WSOP Update #5

Barry Greenstein wins $1500 7-Card Razz tournament!

After 3 days of strategic limit poker, Barry added a 3rd bracelet to his collection, and $157,619 to his bank account by out-lasting 452 other players. Barry has already cashed-in 2 other times this year, including one other final table appearance. His heads-up battle with Chris Klodnicki lasted 3 hours, and not long before it ended Klodnicki looked over at a seemingly bored Barry Greenstein and asked "are you tired?" Greenstein's expression didn't change in the slightest as he said "not even close....poker doesn't tire me out at all." Greenstein is on record as saying he has previously played for three days straight. Granted those were in his younger days, but nevertheless, it seems stamina is not an issue for the man known as "Robin Hood", because he donates much of his winnings to various charities.

The $5000 Pot-Limit Omaha W/Rebuys event is down to the final table, and not surprisingly, many big names are still in it. Despite only 152 entrants, the top prize will be well in excess of $800,000 due to many rebuys. This is why so many top pros do well in this event, because they can afford to. With 9 players remaining at the final table, John Juanda and Daniel Negreanu are in contention, but more notable, so are Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Chan. With Hellmuth holding a record 11 WSOP bracelets, and Chan just one behind, this could turn out to be quite a battle. Phil is the short-stack at the table, and will have to make a move early. I'm sure Johnny will be rooting for someone to take out Phil early, and then hopefully the rest will be like smelling roses, or oranges, for the Orient Express.

In one of the bigger hyped events of the WSOP, Kenny Tran won the $10,000 World Championship Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em tournament. Earning a healthy $539,040 and a bracelet after surviving the field of 256 players, and 8 different Heads-up opponents, Tran was very grateful to his wife and kids for "letting" him play poker on Father's Day.

Finally, the $3000 No Limit Hold'em event is underway, and 81 player remain from the starting 716. This tournament is most notable because Beth Shak is still alive, and thus gives me an excuse to put her picture beside this feature. Giggity!