WSOP Event #3

World Series of Poker Event #3, Pot Limit Hold’em 2-4 June 2008

Entrants: 713
Buy in: $10,000
Prize pool: $973,245

Final results:

1. David Singer, $214,122

2. Jacobo Fernandez, $136,644

3. Gregory Alston, $82,726

4. Robert Lipkin, $67,641

5. Russ Harriman, $55,475

6. Joe Tehan, $43,796

7. Zachary King, $34,064

8. Al Barbieri, $26,764

9. Glen Bean, $19,465

This was the second Pot-Limit Hold’em tournament on the 2008 WSOP schedule. The first tournament which was held four days ago generated the largest Pot-Limit Hold’em prize pool in poker history. This tournament had a $1,500 buy-in with 714 entries, which created a prize pool totaling $973,245.

The $1,500 buy-in Pot-Limit Hold’em champion is David Singer, from Las Vegas, NV. He is originally from Brooklyn, NY. Singer was a formally an attorney who worked for a non-profit environmental firm. He has been a professional poker player since 2001.

This marked Singer’s 18th time to cash at the WSOP. He is the only player to have made it to the final table of the $50,000 HORSE event both years it’s been played. Oddly enough, while Singer has nearly $4 million in career tournament earnings, he had never finished higher than fourth prior to this victory.

“I started out this tournament not really caring much about it” said Singer. “I was in the other tournament ($1,500 No-Limit Hold’em) and I cashed in that one. I was running back and forth between tables at the start of this one, and obviously it worked out.

“I won a $25,000 heads-up poker tournament last week (which was worth $560,000). When we got heads-up in this event, I was expecting to run over (Fernandez). I did not know much about him. But he sure turned out to be pretty tough.”

“We have a baby due today or tomorrow. That’s pretty exciting. But to win this makes it all the better. I feel like I am the luckiest guy in the world already, no matter if I had won, or not.”

Singer was playing heads-up against a very tough opponent named Jacobo Fernandez. The final hand of the tournament pitted Singer’s queen-four against Fernandez’ seven-three. It proved to be a very exciting last hand for players and spectators alike, as the turn showed 7-5-3-6.

Singer held the made straight against Fernandez’ two pair. Singer put his opponent to the test with an all-in move and Fernandez reluctantly called with his sevens and threes. A blank on the river sealed Singer’s victory.