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Event #23 "Seven Card Stud" had a happy Jan Sorensen from Denmark ready to take home $293,275 and a bracelet for winning this tournament. Event #24 "No Limit Hold'Em" was won by
very serious, solid playing Farzad Bonyadi who earned $594,960 for
effort. In Event #25 "Pot-Limit Hold'Em", Johnny Chan won his 10th WSOP bracelet breaking a 3-way tie with him, Doyle Brunson and Phil Hellmuth Jr., setting a record in
process. Johnny picked up a hefty $303,025 as well. Actress Jennifer Tilly turned heads again by winning Event #26 "Ladies No-Limit Hold'Em". She actually dominated final table play against top women poker players in
world to win $158,335 and a bracelet you can't buy in a store anywhere. Expect no less from
girlfriend of Phil "Unabomber" Laak. Phil Ivey overcame a determined Robert Williamson III to win Event #27 "Pot Limit Omaha with Rebuys" earning his 5th gold WSOP bracelet and $630,685. Dan Schmiech won $404,585 by winning against actor Gabe Kaplan in
Event #28 "Limit Hold'em" tournament. Event #29 "No Limit Hold'Em" has Lawrence Gosney as this years champion pocketing $483,195 for
win. Now Event #30 "Seven Card Razz" is actually a little tough to understand and play, but O'Neil Longson proved he could do it and took home $125,690 as proof.
The 3-way tie Johnny Chan broke earlier became a tie again as Doyle Brunson won
Event #31 "No-limit Hold'Em (Short Handed 6/table)" tournament earning his 10th WSOP bracelet and $367,800 once again showing how his legendary reputation was earned. Event #32 "Omaha High-Low Split" was won by David Chiu taking home his 4th bracelet and $347,410. Andre Boyer, a poker analyst for TV station Le Réseau des Sports in Quebec won Event #33 "No Limit Hold'Em" who's skill was rewarded with a $682,810 payday. Event #34 "Seniors No Limit Hold'Em" has a new champion who's name is Paul McKinney. Paul, who is 80 years old, can relax in
sun after depositing $202,725 in his bank account. Rafi Amit won Event #35 "Pot Limit Omaha" and $511,835 after becoming victorious in a heads up battle with Vinny Vinh.
A dominate Todd Witteles won Event #36 "Limit Hold'em" knocking out opponents left and right to take home
bracelet and $347,385. Event #37 "No Limit Hold'Em with Rebuys" was won by Jon Heneghan taking home $611,015 in
process. Event #38 was a super satellite tournament for seats to
Main Event, so no prize pool or list of winners was produced. Event #39 "No Limit 2 to 7 Draw Lowball with Rebuys" had David Grey as
champion who was heralded with $365,135. Event #40 was also a super satellite like #38 so there is nothing to report unfortunately. When it came time for raising money for charity,
media and celebrities in Event #41 showed up at
tables. Randy Bowman of
media won $10,000 for
Noblesville Boys and Girls Club.
Event #42 is
WSOP Main Event,
big tournament where millionaires are born. This year
first place prize was $7,500,000 and every person who made
final table became a millionaire guaranteed. 5,619 entrants competed in
tournament making it
largest in WSOP history. In fact it was so large that it had to be spread out over 9 days. 2004 champion Greg Raymer made it up to 25th place before elimination, receiving $304,680 for his efforts. But it was Joseph Hachem who became champion for this year, pocketing
$7.5 million and a beautiful diamond bracelet that can only be earned by winning
Main Event.
For those who were busted out of
Main Event, they found additional tournaments for play in Events #43, #44 and #45 which were 1 day events. Ron Kirk beat out players like Erik Seidel and Marcel Luske to take home $321,520 for winning
Event #43 "No Limit Hold'Em" tournament. Event #44 "No Limit Hold'Em" was won by John Pires who received $220,935 for his victory. And
Event #45 "No Limit Hold'Em" winner was Willie Tann who happily received his bracelet and $188,335 for 1 day's work! Not bad at all.
With
sheer size of this event and a total number of staff and players that could make up a small city, it is hard to think of anything
poker world could do to surpass it. But Harrah's has already released
2006 World Series of Poker Tournament Circuit schedule and it is expanded from 2005's five tournaments to twelve, so we'll have to wait and see. Poker on TV will keep us all happy until then.

Tom Howze is a webmaster for 9 sites that relate to 2005 World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events, updates and information.