WSOP - Highlights 2007

Last year, the World Series of Poker broke several records again. Over 50,000 registrations for the different tournaments were counted. The complete prize pool for all the events summed up to over $150 million.

The WSOP, which is also called the poker world championship, started on June 1st and lasted a month and a half, until July 17th 2007. The venue was again the Rio Hotel and Casino which already hosts the event since 2005.

The American Jerry Yang was able to win the Main Event and received $8,250,000 of the almost $60 million which were in the prize pool. Within ten days, he left behind 6,357 further participants. Best German at the Main Event was Sven Niklas 'Ragen' Heinecker.

Also on the final table of the Main Event was Alexander Kravchenko,
who was the first Russian ever to win a bracelet in 2007. Tobey Maguire, by profession Spiderman actor, also played in the Main Event and had an impressive run, finishing 292nd.

Phil Hellmuth is already part of the world's elite for quite some time, but he as well was able to erect a memorial in his own honour at the last WSOP, when he won his eleventh bracelet and thus became the sole record holder. Kassem 'Freddy' Deeb showed that he belongs to the best of the world and won the renowned $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E. Event, which is regarded by many as the »true world championship«. HSP moderator Gabe Kaplan also participated and finished 9th.

Tom Schneider was able to win two events and also reached the final table of the $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event, in which he became fourth. Schneider was thus the only player in 2007 who won 2 bracelets and was chosen as Player of the Year.

Katja Thater and Michael Keiner
brought two of the sought-after bracelets back to Germany. Keiner was unbeatable in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event, his preferred variant, and amongst others defeated Barry Greenstein on the final table. Katja
Thater got her bracelet in the $1,500 Seven Card Razz event.

Steve Billirakis won the first tournament of the WSOP 2007 and at the same time became the youngest bracelet winner of all time in the US of A. When he won, he was not more than 21 years and 10 days old. Over the course of the WSOP, he was able to cash four more times.

Of course we will keep you up-to-date with the events of this year's WSOP and provide you with the most important infos of the most prestigious poker event.