Lindgren finally a bride

News / Editor / 11 June 2008 / Leave a comment

This year's World Series of Poker kicked off with a relative unknown professional from Canada, Nenad Medic, winning the first event and of course, his first WSOP gold bracelet, writes Rob Eddy.

His success has been followed by the likes of Grant Hinkle and David Singer, and then Erick Lindgren managed to lose an unwanted tag to win his first piece of the most famous poker jewellery.

Lindgren had previously had plenty of near misses at the WSOP, after cashing 15 times (and every year since 2004) with five cashes alone coming last year.

The 31-year-old is proficient in all forms of poker but had previously failed to land that first WSOP bracelet until Event 4 at this year's tournament - a $5,000 Mixed Hold'em (Limit/No-Limit Event).

Many in the poker world feel that Lindgren's success has been a long time in coming, but who does that leave as 'the best player without a bracelet'.

A player that first springs to mind for myself would be Gus Hansen but the WSOP has, so far, not been a happy hunting ground for 'The Great Dane'.

He has won nearly $6m in major tournaments, holds the record number of World Poker Titles with three and won the Aussie Millions main event last year.

However, he has only cashed three times at the WSOP - although he only just missed out on the final table of the WSOP main event in 2007, and with his form on the WPT his luck could be about to change.

Andy Bloch is another name that immediately comes up and, like Lindgren, can play every discipline of poker, having made WSOP final tables in hold'em, stud, razz, triple draw lowball and Pot Limit Omaha, while he was runner-up in the $50,000 HORSE event in 2006.

He nearly broke his duck in the very first event this time around but was again the bridesmaid, this time to Medic - surely his time will come.

Other players that certainly can be considered are Roland De Wolfe, Patrik Antonius, J.C. Tran and David Benyamine but, who knows, with 40 or so events left, it could all be their year.