On Saturday night at the 2008 World Series of Poker, history was made. In an event that has shattered record after record, one of the most unique superlatives in poker was broken. Blair Hinkle won his first WSOP bracelet in Event #23, following in the footsteps of his brother Grant, who won Event #2 just a couple of weeks ago. The pair became the first brothers since Puggy Pearson (three wins in 1973) and J.C. Pearson (one win in 1994) to win World Series of Poker bracelets. The Hinkle brothers were the first kin to win bracelets in the same WSOP. Blair Hinkle’s win capped off an action-packed weekend at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
In Event #24, the $2,500 Half Pot-Limit Omaha / Half Pot-Limit Hold’em tournament, poker pro Max Pescatori proved that is first bracelet win in 2006 was no fluke. That year, he took down a $2,500 no limit tournament for $682,389. Saturday night’s win was worth $246,471. Pescatori commented after the tournament concluded, “The first bracelet is always the best one. But this second win is also important because it is the confirmation of skill. This gives me confidence that I am pretty good.” Full Tilt Poker pro Allen Cunningham finished fourth. The five-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner cashed for another $76,204. Other notable finishes included Minh Ly, Sorel Mizzi, and Howard Lederer.
On the final hand of play in the $2,000 no limit event, Mark Brockington was sent packing when his A-K did not improve against Hinkle’s pocket sixes heads up. The flop came A-6-2, giving Hinkle a set and Brockington false hope. He commented on joining his brother in a bracelet win: “There is no rivalry between us. I was ecstatic when he won his bracelet and I know he’s the same way. It’s just amazing that we could both win in the same year.” It was Hinkle’s second WSOP cash and first since the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event. He also finished sixth in a Caesars Palace Circuit Event in April. Players from Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, the Faroe Islands, Holland, Italy, Japan, Norway, and the United States cashed in Event #23 (the Faroe Islands are north of Great Britain, if you’re wondering).
In Event #22, Jens Voertmann emerged victorious from a field of 414 players en route to a $298,253 payday in the $3,000 HORSE tournament. He defeated Doug Ganger heads up. Two decorated poker players, Marcel Luske and Hoyt Corkins, finished third and fourth, respectively. In an event which features rotating rounds of Texas Hold’em, Omaha High-Low, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud High-Low, these two established poker superstars had the edge on the field. Luske made his first cash during the 2002 World Series of Poker; his WSOP earnings amount to over $1 million. Corkins won his first bracelet in 1992 and recorded his second WSOP victory in 2007. He made his first cash during the 1989 World Series.
In the $5,000 no limit event, #21, Scott Seiver won his first WSOP bracelet and over three-quarters of a million dollars. He defeated Dave Seidman heads up. Humberto Brenes, a two-time WSOP bracelet winner, finished 14th for his 50th career WSOP cash. Brenes recorded bracelets in back to back events during the 1993 WSOP. He had a whopping eight cashes during the 2006 WSOP, capped off by a 36th place finish in the Main Event, which earned him over $300,000. There were 731 entrants in Event #21 and the top 72 made the money.
Keep checking back to MacPoker.net for all of the news from Las Vegas. Don’t forget: The Main Event starts on July 3rd.