Day 19 at the World Series of Poker saw the extension and end of a number of dramas. Most central, big shock, was the final table appearance by one Phil Hellmuth. With ESPN filming the end of event 28 - $3,000 no-limit hold’em and Phil on the short stack, the decision was made to take ten players to television. Hellmuth didn’t disappoint, getting knocked out in sixth, and adding the all-time WSOP final tables record (39, tied with TJ Cloutier) to his list of accomplishments.
In other news:
- Shankar Pillai won 28, playing a fantastic final table. He eventually defeated Hellmuth’s conquerer, hot-mom-of-five Beth Shak to take home more than a half-million dollars.
- Katja Thater became the first woman since Annie Duke in 2004 to take home an open-field bracelet. Katja won event 29 - $1,500 Razz, in which the big story had been Eskimo Clark’s twin seizures, which both occurred while the three-time bracelet winner held the chip lead. He eventually finished fourth.
- Hoyt Corkins and Alan Sass emerged as the chip leaders heading to the final table of event 30 - $2,500 no-limit hold’em (6 max). Also in the hunt is Terrence Chan, who was involved in a controversy last month in a charity event at the playboy mansion.
- Event 31 - $5,000 heads-up no-limit got whittled down to a relative few. Amongst those still alive are Daniel Alaie, Alex Bolotin and Kirk Morrison.
- Daniel Negreanu heads into day 2 of event 32 seven-card stud second in chips. Jeff Lisandro, Howard lederer, Marcel Luske, Cyndy Violette and Chip Reese are all still in the hunt.
While still in full flight, Hellmuth participated in the most memorable hand of the day. Brett Richey started the action with a raise to T80,000 before eventual runner-up Beth Shak moved all-in. Hellmuth jumped from his chair and immediately declared himself all-in; despite the display, Richey made the call. He turned over pocket kings. He was in third place, with Phil and Beth holding a combined four aces.
The flop came 10s-7s-3d, giving Hellmuth a shot at the whole pot thanks his ace of spades, but it wasn’t to be. The turn 8c eliminated that possibility, then 4c ensured Richey was done. He went out in 8th place.
Gary Wise
gary@wisehandpoker.com
