The World Series of Poker for 2009 has 56 out of 57 events completed with the final table for the Main Event still to finish up. ESPN has published their schedule and has plans to only show 2 of these events along with two other special events that were held which are the Ante Up For Africa Celebrity Charity Event and the WSOP Champions Invitational. Actually it’s a shame, because so many new records were established, broken and surpassed in those remaining events and many around the planet will not know of them because they will not be televised. This article will cover a few significant moments of the remaining events so that the efforts of these players will not be forgotten.

One of the most outstanding accomplishments was the successful title defense of player Thang Luu when he won the 2009 WSOP gold bracelet in Event #3 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better, which was the largest live Omaha High-Low Split tournament in history. Luu won his first bracelet in 2008 by taking Event 6 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better. Furthermore, Luu managed to finish second in this same event in 2007. This player was so dominate in the 2009 event that on Day 1 he was the chip leader, Day 2 he was second in chips and Day 3 saw him go into the final table as the chip leader and come out champion. Luu has now finished second, first and first in the same event over three consecutive years. In a very unusual spectacle, many players playing in cash games and other tournaments actually stopped, stood, and applauded Luu’s incredible exploit when he won in 2009. Many felt that Luu’s performance was one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of the game.

Jeff Lisandro was named Player of the Year at the WSOP, but how he got there won’t be seen on ESPN. He did so by winning 3 gold bracelets in Event #16 Seven Card Stud, Event #37 Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better and Event #44 Seven Card Razz. This heralds 4 gold bracelets to Lisandro’s credit. Before he won his first WSOP title in 2007, he was at the top of lists everywhere as one of the best players never to have won a gold bracelet. The WSOP commented that these victories have further sealed his reputation as one of the top Seven-Card Stud players anywhere on the planet.

Phil Ivey earned one of the nine seats at the Main Event final table this year out of a field of 6,494 players. But he also won two more bracelets by capturing Event #8 2-7 Draw Lowball No Limit and Event #25 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better. He now owns a total of seven gold bracelets at the age of 32. Ivey is one of the best known and most respected players period. He is one of the rare few players who excels at both tournaments and cash games. When Ivey won Event #25, admirers and fans were 10 deep around the table he was seated at.

Other tales of epic proportions include David Bach who won the prestigious Event #49 Championship H.O.R.S.E. that has a $50,000 entry fee. Timing in at 18 hours and 44 minutes, Event #49 was the second longest final table (time duration) in WSOP history with 480 hands dealt. The WSOP commented that while the Main Event remains the undisputed global championship title, in some respects the H.O.R.S.E. title is even more prestigious as seen by the top names in the game. Most highly successful players acknowledge the winner of this event as the year’s best ‘all around’ tournament player.

Angel Guillen who won his first bracelet in Event #32 No-Limit Hold’em, became only the second Mexican national to win a WSOP gold bracelet. Freddie Ellis who received his first bracelet by winning Event #6 Championship Seven Card Stud, became the fifth African-American in WSOP history to win a gold bracelet. This was also Freddie’s first time ever playing in an WSOP event. Greg Mueller won both Event #50 Limit Hold’em Shootout and Event #33 Limit Hold’em Championship. The WSOP felt that this victory reaffirmed his status as currently the best limit tournament player across the globe.

The all-time attendance record for 2008 which was 58,720 was smashed in 2009 by an additional 2,155 entrants. The total prize pool in 2009 grew beyond $174 million and for only the 2nd time in WSOP history, everyone who made the Main Event final table will win $1 million or more. Many historic achievements were made, but in retrospect praise should go to each of the 60,875 players who entered the 57 events held because they were the ones who contributed to making these moments possible.