Erick Lindgren

In a masterful performance at an epic final table, Mike Matusow took down the Deuce-to-Seven Lowball evening early this morning. The Poker Shrink was there for every hand at what truly was a final table for the ages. Tomorrow I will give you some details that you will find nowhere else; as many of you know I am working on Mike's biography and we spoke often during the twelve hour final table. In addition, we are going to get together after we both have had some sleep and then we will go over the entire final table from Mike's perspective. I will share some of that insight with you just as soon as Mike and I talk later today.

Until then congratulations Mike and good night or good morning from all of us here in the wee morning hours from Las Vegas.

[I apologize for the lingering promise of a follow-up article on Mike's win, but the truth is that the truth is so good, I am afraid it is going to have to wait for the final chapter of Mike's book.]

I am going to attend a final table today at the World Series of Poker. I wish you could be here, it's not another No Limit Hold'em tournament either. In fact, this is a game very few players play well and most don't even understand: Deuce to Seven Draw Lowball. The game is played with a limit betting structure and there is a single draw. Two rounds of betting; one before and one after the draw.

But what is going to be exciting about this final table is the cast of characters who have made it to this seven-handed party:

Erick Lindgren
Mike Matusow
Jeffery Lisandro
Barry Greenstein
Tony "G" Guoga
David Benyamine
Tom Schneider

The fun kicks off at 3 PM PDT. My reports will come during breaks in the action, no chance I am going to miss one moment of this table. Do I have a favorite for the bracelet? Well, yes I do but you will never guess who.

On this second Sunday of the 2008 World Series, a lot of attention will be focused on the final table of Event #12: $1,500 Limit Hold’em. Yes, Vinnie Vinh leads going into day three of this tournament but a lot more interest will be paid to the number two man on the leader board, Erick Lindgren. The speculation, of course, is whether Erick can land a second bracelet in less than a week.

A lot of casual observers might see such a double-barreled feat as the result of a good run of cards or just a very good player being overdue. Perhaps a closer look into at just what the first week or so of the Series really looks like to a poker professional like Erick Lindgren might be illuminating.

Friday May 30th, Event #1: $10,000 Pot Limit Hold’em. Erick plays about eight hours before having his set of aces lose to another set with a bigger kicker.

Sunday June 1st, Event #2 Day 1B: $1,500 No Limit Hold’em. Erick is mostly card dead and goes out about mid-way in level three, still time for 18 holes before dusk.

Monday June 2nd, Event #4 (5 PM start): $5,000 Mixed Hold’em. Erick and ninety other players survive day one from a starting field of 332. With 8,400 chips. Erick Lindgren’s name is no where near the top of the leader board; not with the leader over 100,000.