Amazing Runs at World Series of Poker

Well, the cards are in the air and the first players are already gone over at the Rio. So before I get all swept up in World Series of Poker Main Event fever, I thought it was worth mentioning that several players have already had outstanding runs during the 37 events leading up to the main event. Each is worth keeping an eye on to make it all the way to the final table.

Top 5 Player Performances at the 2006 WSOP:

• 1. Jeff Madsen -- Wonder kid Jeff Madsen became the youngest ever World Series of Poker bracelet winner with his first win this year just over a month after his 21st birthday. Then he went on to win another event, making him the youngest player to win 2 bracelets. He also finished 3rd in two other events, all of which cemented him as the young gun to watch this year.
• 2. Phil Hellmuth -- The Poker Brat finally got his 10th bracelet this year, after making his 3rd final table of the year and making the money in three other events. Quite a run.
• 3. David Williams -- Williams, who finished second to Greg Raymer in the main event at the 2004 WSOP, got his own bracelet this year, and also finished 2nd in two other events.
• 4. Joseph Hachem -- Last year's main event winner has proven he was no flash-in-the-pan early on, finishing second in the 4th open event of the WSOP. He went on to finish 15th in another, and then 4th in yet another. Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi, indeed.
• 5. Phil Ivey -- Ivey is the odds-on favorite of all pros to make the final table, and he's been focused and playing great the whole series. He finished 2nd in a pot-limit omaha event, and outlasted one of the toughest fields of all time, the $50,000 HORSE event, to make it to third place.

I also would be remiss if I didn't mention William Chen, who won 2 WSOP bracelets this year, or Chip Reese, who won the big HORSE event.