NENAD MEDIC WINS WSOP EVENT #1 $10,000 POT-LIMIT HOLD'EM

The first final table of the 2008 WSOP was a doozy. The final table of Event #1 $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em seemed like a throwback to a WSOP final table circa 2004 or 2005. The Rio was packed with spectators who cheered on several of the biggest names in poker such as Mike Sexton, Patrik Antonius, Kathy Liebert, Andy Bloch, Phil Laak, Nenad Medic, and Chris Bell. There were two online pros at the final table including Mike “SowersUNCC” Sowers and Amit “amak316” Makhija.Event #1 featured a prize pool of $3,308,800 with 352 total runners in a pro-heavy field. Andy Bloch started the final table as the chipleader with over 2.1 million in chips. Bloch was trying to win his first bracelet on a his birthday of all days.

More after the jump…

For most of the final table, Bloch held a dominating lead until it got three-handed. Kathy Liebert was eliminated in a three-way pot where everyone was all in with pairs. Medic’s Q-Q topped Bloch’s 9-9 and Liebert’s 6-6. When the dust settled, Liebert was eliminated in third place, while Medic snagged the chiplead away from Bloch.

The heads up battle last only 24 hands as Medic slowly pulled away and eventually won the first bracelet at the 2008 WSOP.

Event #1 Final Table Money Winners:

1. Nenad Medic – $794,112
2. Andy Bloch – $488,048
3. Kathy Liebert – $306,064
4. Mike Sexton – $248,160
5. Amit “amak316” Makhija – $198,528
6. Chris Bell – $157,168
7. Patrik Antonius – $124,080
8. Mike “SowersUNCC” Sowers – $99,264
9. Phil Laak – $74,448

Congrats to Nenad Medic for winning his first bracelet!

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Sunday action also included Day 1B of Event #2 $1,500 NL. A record breaking 3,929 players bought into Event #2 which was the fourth-largest tournament in the history of the WSOP. $831K goes to the eventual first place winner, which is not a bad score for a $1,500 buy-in donkament.