WSOP: Nenad Medic Wins Event No. 1Medic Wins his First Gold Bracelet at the First of Eight WSOP World Championships |
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The first bracelet of the summer has been awarded, and the proud owner is young professional, Nenad Medic. The first final table at the 39th annual World Series of Poker featured a very strong lineup of nine professional players who outlasted an original field of 352. It is quite possible that the rest of the summer will not feature a final table that was as strong as the one that was just decided to kick things off. Medic took home his first gold bracelet for the win, as well as $794,112 in prize money. He was also awarded 2,100 points to take an early lead in Card Player's WSOP Player of the Year race.
Here is a look at the chip stacks when the players took their seats at 3 p.m.
Andy Bloch: 2,115,000
Nenad Medic: 1,200,000
Mike Sexton: 1,130,000
Mike Sowers: 675,000
Amit Makhija: 525,000
Chris Bell: 455,000
Phil Laak: 425,000
Kathy Liebert: 285,000
Patrik Antonius: 230,000
Here are the highlights of all the action pulled from CardPlayer.com's live coverage of the final table:
Railbird Central
As the players took their seats and were introduced to the crowd, excitment filled the air for what should be one of the most star-studded final tables of the summer. Many professionals were in the crowd as well. Jennifer Tilly was supporting Phil Laak, Linda Johnson had taken a seat to root for Mike Sexton, and Noah Boeken was on hand to support fellow European star, Patrik Antonius. Also on hand were Erick Lindgren and Gavin Smith in Chris Bell's corner, and Chad Batista was there to support fellow online professional Amit Makhija. Numerous other pros dotted the crowd as well - including Theo Tran, Allen Kessler, and Steve Wong. Cards got into the air shortly after 3 p.m. and one of the strongest final tables in recent WSOP memeory was under way. 
Action out of the Gate
On the very first hand of play, Patrik Antonius moved all in for 230,000 from the big blind, and Phil Laak made the call from middle position. They turned up their hands and Antonius held pocket kings to Laak’s pocket jacks. The board was dealt A
J 2
10 K as the players and surrounding crowd were taken on a wild ride to start the final table. Antonius doubled up and survived, while Laak was knocked down to a short stack.
Phil Laak Eliminated in 9th Place ($74,448)
Laak got his short stack all in a few hands later when he shoved for 165,000 total from the small blind. Nenad Medic reraised to 350,000 while Laak got up from his seat and revealed his hole cards to members of the audience. Everyone else folded and Laak tossed two jacks down on the table. Medic revealed two aces and the board rolled out K
6 2 9 5
. Laak was eliminated in 9th place and the life of the party was the first player to leave.
Mike Sowers Eliminated in 8th Place ($99,264)
Mike Sexton opened a pot for 110,000 and Mike Sowers made a pot-sized raise. Sexton moved all in and Sowers made the call for his final 715,000. Sexton had Sowers covered and he turned up pocket queens. Sowers showed down 9 4 and the board rolled out K 8 3 A J. Sowers was eliminated in 8th place and he will take home $99,264 in prize money.
Patirk Antonius Eliminated in 7th Place ($124,080)
Antonius raised the pot (120,000) and Andy Bloch reraised the pot to 360,000. Antonius moved all in and Bloch made the call. Bloch turned up A 4 and Antonius showed down K 10. The board rolled out 9 9 5 7 5 and Antonius was eliminnated in 7th place. He will take home $124,080 in prize money.
Chris Bell Eliminated in
Sexton had the button when Chris Bell opened for 140,000. Medic raised enough to put 3 while Medic showed J J for the lead going to the flop. The flop came Q 6 5, no help to Bell who was all in and facing elimination, but the turn brought the A, giving Bell top pair and the lead. The crowd gasped. Medic was reduced to catching one of the two remaining jacks, and he did, when the J hit the river! Bell was eliminated in 6th place and received $157,168 for his efforts.
When the players returned from their break, Nolan Dalla made an announcement to the crowd that the wife of the late poker icon, Stu Ungar, was in the crowd. He then asked Madeline Ungar to stand up and the crowd cheered their approval.
Kathy Liebert Doubles Up TWICE
Bloch raised to 95,000 and Kathy Liebert reraised all in for 195,000 more. Bloch called and turned over Q 3 while Liebert showed A 10. The board came A 8 4 6 9, giving Liebert top pair and the win.
A few hands later Liebert doubled up again, this time through Medic. Liebert raised to 175,000 before the flop when Medic tanked and reraised 375,000. Liebert made the all-in call for 315,000 and turned over K 10. Medic showed A 8. The board came Q 7 5 5 10, giving Liebert a pair of tens for the best hand on the river. After this hand, Liebert held over 1 million in chips.
Grinding
The last hour of play was by far the slowest at the final table. The measured approach of the final four professionl players took over, and it could take a while to crown the first champion at the 2008 WSOP. Another player arrived to watch the grind and support Nenad Medic, and it was none other than Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi.
Medic! Doubles Up
Sexton raised 215,000 preflop from the button and Medic reraised the pot to 765,000. Sexton moved all in on top of that and Medic made the call. They turned up their hands and Sexton held pocket tens to Medic's A J. The board rolled out A 6 3 A Q and Medic doubled up. Sexton was left dangerously low after the hand.
Mike Sexton Eliminated in 4th Place ($248,160)
Sexton made a pot-sized raise preflop and Liebert made the call. The flop rolled out A J 8 and Liebert checked. Sexton moved all in and Liebert made the call., They turned up their hands and Libert revealed A 8 for top two-pair. Sexton showed down A 6. The turn and river fell 4 6 and Sexton was eliminated in fourth place. He left to a round of applause, and he will take home $248,160 in prize money.
Kathy Liebert Eliminated in Third Place ($306,064)
Medic raised to 300,000 on the button and Liebert moved all in for 850,000. Bloch then reraised the pot to 2,800,000. Medic then moved all in after that and Bloch made the call to cover both of his opponents in a three way all in. They then turned up their hands:
6 9 QBoard: A Q 2 4 5
Medic won the hand with a set of queens and Liebert was eliminated in third place. She will take home $306,064 in prize money. There was a short break in the action after this hand to reset for the heads-up match.
Heads-up Chip Counts:
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Nenad Medic Wins Event No. 1 ($10,000 pot-limit hold'em World Championship)
