Top Five WSOP Stories So Far
Just before the One Drop event gets underway, Barry Carter looks back at some of the biggest stories that have come out of the WSOP so far.
We are now a month into the 2012 World Series of Poker, and we already have plenty to talk about. We haven't even got to the main event yet and this has already been one of the most memorable WSOPs in years. Today we look back at some of the most memorable stories of the 2012 WSOP so far:
5. Record Breaking Seniors Event
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| Allyn Jaffrey Shulman |
The $1,000 Seniors event this year presented us with two massive stories in the history of the World Series of Poker. The biggest attendance for a poker event outside of the main event was always likely to be an affordable $1,000 event, but this was the last event you would expect it in.
With a minimum age limit of 50, this event still managed to grab 4,128 players. Not only is this the biggest attended event outside of the main eventl; as it only had one day 1, it was also the biggest day 1 in poker history, even more than a day 1 from the main event.
What made this twice as memorable was that it also broke a 249 event streak of women not winning open events, as Allyn Jaffrey Shulman took it down for $603,713 (I realise technically this was not an open event because of the age restrictions, but it was open to both genders). As the wife of WSOPE bracelet winner Barry Shulman, this also created the first husband and wife bracelet winning couple.
4. One Drop fills up
When I look back at the WSOP when it's over, One Drop is very likely to be higher up on the story list, but as it hasn't started yet, it hasn't quite topped the 2012 WSOP for now. However, the very fact that this event is almost certainly going to fill up the 48 player cap is a landmark achievement in itself.
Not only is it going to be one of the richest tournaments in poker history, just behind the last six main events, it is also going to be one of the biggest TV spectacles in poker. But the very fact that the first ever seven-figure buy-in tournament is taking place during one of the worst periods ever in the poker economy is astounding.
In fact, we are very likely going to be in a situation where supply could not meet the demand, as One Drop has insisted on sticking to the 48-player cap, despite interest from so many more players.
3. Hellmuth gets there
When you think WSOP, you invariably think Phil Hellmuth. Love him or hate him, he is as deeply ingrained in WSOP culture are the bracelets themselves. So it is always going to be a memorable year when he takes down a bracelet, and extends his lead in the all time bracelet rankings to 12.
More so, with number 12 he managed to silence a lot of his critics, by proving he was not just a hold'em player. Indeed, his bracelet in Seven Card Razz will no doubt be the sweetest of his career, and about as far removed from hold'em as you can imagine. Especially when he had such a bittersweet series last year, coming second three times in non hold'em events.
Were it not for the fact that he did have that amazing run last year in non hold'em events, he probably would have made the number one spot this year. But having said that, Phil Hellmuth taking down a bracelet will always be one of the biggest stories of the WSOP whatever year it happens.
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| Hellmuth silences the critics |
2. Twittergate
This year the running of the WSOP has come under criticism for a number of reasons. The quality of the dealers and the live stream has come under fire, as have some of the rulings. Nobody is perfect, and when an even handles so many players in one space as the WSOP does, you can't please everyone.
But nobody expected to see the WSOP fire back against some criticism in such a visceral way as Seth Palansky did against Jon Aguiar. Aguiar had been vocal on twitter about a new ruling which forced players to voice every action when they were at a feature table. Palansky had clearly had his fill with Aguiar, when he used the official WSOP twitter account to publicly favourite a tweet from another player, calling Aguiar a "complete bitch".
Palansky admitted he didn't realise 'favouriting' a tweet would make it public to the WSOP's 72,000+ followers, and later announced that he would no longer be using the WSOP twitter account.
1. Phil Ivey reminds us he is Phil Ivey
Last year Phil Ivey took the year off from the WSOP, which let the rest of the poker world get a false sense of security. A year on, and Ivey has already reestablished himself as the best player in the world, despite not (yet) winning a bracelet this year.
To date, Ivey has cashed in six events, but more impressively he made five final tables - back to back! Between June 6 to June 18 he literally made the final table of each event he played. He also managed to cash in two events on the same day. He already has over $570,000 in cashes and tops the WSOP Player Of The Year rankings. By the time One Drop is over, he could be simply uncatchable.
In a game where the edges are small, it is remarkable how much better Phil Ivey is than everybody else in the world.
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| Phil Ivey - still the man |
By Barry Carter
