Des Wilson says...

Des' WSOP Report 2008 (26)

July 13

The Headlines

• 79 survive Day Five

• Young Los Angeles player leads

• Team Ladbrokes player Peter Eastgate still in

Day Five of the main event ended last night (Saturday) with 79 players left. All are guaranteed over $70,000 and are now competing for big money.

Denmark’s Peter Eastgate became Team Ladbrokes’ top main event player when he out-lasted Jeff ‘jaffacake’ Kimber. He is still, there with 2,629,000 chips. Both did Team Ladbrokes immense credit.

Jeff went out when his KK all-in was called by 99. The flop came 10-10-9 to give his opponent a full house and all Jeff’s chips. Previously he had lost another major confrontation with another Brit, Keith ‘The Camel’ Hawkins who is still in with 636,000.

Peter Eastgate, largely ignored by the a media obsessed with Phil Hellmuth and Mike Matusow playing on the same table, played solidly all day and quietly amassed his impressive stack. He will be back in action today (Sunday) at 12 noon Las Vegas time.

James McManus from Ireland is not far behind him with 2,434,000 and can be guaranteed huge Irish interest.

The leader going into Day Six is a young player from Los Angeles, Mark Ketteringham, the only player with over 5 million chips. He is closely pursued by the Russian Nickolay Losev with over 4 million. Kara Scott from the UK became one of the three top women and went out in a creditable 104th place with $41,000. A woman player Tiffany Michelle from LA lies 4th with 3,438,000 chips.

Ben Roberts’s gallant effort also ended on Day Five. Big names to go on Day Five included Jeff Madsen, Shawn Sheikhan, Allen Cunningham, Gus Hansen, and Hoyt Corkins.

Hellmuth 721,000 and Matusow 1,169,000 may be behind but they cannot be ignored. The first is a former world champion and the record gold bracelet winner; the latter is a former final table player. Both are great competitors who are hungry for this title. (Hellmuth today begins with a penalty for abusing another player.)