Poker News

Poker Pro Victor Ramdin Gives the Inside Deal

This week, ESPN.com poker show “Inside Deal” welcomed Victor Ramdin. A member of Team PokerStars Pro who is passionate about charity work, Ramdin discusses Scotty Nguyen’s 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) antics and coming to the United States from his native Guyana.

The show began with recap of the latest poker news, headlined by WSOP November Nine member Joe Cada inking a sponsorship agreement with PokerStars. Still unsigned is chip leader Darvin Moon. “Inside Deal” host Bernard Lee gave his two cents on Moon’s future: “He’s said repeatedly that he doesn’t want to sign with a site and so far he’s keeping his word.” Attention then turned to the World Poker Tour’s (WPT) second sale to Party Gaming, the parent company of PartyPoker. As a result of backing out of its first deal, the WPT was forced to pay Gamynia Limited a $1 million penalty. Gamynia is affiliated with the iPoker Network.

After reviewing results from the WPT Legends of Poker, PokerStars Sunday Million, and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour’s (APPT) Macau stop, the “Inside Deal” welcomed Team Ultimate Bet’s Adam “Roothlus” Levy, who called into the show. On his online poker moniker, Levy explained, “It was an XBOX Live name. I just wanted something that sounded cool, so I decided to spell it phonetically.”

Levy rehashed his run-in with Phil Hellmuth during the 2008 WSOP Main Event, noting, “I thought it was pretty epic. It was surreal. I didn’t get offended or anything like that. I knew what I was getting into.” Levy then dove into the lifestyle of today’s online poker players, running into “Saved by the Bell” principal Dennis Haskins at a Los Angeles nightclub, and traveling to the Ultimate Bet Aruba Poker Classic.

Ramdin then joined the show in studio and explained his mentality when coming to the United States in 1989: “It was a dream come true. This is like all of our dreams come true – just to come to America.” He has since made a name for himself not only on the felts, but also in the world of charity, where he travels to Guyana to fund heart surgeries with a team of poker stars. Ramdin told “Inside Deal” viewers, “When it comes to charity, I’m all pumped up. I have more energy for charity than I do for poker.” In addition to a lucrative poker career, Ramdin also owns several retail stores in the Bronx and manages real estate rentals.

ESPN.com Poker Editor Andrew Feldman joined the show to discuss the results of viewer opinions on Mount Cashmore, the Mount Rushmore of poker. Viewers enshrined Doyle Brunson, Hellmuth, Stu Ungar, and Chris Moneymaker on the granite face of Mount Cashmore. Others who came close to being one of the top four nominees included November Nine member Phil Ivey, Chip Reese, Daniel Negreanu, and “Binion.” On the latter nomination, e-mailers did not specify which Binion they meant, Jack or Benny.

Discussion turned to members of a hypothetical Hall of Shame. Ramdin claimed 2008 WSOP HORSE Champion Scotty Nguyen should be the Hall’s first member: “He’s a world-class player, but he should be setting a better example. I really hated what he did.” Highlights aired of Nguyen lambasting Michael DiMichele while allegedly drunk at the televised final table and included a barrage of edited words. Nguyen has since apologized for his actions.

Ramdin called his favorite “hidden gem” of the poker tournament scene the Bahamas, the site of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure each January. On his nickname “Computer Man,” the poker pro explained, “I don’t know where that came from. I am no computer man.” Also revealed was that Ramdin has a weight loss bet and he likes to stay around 200 pounds. While he’d like to see Ivey win the 2009 WSOP Main Event in November, his second choice would be Eric Buchman, who hails from New York.

Catch “Inside Deal” every Tuesday on ESPN.com. You can also sign up to receive daily news in your Inbox and score free autographed merchandise from some of your favorite pros.

Young Guns clash in Late Night Poker classic

Sparks were destined to fly as soon as it was announced that Luke ‘__Fullflush1__’ Schwartz and Andrew Feldman had both been drawn in the opening heat of Full Tilt’s Late Night Poker. After all the hype the action didn’t disappoint both on and off the felt.

ESPN Inside Deal Features WSOP November Niner Eric Buchman

This week, “Inside Deal,” which airs on ESPN.com, welcomed World Series of Poker (WSOP) November Nine member Eric Buchman, who will hold the second largest chip stack when play resumes in November.

Talk of recent additions to the Caesars Cup teams opened the show, which is sponsored by PokerStars. Phil Hellmuth and John Juanda will join Team Americas, while Dario Minieri and Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier will become part of Team Europe. “Inside Deal” host and Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Bernard Lee gave his take on the selections: “Daniel Negreanu was going to mold his team around team chemistry, solid heads-up play, and high-profile players.” Negreanu and Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad serve as team captains.

Discussion on “Inside Deal” then turned to Doyle Brunson’s Hall of Shame, which features Puggy Pearson, John “Doc” Holiday, Nick “Shoestring” Simpson, Nick Lanette, Stu Ungar, and Nick Vacchiano. Brunson unveiled his Hall of Shame in a recent blog post, with the only criteria for entry being that the person had to be deceased. Lanette earned his induction after biting a dealer’s ear off at the Stardust. “Inside Deal” host Bernard Lee was asked who he would add to the Hall of Shame, dead or alive. His nominee was Tony G, who berated Ralph Perry after eliminating him from the 2006 Intercontinental Poker Championship, among other incidents.

Results from the PokerStars Sunday Million, Asian Poker Tour (APT) Macau, European Poker Tour (EPT) Kiev, and Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge were displayed before Howard Lederer joined the show via satellite. On the young guns of poker, Lederer told “Inside Deal” hosts, “I feel like 2009 was really the true arrival of the internet player, the player who got started in 2004 and finally got enough live play under their feet.”

Lederer and sister Annie Duke were an integral part of the National Poker Week Fly-In, which took place last month in Washington, DC. On the future of legalized and regulated online poker in the United States, Lederer remarked, “A bit of it is timing and a bit of it is politics. The practical effect of [Congressman Barney Frank’s] bill is that there wouldn’t be any sports betting on the internet, but that doesn’t mean the professional leagues aren’t scared of it.” Lederer was one of a half-dozen high-profile players to turn out to the nation’s capital in an effort coordinated by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) to lobby for Frank’s bill.

Attention then turned to Buchman, who was asked how he was turned onto poker. The WSOP November Nine member responded, “My brother got me interested in it. We’d play in clubs in New York and go to Atlantic City.” He has a pair of runner-up showings in WSOP and WSOP Circuit tournaments, experience that he hopes to parlay into a bracelet in the 2009 Main Event: “Final table experience is invaluable when it comes to improving your game and performing under pressure.” Buchman will have three short-stacks to his left when play resumes in November.

ESPN Poker Editor Andrew Feldman, returning from a one-week vacation, asked Lee, “Inside Deal” host Laura Lane, and Buchman who they would add to the American and European Caesars Cup squads. Buchman noted that he’d add reigning National Heads-Up Poker Championship winner Huck Seed and Carlos Mortensen. Lee suggested Chris Ferguson and Gus Hansen. Lane threw out Erik Seidel and Vitaly Lunkin. Feldman told the cast that he’d add Lindgren to the U.S. team and Patrik Antonius to the European roster.

Viewer questions included whether Buchman would treat the final table as a continuation of play in July or as a new tournament. He responded, “The experience I have playing against these players and the footage I’ve seen on ESPN will help me get reads on players.” Many in the poker industry have questioned chip leader Darvin Moon’s experience. Buchman noted that, despite Moon’s lack of background on the felts, he is a formidable force: “He’s definitely a threat to win. He doesn’t have as much experience as everyone else, but he definitely can play.” In the end, Buchman predicted that he would be heads-up against Moon for the Main Event title.

“Inside Deal” is released every Tuesday on ESPN.com.

Laura Lane Gives the Inside Scoop on Inside Deal

Released every Tuesday on ESPN.com are new 30 minute editions of the hit poker show “Inside Deal.” Hosted by Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Bernard Lee and ESPN: The Magazine’s Laura Lane, “Inside Deal” has quickly acquired a loyal audience after debuting on August 4th. We sat down with Lane to discuss its success.

Poker News Daily: Tell us how you became involved with ESPN’s “Inside Deal.”

Lane: I write for ESPN: The Magazine and ESPN.com. I also did a lot of sports and entertainment television when I was in college. ESPN knew I liked poker, they approached me, and it went from there.

PND: Can you give us your poker background?

Lane: I first learned about poker from my little brother. We watched it on television and any time I hung out with him, I had to play. Then, I started playing against sports reporters in a weekly game. I got pretty good really fast. I would play every week in college, read books, watch it on television, and ended up playing in a charity tournament during the Sundance Film Festival. Jamie Gold was there giving lessons, so I sat down and got a lesson from him. Paul Wasicka and Todd Brunson were also there. I made it to the final table and finished fifth.

PND: Did you get any advice from Gold?

Lane: I didn’t know much at the time. There were three tables left and he told me to go all-in with the next best hand I got. I picked up K-K and Jamie was sitting at my table. I pushed all-in, Jamie looked at me, and said he’d fold. After that, everyone at the table gave me respect.

PND: How is “Inside Deal” compiled before it debuts on ESPN.com? What work goes into it?

Lane: Andrew Feldman, the Poker Editor for ESPN.com, has good judgment when it comes to news stories. Bernard is the poker pro and has interviewed a lot of the players before. We talk about what stories are good for the week and, ultimately, our producer makes the call on what airs.

PND: The chemistry between Bernard Lee and you seems to be pretty strong. Tell us about working with one of poker’s top minds.

Lane: He’s one of the nicest guys ever. We had a phone conversation before we ever met while he was in Hawaii. I read his blog back in 2005 when he had a deep run in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event and had a lot of questions for him about that. We’re both passionate and it’s nice working with someone who cares so much about the show. We keep talking about how we need a Sunday night game together because we shoot the show on Mondays. We had a barbeque after last week’s show and like hanging out with other.

PND: Has working on “Inside Deal” improved your own game?

Lane: I haven’t tested it out since we started filming the show. However, I’ve been learning so many tips that I probably should have known before, which will help undoubtedly me.

PND: Is it intimidating interviewing poker’s elite like Barry Greenstein, Chris Moneymaker, and Dennis Phillips?

Lane: Bernard has played with everyone, so he doesn’t get intimidated. Andrew has interviewed all of the top players. I’ve interviewed Jamie Gold and wrote articles for All In Magazine when it existed. I interviewed Greg Raymer when I was in college. I’ve interview A-list celebrities like Kobe Bryant and Kanye West, so I’m pretty comfortable.

PND: What feedback have you received from the show from friends, family, and co-workers who have watched it?

Lane: My little sister is honest. She’ll say, “Your hair looks better when it’s half up” and comment on my looks more than anything. Other people give me constructive tips. My mom says she doesn’t understand what we’re talking about. I went over to a friend’s house and they hadn’t seen it yet, so we watched it. They all wanted to know how I did it. Some of my friends are baffled by it.

PND: “Inside Deal” is slated to run weekly until the WSOP Main Event final table in November. What do you foresee beyond that?

Lane: The Main Event is the Super Bowl of poker, but there are so many different tournaments throughout the year. A show like ours could go year-round, but we’ll have to wait and see.

PND: Is there a market for a poker show like “Inside Deal” on television?

Lane: I really hope so. Poker is constantly growing and there are more people interested in it than ever before. People watch repeats of it over and over on networks like ESPN. The market is definitely strong. I would hope that in the next year or so, a show like ours is on television.

Laura Lane Gives the Inside Scoop on Inside Deal

Released every Tuesday on ESPN.com are new 30 minute editions of the hit poker show “Inside Deal.” Hosted by Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Bernard Lee and ESPN: The Magazine’s Laura Lane, “Inside Deal” has quickly acquired a loyal audience after debuting on August 4th. We sat down with Lane to discuss its success.

Poker News Daily: Tell us how you became involved with ESPN’s “Inside Deal.”

Lane: I write for ESPN: The Magazine and ESPN.com. I also did a lot of sports and entertainment television when I was in college. ESPN knew I liked poker, they approached me, and it went from there.

PND: Can you give us your poker background?

Lane: I first learned about poker from my little brother. We watched it on television and any time I hung out with him, I had to play. Then, I started playing against sports reporters in a weekly game. I got pretty good really fast. I would play every week in college, read books, watch it on television, and ended up playing in a charity tournament during the Sundance Film Festival. Jamie Gold was there giving lessons, so I sat down and got a lesson from him. Paul Wasicka and Todd Brunson were also there. I made it to the final table and finished fifth.

PND: Did you get any advice from Gold?

Lane: I didn’t know much at the time. There were three tables left and he told me to go all-in with the next best hand I got. I picked up K-K and Jamie was sitting at my table. I pushed all-in, Jamie looked at me, and said he’d fold. After that, everyone at the table gave me respect.

PND: How is “Inside Deal” compiled before it debuts on ESPN.com? What work goes into it?

Lane: Andrew Feldman, the Poker Editor for ESPN.com, has good judgment when it comes to news stories. Bernard is the poker pro and has interviewed a lot of the players before. We talk about what stories are good for the week and, ultimately, our producer makes the call on what airs.

PND: The chemistry between Bernard Lee and you seems to be pretty strong. Tell us about working with one of poker’s top minds.

Lane: He’s one of the nicest guys ever. We had a phone conversation before we ever met while he was in Hawaii. I read his blog back in 2005 when he had a deep run in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event and had a lot of questions for him about that. We’re both passionate and it’s nice working with someone who cares so much about the show. We keep talking about how we need a Sunday night game together because we shoot the show on Mondays. We had a barbeque after last week’s show and like hanging out with other.

PND: Has working on “Inside Deal” improved your own game?

Lane: I haven’t tested it out since we started filming the show. However, I’ve been learning so many tips that I probably should have known before, which will help undoubtedly me.

PND: Is it intimidating interviewing poker’s elite like Barry Greenstein, Chris Moneymaker, and Dennis Phillips?

Lane: Bernard has played with everyone, so he doesn’t get intimidated. Andrew has interviewed all of the top players. I’ve interviewed Jamie Gold and wrote articles for All In Magazine when it existed. I interviewed Greg Raymer when I was in college. I’ve interview A-list celebrities like Kobe Bryant and Kanye West, so I’m pretty comfortable.

PND: What feedback have you received from the show from friends, family, and co-workers who have watched it?

Lane: My little sister is honest. She’ll say, “Your hair looks better when it’s half up” and comment on my looks more than anything. Other people give me constructive tips. My mom says she doesn’t understand what we’re talking about. I went over to a friend’s house and they hadn’t seen it yet, so we watched it. They all wanted to know how I did it. Some of my friends are baffled by it.

PND: “Inside Deal” is slated to run weekly until the WSOP Main Event final table in November. What do you foresee beyond that?

Lane: The Main Event is the Super Bowl of poker, but there are so many different tournaments throughout the year. A show like ours could go year-round, but we’ll have to wait and see.

PND: Is there a market for a poker show like “Inside Deal” on television?

Lane: I really hope so. Poker is constantly growing and there are more people interested in it than ever before. People watch repeats of it over and over on networks like ESPN. The market is definitely strong. I would hope that in the next year or so, a show like ours is on television.

ESPN Inside Deal Welcomes Dennis Phillips

This week’s edition of the ESPN poker show “Inside Deal,” which airs on ESPN.com, featured 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) November Nine member Dennis Phillips and a revealing phone conversation with WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.

The show opened in its usual witty style, with “Inside Deal” Host Laura Lane trying to find Phillips to commence taping. ESPN employees and co-host Bernard Lee were all dressed like the former truck salesman, donning red St. Louis Cardinals hats and white collared shirts complete with logos. “Inside Deal,” which is sponsored by PokerStars.net, began its 40 minute show by discussing new legislation introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) to regulate online games of skill like poker in the United States. Poker News Daily was sourced on the story, with Lee commenting, “This is a revised bill that Senator Menendez introduced in 2008. The previous bill focused on just skill games. This specifically focuses on online poker.” The bill is numbered S 1597.

Discussion on “Inside Deal” then turned to the recent sale of the World Poker Tour (WPT) to Gamynia Limited. Lee gave his take on what the sale of the hallmark tournament series means for players: “For the Tour, time will tell. For the 2009-2010 season, there won’t be too many changes.” Lee then noted that legalized and regulated online poker in the United States would mean a dramatic increase in qualifiers for WPT events. “Inside Deal” broke down the results of its sponsor’s weekly online poker major, the Sunday Million, and discussed the death of PokerListings founder Andreas Oscarsson.

Pollack called in for “Inside Deal’s” first telephone interview. He gave a preview of the 2009 WSOP Europe festivities, which kick off on September 19th from London. Pollack explained a potential solution for the sellout of Day 1D of the 2009 WSOP, which left more than 500 players shut out of the game’s most prestigious tournament: “We’re going to continue to have pre-registration open months in advance. I think we’re going to allow players to select their start date for the Main Event until a certain point. After that, we’re going to select their start date so the days are properly balanced.” Among those left out in the cold on Day 1D were Durrrr Challenge participant Patrik Antonius, Poker Hall of Fame member T.J. Cloutier, and five-time WSOP bracelet winner Ted Forrest.

Phillips joined the show to talk about his interactions with members of the 2009 WSOP November Nine and his experience at National Poker Week in Washington, DC. On the latter effort, which was organized by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), Phillips recalled, “I honestly believe there will be a compromise between the two [internet gambling bills in the House and Senate]. They will come together with something. My hope is that in the next 12 to 18 months, this farce of a law they have will be amended.”

Phillips divulged the secrets to his deep runs in the 2008 and 2009 Main Events, where he finished 3rd and 45th, respectively, and relived throwing out the first pitch at a Cardinals baseball game. On November Nine member and CardPlayer Editor Jeff Shulman, who has threatened to throw out the bracelet should he win the Main Event, Phillips commented, “Even if he felt it, to come out and publicly state it is horrible. It’s repulsive to me that he’d consider throwing it away.”

ESPN Poker Editor Andrew Feldman then joined the “Inside Deal” set in Bristol, Connecticut to review Sexy Poker for the Nintendo Wii, which resembles a game of strip poker. Discussion of the game was a segue for forecasting technological breakthroughs in the game, with Lee suggesting that tournament officials mic up every player at a final table and use interactive cameras to divulge tells. Feldman also discussed World Team Poker, whose first match-up pits Phil Hellmuth’s Team USA against Men “The Master” Nguyen’s Team Vietnam. Phillips recalled Danes rooting for Peter Eastgate and Russians cheering for Ivan Demidov during the 2008 WSOP Main Event final table as examples of how team poker may have a bright future.

An unaired exit interview with Dan Harrington following his elimination from the WSOP Champions Invitational aired and Lee broke down Eastgate’s one-outer against Scott Montgomery during last year’s Main Event finale. New episodes of “Inside Deal” are released every Tuesday on ESPN.com.

Inside Deal Debuts on ESPN.com, Features Chris Moneymaker

On Tuesday, the first installment of Inside Deal premiered on ESPN.com, hosted by Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Bernard Lee and ESPN The Magazine contributor Laura Lane. The first 30 minute episode to air featured an appearance by 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker.

Inside Deal is presented by PokerStars.net, whose logo appears on virtually all on-screen graphics. In addition, the site aired two Americas Cup of Poker commercials and one traditional television ad. The opening segment of ESPN.com’s Inside Deal began with Lane asking Lee what Moneymaker’s real last name is. Moneymaker joined the duo and responded, “You don’t know that I changed it in 2003? It’s Berman.” Chris Berman is known to many ESPN fans as one of the original anchors of the SportsCenter franchise.

The set of Inside Deal is similar in feel to SportsCenter and makes its home at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Poker news took center stage to open the show and featured a preview of 2009 WSOP Main Event final table. On November Nine member Phil Ivey’s legacy, Lee commented, “I think this will cement his legacy that started back in his days in Atlantic City.” Then, attention turned to CardPlayer Magazine Editor Jeff Shulman’s comments that he’d trash the Main Event bracelet should he win. Lee retorted, “He has the right to say whatever he wants, but he should be acting more like a poker ambassador.”

Other news focused on the sellout of Day 1D of the 2009 WSOP Main Event and over 500 players being unable to enter poker’s most prestigious tournament. Lee explained, “Poker players are known procrastinators,” and offered up several solutions to prevent the problem from occurring in 2010. Talk of a Rounders sequel also permeated the Inside Deal news segment, as did the results of the PokerStars Sunday Million, complete with an on-screen graphic showing paydays from a three-way chop.

Moneymaker then joined Lee and Lane and discussed his recent success in Omaha. Moneymaker explained, “It’s hard to find myself playing Hold’em anymore.” He was then asked whether it’d be better for the game if an amateur or pro won the 2009 Main Event. Moneymaker commented, “To have Ivey come back and win it would be great for poker.” Moneymaker recalled his Main Event satellite win on PokerStars. Curiously, he was actually trying to finish fourth in the qualifier to take home $8,000 in cash. The top three spots paid Main Event seats, but Moneymaker was about $8,000 in debt. Nevertheless, he wound up winning the Main Event and igniting the modern poker boom.

Moneymaker also discussed how the play of amateurs has evolved since 2003. The champion explained that the game has become considerably more aggressive: “There was no such thing as a 4bet in 2003. If you were 4bet, it was aces or kings.” He also fielded a question from a viewer in Hershey, Pennsylvania about how to play suited connectors. Moneymaker explained, “Keep the pots small pre-flop” and “Don’t commit more than 5% of your stack pre-flop.”

ESPN Poker Editor Andrew Feldman joined the show to discuss who would appear on the Mount Rushmore of Poker. Moneymaker offered up the quartet of Jack Binion, Doyle Brunson, hole card camera inventor Henry Orenstein, and either Stu Ungar or Chip Reese. Lee made cases for Binion, Brunson, Ungar, and Moneymaker, while Feldman argued that Reese, Johnny Chan, and Phil Hellmuth should also be in the conversation.

An unaired hand from the WSOP Champions Invitational was reviewed. In it, 1983 Main Event Champion Tom McEvoy raised to 6,000 pre-flop with K-10 of clubs. 2002 winner Robert Varkonyi re-raised to 18,000 with pocket fives. McEvoy made the call to see the flop come 6-7-J. Varkonyi shoved all-in and McEvoy quickly mucked, leaving Feldman to comment that Vakonyi’s actions represented “a bold move on a scary flop.” Lee and Moneymaker gave analysis of the hand, which did not air as part of Tuesday night’s ESPN telecast of the Champions Invitational. McEvoy ultimately won the tournament, taking home a vintage Corvette and the Binion Cup.

Finally, Moneymaker was “under the gun” as part of a rapid-fire question and answer segment. Moneymaker revealed that he made $250 online during the car ride up to Bristol and his favorite tournament is the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas. He noted that, while moving from Nashville to Memphis, he lost his Main Event bracelet for two years, but it now sits in a box in his closet. He also discussed his craziest fan experience, his best chip trick, and the starting hand that gives him the most trouble (pocket jacks).

Inside Deal is posted every Tuesday on ESPN.com.

ESPN.com Poker Show Inside Deal to Debut Tuesday

The web-only poker show “Inside Deal” will make its debut on ESPN.com on Tuesday. Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Bernard Lee hosts “Inside Deal” and its premiere features 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker.

ESPN.com Poker Editor Andrew Feldman and ESPN The Magazine Columnist Laura Lane will flank Lee, who told Poker News Daily that he is looking forward to “Inside Deal” premiering on Tuesday: “This is a show that is needed in the industry and it’s unique in its time. It’s going to be a solid show with ESPN production value. It’s really going to start setting the standard for poker shows.” “Inside Deal” will be rolled out weekly on Tuesdays for three months, culminating with the final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in November.

Poker fans will be able to submit questions to “Inside Deal’s” hosts and guests through mediums like e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter. A press release distributed by Lee’s publicist notes, “Fans will also be given an exclusive chance to participate in a sweepstakes where one lucky winner will experience the November Nine in a unique way.” Lee plans to interview as many of the final nine in the WSOP Main Event as possible and told Poker News Daily, “Moneymaker is going to be our first guest, which is always a draw. Our host, Laura Lane, is an up-and-coming journalist. She’s really good and people will be very surprised.” Moneymaker’s monumental win in the 2003 Main Event over poker veteran Sammy Farha helped propel the game into the global phenomenon that it is today.

“Inside Deal” is sponsored by PokerStars.net and will focus on the lifestyle of poker players in addition to in-depth interviews, breaking news, and the latest tournament recaps. Despite “Inside Deal” debuting in an online-only format on ESPN.com, Lee believes that the table is set for a recurring televised poker show on the cable network: “With everything that goes on in poker, there is news every week. During the WSOP and leading up to the November Nine, there’s absolutely a market for this to be on television. There is an audience out there. Look at how many people watched last year’s Main Event. A live poker series would be a good lead-in to future ESPN shows.”

Lee hosts the “Bernard Lee Poker Show” weekly on RoundersRadio.com and 1510 AM The Zone in his native Boston. He is a poker columnist for ESPN.com and the Boston Herald whose book “The Final Table” can be found on the shelves of industry enthusiasts around the world. Lee stormed onto the poker scene in 2005, when he finished 13th in the Main Event for $400,000. He recorded two final tables in WSOP Circuit Events in early 2008, including a fourth place effort in the Horseshoe Council Bluffs Championship for $37,000. He also finished as the runner-up to Dale Robinson in a $1,060 buy-in preliminary tournament at Caesars Indiana for $40,000. He is currently an instructor for the WSOP Academy.

In the eyes of many, Lee’s most impressive feat was winning tournaments held during the Foxwoods World Poker Finals three straight years between 2006 and 2008. He won a $4,800 buy-in event in 2006 for $368,000, a $1,850 buy-in event in 2007 for $239,000, and a $530 buy-in event in 2008 for $22,000. Lee is a staple at live poker tournaments across the East Coast. “The Final Table Volume 2” debuted in December in time for the holiday season amid resounding fanfare. The book chronicles hands from his Boston Herald newspaper column of the same name from 2007 to mid-2008.

We’ll have full coverage of the debut episode of “Inside Deal” right here on Poker News Daily.

ESPN to launch a new Poker show

ESPN will be offering more poker coverage than just the $40.000 No-Limit Hold’em, Ante up for Africa and the Main Event this year as they will broadcast totally new web-only poker show called the ESPN Inside Deal. The show is presented by PokerStars and will have its debut on August 4 on espn.com.

-Moneymaker on the move

Chris Moneymaker will be the first guest on the show which will give the poker fans a behind the scenes look at poker lifestyle and the whole poker scene. Other confirmed guests will include Daniel Negreanu and Joe Hachem.

The show is hosted by ESPN The Magazine’s Laura Lane, professional player and ESPN.com columnist Bernard Lee and ESPN.com poker editor Andrew Feldman.

During the three months of the series, fans will be able to see the completion of the WSOP Main Event final table. There will be interviews and analyzes of each member of the November Nine as well. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the show by submitting questions to their favorite pro players. Fans will also have an exclusive chance to participate in a sweepstakes where one winner will experience the November Nine in a unique way.

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ESPN to launch a new Poker show

ESPN confirms online poker show

On Wednesday ESPN confirmed they will be airing a new web-only poker show called the
ESPN Inside Deal.

The show, which is presented by PokerStars.net, will debut on Aug. 4 on ESPN.com. It will give poker fans a behind the scenes look at poker lifestyle.

Inside Deal will be hosted by ESPN the Magazine contributor Laura Lane, pro player and ESPN.com columnist Bernard Lee and ESPN.com poker editor Andrew Feldman.

The three month series will conclude with the completion of the World Series of Poker Main Event final table and along the way they will interview and analyze each member of the November Nine. Poker fans will also get to watch never-before seen hands and features from the WSOP broadcasts.

Throughout the series fans will have the opportunity to submit questions to their favorite professional poker players through email, Twitter and Facebook. Fans will also be given an exclusive chance to participate in a sweepstakes where one lucky winner will experience the November Nine in a unique way.

2003 WSOP Main Event winner Chris Moneymaker will be the first featured guest for the show. One of the most well-known figures in poker Moneymaker parlayed a $39 satellite win on PokerStars into a $10,000 Main Event seat and eventually the $2.5 million for first place. Many poker pundits speculate that Moneymaker was responsible for the poker boom and this has since been termed the "Moneymaker effect."

Other featured players for Inside Deal will include Daniel Negreanu and Joseph Hachem.

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iPhone 3G S Brings High-Powered Poker Applications

With the release of the new iPhone 3G S, poker players are more excited than ever about the robust hardware and internet features of this amazing device.  There are many poker resources available with the iPhone, including podcasts, training videos, and other applications.

Accessing the iTunes Store will reveal a ton of programs that mainly focus on playing poker against the computer or other players in a play money format.  For many, this is a fun way of satisfying their poker craving on the road or at home, as the application is available for those on the 3G network or connected to the internet via Wifi.  Zynga’s Live Poker 40k is one of the most popular iPhone applications and, at $2.99, the price is easy to swallow.  In terms of games like this that allow you to play live opponents or a friend in the same room, there are literally too many to mention.

For those of you who like to play at home, a fun application might be Poker Tournament Manager, which will turn your iPhone into a command center for your home game. It organizes buy-ins, blind levels, and even monitors performances from tournament to tournament.  This handy application is only $4.99.  You can also find a familiar-sounding application called Poker Tracker (not related to the online tracking tool) that allows you to enter in your progress in live games and save it to your phone.

Also, check out three applications from PokerCruncher: Hold’em Odds Quizzer ($1.99), PokerCruncher ($4.99), and Poker Odds Teacher ($0.99).  The first application is a slick quiz program that helps test players judge equity ranges in a wide variety of Hold’em situations, both pre- and post-flop.  PokerCruncher is basically PokerStove for the iPhone and the Poker Odds Teacher is a great refresher (or introductory) program for learning poker odds.

Podcasts have been all the rage the last few years in getting quality content out to users in a cheap and easy method.  Simply record your podcast (either video or audio), submit it free to iTunes, and people will be able to hear your message.  Full Tilt Poker offers podcasts that center on tips from the pros.  ESPN might have the best podcast around with Phil Gordon and acclaimed columnist Andrew Feldman.  The show constantly has A-list guests for insightful and interesting discussion.  Sites like PocketFives.com also offer up podcasts related to online poker every week.  Since podcasts are almost universally free, they are highly accessible for users.

Many poker training sites including Stox Poker and Deuces Cracked now offer iPhone editions of their popular training videos.  Instead of watching the best training money can buy while at your computer, you can load up the video onto your iPhone and watch it on your lunch break at work.

Given that podcasts, training videos, and applications are available, the technology suggests that the iPhone is ready for poker rooms.  Any site is free to develop an iPhone application.  Cake Poker already has a platform available for the Windows Mobile operating system that lets players play for real money.  Since the iPhone 3G (now $99) and the new iPhone 3G S ($199 and $299) both access the speedy 3G internet network for low-end DSL speeds, there’s no doubt that the hardware and internet capabilities can handle an application to allow people to play poker.

The holdup, as evidenced by feedback from Cake Poker software developers on their feedback forums, are the restrictions that Apple places on applications submitted to their store.  At this point in time, poker rooms believe that Apple would not approve such an application and, therefore, it isn’t worth the time and resources to build.  Once the legal climate is cleared up in the United States, there’s little doubt that all of the major poker rooms would immediately begin production on free iPhone applications to let players battle for real money.  In the meantime, we have plenty of wonderful goodies in the iTunes App Store along with videos and podcasts to satisfy our poker bug.

Vanessa Rousso wins the EPT High Roller Championship

After a really long heads-up marathon match Vanessa Rousso managed to win over the second place finisher Randy Dorfman in the EPT High Roller Championship. Vanessa, who is a Team PokerStars member and a GoDaddy Girl is sure take down some nice tournaments this year.

In the final hand Vanessa made a straight on the turn holding 67 and when the river gave Dorfan two pair the all-in situation was hard to avoid and Vanessa Rousso took down the tournament and the €570 000 first price.

When the tournament was down to three players there was a deal made on the final table which left the second and third place finisher with €420 000 and the winner would get an additional €150K.

Here are the final results from the 2009 EPT High Roller Championship:

1. Vanessa Rousso - €570.000
2. Randy Dorfman - €420.000
3. Tony G - €420.000
4. Florian Langmann - €188.000
5. David Eldar – 138.000
6. William Thorson - €99.000
7. Andrew Feldman - €79.000
8. David Steicke - €60.000

Poker News in Brief: May 4-10, 2009

As an ongoing feature every Sunday, PokerListings compiles a list of interesting stories from around the poker world that didn't quite make the front page.

This week we're looking at some more Tom Dwan and Fullflush1 insults, a surprisingly resilient poker market and the ongoing battle to legalize online poker.

Tom "durrrr" Dwan and __FullFlush1__ trade blows on Poker Show

It was quite a week for Poker Show on Boylesport.com. The show, hosted by Jesse May, was fortunate enough to get both Tom Dwan and arch-nemesis Luke" __FullFlush1__" Schwartz in the same week.

Dwan was the first one to appear on the show and when asked what he thought about __FullFlush1__ he responded by saying, "Who?"

Other than that Dwan was fairly casual about Schwartz in the interview saying he really hadn't played him that much.

The next day Schwartz was the opposite. Schwartz implied durrrr only wins against him when he hits two outers and gets incredibly lucky. Dwan wasn't the only target either as Schwartz also talked trash about Andrew Feldman, Greeks, Italians and even Phil Ivey.

Dwan and Schwartz appear destined for a 50,000 hand battle royale.

You can listen to the shows by going here

New Orleans a bright spot for the WSOPC

Although it's been a slow year for the WSOPC the New Orleans event is off to a spectacular start. The first event of the series drew 572 entries which is the biggest turn out in more than two years for the New Orleans circuit stop.

The eventual winner, Casey Lang Chiasson, won nearly $50,000 for taking part in the $300 buy-in event. The main event of WSOPC New Orleans starts on May 21.

Debate continues to rage over online gambling legislation

It's been anything but dull since Rep. Barney Frank introduced his pro-online gambling bill earlier this week that would essentially repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

Now the author of UIGEA, Rep. Spencer Bachus, is speaking out against Frank's bill, suggesting it will lead to children becoming addicted to online gambling.

"Illegal off-shore Internet gambling sites are a criminal enterprise and allowing them to operate unfettered in the United States would present a clear danger to our youth, who are subject to becoming addicted to gambling at an early age," wrote Bachus on his website.

Earlier in the week, Jeffrey Sandman mentioned that despite the online gambling prohibition there were still millions Americans gambling online. A large part of Barney Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267) is dedicated to limiting underage online gambling.

Florida approves gaming bill

Floridians looking to play some No-Limit Hold'em have finally had their prayers answered.

Earlier this week the legislature for the state of Florida approved the expansion of poker in the state and that includes a removal of the maximum buy-in for No-Limit Hold'em.

The bill was the source of serious debate between the Floriday State Senate and House but they were finally able to reach consensus this week.

The 15-year agreement is subject to approval by the Seminole tribal nation and is estimated to generate at least $150 million in annual payments from the Seminoles to the state.

The legislation also allows all cardrooms located at horse tracks and jai alai frontons to offer expanded No-Limit Hold'em without the buy-in limitations.

Click here to learn more.

Complications for legal poker in Texas

Amazingly Texans are still not legally allowed to play Texas No-Limit Hold'em in their home state and the group looking to legalize it was dealt a major blow this week.

Apparently Texas Gov. Rick Perry changed his position once again and assuming Perry plans to veto it, Rep. Jose Menendez said he has no intentions of bringing a dead bill to the floor.

The two biggest threats to legal poker in Texas, Texans Against Gambling and the Christian Life Association, put out memos regarding the bill this week and the House Committee seems to have taken notice.

It's worth checking out here. as they've been doing extensive coverage on the fight for legal poker in Texas. If you're interested you can also get more information here.

Players sue L.A. casinos over bad beat jackpots

L.A.-area casinos took a bad beat of their own this week as two players filed a lawsuit against them.

Dennis Chae and Jeff Kim are suing the Bicycle Club, Commerce, Hustler, Hollywood Park and Hawaiian Garden Casinos because floor managers would not let them compete in bad beat jackpots unless they played at tables that collected the $1 per pot fees, even though ads said no purchase was required.

It's not exactly a new issue. In 2005, Attorney General Bill Lockyer cautioned casinos that the promotions violated State Law unless players were allowed to win jackpots without paying the fee.

To learn more check out the L.A. Times story here

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Rousso books EPT High Roller win

"As long as I got my money in good I thought I had a chance," she told PokerStars. "I'm probably going to go and have a good cry after this."

The field included 79 of the best poker players on the planet leading up to Sunday's final table.

There, Rousso faced no less than Aussie Millions High Roller champ David Steicke, Team PokerStars Pro William Thorson, PokerStars.de Shooting Star Florian Langmann, the venerable Tony "G" Guoga, Full Tilt Pro Andrew Feldman and the solid David Eldar and Randy Dorfman.

Steicke went out eighth when his pocket pair of kings couldn't hold against Dorfman's big slick. Feldman was the next to go after running ace-ten into Tony G's queens.

A double elimination came after that as Dorfman made a spade flush to bounce both Eldar and Thorson.

Play then went three-handed when Rousso eliminated Langmann and his unconnected ace-king.

Rousso, Dorfman and Guoga traded the lead back and forth before deciding on a chop that left €150k for first.

Soon after, Guoga pushed with a weak ace and got out-turned by Dorfman's Q 9.

Rousso started heads-up behind, but doubled up making two pair. She gave away the lead, but eventually doubled again when Dorfman shoved into her trip aces drawing dead.

In the end, Rousso made a straight against Dorfman's two pair to book the €570,000 win.

"I have given 110% over the last three days," the Team PokerStars Pro said.

"A few weeks ago I finished second in the NBC Heads-Up Championships and I was happy, but at the end of the day second places are no good. You want to win."

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Hot in Herrre - Nelly takes on EPT

The multiplatinum recording artist is part of the changing face of poker that sees more and more celebrities and ex-sportsmen nursed into its ranks every year.

Some may have been suspicious about Nelly's reasons for playing in Monaco.

The rapper is inexperienced at the felt, and when Andrew Feldman sent him to the rail early in the day, it seemed fears his appearance may have just been a marketing ploy could have been vindicated.

Nelly, however, was unfazed by his early exit and was upbeat about his future prospects.

"It was cool. Tournaments are always difficult but I had a good time," he said.

"The more I play, the better I get and the more experience I have. I don't have a mentor or anything like that. You just learn to play by playing and watching."

The poker world is awash with sportsmen and celebrities from other arenas aiming to make an impact on the poker world. Rappers have yet to fully storm the poker world, although there are signs that things are changing.

Ja Rule was seen battling it out for a bracelet at the 2008 WSOP, helping to raise the profile of the rap community within the poker world.

This crossover of cultures has fed into the world of TV, where poker shows such as Bring it to the Table and Hip Hop Hold'Em have been geared toward an audience more famililar with rap battles than heads-up battles.

These shows may be slightly tongue-in-cheek, but it may not be long before we see a genuine contender rise up from the rap world.

Whether that man will be Nelly or not is dubious at this stage, though the rap star was keen to stress he was not just a marketing pawn and wasn't taking the challenge here in Monte Carlo lightly.

"I'm taking it seriously as that's what I'm here to do," he told us. "I cashed in a couple of tournaments yesterday so it's going ok."

Regarding his background in rap, Nelly was honest enough to accept that his verbal skills would be of little use to him in his bid to become a credible poker player.

"Some of the best players are the quietest. My rap skills aren't much use at the tables!"

While Nelly won't return for Thursday's Day 2, more than 540 of his counterparts will, including Team PokerStars Pro pros Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Rousso and Joe Hachem.

Tune into all of the live coverage from Monaco in the PokerListings Live Tournaments section.

Visit PokerListings.com

Andrew Feldman Joins Team FullTilt

Andrew Feldman, a 21 year old paperboy from Watford has just signed a contract to join Team FullTilt Poker. Feldman have won over $4 million playing online poker at Full Tilt Poker.

About two weeks ago the British newspaper “The Sun” ran an article about Andrew Feldman who used to work as a paperboy in Watford but quit his job to pursue his carrier as a professional poker player. During the last 3 years he has gone from sitting at his parents house playing $1 Sit and Go’s to buying a flat worth $500.000 and a brand new sports car.

On top of all this he has now become a member of the ever growing Team FullTilt where he will team up with the likes of Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Phil Gordon and many others. With these other pro’s he will travel the world and play in the biggest poker tournaments wearing FullTilt Poker clothing.

Andrew Feldman Joins Full Tilt Poker

U.K. poker player Andrew Feldman is the newest Full Tilt Poker red pro according to a press release from Check-Raise Management. He’s an esteemed cash game player and is the biggest winner on the current installment of “The Poker Den.”

Feldman was the winner of the 888 U.K. Open IV in October of 2007 and bested Gideon Barnett heads-up. Two months later, he finished fourth in a €2,000 buy-in No Limit Hold'em tournament during the European Poker Tour’s (EPT) Prague stop for €28,000. He finished 58th in the 2008 Aussie Millions for AUD $25,000. Feldman commented on his signing as a red pro: “I’m totally thrilled to sign with Full Tilt Poker as a red pro. In many ways, it’s a dream come true. The site has the best software and strongest team of players, so I hope I can do them and myself proud.”

Feldman is listed on the online poker room’s website as a “Full Tilt Pro.” Others include World Poker Tour (WPT) Bay 101 Shooting Star Champ Steve Brecher, reigning WPT World Champion David Chiu, John D’Agostino, online poker pro Peter “Nordberg” Feldman, and 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) November Nine member Scott Montgomery. He’s also surrounded himself with some of the world’s best athletes off the poker felts, having competed under the British flag in badminton at the Macabbiah games in Israel. He can also be found rooting for the Watford FC on a daily basis.

His agent at Check-Raise Management, Nick Ferro, commented in a press release, “Andrew is a phenomenal natural talent and it’s not surprising that he has signed with the best in the business. He’s still only young, so expect much more from him as he develops over the coming years. The prospects are, quite frankly, frightening.” Feldman stormed onto the live poker scene by grabbing third in a £750 buy-in No Limit Hold'em tournament held during the Grosvenor U.K. Poker Tour stop in London in 2007. He cashed for £8,610 in the event, which was ultimately won by David Lloyd.

Full Tilt Poker’s primary selling point is that Average Joes can play with the game’s best. The site’s Team Full Tilt includes Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, John Juanda, Jennifer Harman, Phil Gordon, Erick Lindgren, Erik Seidel, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Gus Hansen, Allen Cunningham, and Patrik Antonius. Other groups associated with Full Tilt include the pros from poker training site CardRunners as well as the Hendon Mob.

Starting on May 6th, each event held as part of the Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) will be hosted by a Full Tilt pro. The Main Event takes place on May 17th at 6:00pm ET and is a $535 buy-in $2.5 million guaranteed tournament. In a similar fashion to the ongoing PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), each FTOPS event will have a MiniFTOPS counterpart, guaranteeing a total of $18 million. Everyone who makes the final table of an FTOPS XII tournament will grab a limited edition jacket. Winners of FTOPS tournaments will also claim a gold jersey and a special avatar to display when they are battling it out online.

A special FTOPS Tournament of Champions takes place on May 20th. Winners from tournaments during FTOPS IX, X, XI, and XII will compete in a freeroll with a 2009 WSOP prize package on the line. The tournament series in Las Vegas begins on May 27th with a $500 buy-in Casino Employees No Limit Hold’em event. The $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament commemorating the 40th running of the WSOP begins the next day.

Feldman is a native of London. According to Full Tilt Poker, the youngster prefers ring games to tournaments “because skill will always prevail and by the end of the month, the best players will always show a profit.”

Ex-paperboy turns Full Tilt pro

Andrew Feldman is the latest player to become a ‘Red Pro’ at Full Tilt Poker. The 21-year-old has rapidly worked his way from $1 sit n go tournaments through short handed ring games to become one of the most feared high stakes heads up players around. He gave up his studies (and according to The Sun newspaper his paper round) in 2007 to play full time.