World Series of Poker 2011 Update as Fuzzy Dunlop and Reza Kashani fall

They often say that poker is the hardest way to make an easy living, and it’s been a hard day’s night so far at WSOP 2011 in fabulous Las Vegas. With some big upsets and huge calls, how many are left standing as the field thins.

We’re into the final few days of the greatest poker show on earth and plenty has been won lost and bragged about at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in old Sin City. There was plenty spoken (and written) about the card-mageddon that was supposed to be Black Friday. However nobody seems to have told the sportsmen, and women that have gone on to make WSOP 2011 a record breaking banker humbling all-star spectacular.

Outside the main event.

This far there’s been a slew of winners and sinners at the tables, with notable bracelet heavy stars such as Nick Binger  ($5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-lo) and Brian Rast ($50,000 Poker Player’s Championship)  Matt Matros (£2,500 Mixed Hold’em) and Ben lamb ($10,000 Pot Limit Omaha) being just some of the table winners.

Saved the best ‘til last.

It’s 57 (events) down one to go as all bleary and bloodshot eyes turn and focus on the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship, aka The Main Event. The go began on July 7 being the first of four starting days. The prize on offer isn’t the cash or the bracelet (just yet) as the final table of nine players will be decided on July 19, with the final table not actually being played until the 5th  November. What a tease. 

It has been a Main Event that the Chairman of the board, Mr. Frank Sinatra himself would have been proud. It drew 6,865 players (including one Fuzzy Dunlop), generating a prize pool of $64,531,000. If your mercenary to be worried about the money (which to be honest is the easiest way to keep score) it’s the top 693 finishers who will place in the money, with first place paying (hold onto your hat) a whopping $8,711,956. For pedants out there that’s slightly down on last year’s winner Jonathan Duhamel who won $8.94 million and triumphed over 7,318 opponents.

It’s worth mentioning that 9th place get $782,000 and change. Anything this much fun was bound to attract a bunch of celebrities and there’s a handful of non-poker stars still enjoying a seat in the game, Jason Alexander is hanging in, the divine Jenifer Tilly is keeping her end up, and there’s also Nelly, Ray Romano and Shannon Elisabeth on show. The injury list contains already contains two former champions. Former winners Phil Hellmuth (1989) and Berry Johnston (1986), both exited just after the day's first break, with empty pockets.

Friday night is alright for fights!

Players went into the money at the World Series of Poker Main Event on Friday, as each of the 693 top finishers will be getting at least $19,359 for their time and efforts. Famous for all the wrong reason, was Reza Kashani, a 31-year-old flooring company owner (and keen poker player, natch!) from California who busted out in 694th place. His departure caused a veritable feeding frenzy as the remaining players knew that they would be winning some cash from there on in.

There was a flood of all-in bets from players who were short on chips, and had been hanging on in there. Now they knew that they would have something to show for their troubles and were happy just to be able to say they had made money in the tournament. The bloodletting saw 34 players eliminated in roughly 20 minutes of play, after Kashani was excused from the table.

Kashani went all in with a pair of kings (which is debatable, especially with hindsight) and was called by Joseph Cheong, (2010’s third place finisher) who had a set of queens. And then it was adios amigo and money, money, money! "I expected to get first," said Kashani, who was playing in his first major poker tournament as he posed (and smiled) for the cameras.

It’s not all bad news as tournament officials have awarded Kashani a free entry into next year's tournament. After the all-in gale that followed Kashani’s exit, the next five hours of play saw the field thinned by another 299 players. Play will continue and the final table by should be decided on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.