Event #14, the $3k Limit Hold’em, went to yet another first-timer, Tyler Bonkowski. (Seriously, does the ‘S’ in ‘WSOP’ now stand for ‘socialist’? As in, let’s spread the bracelet wealth around? Does Joe the Plumber know about this?) Bonkowski defeated a field of 337 to take just shy of $221k for the victory. Bonkowski is the first Canadian to take top honors at this year’s WSOP, injecting some sorely-needed diversity into the US/UK rivalry that had dominated play up to this point. Brandon Demes, who at one point held a 4-1 chip lead during heads-up play, was forced to settle for second place and $136k.
Of course, given that we’re not into the second week of WSOP action, it’s about time we start our Phil Hellmuth 12th bracelet watch. Hellmuth’s long awaited triumph would be a fitting way to break the first-timer hot streak, Hellmuth made the final table at Event #16, the $10k No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Championship, although he started the day seventh in chips against a field that includes John Juanda, Nick Schulman, Greg Raymer and Richard Ashby. Can the Poker Brat show the ‘bracelet brats’ how it’s done?