrust is currently in the process of starting a school in South-Central Los Angeles, which he hopes can make a difference for many children.  Armbrust is certainly a man of many talents, including poker.  He cashed two times in the WSOP Main Event, finishing 18th in 2007 and 66th in 2010.  Armbrust now has about $500,000 in career WSOP earnings, including the 12,981 Euros he collected for making this finale. 

This year for the first time in history, WSOP Europe final table action is being shown on live streaming video over the Internet.  Poker fans from all over the world are able to log in to wsop.com and watch all the action live.  All final table events at this year’s WSOP Europe will be broadcast live.

The final showdown between Michael Watson and Tristan Wade began with Watson as a slight chip leader.  But Wade won a few early pots and took the lead.  The two North Americans battled for about an hour before the final hand was dealt.  After Wade lost what appeared at the time to be a backbreaking hand with pocket jacks (he was up against king-ten, and a king flopped), about 30 minutes later he was dealt pocket jacks again.  This time, his two hooks nabbed the catch, which was the gold bracelet. 

The final hand:  Watson with     against Wade with     – Final board:           .

So far, no female player has made it to any final table played at 2011 WSOP Europe.  In fact, the last female player to appear in a finale was in 2008 (Event #1) when Linda Lee (Las Vegas, NV) finished in seventh place.  The only other two females to make final tables at WSOP Europe occurred in 2007 when Jennifer Harman finished second (Event #1) and Annette Obrestad won the inaugural WSOP Europe Main Event Championship (Event #3).

Final table play began at 3:30 pm.  Play ended at 1:15 am.  The total duration was 8 hours, 45 minutes (minus a one-hour dinner break).

 
OTHER IN-THE-MONEY FINISHERS

There were five former WSOP gold bracelet winners who cashed in this event – including Bertrand Grospellier (5th), James Dempsey (9th), plus second round bust-outs Keven Stammen, Sean Getzwiller, Vanessa Selbst, and Freddy Deeb.

This was Vanessa Selbst’s second time to cash this year at WSOP Europe (in four events).

Of the 30 spots paid out in this tournament, nine different nations were represented.

More than half of the sports paid were occupied by Americans.  Players from the United States cashed in 17 out of the 30 positions. 

There was no defending champion from 2010.  This is the first time that a Shootout tournament has been offered at WSOP Europe.


FOR THE AGES

Players are eligible to play at WSOP Europe, provided they are 18-years-old or above. 

The legal age to participate in a WSOP event in Las Vegas is 21 years.  This means players who are 18, 19, or 20 can only play at WSOP Europe, but not at the WSOP in Las Vegas.  So far in 2011, no player aged 18-20 has yet made it to a final table.

The average age of players who have entered events at WSOP Europe is about 33.5 years.  However, younger players have enjoyed disproportionate success.  The average age of players that cash is lower than average.  Furthermore, the average age of final table participants is lower still.  This trend mirrors what happened in Las Vegas during the first 58 gold bracelet events.

Through the first four events at WSOP Europe, the breakdown of players’ ages by decade that made it to the final table is as follows (40 finalists):
 
Age 20s – 23
Age 30s -- 12
Age 40s – 3
Age 50s – 0
Age 60s – 2
Age 70s (and up) – 0

So far this year, all four winners of gold bracelets at WSOP Europe have been aged in their 20s.  The four winner’s ages are:  23, 24, 26, and 26.

ODDS AND ENDS

This is the fourth of seven events on the 2011 WSOP Europe schedule.  It is the 63nd gold bracelet event played in 2011, when combined with the 58 premium events which took place in Las Vegas, plus the WSOP Circuit National Championship, held a few months ago.

The 3,000 Euro buy-in is equal to about $4,149 (USD).

This is the 954th gold bracelet event in World Series of Poker history. Note: This figure includes every official WSOP event ever played, including tournaments during the early years when there were no actual gold bracelets awarded.  It also includes all WSOP Europe gold bracelet event completed, to date.

This is the 20th gold bracelet awarded at WSOP Europe since its inception, in 2007.

The official WSOP gold bracelet ceremony for this champion will take place at Hotel Majestic Barriere in Cannes, just prior to the start of the Main Event.  The presentation is open to public and media.  Video and photography is permitted by both media and the public.

MORE ABOUT 2011 WSOP EUROPE

Three countries have now hosted WSOP gold bracelet events – the United States, Great Britain, and France.

In its 42-year history, WSOP gold bracelet tournament action has taken place at only five venues.  They are Binion’s Horseshoe (1970-2003), Rio Las Vegas (2004-present), Casino at the Empire (2007-2010), Caesars Palace Las Vegas (one event in 2011), and now Barriere Cannes (2011).  Note:  During the 1980s, as few other Downtown Las Vegas casinos also hosted limited portions of the WSOP. 

The first four years of WSOP Europe were played in London, UK at Casino at the Empire.

This marks the first time that a WSOP tournament has ever been played in a non-English speaking nation.

This is the first time that any WSOP gold bracelet event has been hosted at a non-owned venue.  In other words, Barriere is not a Caesars Entertainment property. 

One of the official sponsors of 2011 WSOP Europe is luxury carmaker, Mercedes Benz.  Many players have been shuttled to and from the nearby Nice-Cote d’Azur Airport (about 30 miles away) via Mercedes Benz chauffeur-driven cars.

The 2011 WSOP Europe Staff includes longtime Tournament Director Jack Effel, who has overseen all tournament operations, since 2006.  He and his staff are present in Cannes.  However, much of the set-up and actual operations have been conducted by Barriere’s excellent poker staff.  This group includes – Eric Cavillon (Head of Poker Operations), Alain Fabre (Casino General Manager), Jean Etienne Bouedec (Vice President of Operations), Gregory Chochon (Barriere Poker France), and Lucille Denos (Tournament Director) and many other fine industry professionals.

Official WSOP rules typically specify an “English Only” rule, which means all table discussion relating to play must be conducted in English.  However, at WSOP Europe (Cannes), there is a duel “English or French Only” rule, which means players can communicate in either language at any time.

Tournament play is split between two first-class venues – Le Croisette Casino Barriere and Hotel Majestic Barriere.  The casino and hotel are nestled neck-a-neck along the coastal esplanade facing the Mediterranean Sea.  Tournament Day Ones and final table action are played at the hotel.  Restarts (Day Twos, Day Threes, etc.) are played inside the casino.   

The two poker venues are unquestionably the most glamorous settings for any poker tournament ever held.  Poker action takes place inside the same ballrooms which host the world-famous Cannes Film Festival, held annually every May.  Many of Hollywood’s most-famous movie stars have stayed at the Majestic Barriere.  The hallways are filled with photographs of Hollywood royalty from the 1930s to the present day.  The hotel also hosts various global economic summits, which attract many of the world’s leaders.

2011 is shaping up to be a banner year for the French poker scene.  Not only is France hosting its first WSOP Europe tournament ever, French players also won four gold bracelets at this year’s WSOP, so far.  However, they have come up short in WSOP Europe events, thus far.  The highest French finisher was Bernard Guigon, who took fourth place in Event #2.

This is the first year that all gold bracelet events (at WSOP Europe) will include prize pools of in excess of $1 million (USD).  No slate of WSOP tournaments in history has ever achieved this high a dollar mark for every single event.

THE TOURNAMENT

The 3,000 (Euro) buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout attracted 258 entries. 

The total prize pool amounted to 743,040 (Euros).  At the present-day exchange rate, this is equal to $1,017,963 (USD).

The top 30 finishers collected prize money.

This was the first time a Shootout-style tournament has been offered at WSOP Europe.  This shootout began with 258 players.  The first round matches were played nine-handed (30 tables).  The second-round matches were played three-handed.  The final table began ten-handed.

All players who won their initial match finished in the money.  The number of players at each table in the second-round match was not known until the total number of entrants was known.  Hence, a bigger turnout would have likely created a tougher second-round, rather than the three-player challenge.  The final round was most certainly the toughest of all – comprised of all the winners of the first two matches.  The Shootout format essentially requires the champion to win three consecutive single-table sessions, which are much like Sit n’ Go’s.     

The tournament attracted a highly-competitive field, including most of Europe’s top poker players.  Events in Cannes are unquestionably the most internationally diverse fields in WSOP history. 

The tournament officially began at 5 pm on Tuesday, 11 October.  The tournament officially ended on Friday, 14 October at 1:15 am (Cannes time).

WSOP AND WSOP EUROPE NOTES

Through Las Vegas Event #58 and Cannes Event #4 (all gold bracelet events), WSOP events have attracted 77,241 combined total entries, to date.

Through Cannes Event #4, 2011 WSOP Europe events have attracted 1,569 combined total entries (360+771+180+258).  Three more gold bracelet events are still to be played.

Through Las Vegas Event #58 and Cannes Event #4 (all gold bracelet events), in 2011 for all events combined, the WSOP has paid out $195,528,573 – the most of any single year in history.

Through Cannes Event #3, 2011 WSOP Europe combined events have paid out 3,211,140 (Euros) in prize money.  This is equal to about $4,400,072 (USD).
 
Through the conclusion of Cannes Event #4, the breakdown of nationalities of gold bracelet winners has been:
 
United States (2)
Switzerland (1)
Australia (1)

Through the conclusion of Event #57 (WSOP Las Vegas) and Event #4 (WSOP Europe), the breakdown of nationalities of gold bracelet winners this year has been as follows:
 
(Note that 2011 WSOP Main Event is still pending):
 
United States (37)
Canada (5)
Ukraine (4)
France (4)
Great Britain (3)
Russia (3)
Brazil (1)
Pakistan (1)
Sweden (1)
Switzerland (1)
Australia (1)

Through the conclusion of Event #57 (WSOP Las Vegas) and Event #3 (WSOP Europe), the national origin (birthplace) of winners has been as follows:
 
United States (33)
Canada (5)
Ukraine (4)
France (4)
Great Britain (3)
Russia (3)
Israel (1)
Honduras (1)
Indonesia (1)
Germany (1)
Brazil (1)
Pakistan (1)
Sweden (1)
Switzerland (1)
Australia (1)

Through the conclusion of Event #57 (WSOP Las Vegas) and Event #4 (WSOP Europe), the breakdown of professional poker players to semi-pros and
amateurs who won gold bracelets has been as follows:

Professional Players (47): Jake Cody, Cheech Barbaro, Eugene Katchalov, Allen Bari, Harrison Wilder, Matt Perrins, Sean Getzwiller, Viacheslav Zhukov, David Diaz, Andrew Badecker, Tyler Bonkowski, Brian Rast (2 wins), John Juanda, Aaron Steury, Darren Woods, Jason Somerville, Bertrand Grospellier, John Monnette, Elie Payan, Mark Radoja, Chris Viox, Dan Idema, Andy Frankenberger, Chris Lee, Sam Stein, Mark Schmid, Jason Mercier, Mikhail Lakhitov, Fabrice Soulier, Mitch Schock, Matt Jarvis, Justin Pechie, Ben Lamb, Rep Porter, Andre Akkari, Joe Ebanks, Lenny Martin, Athanasios Polychronopoulos, Antonin Teisseire, Matt Matros, Marsha Wolak. Maxim Lykov, Nick Binger, Andrew Hinrichsen, Steve Billirakis, Tristan Wade

Semi-Pros (6): Sean R. Drake, Amir Lehavot, Oleksii Kovalchuk, Eric Rosawig, Arkadiy Tsinis, Alexander Anter

Amateurs (8): Geffrey Klein, Foster Hays, James Hess, Kirk Caldwell, Ken Griffin, Owais Ahmed, David Singontiko, Guillaume Humbert

Since tracking first started in 2005, this year’s WSOP/WSOP Europe has the greatest disparity of professionals winning over semi-pros and amateurs than any year recorded, so far – with 53 out of 61 events being won by pros or semi-pros.

Through the conclusion of this tournament, the victories of 13 of the 61 winners (22 percent) marked the first time the new champion had ever cashed at the WSOP.

The streak of consecutive male WSOP gold bracelet winners is currently at 216  consecutive events.  Aside from the annual Ladies Poker Championship, the last female player to win a WSOP tournament open to both sexes was Vanessa Selbst, in 2008.  The longest “cold” streak for female players occurred between years 1982 and 1996, when 221 consecutive open events passed without a female champion.

The highest finish by any female (open events) at this year’s WSOP was accomplished by two players.  Maria Ho finished second ($5,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em).  Kim Nguyen also finished as the runner up ($1,500 buy-in Six-Handed Limit Hold’em).

The highest finish by any defending champion at this year’s WSOP was by David Baker, who after winning the previous $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw Lowball World Championship finished in sixth place in defense of his title.

Defending world champion Jonathan Duhamel played in his first WSOP Europe tournament (Event #5 – which has just started at press time).  Reigning world poker champions rarely perform well the following year after their victory. Chris “Jesus” Ferguson was the last world champion to win a gold bracelet the next year, which happened in 2001.  Perhaps it’s due to the increasing size of the fields. But there’s also great pressure on the champions to perform well.  What follows is a list of the only world champions in history to win a gold bracelet after winning the world championship during the previous year:
 
Johnny Moss (1975)
Doyle Brunson (1977)
Bobby Baldwin (1979)
Stu Ungar (1981)
Johnny Chan (1988)
Hamid Dastmalchi (1993)
Chris “Jesus” Ferguson (2001)

New tournament records set at 2011 WSOP Europe (to date):
First WSOP winner in history from Switzerland – Guillaume Humbert
Largest tournament attendance in WSOP Europe history – 771 entrants (Event #2)
Most international final table in history – 8 nations (Event #3)….TIES RECORD
…….