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July 13th 2006
WSOP Update: Friedberg wins $1000 NL Hold’em while Kesselman bags the PL Hold’em
Two events finished yesterday, with two new WSOP winners as a result. The $1000 NL Hold’em event drew the second largest field in the history of poker, with 2,891 players sat at the start of Day One, second only to the 2005 WSOP main-event.
Event #17 is traditionally the most popular event outside of the WSOP main-event itself and this year proved no different. It was to everyone’s delight then, given the odds against it, that the flamboyant and well-liked Costa Rican pro Humberto Brenes reached the final table, though it was a great shame that the 2001 WSOP champion Carlos Mortensen, who is enjoying a number of high finishes, ended on the final table bubble, knocked out in tenth.
The bracelet went to Jon Friedberg, who enjoyed a massive 4:1 chip lead when he reached the heads-up stage against John Phan. Phan fought admirably and managed to survive for longer than most would have expected, but he was unable to hit the run of cards he needed to gain momentum. Eventually he was forced in with Qs-4s but Friedberg had him dominated with Ah-7h. There was no help on the board for Phan and Friedberg had the victory, and the $526,185 first prize. Phan received $289,389 for second.
In Event #18, the $2000 Pot Limit Hold’em, 560 players paid up to take part, and put on a show for the crowd to remember.
For some reason the restricted betting in pot-limit events often seems to encourage players to bet the maximum possible at every opportunity, often creating a much larger average pot size than in no-limit events.
On the final day the 22 remaining players were going hammer and tongs for the title, and 12 eliminations within a few hours left the remaining ten players drawing seats on the final table.
Amazingly only one player out of 21 eliminations was eliminated with post flop play; the 20 others who busted out all fell victim to all-in preflop confrontations.
Perhaps even more amazing was the length of the heads-up battle. When heads-up play started Hyon Kim and Eric Kesselman were almost even in chips, with Kesselman marginally ahead by $100,000. A long fight appeared on the cards, but instead the two players raised and re-raised each other till they were all-in on the FIRST hand. Kesselman was in great shape with A-T against Kim’s A-9, and there was no help for Kim after the turn gave him draws to a flush and a straight. Kesselman took the bracelet and the $311,403. Kim picked up $164,291 for second.
Submitted: 13/07/2006 12:59:25
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