- WSOP ME FT: Meet the Final Nine -

[entertainme]

I'll update this throughout the day as I get time.

Starting with Jon Kalmar, currently third in chips with 20.32 million and in seat 1 at the final table.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/Kalmar2.jpg

Jonathan Kalmar Hendon Mob Database (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=29025): Lifetime cashes of $340,388 (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=29025)

From Ladbrokes: (http://poker.ladbrokes.com/des-wilsons-wsop-diary-daily-july-16th/deswilson/detail/en)

John "Skalie" Kalmar, from Chorley, with 10 tournament cashes and two wins, and life-time winnings of $170,000, has made it to the final table with the third largest chip stack, and has become a millionaire. Jon is, of course, a regular Ladbrokes player and his success will thrill the entire Ladbrokes poker community. (Unfortunately his achievement was slightly marred by the behaviour of his supporters who behaved like English football hooligans of old; more than once he had to go over and beg them to calm down).

Player profile on Ladbrookes, skalie (http://poker.ladbrokes.com/skalie/alias)

Edit: Adding WSOP interview (http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/mediacenter/video.asp?v=jonkalmarInterview.wmv&m=7&d=17&y=2007 )

[pineapple888]

They got the "millionaire" part wrong. Not quite yet, lads.

[KentuckyWildcats]

Only the Top 5 are millionaires, correct?

[DopamineRelease]

[ QUOTE ]
Only the Top 5 are millionaires, correct?

[/ QUOTE ]
According to pokernews, thats correct

[FBP]

[ QUOTE ]
They got the "millionaire" part wrong. Not quite yet, lads.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think they mean with millionaire if you count his previous cashes.

By the way, in how many hours does the ME PPV starts at please?

[RacersEdge]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They got the "millionaire" part wrong. Not quite yet, lads.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think they mean with millionaire if you count his previous cashes.

By the way, in how many hours does the ME PPV starts at please?

[/ QUOTE ]

T - 24.5 hours at the tone

[entertainme]

In the second seat we have Lee Childs with 13.24 million in chips.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/leechilds.jpg

Lee shows no live cashes in Hendon Mob, Pokerpages, or Cardplayer.

He's described here (http://www.ogpaper.com/news/news-0741.html) as:

Lee Childs (13.24 million) - Childs, software engineer who quit his job to play at the World Series of Poker, is from Virginia and is the leader among the American players at the table. He had the biggest stack most of the time on Sunday, but a bad call cost him the lead.

He knocked out Jennifer Tilly (http://www.point-spreads.com/content/view/2205/2/) from the ME with pocket rockets.

Lee appears to play primarily online and is pocketfives player acumen53 (http://www.pocketfives.com/profiles/acumen53). His record there includes 1st in the FTP 40K guaranteed two weeks in a row, May 21, 2007 and May 30, 2007.

Also from Cardrunners, A player portrait, William Lee "lchilds" Childs: (http://www.cardrunners.com/fusetalk/blog/blogpost.cfm?threadid=25717&catid=222)

Lee Childs was raised in Virginia and presently resides in Reston with his wife. He is 33 years old. In mid June of this year, he quit his job with National Geographic to become a full time professional poker player. His specialty has been online MTT's. This is his first World Series Main Event.

His father related his wrestling history to me as an example of his son Lee's competitiveness. He had never wrestled before joining his high school team in 9th grade. By his senior year he only lost two matches during the regular season and avenged both those losses in the state playoffs before taking second place in his weight class in Virginia.

Lee has a formidable stack and is fearless at the table. He has very good instincts and a calmness that is impressive.

(Thanks to Whitewash for the reminder.)

[RunDownHouse]

Sorry, I have absolutely no experience in these things. When Hendon Mob says that Kalmar has "lifetime cashes of $340,388," and Ladbrokes says that he has "life-time winnings of $170,000," is that simply a discrepancy? Does one db subtract buy-ins?

I stayed up super late the past two years to follow the FT online, I can only imagine how much better it will be on a real TV this year, Scotty or no Scotty.

[Whitewash]

I am curious as to how Kalmar got invited to be on Monte Carlo Millions 2005. Was he one of the few online qualifiers?

Oh and Lee Childs is a Cardrunners member, FWIW... only one post on the forums there, though.

[aplunk]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry, I have absolutely no experience in these things. When Hendon Mob says that Kalmar has "lifetime cashes of $340,388," and Ladbrokes says that he has "life-time winnings of $170,000," is that simply a discrepancy? Does one db subtract buy-ins?

I stayed up super late the past two years to follow the FT online, I can only imagine how much better it will be on a real TV this year, Scotty or no Scotty.

[/ QUOTE ]

i expect it means £170,000

[entertainme]

In seat 3 we have Philip Hilm, a Dane who currently resides in England.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/Hilm2.jpg

Here's his Hendon Mob results, (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=44626) with cashes totaling $150,479, (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=44626) including a 4th place finish in the EPT Scandanavian Open in Coppenhagen.

According to this Pokernews live update: (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2007-wsop/event-55-world-championship-no-limit-holdem/id28288.htm#no28288)

Philip is from Denmark and lives in England. He has been a poker pro for the last several years and was introduced to the poker world by his high school buddy Jan Bloxham. A professional backgammon player who turned to poker, Jan opened up a whole new world for Philip. They went to Frederiksburg High School together (High School is actually called "Gymnasium" in Denmark).

Philip is single, handsome, and about to become a big star. No player from Denmark has come this far at the Big Dance. His friend Jan is here supporting him from the audience.

More here: (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2007-wsop/event-55-world-championship-no-limit-holdem/id28235.htm#no28235)

Danish pro Lars Bonding is in the crowd sweating Philip Hilm, who is also from Denmark.

Here's a Pokertips.org interview with Philip in Sept. 2006: (http://www.pokertips.org/weekly.shuffle/archives/2006-09-03)

pt.o: What handle do you go by online? Why that name?

Hilm: My online handle is 'hotntot'. I thought it sounded good, and I've used it since I started playing.

pt.o: What poker games do you generally play live and online (what stakes and locations)?

Hilm: Full Tilt Poker is where I play and mostly heads-up. That way I can play more hands, make more decisions and thereby magnify any edge I might have. My regular game is $10-$20 NL Hold'em, but if the action is good (for instance if Mike Matusow or Layne Flack is playing), I'll play even the highest limits.

More at the above link.

Edit: Adding

Video: WSOP interview (http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/mediacenter/video.asp?v=Philip%20Hilm.wmv&m=7&d=17&y=2007)
Pokerlistings interview after Day 6 (http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player-interviews/wsop/2007/king-philip-philip-hilm-takes-lead-on-day-6)

[CaseS87]

[ QUOTE ]
Lee Childs (13.24 million) - Childs, software engineer who quit his job to play at the World Series of Poker

[/ QUOTE ]

Erggggggg

[drsmooth]

Hoping Watkinson wins. I knocked him out of a tournament once and this will increase my bragging rights.

[aplunk]

another skalie autobiog :

http://www.badbeat.com/Ease/servlet/DynamicPageBuild?siteID=1867&categoryID=825

over a year old tho

gogogo skalie

[byronkincaid]

[ QUOTE ]
I am curious as to how Kalmar got invited to be on Monte Carlo Millions 2005. Was he one of the few online qualifiers?

Oh and Lee Childs is a Cardrunners member, FWIW... only one post on the forums there, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

think he was bought in by the owner of bad-beat.net.

[Silent A]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry, I have absolutely no experience in these things. When Hendon Mob says that Kalmar has "lifetime cashes of $340,388," and Ladbrokes says that he has "life-time winnings of $170,000," is that simply a discrepancy? Does one db subtract buy-ins?

I stayed up super late the past two years to follow the FT online, I can only imagine how much better it will be on a real TV this year, Scotty or no Scotty.

[/ QUOTE ]

i expect it means £170,000

[/ QUOTE ]

Could also refer to his 3rd place finish on the Ladbrokes Poker Cruise. He won $170,000.

[Squareview]

HOTNTOT YES!

this guy is a fing cash beast. hope he wins. it would chalk on up for the good internet players if he won

[okterrific]

from Philim Hilm


[ QUOTE ]
pt.o: What poker games do you generally play live and online (what stakes and locations)?

Hilm: Full Tilt Poker is where I play and mostly heads-up. That way I can play more hands, make more decisions and thereby magnify any edge I might have. My regular game is $10-$20 NL Hold'em, but if the action is good (for instance if Mike Matusow or Layne Flack is playing), I'll play even the highest limits.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess im routing for Hilm and Lee Watkinson to win.

[Cat]

[ QUOTE ]
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/Kalmar2.jpg



[/ QUOTE ]

If Kalmar is a Ladbrokes player lke they keep saying, why is he covered in Full Tilt gear lol?? Or did he win this seat via Full Tilt and do we have someone other than Lee Watkinson who may be up for the $10m bonus??

PS Thanks very much for doing this (and everything else) entertainme! /images/graemlins/heart.gif

[SharkTank43]

I've never seen Hilm play before, but I'm def. rooting for him if Watkinson doesn't take it down. He sounds like a beast.

[Dunkman]

[ QUOTE ]
Lee Childs (13.24 million) - Childs, software engineer who quit his job to play at the World Series of Poker

[/ QUOTE ]

I like this guy, as I pretty much thought about doing this every day for like 3 months before the world series. Unfortunately, I pretty much suck at poker, so off to work I go.

[Kevmath]

I think Full Tilt and their bag o' cash swept Kalmar away. Dario Minieri was wearing FTP gear the day he got eliminated.

[starvin-garvin]

[ QUOTE ]

If Kalmar is a Ladbrokes player lke they keep saying, why is he covered in Full Tilt gear lol?? Or did he win this seat via Full Tilt and do we have someone other than Lee Watkinson who may be up for the $10m bonus??


[/ QUOTE ]
I believe any of the players can accept an endorsement deal from Full Tilt and wear their gear regardless of how they got their seat. Only people winning their seat from Full Tilt would be eligible for the $10m though.

[BogusRogus]

[ QUOTE ]
Hoping Watkinson wins. I knocked him out of a tournament once and this will increase my bragging rights.

[/ QUOTE ]

Damn, this really tickled me for some reason.

[NewTeaBag]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am curious as to how Kalmar got invited to be on Monte Carlo Millions 2005. Was he one of the few online qualifiers?

Oh and Lee Childs is a Cardrunners member, FWIW... only one post on the forums there, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

think he was bought in by the owner of bad-beat.net.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is correct. John and 9 others were bought into the 2005 Monte Carlo Millions by BadBeat.com

Article with convenient pic of John Sat Next to Phil Ivey /images/graemlins/smile.gif (http://www.badbeat.com/Ease/servlet/DynamicPageBuild?siteID=1867&categoryID=417)

[NewTeaBag]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

If Kalmar is a Ladbrokes player lke they keep saying, why is he covered in Full Tilt gear lol?? Or did he win this seat via Full Tilt and do we have someone other than Lee Watkinson who may be up for the $10m bonus??


[/ QUOTE ]
I believe any of the players can accept an endorsement deal from Full Tilt and wear their gear regardless of how they got their seat. Only people winning their seat from Full Tilt would be eligible for the $10m though.

[/ QUOTE ]

John actually qualified in the last Live megasat at The Rio. When he is referred to as a Ladbrokes player, it means that's where he started his online playing career and built his poker relationships and reputation.

Ladbrokes are also notably tight fisted with their mktg budget so I'd imagine any deal FTP offered him would be about 10-20X better then anything Ladbrokes would have ponied up. Up until yesterday he was wearing Britney Spears and Sex Pistols T shirts though, so I believe he was completely unaffiliated wrt endorsement deals for the main event.

[RacersEdge]

I think this thread needs to pick up the pace a little..

[entertainme]

In seat 4, with 8.45 million chips we have Jerry Yang.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/JerryYang.jpg

As Pokerpages puts it: (http://news.pokerpages.com/index.php?option=com_simpleblog&task=view&id=2469)

Jerry Yang has, you guessed it, no prior major tournament cashes. The World Series of Poker, however, has a habit of valuting previously unheard of players instantly into the public mind. Given that this is his first appearance at any major final table, Jerry is assuredly excited to know that no matter what happens today he'll walk away with at least half a million dollars.

Cardplayer adds: (http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/9290)


Jerry Yang is a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from southern California. He holds a Masters Degree in health psychology. Yang was born in Laos. He is married and has six children. Yang started playing poker only two years ago. He won a seat into the main event via a satellite held at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA. His total investment in this event is $225. The socially-conscious Yang is determined to give something back to charity. He is pledging 10 percent of his winnings from this tournament to three different charities – the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Feed the Children, and the Ronald McDonald House.

So, here we have the average guy, who has never won anything big and satellited into the event for $225.

From this Pokernews update (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2007-wsop/event-55-world-championship-no-limit-holdem/id28267.htm#no28267) we learn:

A short-stacked Jerry Yang went all in with pocket eights and found himself up against {K-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds}. The eights survived, and as the pot was pushed to Jerry, he smiled and looked over at his parents on the rail. His mom and dad are happy their son won, his mom glancing heavenward saying "Halleluljah!"

Jerry has two sons and five daughters. He lives in Los Angeles and works at a hospital. His parents live in Laos and this is their first visit to Las Vegas. Amazingly, they have 32 grandchildren!

Jerry's parents don't speak very much English but they will tell you "Son -- very good boy!"

Jerry Yang is hanging tough on the short stack. Best of luck to him.

[Learning]

I really want Rainkahn to take this down.

He was a sick SC:BW player.

[MJBuddy]

Jerry's Bio makes me like him too much.

[Learning]

At first I thought it was Jerry Yang - founder of Yahoo!

[sdfsdf]

rainkhan ftw, former bw players represent

[entertainme]

In seat 5 with 16.32 million chips we have Raymond Rahme. At 62, Raymond, from Johannesberg, South Africa, is the oldest player at the final table.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/RaymondRahme.jpg

Raymond is one of three Pokerstars players (http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/) to make the final table..

Although he doesn't show any cashes on databases like The Hendon Mob, (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=88369) bios, such as Cardplayer, (http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/9290) tell us otherwise:

Raymond Rahme is the first person ever to appear at the final table of the main event from the continent of Africa . At age 62, he is also the senior participant at the final table. He is married to his wife Teresa, and together they have six children. Prior to his retirement, Rahme owned and operated a bed and breakfast inn. Although he played stud for three decades, Rahme has only been playing the game of hold'em for about two years. Yet, Rahme has already enjoyed significant tournament success. He's taken first and second place at major events held in South Africa. He also took fourth place in the All Africa Poker Championship recently, which was the largest poker tournament ever held in Africa. As part of his prize, he received a travel package to Las Vegas and an entry into the 2007 main event. And now, he is ranked fourth in the chip count at the start of the final table.

Apparently Raymond is something in South Africa!

We get some glimpses that he's a popular guy from Pokernews updates:

Life is Good, Baby (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2007-wsop/event-55-world-championship-no-limit-holdem/id28205.htm#no28205)

During an all in hand between two opponents, Raymond Rahme came over to his rooting section and sat in the middle of them, stretched out and relaxed. This is the way life is supposed to be when you're 62 and eligible for Social Security.

Scotty Nguyen walked by and high-fived Rahme.

"Life is good, baby!" he said.

Look, Ma -- I'm on TV! (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2007-wsop/event-55-world-championship-no-limit-holdem/id28247.htm#no28247)

After Raymond Rahme emerges victorious from an all in pot, his rowdy cheering section stands up and chants "Africa!"

There's a big smile on Rahme's face as he glances above and sees his big smile splashed on a TV screen. He leans back to get a better view of his mug and someone yells out to him from the audience "You look good, baby!"

Gonna Be A TV Star! (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2007-wsop/event-55-world-championship-no-limit-holdem/id28074.htm#no28074)

Raymond is from Johannesburg, South Africa and is a retired entrepreneur who was successful in the auto body business and owned several bed & breakfast hotels. He's being followed around for a major documentary being made on him representing South Africa in the World Series. The All-Africa TV station shows the WSOP, the WPT and other poker events 24/7 and Raymond will be on his own show. In fact, the TV company making the film has already planned a royal reception for Raymond upon his return to South Africa.

These shots leave me thinking Ray is probably a genuinely nice guy:
Ray & Scotty (http://www.pokernews.com/files_en/reporting/gallery/469b13918a611.jpg)
Ray consoles Ray Hensen (http://www.pokernews.com/files_en/reporting/gallery/469b13908d107.jpg)
Ray & Kenny Tran (http://www.pokernews.com/files_en/reporting/gallery/46995e817d030.jpg)

[THEOSU]

man, hotntot has laid some beats on me in tournaments. i always thought he was crap, but then i kept seeing him with big stacks in cash games, and yeah, i guess he's at the wsop ft. he's just one of those aggro scandinavian goofballs, i guess.

[olivert]

Tournament director Jack Effel told me that the tournament staff made a mistake at the end of play on Monday morning. There should NOT have been another redraw at 9 players as the redraw took place at 10 players.

The corrected seating chart is:

1. Rahme
2. Kravchenko
3. Childs
4. Yang
5. Watkinson
6. (empty)
7. Lam
8. Hilm
9. Kalmar
10. Khan

--

All 9 players were sponsored as of Monday at 4pm.

FullTiltPoker.NET has 6: Kravchenko, Childs, Yang, Watkinson, Hilm, and Kalmar.

PokerStars.NET has 3: Khan, Rahme, and Lam

Hilm, as the chip leader, also has a secondary sponsorship deal with Swiss watchmaker Corum as its final table "brand ambassador" and will be wearing a Corum watch at the final table.

--

Even though Monday was a day off from play, it was "media day" for the players as each player had to honor its media interview obligations with ESPN Original Entertainment TV (done by 441 Productions), ESPN pay-per-view TV (done by Poker PROductions), and Bluff Media (worldseriesofpoker.com, Sirius Satellite Radio). Each player had to spend about 2 hours doing all the interviews at the Rio.

--

On Tuesday morning at 10am, Harrah's will hold a press conference. At about 10:45am, each of the 9 players will be awarded a Corum watch. Hilm, having secured a last-minute deal with Corum as its final table "brand ambassador", will put the watch on his left wrist immediately after the presentation and wear it during the duration of the final table.

--

Each player will only be allowed 4 "friends and family" supporters seated in the first row inside the TV arena, which has less than 200 seats, many of which will be occupied by various dignitaries (Harrah's/WSOP executives, sponsors, former WSOP Main Event World Champions, etc.)

Some of the "friends and families" will have flags with them (bought from a flag shop in the shopping mall at the Stratosphere Hotel).

Hilm's cheering section will have a Danish flag, the same one they used on Sunday (I bought the flag for them as a value-added service, as I am Hilm's agent for the duration of the Main Event and I did Hilm's deals with FullTiltPoker.net and Corum on short notice.)

Rahme's section will have FOUR South African flags.

Watkinson's wife Timmi DeRosa will have an American flag.

Kalmar's crew will have the Union Jack, the flag of the UK.

I don't know yet whether Lam's supporters will have a Canadian flag. (Lam, who is originally from Vietnam, now lives in Toronto and is a citizen of Canada.)

--

Agency affiliations: Childs hired Poker Royalty (Brian Balsbaugh, James Sullivan, et. al.), while Hilm, Kravchenko, and Yang hired me to get them sponsors on short notice.

[Crane]

[ QUOTE ]


Even though Monday was a day off from play, it was "media day" for the players as each player had to honor its media interview obligations with ESPN Original Entertainment TV (done by 441 Productions), ESPN pay-per-view TV (done by Poker PROductions), and Bluff Media (worldseriesofpoker.com, Sirius Satellite Radio). Each player had to spend about 2 hours doing all the interviews at the Rio.


[/ QUOTE ]

What if they said, "No, I don't want to talk to the media?"

[olivert]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


Even though Monday was a day off from play, it was "media day" for the players as each player had to honor its media interview obligations with ESPN Original Entertainment TV (done by 441 Productions), ESPN pay-per-view TV (done by Poker PROductions), and Bluff Media (worldseriesofpoker.com, Sirius Satellite Radio). Each player had to spend about 2 hours doing all the interviews at the Rio.


[/ QUOTE ]

What if they said, "No, I don't want to talk to the media?"

[/ QUOTE ]

Any player who has one or more sponsors has to honor the media obligation associated with the sponsorship deals.

Unless you want to turn down all sponsorship opportunities, you would WANT to do all the interviews you can during "media day" so that you can deliver value to your sponsors.

Big time poker tournaments are NOT just about "playing poker" anymore. They are now televised "sports entertainment" events which allow participants to leverage the value of being on TV.

[nath]

KHAAAAAAAAAN

[ohead]

[ QUOTE ]
KHAAAAAAAAAN

[/ QUOTE ]

[mattmcegg]

brood war skills ftw

[Brad1970]

[ QUOTE ]
Jerry Yang is a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from southern California. He holds a Masters Degree in health psychology. Yang was born in Laos. He is married and has six children.

Jerry has two sons and five daughters.

[/ QUOTE ]


Ummm. So does he have 6 or 7 kids? /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Zetack]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


Even though Monday was a day off from play, it was "media day" for the players as each player had to honor its media interview obligations with ESPN Original Entertainment TV (done by 441 Productions), ESPN pay-per-view TV (done by Poker PROductions), and Bluff Media (worldseriesofpoker.com, Sirius Satellite Radio). Each player had to spend about 2 hours doing all the interviews at the Rio.


[/ QUOTE ]

What if they said, "No, I don't want to talk to the media?"

[/ QUOTE ]

Any player who has one or more sponsors has to honor the media obligation associated with the sponsorship deals.

Unless you want to turn down all sponsorship opportunities, you would WANT to do all the interviews you can during "media day" so that you can deliver value to your sponsors.

Big time poker tournaments are NOT just about "playing poker" anymore. They are now televised "sports entertainment" events which allow participants to leverage the value of being on TV.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, but unless you're Hilm, do you show up for the 10 am corum watch presentation? I'm all for free swag, but do you want to be part of their promotional appearance if you're not getting paid for it?

[sirtimo]

[ QUOTE ]
KHAAAAAAAAAN

[/ QUOTE ]

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/445/khan2vr5.jpg

[liquid]

http://techplant.com/images/blog/khan.jpg

[thac]

gold

[Bulldog]

[ QUOTE ]
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/JerryYang.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow. Those chip colors really are ridiculous.

[Warteen]

It saddens me that we only got through the first five players. This is a good thread.

Also, this stuff from Jon Kalmar's profile may need updating soon:

How do you rate yourself as a Poker player (1-10)? 6

What is your best Poker moment? 3rd on Ladbrokes Cruise

Have you have any 'off-line' tourney wins? Won a nice event in Reno. And had a nice little pick up in Vegas and on some boat.

[W brad]

[ QUOTE ]
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/JerryYang.jpg



[/ QUOTE ]

Whoa, those chips are about to slide off the table.

[W brad]

http://www.ohiolottery.com/winners/graphics/pauley.jpg

Chris Pauley...

Chris Pauley (left) claimed the $1,000 a month/$60,000 top prize in the Lottery's $2 instant game Monthly Grand. His dad, Sam Pauley, accompanied him to the Columbus regional office.


edit: whoops, from wrong group of lottery winners. Sorry

[Austiger]

[ QUOTE ]
http://techplant.com/images/blog/khan.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Awesome.

[jogsxyz]

http://www.ohiolottery.com/winners/graphics/pauley.jpg

These two guys should be in charge of the color coordination of the chips.

[peterpjames]

If OliverT is right about the seating, that could be interesting.

If this is true this could be great for Khan, who would have the three big stacks all on his right, as well as Lee Watkinson. It's also very interesting with the three big stacks right in a row. (Lam, then Hilm, then Kalmar) Lam and Lee Watkinson probably have the worst position, Watkinson especially with the three huge stacks all having position on him.

[Bidz]

[ QUOTE ]
http://techplant.com/images/blog/khan.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]
the winner!

[entertainme]

In seat 6 according to Pokernews, (seven as advised to Olivert by Jack Effel), we have Tuan Lam, aka Pokerstars player BABYHAN with $21,315,000 in chips.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/Lam2.jpg

According to Pokerstars: (http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/)

Tuan Lam is a 40-year-old former poker dealer from Ontario, Canada. Known as BABYHAN on PokerStars, you'll find him regularly playing the high-limit cash games to a lot of success. Lam finished runner-up in the 2005 World Championship of Online Poker $200 short-handed no-limit hold'em event. He has played a few big live tournaments, but this is by far his biggest tournament cash so far.

Tuan has two previous WSOP cashes, (http://www.pokerpages.com/players/profiles/64509/tuan-lam.htm) NLHE in 2005 and a LHE Shootout in 2006.

The 2p2 High Stakes Limit forum talks about playing with BABYHAN. (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=11211357&an=0&page=0)

Tuan is a married 40 year old born in Vietnam, who emigrated to Canada at age 19 and currently resides in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada according to Cardplayer: (http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/9290)

Tuan Lam was born in Vietnam on New Years Day in 1966, during the war. He eventually immigrated to Canada at the age of 19. He now lives in the Toronto area where he plays poker professionally. Prior to turning pro, Lam worked as a general laborer for a metal company. Then, he learned how to play poker from friends and has made it all the way to the final table of the 2007 main event. This is his third year to attend the WSOP. His prior cashes were 46th place in an event last year and 78th place in a WSOP tournament held in 2005. He is married with two children. Lam arrives at the final table ranked second in the chip count.

If you read through the Tuan Lam tag (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/blog-tags/Tuan+Lam/) in the Pokernews live updates, you'll notice Lam is not afraid to get involved in pots, including a 11.46 win against Scotty with 10''s. (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2007-wsop/event-55-world-championship-no-limit-holdem/id28257.htm#no28257)

Pokernews comments on Lam's railbirds: (http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2007-wsop/event-55-world-championship-no-limit-holdem/id28299.htm#no28299)

Tuan Lam has a few railbirds sitting in the audience. They have been here since they started play. If you have ever attended a live poker tournament, you know that it can be an extremely boring experience. Tuan Lam's railbirds have easily adapted. They're playing hand-held video games. Whenever the announcer mentions that Tuan Lam is in a pot, they quickly shut off their Gameboys and scream, "Tuan! Go Tuan!"

You can watch his WSOP FT interview here. (http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/mediacenter/video.asp?v=TuanLamInterview.wmv&m=7&d=17&y=2007)

"The more money I make in the World Series, the more I can donate to help the poor people of Vietnam."

[luvrhino]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Jerry Yang is a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from southern California. He holds a Masters Degree in health psychology. Yang was born in Laos. He is married and has six children.

Jerry has two sons and five daughters.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ummm. So does he have 6 or 7 kids?

[/ QUOTE ]
Way to make fun of Jerry's hermaphroditic child during his 15-minutes of fame.

Jerk.

[peterpjames]

Thanks for doing this thread, it is awesome.

Balla. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Austiger]

Wow Lam looks young.

[Levarkin]

Man, there are just too many feel-good, SE-Asian dude takes Yanqui donks' money and uses it to help out here and at home stories to root for all of them. I guess I'll stick with the dude from Mississauga.

[entertainme]

In seat 7, (probably actually seat 2 if they shouldn't have redrawn), we have 36 year old Moscow citizen Alex Kravchenko, the first WSOP bracelet winner from Russia in the 2007 WSOP Event 9, $1,500 Omaha High-Low 8/OB, (second place was 2p2er MaverickUSC, Bryan Devonshire.) Though Alex is our short stack with 6,5570,000, he brings a lot of experience to the FT.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/AlexKravchenko.jpg

Alex has a long list of cashes at The Hendon Mob, (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=422) totaling $551,946 lifetime. (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=422)

Cardplayer (http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/9290) details some of his successes:

Alex Kravchenko is a 36-year-old businessman originally from Archangel, USSR. He has been playing poker for about eight years. He is married and has two children. Kravchenko became the first Russian citizen in history to win a WSOP gold bracelet when he was victorious in the $1,500 buy-in Omaha High-Low championship at this year's WSOP – in what was the largest Omaha High-Low field in history.

Russian immigrants have won previously at the World Series. But Kravchenko's victory was clearly a milestone. Kravechenko has an impressive history of poker tournament wins in Europe. He won the Austrian Masters Pot-Limit Championship in 2001. He also won the Russian Pot-Limit Championship held that same year. He also won a Limit Hold'em title at the Helsinki Frezeout in 2002. He has cashed over 30 times in what is becoming an illustrious poker career.

This is Kravchenko's fifth time to cash at the WSOP in 2007. Kravchnko faces the biggest challenge of any player in the finale, as the lowest stack at the table.

Here's a video interview with Alex after winning his Omaha bracelet. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6h49k3MvWM)

Pokerlistings (http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player-interviews/wsop/2007/kravchenko-konversation-talk-with-the-nofussin-russian) has an interview with Alex on July 14 including:

How do the Moscow games compare to your experience here?

There are many more Limit games here. I like Limit games; and mixed games. In Europe it's bad - there are almost no tournaments like this. I really like these tournaments: Hi-Lo Split, Stud, Stud Eight-or-Better, H.O.R.S.E. - just I'd like the structures to be better.

I think the structures here this year were not good. It was too slow in the beginning and too fast on the second day.

In Europe, the difference is it's almost only No-Limit Hold'em. I would like it to be more mixed, with different games. I think people play well, both here and in Europe - I don't see any big difference. The structures here are just better, so there's more play. There are more flops; and there is more play.

That's the difference - generally the structures are much better than in Europe. I mean with No-Limit events - I can't compare the Limit events, because there are no Limit events in Europe; but if I compare No-Limit Hold'em events, the structures are better here.

Watch his WSOP FT interview here. (http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/mediacenter/video.asp?v=AlexKravchenkoInterview.wmv&m=7&d=17&y =2007)

Beat: Alex reports he's got a cold from all the air conditioning and hasn't been feeling well.

[DHV Champ]

Although he played stud for three decades, Rahme has only been playing the game of hold'em for about two years ...

This is listed as a snippet out of Cardplayer. Well, in the WSOP Interview there´s no word about thirty years of Stud (though asked twice about it), but only the phrase that he´s been playing poker for two years ...

[Brad1970]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Jerry Yang is a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from southern California. He holds a Masters Degree in health psychology. Yang was born in Laos. He is married and has six children.

Jerry has two sons and five daughters.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ummm. So does he have 6 or 7 kids?

[/ QUOTE ]
Way to make fun of Jerry's hermaphroditic child during his 15-minutes of fame.

Jerk.

[/ QUOTE ]


The question still stands douchebag...does he have 6 or 7 kids. As usual, we have conflicting reports from 2 different media outlets.

[Warteen]

[ QUOTE ]
win against Scotty with 10''s.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now that is something to be proud of.

[Warteen]

[ QUOTE ]

The question still stands douchebag...does he have 6 or 7 kids. As usual, we have conflicting reports from 2 different media outlets.

[/ QUOTE ]

...wow. You clearly didn't get that he was joking.

[kindling]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Jerry Yang is a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from southern California. He holds a Masters Degree in health psychology. Yang was born in Laos. He is married and has six children.

Jerry has two sons and five daughters.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ummm. So does he have 6 or 7 kids?

[/ QUOTE ]
Way to make fun of Jerry's hermaphroditic child during his 15-minutes of fame.

Jerk.

[/ QUOTE ]


The question still stands douchebag...does he have 6 or 7 kids. As usual, we have conflicting reports from 2 different media outlets.

[/ QUOTE ]

They're hard to count when there's so many of them.

http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/life/i-2-chil.jpg

[SuperUberBob]

[ QUOTE ]

They're hard to count when there's so many of them.

http://www.intriguing.com/mp/_pictures/life/i-2-chil.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

That was his house before they sold his kids for the sake of scientific experiments.

[luvrhino]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Jerry Yang is a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from southern California. He holds a Masters Degree in health psychology. Yang was born in Laos. He is married and has six children.

Jerry has two sons and five daughters.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ummm. So does he have 6 or 7 kids?

[/ QUOTE ]
Way to make fun of Jerry's hermaphroditic child during his 15-minutes of fame.

Jerk.

[/ QUOTE ]
The question still stands douchebag...does he have 6 or 7 kids. As usual, we have conflicting reports from 2 different media outlets.

[/ QUOTE ]
Meh. Perhaps my attempted humor would have gone over better if i said: "They're both correct. Way to make fun of Jerry's hermaphroditic child during his 15-minutes of fame."

You see, he has two sons, five daughters, and only six children...because the hermaphrodite is both a son and a daughter.

I'm "witty."

[HotSteven]

[ QUOTE ]
Beat: Alex reports he's got a cold from all the lack of vodka and hasn't been feeling well.

[/ QUOTE ]

[efficacy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Jerry Yang is a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from southern California. He holds a Masters Degree in health psychology. Yang was born in Laos. He is married and has six children.

Jerry has two sons and five daughters.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ummm. So does he have 6 or 7 kids?

[/ QUOTE ]
Way to make fun of Jerry's hermaphroditic child during his 15-minutes of fame.

Jerk.

[/ QUOTE ]
The question still stands douchebag...does he have 6 or 7 kids. As usual, we have conflicting reports from 2 different media outlets.

[/ QUOTE ]
Meh. Perhaps my attempted humor would have gone over better if i said: "They're both correct. Way to make fun of Jerry's hermaphroditic child during his 15-minutes of fame."

You see, he has two sons, five daughters, and only six children...because the hermaphrodite is both a son and a daughter.

I'm "witty."

[/ QUOTE ]

You got 2nd leveled... or you are 3rd leveling. I am not sure.

[entertainme]

Lee Watkinson (http://leewatkinsonpoker.com/), a 40 year old poker pro from Cheny, WA is a Full Tilt Pro (http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/leeWatkinson.php), with a 2006 WSOP bracelet in the $10,000 PLO event, starting at the FT with 9,925,000 in chips.

Pictured here with his girlfriend after the bracelet win:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/lee-watkinson-and-girlfriend.jpg

According to the Hendon Mob (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=20529) Lee's cashes total $2,677,668 (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=20529)

Lee has finished in the money in the ME three of the last four years, (45th in 2005, and 113th in 2004.)
Cardplayer describes Lee as: (http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/9290)

Lee Watkinson is a 40-year-old poker pro, businessman, and animal rights activist from Cheney, Wash. He is one of only two players at the final table who currently owns a WSOP gold bracelet. In 2006, Watkinson won the Pot-Limit Omaha World Championship. He owns a few businesses as well, including a record company and a clothing line - which were started exclusively with his poker winnings. The Washington State native holds a degree in economics, which perhaps explains why Watkinson is so astute as an investor and poker professional. Yet, often when he is interviewed Watkinson is quick to shift everyone's attention to a greater, more humanitarian purpose. Watkins and his fiancé Timmi DeRosa share a commitment to rescuing and retiring captive chimpanzees, many of which have been used in everything from movies to research laboratories.

Here's a Pokerlistings interview (http://www.pokerlistings.com/player-interviews/lee-watkinson-finally-a-winner) with Lee after his bracelet win:

How do you feel after winning your first WSOP bracelet?

I feel elated - relieved and elated. It's great. I've been on a cold streak, and this was the first time I've made it past the dinner break in this World Series.

You have finished in second place a number of times. Do you feel relieved to have finally won a major tournament?

Yes, it's a relief. I lost a huge pot in the beginning of heads-up, and I was starting to think that I'm never going to win a tournament, but it's nice to know I can do it.

From Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Watkinson)

Watkinson made back-to-back World Poker Tour (WPT) final tables during its third season. The first time he finished 2nd to Eli Elezra, and the second time he finished 2nd again, this time to Doyle Brunson.

And:

He is an economics graduate and quotes wrestling and surfing as his main interests outside of poker. He wrestled at 142 pounds in college and 187 pounds the last time that he wrestled in 2001......His poker nickname among Vegas pros has been Lee "Sandwich" Watkinson for his tendency to trap players by using a "sandwich raise" with or without a good hand, notably by Phil "Unabomber" Laak.

Watch his WSOP FT interview here. (http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/mediacenter/video.asp?v=Lee%20Watkinson.wmv&m=7&d=17&y=2007)

As a Full Tilt qualifier, Lee would win an extra $10 million from Tilt if he takes home the bracelet. In the interview he talks about spreading some of the extra $10 mil around to other players charity causes.

He also touches on aggressive online players and how it may affect their ability to go deep in the ME.

[TheNoodleMan]

[ QUOTE ]
KHAAAAAAAAAN

[/ QUOTE ]

[Tyler Durden]

Go Lee Childs. He is a graduate of James Madison University, just like me. Second straight year a JMU grad has made the final table of the Main Event (Rhett Butler). Perhaps next year I'll make it three years in a row!

[luvrhino]

[ QUOTE ]
You got 2nd leveled... or you are 3rd leveling. I am not sure.

[/ QUOTE ]
I attempted to play my hand in a way that was equally efficacious on the first and third levels, since i wasn't 100% certain at which level my rhetorical opponent was working.

One of my leaks being unable to determine what meta-elevation is appropriate upon entering a game. I often try to find a line that works on many levels...kind of like when i volunteer for the Special Olympics and make jokes that are simultaneously funny to the athletes and the parents but for entirely different reasons. I have no idea whether Brad1970 is the athlete or the parent in my simile, but my answer applies in either case.

[Bobbo539]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You got 2nd leveled... or you are 3rd leveling. I am not sure.

[/ QUOTE ]
I attempted to play my hand in a way that was equally efficacious on the first and third levels, since i wasn't 100% certain at which level my rhetorical opponent was working.

One of my leaks being unable to determine what meta-elevation is appropriate upon entering a game. I often try to find a line that works on many levels...kind of like when i volunteer for the Special Olympics and make jokes that are simultaneously funny to the athletes and the parents but for entirely different reasons. I have no idea whether Brad1970 is the athlete or the parent in my simile, but my answer applies in either case.

[/ QUOTE ]

um... you just got leveled by effiacy. DUCY?

[entertainme]

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANN!

What can we say about 2p2 poster Hevad RaiNKhAN (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showprofile.php?Cat=0&User=67450&Number=6862105&Bo ard=beats&what=showflat&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1) Khan, who starts at the FT with 9,205,000 chips? He's a little excited to be there!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/poker_mom/Khan2.jpg

The Hendon Mob (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=85293) shows two cashes so far for this WSOP for Hevad, and total cashes of $23,885. (http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=85293)

He's become a Youtube star. We have:

The WSOP Chair Dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGcOhvWL3g)
The 26 SNG video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X61dIrAmrz4&mode=related&search=)
Khan is good at baseball (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfx8TmVZ4TU&mode=related&search=)

On a more serious note we have the Day 4 interview. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HariwAF2DHE&mode=related&search=)

Khan tells 2p2 he won his ME seat. (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=WSOP&Number=6632720&Searc hpage=1&Main=6632720&Words=+RaiNKhAN&topic=&Search =true#Post6632720)

Here's a Pokerlistings interview (http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player-interviews/wsop/2007/khaaaaaaaan1) on July 13.

Cardplayer introduces Hevad: (http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/article/9290)

Hevad “Rain” Khan is a 22-year-old professional poker originally from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He attended college at the State University of New York-Albany. He has since moved around the country, living in both the San Francisco bay area and Las Vegas. Khan's claim to fame before arriving at this final table was his extraordinary ability to play multiple poker games simultaneously. In what can only be described as a prodigal Bobby Fischer-like capability, Khan has played in as many as 43 poker games all at once on his home computer.

He also did a Pro Blog (http://www.cardplayer.com/pro-blog/entry/2335/50926) for them.

I'm ecstatic, I can say that the final table bubble was the most mentally grueling thing, even though I thought I played as well as I could. I really would have liked to see some of the hands that Phillip had when I was in action with him, and I was being reraised. I played as well as I could though.

I did chip down a little bit when it began, but nothing is a guarantee in poker. From the beginning of day two and day three when people were talking to me and asking me what my goals were were. I said if I misplay a hand then I'll be upset with myself. If the cards don't come my way, and I face resistance, and I fail to have something then thats part of the gamble

Finally, his WSOP FT video interview. (http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/mediacenter/video.asp?v=HEVAD%20KHAN.wmv&m=7&d=17&y=2007)

Enjoy!

/images/graemlins/heart.gifGO KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!/images/graemlins/heart.gif

[Tyler Durden]

dumb question, why aren't last year's chips being used? these colors sure are crazy.

[RubbishCards]

It's official: Rainkhan can KILL PEOPLE WITH 1 PUNCH!

[suzy89222]

rainkhan is only 22?? he looks more like 38. at least in that picture.

[Steveinho]

he's definitely a character... i know i'm pulling for him

[AshleyC]

[ QUOTE ]
I've never seen Hilm play before, but I'm def. rooting for him if Watkinson doesn't take it down. He sounds like a beast.

[/ QUOTE ]

He's had some success on the EPT, made a final table or two I believe.

[RichardHurtz]

What a funny man:(

Pros on the Rail
Phil Hellmuth was spotted lurking around the final table. Tournament director Jack Effel mentioned that the 11-time bracelet winner was watching the six remaining players.

"He can't even spell poker," joked Rain Khan. "I can spell poker."

Hellmuth walked up to the table and said, "I just want to see what the 250,000 chips look like.


PH put the P in poker you **** ****.

[2Fast]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
KHAAAAAAAAAN

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

[entertainme]

VB Bump