2008 WSOP, Day 7: And He Rested On the Seventh Day

PokerNews has smartly arranged the live bloggers’ schedules this year so that we are each assigned to a particular event and follow it through from beginning to end. That’s a change from last year, when certain bloggers were usually working Day Ones, then others Day Twos, and a select few did the final tables.

PN also brought in more folks this year, meaning everyone is getting more days off this time around than was the case last year. Most of the events are three-day events, so that means for the most part we are all working three days, getting a day off, working three days, and so forth.

I call it a smart arrangement for a couple of reasons. One, when a reporter follows the same tourney from beginning to end, he or she is in a better position to learn and remember players whom must be reported on later in the event. There are a lot of familiar faces, to be sure, but a lot more unfamiliar ones (in most of these events, anyway). Better to get to know ‘em early and be able to use that knowledge later, than have new people step in halfway through and have to learn ‘em all over again.

Also, by following an event from the start, the reporter is necessarily more familiar with how the “story” of the tournament has developed throughout, and thus is better able to recognize possible trends, the significance of certain hands, or other “big picture” stuff that might be useful to know when trying to convey what’s happening to those who aren’t there to see it for themselves.

So I worked Event No. 4, and thus my experience of the WSOP so far has been fairly eclipsed by my having spent thirty-plus hours closely scrutinizing that one event. Tomorrow I’ll start at noon reporting Event No. 11, the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout event, and be following that one through to the its conclusion on Sunday. Then after a day off Monday, I’ll pick up Event No. 19, the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event on Tuesday. (You know I’m glad to have drawn the PLO one. The Shootout should be intriguing, too.)

By the end there will have been eight or so preliminary events that will stand out from the rest in my experience of the 2008 WSOP.

I do look around the Amazon from time to time, though, and check out what’s happening elsewhere. I did take a moment during the dinner break last night and then again afterwards to wander between the tables at that Event No. 8, the $10,000 World Championship Mixed Event (a.k.a. “S.P.L.E.N.D.O.R.”). All the stars out for that one.

As I wandered around, I spotted Tom Schneider sitting at a table with Robert Williamson III. He ended the day as the chip leader, which doesn’t surprise me a bit given his prowess in all of the games. I’m not on that event, obviously, but if he does make it deep, I hope I’ll be able to be there to see how it ends up.

Here are the events that are ongoing today:

Event No. 5, the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em w/Rebuys event, has its final table today. Michael Binger, who finished third place in the 2006 WSOP Main Event, is the most recognizable name there.

Event No. 6, the $1,500 Omaha/8 event, also has its final table, after a grueling, 13-hour day of play yesterday. Scott Clements is probably the most known at that one.

Event No. 7, the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em event, began its Day 2 a little while ago. They’ve already burst the cash bubble in that one, with 152 of the original 1,592 runners still alive at the start of today’s play. Theo Tran had the chip lead when they began today.

Event No. 8, the aforementioned World Championship Mixed Game event, goes into Day 2 as well, with 89 of the 192 still alive. Schneider’s atop the leaderboard, with Gus Hansen, Frank Kassela, Johnny Chan, Jeff Madsen, Tom Dwan, and Greg Mueller at his heels.

Event No. 9, the short-handed $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event, got underway today. That tournament apparently sold out, having been capped at 1,236 entrants.

And finally, Event No. 10, the $2,500 Omaha/8-Stud/8 event, starts up at 5 p.m. today. That’s the one that Schneider won his first WSOP bracelet in last year. Have a feeling he won’t be defending his title, as he’s probably going to be busy this afternoon and evening.

Very glad to have the day off to recharge. Though I think I might just have to go load up the PokerNews live reporting page and see what the bloggers are saying.