Rants from the Rio -- Double Trouble

Check out Rants from the Rio for a weekly wrap up of all things going down at the 40th annual World Series of Poker. This is where you can find insight about the side stories, records, and general madness of the WSOP that doesn’t make it into live updates and tournament reports.

The second week at the World Series of Poker coincidentally produced a number of notable accomplishments that came in pairs. Jeffrey Lisandro won his second gold bracelet in event No. 16 ($1,500 seven card stud), giving him two stud bracelets – his first came in a $2,000 event in 2007. Daniel Alaei also won a second gold bracelet in event No. 18 ($10,000 Omaha eight-or-better world championship); his first came in a $5,000 no-limit deuce-to-seven draw event in 2006.

There were also two players that double-dipped on final-table appearances. John Monnette finished in fifth place at the final table of event No. 18, taking home $97,422. Five days earlier he finished runner-up to Phil Ivey in event No. 8 ($2,500 no-limit deuce-to-seven lowball), taking home $59,587. The other player to make two final tables during the week yet not win a bracelet was none other than Daniel Negreanu. Kid Poker was also present for the party at the final table of event No. 18 along with Monnette and Alaei – small world. Negreanu busted in fourth place at the stacked final table and took home $130,401 to score his second six-figure cash of the week. His first came at the final table of event No. 14 ($2,500 six-handed limit hold’em) where he finished in second place, worth $138,280.

The player that Negreanu lost to in the heads-up final of event No. 14 is where this tale of poker consistency really gets interesting. Brock Parker defeated Negreanu to win his first WSOP gold bracelet on June 7 and take home $223,688. He woke up the next morning, put his pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us, and then entered the next tournament on the WSOP schedule, event No. 19 ($2,500 six-handed no-limit hold’em). The only difference was, instead of just fighting the good fight in the daily grind of the summer, he survived to make the money on his first try out after winning a bracelet. And he didn’t stop there either…he won his second tournament in four-days time to emerge with his second gold bracelet. He added another $552,745 to his bankroll and joined the elite fraternity of WSOP players that have won two bracelets in one year.

While the accomplishments of each player mentioned above deserves note, the success achieved by Parker enforced a fundamental rule of why poker is covered and watched as a sport. Success in poker, as in sport, is awarded and praised above all else. Making two final tables in one week makes you no slouch by any means, but the achievement fades quickly in the context of 57 rapid-fire poker tournaments. Winning two final tables in one week reserves you a spot in the history books officially and a spot as a poker legend unofficially. Congratulations Mr. Parker.

WSOP Week 2: By the Bracelets

Event No. 9: Ken Aldridge (retired teacher makes the best of a summer vacation)
Event No. 10: Rami Boukai (MMA/live/online pro takes home gold)
Event No. 11: Anthony Harb (Harb defeats a field of 1,646 for first bracelet)
Event No. 12: Ville Wahlbeck (score one for the crazy Scandis)
Event No. 13: Keven Stammen (Stammdogg takes home his first bracelet)
Event No. 14: Brock Parker (see above part I)
Event No. 15: Brian Lemke (cousin of the late Justin Shronk pays tribute with bracelet win)
Event No. 16: Jeffrey Lisandro (second bracelet for Vegas/Aussie/Italian pro)
Event No. 17: Lisa Hamilton (ladies champion wins one for Hawaii)
Event No. 18: Daniel Alaei (second bracelet for one of the most versatile poker pros under 30)
Event No. 19: Brock Parker (see above part II)

WSOP Week 2: By the Numbers (Through event No. 19)

Total number of WSOP entrants: 20,420

Total prize money: $41,018,060

WSOP World Tracker:

U.S. – 16 bracelets
Russia – 1 bracelet
Finland – 1 bracelet
Australia – 1 bracelet

U.S. Tracker:

California – 4 bracelets
Nevada – 3 bracelets
Maryland (A.K.A. – where Brock Parker lives) – 2 bracelets
NY, FL, MI, NC, PA, OH, HI – Tied with 1 bracelet

Pros vs. Amateurs:

Pros – 12 bracelets
Semi-Pros – 3 bracelets
Amateurs – 3 bracelets