The World Series of Poker is in full swing as we come near to the halfway stage of the series, with 26 of the 55 events having been completed.
The biggest prize so far in the series was won by Grant Hinkle playing in his first WSOP. The Kansas City-based man received $831,462 for winning the biggest event of the tournament, the No Limit Holdem Event #2.
Full Tilt professional Erick Lindgren has won his first WSOP bracelet together with $374,505 by winning the Mixed Holdem Event #4.
The first player who already holds a WSOP bracelet from previous years to win another one this year, was Mike Matusow. He took his third WSOP bracelet in total by defeating an impressive final table line-up in Event#18 the No-Limit 2 – 7 Draw Lowball w/Rebuys. The final table line-up included Barry Greenstein, Tony G, Jeffrey Lisandro and Erick Lindgren. In the end, Matusow beat Jeffrey Lisandro in the heads-up to claim the $537,862 prize and another bracelet.
Poker fans were pleased to see established professional Daniel Negreanu win another WSOP bracelet to add to his collection. Negreanu won his fourth bracelet by finishing in 1st place in the 20th event of the series, the $2,000 Limit Holdem event.
The Canadian eliminated three players in the final table on his way to the heads-up. First of all he took out fellow countryman Derek Lerner as Negreanu’s trio of sixes were too strong for Lerner’s AQ. Lerner finished in eighth place.
Fu Wong was also eliminated by Negreanu this time into fifth place. A pair of Jacks sealed Fu’s fate but Wong is having a good series as this is the second final table he’s made so far.
David Baker was Negreanu’s third victim going it in third place. This meant Negreanu faced Ugor Marangoz in the heads-up final.
Negreanu totally dominated this heads-up and never lost a hand. In the end three 5s proved enough to win the event for the Canadian. His prize was $204,874, to go with the bracelet and the esteem of being a four-time WSOP bracelet winner.
Max Pescatori won his second WSOP bracelet together with $246,471 by winning the Pot-Limit Holdem/Omaha, which was the 24th event of the series.
Barry Greenstein is another player to add to his WSOP bracelet total. Greenstein was victorious in Sunday’s final table of the 26th event of the series – The Razz to capture his third WSOP bracelet.
Greenstein defeated Chris Klodnicki in a hard fought battle to win $158,569 as well as the bracelet.
With more than half of the World Series of Poker events still to go who is to say that other previous bracelet winners won’t add to their tally?
The World Series of Poker culminates in the World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold’em main event starting on 3rd July. It runs until 14th July then there is a 4-month gap until the final table is decided between 9th and 10th November.
