WSOP News

[jetset]

MIKKELSEN TAKES DAY 4 WSOP

Big names, fast action and high attrition as major money is awarded

Friday saw the 337 survivors from the World Series of Poker Days 1 A through D, Days 2 A and B and Day 3 in the big payouts range and eager to get started in the Amazon Room at the Rio in Las Vegas.

Top of the leader board was the daring and aggressive 22 year old Italian Internet whizz kid Dario Minieri on 2 398 000, trailed by Jeff Weiss (1 533 000) Jon Kalmar (1 410 000) another Internet player Hevad Khan (1 319 000) Kenny Tran (1 175 000) Steven Jacobs (1 127 000) and a few others in the million chip league, including Gus Hansen.

On the first hand after the "Shuffle Up and Deal" call there were casualties, setting the tone for the hard, fast poker that characterised the day. Daniel Schleben immediately fell victim to Tuan Lam, and Eddie Ray Stutts was bundled out by Alex Michaels.

And in the first hour Robert Starkey took out Simpson's creator Sam Simon in position 329 for which he earned a good return of $39 445 on his $10 000 buy-in.

Big names were soon falling like leaves in autumn, including Darrell Gigabet Dicken, taken out by Jim Kasputis. By the end of the day two thirds of the field would have exited this year's main event, with three former World Champions among them.

Robert Varkonyi, Carlos Mortensen and Berry Johnston all headed for the exit on Day 4, leaving Scotty Nguyen and Huck Seed still in the race for the $8.25 million main prize and the respect that goes with a WSOP main event winner's bracelet.

In the first 50 minutes of play there were 39 eliminations, whittling the field down to 298. Later in the contest, Spiderman actor Tobey Maguire was taken out shortly after being crippled by Donnacha O'Dea, leaving the main event in position 292 with a check for his efforts of $39 445. He left Godsmack singer Sully Erna as the sole remaining non-poker celebrity, but he too eventually succumbed in the 237th spot with $45 422.

The visually impaired player Hal Lubarsky's luck ran out on Day 4, too - he was eliminated by Scott Freeman after surviving all the way through. Tournament director Nolan Dalla called the gutsy player up onto the podium as a gesture of respect for truimphing over some 6 000 sighted players during the tournament, and commented that the man was an inspiration.

Sadly, some of the quality Internet players exited on Day 4, including Sorel 'Imper1um' Mizzi, eliminated by Ed Betlow.

The organisers used Day 4 to additionally set up the promised money-bubble sit-'n'-go, a consolation prize tournament for those who just missed cashing this year. Lee Dryer took the single-table tournament to win a $10 000 entry into the 2008 WSOP Main Event, plus a year's supply of Milwaukee's Best Light.

By the end of the busy day's play only 112 players remained, headed by the chip leader from Day 1B, Dag Martin Mikkelsen on 3 740 000 - a comfortable lead over the following closest opponents:

Charis Anastasiou 2 672 000
Richard Harris 2 662 000
Avi Cohen 2 392 000
Jeff Tunkel 2 323 000
Alex Kravchenko 2 274 000
Hevad Khan 2 200 000
Ryan Elson 2 137 000

Day 5 promises more of the same as the field is whittled down to 27 and some of the best known and respected names in international poker close in on seats at the final table and the $8.25 million main prize.

Watch out for some of these names in action on Saturday in Day 5: Dario Minieri - the Italian top dog from Day 3 is a little trimmed but still in contention, 2007 WSOP bracelet winners Bill Edler and Alex Kravchenko, Gus Hansen, John Spadavecchia, Lee Watkinson, former champs Huck Seed and Scotty Nguyen, Kirk Morrison, Rep Porter, Evad 'Rain' Khan, Jeff 'Mr. Rain' Banghart, Julian Gardner, Cory Carroll, Humberto Brenes, Mikkel Madsen and Chad Brown.

[tennis_balls]

it's a real drag the way the WSOP is handling the coverage of the event this year. ESPN will be showing coverage a lot sooner than last year so that's good, but the real time reporting is minimal unless you want to pay $50 for full coverage. I refuse to pay per view to watch a card game.

I'm curious to know how many have paid $50 a pop for the coverage. I assume they will keep that info under wraps as well.

[jetset]

WSOP DAY 5 -DOWN TO 36 PLAYERS

End of the road for some truly entertaining contestants.

Some of the most entertaining players in this year's Day 5 of the World Series of Poker Main Event were among the 76 contenders who had exited the race by the end of Day 5. Of the original field of 112, only 36 go through to Day 6 and sadly some of the competition's most exciting players were eliminated.

Among those was Mr. "Chark" - Humberto "the Shark" Brenes who collected a paycheck of $82 476 when he fell to Hevad Kahn in 83rd place, and the last woman in the competition, Maria Ho who was eliminated in 38th place ($237 865) by Kevin Farry. Exiting in the 73rd slot was Huckleberry Seed ($106 382), the 1996 WSOP World Champion, leaving Scotty Nguyen as the last of six former Main Event champs still in action.

In the 96th slot the odds finally caught up with the exciting 22 year old Italian player Dario Minieri, out with a $67 535 payday after a clash with Reagan Silber ended the adventurous Roman's run at the biggest prize in poker. Day 5 also saw the end of Gus Hansen's bid for the 2007 winner's bracelet, out in position 61 to Jason Koshi and earning $154 194 for his trouble.

Internet expert players Jared 'WacoKidd' Hamby and Dag Martin 'dmmikkel' Mikkelsen also headed to the rail, whilst long haired tournament young gun Isaac Haxton was been eliminated too - in 94th place by Richard Harris.

The good news is that 1998 Main Event winner Scotty Nguyen is still very much in contention, along with courteous and skilful pros like Bill Edler, Lee Childs, William Spadea, Daniel Alaei, Ray Henson, Scott Freeman, Philip Hilm, Lee Watkinson, Kevin Farry, Alex Kravchenko, David Tran and Kenny Tran, together with Internet phenomenon Hevad Khan who has been cutting a swathe through the many contestants who have faced him, and celebrated each win with boisterous victory cheers.

Entering Day 6, the top ten chip counts look like this:

David Tran 10 280 000
Philip Hilm 9 950 000
Ray Henson 8 250 000
Hevad Khan 7 585 000
Kevin Farry 7 400 000
Scott Freeman 7 360 000
Lee Childs 6 520 000
Jerry Yang 5 090 000
Kenny Tran 4 955 000
William Spadea 4 575 000

At the other end of the 36 player list is Robin Bergren with the smallest stack at 520 000.

First man out on Day 5 was Andrew Gunderson eliminated by Jeff Bryan, and the last player eliminated before the 36 player list for Day 6 was decided was Ayaz Mahmood who fell to Mikkel Madsen in 37th place. collecting a check for $237 865 on the way out.

The remaining 36 players are guaranteed at least $237 865.

[jetset]

WSOP MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE DECIDED

Over 16 hours of gruelling duelling decides the last nine

4am in the morning Vegas time, and after 16 hours of poker against highly skilled opponents, the surviving ten members of World Series of Poker Day 6 are feeling the strain, sipping energy drinks or coffee and trying to hang in to become one of the final 9 who will gather on Tuesday after a rest day to decide once and for all who the 2007 WSOP champ will be.

At risk is a main prize of $8,25 million - substantially less that last year's $12 million but nevertheless impressive and worth fighting for. But every one of the nine survivors from that main event starting field of 6 358 hopefuls will be well rewarded for their skills and good fortune, as the following list of runner up prizes illustrates:

2nd - $4 840 981
3rd - $3 048 025
4th - $1 852 721
5th - $1 255 069
6th - $956 243
7th - $705 229
8th - $585 934
9th - $525 934

Finally one man, Steven Garfinkle is eliminated by a South African player called Raymond Rahme. For Garfinkle it is acutely disappointing - to last through so many clashes over the past 6 days only to be the last man to exit before the final table. His consolation prize is a hard earned $476 926 and respect for making it so deep into the biggest poker event in the world.

As the tired and plainly relieved nine survivors who will make up the final table on Tuesday pack up, the organisers announce the seating plans and chip stacks for Tuesday's decider:

Seat 1 - Jon Kalmar - 20.32 million
Seat 2 - Lee Childs - 13.24 million
Seat 3 - Philip Hilm - 22.07 million
Seat 4 - Jerry Yang - 8.45 million
Seat 5 - Raymond Rahme - 16.32 million
Seat 6 - Tuan Lam - 21.315 million
Seat 7 - Alex Kravchenko - 6.57 million
Seat 8 - Lee Watkinson - 9.925 million
Seat 9 - Hevad 'Rain' Khan - 9.205 million

Top man Jon Kalmar's presence is a good luck story in itself. The English ex-IT expert from Chorley, England had prepared to leave the WSOP 2-3 days before the Main Event started. At the last minute, he decided to spend $500 on a super satellite and ended up finishing in the top 17, winning a $10 000 main event seat. So he unpacked and postponed his return to the UK and here he is - the biggest chip stack going into the final table.

Kalmar, who has been playing as a professional for the last 2 years, is just one of the 36 survivors who took their seats on Day 6 at noon on Sunday, starting out on a journey that was at times slow and cautious but at others action filled and deeply exciting as multi-million dollar pots often topping 5 million were challenged and won, and respected names in poker were eliminated in the race to the last nine seats.

Names like Scotty Nguyen, the last remaining former WSOP champion who played magnificently and with humour but was bundled out in 11th place by by Philip Hilm, a Dane living in London. Widely respected as the "Prince of Poker" and the 1998 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion, Nguyen took his elimination - and a reward of $476 926 with equanimity and sportsmanship.

Day 6 started with 36 players at noon Sunday with six WSOP bracelet winners remaining in the field including Scotty Nguyen (4 wins), Bob Slezak (1), Daniel Alaei (1), Lee Watkinson (1), Alex Kravchenko (1), and Bill Edler ( 1).

By late afternoon the field had been halved with only the following still in the hunt: William Spadea (10.950 million), Lee Childs (10.795 million), John Armbrust (10.2 million), Ray Henson (10 million), Philip Hilm (9.985 million), Jerry Yang (9.2 million), Raymond Rahme (8.75 million), Kenny Tran (7.285 million), Jon Kalmar (6. million), David Tran (6.69 million), Tuan Lam (6.105 million), Hevad "Rain" Khan (5.3 million), Lee Watkinson (4.36 million), Bob Slezak (4.28 million), Scotty Nguyen (4.15 million), Kevin Farry (2.97 million), Steven Garfinkle (2.855 million) and Alex Kravchenko (1.54 million).

The exuberant Internet player Hevad Kahn, who can reportedly play over 28 tables at once on Poker Stars.com, was far less flamboyant through Day 6 and seemed to be concentrating more on the stiff opposition he faced than grandstanding for the omnipresent cameras.

Eight different nations were represented, including Canada, Denmark, England, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, and the United States. Most remaining players (7) come from California. And 12 of the remaining players are non-U.S. residents.

Ten minutes from the start of Day 6 the first player, Robin Bergren headed for the rail in 36th place cashing $285 678; Allan W. King went out almost simultaneously - both victims of plastic surgeon Roy Winston, and five minutes after that Hoa Nguyen headed for the cashier's office and the same payout for his 34th place finish after being eliminated by Lee Childs.

The attrition rate was steady and certainly hard fought by those who were bested, and pots grew ever larger as multi-millions were staked and won.

If Raymond Rahme from South Africa is the oldest player at 62 years, then Scott Freeman (21) was the youngest in Day 6. Freeman is in his fourth year at USC majoring in business and did well before John Armbrust took him out in 19th place for a $333 490 payday. Little did Armbrust know that he was the next to go - eliminated by Lee Childs in 18th place and earning $381 302.

Rahme is from Johannesburg and is a retired entrepreneur who was successful in the auto body business and owned several bed & breakfast hotels.

The players who have survived this far were all in the serious money, with positions 18 to 16 paying $381 302; 15 to 13 paying $ 429 114 and 12 to 10 paying $476 926.

17th place went to civil engineer Kevin Farry, taken down after the dinner break by Kenny Tran and earning $381 302, with Tran himself becoming exit number 16 after a clash with Jon Kalmar that boosted the latter's chip count and put him in the lead at that stage with 17 million in chips.

Rahme eliminated Bob Slezak in 15th place with the exiting player picking up a $429 114 check for his time and trouble. David Tran went in position 14 at $429 114, falling to Tuan Lam. The 13th player out was William Spadea - another casualty of the ruthless Jon Kalmar. It was Ray Henson's turn next, shown the exit in 12th place by Scotty Nguyen for $476 926.

Things started to go wrong for Nguyen when Tuan Lam won a massive 11.46 million pot gainst him - perhaps revenge for an earlier 8.1 million pot that the Prince of Poker had taken from Lam. After that it was only a matter of time before Nguyen went out in 11th place after tangling with an aggressive Philip Hilm. Nguyen's reward was $476 926, and his departure cleared the way for the elimination of Garfinkle in 10th place, leaving the final table set and ready for Tuesday at noon Vegas time.

[tennis_balls]

looks like a very interesting group at the final table.

my pick is Hevad Khan. his profile says he once played 43 tables at once online.
i'd kind of like to wager on him but the odds at bodog are pathetic for this bet. i've heard the odds are quite different for this event at some of the UK books.

Khan is listed at 7/1 now at bodog which is absurd seeing as his stack is half that of the leaders.

one of the guys at the final table is only there because when he tried to get an early flight back to UK, the airlines wanted an extra $600. so then he stayed and won entry via one of the final satellite tournies.

again no ladies at the final table oh well....somebody has to serve the drinks!

[jetset]

REST DAY FOR WSOP NINE

A look at the nine poker players who play for poker's biggest prize this Tuesday

The survivors of the last ten days of elimination poker that have involved a total of 6 358 hopefuls, are preparing for the climax of the $10 000 buy-in main event - the final table for the 2007 World Series of Poker. The nine players who will compete Tuesday have a rest day today (Monday) before battle is joined.

At risk is a main prize of $8,25 million - substantially less that last year's $12 million but nevertheless impressive and worth fighting for. But every one of the nine survivors from that main event starting field will be well rewarded for their skills and good fortune, as the following list of runner up prizes illustrates:

2nd - $4 840 981
3rd - $3 048 025
4th - $1 852 721
5th - $1 255 069
6th - $956 243
7th - $705 229
8th - $585 934
9th - $525 934

The chip leader going into the big game at noon on Tuesday, Las Vegas time is Philip Hilm, a Dane making a living playing poker online in England who holds over 23 million chips.

Here are the final tablers:

Philip Hilm - chip count $23 070 000

In 2003 Hilm was selling coffee machines when he was introduced to the world of poker by a friend. He read, practiced and finally played online to perfect his game and was soon earning useful income from the game. This led to him becoming a professional player
who prefers heads-up cash games online, but travels to play in live events around the world.

Successes in the live poker milieu include two cashes in European Poker Tour events: a fourth place finish at the Scandinavian Open in 2006 and 15th place at the Grand Final in Monte Carlo in 2007. He also has a cash in the 2005 World Series in the $2 500 Short-Handed No-Limit Hold'em event.

The star player and captain of the Poker Stars.com Polish team in 2006, he played in the World Cup of Poker and led his team to victory ahead of Team U.S.A. and Canada.

Tuan Lam - chip count $21 290 000

Middle aged Toronto poker pro Tuan Lam represents the online poker site Poker Stars.com and was born in Vietnam, immigrating to Canada at the age of 19 during the war.

He learned to play poker from friends and is respected as a savvy and highly professional online poker player with a penchant for high-limit cash games. This is his third year at the World Series of Poker, where he has previously had one cash in 2005 and another in 2006. This is the deepest he has gone so far in the main event, and it will be his biggest tournament cash so far no matter where he finishes.

Lam took second place in the six-handed no-limit hold'em event in the 2005 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker for $55 000, according to the PokerStars Blog.

Jon Kalmar - chip count $20 220 000

The World Series of Poker attracts player from all over the planet, and Kalmar is one of many British entrants this year. He is now the sole survivor from that country, where he hails from Chorley in Lancashire.

Two years ago, the 34-year-old married man was an IT consultant who discovered poker, found he has the temperament and skill to play well and changed his career to become a professional player, describing himself as "a poker geek."

He's enjoyed a number of cashes in live and online events, the most significant hitherton being in the 2005 Main Event where he made 82nd place to win $91 950. He also achieved a 10th place finish in the 2005 European Poker Tour Irish Winter Festival of Poker. His 2007 WSOP effort was unremarkable prior to the main event, and he was on the brink of returning early to the UK when he decided that the charge to change his flight was better spent entering a satellite tournament for the main event. His luck turned, he won a seat in the main event and he has successfully fought his way through to the final table and the big money.

Raymond Rahme - chip count $16 000 000

This affable 62 year old South African is another Poker Stars.com player who has a strong and voluble contingent of supporters livening up the rail action when he plays.

A "semi-retired" entrepreneur from Johannesburg, he has only been playing No-Limit Hold'em for two years. Before that, he was a lifelong and accommplished Seven-Card Stud player.

At 62, Rahme is the oldest participant at the final table, and he also has the privelege of being the first African to appear at a WSOP Main Event final table.

He won his entry into the tournament via the All Africa Poker Championship, where he placed fourth, and part of his prize was a travel package to Las Vegas and a seat in the Main Event. He had the distinction of defining this year's final table by eliminating the 10 th player.

Lee Childs - $13 320 000

Lee Childs (35) was formerly a software engineer in Reston, Virginia, but has pursued a career in poker as a preference,and is comething of an unknow quantity - one of three players at the main event final table with no live poker history in the Hendon Mob database. His performance thus far shows a clear flair for the game, and his specialty is online multi-table tournaments. 2007 is his first appearance at the World Series.

Childs' father has been a great supporter throughout the tournament, encouraging him from the rail and he is having a remarkably first main event appearance that will earn him a solid paycheck.

Lee Watkinson - chip count $9 975 000

Despite the relatively short stack at this table, easy going forty year old Lee Watkinson from Cheney, Washington is one of the only two previous WSOP bracelet holders at the final table, and his capabilities in poker and math are widely respected. Besides poker, he is is interested in animal rights and runs his own business.

He holds a degree from Washington State in economics and has made savvy investments in businesses such as a record company and clothing group, and leisure pursuits include wrestling and surfing. He shares an ambition with his wife to rescue as many simians used for research, movies, or other purposes as possible and eventually build an animal sanctuary.

Hevad Khan - chip count $9 205 000

Probably the most exuberant and visible player in this year's main event is Internet poker phenomenon Hevad "Rain" Khan from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. His loud celebratory yells and jigs when he has scored a victory have made him the centre of attraction, but behind the public persona is a shrewd and capable brain that (Internet legend has it) can successfully play up to 28 tables at once in the fast lane world of online poker.

Khan plays in Poker Stars.com colours and the legend is that his Internet play was so rapid, large and accurate that he had at one stage to prove to Poker Stars management that he was not a bot! He has claimed to have videotaped himself playing up to 43 tables online.

Khan had already cashed in one preliminary event this year, making it to 41st place in the $1 500 No-Limit Hold'em event. He also made the final table of an event at the The four day, $10 000 buy in World Poker Tour Bellagio Cup III during his stay in Vegas.

Jerry Yang - chip count $8 500 000

Temecula, California-based psychologist Jerry Yang (39) is one of the short-stacks coming into the final table on Tuesday.

Born in Laos, Lang moved to the United States, achieved a Masters Degree in health psychology and now lives in California with his wife and six children, with a career in psychology and social work.

He won his way into the Main Event via a $225 satellite at the Pechanga Resort and Casino and has pledged 10 percent of his winnings from the Main Event to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children and the Ronald McDonald House.

Alex Kravchenko - chip count $6 570 000

Alex Kravchenko hails from Moscow and is the sole Russian at the final table this year. He has enjoyed a successful eight-year poker career in addition to owning and controlling his own business interests.

Kravchenko has had cashes in World Poker Tour and other key events all over the world, and cashed twice during the 2006 World Series of Poker, improving on that with an impressive five WSOP cashes this year. One of those is a bracelet win in the $1 500 Omaha Hi-Lo Split Eight-or-Better event, making him the first Russian World Series of Poker event bracelet winner.

[jetset]

WSOP FINAL TABLE SURPRISES

Yang on the rampage as four players hit the rail

Temecula, California-based psychologist Jerry Yang (39) has so far dominated play at the World Series of Poker Main Event currently unfolding at the Rio in Las Vegas. Starting with the second shortest stack of only 8 500 000, he adopted an aggressive strategy from the moment former champ Jamie Gold made the "Shuffle Up and Deal" call just after noon Vegas time Tuesday, winning the first 3.43 million pot of the game.

Clearly it has paid off; as we went to press Yang had eliminated four opponents to corner over half the chips on the table at around 73 million, his closest rival Tuan Lam on just on 20 million, and South African Raymond Pahme on 15.955 million. With pots worth multi millions, the atmosphere in the packed Amazon Room was electric from the get go.

The first elimination occurred in the first couple of hours play and was a major shock. In a series of monster bets (one pot was worth 11.39 million) Yang took down Philip Hilm - the chip leader at the start of the final table at 22.07 million, and the player widely favoured to win the main event. The Dane, playing attacking poker, busted out on hand 15 for a 9th place check of $525 934. After busting Hilm, Yang's stack went up to 44.5 million.

Not long after, at hand 21, Yang bundled Lee Watkinson out, too leaving him with the 8th place reward of $585 699. By then Yang's stack had grown to 55 million - more than double the nearest rival, Tuan Lam.

On hand 28 it was Lee Childs headed for the exit - another victim of the still aggressive Yang, who cornered over half the chips in play at that point. Childs collected a paycheck of $705 229 for his 7th placing. By mid afternoon, tournament director Nolan Dalla described Yang's run as domination. ""He's running over the table," the WSOP exec remarked.

The $225 satellite at the Pechanga Resort and Casino that positioned Yang in the WSOP main event has turned out to be a real winner of an investment! Yang has pledged 10 percent of his winnings from the Main Event to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children and the Ronald McDonald House.

Yang's run continued, and by late afternoon, at hand 56 he eliminated the 22 year old Internet whizzkid Hevad 'Rain' Khan in 6th Place for a $956 243 payout, with Yang building his stack to 73.04 million - miles ahead of the 19.915 million held by his nearest challenger, Tuan Lam and third chip leader Raymond Rahme, who is on 15.955 million

The five remaining players - Jerry Yang, Jon Kalmar, Alex Kravchenko, Raymond Rahme and Tuan Lam - have joined the World Series of Poker Millionaires Club. They will be guaranteed at least a $1.22 million payout each.

The players were taking a brief break as we went to press, and will be back in action shortly.

[Mousey]

Hubby has been up all night watching it on PPV.

5:25 a.m. CDT. We're heads up. Lam (about $20million in chips) vs. Yang (about a gazillion chips). Rahme was knocked out (3rd) about 2 hours ago.

[jetset]

WSOP MAIN EVENT GOES TO THE HEADS UP (Update)

Huge pots, fluctuating chip stacks and fast action continue as the field narrows

At the last World Series of Poker main event in 2006, cards went in the air at 2:12pm and Jamie Gold had won it at 3:40am the next morning in a total time of 13 hours and 28 minutes. And it took 10 hours and 30 minutes for action to get down to the final four players.

At the 2005 WSOP main event the final table started at 4:47pm and Joe Hachem won it at 6:41am the next day. Total time was 13 hours and 54 minutes, and it took 9 hours and 15 minutes for the action to get down to the final four players.

At the start of this year's epic an aggressive Jerry Yang dominated play despite his second lowest chip stack, forcing a fast pace, building a massive chip lead and leading onlookers to start betting that this might be the shortest main event yet. Starting with chip leader Philip Hilm, Yang had put paid to the top prize dreams of Hilm, Lee Watkinson, Lee Childs and Hevad Kahn by late evening (see previous InfoPowa update).

The fifth man out, Englishman Jon Kalmar went at hand 60 after around five hours play when he tangled with South African player Raymond Rahme, who maintained a strong position throughout the game with great calls and skilful decisions. Kalmar earned himself the first millionaire's paycheck in this year's final at $ 1 255 069, in the process boosting Rahme's chip count to 29.89 million.

From there on things quietened down as the remaining four players manouevred for advantage. But a remarkable surge by Russian Alex Kravchenko - partly due to an 18 million pot he took off Yang, perked up the general spectator interest before the dinner break at 7.30pm, lifting the Russian into third position.

After the break, the presentation of the Player of the Year Award by WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack to Tom Schneider provided some variety before the players got back down to business.

By Hand 100 Yang was still holding off all challengers for the lead, having taken an impressive 63 of the pots. Kravchenko's big run continued and by hand 127 he was second only to Yang in chip count with Rahme dropping to fourth behind Tuan Lam.

Just before midnight Round 35 started with blinds of 300 000 - 600 000 and a 75 000 ante, and Kravchenko seemed to go off the boil, dropping back to third position behind Lam and apparently perpetual chip leader Yang. Rahme had dropped to last after losing a massive pot to Lam earlier.

Only fifteen minutes into the new day it was Rahme who made a spectacular comeback, only 11 million behind chip leader Yang and ahead of Lam, with Kravchenko now trailing on 20 million. On hand 150 Raymond Rahme had doubled through Tuan Lam and his rewards vaulted him into second place from last place.

Rahme celebrated his progress by asking the crowd to wish world political icon and humanitarian Nelson Mandela a happy 89th birthday.

Unfortunately it turned out to be both Kravchenko and Rahme's swan song, as Jerry Yang took both out within three hands. Kravchenko was first to go in a 20 million pot tussle with Yang that saw him head for the rail in 4th place with a payout of $1 852 721. Rahme followed almost immediately, leaving Yang in charge of 81 percent of the total chips in play having dominated the lead throughout the final. Yang took down six of the seven eliminations - Hilm at hand 15; Watkinson at hand 21; Childs at hand 28; Kahn at hand 56; Kravchenko at hand 167 and Rahme at hand 169.

Going into the heads up with Tuan Lam, Jerry Yang looked to be in an almost unassailable position - in his last two eliminations, Yang had broken a World Series of Poker main event record as the first final table player ever to hold more than 100 million in chips, winning 67 out of 169 total hands.

Heads up for the $8.25 million main prize, Jerry Yang (104.45 million) faced Tuan Lam (23.025 million) Looking back at WSOP main event heads up history the 2005 WSOP heads up match between Joe Hachem and Steve Dannenmann lasted six hands. The 2006 WSOP heads up match between Jamie Gold and Paul Wasicka lasted seven hands.

Approaching 2.30 in the morning at hand 176, the counts were: Jerry Yang - 102.575 million Tuan Lam - 24.9 million

After 21 hands of heads up play, Jerry Yang continued to dominate Tuan Lam. Yang won 17 hands of the 21 hands, increasing his overall total to 84. Lam has played tight, folding his button three times in the last ten hands. Yang has increased his stack to about 117 million, while Lam's stack slipped to around 10 million.

The players have just completed a break and return to increased blinds of 400 000 - 800 000, with a 100 000 ante.


PIGGS PEAK'S RAHME ACHIEVES A THIRD IN POKER'S GREATEST SPECTACULAR

South African player receives standing ovation as he departs World Series of Poker main event final table

Piggs Peak Swaziland’s All Africa Poker finalist, Raymond Rahme has overcome all odds with his phenomenal performance at the 2007 World Series of Poker, being the first South African to not only make the final table, but to finish in 3rd position, earning himself a cool $3 048 025. The 62 year old semi retired entrepreneur from Johannesburg was the oldest player at the final table.

The platform from which Rahme achieved this impressive status, was the 9th All Africa Poker Tournament, hosted by Piggs Peak in Swaziland in June 2007. Piggs Peak made it possible for him to participate at the World Series of Poker 2007, by sponsoring his seats as well as all related costs

Shortly before he played his final hand Raymond went over to Jack Effel, an ESPN reporter and asked: “Do you know who Nelson Mandela is?” “Yes I do” Jack said. “This is going to be on ESPN, yeah?” This Jack confirmed with a nod of his head. “Well you send a message and let him know that I’m going to bring the bracelet home for Africa!” Raymond said with confidence and a smile.

When play resumed, Jack granted Ray’s wish and lead the crowd in wishing Mandela a happy 89th birthday. When he was eliminated by the US player in the chip lead - California's Jerry Yang - Rahme received a standing ovation from the packed Las Vegas venue.

Ray may not have brought home the bracelet – but he certainly kept South Africa’s name high!

In his exit interview Ray had the following to say about the Piggs Peak Team: “The Piggs Peak Swaziland team kept me going and supported me all the way! Thank you Piggs Peak”.

“We can never lose site of what Ray has achieved – he has beaten out 6358 players to achieve a brilliant 3rd place finish in the biggest poker Tournament in the world!”, said Wendy Graaf, Group Marketing Manager of Piggs Peak Casino.

[jetset]

JERRY YANG THE VICTOR IN 2007 WSOP MAIN EVENT (Update)

$8.25 million in cash, major respect and the top 2007 bracelet go to he player who has dominated this year's final

Well after 4am Wednesday morning Vegas time this year's 2007 World Series of Poker main event final table was finally decided at hand 205, and Jerry Yang who has held onto the chip lead throughout and eliminated all but one of the final tablers, is the man of the hour.

Over the last fifteen hands, his heads up opponent Tuan Lam finally made a stand after some tight play and moved all in a total of three times against Yang. He doubled through the chip leader and won three in a row at one point. Lam was finally able to get back all the chips he lost since they began heads up play. Out of the 31 hands of heads up play at that point, Yang had won 21, harvesting a total of 88 pots. At the 3.51 am mark Yang held 106.775 million chips - a new main event record, against Lam's 20.8 million.

The denouement came at hand 205 after an exciting exchange that could have seen Lam prolong his stay in the game, but it was not to be as the hugely dominant chip leader received all the cards he needed to eliminate his gutsy opponent and take the bracelet, the watch and the $8.25 million main prize with a nine-high straight. Perhaps sensing that the end was in sight, the packed room was already on its feet and cheering. Mobbed by his supporters and family, Yang shook hands with Lam before taking a turn around the table and giving the dealer a big hug.

Lam tried hard and gets the second placing paycheck of $4 840 981 and respect for a well fought competition.