2005 WSOP + Ghosts of Poker Past
A few more photos have been added to the 2005 World Series of Poker Photo gallery.
The time grows short before the crowds take their place at the Rio's Pavilion. The work crews continue to set up tables and lights, big screens closed circuit TV, sound systems, registration booths, all the things needed to guarantee a smooth and successful run for the historic 2005 World Series of Poker. The spacious, modern facilities at the Rio Resort are in stark contrast to the aging Binion's Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas. Having spent a number of years covering the WSOP at the Horseshoe and remembering trying to crowd more people into Benny's Bullpin than would fit; I, for one, am looking forward to this year's uptown tournament. Of course, I'll miss many of the things that were downtown traditional to the World Series of Poker; but I won't miss the lousy lighting that made good photos an impossibility.
I won't miss the crowded corridors that were impossible to navigate, nor will I miss that peculiar odor that had permeated the Horseshoe the last few years. I will miss knowing about the best parking spaces, the shortcut into the coffee shop, secret passageways, lower levels and even the ghosts that are always just out of sight in the old place.
Would the late Benny Binion approve of his WSOP moving to bigger and better digs on the upper end of the Vegas Strip? Probably not, but the WSOP isn't his anymore. Benny would have moved it to a better place, and that place would have been the Horseshoe. He always maintained his downtown property with a spit and polish attitude and continued to make the Horseshoe better without doing damage to it's soul. Whatever it took to get the gamblers into his joint and make them comfortable was his special knack. Benny had a genuine affection for poker players and the World Series of Poker was his gift to everyone that plays the game. Did Benny foresee the WSOP becoming the monster of today?
Probably not, in fact, no one predicted the tremendous growth of the industry until it was already well under way. So, how would he have handled the multitudes coming to be a part of poker history when the 2005 WSOP begins Thursday? The same way he always did. He would make sure you were treated with respect, got a fair shake and was as comfortable as possible. I think they should modify the stature of Benny, the one of him on his horse. They should show him holding a WSOP gold bracelet in one hand and a stack of food comps in the other. That's how I remember the founder of the WSOP, bigger than life, and I do miss that memory.
Speaking of food comps, I hear rumors there will be no food comps, player buffets or any dining accommodations for the 2005 WSOP participants.
I am assuming the 'suits' made a bottom line decision that continuing the Binion tradition of feeding gamblers wasn't cost effective. Apparently the bean counters (pun intended) couldn't work out an acceptable ROI on the food.
Least I forget, the final twenty-seven players in the $10K main event will return to the downtown Horseshoe for one last time. I'm sure the ghost of poker past will be out in force to see how this one plays out. Benny, Moss, Ungar, Strass, Roberts and a few others will be there playing in their own exclusive poker game and making side bets on the outcome of the live game.



The World Series of Poker is three days away if you count the Casino Employee No-Limit Hold'em on Thursday as event #1 (the WSOP says it's event #1). The first WSOP event open to everyone and the first to be filmed by ESPN for national television broadcast will begin on Friday, June 3rd, at high noon in the Pavilion at the Rio Resort. Friday's event #2 will be a $1,500 buy-in No limit Hold'em affair that signals the official start of the 2005 World Series of Poker. Saturday will see another $1,500 Hold'em tournament, only this time it is Pot Limit. The final table of the Friday No-Limit event will begin at 2:00 pm and continue until we have our first 2005 WSOP bracelet winner.
The final table will be played the following day beginning at 2:00 pm and continuing until someone leaves with a coveted WSOP gold championship bracelet. Interested in playing in the televised events or just want to know which WSOP tournaments will be filmed and when they will be broadcast then visit the
Today, the corridors outside the Pavilion were empty of people; but, I felt a sense of anticipation of the many thousands of players, fans, media, dealers and tournament officials that will be filling the space come Friday.
To start off this week in review check out Double A's latest strategy offerings in his articles 
Those lucky enough to be staying so close to the WSOP action will find the Rio a comfortable, full service hotel. A great in-room menu, high speed internet, plenty of work space and laundry/cleaning service.
The
First out was Blair Rodman receiving $25,000 for sixth place. The next victim was Chris Tsiprailidis leaving the final table in the fifth spot and collecting $30,000. The play continued until David Levi and 'Captain' Tom went heads up. The flop showed Q,Q,Q and 'Captain' Tom goes all-in for his remaining $80K and change. David Levi looks around and announces, "Seat open," before calling and turning up his Q,J for quad Queens. The Captain tosses his cards face down into the muck and leaves the game in fourth place taking $45,000.
Finally, David ran out of miracles and was eliminated in the third spot receiving $60,000. The $100,000 second place money goes home with Randy Jensen.
The new host for the 



The first tournament of the World Poker Tour Season IV has a winner.
Gavin also takes home, in addition to the $25K seat, a cool $1,128,278 in cash. Second place finisher, Ted Forrest, had to settle for the second place money amounting to $579,386.
The surviving six players that will be seated at tomorrow's television table follows, the list is ordered by descending chip count with seat assignment shown in ().
Usually this would be one away from the bubble; but Richard Tatalovich and Phil Laak split the 27th place money when both were eliminated by Jean-Robert Bellande on the same hand. Richard had pocket Kings and Phil had pocket Aces, both made a set but Jean-Robert caught runner, runner to make a straight with his suited 8,10. Tatalovich and Laak each received $9,148. The next bubble was for today's final table and David Kutcher was the boy going out in 10th. He received $36,594 in prize money.
The WPT final table action begins tomorrow, Thursday at 4:00 pm in the convention area of the Mirage. Seating for the television audience is limited and on a first come basis so be there early. Big screens and seating are set up in the waiting area outside the television production set.
The turn was a Queen giving Phil a set and Eric needing a 10 for a winning straight; but, it wasn't to be, the river was a deuce and Phil scooped another hugh pot while Eric headed for the door.
Sitting in second with $318,600 is Canadian Gavin Smith, a previous Poker Showdown winner.
The short stack of the day is Billy Duarte with $33,200. Some of the known players and their chip counts include David Slansky $65,000, David Levi $69,400, "Captain" Tom Franklin $137,100, Ted Forrest $159,600, Jean "Prince" Gaspard $180,100 and Toto Leonadis $258,200.
The first day of the
Continuing thru the first day carnage we find more casualities...Mike Matusow, Michael "The Grinder" Mazrachi, Scotty Nguyen, Tuan Le, Chip Reese and WSOP Champion Carlos Mortensen. Those keeping track of the golden boy of poker, Daniel Negreanu; he left early in the afternoon after coming out on the short end of a heads-up with Action Bob, Jean Robert Bellande. Those keeping track of the latest foot-in-mouth player, Antonio Esfandiari; he was eliminated late in the day.
First place will see the making of another WPT millionaire with the winner receiving $1,128,278 and a $25,500 seat in the WPT Season IV Championship at the Bellagio. Second place goes home with $579,386, third gets $289,693, fourth $182,964, fifth $137,223 and sixth takes $106,729. The six players making the final TV table will be playing for a combined $2,424,273 in prize money.







The $3,000 buy-in No Limit Hold'em tournament ended early this afternoon when final table chip leader, Terry Fleischer of Las Vegas, lost most of his chips in two hands to the eventual winner, Francois Safieddine of Denver, Colorado. Francois doubled through Terry when he put Francois all-in and his pair of fives finished second. Suddenly, Francois had twice as many chips. A few hands later an almost identical situation between the two and again, Francois doubled up. The overwhelming chip lead allowed Francois to play an aggressive game that made short work of the opponents. The final table was completed in less than two hours. Francois received $222,900 plus a $10,200 seat in the WPT championship. Second place money, $111,450, was taken by Mike Appel of Boston, Massachusetts.
A $530 buy-in Super-Satellite got started at 5:00 pm this afternoon. Single table satellites are a continuous process with one going off as soon as enough players sign up to fill a table. Buy-ins for the SNG's range from $175 up to $1100 and today most offered a seat in tomorrow's Super Satellite or the higher dollar ones giving a seat in the WPT Championship. Cecilia Mortensen was playing and winning, having downed the other nine to win her SNG and then she immediately sat down in another satellite. The Mirage is the center of full time poker action, and will remain so right up to the start of the Championship event on Monday.
The WPT television table with bright lights, hair and make-up girls to make you look better than you ever have and cards out of your dreams. Just knowing that millions are watching your every move and tomorrow you may be one of the recognized golden players of tournament poker makes it all worthwhile. Fans crowding around just to get a look at you and pleading for an autograph. Then, the really big one, your photo hanging in the Poker Hall of Fame along side all of those legends of the game. Possible? Of course, much better than the lottery; but certainly a crap shoot. You have to win a hell of a lot of all-ins. It's guaranteed that someone will win and maybe it will be you. If you can't dream it, then you probably can't do it.