Actor James Woods reaches WSOP final table
James Woods already has a fictional high school named after him. Now, the Academy Award-nominated actor is hoping to add a real World Series of Poker bracelet to his list of accomplishments.
Woods, one of the most recognizable faces at the WSOP in recent years, will provide a Hollywood flair to a star-studded final table when the $3,000 buy-in No-limit Hold ‘em Shootout resumes Saturday afternoon at the Rio Convention Center.
Woods eliminated Doug Polk, one of the world’s top heads-up players, early Saturday morning after grueling six-hour battle to reach his first career final table. WSOP bracelet winners Loni Harwood, Leo Wolpert and Brian Lemke also are among the 10 remaining players, along with respected poker pros David Peters, Jason Les, Andreas Hoivold and Nick Petrangelo.
Woods enters the final table fourth in chips with 462,000, though the leader (Petrangelo) and short stack (Les) are separated by a mere 31,000 chips.
“If you want the best poker lesson you could ever have, spend eleven hours at a poker table with @DougPolkPoker,” Woods wrote on his official Twitter account early Saturday.
The 68-year-old Woods has appeared in more than 130 films and television shows, including a recurring role as himself on the animated comedy series “Family Guy.” The high school on the popular comedy set in Quahog, R.I., is called James Woods Regional High School after the Rhode Island native.
Woods has more than $134,000 in live tournament poker earnings, according to the Global Poker Index, and this is his sixth cash in a WSOP event.
The Shootout event drew 308 entrants for a prize pool of $840,840. The winner will pocket $201,812.
CHIP COUNT
Nick Petrangelo – 474,000
Andreas Hoivold – 472,000
David Peters – 467,000
James Woods – 462,000
Brian Lemke – 460,000
Derek Bowers – 460,000
Loni Harwood – 446,000
Jeffrey Griffiths – 445,000
Leo Wolpert – 444,000
Jason Les – 443,000
WANG WINS FIRST OPEN BRACELET EVENT
Michael Wang of Livingston, N.J., overcame a huge chip deficit at the start of heads-up play to win the $5,000 No-limit Hold’em event late Friday at the Rio.
Wang started with a 9-to-1 chip disadvantage against professional poker player Bryn Kenney, but Wang won three key pots in the final 11 hands to complete the comeback.
Wang earned $466,120 and his first career bracelet. Kenney, of Long Beach, N.Y., toook home $287,870.
The tough final table featured several notable players, including 2012 WSOP Main Event champion Greg Merson and bracelet winners Joe Ebanks and Amir Lehavot. Merson finished fourth ($152,126) and Lehavot, the third-place finisher at the 2013 Main Event, was sixth ($83,838).
The event, which ended a day early, had 422 entries and a prize pool of $1,983,400.
Other bracelet winners:
Event No. 1 $565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em — Brandon Barnette (Corona, Calif., $75,704)
