2007 WSOP Event 54 - World Championship No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball w/Rebuys $5,000

  Most of us who survived a public school gym class in the days before dodge ball was considered some sort of hate crime remember what it was like when teams were picked. The kids who enjoyed the distinction of being picked first were generally the ones who were tall, thin, athletic, they owned really good hair, or could fill out a C cup while still only a high school sophomore. The kids left over were the ones for whom pop-tarts were a religion and were physically spent for the day after the grueling act of brushing their teeth. Obviously not much expected of those final picks, and they were fundamentally used as human shields to protect the more athletic and popular kids during any competition that involved red, rubber balls and welts.  Despite what we learned in high school gym, last is not always worst. In the case of the World Series of Poker, the last competition before the Main Event included two world class players playing poker heads-up and making history in the sport.  Chad Brown enjoyed his money finish at Event 54. That makes a total of seven events this year Mr. Brown has ended with a paycheck. That puts him just behind Michael Binger who has cashed out in eight events this year.  Despite winning money in seven tournaments, and making a number of final tables, he has yet to win a bracelet. There is a point where one gets tired of the tacky bridesmaid dress, and simply longs to take the walk down the aisle wearing white. This was his chance. Chad had 2,170,000 in chips and was sitting opposite Erik Seidel who was only working with a stack that was far less than half of his prodigious pile of chips. He could almost feel the weight of the bracelet around his wrist.  If we have learned one thing during this year's WSOP, we have learned that no lead is safe. Chad Brown may have had a serious edge in the chip count, but he was sitting opposite a player who has won a bracelet for every day in the week. This is not the sort of opponent who will simply roll over for something as trivial as being on the painful end of 3 to 1 disadvantage in chips.  The one on one play between Brown and Seidel was about as even a match as George Forman vs. a Ham Sandwich. Just a hint, Chad Brown was not playing the part of Mr. Foreman in this Scenario.  Erik Seidel methodically knocked down his opponent's chip lead and on hand #174 eliminated Brown, who will have to wait till next year for his next attempt to shed the "bridesmaid" tag.  This win puts Seidel in rare company. With the eighth WSOP bracelet firmly around his wrist, only Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Moss can boast more pieces of championship jewelry.  This event concludes the undercard of 54 events that leads up to the battle royal that is the World Series of Poker Main Event. Erik Seidel will be competeing against over 8000 other pros. Will he win his 9th bracelet? Will he end up as first day debris? We don't know but it will be fun finding out.PlacePlayerPrize1Erik Seidel$538,8352Chad Brown$324,7773Shahram (Shawn) Sheikhan$206,6764Lamar Wilkinson$162,3895Andrew Black$118,1016Kassam (Freddy) Deeb$73,8137Todd Brunson$51,669