WSOP 2011 - Week One and Two Headlines - Brits impress, Hellmuth misses out on bracelet #12

RIO CASINO, LAS VEGAS - The 42nd Annual World Series of Poker kicked off in the Rio Casino, Las Vegas on May 31st and since then fifteen bracelet events have been completed with some excellent results for British players.

With all the negative events in the United States regarding online poker happening just a couple of months before start of this year's WSOP, many believed that this years series would see heavily reduced fields and Europeans dominating the felt this year. Phil Ivey's decision to not play any event this year after his well publicised lawsuit against Tiltware (the software provider for his former sponsor, Full Tilt Poker) meant that the WSOP, in one of its most precarious situations ever, would miss out on having the best player in the world competing in events.

Early indications show that despite all the negativity surrounding this years series, fields have remained steady compared to last year and there have been some headline moments from the outset.

Jake Cody, a young pro from Rochdale, completed the Triple Crown (WPT, EPT and WSOP titles) in Event #2 (the first open, bracelet event) - $25,000 Heads Up No Limit Hold'em for $851,192. He beat Danish superstar Gus Hansen in his semi-final and PokerStars Pro Yevgeniy Timoshenko in the final in two very tough matches on his way to victory.

Matt Perrins, another young pro from Rochdale, won his first bracelet just five days later as he won Event #9 - $1,500 2-7 Lowball (No-Limit) for $102,105. What made Perrins' win all the more special was the fact that he had never played that variant before, claiming he just watched half an hour of strategy videos on youtube before taking part. Chris Bjorin, a Swedish born London veteran pro, came second in this event.

Richard "CHUFTY" Ashby, a BlackBeltPoker Pro has already had two big scores this year. The first came in Event #11 - $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split-8 or Better Championship in which he finished fourth for $161,379. In Event #16 - $10,000 2-7 Lowball (No-Limit) Championship, Ashby finished third for $143,833. If Ashby continues this form throughout the Series it could be a special year for him.

It was in the 2-7 Lowball (No-Limit) Championship that the most memorable story comes from. Phil Hellmuth, who has lost his reputation as one of the best players in the world despite winning 11 bracelets between 1989 and 2007, nearly won his twelfth bracelet. The Poker Brat came up just one short of victory after losing a three hour heads up battle against John Juanda. What made it all the more painful for Hellmuth is that he went into heads up with a better than two-to-one chip lead over Juanda. In stopping Hellmuth on his quest for a twelfth bracelet, Juanda won his fifth and pocketed $367,170. Phil Hellmuth walked away $226,907 richer but a broken man after coming the closest to winning a bracelet since 2007.

The 2011 World Series of Poker is in full swing and with headlines being made each day, it is just as exciting as ever.

42nd World Series of Poker List of Events and Winners

Event #1 - $500 Casino Employees NLH - Sean Drake USA ($82,292)

Event #2 - $25,000 Heads Up NLH - Jake Cody UK ($851,192)

Event #3 - $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo - Francesco Barbaro USA ($262,283)

Event #4 - $5,000 No Limit Hold'em (NLH) - Allen Bari USA ($874,116)

Event #5 - $1,500 Seven Card Stud - Eugene Katchalov USA ($122,909)

Event #6 - $1,500 Limit Hold'em - Harrison Wilder USA ($205,065)

Event #7 - $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em Championship - Amir Lehavot USA ($573,456)

Event #8 - $1,000 NLH - Sean Getzwiller USA ($611,185)

Event #9 - $1,500 2-7 Lowball (No-Limit) - Matt Perrins UK ($102,105)

Event #10 - $1,500 NLH Six-Handed - Geffrey Klein USA ($544,388)

Event #11 - $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship - Viacheslav Zhukov RUS ($465,216)

Event #12 - $1,500 Triple Chance NLH - David Diaz USA ($352,808)

Event #13 - $1,500 NLH Shootout - Andrew Badecker USA ($369,371)

Event #14 - $3,000 Limit Hold'em - Tyler Bonkowski CAN ($220,817)

Event #15 - $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em - Brian Rast USA - ($227,232)

Event #16 - $10,000 2-7 Lowball (No-Limit) Championship - John Juanda USA ($367,170)

There are currently five events in play, including the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship. The Main Event is event #58 in this year's schedule and is due to start on Thursday July 7th.