Baked Alaska Redux: Razz Part 7

Yesterday afternoon, I thought Razz should be banished from the world of poker forever, it’s bring-in/raise/fold ritual beyond boring. Now, I’m totally hooked.

I’ve been following Katja Thater from Team PokerStars for most of the WSOP. I have a great interview waiting to conduct with her, a fascinating lady to be sure.

Here is the start of the Final Table, with Eskimo Clark meeting with Harrah’s officials. They reviewed basic rules; e.g., if you pass out at the table, play will continue, review of what a mini-stroke is vs a maxi stroke, stuff like that.

Here is Katja dragging a pot while Eskimo has his third mini-stroke in less than twenty-four hours. The right side goes numb, and he couldn’t use his right hand. Notice the chips unstacked. He’s had sweaters inside the ropes the entire time.

Katja’s been just a bulldog who was a card away twice to having a monster chip lead. Both times Neil Longson caught one of six outs to take the pot on the river. He came in as an absolute monster chipleader, (385k v Larry St Jean with 171k and no one else closer than 123k). Later, she raised the river with a 9993 on her board vs a AAQ7 and was all-in. I’m not writing anything, just sweating away.

At the ESPN Final Table, Beth Shak has the chip lead with four players remaining. I met her last year during the Main Event at the ESPN Feature Table. Tons of exciting action tonight. I’ll update later.

UPDATE 10:00PM

Katja Thater becomes the first woman in three years to win a WSOP bracelet outside of the Ladies Event, grabbing a huge card on the river to win her first bracelet.

This is what it looks like right after you win a bracelet.  See Jan in the background, who was more excited than Katja!