Top 7 Poker Moments of 2008

by Bodog Poker | Dec 5 2008

It’s been quite a year for poker, hasn’t it? Off the top of our heads we can come up with at least seven memorable moments:

7. Michael Phelps Cashes

In one of Michael Phelps’ many interviews after winning his eighth Olympic gold medal he mentioned the fact that he loved poker and planned on playing in next year’s WSOP. He then went on to prove his interest and skill in the game a couple months later by making a final table in a $1,575 buy-in in the Caesars Poker Classic. Phelps cashed for $5,213 but more importantly helped bring even more attention to the great game of poker.

6. Evelyn Ng Shreds Poker News

Ok, so this one is only loosely poker related since the game of choice was Guitar Hero, but it involves the lovely and talented Bodog poker pro Evelyn Ng so hopefully you’ll cut us some slack. The bet involved a Guitar Hero battle against Poker News’ Tournament Coverage Manager Garry Gates for $1,000 to be donated to the winner’s choice of charity. Check out the guitar battle and see the utter destruction that is Evy on her axe. Needless to say Gates was humbled and then doubly embarrassed on the WSOP tournament floor.

5. John Juanda Wins WSOPE Main Event

When Juanda won the WSOPE Main Event two records were set: one for it being the longest final table in WSOP history at 22 hours, and two by Juanda being the first American to win the European title.

Juanda won £868,800 for his efforts and beat a stacked table that included Daniel Negreanu, Scott Fischman and the man who went on to take second in the WSOP Main Event, Ivan Demidov.

4. Scotty Nguyen Follows Through

In 2007 Scotty Nguyen ran deep in the WSOP Main Event and was often among the chip leaders. As the final table approached he lost three crucial hands and busted out in 11th place. The loss was devastating to Nguyen and he slipped into a depression. He shook it off after a couple months and vowed to either win the 2008 WSOP Main Event or the 2008 WSOP HORSE Championship. True to his word, after five gruelling days of HORSE (Holdem, Omaha, Razz, Seven-Card Stud and Eight or Better) the Prince of Poker took down arguably the most coveted bracelet at the WSOP and the nearly $2 million that went with it.

3. Phil Ivey Wins WPT LA Poker Classic

When Phil Ivey won the 2008 WPT LA Poker Classic it followed on the heels of a whopping seven other previous final tables without a win for him. Ivey’s play proved his determination to not be denied again and after it got to heads-up play against Quinn Do it only took two hands to clinch the deal as he got Do to put all his chips in with two pair while he was sitting on a full house.

2. Chris Ferguson wins NBC National Heads-Up Championship

Chris "Jesus" Ferguson took down the 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship after finishing second two out of the three previous years.
To get the win, Ferguson had to play what was probably the toughest slate of any other competitor. He went up against John Juanda, Gavin Smith, Mike Matusow, Jonathan "FieryJustice" Little, Phil Ivey and, finally, Andy Bloch for the championship match. Ferguson pocketed $500,000 and enjoyed the relief of dodging yet another second place finish.

1. John Phan and Johnny Neckar in the Dark for $157,337

What happens when you take two poker players and have them play tournament poker constantly for weeks on end, have them make the final table of a major tournament and then see them locked in a heads-up deadlock for over six hours? They lose their minds, that’s what happens.

After six hours of heads-up play in the 2008 WSOP event No. 29 John Phan and Johnny Neckar must have been exhausted and agreed to both go all-in pre-flop without looking at their cards. The gamble amounted to $157,337 which was the difference in payout between first and second. Finally after three hands played like this and neither getting eliminated they both decided to give fate a rest and played the rest of the game out. Two hands later John Phan took it all down and won the WSOP bracelet and the $434,789 that went with it.

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