 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event 3 at the 2007 World Series of Poker had the community excited. After all, it was the first ESPN taping of the year. Alex Jacob, sporting an afro reminiscent of Sly and the Family Stone, seemed poised to take home his first bracelet, entering the final table with a massive stack and more big-time experience than any of his opponents. It didn’t work out that way.
In the end, it was Irishman Ciarin O’Leary who took the title, ousting Jacob in third then Paul Evans in a fast finale that lasted all of two hands. The event 3 final was only the biggest highlight in a very full day, though. Have a look at everything else that went down:
- Established pro Tom Schneider has taken a large lead in Event 4 Omaha/7- Stud hi/lo split. He’s joined by a very strong cadre of pros including Annie Duke, John “Razor” Phan, David Benyamine, Jesus Ferguson and Chris Bell.
- Most of the poker world would be ecstatic if Gavin Smith were to win his first bracelet today. He leads a field including Billy Hill, Jon Friedberg, Marco Traniello and 1997 main event runner-up Dr. Bruce Van Horn in Event 5 - $1,500 Pot-limit Hold’em.
- A largely unknown field advanced to day two of Event 6 - $1,500 Limit hold’em. Leading the way with a 20% chip lead is Tam Hang. Tournament circuit regular Brock Parker sits in fourth. The biggest name left is the small-stacked David Sklansky.
- Meanwhile, every known player in the universe seems to be alive in Event 7: PL Omaha with rebuys. John Juanda leads, with Humberto Brenes, Bill Edler and Andrew Black all in the top five. Kirk Morrison who made the final table in Event 1, sits in 11th.
The final hand of Event 3 saw Paul Evans limp from the small blind and O’Leary check. The flop came Kh-6c-2s; O’Leary checks, Evans bet T500,000, O’Leary moved all-in and Evans called. Ciarin turned over Kc-10d; he had a strong lead over Evans’ 6s-3s. The turn Ks and river 9d finished Evans off; O’Leary was the first non-American to win a bracelet at the 2007 WSOP.
Gary Wise
gary@wisehandpoker.com
