Classic Poker Moves

February 26, 2009

The LA Poker Classic has just kicked off, and all the regulars were there. Looking around the poker tables you see Erick Lindgren, Jerry Lang, Phil Hellmuth, Chris Ferguson, Phil Ivey, Allen Cunningham, Barry Greenstein, Erik Seidel, Michael Mizrachi and of course Daniel Negreanu. However, it soon became evident who would lead the pack in this poker tournament with Negreanu and Kasey Nam pulling ahead of the pack.

The LA Poker Classic is easily one of the larger poker tournaments out there today. It always attracts the big names, and this year they saw 696 players try for their piece of poker gold. With big names like this all at one tournament you expect to see some amazing poker playing, and you would not be disappointed at all. Hellmuth showed up about two hours after everyone else had started which is typical of him – one has to wonder how he ever wins any poker games at all!

Vivek Rajkumar was another one who showed up late, and he won the LAPC $10,000. Some thought that he would not show up at all at the final preliminary event, but after getting some sleep he joined them late. Day one of the event saw many big names go out the door, as poker hand by poker hand they were eliminated. Some were amazed to see Scott Montgomery go as fast as he did, but he held his own as long as he could.

Equally shocking was to see World Series of Poker Europe Main Event Champion John Juanda go out early on day one as well. Negreau ended up finishing the day in second place with 128,000 in chips – with Nam taking the top spot with 141,000. Both are vying for the top prize of $1,686,760.