2005 World Series of Poker - Week #4 Recap

The fourth week at the World Series of Poker might have been the most historic week in poker history. I witnessed some of the best players in the world win bracelets and caught a glimpse of history as Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson both won their 10th bracelet. In addition, two Europeans won bracelets in another action packed week at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas.

• Event #23 $5,000 Seven card Stud: Jan Sorenson (Odewse, Denmark) $293,275
• Event #24 $2,500 NL Hold’em: Farzad Bonyadi (Los Angeles, CA) $594,960
• Event #25 $5,000 Pot Limit Hold’em: Johnny Chan (Las Vegas, NV) $303,025
• Event #26 $1,000 Ladies NL: Jennifer Tilly (Harbor City, CA) $158,335
• Event #27 $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys: Phil Ivey (Las Vegas, NV) $635,603
• Event #28 $5,000 Limit Hold’em: Dan Schmiech (Houston, TX) $404,585
• Event #29 $2,000 NL Hold’em: Lawrence Gosney (Leeds, England) $483,195
• Event #30 $1,500 Seven card Razz: O’Neil Longson (Salt Lake City, UT) $125,690
• Event #31 $5,000 NL Short-handed: Doyle Brunson (Las Vegas, NV) $367,800

Jan Sorenson played a grueling two and half hour heads up match to beat out Keith Sexton. Jan Sorenson might be the best player from Denmark besides Gus Hansen. Jan Sorenson played professional football in Europe for several years before he started playing poker professionally.

Farzad Bonyadi came from behind to beat out Lars Bonding of Aarhus, Denmark to win his third WSOP bracelet. At one point, Lars had over $1 million in chips before he lost the tremendous advantage. Bonyadi ended up winning his third bracelet.

When Johnny Chan began the Pot Limit Hold’em event, he was tied with Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth for the most WSOP bracelets. They all had nine each. Johnny Chan ran over a difficult final table that included Phil “The Unabomber” Laak and Humberto Brenes. Only Phil Laak stood in between Chan winning his 10th bracelet and making poker history. It took only 16 hands before Johnny Chan beat Phil Laak heads up to seal the victory. He even had his trademark lucky orange nearby, which obviously brought him good luck.

For the first time in the history of the WSOP, the Ladies event switched from Limit to No Limit Hold’em. The field also increased from 200 to over 600 players. The poker boom is attracting women from all walks and the number of participants was a good indication of that. Actress Jennifer Tilly won her first WSOP bracelet in an event that lasted two days. She beat out some of the best female players in the world. Jen Tilly also outlasted a final table that included Cecilia Mortenson, the wife of former WSOP champion Carlos Mortenson. She told the crowd, “This is definitely better than an Oscar!”

Phil Ivey had no plans on playing in the Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys event. He was sleeping when the tournament started. His friend Barry Greenstein called him on the phone to wake him up. Barry knows that Pot Limit Omaha is one of Phil’s best games. Phil eventually woke up and arrived at the Rio. It’s a good thing that he showed up, because he went on a rush to win his 6th WSOP bracelet. Phil Ivey beat out a final table that included Robert Williamson, who is one of the best Pot Limit Omaha players in the world and Phil Hellmuth who was seeking his 10th bracelet.

In order for Dan Schmiech to win his first WSOP bracelet, he had survive a final table that included an actor, the son of a famous poker player, a small business owner, a mother of four, a magazine publisher, a law student, a former professional athlete, and a seasoned tournament veteran who's seeing his first bracelet. He outlasted Annie Duke and beat actor Gabe Kaplan heads up for his first WSOP victor.

The $2,000 NL event had an international flavor to it. Lawrence Gosney of Leeds, England beat out over a thousand players and a final table that included three Englishmen, one Dane, and one Swede. Gosney won his first WSOP bracelet.

O’Neil Longson waited until 7 o’clock in the morning to win his first WSOP bracelet in the Razz event. Many professionals consider Razz one of the most grueling and mentally draining events at the WSOP. Despite the difficulties of the game, he emerged victorious after playing heads up several hours after sunrise.

Doyle Brunson showed everyone why he’s the best player who ever lived. He won his 10th bracelet and tied his good friend Johnny Chan for the most WSOP bracelets. Doyle won the NL Short-handed event and beat out a final table that included Layne Flack, Minh Ly, Scotty Nguyen, and Jason Lester. At his age, it’s remarkable that Doyle Brunson still has the mental faculties to play for fourteen and fifteen straight hours.

This past week was special indeed. Two of the best players who ever lived, Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson, won their 10th bracelet. And Phil Ivey might join the Ten Bracelet Club someday after he clinched his 6th bracelet and he’s not even 30 years old. With four weeks of the World Series of Poker complete, there are two more left, which means that there are plenty opportunities out there for more players to make their mark on poker history.