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#1
06-09-05, 12:59 AM
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Some WSOP Numbers/Tidbits...
This is amazing.
----- 2005 World Series of Poker Rio All-Suites Casino-Resort The View From the Rail: An Insider’s Look at the Biggest Event in Poker History by Nolan Dalla Does Size Matter? Judging by the gargantuan size of the fields in the first five events at this year’s World Series, poker’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down. Consider these numbers: Number of WSOP Entries (2004 versus 2005) 2004 2005 Percentage +/- Event #1 Casino Employees World Poker Championship 279 662 137 percent increase Event #2 $1500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em 831 2,305 177 percent increase Event #3 $1500 buy-in Pot-Limit Hold’em 363 1,049 195 percent increase Event #4 $1500 buy-in Limit Hold’em 610 1,049 72 percent increase Event #5 $1500 buy-in Omaha High-Low Split 374 699 87 percent increase Due to the large fields, Rio (Harrah’s) management and ESPN have jointly decided to make all televised tournaments three-day events. In addition, all events with 1,500 or more entries will be played over a three-day period. Therefore, the first day will normally be played from 12 noon (start) until 2 am (end). Remaining players return for Day Two and play down to the final table (comprised of 8, 9, or 10 players – depending on which game is played). Day Three features the final table and begins daily at 2 pm PST. Hellmuth vs. Johnston One of the most riveting news items early at this year’s World Series is the intensifying battle between Phil Hellmuth, Jr. and Berry Johnston for the “Most (Lifetime) Cashes in WSOP History.” Coming into 2005, Johnston had a slight lead with 46 cashes to Hellmuth’s 45. In Event #2, Hellmuth cashed (24th) and the two poker greats were tied. Then, in Event #3, Hellmuth cashed again (42nd) and he seized the lead for the first time. Hellmuth’s glory lasted less than a day. In Event #5, Berry Johnston cashed (30th). This means that Hellmuth and Johnston are locked into a tie, each with 47 times in the money at the WSOP. Young Guns II? Every year, the WSOP takes on a different character. Each Series is distinctly different from the next, set apart by the composition of the winners. 2003 was the year that the big names resurrected from years past, as legendary figures such as Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, and Chris Ferguson collected gold bracelets. In 2004, the younger generation invaded the WSOP. Twenty-somethings such as Scott Fischman, Thomas ‘Thunder’ Keller, and Gavin Griffin made their mark on poker history and made the Series memorable as the “Year of the Young Guns.” Through the first four open events, it’s difficult to predict what will happen in 2005. Poker veteran Allen Cunningham won his fourth gold bracelet, defeating a star-studded final table, which led some to speculate that the ‘big names’ would do very well. Then, a relative unknown named Thom Werthmann won the following event. When Eric Froehlich (a.k.a. ‘E-Fro’) became the youngest WSOP winner in history (at 21 years, 3 months, and 26 days), speculation began that 2005 will be another year when the younger players will do very well. Curtis Bibb, R.I.P. The defending champion of Event #5 ($1,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low Split) was Curtis Bibb, formally from Las Vegas, NV. In 2004, Bibb topped a (then-record) field of 374 players and won $160,000. Sadly, the defending champ passed away about two months before the start of this year’s World Series. Everyone in the universal poker family, especially World Series of Poker staff, wish to extend our most sincere condolences to Mr. Bibb’s family. He will be sorely missed. Stat of the Day: Number of WSOP Gold Bracelets (Lifetime) In the 36-year history of the WSOP, a total of 363 different players have won gold bracelets. There have been 92-multiple gold bracelet winners (two or more victories). As of the start of this year’s World Series, here are the top 15 in lifetime gold bracelets won (all with five wins or more): Most Tournament Wins (All) Full Name WSOP Tournament Wins BRUNSON, DOYLE 9 CHAN, JOHNNY 9 HELLMUTH, PHIL JR. 9 MOSS, JOHN 8 BAXTER, BILLY 7 HEIMOWITZ, JAY 6 NGUYEN, MEN "THE MASTER" 6 SEIDEL, ERIK 6 BERLAND, BONES 5 CLOUTIER, T.J. 5 FERGUSON, CHRIS 5 FLACK, LAYNE 5 FORREST, TED 5 JOHNSTON, BERRY 5 UNGAR, STU 5 NOTE: All material in this report may be used and/or copied by media for news and publicity purposes. World Series of Poker Circuit Director of Operations – Ken Lambert World Series of Poker Tournament Director – John Grooms Rio Poker Room Manager – Michael Matts Rio Poker Tournament Director – Robert Daily |
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