Monday, June 23, 2008

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2008 WSOP Day 24: Mixing it up

Stay tuned to see if Goldberg returns to defend his title.

By Sarah Polson

The second event that will get under way is the $1,500 Mixed Hold'em event. Billed as Event 41, Mixed Hold'em will have the players switching between Limit and No-Limit Texas Hold'em.

Last year this event was won by Fred Goldberg after he came out on top of a 620-person playing field. The win capped off a 2007 for Goldberg that included four other cashes in events, including a ninth-place finish in a $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout event.

Goldberg has been spotted at the Rio already this year taking part in WSOP events. He even cashed in one, coming in in 48th place in the $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em event. It's likely he'll be taking a seat on Saturday to try to keep his title in the $1,500 Mixed Hold'em event as well.

Returning champions haven't fared so well in the WSOP so far this year. Throughout the first 33 events on the 2008 WSOP schedule, not one defending champion has cashed in their respective event.

That doesn't mean poker fans won't see a familiar face in the winner's seat at the end, however. This seems to be the year of the pro.

Amateurs have had a lot of success at the WSOP in recent years as they've flooded the Rio to play in various events. That includes the record six consecutive years that that Main Event has been won by an amateur.

This year, however, professional poker players won 23 of the first 30 events played. That includes Erick Lindgren finally getting his first bracelet, a feat matched by both David Singer and Max Pescatori. Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein and Mike Matusow have each increased their bracelet count as well this year.

The $1,500 Mixed Hold'em event will get under way at 5 p.m. with live coverage provided by the PokerListings tournament reporting team. Catch all the action in the 2008 WSOP Live Tournaments section.

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