Event 43 of the 2008 World Series of Poker was unique for a number of reasons. First, a native of another country besides the United States emerged from the field victorious. Martin Klaser, who turned 21 years-old (the legal gambling age in the United States) in April quickly grabbed his first WSOP bracelet and cashed for $216,249. The $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha High-Low Split, just the second tournament of its type ever offered at the World Series of Poker, attracted 720 entrants. It was first offered last year as a bracelet event and was won by Canadian Lukasz Dumanski. So far, it seems, Americans have struggled to compete in the Pot Limit Omaha High-Low Split events.
Despite turning 21 years-old in April, Klasser is still only the sixth youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history. He became the seventh German player to pocket a WSOP title. The others: Matthias Rohnacher (1997), Eddy Scharf (with two wins, in 2001 and 2003), Michael Keiner (2007), Katja Thater (2007), Jen Voertmann (2008), and Sebastian Ruthenburg (2008). Heads up, he defeated Casey Kastle, who recorded his largest WSOP cash to date at $137,985. Despite first cashing in the World Series in 2003, Kastle had never finished higher than 14th until his strong showing in Event 43. He was one of the leaders of the crusade to eradicate smoking from the WSOP (smoking has been banned since the 2004 WSOP).
Full Tilt Poker pro Erik Seidel finished fourth. He’s the owner of eight WSOP bracelets. After second place finishes in his first two WSOP cashes (in 1988 and 1991), Seidel recorded WSOP bracelet wins in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007. His most recent bracelet was for winning the $5,000 buy-in World Championship No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball with Re-Buys at the 2007 WSOP for half a million dollars. He’s cashed four times at the 2008 World Series and made a pair of final tables. Seidel’s lifetime WSOP earnings are just short of $4 million. It was his 52nd payday in his WSOP career, good for the sixth most all time.
2005 Main Event winner and PokerStars pro Joe Hachem finished 35th. Hachem has struggled since his 2005 Main Event win, when he cashed for $7.5 million. He’s logged just one in the money finish in the 2008 WSOP and had only one last year as well. To his credit, he made two final tables during the 2006 World Series of Poker, both in hold’em events. When Hachem won the 2005 Main Event, it was just his second cash ever. The quality of play since Hachem won the Main Event has also increased, as evidenced by professionals winning 75% of the tournaments played so far in 2008.
Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, like Seidel a Full Tilt Poker pro, finished in 50th. He’s racked up five WSOP bracelets during his career. Although he logged his first cash from Las Vegas in 1995, he didn’t score a bracelet until 2000, when he took down a $2,500 Limit 7 Card Stud tournament. However, he has been shut out of the winner’s circle since 2003, his last bracelet win. Ferguson has cashed five times at the 2008 WSOP. He’s one of the handful of esteemed Full Tilt Poker pros you’ll see in the Amazon Room at the Rio.
The Main Event, which is the tournament that you’ll be watching for most of the summer on Tuesday nights on ESPN, begins next Thursday, July 3rd. It’s an 11-day affair, playing down to nine players on July 14th. The final table won’t be held until November in order to coincide with the tournament’s television airing.
Stay tuned to MacPoker.net for all of the latest from the 2008 World Series of Poker.