2007 WSOP Event 45 - No Limit Holdem / Six Handed $5,000

  There are those who would argue that Bill Edler, Erick Lindgren, and Gavin Smith are to the sport of poker what the "Three Tenors" are to the genre of Opera. Before anybody starts to argue which of this trio is Pavarotti, a number of folks believe these three better resemble another Hollywood triangle of players. To many of those in the industry Bill, Erick, and Gavin are to poker what the Larry, Moe, and Curly were to that small segment of the comedy where a punch in the face and a swift kick to the groin are considered funny. This opens the question of which one of them is Curly. Of course of those who snicker at the antics of these three, nobody was laughing at Bill Edler after he won his first bracelet by claiming victory in Event 45 at the World Series of Poker.  Edler was never in anything that vaguely resembled serious trouble during the latter stages of the tournament. At one point he held a muscular 5 to 1 chip lead over the only person standing between him and his first WSOP bracelet: Alex Bolotin.  Beating Bolotin was no easy task. This was his second final table of the World Series of Poker. So his position in the tournament was no accident of luck.  Edler was dominant in the heads up competition. He took the majority of the last ten hands and managed to put a stake in the heart of his opponent at hand #107.  Edler is the first in this close nit friendship group to win a bracelet, and therefore probably wears a target on his back that even his closest buddies would happily drive knife through. This might qualify him as the "Larry" of the bunch.PlacePlayerPrize1William (Bill) Edler$904,6722Alex Bolotin$504,6863Erik Friberg$345,5824Greg Pohler$232,6695Russ (Dutch) Boyd$169,3696Gioi Luong$110,860