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THE WSOP DAILY SHUFFLE: FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2012

The Brazilians Are Back!; The British are Coming; Craig McCorkell Wins U.K.'s First Gold Bracelet of 2012; Greg Mueller Nears Third Victory; 1,000th Gold Bracelet in WSOP History Today.

Jun 22 2012 06:51 AM ESTNolan Dalla

THE WSOP DAILY SHUFFLE: FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2012

Photo Caption: The wild and crazy Brazilians are back! Known for their intense enthusiasm and penchant for celebration – no matter what the occasion – Brazilians have begun packing the galleries at WSOP final tables like it’s a World Cup soccer match. No question about it, the dynamics of a final table change dramatically when a Brazilian player is present. On Thursday, Thiago Nishijima (from Sao Paulo) enjoyed the loudest rail support of any player so far this year when he made the finale of the No-Limit Hold’em Shootout. Brazilian fans hoped that Nishijima might join the short list of just two players from Brazil to win a WSOP gold bracelet in history – Alexandre Gomes (2008) and Andre Akkari (2011). However, Nishijima went out in eighth place. When the Brazilians started to exit, their seats were occupied immediately by players and fans from the U.K. -- who cheered fellow countryman Craig McCorkwell to his first gold bracelet win. To see more photos from the 2012 WSOP, please visit the official WSOP PHOTO BLOG.

DAILY HEADLINES

Blame it on the Rio: Brazilians Return to WSOP

2012 WSOP Halftime Statistics – By State, Country, Gender

U.K.’s Craig McCorkell Wins First WSOP Gold Bracelet

Most Thrilling Final Table of 2012 WSOP Includes Two Stunning Comebacks and UK's First Gold Bracelet Winner of the Year -- Jeremiah Fitzpatrick Takes Second, Antonio Esfandiari Finishes Third.

Eight-Game Mix Down to Two – Greg Mueller Leads David Baker Going into Overtime (Unscheduled Day Four)

1000th Gold Bracelet Goes to Winner of Event #41 – Starting Friday

Japanese National Anthem to be Played at WSOP For First Time Today – Gold Bracelet Ceremony for Naoya Kihara from Tokyo at 2:20 pm

2012 WSOP HALFTIME STATISTICS – BY COUNTRY

The 2012 World Series of Poker has already crossed the midway point.

So, which players from which states and countries have been the best performers? We know that 31 gold bracelets have been awarded (at the time of these statistics). But what about other major categories -- such as prize money won, cashes, and final table appearances? What about players/states/countries with the best overall percentage of cashes? What about overall results – by gender?

Through the completion of gold bracelet Events 1 through 31, here's the halftime scoreboard for states, countries, and by gender.

NOTE: To see a listing of leaders in individual categories, click HERE.

Total Entries – by Gender
Females – 1,192
Males – 30,300

Total Cashes – by Gender
Females – 106 ($2,109,891)
Males – 3,297 ($46,985,884)

Cash Percentages – by Gender
Females --     106/1,192 (8.89 percent)
Males – 3,297/30,300 (10.88 percent)

Final Table Appearances Count -- by Gender
Females – 9
Males – 227

Top Money Winners – Females
Allyn Shulman -- $603,713 in 1 cash
Amanda Musumeci -- $481,643 in one cash
Cherish Andrews   -- $218,961 in two cashes
Vanessa Selbst -- $182,019 in two cashes
Patricia Baker -- $43,754 in one cash
Annette Obrestad -- $41,477 in three cashes
Carolyn Tulloch -- $37,672 in one cash

Xuan Liu - $29,985 in one cash

Ronit Chamani - $27,421 in three cashes

Bonnie Rossi -- $21,501 in two cashes
Cynthia Violette -- $15,906 in one cash

Most Cashes -- Females

Ronit Chamani -- 3

Lauren Kling -- 3
Annette Obrestad -- 3
Jennifer Harman-Traniello -- 2
Bonnie Rossi -- 2
Joanne Monteavaro -- 2
Vanessa Selbst -- 2
Millie Shiu -- 2
Samantha Cohen -- 2
Marla Schwartz -- 2
Kathleen Liebert -- 2
Liv Boeree -- 2
Cherish Andrews   -- 2

Top Money Winners (Cashes/Winnings) – By State
NV -- 540    ($8,710,458)
CA -- 500    ($5,787,457)
NY -- 156    ($2,559,356)

IL -- 101 ($2,016,322)

PA -- 52 ($1,876,769)

FL -- 174    ($1,875,723)
TX -- 181    ($1,586,263)
MD -- 30    ($1,231,264)
WA -- 75   ($961,869)
OH -- 62    ($939,194)

Top Cash Percentages (Cashes/Entries) – By State
NV   540/3426   15.76%
IA   18/127   14.17%
OR   38/284   13.38%
VT   4/31   12.90%
HI   16/128   12.50%
SD   6/48   12.50%
LA   23/204   11.27%
ID   12/110   10.91%
IN   24/227   10.57%
FL   174/1692   10.28%

Most Final Table Appearances – By State
NV -- 56
CA -- 33
FL -- 11
NY -- 9
WA -- 9
IL -- 8

PA -- 7

NJ -- 5

Most Entries – By State
CA --   5,014
NV -- 3,426
TX -- 2,078
FL -- 1,692
NY -- 1,523
IL -- 1,167
AZ -- 946
WA -- 768
CO -- 679
NJ -- 647

Top Money Winners (Cashes/Winnings) – By Country
United States - 2740 ($38,120,181)
Canada - 179 ($3,640,440)
United Kingdom - 127 ($1,539,758)
France - 44 ($1,028,598)
Germany - 42 ($650,712)
Spain -14 ($537,304)
Australia - 16 ($491,836)
Ukraine - 14 ($469,237)
Belgium - 4 ($454,040)


Top Cash Percentages (Cashes/Entries) – By Country
South Africa - 12/42 (28.57%)
Ukraine - 14/68 (20.59%)
Spain - 14/72 (19.44%)
Czech Republic - 8/48 (16.67%)
United Kingdom - 127/917 (13.85%)
Australia - 16/125 (12.80%)
France - 44/354   (12.43%)
Netherlands - 11/89 (12.36%)
Germany - 42/342 (12.28%)
Mexico - 8/68 (11.76%)


All Nations (Cashes/Entries/Cash Percentage)
Australia   16/125   12.80%
Austria   5/55   9.09%
Belgium   4/38   10.53%
Bermuda   1/4   25.00%
Brazil   14/142   9.86%
Bulgaria   5/24   20.83%
Canada   179/1640   10.91%
Costa Rica   4/13   30.77%
Croatia   1/2   50.00%
Czech Republic   8/48   16.67%
Denmark   4/30   13.33%
Finland   6/53   11.32%
France   44/354   12.43%
Germany   42/342   12.28%
Hong Kong   1/7   14.29%
Hungary   2/25   8.00%
Ireland   6/59   10.17%
Israel   5/20   25.00%
Italy   27/244   11.07%
Japan   4/44   9.09%
Latvia   3/13   23.08%
Lithuania   2/32   6.25%
Malta   3/19   15.79%
Mexico   8/68   11.76%
Netherlands   11/89   12.36%
Norway   4/38   10.53%
Portugal   1/9   11.11%
Puerto Rico   1/5   20.00%
Romania   1/15   6.67%
Russia   52/443   11.74%
Serbia   2/18   11.11%
Singapore   1/2   50.00%
Slovakia   1/3   33.33%
South Africa   12/42   28.57%
Spain   14/72   19.44%
Sweden   7/62   11.29%
Switzerland   2/49   4.08%
Ukraine   14/68   20.59%
United Kingdom   127/917   13.85%
United States   2740/26047   10.52%
Uruguay   1/13   7.69%
Venezuela   1/9   11.11%

Most Final Table Appearance – By Country
United States -- 196
Canada -- 14
United Kingdom -- 8
Germany -- 3
France -- 3
Australia -- 3
Spain   -- 2
Russia -- 2
Ukraine -- 1
Sweden -- 1
Norway -- 1
Netherlands -- 1
Belgium -- 1

Most Entries – By Country
United States -- 26,047
Canada -- 1,640
United Kingdom -- 926
Russia -- 443
France -- 354
Germany -- 342
Italy -- 244
Brazil   -- 142
Australia -- 125
Netherlands -- 89

NOTE: Special thanks to Alan Fowler from the WSOP Media Staff for compiling these standings and figures.

CRAIG MCCORKELL BECOMES ENGLAND’S FIRST WSOP GOLD BRACELET WINNER IN 2012

Craig McCorkell won the $3,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout, which concluded on ESPN’s Main Stage on Thursday night. He overcame a field of 587 players over a three-day period en route to his first major tournament victory.

The landmark win paid $368,593 in prize money. McCorkell also collected the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.

But the six-figure score and a prestigious gold bracelet were mere exclamation points to what was unquestionably the most entertaining and exciting final table of the entire 2012 WSOP. In fact, McCorkell’s victory was as memorable as it was shocking. At one point late when play was down to three-handed, former gold bracelet winner Antonio “the Magician” Esfandiari held about 80 percent of the total chips in play.

However, in a shocking course of events, Esfandiari went bust within just a ten-minute span – which included three horrendous bad beats. A short time later, McCorkell reversed a 3 to 1 chip disadvantage when heads up started began and earned his own gold bracelet victory in the most memorable fashion imaginable.

This will likely be remembered as a final table that included eight full hours of ecstasy, tragedy, jubilation, and heartbreak. An ultimately, Craig McCorkell got to enjoy the biggest celebration of all, as the newest WSOP gold bracelet champion.

1,000 GOLD BRACELETS

Event #41 starts today, at noon. The $3,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament should draw a sizable crowd. What many may not realize is there is some added significance attached to this WSOP victory, as this will be the 1,000th gold bracelet awarded in WSOP history. Over the past 43 years, only 1,000 golden amulets have been bestowed upon winners as poker’s ultimate symbol of achievement.

Next week, Event #47 will be the 1,000th event held in WSOP history. The reason why there are more gold bracelets than events is, there are six champions who won what was called the Mixed-Doubles event, which was played during the early 1980s. Two gold bracelets were awarded to the two winners over the course of six years.

It should be noted that although winners did not receive actual gold bracelets during the earliest years of the WSOP, all victories are retroactively credited as a “gold bracelet victory.”

WSOP TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE DAY

Question of the Day: Here’s an easy one. Who are the youngest and oldest WSOP Main Event winners in history?

Answer coming in tomorrow’s WSOP Daily Shuffle.

Yesterday’s Question of the Day: What poker player has earned in excess of $100,000 at the WSOP during 18 of the last 21 years? In other words, this player experienced only three years (of the last 21) where he did not earn at least $100,000 in WSOP winnings.

Answer: Chris Bjorin, from London, UK. Bjorin is a two-time gold bracelet winner. He’s enjoyed successful WSOPs a vast majority of the years he’s attended. Bjorin has cashed out for $100,000 or more in winnings 18 out of 21 years, including 2012. No player is close to the two decades of consistency displayed by Bjorin. He also shows no signs of slowing down. Bjorin has cashed in the last four WSOP Main Event Championships.
(Note: Question and answer supplied by Remko Rinkema from Poker News)

DAY 26: THE WSOP TODAY – FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2012

9:00 AM
Today’s first tournament is a $75 buy-in TURBO MEGA-SATELLITE.

12:00 NOON
EVENT #41, the $3,000 buy-in NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament, begins with the play of Day One. Registration will be available up through the completion of four levels, plus two breaks, which is estimated to be about 4:40 pm. Action takes place inside Brasilia. This is a three-day event. This same event on last year’s schedule drew 1,250 entries.
Special Note: This tournament will award the 1,000th gold bracelet in WSOP history.

EVENT #41 UPDATES can be followed at WSOP.com. Coverage includes chip counts as well as written updates supplied from the tournament floor by our friends at PokerNews.com.

The official Structure Sheet for EVENT #41 can be viewed HERE.

1:00 PM
EVENT #38, the $1,500 buy-in NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament, continues with Day Three – including the final table. There are 21 players remaining from the starting field of 2,534. Action will take place inside Amazon. The list of survivors and chip counts is available HERE.

EVENT #39, the $10,000 buy-in POT-LIMIT OMAHA tournament, continues with Day Two. There are 88 players remaining from the starting field of 293. The top 36 finishers will make the money. Action will take place inside Amazon. The list of survivors and chip counts is available HERE.

2:00 PM
EVENT #40, the $2,500 buy-in SIX-HANDED LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament continues with Day Two. There are around 178players remaining from the starting field of 477. Action will take 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
The official gold bracelet ceremony includes one recent winner – Naoya Kihara (winner of Event #34). He is the first WSOP gold bracelet winner in history from Japan. The Japanese anthem will be played in his honor – a WSOP first.

3:00 PM

Greg Mueller and David "ODB" Baker will return to the Rio for a fourth day of $2,500 8-Game event action. The two players are the last men standing in Event #37. Mueller begins play with a roughly 3-1 chip advantage, holding 2.655 million chips to Baker's 925,000.

4:00 PM
The first MEGA-SATELLITE begins. The entry fee is $330

5:00 PM
EVENT #42, the $2,500 buy-in MIXED HIGH-LOW SPLIT (OMAHA/SEVEN-CARD STUD) tournament, begins with the play of Day One. Limited registration will be available up through the completion of four levels, plus two breaks, which is estimated to be about 9:40 pm. Action takes place inside Brasilia. This is a three-day event. This same event on last year’s schedule drew 473 entries.

EVENT #42 UPDATES can be followed at WSOP.com. Coverage includes chip counts as well as written updates supplied from the tournament floor by our friends at PokerNews.com. The official Structure Sheet for EVENT #42 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.

7:00 PM -- SPECIAL EVENT!
Poker Players Championship Mega-Satellite (Eight-Game Mix). The entry fee is $2,250.

8:00 PM
The second MEGA-SATELLITE of the day begins. The game is No-Limit Hold’em (Note: This event regularly features different games – so be sure and check the schedule in advance). 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.

......................

* Please note that all listed times are estimates and subject to change

-- by Nolan Dalla

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