2009 World Series of Poker – Week 5 in Pictures

Posted by AlCantHang | Filed under Bloggers on the Rail

Week 5 brought us to the end of preliminary tournaments as we now prepare for the Main Event onslaught. There was plenty of excitement with all the big names showing up for the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship, more bracelets added to the Full Tilt stable, and every poker playing celebrity showing up to compete in the Ante Up for Africa charity event.

Instead of boring you with my words, you can have a look for yourself in the latest “Week in Pictures”. More photos after the jump.

This year’s Ante Up for Africa charity tournament drew a huge gathering at the rail. They were there to see their favorite celebrities and poker players. There was much yelling and screaming for photos and autographs. Even though this is not a bracelet event, Full Tilt will be will represented when ESPN shows the broadcast. The final table included Rafe Furst, Erik Seidel, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon and Jennifer Harman.
Photo credit: Gene Bromberg

Lee Watkinson came into the Pot Limit Omaha/8 tournament looking to make up for a less than explosive 2009 World Series of Poker. The only cash Watkinson had to date was in the $1,000 “Stimulus Special”. By the end of Day 2 in the PLO8 game he would have his second cash. He would in fact go all the way to the final table of the event and finish second to Brandon Cantu.

The $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship was a marquee draw for players and spectators. Numbers for this event were way off from previous years. No tables are easy in this event, but Scott Clements seemed to get his fair share of killer lineups. His second day table consisted of Allen Kessler, Erik Seidel, Daniel Negreanu, Andy Black, Chau Giang, and David Grey.

Actor Joe Reitman and Full Tilt pro Allen Cunningham play in the $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shootout. Combining Limit and the shootout format made for long days and little sleep. Neither player would cash in this event. Reitman cashed in his next event. Cunningham has only two cashed for his 2009 World Series of Poker.

Erick Lindgren ruled the 2008 World Series of Poker taking Player of the Year honors for his effort. He only cashed 5 times last year but those included 3 final table and one bracelet. Going into the Main Event this year he has gone to the cage 4 times but his best finish was 20th in the $2,500 Deuce to Seven tournament.

Gus Hansen and Phil Ivey playing in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship. Hansen would come into Day 3 with the chip lead but would exit just one spot of the final table. Phil Ivey did not figure in the results but Team Full Tilt would fill half of the final 8.

The $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship final table was loaded with Team Full Tilt pros. Representing the colors were Vitaly Lunkin, Huck Seed, Chau Giang and Erik Seidel. Even with half the final table, Full Tilt was unable to add to the bracelet count with Vitaly Lunkin going the furthest in 4th. Lunkin final tabled the two biggest buyin events of the 2009 World Series of Poker, winning the $40,000 No Limit Hold’em 40th Anniversary tournament.

Greg “FBT” Mueller entered the 2009 World Series of Poker with a number of close calls trying to earn his first WSOP bracelet. He finally got the monkey off his back with a victory in the $10,000 Limit Hold’em World Championship earlier in the series. He added a bracelet to his other wrist when he took down the $1,500 Limit Shootout. Mueller was the four player this year to record multiple wins. Jeff Lisandro, Phil Ivey, and Brock Parker also accomplished the feat. For the record, “FBT” stands for Full Blown Tilt.

Matt Hawrilenko might have the distinguish of winning the quiestest 2009 World Series of Poker bracelet. He won the $5,000 6-max No Limit Hold’em event, the final preliminary tournament before the Main Event. Their Day 3 was completely overshadowed by the Ante Up for Africa charity tournament going on just across the room. The rail was completely stacked with fans and autograph-hunters, not many were paying attention as the next-to-last tournament was being played out. Hawrilenko went on to win the event and add bracelet number 8 for Team Full Tilt.

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