Final Table Set at WPT...

Friday, Mar. 28. 2008

Final Table Set at WPT World Poker Challenge

By Matthew Showell | Live Tournaments

Day 3 of the 2008 WPT World Poker Challenge was packed with big names as well as big action. With only six seats up for grabs, and 27 optimistic players turning out with their sights set on said seats, there was bound to be a bit of friction.

The start-of-day chip counts were an interesting breakdown of the talent in the room as the top half was crammed full of names already known to PL.com. I don't mean this to necessarily reflect negatively on those who came into the day short on chips, since bad luck can certainly account for their plight, but there were some who took advantage of last night's bubble and some who did not.

Foremost among the bubble-abusers were Jason Potter and Bryan Devonshire, who were seated at the same table as we waited for the last few eliminations on Day 2. Taking turns pounding the table and for the most part staying out of each other's way, they were both able to pad their stacks nicely before the bubble finally burst.

As things got rolling at the very reasonable time of 2 p.m. this afternoon it was Jason Potter leading the charge to the finale. Also in the mix were Jason Gray, Tim West, Pat Poels, Erik Seidel, Chau Giang, Jordan Rich, Michael Mizrachi and Phil Ivey. Despite giving it their best, this entire group would fall short of their goal and miss the opportunity to appear on the Game Show Network sometime in the near future.

I drink your milkshake. I drink it up!

We all had high hopes for another Phil Ivey final table, as he was well-stacked for the entirety of the lead-up to the money. As the day progressed though, this outcome became less and less likely. His stack dwindled down before he finally went bust in 10th. This cash broke a long-standing record of Ivey's as never before today had he made the money but missed the final table.

If the top of the chip counts was full of the bigger names, the bottom was full of the unknowns, most of whom had coasted into the money on fumes after nitting their way through the bubble period. It never ceases to amaze us the caliber of players that not only make it into these events, but somehow manage to go deep.

The participants in this example will remain nameless, although they can be found buried in the Live Updates Page. Bryan Devonshire saw a three-way flop of T 9 6. One of his opponents bet out about a third of the pot and the player next to act went into the tank before announcing all-in.

The words were barely out of his mouth before Devo re-shipped over the top. The original bettor eventually called all-in and we went to the turn with two players at risk of elimination.

LOL re-drawaments.

Bryan tabled the mortal nuts, pocket tens for top set, and was shocked by the cards turned over by his two opponents. The original bettor had pocket fives for nothing but an underpair to the board and the other player had 6 7 for bottom pair and a gut-shot.

Devonshire must have already been counting his newly acquired chips when he saw the turn bring the 8, completing his opponent's straight. We watched in disbelief as Devonshire went from having a stranglehold on the hand to praying to fill up on fifth street. Proving that there is at least a modicum of justice in the universe, the dealer laid a second eight on the felt and saved Devonshire from having to throw himself off the roof of the hotel.

From then on things progressed in an orderly manner as the field became a few players lighter with each passing level, until we reached the final 10-handed table. Action slammed into a brick wall at this point as the reality of the deep stacks became apparent and the opportunity to be on television loomed.

Cutting the remaining 10 down to six required that a few players go broke. Unfortunately for us it was the big names who ended up making way for tomorrow's festivities. Phil Ivey hit the rail in tenth, Patrick Poels in ninth, Chau Giang in eighth and Michael Mizrachi in seventh. It's not all bad though as we're still left with some serious talent for the playdown to a champion.

No stranger to the spotlight.

Bryan Devonshire, Lee Markholt, David Pham, Jason Potter, Zachary Hyman and Jeff DeWitt will all be donning their best duds for their appearance on television screens around the world. A few of them have been here before and a few have not. It'll be interesting to see how the newcomers handle the heat.

For a look at all of today's action, as well as the chip counts going into the final table, click through to the Live Updates page. For photos hit up the Photos page and for a rundown of all the players who've cashed so far see the Results.

The cameras will be rolling tomorrow at 5 p.m. (PDT) but since the episode won't air for a few months I guess you'll just have to come follow the action right here on PokerListings.com. We know you want to. And you know we know. And we know you know we know. That's some next-level thinking right there.