July 15, 2010 (Las Vegas, Nevada) – Some say poker is all psychology, the ability to read your opponent’s mind. Others contend that it’s nothing more than math, a discreet set of probabilities that can be measured and predicted. Whichever side of the fence you’re on, no one would have predicted that Peter Northug would be forced out of the World Series of Poker by pure bad luck.

Over the four epic days that he played at the Rio Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Northug impressed, playing cards with a skill and ease not generally part of the repetoire of the world’s best cross-country ski racers. Northug started Day 4 (Tuesday, July 13th) with just over 180,700 in chips, ranking him as the 3rd richest Norwegian in the tournament, above former World Cup winner Sigurd Eskeland (147,900) and behind Martin Hanitz (599,800) and Johnny Lodden (656,400, No. 8 in the tournament so far). Things were definitely looking up for the multiple Olympic medal winner until one bad hand ended his run entirely.

According to Vi Menn, Northug was holding a pair of 10s when another player started betting aggressively. Northug, counting on the strength of his pair, pushing his opponent ‘all in’. Both players showed their cards, and a pair of 9s countered Northug’s 10s. This put the Norwegian at an 80% advantage, which increased after the first three of five communal cards were revealed. It wasn’t until the 5th and final card was revealed that delivered the bad news. Northug was staring, dismayed, at a most unlikely third 9, dashing his hopes along with the entire 400,000-chip pot.

Despite the frustration of being forced out by such a narrow margin, Northug can take solace in his top-700 position (roughly 650th), which landed him in the money. On his flight back to Norway he’ll be bringing home $21,000 US dollars, an impressive return on the $10,000 that Vi Menn put up to get enter him into the WSOP tournament.