Posted by Andrew Feldman
I mean … really? How does this possibly happen every year? Better yet, how can someone run so good that it happens within four days? If you haven't been following ESPN.com's coverage of the WSOP, you have no idea what I'm talking about, so I'll fill you in. Brock "t_soprano" Parker, primarily a short-handed online limit specialist, won his second bracelet in four days.
Courtesy of IMPDI 2009
Brock Parker was the first double bracelet winner at the 2009 World Series of Poker.
That's just incredible.
Through the first 19 events, there have been 20,420 entries into the tournaments at the WSOP. Only 19 of those entries could win and now, only 18 players make up the roster of 2009 WSOP bracelet winners. The odds definitely weren't in favor of it happening, but after Parker won Event 19, he cemented himself in poker history.
If there was ever a possibility that you could expect a player to win a tournament, Parker was "expected" to win Event 14. The six-handed limit hold 'em event was right in Parker's wheelhouse. He likes limit poker and he loves playing it shorthanded.
"He's a very, very good limit hold 'em player," Mike Matusow said in a SportsNation chat Thursday. "He just got average at no-limit which shocks [me] why he won a [no-limit] bracelet."
Shocked or not, Matusow knows that to win two bracelets, it just needs to be your Series. To think, there are still 37 more bracelets to be awarded and we know that Parker is going to be playing. The last player to win three bracelets: Phil Ivey. You might recognize that name …
Every year …
If there was one surprising statistic that haunts me each year, it's the double bracelet. Players try for their entire careers to win just one. Andy Bloch has been a WSOP regular for more than 13 years and still is without a bracelet. How about Gus Hansen, Nam Le or Gavin Smith? These talented players, and others that Gary Wise mentioned weeks ago, have been trying for their entire careers to be the last one standing. Then somehow, Brock Parker wins two in four days?! Nothing against Parker -- he's obviously a tremendous poker player -- but how can one player do the unpredictable twice in one week, forget one Series?
The fact is that for each of the past 10 years, we've seen a double bracelet winner. The difference is that 10 years ago, there were only 24 events to be played. It wasn't until a few years ago when the number of events increased to a record number, which seems to get broken every time Harrah's releases the schedule (this year at 57). Yes, these days there are more chances for it to happen and maybe you just need to run better than you could've possibly wished, but in this unpredictable game, it's become safe to assume you'll see someone add a gold bracelet to each wrist.
Here's a look at the double bracelet winners over the past 10 years, and for those that still believe poker is as game of luck, here's your proof that it takes more than luck to win:
2009 -- Brock Parker
2008 -- John Phan, Jesper Hougaard
2007 -- Tom Schneider
2006 -- William Chen, Jeff Madsen
2005 -- Mark Seif
2004 -- Scott Fischman, Ted Forrest
2003 -- Chris Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, Layne Flack
2002 -- Phil Ivey, Layne Flack
2001 -- Scotty Nguyen, Nani Dollison
2000 -- Chris Ferguson
The Fantasy Poker Update
Through 19 events, I only have to say one thing: Daniel Negreanu.
I think that's the end of the update.
Not only is Negreanu crushing the actual events at the WSOP with three top-10 finishes and a measly 43rd (for a cool total of more than $310,000), but he's also just destroying the rest of us in the fantasy poker league. While I'm sure he's mad that he didn't win a bracelet, he managed to keep Gavin Smith's team (which owns Negreanu) out of the lead. Yeah, that's his reasoning for not winning either event …
Negreanu's team has already won three bracelets: Phil Ivey in Event 8, Jeffrey Lisandro in Event 16 and Daniel Alaei in Event 18. He has a runner-up finish by David Chiu as well, and without any points from Jennifer Harman or Freddy Bonyadi, he's still putting the rest of us to shame.
Here's a look at the top two spots:
Daniel Negreanu: 412
Gavin Smith: 134
I guess it's become the battle for second, and as of now Gary Wise has the wonderful last place locked up with two points. Two! There are 37 events left to be scored and I'm hoping Erick Lindgren & Co. can bring my team back to respectability.
Here are the complete standings (teams can be found here):
Daniel Negreanu: 412
Gavin Smith: 134
Lance Bradley: 110
Mark Seif: 97
Andrew Feldman: 81
Bernard Lee: 72
Howard Lederer: 47
Dan Michalski: 44
Dennis Phillips: 40
Chops Preiss: 32
Gary Wise: 2
Small blinds: Erik Seidel goes for bracelet No. 9 tonight. &133; Mike Matusow said that if he makes the final table of the 2-7 triple draw event, he's going to win and defend his title. … The government's freezing $30 million in money from online poker players is unreal. We'll have a story coming in the next couple days as more information arises. … The Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg is a new stop on the World Poker Tour. That stop will take place in August. … Caesars Palace changed its mega-stack tournament structure, giving more play in the early levels. … All 50 states have had an entrant into the WSOP. … There will be a unique event at September's WSOP Europe -- the Caesars Cup event. Picture a Ryder Cup-style tournament that has teams of the best players around the world. The Americas team will be led by Negreanu, while the Europeans team will be captained by Annette Obrestad.
Poker
