Photo Caption: Saturday’s $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament (Event #19) attracted another decent turnout – totaling 2,302 entries. A similar number is expected for Sunday’s follow up – a $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em competition (Event #20) that should keep the Rio overflowing with poker action. Meanwhile, four other events with huge implications are winding down, with some of the biggest names in poker aiming for gold bracelets. To see more photos from the 2012 WSOP, please visit the official WSOP PHOTO BLOG.
………………….
DAILY HEADLINES
Matt Matros Wins $1,500 Buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Championship and $454,853
New York Poker Pro Becomes 55th Player in History to Achieve Three-Plus Gold Bracelet Victories
Pot-Limit Hold’em Down to 17 – Manuel Bevand Leads the Pack with Corkins, Deeb, and Esfandiari Near the Top
Razz Enters Final Day – Hellmuth Going for 12th Win
2,302 Players Jam Into Event #19 – Day Two Begins on Sunday
…………………..
Photo Caption: Saturday’s $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament (Event #19) attracted another decent turnout – totaling 2,302 entries. A similar number is expected for Sunday’s follow up – a $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em competition (Event #20) that should keep the Rio overflowing with poker action. Meanwhile, four other events with huge implications are winding down, with some of the biggest names in poker aiming for gold bracelets. To see more photos from the 2012 WSOP, please visit the official WSOP PHOTO BLOG.
………………….
DAILY HEADLINES
Matt Matros Wins $1,500 Buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Championship and $454,853
New York Poker Pro Becomes 55th Player in History to Achieve Three-Plus Gold Bracelet Victories
Pot-Limit Hold’em Down to 17 – Manuel Bevand Leads the Pack with Corkins, Deeb, and Esfandiari Near the Top
Razz Enters Final Day – Hellmuth Going for 12th Win
2,302 Players Jam Into Event #19 – Day Two Begins on Sunday
…………………..
MATT MATROS ENTERS ELITE COMPANY – NEW YORK POKER PRO WINS THIRD WSOP GOLD BRACELET
Move over, Barry Greenstein. Make Way “Miami John” Cernuto. Move to the side, Chau Giang. You have company.
Matt Matros, a professional poker player and writer from New York City, joined the elite class of three-time WSOP gold bracelet winners on Saturday, by winning the $1,500 buy-in SIX-HANDED NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM title (EVENT #16). Incredibly, Matros has now won a gold bracelet during each of the last three years.
The list of WSOP triple winners is awe-inspiring. Consider that this illustrious group includes Puggy Pearson, Chip Reese, David Sklansky, and many of the most revered names from poker’s past.
Matros was humbled and even a bit surprised by his inclusion into this category. “I don’t even know what to think about this. It’s ridiculous,” he said moments after the victory. “I thought I was lucky last year (when I won). I felt kind of guilty about that. I don’t even know what to think this year. I have to be the luckiest person alive.”
To see the quick recap of Matros’ third gold bracelet victory, click HERE.
…………………..
TALK ABOUT A BAD BEAT!
Imagine playing for 15 hours, outlasting hundreds of poker players, getting into the money, and then losing money. It can happen.
Ask poor Gordon Vayo, who cashed in Event #5, but somehow managed to lose money despite hitting the fringe of a top-ten percent finish.
Of course, the odd explanation is simple. Vayo ended up splitting the 72nd-place payout – which ended up being less than the buy-in. So, he managed to cash, and still lose.
Don't feel too badly for Vayo though. He is definitely in the black this WSOP after finishing fourth in the $1,500 Six-Handed No Limit Hold'em event for $121,262 on Saturday.
…………………..
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE LADIES
Jessica Welman’s feature story about ladies competing at the 2012 WSOP is a must-read.
Much has been made about the so-called “Female Famine”, which refers to ladies failing to win any gold bracelets in open events over the past four years. The streak has certainly reached epic proportions, adding a bit of drama each and every time a female player does manage to post a deep run, or manage to make it to the final table.
Nonetheless, winning isn’t necessarily everything. And, perhaps we should quantify the statement that winning does not always apply just to gold bracelets. It also applies to prize money.
As Welman showed, female players have actually outperformed the pure expectation of their numbers (in terms of total entries). They are, despite their small numbers, regularly hitting the final table even have held the chip lead a few times late in some tournaments.
Yet, while the focus on gold bracelets and dubious streaks may be a bit overblown, it does add a sense of drama to each and every WSOP tournament now, especially when a female player is positioned near the chip lead.
No doubt, a female winning a WSOP gold bracelet in an open event is not just a matter of “if,” but “when.” It will happen.
And, when it does – a great many will be on the rail cheering, on their home computers celebrating, or around the globe reading about it afterwards rejuvenated by the prospect of true equality in every sphere of life, including poker.
....................
THE WSOP TODAY
9:00 AM
Today’s first tournament is a $75 buy-in TURBO MEGA-SATELLITE.
NOON
EVENT #21 is a $1,000 buy-in NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament that begins with the play of Day One. Late registration will be available for this event up until about 4:40 pm * Action takes place inside Brasilia. The Pavilion White and Black sections will be used for overflow. This is a three-day event.
EVENT #21 UPDATES can be followed at WSOP.com. Coverage includes almost-live chip counts as well as written updates supplied from the tournament floor by our friends at PokerNews.com.
The official Structure Sheet for EVENT #21 can be viewed HERE.
1:00 PM
EVENT #17 the $10,000 buy-in POT--LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament continues with the play of Day Three – including the final table. There are 17 players remaining. Manuel Bevand is the current chip leader. Action will take place inside Amazon. The list of survivors and chip counts is available HERE.
EVENT #19, the $1,500 buy-in NO--LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament continues with the restart and Day Two play. There are 262 players remaining. Jessica Hanna is currently the chip leader. Action will take place inside Amazon. The list of survivors and chip counts is available HERE.
2:00 PM
EVENT #18 the $1,500 buy-in SEVEN-CARD RAZZ tournament continues with the play of Day Three – including the final table. There are 18 players remaining from the starting field of 179. Brandon Cantu is the chip leader with 298,500. Phil Hellmuth is once again in contention for his 12th bracelet and will begin the day third in chips with 287,500. Action will take place inside Amazon. The list of survivors and chip counts is available HERE.
EVENT #20, the $5,000 buy-in LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament continues today with the restart and play of Day Two. Action takes place inside Amazon.
The first daily DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament begins. The entry fee is $235. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 4:20 pm.
2:20 PM
Today’s gold bracelet ceremony includes the winner of EVENT #16 (Matt Matros). Only the U.S. anthem will be played today.
4:00 PM
The first MEGA-SATELLITE begins. The entry fee is $330
5:00 PM
EVENT #22, the $2,500 buy-in DEUCE-TO-SEVEN TRIPLE-DRAW LOWBALL tournament begins today. Late registration will be available for this event up until about 9:40 pm * Action takes place inside Amazon. This is a three-day event.
EVENT #22 UPDATES can be followed at WSOP.com. Coverage includes almost-live chip counts as well as written updates supplied from the tournament floor by our friends at PokerNews.com.
The official Structure Sheet for EVENT #22 can be viewed HERE.
6:00 PM
The second DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament begins. The entry fee is $185. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 8:20 pm.
8:00 PM
The second MEGA-SATELLITE of the day begins. The game is OMAHA HIGH-LOW SPLIT, which feeds into EVENT #24. The entry fee is $550.
10:00 PM
The third and final DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament begins at 10 pm. The entry fee is $135. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 12:20 am.
3:00 AM
All WSOP gold bracelet tournaments end for the night.
WHAT ELSE
REMINDER: In order to avoid long lines which may take place on tournament day, the WSOP encourages all players to register as early as possible. This is particularly true for the $1,000 buy-in SENIORS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (EVENT #29), which is coming up one week from today (Friday) – June 15th.
Cash game action continues to expand and is about as the same number of games as was spread last year. In coming weeks as overall attendance increases getting closer to the Main Event Championship, the number of cash games is likely to surpass the busiest times at last year’s WSOP. There are 82 poker tables dedicated to cash games inside Pavilion, plus an additional 14 poker tables dedicated to cash games inside the Rio (Main Casino). Right now, the most popular game spread is $1-3 No-Limit Hold'em. However, games of virtually all limits are being spread.
Single-table satellites are being held 24/7 inside the Pavilion. All satellite winners receive $500 buy-in tournament chips.
...................
* Please note that all listed times are estimates and subject to change
-- by Nolan Dalla (A special shout out today goes to all the clean-up people who keep things neat while we make a mess of things. A kind word or two to these fine people would be appreciated. They are essential to what we do.)
MATT MATROS ENTERS ELITE COMPANY – NEW YORK POKER PRO WINS THIRD WSOP GOLD BRACELET
Move over, Barry Greenstein. Make Way “Miami John” Cernuto. Move to the side, Chau Giang. You have company.
Matt Matros, a professional poker player and writer from New York City, joined the elite class of three-time WSOP gold bracelet winners on Saturday, by winning the $1,500 buy-in SIX-HANDED NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM title (EVENT #16). Incredibly, Matros has now won a gold bracelet during each of the last three years.
The list of WSOP triple winners is awe-inspiring. Consider that this illustrious group includes Puggy Pearson, Chip Reese, David Sklansky, and many of the most revered names from poker’s past.
Matros was humbled and even a bit surprised by his inclusion into this category. “I don’t even know what to think about this. It’s ridiculous,” he said moments after the victory. “I thought I was lucky last year (when I won). I felt kind of guilty about that. I don’t even know what to think this year. I have to be the luckiest person alive.”
To see the quick recap of Matros’ third gold bracelet victory, click HERE.
…………………..
TALK ABOUT A BAD BEAT!
Imagine playing for 15 hours, outlasting hundreds of poker players, getting into the money, and then losing money. It can happen.
Ask poor Gordon Vayo, who cashed in Event #5, but somehow managed to lose money despite hitting the fringe of a top-ten percent finish.
Of course, the odd explanation is simple. Vayo ended up splitting the 72nd-place payout – which ended up being less than the buy-in. So, he managed to cash, and still lose.
Don't feel too badly for Vayo though. He is definitely in the black this WSOP after finishing fourth in the $1,500 Six-Handed No Limit Hold'em event for $121,262 on Saturday.
…………………..
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE LADIES
Jessica Welman’s feature story about ladies competing at the 2012 WSOP is a must-read.
Much has been made about the so-called “Female Famine”, which refers to ladies failing to win any gold bracelets in open events over the past four years. The streak has certainly reached epic proportions, adding a bit of drama each and every time a female player does manage to post a deep run, or manage to make it to the final table.
Nonetheless, winning isn’t necessarily everything. And, perhaps we should quantify the statement that winning does not always apply just to gold bracelets. It also applies to prize money.
As Welman showed, female players have actually outperformed the pure expectation of their numbers (in terms of total entries). They are, despite their small numbers, regularly hitting the final table even have held the chip lead a few times late in some tournaments.
Yet, while the focus on gold bracelets and dubious streaks may be a bit overblown, it does add a sense of drama to each and every WSOP tournament now, especially when a female player is positioned near the chip lead.
No doubt, a female winning a WSOP gold bracelet in an open event is not just a matter of “if,” but “when.” It will happen.
And, when it does – a great many will be on the rail cheering, on their home computers celebrating, or around the globe reading about it afterwards rejuvenated by the prospect of true equality in every sphere of life, including poker.
....................
THE WSOP TODAY
9:00 AM
Today’s first tournament is a $75 buy-in TURBO MEGA-SATELLITE.
NOON
EVENT #21 is a $1,000 buy-in NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament that begins with the play of Day One. Late registration will be available for this event up until about 4:40 pm * Action takes place inside Brasilia. The Pavilion White and Black sections will be used for overflow. This is a three-day event.
EVENT #21 UPDATES can be followed at WSOP.com. Coverage includes almost-live chip counts as well as written updates supplied from the tournament floor by our friends at PokerNews.com.
The official Structure Sheet for EVENT #21 can be viewed HERE.
1:00 PM
EVENT #17 the $10,000 buy-in POT--LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament continues with the play of Day Three – including the final table. There are 17 players remaining. Manuel Bevand is the current chip leader. Action will take place inside Amazon. The list of survivors and chip counts is available HERE.
EVENT #19, the $1,500 buy-in NO--LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament continues with the restart and Day Two play. There are 262 players remaining. Jessica Hanna is currently the chip leader. Action will take place inside Amazon. The list of survivors and chip counts is available HERE.
2:00 PM
EVENT #18 the $1,500 buy-in SEVEN-CARD RAZZ tournament continues with the play of Day Three – including the final table. There are 18 players remaining from the starting field of 179. Brandon Cantu is the chip leader with 298,500. Phil Hellmuth is once again in contention for his 12th bracelet and will begin the day third in chips with 287,500. Action will take place inside Amazon. The list of survivors and chip counts is available HERE.
EVENT #20, the $5,000 buy-in LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament continues today with the restart and play of Day Two. Action takes place inside Amazon.
The first daily DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament begins. The entry fee is $235. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 4:20 pm.
2:20 PM
Today’s gold bracelet ceremony includes the winner of EVENT #16 (Matt Matros). Only the U.S. anthem will be played today.
4:00 PM
The first MEGA-SATELLITE begins. The entry fee is $330
5:00 PM
EVENT #22, the $2,500 buy-in DEUCE-TO-SEVEN TRIPLE-DRAW LOWBALL tournament begins today. Late registration will be available for this event up until about 9:40 pm * Action takes place inside Amazon. This is a three-day event.
EVENT #22 UPDATES can be followed at WSOP.com. Coverage includes almost-live chip counts as well as written updates supplied from the tournament floor by our friends at PokerNews.com.
The official Structure Sheet for EVENT #22 can be viewed HERE.
6:00 PM
The second DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament begins. The entry fee is $185. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 8:20 pm.
8:00 PM
The second MEGA-SATELLITE of the day begins. The game is OMAHA HIGH-LOW SPLIT, which feeds into EVENT #24. The entry fee is $550.
10:00 PM
The third and final DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament begins at 10 pm. The entry fee is $135. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 12:20 am.
3:00 AM
All WSOP gold bracelet tournaments end for the night.
WHAT ELSE
REMINDER: In order to avoid long lines which may take place on tournament day, the WSOP encourages all players to register as early as possible. This is particularly true for the $1,000 buy-in SENIORS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (EVENT #29), which is coming up one week from today (Friday) – June 15th.
Cash game action continues to expand and is about as the same number of games as was spread last year. In coming weeks as overall attendance increases getting closer to the Main Event Championship, the number of cash games is likely to surpass the busiest times at last year’s WSOP. There are 82 poker tables dedicated to cash games inside Pavilion, plus an additional 14 poker tables dedicated to cash games inside the Rio (Main Casino). Right now, the most popular game spread is $1-3 No-Limit Hold'em. However, games of virtually all limits are being spread.
Single-table satellites are being held 24/7 inside the Pavilion. All satellite winners receive $500 buy-in tournament chips.
...................
* Please note that all listed times are estimates and subject to change
-- by Nolan Dalla (A special shout out today goes to all the clean-up people who keep things neat while we make a mess of things. A kind word or two to these fine people would be appreciated. They are essential to what we do.)