World Championship Mixed Hold'em Limit/No-Limit (Event 1)

The first event into this year's anticipated poker tournaments is well under way with the final table being declared. To recap there were a total of 452 registered players that came from across the globe. Everyone from your favourite pro players to the average person looking for a shot at one of the bracelets paid the $5000 buyin for the first event which was Mixed Holdem. Mixed Holdem is a cross between No Limit Holdem and Limit Holdem

Jaime Gold kicked it off announcing those four famous words" Shuffle up and deal!" The start of the tournament lead to some players including Mike Matusow getting upset as Harrah's introduced new and improved playing cards called "Poker Peeks" Even the famed Doyle Brunson's comment " What the hell are these?" Johnny Chan was refusing to play and even Negraneau was questioning them. So what is wrong with the new cards?


The "pips" which are the braille used in premium cards, are smaller than normal and boxed in. The sixes and nines are confusing as the numbers that are supposed to be in the top left and bottom right can be found lower left and top right.The numbers are there but are very small and can be mistaken.

Day 1 seen a huge crowd of people and records broken for attendance, line ups for registration ran through the halls and winded down corridors to accommodate all the players who showed up. Late comers who showed up after the game had already taken place were Gus Hansen and of course Hellmouth. To recap some of our favourites who didn't make it past the first day were;

Allen Cunningham who was knocked out very early during round one when both Cunningham and the player in cutoff checked the flop (10d 5c 6h) the turn gave 2c. The player in cutoff bet 1000 and Cunningham took a stance with all his chips with KcQc for his flush draw. The other player called with his flush draw of 7c 9c and unfortunately for Cunningham hit a 7d on the river


Cunningham was not the only big name to see his chips go the opposite direction during the early stages of the game. Chris Moneymaker to felt the heat when his AA got cracked by a flop (10h 10s 9s) where he was check raised 2500 and he called. The turn was a 4s and again he called a 3k bet. The river was a 7h and he was pushed allin for his remaining chips totaling 1500. Moneymaker flipped over his A's which could not hold up to his opponents pocket 9's.

Doyle Brunson finished the game with a trap from his opponent. With a flop of 9h 5s 4 h Doyle bet out with one caller behind him. When the turn gave him the Kd, he reraised his opponent and was called. An allin on the river (7c) by his opponent which Doyle quickly called showing his two pair Kc 9c. This could not hold up against his opponent though who slow played his pocket K's and landing those trips.

The end of Day 1 could not have finished without Phil Hellmuth having one of his tantrums as he was eliminated. Between his tilting and of course infamous cursing, it was expected that his outburst would come. The only thing was when? Two hands took Phil from above average stack to the rails.

Three quarters of his stack were lost in the first hand with his JJ against QQ, needless to say his J's just couldn't hold up. Between the profane language he was spilling to his opponent who was stacking his chips he put himself allin on the next hand with two J's on board while he held pocket 10's. His opponent however had JQ and Phil was also sent to the rails.

The start of Day 2 left only 92 players in the game including a handful of WSOP bracelet holders, including Greg Muller who had the chip lead with $130 000 in chips.

Players were dropping like flies including the beautiful Liz Liue who was sent home less than half an hour of play. Isabelle Mercier also was eliminated by Todd Brunson while playing at the same table as Johnny Chan. Todd Brunson however was able to sustain his game long enough to place in the money finishing for 40 th place and bringing home $11, 648

Johnny Chan also found himself on the rails placing 31st place for $13, 778. An allin move of AJ and he was called with pocket K's, where his hand just couldn't hold up for the finish.

Two long days and some amazing poker The Mixed Hold'em Limit/No-Limit (Event 1) finally had their final table of 9 players. This table will be taped by ESPN and broadcast sometime this summer. Look forward to seeing these players battle it out for their goal of obtaining that ever so sought after WSOP bracelet. Don't worry, you can still get in on finding a seat to this year's Main Event. Find all your info here at Bodog WSOP Seats

Seat 1
John Younger:$94,000
Seat 2
Jon Turner:$88,000
Seat 3
Fred Berger:$942,000
Seat 4
Roger McDow:$320,000
Seat 5
Greg Mueller:$683,000
Seat 6
Kirk Morrison:$512,000
Seat 7
Steve Billirakis:$562,000
Seat 8
Steve Paul-Ambrose:$771,000
Seat 9
Tony George:$546,000