Edler Wins WSOP Event 45

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Best of 728, and a monster paycheck for poker pro

The biggest paychecks following the H.O.R.S.E. millions at the World Series of Poker this weekend was found in event 45, the popular $5 000 Six-Handed No Limit Hold 'Em which attracted a starting field of 728 players, shrinking to 77 at the end of the first day after some intense and fast-moving action.

The pace continued into Day 2 with the field pruned by half in the first few hours of play which saw eliminations like Jeff Madsen, Tobey Maguire, Tony Hachem, Jeff Aiani, Justin  Bonamo, Men 'The Master' Nguyen, Allen Cunningham, Aaron Been, Michael Hewitt, Roland DeWolfe, Jamie Gold, Sam Grizzle, Mark Muchnik, and Alex Prendes, Jr.

Phil Hellmuth was denied his 12th bracelet when he was sent to the rail in 31st position by Nick Van Newkirk, although he cashed and made his record in that department up to 62. TonyG lasted to tenth place, busted by Emil Patel but in the cash for $58 852.

By day's end, the six survivors had been decided, with Erik Friberg holding the chip lead on 2 795 000, followed by Alex Bolotin at 2 010 000. Day One leader Russell 'Dutch' Boyd also made the final, in a short-stacked third place on 705 000. Other stacks were Greg Pohler (655 000), Gioi Luong (570 000) and Bill Edler (535 000) as the low man on the board.

With a main prize of $904 672 up for grabs, it was a competition that showed plenty of promise for excitement and talent, and after some delays the contest started, with the first elimination - Luong - taking place by hand 8 following an early clash with Bolotin. Luong's check for the sixth place finish was $110 860.

By the time the next departure occurred Edler had improved his fortunes and was in million chip count territory when he took on Dutch Boyd, despatching the WSOP bracelet holder in fifth place with $169 369 for his trouble.

Pohler was doing well at this stage, with a healthy 2.5 or more stack but it was not to last as he tangled with Friberg and the blinds increased. He was exit number 4 with $232 669 to take home. Further into the game, Friberg himself was next to go, a victim of aggressive play by Bolotin that left him headed for the cashier and a $345 582 payday for his third position finish.

Typical of the daring and pace of this game, the heads up between Edler and Bolotin lasted for only 13 or 14 hands, with Edler playing an aggressive and dominating game that gave him more than double the amount of chips of his opponent.  The end came at Hand 107 when Edler took his first ever WSOP bracelet and the massive $904 672 main prize, leaving Bolotin with second position and a still impressive $504 686 pay check.

But all eyes are increasingly turning now to the Main Event which starts this Friday, July 6th.  Last year a record 8 773 persons entered the $10 000 buy-in World Series of Poker Main Event. This year the main event is the subject of intense speculation following the moves to exclude online poker sponsorships, and the impact of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act on US poker websites. Will the field be as large? That's the $64 000 - or rather the $12 million - question.