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Archive for the ‘2008 World Series’ Category


2008 World Series: First hour in the books

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

The money has been bigger. The star-power has been brighter. But never has the final table of the World Series of Poker looked like this, had this many people watching, or had such fanfare as its foundation. Though we've already mentioned it, the atmosphere in this room is such a far cry from the old days of the World Series of Poker, it's impossible to ignore. More than 1,000 people are in this room cheering for their favorite players.

It's the type of thing that would make a guy want to stick around for a while. As such, the early action here has been measured. Flop seems like a dirty word. Raise is a magic phrase players can use to put a few more chips in their stack. It's simple, really.

It took more than an hour to see the first board cards. It brought a cheer from the crowd bigger than most bust-out hands. That, however is something we have yet to see here, as well. All of the November 9 remain, including the PokerStars 6, Dennis "FordMan1954" Phillips, Darus "Dennis_TO" Sahurto, Ivan "hasuling" Demidov, Ylon "TenthPlanet" Schwartz, David "Chino" Rheem and Peter "Isser" Eastgate. .

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Among those with giant smiles is PokerStars qualifier Darus Suharto. He recently sat down with our video blogging team for an extensive interview. Here's Part 1.


Watch WSOP Final Table: Darus Suharto Player Profile on PokerStars.tv

There comes a time, however, at which we must set aside the pomp (not to mention the circumstance) and focus on what's brought us here. The early predictions that Kelly Kim would be out before the first level was finished have proven false. He survived an opening hour that was cagey, to say the least. Twelve hands passed (an orbit and a half) before we saw our first flop. When we did, Ivan Demidov raied pre-flop and Scott Mongomery called from the big blind. The flop came 9d-Qs-Ad and Montgomery fired 1,100,000, which was good enough.

But then it all went ballistic, with Ylon Schwartz finding the groove. Schwartz raised from the button and Montgomery bumped it up another 1,600,000 from the small blind. It was folded to Schwartz, who announced all in. Montgomery folded. About two hands after that, Dennis Phillips opened for 900,000 and Schwartz called. They were heads up on a flop of 4s-2s-7c and Phillips fired out the continuation bet of 2,350,000. Schwartz, emotionless, announced he was raising another 6 million and forced the chip leader out of it. Schwartz added about 3 million to his stack in two hands.

Phillips is the only player not to win a pot so far, but his stack can handle it. Schwartz, meanwhile, has rocketed upwards. Check out our chip counts page for the latest stack sizes.

Stop press: Right as we were hitting the publish button on this post, another huge pot brewed, this time between Dennis Phillips and Ivan Demidov. Phillips made a standard pre-flop raise, Demidov re-raised, and after a long think, Phillips called. When the flop came out 8d-10c-Js, Phillips pondered his move, counted out his checks slowly, stared at Ivan's stack then puts out 4.5 million. Demidov re-checked his cards and sats with his mouth hanging slightly open. Phillips meanwhile rested his cheek on two clasped hands and didn't release his stare. Until...until Demidov suddenly announced all in. Phillips face flushed and he looked sick. It was 9,395,000 more. After three minutes, he folded in disgust.

Players have just taken their first 15 minute break. Phillips looks like he needs it.

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2008 World Series: Final table set to begin

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

It's a special kind of day in Las Vegas.

Ignore the fact is rained in the desert this morning, the two Madonna concerts, the Professional Bull Riding tournament in town, and the giant air show that flew over Las Vegas last night. Those kinds of things happen, if irregularly, at least often enough that one doesn't consider the end of the world when it all happens.

No, there are several other things that make today something special and they are all taking the stage at the final table of the World Series as we speak.

Consider there are three hundred people in the Rio who are dressed exactly like World Series chip leader and PokerStars player Dennis Phillips. They wear the same shirt and St. Louis Cardinals cap. Many of them carry hand fans bearing the face of their fearless leader. They have made the Penn and Teller Theater look like a game at Busch Stadium.

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Phillips, if the man with the most fan support, is not the only one here. PokerStars players Darus Suharto, Peter Eastgate, Ivan Demidov, and Ylon Schwartz are heere to battle it out for the $9 million first prize and World Series of Poker bracelet.

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This arena is set up like a major sporting event if it were held in a Broadway theater. Giant monitors hang on either side of the room, media sit in three different press boxes, and the final table sits on a stage at the front of the room. It is unlike any World Series of Poker final table ever before. Today we will play from nine players down to the final two. Those players will return tomorrow night to crown a champion.

The only thing that won't be different is the poker. The cards, the chips, and the odds are the same.The poker will play out here as it would at Binion's or any back room poker game.

We are going to witness something special today. That much is sure.

For a look at the PokerStars players among the final nine, check out any of the links below.

Dennis Phillips
Darus Suharto
Ylon Schwartz
Peter Eastgate
Ivan Demidov

If reading isn't your thing, check out the introductions from Team PokerStars Pro Hevad Khan.


Watch WSOP Final Table: Hevad Introduces The PokerStars 6 P1 on PokerStars.tv


Watch WSOP Final Table: Hevad Introduces The PokerStars 6 P2 on PokerStars.tv

Due to the vagaries of the media rules here, we are limited to one post per hour. You will find each post posted here on the quarter hour from now until we reach heads up play tonight.

Cards go in the air in mere minutes. 2007 champion Jerry Yang is greeting the crowd.

"Hello, poker players!" he yelled. "Today is a great day!"

We'll be back in one hour with the first action of the final table.


2008 World Series: A taste of things to come

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

We are now less than 20 hours from seeing how the World Series of Poker November 9 will face off against each other. Six of those runners are tough PokerStars players. Over the course of the last few days, they have been spending time with the PokerStars Blog Video team.

In the next 48 hours, you are going to find a ton of exclusive video and interviews with the PokerStars 6 on PokerStars.tv. In the meantime, check out this video blog to get a taste of what's to come over the next two days.


Watch WSOP Final Table: A taste of things to come on PokerStars.tv

2008 World Series: Million Dollar Men hit Las Vegas

Friday, November 7th, 2008

In less than 48 hours, the six PokerStars Million Dollar Men will sit down in the Penn and Teller Theater at the Harrah's Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino. Making up 2/3 of the November 9, the PokerStars Million Dollar Men come from all walks of life. Though their paths may have been different, their destination has been the same. Each one of them stands to make millions of dollars before the end of the weekend.

This has been an historic year at the World Series. For the first time in the tournament's decades of stories, the final table tale took more than four months to write. It took us two weeks to pare down the field to a manageable nine. Then the players, the dealers, and the writers all went home to think for 16 weeks. Now, we all hop on planes and head back to Sin City to see who will win the 2008 World Series championship bracelet.

It will take two days to finish the final table. Sunday morning, the November 9 will play down to the final two players. Then, the following night, the heads-up opponents will return to fight head-to-head for the bracelet.

Though its impossible to say who will win, it's important to point out that PokerStars players make up six of the top seven players among the final nine.

If you didn't follow the action with us back during the summer, we've posted some brand new profiles of the six Million Dollar Men. You can find those profiles at any of the links below.

Dennis Phillips
Darus Suharto
David Chino Rheem
Ylon Schwartz
Peter Eastgate
Ivan Demidov

For a complete look at the Million Dollar Men's chip counts, visit the 2008 World Series chip counts page.

In the meantime, the PokerStars video blogging team has been catching up with the so-called PokerStars 6 for some great interviews. Once they are ready for primetime, they will be posted at the ever-fabulous PokerStars.tv

Our live coverage begins here at 10:00am PST Sunday November 9. Join us here for all the action.


2008 World Series: Dennis Phillips profile

Friday, November 7th, 2008
dennis-phillips.jpg26,295,000 chips

The 2008 World Series of Poker chip leader has an interesting back ground and almost none of it involves poker. Dennis Phillips started playing Texas Hold ‘Em only four years ago. Phillips was a blackjack player until a college friend dragged him to a poker table at the Ameristar Casino. Phillips made his first showing on the WSOP circuit in Tunica, making two final tables, and eventually made it to the 2008 World Series of Poker through a Harrah’s satellite tournament in St. Louis.

Phillips is a humble man who almost seems as if he doesn't care what happens at the table. Don't let his relaxed approach to the game fool you. Phillips, 52, was born and raised on a farm in Quincy, IN. He currently lives in St. Louis, MO, and works as a truck salesman. .

“Regardless of the outcome, I intend to keep enjoying poker," he saidl "'I believe that my playing to have fun has truly worked to my advantage in this tournament and I have no intention to change my strategy going into the final table."

Win or otherwise, Phillips plans to continue working and contributing to his favorite charities. Phillips spoort Put a Bad Beat on Cancer, Boys Hope, Girls Hope and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Phillips also intends to donate 1% of his winnings to Put a Bad Beat on Cancer. PokerStars has indicated it will match 100% of his donation.

Growing up with two older brothers and a younger sister, Phillips has come to value family before anything else. Phillips idolizes his brother, Duane, who is living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Phillips enteres the final table with 26,296,000 in chips.

Other profiles

Darus Suharto
David Chino Rheem
Ylon Schwartz
Peter Eastgate
Ivan Demidov


2008 World Series: Darus Suharto

Friday, November 7th, 2008

12,520,000 chips

When Darus Suharto dreams, he dreams like Chris Moneymaker. Just like his pro idol, Suharto is an accountant, who qualified for the 2008 Main Event through an $80 satellite on PokerStars.

Suharto may be an unknown at the final table, but he is the quiet, powerful competitor few will see coming. Born in Indonesia, Suharto found his way to the United States and earned an MBA in accounting from Indiana University. Now 39 years old, he lives and works in Toronto, Canada, home to his other poker idol, Daniel Negreanu.

Suharto started playing poker for fun in college. Starting in 2005, he took to playing competitively. Starting with seven-card stud and moving on to Texas Hold'em, Suharto has been building his bankroll ever since. Though he spend most of his time playing at PokerStars, Suharto did cash in the 2006 World Series.

Though he is guaranteed to win in the neighborhood of one million bucks, Suharto doesn't have any plans to quit his accounting job after finishing the 2008 World Series of Poker. “I love it, but I hope I will be able to travel and keep playing poker.”

Suharto takes pride in his newfound ability to provide for his family in North American and Indonesia and help people with his winnings. He also helps to set up educational scholarships with his World Series winnings.

He enters the final table with 12,520,000 chips.

Other profiles

Dennis Phillips
David Chino Rheem
Ylon Schwartz
Peter Eastgate
Ivan Demidov


2008 World Series: David “Chino” Rheem

Friday, November 7th, 2008
david-chino-rheem.jpg10,230,000 chips

David "Chino" Rheem knows how to use the law to his advantage. During his teenage years in Florida, Rheem took advantage of the law allowing 18-year olds to play casino poker. He got his start in 1998 playing at The Seminole Hollywood Casino with the Mizrachi brothers and quickly developed a reputation for his dedication to the game. Rheem believes if he is going to be the best, he has to play with the best.

Rheem has always been able to read people and it has helped him survive on and off the felt. Though born in LA, Rheem grew up on the East Coast. He's lived in Miami, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. His ability to adapt to new environs, has contributed to his ability to read people while playing poker. Now 28, Rheem lives in LA in order to be closer to the West Coast action and its easy proximity to the best tournaments in Las Vegas.

Rheem's first World Series cash came in 2005 in the $1,500 Limit Hold’em Tournament. He went on to claim five more WSOP cashed totaling $474,843. Since his start in 1998 he's cashed at the L.A. Poker Classic, Mandalay Bay Poker Championship, Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, and the Five Star World Poker Classic to name just a few. Chino is the most accomplished player at the table with more than $700,000 in lifetime cashes. Rheem is currently in seventh place at the 2008 World Series final table with 10,230,000 chips.

After the World Series of Poker, Rheem plans on buying a home and is looking for long-term poker sponsorship.

David Rheem’s personality and ability to read people has contributed to his success in the world of poker. He describes himself not only as a people person, but also as a modest and laid back player who is comfortable with his skills.

Other profiles

Dennis Phillips
Darus Suharto
Ylon Schwartz
Peter Eastgate
Ivan Demidov


2008 World Series: Darus Suharto interview

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

It only cost him $80.

Darus Suharto qualified on PokerStars for the World Series Main Event. His $80 win got him into a bigger qualifier and there he won his prize package to Las Vegas.

Now, Suharto is one of the November Nine, the final table players of the 2008 World Series Main Event.

Here's what he had to say in the moments after he made the final table.


Watch WSOP 08: Darus Suharto Finalist on PokerStars.tv

See the other interviews with The PokerStars Six:

Dennis Phillips interview
Ylon Schwartz interview
Peter Eastgate interview
David Chino Rheem interview
Ivan Demidov interview


2008 World Series: Darus Suharto interview

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

It only cost him $80.

Darus Suharto qualified on PokerStars for the World Series Main Event. His $80 win got him into a bigger qualifier and there he won his prize package to Las Vegas.

Now, Suharto is one of the November Nine, the final table players of the 2008 World Series Main Event.

Here's what he had to say in the moments after he made the final table.


Watch WSOP 08: Darus Suharto Finalist on PokerStars.tv

See the other interviews with The PokerStars Six:

Dennis Phillips interview
Ylon Schwartz interview
Peter Eastgate interview
David Chino Rheem interview
Ivan Demidov interview


2008 World Series: Darus Suharto interview

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

It only cost him $80.

Darus Suharto qualified on PokerStars for the World Series Main Event. His $80 win got him into a bigger qualifier and there he won his prize package to Las Vegas.

Now, Suharto is one of the November Nine, the final table players of the 2008 World Series Main Event.

Here's what he had to say in the moments after he made the final table.


Watch WSOP 08: Darus Suharto Finalist on PokerStars.tv

See the other interviews with The PokerStars Six:

Dennis Phillips interview
Ylon Schwartz interview
Peter Eastgate interview
David Chino Rheem interview
Ivan Demidov interview