WSOP Event #23

World Series of Poker Event #23, No-Limit Hold’em, 12-14 June 2008

Entrants: 1,344
Buy in: $2,000
Prize pool: $2,446,080

Final results:

1. Blair Hinkle, $507,613

2. Mark Brockington, $326,551

3. Daniel O’Brien, $198,132

4. David Steicke, $166,333

5. Dustin Dirksen, $135,757

6. Chris Bjorin, $106,404

7. Dominik Kulicki, $81,943

8. Andrew Jeffreys, $63,598

9. Stephane Tayar, $45,252

The winner of the $2,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em championship attracted was Blair Hinkle, from Kansas City, MO. Hinkle is a 22-year-old poker pro. The event attracted 1,344 entries. The total prize pool amounted to $2,446,080., and the top 99 finishers collected prize money.

Blair Hinkle is the brother of Grant Hinkle, who won Event #2 at this year’s WSOP. The Hinkle Brothers became only the second tandem of brothers to win gold bracelets. The other is the Pearson Brothers – consisting of Puggy Pearson (three wins in 1973) and J.C. Pearson (one win in 1994).

The Hinkle Brothers became the first siblings in history to win WSOP gold bracelets within a single year.

• “There is no rivalry between us,” Hinkle said. “I was ecstatic when he won his bracelet and I know he’s the same way. It’s just amazing that we could both win in the same year.”

Twelve days earlier, Hinkle’s mother sat in the audience and watched her son Grant win his first WSOP victory. She returned to the main stage again and watched her other son, Blair earn his victory.

Hinkle’s mother joked afterward that she is looking forward to getting her own bracelet. While she has no aspirations of entering a WSOP tournament, Hinkle’s mother did suggest that she was a sort of good luck charm for the family.

Blair Hinkle collected $507,613 for first place. This was his first WSOP gold bracelet. This marked his second time to cash. Hinkle finished in 520nd place in the 2007 WSOP Main Event (6,358 entrants). He also finished 6th at the recent Caesars Las Vegas WSOP Circuit event, a few months ago.

“The player I was worried about the most was Dustin Dirksen (who finished fifth),” Hinkle said afterward. “I made a huge jump after he busted out and I was able to really pick up my game after that.”

Two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Chris Bjorin, from London, England was the sixth-place finisher. This marked the 41st career WSOP cash for Bjorin, placing him 13th on the all-time list.

Thor Hansen, who is ranked right behind Bjorin for career in-the-money finishes commented that Bjorin is truly one of the best poker players in the world. He went on to state the Bjorin would have many more cashes if he played in more events.

Players from 12 different nations finished in the money. Countries represented included – Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, England, France, the Faroe Islands, Holland, Italy, Japan, Norway, and the United States.

Hjalti Jacobson became the first player in history from the Faroe Islands to cash at the WSOP.

All WSOP images are supplied by “IMPDI for the 2008 WSOP”