Copyright © 2005 Tom Howze
Just Gamble For Free
http://www.justgambleforfree.com
Over 29,000 poker players came to Las Vegas from 40 different
countries all over the earth to play in the 2005 World Series of
Poker tournament events. This generated a total net prize pool of
over $103,000,000 dollars, more than twice the total prize pool
amount in 2004. New records were being made and old ones being
broken so fast the challenge was to keep up with them all. Here
is a "complete report" of what went on at this years World Series
of Poker. It is complete because it covers tournament events #1
to #45.
Records were being made from the start as 662 casino employees
entered Event #1 which was the "Casino Employee No-limit Hold'Em"
tournament. The number broke the record set last year, which was
279 entrants. Andy Nguyen, a poker dealer from Binion's in Las
Vegas, won this event earning a payday of $83,390. Things really
picked up as Event #2 "No-Limit Texas Hold'Em" began with an
astounding 2,305 players signing up to play. For comparison, the
2004 WSOP Main Event had 2,576 players in it. Allen Cunningham
was the recipient of a WSOP gold bracelet and $725,405 for
winning this one. Event #3 "Pot-Limit Hold'Em" had Thom Werthmann
pocketing $369,535 by overcoming tough play from Layne Flack in
the heads up match at the final table. Another WSOP record was
set when 21 year old Eric Froehlich became the youngest person to
earn a WSOP championship bracelet by winning Event #4 "Limit
Hold'Em" and an additional $361,910 for his efforts. Pat Poels
who quit his full time job to become a professional poker player
won event #5 "Omaha Hi-Low Split". His paycheck that day was
$270,100. Isaac Galazan won Event #6 "No-limit Hold'Em" a
shootout tournament by defeating a determined Harry Demetriou and
took home $315,125 for becoming champion.
Event #7 "No-Limit Hold'Em with Rebuys" was won by 24 year old
poker tournament millionaire Michael Gracz, picking up an
additional $594,460 for the win. But Michael said he would give
up all the winnings just to have the WSOP bracelet, that's how
much it meant to him. Event #8 "Seven Card Stud" had online
qualifier Cliff Josephy claim the victory and $192,100. Erik
Seidel picked up his 6th WSOP bracelet and $611,795 after winning
the Event #9 "No-Limit Hold'Em" tournament. Reza Payvar who saw a
marathon 13 hour heads up match to the end, won Event #10 "Limit
Hold'Em". Reza, who received $303,610 and a WSOP bracelet, stated
he dedicated the win to his father who passed away last year.
Reza missed the 2004 WSOP to be with his father who had cancer.
Online qualifier Edward Moncada won Event #11 "Pot-Limit Hold'Em"
receiving his first WSOP bracelet and $298,070. The winner of
Event #12 "Pot Limit Omaha" was Josh Arieh who earned his 2nd
gold WSOP bracelet along with a $381,600 payday.
In his 58th major tournament win, T.J. Cloutier picked up his 6th
WSOP bracelet by winning the Event #13 "No Limit Hold'Em" event
and pocketing $657,100 in the process. Event #14 "Seven-Card Stud
High-Low Split" lasted 36 hours, but in the end Steve Hohn picked
up his bracelet and $156,985. Steve even endured a 4 1/2 hour
heads up battle with Mike Wattel at the final table to capture
this tournament victory! Mark Seif was able to place a desired
crown on his poker resume by winning Event #15 "Limit Hold'Em
Shootout" and $181,330 in his wallet. The champion for the Event
#16 "No-Limit Hold'Em Shootout" tournament was Anthony Reategui,
proving himself the best of 780 players for the title of champion
and $269,100. Quinn Do ended up with $265,975 for winning Event
#17's "Limit Hold'Em" tournament. Denis Ethier came from behind
as the final table's short stack to win Event #18 "Seven Card
Stud High-Low Split". Denis was rewarded with $160,682 for his
effort. And Barry Greenstein became the champion of the Event #19
"Pot Limit Omaha" tournament gaining another $423,405 and a
bracelet. Barry in his true humanitarian form dedicated his win
to a terminally ill cancer patient named Charlie Tuttle. For
Event #20 which was "Pot Limit Hold'Em", Brian Wilson won
$370,685 for his efforts at the WSOP.
Todd Brunson, son of Doyle Brunson was the winner of the Event
#21 "Omaha High-Low Split" tournament. Todd won $255,945 and
entered World Series of Poker history, as he and his father
became the only father and son to win championship bracelets. And
Mark Seif captured his 2nd WSOP bracelet in a week plus $611,145
to boot by winning the Event #22 "No-Limit Hold'Em" tournament.
Event #23 "Seven Card Stud" had a happy Jan Sorensen from Denmark
ready to take home $293,275 and a bracelet for winning this
tournament. Event #24 "No Limit Hold'Em" was won by the very
serious, solid playing Farzad Bonyadi who earned $594,960 for the
effort. In Event #25 "Pot-Limit Hold'Em", Johnny Chan won his
10th WSOP bracelet breaking a 3-way tie with him, Doyle Brunson
and Phil Hellmuth Jr., setting a record in the process. Johnny
picked up a hefty $303,025 as well. Actress Jennifer Tilly turned
heads again by winning Event #26 "Ladies No-Limit Hold'Em". She
actually dominated final table play against top women poker
players in the world to win $158,335 and a bracelet you can't buy
in a store anywhere. Expect no less from the girlfriend of Phil
"Unabomber" Laak. Phil Ivey overcame a determined Robert
Williamson III to win Event #27 "Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys"
earning his 5th gold WSOP bracelet and $630,685. Dan Schmiech won
$404,585 by winning against actor Gabe Kaplan in the Event #28
"Limit Hold'em" tournament. Event #29 "No Limit Hold'Em" has
Lawrence Gosney as this years champion pocketing $483,195 for the
win. Now Event #30 "Seven Card Razz" is actually a little tough
to understand and play, but O'Neil Longson proved he could do it
and took home $125,690 as proof.
The 3-way tie Johnny Chan broke earlier became a tie again as
Doyle Brunson won the Event #31 "No-limit Hold'Em (Short Handed
6/table)" tournament earning his 10th WSOP bracelet and $367,800
once again showing how his legendary reputation was earned. Event
#32 "Omaha High-Low Split" was won by David Chiu taking home his
4th bracelet and $347,410. Andre Boyer, a poker analyst for TV
station Le Réseau des Sports in Quebec won Event #33 "No Limit
Hold'Em" who's skill was rewarded with a $682,810 payday. Event
#34 "Seniors No Limit Hold'Em" has a new champion who's name is
Paul McKinney. Paul, who is 80 years old, can relax in the sun
after depositing $202,725 in his bank account. Rafi Amit won
Event #35 "Pot Limit Omaha" and $511,835 after becoming
victorious in a heads up battle with Vinny Vinh.
A dominate Todd Witteles won Event #36 "Limit Hold'em" knocking
out opponents left and right to take home the bracelet and
$347,385. Event #37 "No Limit Hold'Em with Rebuys" was won by Jon
Heneghan taking home $611,015 in the process. Event #38 was a
super satellite tournament for seats to the Main Event, so no
prize pool or list of winners was produced. Event #39 "No Limit 2
to 7 Draw Lowball with Rebuys" had David Grey as the champion who
was heralded with $365,135. Event #40 was also a super satellite
like #38 so there is nothing to report unfortunately. When it
came time for raising money for charity, the media and
celebrities in Event #41 showed up at the tables. Randy Bowman of
the media won $10,000 for the Noblesville Boys and Girls Club.
Event #42 is the WSOP Main Event, the big tournament where
millionaires are born. This year the first place prize was
$7,500,000 and every person who made the final table became a
millionaire guaranteed. 5,619 entrants competed in the tournament
making it the largest in WSOP history. In fact it was so large
that it had to be spread out over 9 days. 2004 champion Greg
Raymer made it up to 25th place before elimination, receiving
$304,680 for his efforts. But it was Joseph Hachem who became
champion for this year, pocketing the $7.5 million and a
beautiful diamond bracelet that can only be earned by winning the
Main Event.
For those who were busted out of the Main Event, they found
additional tournaments for play in Events #43, #44 and #45 which
were 1 day events. Ron Kirk beat out players like Erik Seidel and
Marcel Luske to take home $321,520 for winning the Event #43 "No
Limit Hold'Em" tournament. Event #44 "No Limit Hold'Em" was won
by John Pires who received $220,935 for his victory. And the
Event #45 "No Limit Hold'Em" winner was Willie Tann who happily
received his bracelet and $188,335 for 1 day's work! Not bad at
all.
With the sheer size of this event and a total number of staff and
players that could make up a small city, it is hard to think of
anything the poker world could do to surpass it. But Harrah's has
already released the 2006 World Series of Poker Tournament
Circuit schedule and it is expanded from 2005's five tournaments
to twelve, so we'll have to wait and see. Poker on TV will keep
us all happy until then.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Howze is a webmaster for 9 sites that relate to
2005
World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events,
updates and information. http://www.justgambleforfree.com/world-series-of-poker.htm