Friday, July 07, 2006

The Winner of Event # 8 - $2000 Omaha High-Low 8/OB Zack Zwerner, founder of
the biggest bingo enterprise in America and former high-level casino
executive, is the latest gold bracelet winner at the 2006 World Series of
Poker, (WSOP) capturing $341,426 after three grueling days of Omaha High-Low
8/OB. The victory was the 59-year old Zwerner's first at the WSOP and the
first time he'd ever cashed in a WSOP event. Zwerner hadn't played in a WSOP
event in nearly 15 years, but was inspired to play the event once again when
his 21-year old son took a serious interest in the sport. His largest
victory before Wednesday was a sixth place finish in a $1000 Omaha Hi-Low
Split tournament at the 2000 L.A. Poker Classic to win $3,015. "My son
started crying, he was so happy," Zwerner told WSOP officials after driving
home to show his two grown sons the gold bracelet. "When I saw him crying,
well I started crying too." It took 28 minutes of heads-up play featuring
multiple all-ins before Werner's Ah-8d-7c-4h caught both a flush and the low
to defeat second-place-finisher Rusty Mandap. Mandap received $176,813 for
his efforts.

The final table featured a mix of professional and amateur players,
including poker superstar Daniel Negreanu, who entered the final nine as the
favorite, but exited unceremoniously in seventh place. This was Negreanu's
second final table appearance in the 2006 WSOP.

Down to the Final Table in Event # 9 - $5000 No Limit Hold'em

Phil "The Poker Brat" Hellmuth is currently in third chip position behind
leader Quoc Al "Vinny" Vinh and Marcel "The Flying Dutchman" Luske heading
to the final table of Event # 9.

Final Table Chip Positions

Quoc Al "Vinny" Vinh - $784,000

Marcel Luske- $458,000

Phil Hellmuth Jr.- $461,000

Isabelle Mercier- $301,000

Jeff Cabanillas-$275,000

Douglas Carli- $273,000

Eugene Todd- $240,000

Thomas Schreiber- $200,000

Dan Smith- $117,000

Hellmuth is vying for his tenth gold bracelet, a total that would tie him
for the all-time lead with poker legends Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan.
Hellmuth already broke the "In the Money" record of 49 cashes earlier this
Series.

This is Hellmuth's third cash of the 2006 WSOP, brining his career total to
52. Berry Johnston and Men "The Master" Nguyen are in second with 49 cashes.
Neither player has cashed in 2006.

Vinh, who according to live blogs has been verbally battling with Hellmuth
since they began playing at the same table, is coming off a solid 2005 WSOP
where he finished 2nd in a $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha tournament and cashed in
a $1,500 Razz event.

Luske, a fan favorite who sports his sunglasses upside down in tense
moments, made a name for himself in the 2004 Main Event with his table
antics, appearance, and singing, as well as his 10th place finish. The
Flying Dutchman is a staple in the European poker community and cashed four
times in the 2005 WSOP.

Although Event # 9 has the most interesting mix of professionals at this
year's WSOP, Thursday's biggest attraction may be Isabelle "No Mercy"
Mercier, winner of the 2004 World Poker Tour Ladies Event and a nominee for
the 2006 European Rookie of Year title. She is only the second female
competitor to make a final table in this year's WSOP. This is her second
finish in the money in 2006.

End of Day One at Event # 10- $1,500 7-Card Stud

The first Stud tournament of the 2006 WSOP drew only 478 participants.
Despite the small field, it took WSOP officials 15 hours and 22 minutes to
narrow the group down to the money. Beginning today at noon (July 6), 40
players will battle for tomorrow's coveted eight final table seats.

John Hoang (79,000 chips) has a commanding lead over young-gun David
Williams (second with 55,300 chips) and the rest of the competition. Hoang
has one WSOP final table appearance, placing 4th in a $2000 Stud event in
2004.

David Williams, who finished 2nd to Greg "Fossilman" Raymer in the memorable
2004 WSOP Main Event and netted $3.5 million, has cashed only twice before
in WSOP events, but is a staple on the WPT circuit and considered one of the
better young players in the world. His tournament winnings in 2006 exceed
$600,000 to date.

Johnny Chan, the all-time leader in WSOP victories with 10 (tied with Doyle
Brunson), is lurking the background in twentieth position with $12,600
chips. Only one of Chan's bracelets has come in 7-Card Stud (1994). Chan won
his tenth bracelet in 2005 to take the all-time lead, only to watch Brunson
tie his mark days later.

Other Notable Chip Positions

12. Jim McManus $20.3 k

15. Humberto Brenes $16.8 k

37. David Sklansky $2.2 k