2009 World Series of Poker – Sweating the Bubble

Posted by AlCantHang | Filed under Bloggers on the Rail

Yesterday I highlighted some of the players you might not have known about playing in the $1,000 “Stimulus Special” tournament. The event had such a massive appeal that it is running well behind schedule and forcing the powers-that-be to make some difficult decisions. The event was supposed to play down to it’s final table on Monday night, but as of 9:30pm Vegas time on Tuesday there were still 10 players remaining.

But it was at the money bubble where you could really see the players who were looking to make their cash in the event. I walked into the Brasilia room when there were 624 players remaining with 621 getting paid. They were playing hand-for-hand. You can imagine how long that can take when there are 70 table to deal with. The anticipation was growing throughout the room as another hand went by and no one dropped. Then another hand. Then another.

Where a hand went quickly the players would wander around amongst the other tables to watch the action, hoping that maybe that would be the hand. Slowly they crept down to 622 players and there was another sigh throughout the room. Folding, standing, meditating, talking to friends. Anything they could do while they waited. The shortstacks kept bidding their time until finally there was a cheer from my side of the room.

Sure enough there was a player packing up his gear but he couldn’t leave the table yet. Because on the other side of the room was another loud applause when yet another player busted during the same hand. Now there would have to be a decision based on chipstacks who would walk away with 621st money, and who would be cursing to a friend on the phone.

Finally it was announced that normal play was resuming and everyone was now in the money. There were handshakes and high-fives all around. There was little difference between watching these players turn ecstatic in the $1,000 event and the cheers we’ll see at the bubble in the $10,000 Main Event. For most of the players in this tournament, this WAS their Main Event.

It may not be the optimum pro play in the sense that it should be “go for the win!” but for many of those who played, especially those who won their way in on the cheap, making the money was a big score. Now they would concentrate on moving up the board and aiming for the $771,000 and WSOP bracelet.

Side note: Congratulations to Charlie Levin, one of the players I profiled yesterday. He battled through a tough day and finished in the 200′s for over $2,000. Well played sir.

Tags: 2009 World Series of Poker, AlCantHang, Bloggers on the Rail, WSOP