Fool's Gold

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

Tuan Le bets T300 from the big blind and Jamie Gold raises to T600. Tuan re-raises to T1,200 and Gold calls. The flop comes J22 and Tuan checks. Gold bets T1,500 and Tuan calls before the 7 hits on the turn. Tuan checks again and Gold fires out T5,000. Tuan calls and the river card is the 4. Tuan checks one last time and Gold moves all-in for his last T30,500. Tuan goes into the tank for a few minutes and then folds. Gold flips over 6-3 offsuit and collects the pot.

Hennigan and Bartholdi Mix it Up

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

An early position player raises to T800 and is called by John Hennigan, winner at the Borgata last January. Last year's WPT champion, Joseph Bartholdi then re-raises to T4,000. The early position player folds and Hennigan makes the call. The flop comes 655. Hennigan checks, Bartholdi bets T4,000 and hennigan immediately raises to T11,000. Bartholdi thinks and makes the call. The turn is the 4 and both players check. The river brings the 9. Hennigan checks and Bartholdi bets T2,000. Burt Boutain can not help himself, and lets out a laugh at the very small bet. Hennigan calls and Bartholdi shows KK. Hennigan mucks his hand and Bartholdi takes down the pot.

WPT Player Profile: Joe Sebok

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

They say Joe Sebok is the most improved player in poker over the last two years. If you can’t sense his growing confidence, he’ll inflict it on your senses. Through his articles; through his radio show; through his internet video work, natural charisma and lineage, Joe Sebok has gotten into poker’s head. The confidence that inspires is playing itself out at the tables. Sebok is one television victory from poker superstardom. He’s won tournaments this year ranging from $1,000 - $5,000 in entry fees, but that’s only left him wanting for more. He can smell a $10K victory coming. He can taste it. All that’s left for him is to finish off one of those mammoth first day efforts we’ve seen repeatedly from him this year. “Joe and I play differently,” his father, Barry Greenstein, marveled to me. “I think he’s been the chip leader in seven of his last nine tournaments.” It’s been agony for Sebok, who’s always lived to some extent in his famous father’s shadow. Still, the relationship has done wonders for Joe’s poker game, affording him the most knowledgeable, loyal and honest teach a player could find. Sebok has shown remarkable multi-media savvy on his way up; he and Gavin Smith, constantly fighting and in some respects polar opposites, have teamed up for the last year to create their popular Internet radio show ‘The Circuit’, and now have stepped up to Internet video with “Prop Bet”. Hs phone rings constantly, with callers ranging from MTV to the best players in the world. In the poker storm, Sebok is damn close to the eye. Why you should be watching him. Two reasons; he’s held the chip lead in the first two days more than any player this year; and his passion play for a final table appearance have made him a sympathetic, tragic hero in the WPT storyline. Joe is a guy who will always receive coverage until the hand he goes out, and that allows you to experience the ups and downs with him. SIDEBAR – BARRY GREENSTEIN Sebok’s dad plays a little poker too. A WPT champion and WSOP bracelet winner, Greenstein is best-known for his charitable efforts with Children Inc. and the monster cash game he’s seen fit to give us glimpses of his monster cash game, but he’s been lacking for a major tournament score this year. He’ll be looking for one in Vegas.

WPT Player Profile: Gavin Smith

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

By: Gary Wise It’s good to be the king. Gavin Smith knows that, and he’s enjoyed every minute of his reign at the World Poker Tour’s Player of the Year. Mathematically eliminated from contention for this year’s title, the World Championship should see him go out with a bang, mostly because…well…there’s a bang in everything he does. Gavin isn’t exactly a delicate butterfly resting in a meadow. He’s a hyper-active bull, let loose in a china warehouse. If you catch his attention, he’s on you in a half-second flat, in a way that makes him one of the most beloved characters in poker circles. A pro for the better part of a decade, Gavin won his WPT Player of the Year title a year ago primarily on the strength of a seven-figure victory at the Mirage Poker Showdown at the beginning of the season. He followed that up with a third place finish at the North American Poker championship in October, 2005 and then a fourth place finish in January, 2006 at the Goldstrike World Poker Open in Tunica. In addition to his amazing WPT season a year ago, Gavin has put up a number of remarkable results. Amongst them; a $500,000 victory at the Pro-Am Challenge a year ago, a runner-up finish in the World Series Circuit event in New Orleans a year ago and his recent third place showing at the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Smith’s contributions exceed the dollars he’s made for himself at the table. He and Joe Sebok have teamed up to co-host ‘The Circuit’ Internet Radio show and ‘Prop Bets’, a weekly internet contest in which the two wager $10,000 on oft-times ludicrous tests of skill. He also played host to the Paul Hannum Memorial event held at the Bicycle Casino this year, whose funds raised went to support the child of the former WPT cameraman. His decision to do so showed us all what we already knew: Gavin, more than a poker player, is a real human being. Why should you be watching him? You never know what he’s going to say, never know what he’s going to do and know he’ll have all manner of prop bets riding on this. It’s the end of Gavin’s reign as WPT player of the year, and he’s going to enjoy the attention while it lasts. Sidebar: Michael “Grinder” Mizrachi The Card Player Magazine Player of the Year, Grinder has been on a slow streak of late. With $25,000 on the line and close friend JC Tran stealing many of the headlines, look for the Grinder to come on strong in Vegas looking to take back the cash and a little of the talk, too.

Madsen Can't Bluff Opponent Out

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

On a board of 54410 Jeff Madsen bets T5,000 from the button. He is called by his opponent in middle position. The turn is the 9. The middle position player checks and Madsen tosses in a T10,000 chip. He is called and then says "Nothing". His opponent shows QQ and takes down the pot.

Who's Where?

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

Look at all of the names below, then remember this is half the field. This is some serious stuff; - Thor Hansen, Shaniac, Frankie Flowers - John Hennigan, Joe Bartholdi - Berry Johnston - Lyle Berman, Andy Black, Joe Simmons - Noah boeken, Ali Eslami, Erick Cajelais, Barny Boatman - Amnon Philippi, Shannon Shorr, Raj Patel - Liz Lieu, Ted Lawson, Nick Cassevettes, Joe Tehan - Doug Lee, Dan Alsphach, Ram Vaswani - Abe Mosseri, Maureen Feduniak, Jamie Gold, Tuan Le, Adam Weinraub - John Myung, Jason Lester - Jen Harman, Haralabos Voulgaris, JohnnyBax - Kristy Gazes, Scott Fischman, TJ Clutier, Rob Mizrachi, Juha Jelppi - David Plastique, Jeff Cabanillas, Rene Agelil - Captain Tom, Eli Elezra - Isaac Haxton, Tim West, Jon Little, Kenna James, Vanessa Rousso - Miami John Cernutto, David Williams, Bob Feduniak, Jesse Jones - Danny Wong, James Van Alstyne - David Levi, Chuck Kelly - Justin Bonomo, Barry Shulman, Ross Boatman - Barry Greenstein, David Matthew, Dragon Pham, Alex Jacob. - Pad Parkinson, Anna Wroblewski, Phil Ivey - David Sklansky, Will the Thrill, Bradley Berman - Cyndy Violette, JJ Liu, Eric Hershler, Alan Goehring, Ralph Perry - Gavin Smith, Rhynie Campbell - Josh Arieh - Men Nguyen - Vinny Procopio, Jordan Morgan, Roland de Wolfe - Dan Harrington, Jeff Madsen - Joe Sebok, Victor Ramdin, Jim Bechtel

WPT Player Profile: Isaac Haxton

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

By: Gary Wise The thing that really strikes you when you meet Isaac Haxton is his chill factor. He seems unshakable, a level-headed, twenty-one year old year old kid with the enthusiasm to match that label and the maturity to surpass it. It’s a handy trait to possess when you’re playing with millions on the line. Haxton started playing poker a few years ago in high school, the latest in a progression of games whose stakes increased with his age. The high school games were soon too small to sate his competitive instinct; he turned to online cash games, where he thrived to the point of turning pro. While tournaments weren’t his focus, Isaac won an online satellite to the WPT’s Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas, a trip too good to pass up. Along with record-setting hordes that for once included players between the ages of 18-20, Isaac made his way to the Atlantis Resort-Hotel. The rest is history. Haxton entered the final table with the largest chip lead in WPT history, relinquishing it only through a sequence of tough hands and unfortunate cards. Still, he’d shown the poker world that he could play with the best. He’s continued to prove it since. Unfortunately, Isaac was one of the biggest victims of Neteller’s legal problems since the Safe Port Act was passed. Pokerstars paid him through his account, and the $800,000+ got stuck in limbo. Fortunately, skill, a cool head and talent have maintained him as he waits to retrieve his money. At the World Championship, he hopes to get paid out in cold, hard cash. Why should you be watching him? That Isaac is good is obvious, but what makes him so watchable is his willingness to share his knowledge with you. As he did recently at the Foxwoods Poker Classic, Haxton will be blogging here on worldpoker.com, sharing his thoughts on the tournament as it progresses. It should be a fascinating and education look into one of the brightest young minds in the game. SIDEBAR: RYAN DAUT The guy who beat Isaac at the PCA, Daut is also primarily a cash game player. His victory in the Bahamas, (big shock here) inspired him towards more tournament play. He’s a force to be reckoned with when he invests $10K; $25K and he may win the tournament twice.

Level 2

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

Blinds are now T100-T200.

Roland De Wolf Takes a Small Pot

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante

Five players limp and see a flop of A72. Action checks around to Jordan Morgan who bets T350. Roland de Wolfe raises to T1,100 on the button and is called by Vincent Procopio and Morgan. The turn is the 4 and all three players check. The river is the 3. They check it down again; Procopio shows K7, Morgan shows 78 and De Wolf takes it down with A-9.

Day 1A Intro Video Blog

Level 8: 800,000-1,600,000, 300,000 ante