By
Dan
PocketFivers absolutely dominated the 2008 World Series of Poker and we’re not even through with the Main Event. Scott “r_a_y” Montgomery remains in the $10,000 spectacle, patiently waiting on the sidelines for 117 days until the final nine pack up their bags and head back to the Rio for the final table, which starts on November 9th. In the meantime, PocketFivers can hang their heads on the eight bracelets and $19.9 million won during the 2008 WSOP, the most by PocketFivers in one year to date. A crew of six PocketFivesLive.com Tournament Reporters covered all of the action from the Rio in Las Vegas. Let’s take a look at all of the cashes made by members of the site on poker’s biggest stage.
Grant drossxyu Hinkle and Blair blur5f6 Hinkle became the first brothers to take home WSOP bracelets in the same year and only the second pair overall (the others being Puggy and J.C. Pearson). Grant took down Event #2, a $1,500 no limit tournament that attracted the largest non-Main Event field to date in the World Series of Poker. Grant pocketed a sizeable payday of $831,462 for his efforts. Twenty-one events later, Blair took down a $2,000 no limit event for $507,563. Needless to say, the 2008 WSOP marked a joyous occasion for the Hinkle household in Kansas City, Missouri.
Michael worldsgrtest Banducci took down Event #5, a $1,000 rebuy tournament. He cashed for $636,736 and his first World Series of Poker bracelet. He continued an early streak in the WSOP of online poker players succeeding in the most prestigious live tournament offered. He commented to WSOP staff, “The amount of time it takes to become a good player is reduced by playing (on the computer). We play so many hands. We talk to our friends (about the hands). You learn so fast. I think younger players understand the fundamentals much better. Older players probably know about the real-life aspects of the game. But the future of poker (success) depends on understanding the fundamentals.”
Barry barryg1 Greenstein captured his third WSOP bracelet by winning Event 26, a $1,500 Seven Card Razz tournament. Greenstein pocketed $157,643. He won a $5,000 No-Limit Deuce to Seven Draw tournament during the 2004 WSOP for his first bracelet and then followed that up with another win, this time in a $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament in 2005. Greenstein’s WSOP earnings have topped $2.1 million lifetime.
Sebastian miamivice Ruthenberg emerged victorious in the $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo Event (#33), taking home $328,756. He also cashed in Event #31. The German native finished as the runner up in the fifth event of the 2007 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker tournament for a whopping $225,636.25. In January, he won the Full Tilt $530 buy-in $75K Guaranteed for $20,520.
Davidi legrouzin Kitai became the first Belgian player ever to win a WSOP bracelet by taking down Event #38. Other countries that have produced WSOP champions include Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Russia, and the United States. Katai made Belgium $244,546 richer with his win in the $2,000 Pot Limit Hold’em event.
Alexandre Allingomes Gomes won Event #48, a $2,000 no limit tournament, for a healthy $770,540 payday. The tournament attracted 2,317 players, creating a $4.2 million prize pool. Gomes won the Wednesday Hundred Fifty Grand on PokerStars for $65,333.16. He also has a fifth place cash in The Super Tuesday for $20,700.
Finally, Matt mattg1983 Graham defeated Survivor contestant and Team Bodog member Jean-Robert Bellande to win his first WSOP bracelet. The eighth and final bracelet for PocketFivers came at the last possible instant, the tournament just before the Main Event began. Graham won $278,180 for the victory in Event #53, his fourth cash at the 2008 WSOP.
Make sure to stay tuned to PocketFivesLive.com for action from the World Poker Tour’s Legends of Poker, which begins on August 23rd from the Bike in Los Angeles. PocketFivesLive.com Reporter Court Harrington will be on hand covering PocketFivers in the event. You won’t want to miss it.
Here’s a look at the full list of cashes by PocketFivers, to the best of our knowledge: P5'ers 2008 WSOP Cash List. Congratulations to all PocketFivers who finished in the money during the World Series of Poker and best of luck to Montgomery as he competes as part of the “November Nine” in 117 days. Visit PocketFivesLive.com to relive all of the action from the Main Event.