Top 10 Storylines of the First Half of the 2010 WSOP Part 1

Thirty-one of the 57 bracelets of the 2010 World Series of Poker have been bestowed.

While there is no all-star break at the World Series, we here at Card Player figured now was as good a time as any to highlight the major stories and headlines of the first half of the 2010 WSOP.

Today, we will highlight stories No. 10-5, with the top five featured tomorrow.

10. Eric Buchman Follows up November Nine with a Bracelet

Eric Buchman was considered one of the true favorites heading into the final table of the main event last November. Entering play second in chips, with only the amateur Darvin Moon ahead of him, many people thought the New York cash-games pro was in perfect position to become the next world champion.

But he ultimately stumbled down the stretch, finishing in fourth place for just over $2.5 million.

But in event no. 18, a $2,500 limit hold’em event, there was no denying Buchman. Although he received just a ‘modest’ (compared to the main event) $203,607 for his victory, Buchman was clearly pleased to win his first bracelet.

Fellow November Niner Jeff Shulman threatened to make it a reunion of sorts at the final table before he busted in 13th place.

Honorable Mention for No. 10: Dutch Boyd Returns to the Winner’s Circle. Boyd was one of ESPN’s favorite faces in its early coverage, but he has been fairly quiet the past few years until he won his second bracelet this year in event no. 23.

9. A Comeback for the Ages

He said it as a joke.

Down to a stack of just over a single big blind, Matt Keikoan told his friends on the rail that they were about to witness what he called the “greatest comeback in history right here.”

What started out as a one-liner transformed into a prophecy as Keikoan kept doubling up against Daniel Idema in the $10,000 limit championship, before he completed the comeback from just 300,000 chips (with blinds at 120,000-240,000) to all of the 5.1 million chips in play.

The World Series doesn’t officially keep track of comebacks, but Keikoan’s unlikely heads-up win was definitely one for the record books.

8. The Arrival of Vladimir Shchemelev

Vladimir Shchemelev is the 2010 version of Ville Wahlbeck.

Don’t know what that means? It means Shchemelev came into the World Series as a relative unknown before simply crushing (or at least threatening in) almost all of the big buy-in events he has participated in, similar to Wahlbeck in the 2009 Series.

Shchemelev opened up his 2010 WSOP campaign with a runner-up finish in the $50k Players Championship for $963,375, then followed it up with two more final tables in elite events. He finished in seventh place in both the $10k seven card stud championship and the $10k seven card stud eight-or-better championship.

He failed to cash in the $10k limit hold’em championship or the $10k Omaha eight-or-better championship, but in both tournaments he was amongst the chip leaders early on.
Even with his three big final tables, due to the WSOP’s scoring system that really rewards No. 1 finishes, Schmelev is in just sixth place in its Player of the Year race.

7. David Baker Final Tables Players Championship, Wins $10k Deuce-to-Seven

Some great online pros have struggled to transition over to the live arena, seemingly unable to replicate their edge on the virtual felts. David Baker is not one of those pros.

Baker, who has had a ton of results online over the years, has had a magnificent start to the 2010 World Series to add to his live resume.

First, he finished in sixth place in the $50k Players Championship for $272,275, and then followed it up with a victory in the $10k deuce-to-seven championship for an additional $294,314. He has also cashed in the $10k Omaha eight-or-better championship and a $1,000 no-limit hold’em event, showcasing his skills in all the games.

Prior to this summer, his best finish in a live event was a runner-up result at the 2008 Five Star World Poker Classic for $230,580.

6. Hellmuth Just Misses Out on Final Table and a Chance for No. 12

Love him or hate him — and plenty of people do both — Phil Hellmuth commands the poker community’s attention like few others.

When he made a deep run in event no. 8, a $1,500 no-limit hold’em event, the crowds began forming to see if Hellmuth could add to his bracelet collection. As he will readily remind you, he is the all-time leader with 11.

However, despite being amongst the chip leaders with 25 left, Hellmuth’s stack dwindled down the stretch and the Poker Brat busted just shy of the final table.

Check out the top five stories of the summer so far.

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