Let’s Get Ready to Rumble: The Latest Battles at the World Series of Poker

May 14

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble: The Latest Battles at the World Series of Poker

Casinos, Final Table, King of Vegas, Poker Tournaments, World Series of Poker Add comments

The main event is what draws the crowds to Las Vegas, and the 1997 and 1998 World Series of Poker were more dramatic than most. One event is the thrilling yet ultimately sad tale of an incredible comeback, the other a quintessential American success story.

Stu Ungar: The Comeback Kid

A dozen former world champs competed in the 1997 event, including two- time winners Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Stu Ungar, along with 27-yearold defending champion Huck Seed. Formerly an engineering student at Cal Tech, Seed took a year’s sabbatical to play poker and never returned.

When Norway’s Tormod Roren was eliminated late on the evening of the third day of competition, only six contestants remained, setting the stage for the final table, to be played outdoors on Fremont Street the next day. Stadium seating for the general public was erected under the curved, lattice-like space frame of the Fremont Street Experience. Bleachers had also replaced card tables in Binion’s tournament area, and crews were laying cable and wheeling in big-screen TVs to provide additional viewing for the main event.

The six remaining contestants for poker’s biggest prize took their seats at the table shortly after 10:00 Thursday morning, and ESPN colorman Gabe Kaplan conducted short, “up-close-and-personal” interviews with each finalist:

Peter Bao, the man with the shortest chip count, was a 26-year-old college student majoring in computer science who moved to the United States in 1988 from his native Vietnam.
Po John Strzemp, president of Las Vegas’s Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, enters poker tournaments only occasionally and had never finished in the money at the World Series of Poker before this year.
Mel Judah, who was 49 years old, is a savvy, well-regarded tournament player from London, England. He had finished in the money at the World Series of Poker 15 times in his career.
Bob Walker is a former college mathematics professor and, like Judah, a professional poker player. But Bob, according to Kaplan, specializes in cash games, and this marked the first time he had entered a major poker tournament.

Po^. Ron Stanley, 44 years old at the time, was dressed for the occasion in a tuxedo — with black-and-white baseball cap to match. He is a Las Vegas pro who had accumulated World Series earnings of more than $326,000.

Stu Ungar completed the field. Once known as “The Kid,” he stunned the poker world in 1980 and 1981 when, as a 27-year-old, he captured the title two years in a row. Coming into this event he had already won more than $1 million at the Horseshoe’s annual poker tournament, and he was once regarded by knowledgeable insiders as one of the top poker players in the world. In addition, he was generally acknowledged to be the best gin rummy player in history. But tough times, drug addiction, and health problems beset Ungar in recent years, and this tournament marked a comeback of sorts for him.

The generally accepted wisdom among the punters was that Ungar — who began the day with a chip lead of almost $400,000 over Ron Stanley, his nearest competitor — would sit quietly and let others eliminate themselves before moving into the fray with guns blazing. But Ungar’s reputation was not built on passivity; it centered on two critical skills: Unrelenting aggression in suitable situations, and an uncanny ability to read his opponents and know with near certainty what cards they were playing. When Ungar was on top of his game, it almost seemed like his opponents were playing their cards face up — while his were disguised and unfathomable.

Ungar attacked early and often. His opponents frequently folded. Tournament poker differs from normal games in one very significant way: You’re not wagering money in a tournament so much as you are betting a portion of your total equity in the game. For Ungar, with his huge chip lead, a bet of $20,000 represented only 2 percent of the $1 million or so in chips that was stacked on the table in front of him. For the short-stacked Peter Bao, $20,000 represented ten times that amount.

No one wanted to be the first player eliminated. The sixth place finisher would receive $127,200 — not a bad payday, but substantially less than fifth place, which would be awarded $162,120. Fourth place would earn $212,000, while third place was worth $371,000. Second place paid $583,000, while the winner was slated to walk away with a cool $1 million. At each fork in the road, staying alive was a far better alternative than elimination, and survival meant avoiding a confrontation with Ungar, the chip leader.

More about: Let’s Get Ready to Rumble: The Latest Battles at the World Series of Poker

5 Responses to “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble: The Latest Battles at the World Series of Poker”

Beer Pong Tables Says:
July 8th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
The poker game sided has 8 player position poker table with individual trays for poker chips and a drink holder. … Beer Pong Tables
Professional Poker Players Served Says:
July 9th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Many pay day loans borrowers complain that they did not know they missed the due date of their pay day loans and that they were rolled over. … Professional Poker Players Served
Bargain Books Arriving Daily Says:
July 9th, 2008 at 11:58 am
On October 10, 1989 the San Francisco bay a deadly earthquake rocked area, postponing the third game of the World Series at Candlestick Park. … Bargain Books Arriving Daily
Few Clicks Away Says:
July 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Through the extensive mobile poker community, you can submit various high scores for bragging rights, view other players profiles, game. … Few Clicks Away
General Available Says:
July 9th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
A white pleather case decorated with gold stars and a red the King inspired velvet interior¯ famous jumpsuits worn during his legendary Vegas performances. … General Available

Poker Winner Blog