The WSOP brings a colorful panorama of life to the tables every year. In that panorama the competition, the desire to be the best, the title and the gold bracelet are only a small part of the picture. The Works fills in all the fine details and presents the bold picture that makes the WSOP the greatest poker gathering on earth.
PokerWorks
Poker News | World Series of Poker | WSOP2009 | The Works
Electric Atmosphere Surrounded WSOP Final Table Playdown
11-08-2009, Jennifer Newell
The media was allowed in to the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas before the fans. We passed throngs of people in the hallway near the entrance, as they sported shirts and hats indicative of who they were...
Main Event, Day 7 – It's Going To Be A Very Long Day 8
07-16-2009, Aaron Hendrix
When I first hit the Rio in the morning, I run into Tom Schneider and his wife Julie. I get Tom to rub my bald head for good luck and talk to Julie. She seems in great spirits and is looking forward to the day. Tom wins a big pot early and that...
Main Event, Day 5 – Main Event Madness
07-13-2009, Aaron Hendrix
As a member of the media, it can be overwhelming at times trying to keep up with all the action. I'm thankful I'm not one of those media members whose job is keeping track of chip counts and providing live updates. I did that my first year at the...
Main Event, Day 4 – Highlights Of The First Four Days Of The Main Event
07-12-2009, Aaron Hendrix
We're through Day 4 of the Main Event at the 2009 World Series of Poker and only 407 of the original 6,494 players are remaining. For those of you who have missed out on the action, here are a few highlights thus far: On Day 1A, Jason Alexander of...
Main Event, Day 3 – 30 Minutes With Ivey And Theo
07-11-2009, Aaron Hendrix
I decided this evening I'd spend a little time watching Phil Ivey and Theo Tran play. The two players styles are similar, although Ivey is obviously the more recognizable name, Tran is no slouch himself having had a great 2008 WSOP. I started off...
Main Event, Day 3 – It Must Be The Money
07-10-2009, Aaron Hendrix
Yesterday was a rare day off from the World Series of Poker. In fact, it's the only day since the start that there are actually no cards being dealt. Yea, there is the Media Tournament but that doesn't count. I still woke up moderately early though...
Main Event, Day 2B – Dropping Like Flies
07-09-2009, Aaron Hendrix
“I'm all in,” the young kid with spiked hair, designer sunglasses and a black Ed Hardy shirt said, pushing his stack into the middle of the table. The crazy looking older dude to his left peeked at his cards. “How much is it,” he asked. The dealer...
Main Event, Day 2B – Packed House
07-08-2009, Aaron Hendrix
It's about thirty minutes prior to the start of Day 2B at the World Series of Poker Main Event and the floor is frantically looking for three misplaced bags containing chips for players. They yell for the dealers to look for bags with certain...
Main Event, Day 2A – Moving Day
07-08-2009, Aaron Hendrix
After the drama of the sell out/shut out from yesterday, it was good to get back to some poker and the real reason we're all here... to find out who is going to be the winner of a boat load of money and the most prestigious bracelet at the World...
Main Event, Day 1D – No Preferential Treatment At The WSOP. Are You Sure About That?
07-07-2009, Aaron Hendrix
It's late, around 10:15 at night, on day 1C of the Main Event. I'm working on my computer and get an e-mail message from a friend of mine. I read the e-mail and in it she tells me that she is coming out in the morning to play. She tells me that she...
Main Event, Day 1D – Say What? Sold Out?
07-07-2009, Aaron Hendrix
A man in a suit walks out into the crowded hallway. At this moment, at least to the hundred or so people in line he looks a bit like the Grim Reaper. He takes his place in the center of the hallway and says “I'm sorry to say but at this time we will...
Main Event, Day 1C – Just Because It's A Marathon Doesn't Mean You Don't Run Fast Occasionally
07-06-2009, Aaron Hendrix
The one thing I love about the Main Event is the stories that surface each year about every day people living a dream. The media might follow around the poker superstars but it's the average player, the one no one has ever heard of, that makes the...
Main Event, Day 1C – Et tu, Bruté?
07-06-2009, Aaron Hendrix
It was noticeably different from the moment I walked in today. Even though it was only 10:30, there were people roaming the hallways, anxious to get into their seats and play in the Main Event. That's a little too early for me as a player... talk...
Main Event, Day 1B – Oops, We Shoulda Thought Of That
07-05-2009, Aaron Hendrix
The day 1's merge into two separate day 2's. It's not a problem on day 1A and day 1B because of the small field size guaranteeing a field size that the Rio can handle on day 2A, but day 2B is a completely different animal. The thing is, with the...
Main Event, Day 1B – Snooze Fest
07-05-2009, Aaron Hendrix
I knew it was a bad sign when they let the players in and only 5-6 tables in the Red section had tournament players taking seats in them. This meant that Brasilia would not be used and that at best there would be 900-1,000 players playing today...
Main Event, Day 1A – Surviving Is The Name Of The Game
07-04-2009, Aaron Hendrix
Beth Shak looks at me as I walk by. She's sitting at her table ten minutes before the dinner break is over. “A little anxious Beth?” I ask her. “I tell you Aaron, I just want to make it through the day, but I have a really good feeling so...
Main Event, Day 1A – Small Gathering Kicks Off Main Event
07-04-2009, Aaron Hendrix
I came into the Rio early this morning to make sure I could secure a seat in Media Row. It was 9:45 a.m. local time and the room was quiet. There were no dealers, no floor people, and only one security guard. In one corner, a few cash games were...
Day 37 – Paparazzi And The Poker Palooza
07-03-2009, Aaron Hendrix
I'm a big fan of Ante Up For Africa for several reasons. First, it's for a great cause (although I could argue that there are causes that need attention in the United States, but that's one of the great things about our country is we've always gone...
Day 36 – Weddings And Works
07-03-2009, Aaron Hendrix
Howard and Suzie Lederer's World Series of Barbecue was taking place today at the Golden Nugget. With the charity poker tournament benefiting the Boys and Girls Club kicking off at 4 p.m. local time there wasn't much time to visit the action at...
Day 35 – The Calm Before The Storm
07-02-2009, Aaron Hendrix
As the Main Event approaches, the Rio has started to quiet down. Tomorrow there will be no new event starting. Thursday the Ante Up For Africa event takes place, but the Rio will be a shadow of its former self, at least for the next two days that...