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| 2008 World Series of Poker Event #1 Final Report $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em World Championship |
| Nenad Medic Wins the $10,000 Pot Limit Holdem World Championship at the 2008 World Series of Poker |
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Tournament Notes:
This event attracted one of the most accomplished fields in history. Of the
352 entrants, 84 were former WSOP gold bracelet winners – amounting to
about 24 percent of the field. The 84 former winners hold a combined 143
gold bracelets between them – which amounts of about 20 percent of all the
gold bracelets won in the 39-year history of the WSOP.
All four of the former WSOP “Player of the Year” winners – Daniel Negreanu,
Allen Cunningham, Jeff Madsen, and Tom Schneider – entered this event.
Eight former WSOP champions played in this event. They included Jamie
Gold, Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Jim Bechtel,
Berry Johnston, Tom McEvoy, and Doyle Brunson.
The tournament began with a short opening ceremony, which included a
recital of “Viva Las Vegas” by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas marching
band. The ceremony also included welcoming remarks by Jeffrey Pollack,
WSOP Commissioner. Pollack stated that all WSOP gold bracelet winners will
be awarded “Diamond Status” at Harrahs Entertainment properties, entitling
many special rewards and privileges.
The customary “Shuffle Up and Deal” announcement was made by ten-time
gold bracelet winner and two-time world champion Doyle Brunson.
No question, the World Series of Poker (emphasis added) is truly global. Of
the 36 players who finished in-the-money, 11 different nations were
represented – including Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Holland, Ireland,
Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and the United States.
Four different nations were represented at the final table – including Canada,
Finland, Ireland, and the United States.
This was the first WSOP event of the year to be televised by ESPN. The final
table was played on the ESPN stage, surrounded by the Milwaukee’s Best
Light All-In Lounge. Seating for WSOP final tables remains free and open to
the public.
Prior to the final table start, Mike Sexton made the astute observation that
this might have been the only final table in poker history which included five
(or more) players who each won a million dollars-plus in a single tournament,
not including the WSOP Main Event. Sexton, Bloch, Medic, Antonius, and
Liebert have all accomplished that feat.
Another interesting side note was that Mike Sexton had more career WSOP
final table appearances (20) than the rest of the eight-handed final table
combined.
Mike Sexton also currently ranks ninth on the all-time number of cashes list in
WSOP history, with 45.
If the very first hand of the first final table is any indication of what’s to come
at this year’s WSOP, things should be exhilarating. On the first hand of play,
Phil “the Unibomber” Laak moved all-in with pocket jacks. High-stakes poker
shark and heartthrob Patrik Antonius called his raise and showed pocket
kings. A jack on the flop brought wild cheers from the crowd and a dance
from Laak. But a king on the river gave Antonius the pot, leaving Laak low on
chips. He busted out only a few hands later holding the same dreaded hand
– pocket jacks (Nenad Medic’s pocket aces won the pot).
Laak’s final table appearance was short, but highly memorable. Known for
his unpredictable antics, Laak brought along a stack of “Post It” notes to the
table. When he moved all-in (three times), Laak wrote private notes and
then approached ESPN’s rolling TV cameras. While his opponent was
contemplating a decision, Laak wrote “Please Fold!” and other whimsical
comments.
Phil Laak was joined by poker aficionado and former Oscar-nominated actress
Jennifer Tilly, who sat among the capacity crowd.
The 2008 Pot-Limit Hold’em world champion is Nenad Medic. He is a 25-year-
old professional poker player from Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada). Medic
was born in Serbia. He is single, but has a devoted girlfriend who was
following the final table action back in Canada.
At a final table filled with thrilling moments, perhaps the most exciting hand
took place when play was three-handed. Kathy Liebert moved all-in with her
pocket sixes. Andy Bloch moved all-in over the top with his pocket nines.
Nenad Medic called with pocket queens. Medic’s higher pair held up, and he
maintained the chip lead for the remainder of the tournament.
The winning hand was Medic’s 7h-5h against Bloch’s 9h-9d. After the flop
came 8h-5s-4h, Medic re-raised all-in with his combination straight and flush
draw. Bloch called with his overpair (nines). The Jh on the turn gave Medic
his heart flush, which scooped the final pot of the night.
Today (June 1st) marked Andy Bloch’s 39th birthday. He started play at the
final table with the chip lead. It was a mixed blessing for Bloch to win
$488,048 in second-place prize money, but not win his most-justified first
WSOP gold bracelet. Bloch is perhaps best known in poker for his near heroic
second-place finish to poker legend Chip Reese in the 2006 $50,000 buy-in
HORSE championship, which included an all-time record eight hours of heads-
up play.
Afterward, Bloch commented: “Obviously, there are more important things in
life than winning poker tournaments. I know its sacrilege for a poker player
to say that. But all you can do in poker and life, in general, is do your best,
and play your best – and hopefully the best thing will happen. That’s all I do
when I sit down at a poker table. I try to play my best.”
When play was at four-handed during a break, Mike Sexton (who was till
alive in the tournament) remarked that he thought eventual winner Nenad
Medic is “one of the toughest No-Limit Hold’em players (he) has ever seen.”
Sexton’s high praise proved to be well-deserved as Medic ended up as the
champion.
The seventh place finisher was Patrik Antonius. The Finnish-born poker star,
who now lives in Las Vegas, has become one of the top high-stakes players
in the world. He regularly plays in (and often dominates) cash games with
seven-figure swings. However, Antonius has yet to achieve every poker
player’s dream – winning a WSOP gold bracelet.
James Gorham was the unfortunate bubble victim. He finished in 37th place.
Only the top 36 players were paid.
Jerri Thomas became the first woman to cash at the 2008 WSOP. The former
gold bracelet winner (2000 – Seven-Card Stud) took 27th place, worth
$26,470. This marked her 11th career WSOP cash.
Not to be outdone, another former WSOP gold bracelet winner Kathy Liebert
became the first female to make it to a final table at the 2008 WSOP. She
finished in third place and collected $306,064.
Former major league baseball star Orel Hershiser played in this event. The
former National League MVP and World Series (of baseball) MVP played most
of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hershiser has become an avid
poker player in recent years.
The tournament was played over three days. The first day included ten
levels and was played from 12 noon until 12:45 am (352 players played down
to 70). Day Two was played from 2 pm until 4:45 am (70 players played
down to nine). The final table of nine players was played on Day Three and
started at 3 pm and ended at 11:45 pm.
While all 55 WSOP tournaments on the 2008 schedule are categorized as
“gold bracelet” events, this is also known as a “world championship” event.
This means the winner of this event is the “Pot-Limit Hold’em world
champion.” Beginning this year, all $10,000+ buy-in tournaments are
designated as official “world championships.” This means a total of ten
WSOP tournaments are world championships. This includes eight preliminary
tournaments with $10,000 buy-ins, the $50,000 buy-in HORSE event, and the
main event.
This was the first time that a $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em event has ever been
included on the WSOP schedule. The previous highest buy-in Pot-Limit Hold’
em tournament in history was $5,000. Last year’s $5,000 buy-in tournament
(Event #13) attracted 398 players. Given the doubling of the entry fee in
2008, there were some concerns about the number of players this event
would attract. However, 352 players entered Event #1, creating the largest
Pot-Limit Hold’em prize pool in poker history. The total prize pool for this
tournament amounted to a record $3,308,800. The top 36 players collected
prize money.
2008 Pot-Limit Hold’em world champion Nenad Medic received $794,112. This
now stands as a record amount of prize money paid to the winner of a Pot-
Limit Hold’em tournament.
ESPN will air the telecast of this event on July 22, 2008.
The 2008 World Series of Poker championship gold bracelets are designed
and manufactured by Corum USA. For more information and specifications,
contact Knych Keller: kkeller@corumusa.com
_________________________________
World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Sponsorship and Licensing -- Ty Stewart
Director of Broadcasting and New Media – Craig Abrahams
Director of Communications – Seth Palansky
Regional Vice President of Specialty Gaming -- Howard Greenbaum
Tournament Director – Jack Effel
This event attracted one of the most accomplished fields in history. Of the
352 entrants, 84 were former WSOP gold bracelet winners – amounting to
about 24 percent of the field. The 84 former winners hold a combined 143
gold bracelets between them – which amounts of about 20 percent of all the
gold bracelets won in the 39-year history of the WSOP.
All four of the former WSOP “Player of the Year” winners – Daniel Negreanu,
Allen Cunningham, Jeff Madsen, and Tom Schneider – entered this event.
Eight former WSOP champions played in this event. They included Jamie
Gold, Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Jim Bechtel,
Berry Johnston, Tom McEvoy, and Doyle Brunson.
The tournament began with a short opening ceremony, which included a
recital of “Viva Las Vegas” by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas marching
band. The ceremony also included welcoming remarks by Jeffrey Pollack,
WSOP Commissioner. Pollack stated that all WSOP gold bracelet winners will
be awarded “Diamond Status” at Harrahs Entertainment properties, entitling
many special rewards and privileges.
The customary “Shuffle Up and Deal” announcement was made by ten-time
gold bracelet winner and two-time world champion Doyle Brunson.
No question, the World Series of Poker (emphasis added) is truly global. Of
the 36 players who finished in-the-money, 11 different nations were
represented – including Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Holland, Ireland,
Japan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and the United States.
Four different nations were represented at the final table – including Canada,
Finland, Ireland, and the United States.
This was the first WSOP event of the year to be televised by ESPN. The final
table was played on the ESPN stage, surrounded by the Milwaukee’s Best
Light All-In Lounge. Seating for WSOP final tables remains free and open to
the public.
Prior to the final table start, Mike Sexton made the astute observation that
this might have been the only final table in poker history which included five
(or more) players who each won a million dollars-plus in a single tournament,
not including the WSOP Main Event. Sexton, Bloch, Medic, Antonius, and
Liebert have all accomplished that feat.
Another interesting side note was that Mike Sexton had more career WSOP
final table appearances (20) than the rest of the eight-handed final table
combined.
Mike Sexton also currently ranks ninth on the all-time number of cashes list in
WSOP history, with 45.
If the very first hand of the first final table is any indication of what’s to come
at this year’s WSOP, things should be exhilarating. On the first hand of play,
Phil “the Unibomber” Laak moved all-in with pocket jacks. High-stakes poker
shark and heartthrob Patrik Antonius called his raise and showed pocket
kings. A jack on the flop brought wild cheers from the crowd and a dance
from Laak. But a king on the river gave Antonius the pot, leaving Laak low on
chips. He busted out only a few hands later holding the same dreaded hand
– pocket jacks (Nenad Medic’s pocket aces won the pot).
Laak’s final table appearance was short, but highly memorable. Known for
his unpredictable antics, Laak brought along a stack of “Post It” notes to the
table. When he moved all-in (three times), Laak wrote private notes and
then approached ESPN’s rolling TV cameras. While his opponent was
contemplating a decision, Laak wrote “Please Fold!” and other whimsical
comments.
Phil Laak was joined by poker aficionado and former Oscar-nominated actress
Jennifer Tilly, who sat among the capacity crowd.
The 2008 Pot-Limit Hold’em world champion is Nenad Medic. He is a 25-year-
old professional poker player from Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada). Medic
was born in Serbia. He is single, but has a devoted girlfriend who was
following the final table action back in Canada.
At a final table filled with thrilling moments, perhaps the most exciting hand
took place when play was three-handed. Kathy Liebert moved all-in with her
pocket sixes. Andy Bloch moved all-in over the top with his pocket nines.
Nenad Medic called with pocket queens. Medic’s higher pair held up, and he
maintained the chip lead for the remainder of the tournament.
The winning hand was Medic’s 7h-5h against Bloch’s 9h-9d. After the flop
came 8h-5s-4h, Medic re-raised all-in with his combination straight and flush
draw. Bloch called with his overpair (nines). The Jh on the turn gave Medic
his heart flush, which scooped the final pot of the night.
Today (June 1st) marked Andy Bloch’s 39th birthday. He started play at the
final table with the chip lead. It was a mixed blessing for Bloch to win
$488,048 in second-place prize money, but not win his most-justified first
WSOP gold bracelet. Bloch is perhaps best known in poker for his near heroic
second-place finish to poker legend Chip Reese in the 2006 $50,000 buy-in
HORSE championship, which included an all-time record eight hours of heads-
up play.
Afterward, Bloch commented: “Obviously, there are more important things in
life than winning poker tournaments. I know its sacrilege for a poker player
to say that. But all you can do in poker and life, in general, is do your best,
and play your best – and hopefully the best thing will happen. That’s all I do
when I sit down at a poker table. I try to play my best.”
When play was at four-handed during a break, Mike Sexton (who was till
alive in the tournament) remarked that he thought eventual winner Nenad
Medic is “one of the toughest No-Limit Hold’em players (he) has ever seen.”
Sexton’s high praise proved to be well-deserved as Medic ended up as the
champion.
The seventh place finisher was Patrik Antonius. The Finnish-born poker star,
who now lives in Las Vegas, has become one of the top high-stakes players
in the world. He regularly plays in (and often dominates) cash games with
seven-figure swings. However, Antonius has yet to achieve every poker
player’s dream – winning a WSOP gold bracelet.
James Gorham was the unfortunate bubble victim. He finished in 37th place.
Only the top 36 players were paid.
Jerri Thomas became the first woman to cash at the 2008 WSOP. The former
gold bracelet winner (2000 – Seven-Card Stud) took 27th place, worth
$26,470. This marked her 11th career WSOP cash.
Not to be outdone, another former WSOP gold bracelet winner Kathy Liebert
became the first female to make it to a final table at the 2008 WSOP. She
finished in third place and collected $306,064.
Former major league baseball star Orel Hershiser played in this event. The
former National League MVP and World Series (of baseball) MVP played most
of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hershiser has become an avid
poker player in recent years.
The tournament was played over three days. The first day included ten
levels and was played from 12 noon until 12:45 am (352 players played down
to 70). Day Two was played from 2 pm until 4:45 am (70 players played
down to nine). The final table of nine players was played on Day Three and
started at 3 pm and ended at 11:45 pm.
While all 55 WSOP tournaments on the 2008 schedule are categorized as
“gold bracelet” events, this is also known as a “world championship” event.
This means the winner of this event is the “Pot-Limit Hold’em world
champion.” Beginning this year, all $10,000+ buy-in tournaments are
designated as official “world championships.” This means a total of ten
WSOP tournaments are world championships. This includes eight preliminary
tournaments with $10,000 buy-ins, the $50,000 buy-in HORSE event, and the
main event.
This was the first time that a $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em event has ever been
included on the WSOP schedule. The previous highest buy-in Pot-Limit Hold’
em tournament in history was $5,000. Last year’s $5,000 buy-in tournament
(Event #13) attracted 398 players. Given the doubling of the entry fee in
2008, there were some concerns about the number of players this event
would attract. However, 352 players entered Event #1, creating the largest
Pot-Limit Hold’em prize pool in poker history. The total prize pool for this
tournament amounted to a record $3,308,800. The top 36 players collected
prize money.
2008 Pot-Limit Hold’em world champion Nenad Medic received $794,112. This
now stands as a record amount of prize money paid to the winner of a Pot-
Limit Hold’em tournament.
ESPN will air the telecast of this event on July 22, 2008.
The 2008 World Series of Poker championship gold bracelets are designed
and manufactured by Corum USA. For more information and specifications,
contact Knych Keller: kkeller@corumusa.com
_________________________________
World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Sponsorship and Licensing -- Ty Stewart
Director of Broadcasting and New Media – Craig Abrahams
Director of Communications – Seth Palansky
Regional Vice President of Specialty Gaming -- Howard Greenbaum
Tournament Director – Jack Effel
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