About a third of the way through the 2006
World Series of Poker, as I write this, it's shaping up to be another record-setting event. All 208 tables in the Amazon Room have been packed for most events, and moving into the second half of the
Series, it's only going to get more exciting.
As we go to press, the biggest tournament the WSOP has ever hosted, the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, has kicked off. This event, which many think should determine the world champion, drew just over 100 players and got off to an electric start after the winners of the past three
WSOP mixed-game events - Doyle Brunson (2003), Scott Fischman (2004), and John Hennigan (2002) - were seated right next to one another. Look for coverage of this event and a profile on the winner in the next issue.
Last year, as the
WSOP shifted into high gear, it looked as if the event might go down in the record books as the "year of the pro." Allen Cunningham, Michael Gracz, Erik Seidel, Josh Arieh, T.J. Cloutier, Mark Seif, Barry Greenstein, Todd Brunson, Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, and Phil Ivey, names familiar to anyone who follows poker or
Card Player, all took down bracelets.
With even more players turning out at the Rio for the kickoff of this year's tournament, many questioned whether or not the pros could again dominate. After all, the great thing about poker is that there are so many excellent players these days, and on any given day, anyone can win.
In the first few events, it was poker's unknowns, the likes of Brandon Cantu and Kianoush Abolfathi, who stole the spotlight. Would this year introduce us to another list of potential superstars?
After remaining quiet in the first few events, some of poker's most popular players have followed up with winning performances. With 14 events behind us, Dutch Boyd, David Williams, Sam Farha, Allen Cunningham, Lee Watkinson, and Max Pescatori all have won
WSOP bracelets. What made Max's victory even sweeter was that the day he won his bracelet and nearly $700,000 was the day that Italy won its fourth
World Cup. Pescatori and his cheering section, all clad in Italian World Cup gear, will make for great TV once the event hits
ESPN.
Many of the pros behind this
WSOP domination are sponsored by FullTiltPoker. This crew of just over 40 players have collectively won more than 30
WSOP bracelets and millions at the tables. This year, they already have captured three bracelets.
