There are four stories that I'm going to follow throughout the day (three from the same event). We'll start with the obvious:
1. Doyle Brunson closes in on his 11th bracelet.
Doyle has made it to the final table of the $10,000 PLO World Championship in fifth place. As play began winding down last night, the increasing number of railbirds seembed to be in direct proportion to Doyle's growing stack.
Everyone want to see Doyle win. Fans, media, and players are all cheering for Doyle. Of course the other eight players at the final table might have other plans, but there will not be one person in the stands disappointed to see Doyle take it down.
ESPN is not currently scheduled to cover the event; this could prove to be a major mistake. While we were not there to witness it, at least every hand of Phil Hellmuth's victory was captured for internet viewers.
2. Steve Sung has quietly proven himself to be one of the better all-around players in the game.
The first time I met Steve he was playing a late night Chinese Poker game with Nam Le, JC Tran, and Danny Wong in Reno. Steve has several final table appearances in the last six months, including two $100k+ cashes in December. He placed 12th and 23rd in the main events at Foxwoods and Mandalay Bay, with an elite eight appearance in the Mirage Heads-up event in between. Steve's game seems to closely resemble Nam's, but he might actually be the best all-around player of the four (at least currently).
Steve has already made a final table in the $1,500 7-Card Stud event this summer, placing third. Today, he will be one of the players standing in Doyle's way at the $10,000 PLO final table. He's entering play as the short-stack, but you can never count out this quiet and unassuming pro because of his strength: patience.
3. Robert may be the best player of the Mizrachi brothers
Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi has definitely earned the respect of his peers with back-to-back WPT victories last season. Youngest brother Eric has yet to break through. But Robert (like Sung), has quietly had a great career as a professional poker player. To the casual observer, Robert may still be in Mike's shadow, but no one on the tour thinks so. Robert has a number of big scores (including two cashes in the $500k range) in no-limit holdem, but his mixed-game ability has turned the heads of more than a few people.
He already has four cashes this summer including Omaha 8OB and Omaha 8OB/Stud 8OB. He made both the $2,500 and $5,000 HORSE final tables. He's now at his third final table of the series. He has just over 1m chips and will begin play in 2nd place in the $10,000 PLO World Championship.
4. Michael Craig has played his way to another final table
Michael has not played in many events, but now has three cashes and two final tables under his belt. He is an incredible student of the game, and it looks like his work on the Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide has paid off. After finishing seventh in the $1,500 Mixed Holdem event, I'm sure Michael will be fighting it out until the very end in the $1,000 SHOE.
