World Series of Poker

Gus Hansen wins first WSOP bracelet

Gus Hansen has been one of the most recognizable players in the game since the birth of the World Poker Tour on the Travel Channel. Hansen's face became synonymous with poker champion as by 2004 he was in the winner's circle on one of the most popular tours in the world three times. Hansen's success continued internationally with victories here and there, but a World Series of Poker bracelet simply evaded him. After missing most of the 2010 WSOP and not even playing in the main event, Hansen, 36, took his chances in the £10,000 heads-up event at WSOP Europe. After going through an incredibly tough path including Phil Ivey, Neil Channing and Andrew Feldman, Hansen hoisted the bracelet for the very first time.

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WSOPPhotos.comGus Hansen won his first bracelet in Event 4 at the 2010 WSOP Europe.

The field of 103 played heads-up matches in a single-elimination bracelet until the finals. Hansen defeated Jim Collopy in the best-of-three series, but it wasn't like any of the other previous matches. They battled to a 1-1 tie in two lengthy matches that ran late into the night, and the tournament staff and players agreed that the finals would be better off if the match was temporarily suspended and resumed when both players were eliminated from the WSOP Europe main event. Both players fell short of the money in the main event, so on Sunday night, the final match was played with Hansen ousting Collopy to win the £288,409 first prize.

"Every poker tournament that I enter, I try to play at my highest level," said Hansen. "I always try to win. At the World Series of Poker, there is so much tradition. It's been going on since Doyle Brunson was just a little kid. I was around for some of it and have been a part of that group. So, to finally come here and win this gold bracelet feels very special."

Collopy, 21, plays as "Mr_BigQueso" and has had notable success online for being so young. The Washington, D.C., native is currently studying economics at New York University and earned £178,211 for his second-place finish. Collopy's journey to the finals included matches against John Racener, Scott Fischman, Martin Kabrhel, Huck Seed and Ram Vaswani.

"I was very impressed with his play," Hansen said of Collopy. "Right from the go he adjusted after the first two matches. I give all the credit to him for adjusting after those matches."

This was the first heads-up event ever at the WSOP Europe and the 888th bracelet awarded in WSOP history.

Other notable finishers included Daniel Negreanu and Huck Seed (quarterfinalists) and Howard Lederer and Phil Ivey (Round of 16).

Below are the complete results of WSOPE Event 4:

Event 4: Heads-up no-limit hold 'em
Buy-in: £10,000
Entries: 103
Prize pool: £1,030,000
Players in the money: 16

2010 WSOP will feature 57 events

On Dec. 17 the World Series of Poker announced its schedule of 57 bracelet events to take place in 2010. Starting on May 27 and running until July 17, poker players from around the world will travel to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino to participate in the largest tournament series of the year in search of the most coveted piece of jewelry in poker: the WSOP bracelet.

For 51 days the Pavilion Ballroom, along with the Amazon Room, will be packed with players hoping to increase their bankrolls. With the addition of the Pavilion Ballroom, there will be up to 20 percent more tables in action as WSOP officials hope to ease capacity concerns raised in 2009.

The 2010 WSOP will debut some new tournaments including the $50,000 Players Championship, which replaces the $50,000 HORSE. The Players Championship will feature an eight-game mix (limit hold 'em, Omaha high-low split-eight or better, razz, seven card stud, seven card stud high-low split-eight or better, no-limit hold 'em, pot-limit Omaha and deuce-to-seven triple draw lowball) and award the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy to its champion. The final table of the Players Championship will be broadcast on ESPN and only no-limit hold 'em will be played. The largest HORSE event in 2010 will be the $10,000 world championship event, but a $1,500 and $3,000 event are also scheduled.

Also new in 2010 will be a $25,000 six-handed no-limit hold 'em tournament. This four-day event will take place toward the end of the schedule and will most likely feature many familiar faces. The $40,000 no-limit hold 'em tournament from 2009 has been taken off the 2010 schedule, leaving the main event as the largest full-table no-limit hold 'em event of the tournament series.

The "Stimulus Special" tournament in 2009 was quite a success, attracting a field of 6,012 players. To continue with the trend of offering something for players of all levels, the WSOP has added seven more $1,000 events to the 2010 schedule. The first five weekends of the WSOP will feature five of the $1,000 no-limit hold 'em events and offer two starting days each weekend. The other $1,000 events on the schedule are the Ladies event on June 11, the Seniors event on June 18 and an open event on July 1-2.

"Whatever your game and whatever your bankroll, the 2010 WSOP schedule offers something for everyone," said WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel. "We are planning for the largest WSOP ever and look forward to welcoming all players to the Rio in Las Vegas next summer."

The $10,000 no-limit hold 'em main event will take place from July 5 until the final table is reached on July 17. The 2010 November Nine will return Nov. 6-9 and play will resume until a champion is crowned.

On July 3, the fourth annual "Ante Up For Africa" will take place. The $5,000 charity tournament organized by Annie Duke and Don Cheadle is an open event and will feature celebrities and top poker pros.

Pre-registration is now open for all events at the WSOP Web site (http://www.wsop.com).

Below is the complete schedule for the 2010 WSOP. Televised events will be broadcast on ESPN starting in late July 2010.

2010 World Series of Poker Schedule