The Cream Rises

I was wowed by the results of the 2001 World Series of Poker. The final tables were filled with many of the greatest players in poker. It amazed me how many of this year's champions were former bracelet winners. The cream does rise to the top, and it showed at this year's WSOP.

How's this for starters? The two preliminary no-limit hold'em tournaments featured heads-up matches of perhaps the four best no-limit hold'em players in the world! Matchup No. 1 was Phil Hellmuth Jr. vs. T.J. Cloutier, and matchup No. 2 was Erik Seidel vs. Johnny Chan. It just doesn't get any better than this, folks. Does anyone doubt the skill required to play no-limit hold'em?

These four guys have 24 bracelets between them and rank first, second, third, and sixth, respectively, on the all-time WSOP money-winning list. In the first match, Hellmuth prevailed over Cloutier to earn his seventh gold bracelet (all of which have been won in hold'em events – which is incredible in itself). The second duel was a rematch of the 1988 world championship, in which Chan defended his title to capture his second world championship. Seidel waited 13 years for the opportunity to meet Chan again, and it was worth the wait. This match was a marathon battle, with Seidel coming back from a 7-1 chip deficit to win. I just can't imagine better matchups than these.

Former world champions also put on quite a show at the 2001 WSOP. One highlight came when Scotty Nguyen and Phil Hellmuth battled each other to see who would win his second bracelet at this year's Series (in the $5,000 buy-in Omaha high-low split tournament). Phil had previously won the $2,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament, and Scotty the $2,500 buy-in pot-limit Omaha event. To my knowledge, it was the first time in history that two former world champions had ever battled for a bracelet. In a classic marathon battle, Scotty prevailed to pick up his fourth WSOP bracelet. Other former world champions capturing gold included Chris Ferguson ($1,500 Omaha high-low split – his third bracelet) and Berry Johnston (razz – his fifth bracelet). These guys continually show why they are poker superstars.

Jay Heimowitz, an amateur player (only in title, not in playing ability) from New York, has had the respect of his poker peers for more than 20 years. He captured his sixth WSOP bracelet by winning Oklahoma Johnny Hale's Seniors World Championship. Other former bracelet winners capturing 2001 titles included Howard Lederer and Steve Zolotow ("Z"). Lederer, a very successful high-stakes player, captured his second bracelet in two years by winning the deuce-to-seven draw tournament. To win, Howard had to beat former deuce-to-seven champion Freddie Deeb. And "Z" won his second WSOP bracelet by defeating European tournament sensation Mike Magee (Ireland) in the $3,000 buy-in pot-limit hold'em tournament.

Jim Lester, who is well-known in the world of high-stakes poker, had a great WSOP. He won the $3,000 buy-in limit hold'em event, and three events later finished second to Scotty Nguyen in the $2,500 buy-in pot-limit Omaha tournament. Lester made four final tables and won a total of $357,205. And Nani Dollison, what can you say about her? She captured two bracelets, one of which was the successful title defense of her ladies championship of a year ago, won $481,640, and became the all-time WSOP leading money winner for the ladies!

Also worthy of a WSOP salute are David Pham, Allen Cunningham, and Rich Korbin. Pham, the 2000 Player of the Year, showed his diversified skills by capturing the S.H.O.E. tournament (stud, hold'em, Omaha eight-or-better, and stud eight-or-better). Cunningham, a popular 24-year-old poker sensation, made three final tables and captured his first bracelet by winning the $5,000 buy-in seven-card stud tournament. Korbin is a poker veteran who won his first bracelet in the $2,500 buy-in stud eight-or-better tournament. These guys can play poker!

The 2001 WSOP bridesmaid award goes to David "Devil Fish" Ulliott from England. The "Devil Fish" is quite a colorful character. He is also one of the best poker players in the world. He finished second in both the $2,000 buy-in pot-limit hold'em tournament (an event he won three years ago) and the $1,500 buy-in pot-limit Omaha tournament, and staked the second-place finisher in an Omaha high-low split tournament, earning himself well over $200,000 – not bad for being "second best," huh? Another high-stakes player from England, Hemish Shah, captured his first bracelet and $312,340 by winning the $5,000 buy-in limit hold'em tournament. Poker should be good in London right now.

And let's hear it for the boss! Card Player owner Barry Shulman won the race for the bracelet in the Shulman family by capturing the $1,500 buy-in stud eight-or-better tournament. Well done, Barry! (Can the CP writers look for a bonus in their Christmas stockings?)

It was an outstanding WSOP, and as you can see, the cream does rise to the top. Take care.