World Series of Poker Defending Champ Hachem Going Strong

The big story of the day is the quality of play from defending champ Joe Hachem. In a week of a lot of knock outs to big names, like Doyle Brunson, last year's World Series of Poker Champion is still playing like a champ.

BIG NEWS: Joe Hachem was up to 19,500 in chips after four hours of play. He improved his stack significantly when his pocket aces knocked out a player with pocket queens. "If I think they're getting out of line, then I make them move all-in. If I'm right, I'm right, and if I'm wrong, then I've got to shut up shop," the Australian said.

STUD OF THE DAY: Peter Hedlund, a 22-year-old poker pro from Sweden, could have been playing lowball with his hands instead of Texas Hold 'Em. With an unsuited eight and five, he crippled one opponent when he made two pair. With an unsuited four and five, Hedlund knocked out another when he made a low straight. A later garbage holding of an unsuited seven and nine turned into a nearly unbeatable quad - four sevens. "If I don't get the big cards, I have to play the small ones," Hedlund said. He took the early chip lead with 42,500.

BUSTED OUT: Lennox Lewis, Erik Seidel, Erick Lindgren, Max Pescatori, Vince Van Patten, Lyle Berman and Sean Sheikhan.

NO MONKEY BUSINESS: No, Mikey, the poker-playing chimpanzee, was never entered into the tournament, as reported on ABC News. "There's been no chimp entered into the World Series of Poker," said tournament commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "Let me be very clear on that, nor will there be."

CELEBRITY UPDATE: "Lois and Clark" star Dean Cain showed Superman can use bullets as well as deflect them. The actor, who turned 40 on Monday, instantly called with all his chips when his pocket aces hit another ace on the flop. "My whole goal was just to last through Day 1," he said. "I'm not going to outthink 'em, but I can out-luck 'em."

UP NEXT: On Tuesday, a combined 1,637 players who made it past their respective fields on Friday and Saturday will play down in 12 hours of play. The average chip count is just over 26,000. On Wednesday, the survivors from Sunday and Monday's fields will play down, completing the second level of the tournament.

HE SAID WHAT?: "In boxing you know what cards are going to be dealt. In this you don't," - former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, describing the difference between poker and his sport, boxing.

August 1, 2006
Posted By Bob Hartman
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!