Posted by Andrew Feldman
In
Wednesday's blog, I rambled on and on about how the WSOP was only filled with amateurs and not the big name players we're used to seeing dominated the tables. On Wednesday, the pros struck back with Gus Hansen leading the way at the top of the chip counts with $622,300. Other notable names rose to the top including Bill Edler, Sorel Mizzi, Shawn Chaconas, and Carl Olsen.
It really was something to see. No matter who the familiar face was, the chips were heading back in the right direction at the end of the night. Heading into Day 3 we had six former main event champions left in Chris Ferguson ($160,900), Robert Varkonyi ($182,700), Carlos Mortensen ($254,700), Berry Johnston ($217,900), Huck Seed ($280,500) and Scotty Nguyen ($74,000). Unfortunately, early in Day 3, Ferguson was eliminated, leaving five more world champs looking to make history by winning a second championship. Out of all of them, if Varkonyi were to win he'd receive the biggest validation of them all because many look down on his victory in 2002.
Patience was another characteristic I saw among the pros all day. Gavin Smith was at $25,000 after the first break, but managed to continually gain momentum as the night moved along and ended up at $87,700. Humberto Brenes rode his short stack all the way down to $32,000, but ended up at $94,700. J.C. Tran didn't get involved in many huge pots, but consistently moved up to $184,000. Peter Feldman -- an obligatory mention in the column these days -- ended up at $289,700 after starting off hot, but maintaining his chips at the end of the night. Chad Brown has $320,000 and after talking to him last night, he's ready to keep accumulating. "I'm going to take advantage of the bubble," Brown said. "People who are just looking to cash will be playing tighter. I won't be."
With 797 players remaining, the real tournament begins today. Only 621 players make the money and play will tighten up as the bubble approaches. I'm expecting the pros to become very aggressive early in today's play to accumulate chips to put themselves in a better position for the rest of the tournament. They're looking to win, not to cash as so many of the amateurs are.
Hey, if you bubble, it isn't that bad … OK, it is, but there's a Milwaukee's Best Light promotional stunt occurring at 6:21 p.m. at which time the final nine players who miss the cash will be invited to a single-table tournament for a seat at next year's WSOP.
But some still fell
First of all, not one player has single-handedly filled up the ESPN "Arena" -- besides Daniel Negreanu who was at the featured table yesterday. Applause were heard throughout the Amazon Room all day as Negreanu picked up pot after pot and it couldn't be clearer that the crowd wanted Negreanu to run over the table. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be the case. Negreanu started the day out with around $45,000, was all the way up to $170,000 after the first break and unfortunately busted around 11 p.m. Wednesday night.
Negreanu's downward trend after dinner never ended and "Kid Poker" moved all-in on a board of 6-7-8 with 10-8 against his opponent's top set. Negreanu's aggressive play has usually allowed him to accumulate chips, but nothing would work Wednesday night. It'll be interesting to watch the hands he got involved with when tournament is broadcast later this summer.
Another casualty occurred during yesterday's chat when someone posted the fact that Allen Cunningham was eliminated when his opponent made two pair on the river. Cunningham held 6-3 and with a flop of K-6-3, reraised his opponent after his flop bet. Once again, top pair was the nuts to this amateur who continued to call down Cunningham until he spiked a jack on the river to end Cunningham's tournament.
Other's who were sent packing include ESPN.com's Phil Gordon and Bernard Lee, Michael Binger, Chris Moneymaker, Steve Dannenmann, Chris Bell and Jeff King.
What to watch for
Thursday is truly moving day. By the end of the day I'm expecting around 200-300 players to still be alive after they play a full five levels. Whether or not they should go that far (five levels) is questionable, but after today we'll really be able to see exactly who to watch for as we approach the big money. We're reaching a time when the blinds are high enough to see more preflop play and less postflop. Lot's of all-ins before the flop, which really fares well for the amateur's aggressive style and not the pros "outplay you postflop" strategy.
Small blinds:
How about Allen Cunningham and Melissa Hayden starting at the same table? The couple were quickly separated with Cunningham's exit … Hevad "RainKhan" Khan told us Wednesday that he played 43 sit-and-go tournaments at the same time on PokerStars. … Bernard Lee pocket kings couldn't beat his opponent's A-J as two jacks flopped … Bill Edler: "Life is great." in response to Nolan Dalla's question about how his last week has been since winning his first bracelet. … At one point the table with Gus Hansen, Khan, Sorel Mizzi and one other player had more than $400,000 in chips, far more any other table in the room … "Mr. Rain" or "RainKahn"? Either way, both of the "Rain" players have over $500,000 in chips heading into Day 3. … Although not surprising, more players from Las Vegas remain than anywhere else … Vinnie Vinh's chair is gone. Maybe next year. … Director of "Old School", Todd Phillips, has $275,000 going into Day 3 … How about this for a starting table today: Gus Hansen, Gavin Smith and Carlos Mortensen are all at the same table … I'd have to guess it's featured … With Michael Binger's elimination, there is no longer a member of last year's final table still alive at the WSOP -- wow. That was quick.
Poker
