Kessler misses out yet again at WSOP event
With so many poker players in the world, never winning a major tournament is no great shame because it is something that will happen to the vast majority of people who take up the activity. However, when you are good enough to continually get down to the head to head matches at major events but just can’t seem to get over the finishing line in first place, it is easy to develop a reputation as being a nearly man or woman. Sports fan can be notoriously cruel and terms like choker, bottle-merchant and much worse get bandies about far too easily.
Is there a mental block for some poker players?
This is the reality today for Allen Kessler who yet again failed at final hurdle, with this defeat being the fourth time he had finished runner up in a WSOP event. It is important that Kessler does not start to let the psychological nature of this defeat get to him but of course, this is much easier said than done. He will know that he has the talent and nerve to get to a final pairing, so that shouldn’t be a problem but will he be able to overcome the mental block to finally get a win? That is something that is worth looking out for in the near future.
Bracelet and a lot of cash for Rast
However, for every winner, there is a loser and one man who has finally overcome a WSOP block is Brian Rast, who is now the proud owner of a WSOP bracelet. 765 players entered the WSOP $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold ‘em Event but as we know, there can only be one winner and Rast is the man who has a new piece of jewellery to content himself with. Not only that but coming first saw Rast take away a winner cheque of $227,232. At the start of Day 3, Rast was sitting at the head of the table but it doesn’t always mean that a win is guaranteed.
It took 6 hours for the table to be whittled down and the aggressive style of play utilised by Rast was enough to clinch the victory and continue Kessler’s hard luck story. Then again, not too many people will have too much sympathy for a man that walks away with $140,309 but the money isn’t everything in poker. If Kessler continues without winning a WSOP tournament, you know that the money will be of no great comfort and the nagging sensation of being so close yet so far will always be with him.