Des Wilson says...

Des' WSOP Report 2008 (25)

July12

The headlines

• 189 players remain in Main Event
• Jeremy Joseph holds lead with over 2 million
• Jeff Kimber and Peter Eastgate battle on

As Day 4 came to an end Jeremy Joseph, a 23-year-old pro. from Buffalo, New York, had remarkably held his lead in the main event, albeit narrowly with 2,187,000 chips.

Immediately behind him are two East Europeans, Nickolay Lorvek from Russia and Cristian Dragomir from Romania.

Most of those near the top of the leader board are relative unknowns. Former world champion Johnny Chan went out, but big names still in with a chance include the last two Aussie Millions winners Gus Hansen (1,360,000) and Alexander Kostritcyn (1,300,000).

Other better-known payers who can’t be ruled out include 2006 World Series phenomenon Jeff Madsen (770,000), former final table players Mike Matusow (550,000) and Allen Cunningham (1,270,000), and the one surviving former world champion, Phil Hellmuth on 570,000. Another lurking near the top is Shawn Sheikhn with 1,500,000.

Team Ladbrokes began the day with 10 players but by the end had only two – Jeff "Jaffacake" Kimber on 987,000 and "Pete4002" (Peter Eastgate of Denmark) with just over 690,000.

Ireland’s James McManus is performing well and has 1,600,000; and Brit’s still battling on include Keith "The Camel" Hawkins with 415,000 and Ben Roberts with 215,000 on the 10th anniversary of his final table appearance in 1998.

Steve Davis ended his heroic leadership of Team Ladbrokes earlier in the day. At the Ladbrokes ten-pin bowling night – another big success – Steve Davis was understandably thrilled at his achievement in cashing in the Main Event. He went out when his A-A went down to Hoyt Corkin’s K-K duw to a third King on the turn. But what a fantastic performance! Steve really IS an Ace, whatever he is doing.

Play re-starts today with the blinds at 8,000/16,000 and antes 2,000.

Des’s Diary

Got through 10 levels in my final tourney at the Venetian and, despite little luck, I saw off two-thirds of the field and got to 61,000 before the decline began.

However, I ended my Las Vegas adventure with a small victory. Tony ‘Big Deal’ Holden and Michael ‘The Banker, the Professor and the Suicide King’ Craig and I bet each other $50 dollars who would last longest. Guess who did? Mark you, it was used to pay for the wine at dinner...so Holden – as to be expected – probably made a profit on the deal.

Des Wilson, Ladbrokes' Poker Ambassador