We just passed the imaginary equator that splits the WSOP in two. I thought it would be nice to give a small heads-up on how I am doing.

Well, not too good actually: In none of the daytime tournaments was I able to make it even to the dinner break.

In one tournament I actually did make the break, but that tournament started later in the day. Fact is that I just can't get in "the groove."

I am not trying to find excuses or anything, but there is another factor that is not helping: The WSOP nowadays is mainly about making money (for Harrah's). Player's interests are not exactly their No. 1 priority.

In the $10K buy-in Pot-Limit Hold'em event, we started with blinds at $100/$200 (which worked out to be 100 big blinds). That is not as deep-stacked as you might expect for a $10k buy-in Championship event.

The Stud $10k buy-in event was even worse: starting blinds were $200/$400.

All in all, there is not a whole lot of play left. I haven't even mentioned the $1,500 buy-in events; they start with $3,000 in chips and blinds of $25/$50.

By basically downgrading these events into more or less "crapshoots," they make sure that 75 to 80% of entrants can play a new event the very next day (more players = more rake, etc. etc.).

A couple of days ago a fellow Dutchman, Marcel Luske, made it to a final table while we were both trying to win the first Dutch bracelet (never in the history of the WSOP had a Dutchie won a bracelet ... ).

First-ever Dutch WSOP bracelet winner Rob Hollink.

Even though I was in the running too, I nevertheless was rooting for Marcel - I really wanted him to win that bracelet - but unfortunately he ended third. At times he held the chip lead, but due to the insane structure and such enormous blinds he couldn't push through.

But a good thing finally happened: the first Dutch WSOP bracelet was won by Rob Hollink. Congrats Rob!!! Now the pressure is all off :D and the chase is off.

I am now mainly focusing on the higher-buy-in tournaments, especially the "odd" events, such as Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better, 2-7 Lowball and maybe the $5k buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Texas Hold'em.

I will certainly not play the lower-buy-in No-Limit events.

Regards,

-- Steve Wong (Steve@888.com)

To follow Steve's progress in the 2008 WSOP, check out our live coverage section.

More blogs from 888.com pro Steve Wong:

• Egg-Shaped Losers Driving Women From Poker
• WPT Championship Part 2: Soul-Reading Kid Poker
• WPT Championship Part 1: Something to Prove
• My Thoughts on Postponing the Main Event Final Table

ShareThis