2011 WSOP Event 54, 55, 56, 57 Winners and Main Event (58) Update

Event #54:  No Limit Hold'em

Max Lykov - Event #54 winner

Buy-in: $1 000
Prizepool:  $4 118 400
Entries:  4 576

First place money:  $648 880

Max Lykov has won the latest $1 000 Donkament beating out 4 575 other players to take down his frost WSOP bracelet.  He is definitely no slouch, having already won an EPT title.  Russia's bracelet count for this year's WSOP is now at 3.

Event #55:  The Poker Player's Championship

Brian Rast - Event #55 winner

Buy-in: $50 000
Prizepool:  $6 144 000
Entries:  128

First place money:  $1 720 328

Besides the Main Event, this is the event to watch and it didn't disappoint!  The winner of this event is not only awarded the gold bracelet but also the David "Chip" Reese memorial trophy.  As expected with a $50 000 buy in, it was a who's who of players to watch in this one.  2 of the top players vying for player of the year honours were at the final table - with Ben Lamb finishing in 8th leaving Phil Hellmuth to play Brian Rast head up for the title.  They started just about level in chips but Rast was badly out played for the first 90% of the heads up battle until Hellmuth finally held a 13 million chip lead with Rast only holding 2.9 million.  Then Hellmuth went on a slide.  He got his chips in 3 times in a row with a flush draw and Rast holding hands good enough to call with - each time Rast won.  In the end Rast flopped the nuts and Hellmuth bricked out as he has an outside straight draw (to a worse straight) and a flush draw.  Rast has now won his second bracelet of this year's WSOP.

Phil Hellmuth has now finished 2nd in 3 events this year and has gained enough points to take over first spot in the player of the year race.

Event #56:  No Limit Hold'em

Hasan Anter - Event #56 winner

Buy-in: $1 500
Prizepool:  $4 575 150
Entries:  3389

First place money:  $777 928

This event denuded with kind of a cool hand.  Hasan Anter from Sweden was up against Nemer Haddad of the States.  Anter kept aggressive until he had such a chip lead that Haddad had his chips all in with A2off.  Anter had A4off which isn't much of a lead until K,Q,10 all spades flopped.  Anter has the Aof spades so things looked good.  The 4 of spades turned, giving him the title before the river came up as the J of spades giving him the cool story of winning his bracelet with a royal flush!

Of note - Canadian pro, Gavin Smith had a great showing in this one making it all the way to 12 before bowing out (although I highly doubt he actually bowed...)

Event #57:  Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better

Nick Binger - Event #57 winner

Buy-in: $5 000
Prizepool:  $1 654 400
Entries:  352

First place money:  $397 073

It was only a matter of time before one of the Binger brothers took down a gold WSOP bracelet.  The younger Binger, Nick was able to do it first and he waited until the last tournament before the Main event to do it.  He almost didn't get to register for this event as he was still playing in Event 56.  When he busted out he ran to the the cage and got registered at 9:30 on the button - at the last possible minute.

Event #58:  No Limit Hold'em Championship

Buy-in: $10 000
Prizepool:  $64 531 000
Entries:  6 865

UPDATE!

We are now down to triple digits in this event having just reached 999 players remaining in the Main Event.  There is a ridiculous amount of big names still around in this one.  Ben Lamb and Phil Hellmuth who are in a great battle for player of the year are both still alive although Hellmuth's 78 000 chips pale in comparison to Lamb's 450 000 chips.  Right now the blinds are 1500 / 3000 with a 400 ante.  Big names still around include: Negreanu, Mizzi, Elezra, Phillips, Varkonyi, Forrest, Brenes, Savage, Antonius, Lindgren, Madsen, Flowers, both Gazes, Todd Brunson, Rousso, Cody, Deeb, Junglen, Sam Simon (of Simpson's fame), Devonshire, Saul, Hinkle, Oppenheim, Sowers, Turner, Bellande, Lisandro, Mercier, Dario Alioto.  Hopefully we get a few names making the November 9!