It's
World Series of Poker time again! For this issue, we asked most of our columnists to write about their
WSOP experiences and offer advice to get you to the final table. I hope you enjoy it.
There are probably a million crazy
WSOP bets between players on everything from the number of players who will play in the main event to, as Todd Brunson mentions in his column on Page 62, the price of an apple at the Rio, and here are some of my predictions for what will unfold:
• There will be fewer players than last year in the championship event. Some people have predicted that the number will be as low as 3,500. I don't expect that severe a decline, but I think there will be fewer than 6,000 players. With online poker rooms unable to buy players in directly, some players will opt not to travel to Vegas to play, and some players will just spend their
WSOP prize packages online. In addition, there are lots of competing summer poker tournaments that will attract lots of players. The
Bellagio Cup III and The Venetian's
Deep Stack Extravaganza will offer full tournament schedules in conjunction with the
WSOP.
• Lots of big-name players will win bracelets. Many have adjusted their games to the fast and loose style that many online players bring to the game. And with the
WSOP schedule adding more events and starting the bigger buy-in events later in the day (most have a 5 p.m. starting time), look for some great final tables.
• European players will have a strong showing. If you look at the size of recent big buy-in events in Europe, tons of players are getting live deep-stack experience.
• There will be a female bracelet winner other than in the ladies event.
• Bigger names will do well in the limit events. There are tons of great no-limit players, and the stronger players will stand out more in the limit events.
• Now, the toughest prediction of all: Which specific players will do well? I've been very impressed with both Nam Le's and J.C. Tran's game. I expect one of these guys to have a
WSOP like Allen Cunningham had the past two years. Last year, Allen made three final tables, including the main event, won a bracelet, and pocketed about $4.3 million. The year before, he made four final tables and won a bracelet. I think that either one of these guys will win close to $1 million and a bracelet. Also, between Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Chan, someone is going to win his 11th bracelet. It will make for an exciting subplot.
Also in this issue, we were lucky enough to catch up with Carlos Mortensen, fresh off his victory in the $25,000 2007
World Poker Tour Championship. Carlos has always been one of my favorite players to watch. With this victory, he became the only player to win the
WSOP main event and
WPT Championship. With $8.2 million in lifetime tournament winnings, it might be time for an early retirement!
