Event #24 Down To Last 27 Players; Huge Names Amongst Them
The man who is leading the way, and leading by some margin may we add, needs absolutely no introduction at all so we will just come out with his all-too-familiar name.....Phil Ivey
Although it cost $5,000 to enter you would be forgiven for not showing much interest in Event #24 of the 2012 World Series of Poker, the Omaha Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better, when it first started. But that lack of interest would be criminal now that the tournament has progressed to the stage where only 27 players remain in the field, amongst them are some of the biggest names in the business.
The man who is leading the way, and leading by some margin may we add, needs absolutely no introduction at all so we will just come out with his all-too-familiar name.....Phil Ivey. The man, the legend will sit down at the felt armed with 446,500 chips - approximately 150,000 more than his nearest rival - which is also more than three times the size of the average stack.
Ivey won the last of his eight WSOP bracelet back in 2010 when he took down the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E event for a score of $329,840. He boycotted the 2011 series in protest at the Full Tilt saga but he has been back with a vengeance at the 2012 WSOP. Not included this event, Ivey has cashed three times in the WSOP this year, reaching two final tables including a runner-up finish in Event #17; the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em tournament.
At this point we usually say this is Player X's best chance of winning a bracelet but when one talks about Ivey you just know he is going to have dozens of more deep runs in bracelet-awarding events so we will simply say this is yet another chance for Ivey to add to his poker jewellery collection, instead. But standing between Ivey and his ninth bracelet are a whole host of familiar names and faces who will push the superstar all the way if he is to walk away from the Rio with his ninth WSOP title.
Ivey's nearest rival when play resumes is Dan "djk123" Kelly, himself a bracelet holder. Kelly is an American who now resides in sunny Australia after Black Friday and he will be giving his all to knock Ivey off top spot. Also in with a legitimate chance of winning Event #24 are the likes of Mike Matusow (290,000 chips), Brian Hastings (251,000), Bart Hanson (231,500), Scotty Nguyen (212,500) and Joe Cassidy (166,500).
Other names to look out for are poker veteran Alex Dovzhenko and Stephen "stevie444" Chidwick who are lower down the leader board but in this game anything is possible!
Each of the 27 players who will return to their seats this evening will do so safe in the knowledge they have locked up at least $10,348 in prize money but by the time the curtain comes down on another day of intense poker action only one man will be left standing and he will pick up $294,777 and, of course, a WSOP bracelet.
Prices quoted in copy are correct at time of publication but liable to change.
