Poker News

Poker2Nite Previews WPT Season 8 on Fox Sports Net

On Wednesday’s installment of the Fox Sports Net poker news show “Poker2Nite,” Faraz “The-Toilet” Jaka and Justin “Boosted J” Smith recapped a hand from the Bellagio Cup V. The tournament will kick off the eighth season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) on Fox Sports Net.

The WPT premieres on Sunday night at 11:00pm ET on Fox Sports Net, with Poker Hall of Fame member Mike Sexton and former actor Vince Van Patten once again having the call from the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Jaka and Smith finished second and third, respectively, in the event and tangled in a hand where Jaka held A-J and Smith had pocket deuces.

The duo broke down the hand over the course of a five-minute segment, with Jaka noting, “There’s so much information out there. People can figure it out just by studying it, but when you do something new that hasn’t been talked about over and over again, they don’t know what to do.” For example, Jaka led out with the best hand on the flop, electing not to check despite flopping a monster. Team PokerStars Pro member Alexandre Gomes ultimately took down the Bellagio Cup V Main Event to the tune of $1.2 million.

A new segment called “This Week in Side Action” recapped cross-booking between 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine member Phil Ivey and Team Full Tilt’s Tom “durrrr” Dwan. The “Poker2Nite Dictionary” defined cross-booking as, “When two players bet against each other by offering a percentage of any winnings.” Essentially, one player would have to pay the other half of what they cashed for. In this case, Dwan came up empty-handed after busting on Day 2 of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, while Ivey cashed for $23,500. Consequently, Dwan paid “The Tiger Woods of Poker” $11,750. “Poker2Nite” host Joe Sebok added that the $23,500 payday did not cover Ivey’s 10-day stay in a suite at Atlantis.

“Poker2Nite” roving reporter and Absolute Poker pro Lacey Jones scoped out the brand new 18-table poker room at Aria, which is part of Las Vegas’ CityCenter. Aria Poker Room Manager Adam Altweis, who previously sat down with Poker News Daily in an exclusive interview, told Jones, “Our high-level executives really put forth a big effort. The room was made for the player.” The Aria poker room features direct access to the poker cage and may soon sport Ivey’s Room, a nosebleed-stakes table surrounded by glass similar to Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio.

Sebok had already had a chance to check out the brand new digs at Aria and told his “Poker2Nite” co-host Scott Huff, “I was there on opening night and it’s spectacular.” On the prospect of Ivey’s Room coming to fruition, Sebok speculated, “I don’t even think those talks happened.” Only time will tell. Following the Aria segment was Isaac Haxton discussing a hand against Ryan Daut during the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Daut won $1.5 million for taking down the WPT tournament.

Dana Workman dished out the “Weekly Misdeal” sponsored by Bluff Magazine, which offers a satirical look at the week’s poker headlines. This week, Workman poked fun at the proposed New Jersey intrastate internet gambling bill, the 2010 WSOP rules governing Twitter use and player hygiene, and 2009 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Cada playing in the same celebrity basketball game as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen.

Finally, “Poker2Nite” previewed the finale of the Absolute Poker College Challenge, which will see players vie for $10,000 in college tuition. The final table will be streamed live online. Highlights will be shown next Wednesday at 11:00pm ET, when the next new episode of UB.com’s “Poker2Nite” will air on Fox Sports Net.

Poker2Nite Previews WPT Season 8 on Fox Sports Net

On Wednesday’s installment of the Fox Sports Net poker news show “Poker2Nite,” Faraz “The-Toilet” Jaka and Justin “Boosted J” Smith recapped a hand from the Bellagio Cup V. The tournament will kick off the eighth season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) on Fox Sports Net.

The WPT premieres on Sunday night at 11:00pm ET on Fox Sports Net, with Poker Hall of Fame member Mike Sexton and former actor Vince Van Patten once again having the call from the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Jaka and Smith finished second and third, respectively, in the event and tangled in a hand where Jaka held A-J and Smith had pocket deuces.

The duo broke down the hand over the course of a five-minute segment, with Jaka noting, “There’s so much information out there. People can figure it out just by studying it, but when you do something new that hasn’t been talked about over and over again, they don’t know what to do.” For example, Jaka led out with the best hand on the flop, electing not to check despite flopping a monster. Team PokerStars Pro member Alexandre Gomes ultimately took down the Bellagio Cup V Main Event to the tune of $1.2 million.

A new segment called “This Week in Side Action” recapped cross-booking between 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine member Phil Ivey and Team Full Tilt’s Tom “durrrr” Dwan. The “Poker2Nite Dictionary” defined cross-booking as, “When two players bet against each other by offering a percentage of any winnings.” Essentially, one player would have to pay the other half of what they cashed for. In this case, Dwan came up empty-handed after busting on Day 2 of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, while Ivey cashed for $23,500. Consequently, Dwan paid “The Tiger Woods of Poker” $11,750. “Poker2Nite” host Joe Sebok added that the $23,500 payday did not cover Ivey’s 10-day stay in a suite at Atlantis.

“Poker2Nite” roving reporter and Absolute Poker pro Lacey Jones scoped out the brand new 18-table poker room at Aria, which is part of Las Vegas’ CityCenter. Aria Poker Room Manager Adam Altweis, who previously sat down with Poker News Daily in an exclusive interview, told Jones, “Our high-level executives really put forth a big effort. The room was made for the player.” The Aria poker room features direct access to the poker cage and may soon sport Ivey’s Room, a nosebleed-stakes table surrounded by glass similar to Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio.

Sebok had already had a chance to check out the brand new digs at Aria and told his “Poker2Nite” co-host Scott Huff, “I was there on opening night and it’s spectacular.” On the prospect of Ivey’s Room coming to fruition, Sebok speculated, “I don’t even think those talks happened.” Only time will tell. Following the Aria segment was Isaac Haxton discussing a hand against Ryan Daut during the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Daut won $1.5 million for taking down the WPT tournament.

Dana Workman dished out the “Weekly Misdeal” sponsored by Bluff Magazine, which offers a satirical look at the week’s poker headlines. This week, Workman poked fun at the proposed New Jersey intrastate internet gambling bill, the 2010 WSOP rules governing Twitter use and player hygiene, and 2009 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Cada playing in the same celebrity basketball game as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen.

Finally, “Poker2Nite” previewed the finale of the Absolute Poker College Challenge, which will see players vie for $10,000 in college tuition. The final table will be streamed live online. Highlights will be shown next Wednesday at 11:00pm ET, when the next new episode of UB.com’s “Poker2Nite” will air on Fox Sports Net.

Poker2Nite Previews WPT Season 8 on Fox Sports Net

On Wednesday’s installment of the Fox Sports Net poker news show “Poker2Nite,” Faraz “The-Toilet” Jaka and Justin “Boosted J” Smith recapped a hand from the Bellagio Cup V. The tournament will kick off the eighth season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) on Fox Sports Net.

The WPT premieres on Sunday night at 11:00pm ET on Fox Sports Net, with Poker Hall of Fame member Mike Sexton and former actor Vince Van Patten once again having the call from the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Jaka and Smith finished second and third, respectively, in the event and tangled in a hand where Jaka held A-J and Smith had pocket deuces.

The duo broke down the hand over the course of a five-minute segment, with Jaka noting, “There’s so much information out there. People can figure it out just by studying it, but when you do something new that hasn’t been talked about over and over again, they don’t know what to do.” For example, Jaka led out with the best hand on the flop, electing not to check despite flopping a monster. Team PokerStars Pro member Alexandre Gomes ultimately took down the Bellagio Cup V Main Event to the tune of $1.2 million.

A new segment called “This Week in Side Action” recapped cross-booking between 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine member Phil Ivey and Team Full Tilt’s Tom “durrrr” Dwan. The “Poker2Nite Dictionary” defined cross-booking as, “When two players bet against each other by offering a percentage of any winnings.” Essentially, one player would have to pay the other half of what they cashed for. In this case, Dwan came up empty-handed after busting on Day 2 of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, while Ivey cashed for $23,500. Consequently, Dwan paid “The Tiger Woods of Poker” $11,750. “Poker2Nite” host Joe Sebok added that the $23,500 payday did not cover Ivey’s 10-day stay in a suite at Atlantis.

“Poker2Nite” roving reporter and Absolute Poker pro Lacey Jones scoped out the brand new 18-table poker room at Aria, which is part of Las Vegas’ CityCenter. Aria Poker Room Manager Adam Altweis, who previously sat down with Poker News Daily in an exclusive interview, told Jones, “Our high-level executives really put forth a big effort. The room was made for the player.” The Aria poker room features direct access to the poker cage and may soon sport Ivey’s Room, a nosebleed-stakes table surrounded by glass similar to Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio.

Sebok had already had a chance to check out the brand new digs at Aria and told his “Poker2Nite” co-host Scott Huff, “I was there on opening night and it’s spectacular.” On the prospect of Ivey’s Room coming to fruition, Sebok speculated, “I don’t even think those talks happened.” Only time will tell. Following the Aria segment was Isaac Haxton discussing a hand against Ryan Daut during the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Daut won $1.5 million for taking down the WPT tournament.

Dana Workman dished out the “Weekly Misdeal” sponsored by Bluff Magazine, which offers a satirical look at the week’s poker headlines. This week, Workman poked fun at the proposed New Jersey intrastate internet gambling bill, the 2010 WSOP rules governing Twitter use and player hygiene, and 2009 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Cada playing in the same celebrity basketball game as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen.

Finally, “Poker2Nite” previewed the finale of the Absolute Poker College Challenge, which will see players vie for $10,000 in college tuition. The final table will be streamed live online. Highlights will be shown next Wednesday at 11:00pm ET, when the next new episode of UB.com’s “Poker2Nite” will air on Fox Sports Net.

Poker2Nite Previews WPT Season 8 on Fox Sports Net

On Wednesday’s installment of the Fox Sports Net poker news show “Poker2Nite,” Faraz “The-Toilet” Jaka and Justin “Boosted J” Smith recapped a hand from the Bellagio Cup V. The tournament will kick off the eighth season of the World Poker Tour (WPT) on Fox Sports Net.

The WPT premieres on Sunday night at 11:00pm ET on Fox Sports Net, with Poker Hall of Fame member Mike Sexton and former actor Vince Van Patten once again having the call from the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Jaka and Smith finished second and third, respectively, in the event and tangled in a hand where Jaka held A-J and Smith had pocket deuces.

The duo broke down the hand over the course of a five-minute segment, with Jaka noting, “There’s so much information out there. People can figure it out just by studying it, but when you do something new that hasn’t been talked about over and over again, they don’t know what to do.” For example, Jaka led out with the best hand on the flop, electing not to check despite flopping a monster. Team PokerStars Pro member Alexandre Gomes ultimately took down the Bellagio Cup V Main Event to the tune of $1.2 million.

A new segment called “This Week in Side Action” recapped cross-booking between 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine member Phil Ivey and Team Full Tilt’s Tom “durrrr” Dwan. The “Poker2Nite Dictionary” defined cross-booking as, “When two players bet against each other by offering a percentage of any winnings.” Essentially, one player would have to pay the other half of what they cashed for. In this case, Dwan came up empty-handed after busting on Day 2 of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, while Ivey cashed for $23,500. Consequently, Dwan paid “The Tiger Woods of Poker” $11,750. “Poker2Nite” host Joe Sebok added that the $23,500 payday did not cover Ivey’s 10-day stay in a suite at Atlantis.

“Poker2Nite” roving reporter and Absolute Poker pro Lacey Jones scoped out the brand new 18-table poker room at Aria, which is part of Las Vegas’ CityCenter. Aria Poker Room Manager Adam Altweis, who previously sat down with Poker News Daily in an exclusive interview, told Jones, “Our high-level executives really put forth a big effort. The room was made for the player.” The Aria poker room features direct access to the poker cage and may soon sport Ivey’s Room, a nosebleed-stakes table surrounded by glass similar to Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio.

Sebok had already had a chance to check out the brand new digs at Aria and told his “Poker2Nite” co-host Scott Huff, “I was there on opening night and it’s spectacular.” On the prospect of Ivey’s Room coming to fruition, Sebok speculated, “I don’t even think those talks happened.” Only time will tell. Following the Aria segment was Isaac Haxton discussing a hand against Ryan Daut during the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Daut won $1.5 million for taking down the WPT tournament.

Dana Workman dished out the “Weekly Misdeal” sponsored by Bluff Magazine, which offers a satirical look at the week’s poker headlines. This week, Workman poked fun at the proposed New Jersey intrastate internet gambling bill, the 2010 WSOP rules governing Twitter use and player hygiene, and 2009 WSOP Main Event winner Joe Cada playing in the same celebrity basketball game as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen.

Finally, “Poker2Nite” previewed the finale of the Absolute Poker College Challenge, which will see players vie for $10,000 in college tuition. The final table will be streamed live online. Highlights will be shown next Wednesday at 11:00pm ET, when the next new episode of UB.com’s “Poker2Nite” will air on Fox Sports Net.

Amir Vahedi Dies After Diabetes Complications

In a tragic story coming out of Las Vegas, World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Amir Vahedi has passed away after complications arising from diabetes, according to fellow poker pro Mark Seif. He was 57 years-old.

In the early morning hours of January 10th, Seif, an Absolute Poker pro, posted on his blog, “I’ve just been told by close friends of Amir Vahedi that Vahedi passed away in Las Vegas on January 8, 2010, due to complications involving blood sugar levels.  Waiting for more details. Devastating news. Very very sad.” Vahedi finished seventh in the 2008 World Poker Tour (WPT) Championship at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, earning $237,000. His bracelet win came back in 2003, when Vahedi bested Cleve Haley in a $1,500 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event for $270,000 during the WSOP.

A wave of support streamed in via Twitter. UB.com pro Annie Duke commented on Sunday morning, “Still thinking about Amir. What a nice, sweet, funny soul. I keep picturing him with his cigar and his smile. 2 things he always had.” She further speculated that Vahedi passed away due to complications with diabetes. Fellow UB.com pro and 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth added, “Amir Vahedi Rest In Peace my old friend...Amir was one of the nicest, gentlest guys on tour, and everyone loved him...Very sad, diabetes...”

“Hollywood” Dave Stann weighed in on the death via Twitter as well, reminiscing about a poker tournament that played out in November: “Amir Vahedi rocked. Just saw him @ my bday HORSE tourney & have vid footage of him there, which now is so much more precious. RIP, friend.” Stann called for a charity tournament to take place during the upcoming L.A. Poker Classic in honor of Vahedi. The WPT Main Event at the California casino kicks off on February 26th and crowns a champion on March 4th.

On PocketFives.com, a thread entitled “RIP Amir Vahedi” was flooded with posters paying homage to the WSOP bracelet winner. Site Mod “Dissident” weighed in, “always though Amir was a class act. RIP.” Fellow online poker player “ill flu” recalled pertinent words of advice that Vahedi once spoke: “He actually said, ‘In order to live, you must be willing to die…’ I actually remember that out of his mouth.”

Finally, longtime poker player “CalBandGreat” shared his memories of the affable Vahedi: “I have played with Amir dozens of times and he was always a class act and very friendly. He would play in a lot of midstakes MTT's at Hollywood Park, The Bike or Commerce and he would be one of the few people in the tourney who everyone recognized, so a lot of people went up to talk with him and he was nice to everyone. Very sad news.”

Vahedi was an Iranian transplant and served as a poker mentor to actor Ben Affleck. In a comment posted on the website of Bluff Magazine, “Cowboy” Kenna James fondly spoke of Vahedi’s spirit: “Amir lived life and made no excuses. He played the game hard and fast and put opponents on their heals. But always with a broad smile and a laugh that exposed his love of the game.”

Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Nolan Dalla gave his two cents on the life of Vahedi on Bluff’s website, explaining, “Amir was one of poker’s nicest players and most colorful personalities. His life story was right out of a novel, immigrating to this country from a repressed war-torn region, ultimately becoming one of the most beloved people in an entire industry.” Other Iranian-born members of the poker community include Shawn Sheikhan, Mansour Matloubi, and three-time bracelet winner Farzad Bonyadi.

Poker News Daily would like to extend our condolences to the entire Vahedi family.

Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo Responds To Bodog Dismissal

While the news of his dismissal as a sponsored professional continue to make noise around the poker community, poker professional Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo has issued his response to his departure as a sponsored player on the online poker room Bodog.

Back on January 3rd, Poker News Daily reported that Bodog issued a press release which stated that Bonomo was no longer a member of Team Bodog, the group of professionals who represent the online room at live events and at tournaments and cash games on the site. Bonomo’s departure followed on the heels of the November axing of fellow former Bodog pro Jean-Robert Bellande. No reason for either of the dismissals was given by Bodog, leaving many wondering how if there was any acrimonious feeling between the site and “ZeeJustin.”

In his latest blog posting just prior to playing in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) at Paradise Island in the Bahamas, Bonomo put to rest any rumors of problems between himself and Bodog. “First and foremost, I would like to stress the fact that I did not ever at any point quit the Bodog Pro Team. I had imagined myself a member of Team Bodog for the duration of my poker career”, “ZeeJustin” contends in the blog post. “I want to thank Bodog and its staff for giving me an opportunity to play for them. I have greatly enjoyed playing alongside my good friends, Evelyn (Ng) and David (Williams, both of whom still represent the U. S. facing site), and will miss being a part of that team.”

Bonomo continues on to state in his blog that there are already sponsorship opportunities coming his way since severing ties with Bodog. “I have already been involved in conversations regarding new sponsorship opportunities”, Justin writes in his blog. “Moving forward, I will be focusing my attention on aligning with a sponsor who will better utilize my play and media presence. I am looking forward to evaluating a potential new home, although any decision regarding new sponsorship will not be rushed.”

“ZeeJustin” finishes off his blog post by stating he is dedicated to having an excellent 2010, starting with the PCA, and has some off-the-felt activities with “Poker2Nite” and Bluff Magazine coming for fans in the short-term. “Thanks to everyone who has reached out to me in the last week and also those who were interested in my sponsorship situation. I appreciate all of your support.”

One reason that Bodog could have used for Bonomo’s dismissal, performance, is completely discredited by a look at his career since he started playing as a Bodog pro. Since he became a Bodog sponsored pro in 2007, “ZeeJustin” has garnered $1.975 million in tournament earnings. When you compare that to the earnings of his teammates at Bodog during the same span – David Williams has earned $919,000, Jean-Robert Bellande has earned $280,000 and Evelyn Ng has earned $56,000, according to The Hendon Mob database – it is obvious that Bonomo was one of the most visible players on the roster, driving deep in tournaments and earning face time at final tables. Bonomo reached the ESPN televised table in the $40,000 40th Anniversary No Limit Hold’em event at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Bodog Drops Bonomo

The 24-year-old joined David Williams and Evelyn Ng as a member of the Bodog Pro Team in 2007, but confirmed reports that he was leaving the team Wednesday.

“Bodog and I have officially parted ways after a two-year sponsorship relationship,” said Bonomo. “I want to thank Bodog and its staff for giving me an opportunity to play for them.”

Although he didn’t go into detail regarding his departure, Bonomo stressed that he did not quit the team. Despite the change, Bonomo is already in talks with other poker rooms regarding sponsorship.

“Moving forward, I will be focusing my attention on aligning with a sponsor who will better utilize my play and media presence,” he said.

Just two months ago, Bodog also dropped poker pro Jean-Robert Bellande, which means Ng and Williams are the room’s only remaining pros.

Bonomo learned poker online and won countless tournaments using the screen name ZeeJustin. In 2005, he broke onto the live poker scene by making the final table of PokerStars.com EPT Deauville. At the time he was the youngest player to make a televised final table. Since then he has accumulated $2.3 million in live tournament winnings.

Controversy arose in 2006 when it was learned Bonomo had been multi-accounting, a practice banned on almost all online poker sites. He eventually made a public apology and was subsequently signed by Bodog Poker in 2008.

The young pro recently launched a redesigned website and will be featured on the cover of Bluff Magazine’s January issue.

Moorman Takes Online Honors

The Brit, who plays under the screen name Moorman1, was ranked #1 worldwide on PocketFives’ list of online tournament players.

His online tournament wins in 2009 included $28,000 in a $65k Guarantee and $88,166 in a Daily $100 Rebuy in February, $39,750 in a $150k Guarantee in March and $52,950 in a Daily $100 Rebuy in September.

But in addition to online tournament scores, the PocketFives ranking system also incorporates a polling system to determine the top ranked players.

The PocketFives’ community, chock full of some of the best online players in the world, were asked to select the players that they believe will be successful in the future based on past performances and Moorman’s name came up often enough to push him into the #1 ranking.

He was also ranked fourth in both the CardPlayer and Bluff Magazine Online Player of the Year rankings in 2009.

Moorman has over $1.7 million in lifetime tournament earnings, including nine career titles and 148 cashes.

Top Ten Poker Stories of the 2009: #3, The “durrrr” Challenge

Poker2Nite Welcomes Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton

The UB.net sponsored poker news program “Poker2Nite,” which makes its home on Fox Sports Net, welcomed Mike Sexton this week. The World Poker Tour (WPT) host is also a member of the Poker Hall of Fame after being inducted one month ago.

“Poker2Nite” began with Absolute Poker pro Lacey Jones interviewing players at the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas. Among those to appear on-camera was dual World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Jeff Madsen, who told Jones, “What it comes down to is the skill level of the players, the structure is good, and the Bellagio atmosphere is good to players in general.” Jones also spoke with Robert Mizrachi and 2009 WSOP November Nine member Kevin Schaffel. The $15,000 buy-in tournament crowns a champion on Saturday.

Next up was UB.net pro Phil Hellmuth presenting Phil’s Best Blow-Ups. There are a multitude of meltdowns to choose from, but Hellmuth recapped his explosion against Cristian Dragomir during the 2008 WSOP Main Event. Dragomir called Hellmuth’s raise pre-flop with 10-4, only to flop top pair. Hellmuth explained, “Of course, this joker gets rewarded for his donkey play and that just did not sit well with me.” His tirade against Dragomir featured lines such as “He’s the worst player in history and they’re cheering” and “To you, it’s poker. To me, this is my life.”

After recapping Sexton’s Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which took place during the dinner break of the 2009 WSOP Main Event, the bracelet winner joined the “Poker2Nite” crew. On being elected to the Poker Hall of Fame, Sexton told “Poker2Nite” hosts Joe Sebok and Scott Huff, “To me, it’s the ultimate career achievement award. To reach this level, it’s a pretty big honor.” Sexton was the only member of the Class of 2009 and, in order to be elected, had to receive 75% of the vote of a panel of media members and current Hall of Famers.

So-called “Sextonisms” have become a staple of modern poker lingo, but the WPT host noted that one of his favorites is, “You can only slide so far on barbed wire.” This author would have preferred “Bingo, bango, bongo,” but laughed nonetheless. Sexton also discussed PokerGives.org, which he founded along with Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and Lisa Tenner. Sexton commented, “It’ll be a way the poker world can give back to worthwhile charities.”

A new segment called Coin Flipping aired, pitting Sebok and Huff against each other to see what option had a slight mathematical edge. First up was who was the better No Limit Hold’em cash game player, Phil Ivey or Patrik Antonius. Sebok remarked, “I’m going with Phil because he looks scarier.” Also discussed was whether winning the $50,000 HORSE Championship or WSOP Main Event was more prestigious, as was whether Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin or Cornel Andrew Cimpan should be the Player of the Year. On the latter, Sebok gave his two cents: “I don’t think this one is really that close” and chose Baldwin, who effectively has already taken down the CardPlayer Player of the Year title for 2009.

Dana Workman dished out the Bluff Magazine sponsored Weekly Misdeal segment, poking fun at WSOP Main Event runner-up Darvin Moon’s conspiracy theory about ESPN crews sharing information, champion Joe Cada taking to Capitol Hill in support of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), Montel Williams facing a lawsuit from the International Team Poker League, and Marcel Luske’s new album.

“Poker2Nite” airs on Wednesdays at 11:00pm in each market on Fox Sports Net. However, the show is often pre-empted for local sporting events, so viewers are advised to check their local listings for airtime and channel information.

Joe Cada Meets with More than 10 Lawmakers on Capitol Hill Visit

As the newest ambassador of the game, 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Joe Cada met with more than 10 Congressmen on Capitol Hill on Monday in a visit sponsored by the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).

Cada could be found speaking with Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Representative Allen Boyd (D-FL), Representative Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN), Representative Candice Miller (R-MI), Representative Joe Barton (R-TX), Representative Dean Heller (R-NV), Representative Gary Peters (D-MI), Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV), and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI). Cada hails from Michigan and met with his two Senators and local Representative throughout the whirlwind one-day affair.

PPA Executive Director John Pappas told Poker News Daily, “There were a number of really good visits with lawmakers like Joe Barton and Linda Sanchez, who are avid poker players, so they got to talk a little poker and a little policy. Throughout the day, he probably met another half-dozen members of Congress.” Congressman Heller brought Cada onto the floor of the House of Representatives during a vote, giving the youngster a unique opportunity to witness the democratic process first-hand.

On Capitol Hill, Cada and his entourage bumped into Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and had a five-minute long conversation. Ensign serves as the counterpart to Harry Reid (D-NV), the current Senate Majority Leader. On Cada’s parade around Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Pappas commented, “He doesn’t have the recognition that other pros we bring do, but he's just becoming a face on the scene. He was great from our perspective. He wasn't here to do the hard sell on public policy; he was here to give a good face to poker and tell his story.”

Cada became the youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever at age 21 in November, eclipsing Peter Eastgate’s standing record by one year. Cada and Eastgate are both card-carrying members of Team PokerStars Pro, which also includes other World Champions like Chris Moneymaker (2003), Greg Raymer (2004), and Australian Joe Hachem (2005). A bevy of news outlets met with Cada during the day, including Politico, The Hill, and Roll Call, popular Capitol Hill publications.

On the future of Cada’s relationship with the PPA, Pappas told Poker News Daily, “When we do fly-ins and other events, we want to be able to work with him and have him be a face for us in Washington, D.C. We'd love for him to continue to promote the PPA to the poker playing community, particularly to the younger online players who look up to Joe. He recognizes the importance of what we’re doing.” Cada’s post-WSOP Main Event media appearances have included the “Late Show with David Letterman” and ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” He’s also featured on the current cover of Bluff Magazine.

Next up for Cada is a trip to Las Vegas, where he will donate a two-hour training session to the prize pool of the All In For CP charity poker tournament, which will be held at the Hard Rock. Cada told Poker News Daily, "The PPA really treated me like a champion and made my stay very enjoyable. It was awesome meeting various politicians, especially the ones from Michigan. I placed third in John Pappas' home game, which was a huge cash for me of $110. I'm looking forward to supporting the PPA in the fight. Next stop: Bellagio."

Next up for the PPA is a push to pass legislation to legalize and regulate online poker in the United States. Pappas revealed, “We've built a lot of momentum at the end of the year and anticipate a Committee vote on HR 2267 in late January or early February. Right now, we're focusing on the targets we need to get this legislation through.” HR 2267, proposed by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), provides a framework for online gaming companies to solicit U.S. customers. It boasts 63 co-sponsors.

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest headlines from Capitol Hill.

Poker News Daily Receives Bluff Readers Choice Award Nomination

Ladies and gentleman, we here at Poker News Daily are normally not the type to pat our own backs and toot our own horn, but sometimes we just can’t help ourselves.  This is one of those times.  Bluff Magazine recently revealed its list of nominations for the 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards and Poker News Daily is one of the four nominees in the Best Poker Blog category.

“Poker News Daily is honored to be nominated for a Bluff Readers Choice Award. We’re thrilled to see that so many players and industry representatives alike have come to Poker News Daily for the latest news and events in the poker world,” said site contributor Dan Cypra.

Poker News Daily is up against some stiff competition in a category that includes a broad spectrum of poker content.  The three other nominees in the category are Wicked Chops Poker, Tao of Poker, and Pokerati.  For those who may be unfamiliar with our competition, Wicked Chops is a blog that combines the content of a poker news site with the look of Maxim Magazine.  The crew reports on major poker news stories with their signature tongue-in-cheek flare and throw in a little T & A for good measure.

The brainchild of Dan Michalski, Pokerati is another news-centric blog with a particular focus on the political dealings of poker.  Michalski and company keep tabs on all of the major legislative updates and offer their own editorial insight into how court cases, new bills, and political campaigns will affect the poker world.

The final nomination in the category belongs to Tao of Poker, the personal blog of poker media member Paul “Dr. Pauly” Maguire.  A contributor to outlets like Poker News, Bluff Magazine, Poker Player Newspaper, and the PokerStars blog, Maguire also has a poker-themed book coming out soon entitled “Lost Vega: The Redneck Riviera, Existentialist Conversations with Strippers, and the World Series of Poker.”  The work will debut sometime next year.  A recent post on the site offered several nuggets of wisdom about what to do when visiting Las Vegas.

Like we said, that is a tough line up, so we will say right here and now that we are honored to be alongside such an esteemed group of blogs.  Nonetheless, we would certainly appreciate it if you would vote for Poker News Daily.  The winners will be announced on Bluff’s website on January 28th and the full list will also be published in the February issue of the magazine.

The Best Poker Blog is just one of 13 categories readers can vote on in this fourth installment of the awards.  In the past, the site has honored personal blogs from players such as Daniel Negreanu, but this year the category is dominated completely by more news-related sites. Thanks again to all our readers who keep coming back for your poker news fix day in and day out.  We’ll try not to let the accolade get to our head.

Poker2Nite Recaps UIGEA Compliance Delay

The six-month delay in compliance with the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was featured on Wednesday night’s episode of the UB-sponsored poker news show Poker2Nite.

The series, hosted by PokerRoad’s Joe Sebok and Scott Huff, opened with a discussion of the reprieve until June 1st, with the former explaining, “I don’t think we should start lying to ourselves and telling ourselves that all of the sites are going to start popping up. All this did is maintain the status quo.” Huff added, “The only way this was going to occur was if the message was being heard by more and more people.” Horse racing interests, members of Congress, and banking associations joined forces with the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) to petition U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for a delay, which was granted last week.

A trip to a poker home game in Los Angeles revealed that few people understood what the PPA or UIGEA were. The segment served as a lead-in to an appearance via Skype by PPA Executive Director John Pappas, who told Huff and Sebok, “It gives us six months to work with Congress to try to clarify the law so it won’t affect people who want to play poker in the internet… What we’ve done is put the onus back on Congress. We’ll be pushing Congress to move quickly.” He ardently told Poker2Nite viewers who question the legality of online poker, “There is no Federal law that says playing online poker is illegal.”

Dana Workman’s “Weekly Misdeal” came with a sponsorship from Bluff Magazine this week. Her satirical news segment focused on the arrests of 75 to 85 year-old women in Cypress for playing poker as well as a new Irishman signing with PokerStars. She also took a shot at California State Senator Margarita Prentice, who is considering proposing a new video keno bill after serving as a major proponent of a law that made playing online poker in the Northwest state a Class C felony. Finally, Workman recapped the ESPN: The Magazine Body Issue featuring four nude poker players, including UB.com’s Phil Hellmuth.

A new segment called “All in Blind” featured six topics sealed in white envelopes. Both Sebok and Huff had no idea what they were and the duo selected three to discuss. Up for debate first was whether 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event runner-up Darvin Moon’s appearance on ESPN’s Monday Night Football or the 16-0 New England Patriots team was better. Huff chose Moon because “he actually got something,” while Sebok selected the Pats because “they got a little bit of history.” The Patriots lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

The second topic discussed on the Poker2Nite “All in Blind” segment was innerpsy’s short-lived online poker record of 40,088 hands played in a 24-hour period. Finally, Huff and Sebok debated whether they preferred James McManus’ poker history tale “Cowboys Full” or Doyle Brunson’s new autobiography “The Godfather of Poker.” Huff resoundingly selected McManus: “The New York Times says it’s good, so it’s good enough for me.” Contrastingly, Sebok emphatically chose Brunson, the figurehead for the poker industry..

Finally, the Poker2Nite Dictionary came to life. The show’s hosts discussed the meaning of “stacks ‘em off,” which translates to “to bust someone, or knock them out,” and “button,” which originally used to be called the “buck.” Huff claimed that phrases like “Pass the buck” President Harry Truman’s “The buck stops here” originated in poker.

Poker2Nite’s air time varies by market, but according to UB.com, the series begins at 11:00pm ET each Wednesday. When Poker News Daily caught the show, it was scheduled for 1:00am ET. Repeats are available on Fox Sports Net on Thursdays at 4:00pm ET and Fridays at 11:00am ET and 6:00pm ET.

Visit UB.com for more information and to view online clips.

Clothing Brand KSINO Signs Lacey Jones and Leo Margets

Clothing apparel company KSINO announced Monday that it has signed exclusive agreements with two of poker’s up-and-coming female players, Lacey Jones and Leo Margets. The brand, which is building a reputation as the top clothing line for those living and loving a fast-paced lifestyle, chose Jones and Margets as two players who speak to that standard of living.

“To say that I am thrilled to have Lacey and Leo as brand ambassadors is an understatement,” said Alex That, President of KSINO. “They are two very beautiful women who are also very talented poker players. They turn heads at the tables not only for how they look, but also for how they play. That’s what KSINO is about, playing great and looking hot while doing it.”

Jones, a fashion model and poker pro, signed on with Absolute Poker in July after hosting interviews at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) for ESPN 360, WSOP.com, BluffMagazine.com, and PKR.com. She posed for the cover of Bluff Magazine in its November 2008 issue, one of only three Bluff covers featuring women in the history of the magazine. Jones is also a traveling tournament reporter for Fox Sports Net’s new show “Poker2Nite,” hosted by PokerRoad’s Joe Sebok and Scott Huff.

“I really love being part of the KSINO family,” Jones said about her new role with the company. “It’s about more than just great looking clothes; it’s a fun lifestyle. It’s my lifestyle.”

Margets’ fame came during the 2009 WSOP Main Event, where she finished 27th place out of nearly 6,500 players, earning the title of “Last Woman Standing.” Margets collected $352,832 for her deep finish in what was the first WSOP cash of her poker career. In 2008, she won the University Poker Championship in her hometown of Barcelona, and, as a result, 888.com offered her sponsorship for national events.

“I’m excited about being a part of KSINO,” said Margets. “I feel like I identify with the brand and can now sit down at a poker table and compete in style… I love it! KSINO is not only a clothing line. They are creating and redefining the game… It’s a whole new lifestyle!”

The KSINO clothing brand was created by Anthony Tuozzo to provide premium designer apparel to the multi-billion dollar gaming industry. The brand’s styles include graphic t-shirts, hoodies, button-downs, jackets, and accessories. KSINO clothing is now available at D.Fine at the Bellagio, The Men’s Store at the Mirage, and at KSINO.com.

On November 24th, KSINO entered into a merchandise distribution agreement with HeadsUp Entertainment International Inc., operators of the Canadian Poker Tour and Canadian Poker Player Magazine. KSINO apparel will be marketed throughout Canada in Canadian Poker Player Magazine, on all upcoming Canadian Poker Tour television broadcasts, and into the websites, social communities, and player databases from coast to coast.

Clothing Brand KSINO Signs Lacey Jones and Leo Margets

Clothing apparel company KSINO announced Monday that it has signed exclusive agreements with two of poker’s up-and-coming female players, Lacey Jones and Leo Margets. The brand, which is building a reputation as the top clothing line for those living and loving a fast-paced lifestyle, chose Jones and Margets as two players who speak to that standard of living.

“To say that I am thrilled to have Lacey and Leo as brand ambassadors is an understatement,” said Alex That, President of KSINO. “They are two very beautiful women who are also very talented poker players. They turn heads at the tables not only for how they look, but also for how they play. That’s what KSINO is about, playing great and looking hot while doing it.”

Jones, a fashion model and poker pro, signed on with Absolute Poker in July after hosting interviews at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) for ESPN 360, WSOP.com, BluffMagazine.com, and PKR.com. She posed for the cover of Bluff Magazine in its November 2008 issue, one of only three Bluff covers featuring women in the history of the magazine. Jones is also a traveling tournament reporter for Fox Sports Net’s new show “Poker2Nite,” hosted by PokerRoad’s Joe Sebok and Scott Huff.

“I really love being part of the KSINO family,” Jones said about her new role with the company. “It’s about more than just great looking clothes; it’s a fun lifestyle. It’s my lifestyle.”

Margets’ fame came during the 2009 WSOP Main Event, where she finished 27th place out of nearly 6,500 players, earning the title of “Last Woman Standing.” Margets collected $352,832 for her deep finish in what was the first WSOP cash of her poker career. In 2008, she won the University Poker Championship in her hometown of Barcelona, and, as a result, 888.com offered her sponsorship for national events.

“I’m excited about being a part of KSINO,” said Margets. “I feel like I identify with the brand and can now sit down at a poker table and compete in style… I love it! KSINO is not only a clothing line. They are creating and redefining the game… It’s a whole new lifestyle!”

The KSINO clothing brand was created by Anthony Tuozzo to provide premium designer apparel to the multi-billion dollar gaming industry. The brand’s styles include graphic t-shirts, hoodies, button-downs, jackets, and accessories. KSINO clothing is now available at D.Fine at the Bellagio, The Men’s Store at the Mirage, and at KSINO.com.

On November 24th, KSINO entered into a merchandise distribution agreement with HeadsUp Entertainment International Inc., operators of the Canadian Poker Tour and Canadian Poker Player Magazine. KSINO apparel will be marketed throughout Canada in Canadian Poker Player Magazine, on all upcoming Canadian Poker Tour television broadcasts, and into the websites, social communities, and player databases from coast to coast.

Chad Brown, Liv Boeree Join ESPN Inside Deal

The final installment of ESPN’s poker show “Inside Deal” before the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table was released on Tuesday, featuring Chad Brown and Liv Boeree.

The “Inside Deal” crew moved to a new set to open the show and its attention immediately turned to Phil Ivey mucking the winning flush during last week’s WSOP on ESPN broadcast, which saw the field trimmed to 18 players. “Inside Deal” host Bernard Lee gave his take on the errant move: “It was shocking. That’s really all you can say. I’m sure it’s happened before, but not in the final 27 of the WSOP Main Event.” Ivey remains in the running for the $8.5 million first place prize despite the hiccup.

On Kara Scott being the new host of the GSN poker franchise “High Stakes Poker,” Lee quipped, “At least we know that Norman Chad will be watching;” Chad referred to Scott as “Kara Scott-Chad” throughout the 2009 WSOP Main Event broadcast. Poker News Daily can independently confirm that Scott is the new host of “High Stakes Poker” pending finalization of her contract and obtaining a working visa. No official announcement has been given by GSN.

A recent study released by the Joint Committee on Taxation, a U.S. Government agency, revealed that over $40 billion could be realized from taxing the internet gambling industry over a 10-year period. Lee explained the significance of the report: “That has to raise a lot of eyebrows in the government, knowing that amount of money could go into their coffers. This has to slowly move the pendulum toward us.” In the meantime, the financial services industry in the United States must come into full compliance with the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) by December 1st.

Boeree them joined the show and revealed that she studied physics and astrophysics in school before being cast for a poker reality show featuring Ultimate Bet pros Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth. Boeree has been competing on the tournament circuit for only one year and commented, “I definitely don’t think I could go back to hosting now. I find it very difficult being at a European Poker Tour (EPT) event and asking people what their strategies were.” Her favorite band is Metallica, whom she has met and seen in concert. Boeree, a Brit, also claimed that her worst pet peeve of Americans is “easting like idiots.”

Brown discussed being one-half of a “power couple” in poker along with wife Vanessa Rousso: “We both have our own careers. As a couple, [we] can be supportive of each other.” Brown was the 2006 Bluff Magazine Player of the Year on the strength of five Top 40 finishes in World Poker Tour (WPT) events and a fifth place showing in EPT London. On the accolade, which only takes into account $5,000 buy-in tournaments with more than 100 players, Brown told Lee and fellow “Inside Deal” host Laura Lane, “These are the best players in the world you’re competing against.” John Juanda and Barry Greenstein were on his heels throughout much of the competition.

Brown noted that he was cast to be part of a movie directed by James Woods, but the project was put on hold due to the lingering global recession. On his acting career, the Team PokerStars Pro member explained, “If you’re a movie star, you can do whatever you want. If you’re a working actor, you need to stay in Hollywood and pound the pavement.” While Brown has put his acting skills to use on the green felts, Boeree commented that exploiting her femininity is advantageous: “There are definitely times when you can use it to your advantage. If you can flirt with the guys, they’ll want you to stick around.”

“Inside Deal” now heads to Las Vegas for the finale of the 2009 WSOP Main Event. The show is released each Tuesday on ESPN.com.

Doyle Brunson Autobiography “Godfather of Poker” Debuts November 11th

On November 11th, “The Godfather of Poker” will hit bookstores and online retailers. The autobiography of “Texas Dolly” himself, Doyle Brunson, includes 372 pages of indelible tales and never-before-seen images of poker’s marquee ambassador. Poker News Daily reviews an advanced copy.

The publication officially runs $26.95 in the United States and $34.99 in Canada. It opens with a bang, literally, as Brunson recalls a fateful day, April 19th, 1998. He began, “When a man points a gun at your head, you’ve got to take stock of things quickly.” The day after winning his eighth World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet, Brunson returned home to his gated Las Vegas community only to be robbed by two men at gunpoint on his doorstep. The attackers flung Brunson inside his house, where he yelled, “I’m having a heart attack!”

The alarm went off, causing its company to call in order to ensure that all was normal. He explained, “I mumbled some false numbers because I knew the alarm was probably my best chance, if not my only chance, to summon help.” His wife Louise was also at home and came downstairs into the fray, telling the security company under duress, “This is Mrs. Brunson, everything is all right.” The end of “Book 1” leaves readers in suspense, with Brunson admitting, “I knew Louise and I could die at any moment.”

Brunson’s father was a poker player, making the game the family pastime. However, his elder never spoke of it to his family. Brunson explained, “Dad had played poker for years and years and helped support us with his winnings, but never talked about it.” Brunson’s college, Hardin-Simmons University, also frowned upon his extracurricular activity: “Hardin-Simmons disapproved of my poker playing, and I eventually wound up in front of the disciplinary board five times for gambling.”

Brunson was destined for the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers before a freak accident derailed the dream. Consequently, he entered the world of poker, then a backroom game with ties to organized crime and Wild West. Brunson recalls countless transgressions, including, “Another night I saw a man get stabbed in a bar [and] one day I saw what looked like an ‘OK Corral’ shootout on Exchange Avenue. All the shooters were behind cars and firing away, and I saw two of them gunned down. Both died, and both were friends of mine.”

In 1958, Brunson became exposed to Hold’em. He noted, “Hold’em was a fun poker variation, and it moved faster than most games. That’s why it eventually became so popular. I know I enjoyed it right away.” The same year, when he was just 25 years-old, he lost his father, brother, grandmother, and two aunts. He lamented, “It was a tragic merry-go-round that year, going back and forth to Longworth and all the family funerals.” When family members would ask young Brunson what his profession was, his answer was working for Convair, an aircraft manufacturer in Dallas.

In 1962, Brunson was told that he was on the verge of death due to melanoma. He recalled, “Melanoma cancer had spread through my body like wildfire… They said it was too widespread to even consider further surgery.” The cancer had emanated from a mole that Brunson had removed one year prior and he learned that “there was no chance I would live to see our baby born.” Brunson underwent a 15-hour “radical head and neck surgery” and, soon after, the cancer had miraculously disappeared. However, Brunson was warned that the disease could strike at any moment in the future.

Ten years later, Brunson entered the festivities at the 1972 WSOP. However, with media and television cameras roving the event, Brunson questioned whether winning would be the optimal strategy: “I was afraid of the publicity that winning this event would bring, and the terrible shame it would bring to my family.” Many interviews with Brunson in the present day reveal how surprised “Texas Dolly” is that poker has become a legitimate sport and profession; from reading “The Godfather of Poker,” you can easily grasp why.

Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder coined the term “Texas Dolly” when Brunson refused to allow him to use his last name. Instead, he was referred to as “Texas Doyle,” which later became “Texas Dolly.” The new nickname appeared in an Associated Press article and the rest is history. Besides the two-word nickname, Brunson is also immortalized in the starting hand 10-2. He candidly admitted, “I didn’t particularly like the ten-deuce being immortalized in my name because it isn’t a quality hand.”

“The Godfather of Poker” includes a foreword by Mike Cochran and its cover features endorsements from Bluff Magazine, Nolan Dalla, Mike Sexton, Mike Caro, and Allyn Jaffrey Shulman. Look for “The Godfather of Poker” on November 11th.

Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil Hosts a Charity Poker Event

When the WSOP Main Event concludes on November, Vince Neil, the frontman of the legendary rock group Mötley Crüe, will host a charity event called Vince Neil’s 5th Annual Off The Strip Poker Tournament.

WSOP Main Event will be played from 7th to 9th November and “Dr. Feelgood” will be stopping in for one night to collect funds for Skylar Neil Foundation. Skylar Neil Foundation raises money for medical research to find cures for cancer, AIDS, and other diseases.

The tournament will be played on November 8th at Rio. For a $550 entry fee, the first 200 players to sign up will get a shot at a $50,000 prize pool to be paid out to the final table; rebuys benefiting the charity will also be available. It is hosted by Vince Neil and Tournament Director Matt Savage will emcee the event.

The event has been sold out in the past and has featured famous people from music, movies, television and poker.

Skylar Neil Foundation is named after Vince’s daughter who died of cancer in 1995.

Source: Bluff Magazine

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Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil Hosts a Charity Poker Event

Tilly returns at WPT Festa

"Poker is actually an addiction," she said. "I did take almost a year off. I did a play in the West End and I did a couple of movies, but I found that when I was doing the theatre, I was really missing the poker."

When the curtain would fall in her nightly performances of Wallace Shawn's Grasses of a Thousand Colours at the Royal Court Theatre in London, Tilly would head straight to the famed Victoria Casino to sit in with Neil Channing and the rest of the Vic's regulars.

With boyfriend Phil Laak still pursuing his poker dreams around the globe, Tilly couldn't help but feel poker's pull and soon she was forced to admit her love for the game actually outweighed her interest in acting.

"It's really hard to get away from, especially when you have a boyfriend who you live with who is really fanatic about poker," she said. "I guess now I'm just at a time in my life where I find poker more interesting than acting, although I suppose that could change."

While Tilly enjoyed some success in her first foray into poker, amassing more than $500,000 in tournament cashes, the poker lifestyle articles she wrote for Bluff Magazine that were a little more lifestyle than poker, and some of the mistakes she made on televised poker shows, quickly became fodder for the more visceral voices on several online poker forums.

Looking back, Tilly admitted she found it all rather hurtful and it was one of the reasons she decided to leave the poker world behind.

"I did get very discouraged because lots of times you read online, people are saying all these horrible things about you, people who don't know anything about your game or your stats or anything," she said.

"I had to get my computer expert to break the link to Two Plus Two, because Two Plus Two is like crack. Those guys are really smart and funny and I would go there every day and laugh and laugh and laugh, until I saw something bad about me and I would feel really horrible."

But after a little soul searching in her time away from poker, Tilly feels she's now more equipped to handle the criticism.

"I've never really lived my life, since I got out of high school, caring about what people think that much and I feel like just because it was annoying to other people to have an actress playing poker or they thought my articles were dopey or whatever, I'm not going to crawl into a hole and not try to achieve.

"I think I'm kind of in a place now in my life where I don't care what people think."

Taking a few steps away from playing poker actually gave Tilly the time to refine her game and she also feels better prepared to succeed.

"I've just been doing a lot of reading and studying in my time off and I feel like I'm in really good shape to re-attack the poker thing again," she said. "It's really an amazing game. It encompasses all areas of life. I think poker is really a metaphysical puzzle and every situation you encounter in poker is an analogy for life.

"So the work that I've been doing has been more than going to PokerXFactor or CardRunners or reading all the poker books that have ever been written. It's also been reading books about the conscious universe, how you can tell people are lying and psychic phenomenon, how to expand your brain and reach your peak potential."

Tilly's return to poker has already included a final table appearance at the PartyPoker World Poker Open in London just last week and although she busted out of Festa al Lago late on Day 2 Thursday, she left with a smile and a plan to be back better than ever.

"It's really kind of a lifetime project," she explained. "I've kind of cracked the acting thing, but I could live to be a hundred years old and still not know everything there is to know about poker."

To follow all the action at WPT Festa al Lago click through to PokerListings' Live Updates.

Dream Team Poker Heads to the Bicycle Casino for Monday Night Series

Fresh off the third tournament in its history, which took place at the Rio during the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, Dream Team Poker announced a Monday Night Football promotion at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles.

Appropriately dubbed Monday Night Football at the Bike, the latest version of Dream Team Poker will consist of 11 tournaments at the storied Los Angeles casino. Teams’ performances will be tracked on a leaderboard and the action starts on October 19th. The final week of the series, which issues its “Shuffle Up and Deal” command at 7:00pm local time, is December 28th. Monday Night Football actually airs around 4:30pm PT and, to warm up the crowd, KLAC’s Petros and Money will broadcast live starting at 4:00pm PT from the gaming establishment, which plays host to the annual Legends of Poker, a staple of the World Poker Tour (WPT).

Dream Team Poker CEO Daniel Delshad told Poker News Daily, “We are very excited about bringing Dream Team Poker to the Bicycle Casino. After the WSOP event, we had a lot of opportunities to take Dream Team Poker to new places and we wanted to make sure to manage the growth.” A total of 366 players, or 122 three-man teams, took to the felts at the Rio, with Team Tao of Poker emerging victorious from the pack to pocket $33,000. The event’s overall winner was “Cowboy” Kenna James, who earned $16,000. Dream Team Poker tournaments pay out to the top teams and individuals to avoid collusion.

Each tournament held over the course of the 11-week Monday Night Football series comes with a $67 per person price tag, or $201 per team. The more tournaments a team enters throughout the course of the series, the more chips they’ll start with at the end-of-season event, giving an edge to Dream Team Poker regulars.

The Monday Night Football finale takes place on December 28th at 7:00pm and the winning team each week will take home a seat to the Ho Ho No Limit Hold’em Dream Team Poker Main Event on Saturday, December 12th at 2:00pm local time at The Bike. The tournament will set entrants back $140, or $420 per team. Squads that submit their registration prior to December 1st will receive a customized jersey similar to those found hanging outside PokerPalooza at the Rio in July.

Up for grabs for the leading individual and team on the weekly leaderboard at the end of the season are $500 in spending money and one ticket each to Super Bowl XLIV, which will pan out in February from Miami, Florida. Last year’s Super Bowl, which was held in Tampa, featured the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. All told, Dream Team Poker will award four tickets and $2,000 as part of the Monday Night Football series.

Dream Team Poker’s very first event took place last November at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas. The invitation-only gala saw Team Bluff Magazine, which included Eric Morris, Matt Parvis, and Bodog Poker pro Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo, take to the winner’s circle. In March, Dream Team Poker headed to Caesars Palace, where the Jamie Gold-led Team ACED emerged victorious from the pack for $59,000. Finally, prior to the WSOP Main Event, the annual media tournament featured a Dream Team Poker format, with Team Lacey Jones coming out on top.

So what’s next for the team poker concept? Delshad told Poker News Daily, “We are in the midst of planning our 2010 events, where we expect to expand the game to new locations across the U.S. and especially look to start building our international presence. We do expect to introduce some other exciting products in 2010.”

Absolute Poker College Challenge Kicks Off October 4th

Starting on October 4th, satellites will be available for the Absolute Poker College Challenge, which makes its return to the popular Tokwiro-owned online poker site. $30,000 in prizes can be won, including a $10,000 grand prize tuition for the Player of the Year.

Cash qualifiers for the Absolute Poker College Challenge range from $0.25 to $5 in buy-in and a variety of freerolls are also available. The top nine players from each daily event (regardless of the buy-in amount) will qualify for a freeroll that will take place the next day. In it, the top 15 will earn entry into the Weekly Main Event Qualifier that takes place on Sundays at 9:00pm ET. The first Weekly Main Event Qualifier kicks off on October 11th and the final one will take place on November 29th. Each tournament carries a $200 prize pool.

The top nine players in each Weekly Main Event Qualifier will make their way to the Absolute Poker College Challenge Main Event, which is scheduled for Monday, November 30th at 8:30pm ET. The action isn’t done there, however, as the top six players in the Main Event will head to sunny Los Angeles for a live final table that will air on the official website of Bluff Magazine. The Player of the Year will take home $10,000 for tuition.

Matt “Plattsburgh” Vengrin, an Absolute Poker pro and consultant for the site’s College Challenge, commented in a press release distributed by the USA-friendly online poker site, “This tournament is a fun and easy way for college students to compete for an alternative way to pay for tuition and we believe that this program is one of the best ways to create real added value for college students.” In addition to the $10,000 grand prize, the promotion’s Player of the Year will earn a custom-crafted championship ring and a story in Bluff Magazine, one of the industry’s premier poker publications.

The other five players at the live final table won’t walk away empty-handed. Second place will earn $5,000, third place will snag $3,500, fourth place will pocket $3,000, fifth place will see their bankroll grow by $2,250, and the first person sent packing from the six-handed live finale will earn $2,000. Each person also receives $750 to use for travel to Los Angeles.

Those not heading to the West Coast city will also receive prizes. The seventh and eighth place finishers will earn $750, while the ninth place finisher will pocket $550. In total, the top 18 places will pay out at least $200. Daily freerolls take place at 8:15pm ET, while $0.25 cash game qualifiers are available at 8:30pm ET. $5 qualifiers kick off at 8:45pm ET nightly.

Absolute Poker makes its home on the CEREUS Network along with its sister site, Ultimate Bet. According to PokerScout.com, which keeps tabs on online poker room traffic, the CEREUS Network is the sixth largest worldwide with a seven-day running average of 2,400 real money ring game players. During its peak hours, which occur in the evening across North America, over 3,500 cash game players can be found on its felts. At the time of writing, which is 1:30pm ET on a Sunday, a total of 2,449 real money ring game players have hit the felts of Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker. CEREUS is the third largest network to accept players from the United States behind PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, which rank first and second, respectively.

Representatives from Ultimate Bet, meanwhile, are busy preparing for the Aruba Poker Classic, whose $5,500 buy-in Main Event kicks off on Monday with the first of two starting days. The marquee poker tournament crowns a champion on October 11th.

The “durrrr” Challenge: Best Yet to Come or Giant Bust?

Jamie Gold on Poker in the Park Charity Tournament, WSOP November Nine

A total of 60 players turned out for the first ever Jamie Gold Charity Tournament held during London’s Poker in the Park, hosted by Gold and 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate. In the end, Swedish poker pro Mikael Gabrielsson took down the gala, which featured a reduced $400 buy-in.

Poker News Daily: We know you were shooting for David Craig to turn out. Tell us about the scene at your charity poker tournament.

Gold: Daniel Craig didn’t come, but we invited him. Bluff Magazine brought a few people. Michael Greco brought a soccer player named Teddy Sheringham. Out there, he’s bigger than a movie star. He was very kind and really nice.

PND: Are there any interesting stories you could share?

Gold: Peter Eastgate was obviously the big draw. He donated the shoes, hat, and shirt he wore when he won the Main Event. I felt so bad that I bought his shirt and gave it back to him.

PND: The buy-in was originally scheduled to be the equivalent of $800, but was ultimately cut in half. Can you tell us about the decision?

Gold: It felt like people were having such a hard time in this economy, especially poker players. We ended up having about 60 to 70 players total. They brought in a few more tables and we took a few alternates. Before we lowered the buy-in, we would have been fine. Once it was the day of the event, though, we felt uneasy. You could see that people really wanted to play, but couldn’t afford it. Once we lowered the buy-in, everyone started telling friends and it sold out right away.

PND: Eastgate was subdued following his 2008 Main Event win. Has he become more open?

Gold: Eastgate mentioned during his talk during Poker in the Park that he doesn’t speak English that well. Try going to another country, speaking their language, and know you’re being filmed the whole time. There is a lot of pressure on this guy. You only have certain responsibilities to be an ambassador of the game. I wouldn’t say one of those is being a public speaker. You can tell he’s not comfortable in the spotlight, which is not a bad thing. Peter could not be a nicer, more generous guy and he loves to play poker. People throw questions at him constantly and he describes himself as an introvert.

PND: Despite your busy schedule, we’re sure you’ve had a chance to check out the 2009 WSOP November Nine. What are your thoughts on this year’s group?

Gold: Phil Ivey has been kind towards me and I’d like to see him win it. It’s not like we’re close, but I respect his game so much. As a fan, I’d love to see him win it. I have a feeling that if I got to know a lot of them, I’d want them to win. I like Jeff Shulman a lot too.

PND: Speaking of Shulman, what are your thoughts on his threats to throw away the WSOP Main Event bracelet should he win?

Gold: It is what it is. I’ve only had good interactions with him, so I wouldn’t be upset if he won. He’s worked hard at it and put in so much time. It’s not like he doesn’t deserve it.

PND: Do you think you could have pulled out a win with a delayed final table?

Gold: I’d like to think that I would have still won. I could have been with Johnny Chan getting coached, for example, during the break. I’m not sure how I could have played much better in 2006 and maybe coaching would have taken my bravado away.

PND: What was your reaction to hearing that the final table of the Main Event would be pushed back in order to coincide with its television airing on ESPN?

Gold: I understood completely. It’s a business; it’s not just a game. The people who are running it are smart, sharp business people. It was getting smaller and smaller and the excitement level was getting less and less. It wasn’t a bad move. From a pure poker player perspective, it’s never good to delay the final table of a tournament. If I were one of the ones who had made the final table, it would have been a really exciting four months. You get a check for $1 million and then do your own thing.

PND: Will you be involved in the final table of the WSOP Main Event this year in some capacity?

Gold: Last year, they invited us and gave us front row seats, introduced us to the crowd, and made us feel like a part of the process. The WSOP executives make us feel like we’re part of the family. It’s nice and also smart on their behalf. Keeping the history of the WSOP alive is very smart. I can’t imagine a poker fan that doesn’t love at least one Main Event winner. I’m always happy to be a part of it.

Matt Parvis Joins PokerNews from Bluff

This week, former Bluff Magazine Editor-in-Chief Matt Parvis transitioned to the same role with PokerNews. Former Bluff Magazine Online Editor Lance Bradley will now assume the role of Editor-in-Chief at Bluff Magazine.

Bradley was the Poker Room Manager for Bodog from 2004 to 2006, according to a press release distributed by Bluff. He then moved onto ThePokerBiz.com before joining Bluff in 2008. Bradley commented in a Bluff article, “I’m very excited about this opportunity. For five years now, Bluff has been at the forefront of the poker industry and I hope to continue that tradition and deliver a magazine and website that poker fans recognize as the leader.” His predecessor, one of the leading faces in the online poker industry, sat down with Poker News Daily to discuss his new role.

Poker News Daily: Can you give us the background of signing with PokerNews?

Parvis: I’ve been with Bluff Magazine coming up on four years. I had nothing but good times and good experiences throughout my stint. From that regard, I’ve been very happy. I have a lot of respect for the people who work there and think that we put out a great product. I like to think that I helped push the bar in terms of expanding the idea of what a poker magazine should be.

When I started with Bluff, they had been in the works for about a year. I stepped in as Managing Editor working with Michael Cassell in London. We helped transform what a poker magazine should be, which is an entertainment portal.

The opportunity with PokerNews didn’t present itself until a day or two after the World Series of Poker. PokerNews has always been a really strong player in the market. They launched about the same time as Bluff, but used a slightly different model. It was poker news every day on your computer. At the time, there wasn’t something providing that information.

PND: In addition to providing news, your new home also hosts freerolls and offers a full forum, among other features. How do you effectively mesh all of these components together?

Parvis: I’m still in the process of wrapping my head around everything here. Everything we do is translated into 27 different languages. We also have to ensure that we’re providing accurate, fair reports on the poker world. We’re all out there trying to get a small number of stories. In poker, we’re all battling for the same stories. It’s not so much about getting stories first. We’re all going to win our battles here and there and be the first to scoop something. Instead, it’s a battle to create a strong voice that our readers can count on.

PND: Can you fill us in on the future of Bluff Magazine?

Parvis: Lance Bradley, who I’ve worked closely with for two years now, is taking over my role at Bluff. He’s in charge of the web content, is extremely capable and competent, and understands the poker industry because of his background with Bodog. Bluff is in good hands. There won’t be any lapse in what they’re able to do because Lance is such a qualified person and we worked closely together. We share a similar vision and idea. Bluff readers can expect a quality magazine and I don’t think they’ll see any lapse or regression by any means.

PND: Tell us about your vision for PokerNews.

Parvis: I will be overseeing the editorial content of the PokerNews.com site. I’ll be working with Garry Gates, who has done a great job of leading our tournament reporting team. It’s very important that all aspects of a business work hand in hand. There should be one center wheel and every spoke coming off of it is a branch of the business. We need to have a centralized focus and a centralized message. The poker industry is still very young in comparison to mainstream media. Poker is, in a way, a step behind, so it’s important to catch up with the rest of the media and strive towards making sure our fans have a voice.

Tiffany Michelle, Maria Ho May Compete on Amazing Race

Poker News Daily can confirm that Ultimate Bet Star Player Tiffany Michelle will compete on the upcoming season of the CBS reality series “Amazing Race,” according to anonymous sources inside the industry. The show debuts on September 27th at 8:00pm ET following “60 Minutes.” Michelle’s partner, according to Bluff Magazine and various television news outfits, is Maria Ho.

The upcoming season is the 15th for the “Amazing Race,” which pits teams of two against each other for a race around the world – literally. Last season, contestants traveled to diverse destinations that included Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Romania, Russia, India, Thailand, and China before crossing the finish line at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Maui, Hawaii. Michelle and Ho represent the last women standing in the 2008 and 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Events, respectively. Michelle gained notoriety last year by calling the clock during a hand she wasn’t involved in, an act that was criticized by tablemate and November Nine member Craig Marquis.

An e-mail sent to Michelle seeking comment about the rumors resulted in an auto-response that read, “I’ll be off shooting for the next month, till mid August, and may be away from my computer and out of touch during that time.” An image that appeared on RealityFanForum.com showed Ho at Los Angeles International Airport allegedly for the start of “Amazing Race.” In a blog entry dated June 27th, Michelle indicated that she would not defend her title of Last Woman Standing in the Main Event: “It’d have to be something pretty big to deter me from the WSOP Championship Event this year and trust me, IT IS! I can’t disclose much right now, but I’ll be leaving the country to film a project for a month and it conflicts with the Main Event.”

In May, Jean-Robert Bellande, who appeared on CBS’ “Survivor: China” in 2007, posted on the online poker forum TwoPlusTwo that “two hot poker girls” were wanted for an “upcoming reality show.” Bellande, a Bodog pro, noted that the ideal candidate is “a respected pro, young, hot, single, [and] engaging.” The Bad Boy of Poker suggested Kristy Gazes and Team PokerStars Pro member Vanessa Rousso, although the latter is engaged to Chad Brown. Last season on the “Amazing Race,” former NFL cheerleaders Jaime and Cara finished as the runner-ups to siblings and lawyers Tammy and Victor.

A representative from Ultimate Bet told Poker News Daily, “I know Tiffany is away working on a project, but unfortunately that is all we know at this point. We can’t comment on any such rumors.” Michelle signed with the Tokwiro-owned online poker room one year ago, joining a Team UB roster that includes Adam “Roothlus” Levy, Brandon Cantu, Gary “debo34” Debernardi, “Hollywood” Dave Stann, Matt “mattg1983” Graham, Michael Binger, Mark “P0ker H0″ Kroon, Scott Ian, and Shawn “westtexasman” Rice. The site’s two main faces are 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth and “Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up Annie Duke.

At the Dream Team Poker event held at Caesars Palace in March, Michelle and Ho joined forces to bring Team Yo Mama to life. The all-female squad also featured Lacey Jones. No female team has ever won “Amazing Race,” which first aired in 2001. That season, contestants traveled 35,000 miles around the world, led by Rob and Brennan. For its 11th season, favorites from the first 10 cycles of “Amazing Race” convened for a special All-Stars edition. Notable teams included Rob and Amber of “Survivor” fame and Season 7 winners Uchenna and Joyce, who were eliminated at the end of the ninth leg.

During each episode, teams compete in “Detours,” which is a choice between two tasks, each with its own pros and cons. In addition, they’ll stumble upon “Road Blocks,” which are challenges that only one team member can perform. Each “Detour” and “Road Block” typically focuses on the local culture, giving the show a unique flair. New Zealander Phil Keoghan serves as its host and the show will return to its Sunday night timeslot on September. “Amazing Race” serves as the lead-in for the new CBS drama “Three Rivers.”

Lacey Jones signs with Absolute Poker

Jones couldn't be more pleased with her new contract.

"I'm so excited about this amazing new chapter of my career with Absolute Poker," she said. "Our fit couldn't be more perfect and I can't wait to share all of the amazing stuff that's in store with the AP community."

Jones' poker career began with a 32nd-place finish at an invitational celebrity tournament, outlasting the majority of the 360-player field.

Since her poker debut she's cashed in multiple events, including a 75th-place finish in the WSOP Ladies Championship in 2006 and a second-place finish at the 2004 San Diego Super Bowl of Poker.

Outside of poker, Jones is an accomplished model and TV hostess. Her two worlds began to collide almost immediately with the poker world embracing Jones as their go-to poster girl.

After being voted the sexiest girl in poker, she posed for the cover of Bluff magazine in October of 2008, and got the job co-hosting The Real Deal at the Venetian.

Now you'll be able to sit and play with Jones at the tables on Absolute Poker. Use the Absolute Buddy software to find out where she's sitting.

Justin “BoostedJ” Smith Betting on his WSOP success

BoostedJ is a regular player in the high stakes mixed games at Full Tilt Poker, even though the player behind the nickname, Justin Smith, is only 21 years old.

Place your bets!

Smith is making his debut at WSOP in just few weeks, but he is willing to bet up to $5,000 at even money with anybody that he finishes with more WSOP Player of the Year points than any non-bracelet winner of the bettors choosing. Only players who finish in money will receive POY points.

Smith revealed to Bluff Magazine why he came up an idea of the prop bet:

“I want the challenge and I also like money,” joked Smith. ”Seriously though, I think I’m the favorite.”

Smith is offering another prop bet for everyone to take. He is willing to bet that his team of three players, including Justin Bonomo, Brett Richey and himself, will win more bracelets than any other three players who have yet won a bracelet.

There is a definitive plus side in betting against Smith, him being a cash game specialist. If the cash games are good, there is a good possibility that Smith is going to sit on a cash table instead of signing in a tournament:

“That’s a plus side variable for anyone willing to take me up on this. I plan on playing lots of tournaments but I can’t predict what the cash game action will be like. If it’s just way too good and insane, I won’t pass it up,” said Smith.

Source: bluff

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Justin “BoostedJ” Smith Betting on his WSOP success

Don Cheadle Signs with Full Tilt Poker

Ante Up for Africa co-founder Don Cheadle has signed on to be a Friend of Full Tilt Poker. Cheadle is one of the world’s leading actors and has appeared in the hit movie “Crash” as well as the “Oceans Eleven” trilogy.

Cheadle founded Ante Up for Africa along with Celebrity Apprentice candidate Annie Duke and Norman Epstein. The organization will be featured prominently during ESPN’s coverage of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. The $5,000 buy-in Ante Up for Africa tournament starts on Thursday, July 2nd and is one of three events that compose the television network’s coverage. According to a press release distributed by Full Tilt Poker this week, participants are asked to donate 50% of their winnings to charity. In many cases, the tournament’s winners give their entire payday to the organization, which raises money and awareness for victims of the crisis in Darfur.

Cheadle is no stranger to the poker spotlight. Besides his work with Ante Up for Africa, he has also appeared on NBC’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship, a tournament most recently won by Huck Seed, who boasts the best record in the series’ history. In 2007, Cheadle defeated Full Tilt Poker pro Phil Ivey in the opening round of the National Heads-Up Championship before falling to Scott Fischman in the second round. Fischman, in turn, lost to poker pro Kristy Gazes in the round of 16. In 2008, Cheadle squared off against Gus Hansen in the first round, but was bested by the three-time World Poker Tour (WPT) champion.

In 2009, Cheadle defeated David “The Dragon” Pham in the first round at Caesars Palace, but fell to 2006 WSOP Main Event runner up Paul Wasicka when 32 players remained. The acclaimed actor has appeared on Poker After Dark, which also airs on NBC. He commented in a press release, “I’ve done alright in the televised tourneys I’ve participated in and I’ve won several tournaments around town. I have yet to play in the WSOP events, but I hope my schedule will permit me to do so in the future.” Other films that the newest Friend of Full Tilt has appeared in include “Hotel Rwanda,” “Traffic,” “Reign Over Me,” and “Traitor.” He will also appear in next year’s follow up to “Iron Man,” which stars Robert Downey, Jr.

Other Friends of Full Tilt include Bruce Buffer, who currently works with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Buffer appeared at the final table of the WPT Invitational during Season III, finishing sixth and earning $5,000. Poker author Michael Craig is a Friend of Full Tilt, as is All-In and Bluff Magazine columnist Jay Greenspan. Others include Niklas Heinecker, Gabriela Hill, Matt Hughes, Gary Jones, Stephan Kalhamer, Brian Koppelman, Maxi Muller, Ali Nejad, Jeremiah Smith, Mike Swick, Johnathan Wendel, and Yueqi Zhu.

Full Tilt Poker is kicking off its relationship with Cheadle by hosting a $5 + $5 private charity tournament online to benefit Ante Up for Africa. The date for the event has not yet been announced, but is expected to take place prior to the $5,000 buy-in contest in Las Vegas at the Rio. A bevy of Team Full Tilt pros will also be in attendance during the 10 week-long WSOP festivities, including Chris Ferguson, reigning WSOP Europe Main Event Champion John Juanda, Jennifer Harman, Phil Gordon, Erik Seidel, Andy Bloch, and Durrrr Challenge participant Patrik Antonius.

Full Tilt Poker is the second largest site worldwide with a seven day running average of 11,400 real money ring game players. Its 24 hour peak is over 16,000 and the site happily accepts customers from the United States. It is one of only a handful of online poker rooms that appears on the list of 200 sites distributed for censorship by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to 11 of the world’s largest internet service providers (ISPs). Other USA-friendly sites on the list, which was generated randomly and made public last week, include Bodog and Players Only.

Jamie Gold Leaves ACED Poker

Three months ago, 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion Jamie Gold signed with Merge Gaming Network site ACED Poker. Now, Poker News Daily can confirm that the two parties have severed ties.

In February, a press release hit the wires announcing that Gold, one of the most visible figures in the poker industry, had signed with the site on the USA-friendly Merge Gaming Network. Together with Jennifer “Jennicide” Leigh, who is a sponsored pro of IronDuke, Gold became the main fixture of the Network, which also includes Poker Nordica, Reefer Poker, Rumble Poker, and spin32 Poker. Lisa Wheeler, who handled the public relations for the announcement of Gold’s arrival, told Poker News Daily, “It seemed more like a publicity stunt. ACED representatives were unreachable after that point. This went on for about eight weeks. We kept writing them. They came back and said they weren’t sure if they wanted to continue, so I advised Gold to pull out.”

Wheeler’s firm, GreasieWheels, which also coordinates the public relations efforts for some of the industry’s top charity poker tournaments, was hired by ACED for six months. Wheeler and company created a marketing plan for use during that time period and, when it came time to collect, Wheeler claimed the process proved difficult: “We saw nothing. They couldn’t pull themselves together financially. They made a lot of promises and jerked us around.” ACED received an eight-page spread in Bluff Magazine along with at least three press releases. The site also sponsored a special fundraiser benefiting Children Uniting Nations featuring Gold that was held after the Oscar festivities in Los Angeles. The event was co-sponsored by the Hollywood Reporter.

ACED officials turned out for the Oscar party and met with Wheeler, the last time the two parties allegedly interacted for several weeks. Recently, ACED and Jamie Gold elected to sever ties altogether. As to whether the brief stint with the Merge Gaming site would cast a dark cloud over Gold, Wheeler explained, “I’m doing everything I can personally to make sure it doesn’t. I don’t want that to happen to Jamie again, especially under these circumstances.” Wheeler told Poker News Daily that she received an e-mail from ACED over the weekend that threatened a lawsuit for slander. She then wrote on her Twitter feed, “Great. Another online poker room that makes promises and doesn’t follow up. Thanks a lot, ACED.”

According to traffic ranking site PokerScout.com, the Merge Gaming Network is the 17th largest worldwide with a seven day running average of 340 real money ring game players. It is the sixth largest site or network that accepts customers from the United States, trailing PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, the CEREUS Network, the Cake Poker Network, and Bodog. Wheeler explained that her involvement with the up and coming site was primarily due to Gold’s enthusiasm. She told Poker News Daily, “Jamie is always good for his word. I wouldn’t have jumped onboard so quickly if it wouldn’t have been for him.”

ACED Poker Room Manager Brandon Berndt told Poker News Daily, “This whole situation is really getting blown out of proportion. It is true that unfortunately things didn’t work out with Jamie, but that’s about the only thing that has been reported correctly. A lot of things are being said by one person, who happens not to be Jamie Gold, that carry no water.” In terms of allegedly inaccurate statements, Berndt explained, “We never once said that we didn’t want to continue; that came from Jamie’s camp first. I am going to refrain from going into anything more at this time, as we would like to settle this in-house with Jamie, as it should be.”

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest.

Bluff’s Matt Parvis Reacts to Online Poker Challenge Results

The finale of the Bluff Online Poker Challenge saw Brian “SNo0oWMAN” Hawkins dominate the competition. He turned a $200 bankroll into $25,0000 in just one month, $20,000 more than the next closest finisher on the leader board. Poker News Daily sat down with Bluff Magazine Editor in Chief Matt Parvis to get his reaction.

The concept of the Online Poker Challenge was simple: A total of 25 of the world’s top internet players each received a $200 bankroll on Lock Poker, which makes its home on the U.S.-friendly Cake Poker Network. Only tournaments and sit and gos were allowed, potentially determining the world’s top player in this genre. At the end of the day, Hawkins turned his seed money into over $25,000. The second place finisher on the leader board at the end of the one month-long competition was Garrett “GBecks” Beckman, who won the $150 rebuy on Full Tilt Poker last October for $57,000. Beckman finished with $4,800 in the till, capping an amazing performance by Hawkins. His reward is a cover story in Bluff Magazine.

Only nine players on the leader board finished with a bankroll of over $100. The 20th ranked player at the end of the month, Shaun “shaundeeb” Deeb, had just $6.75 to his name. On Hawkins’ showing, Parvis told Poker News Daily, “I was surprised that only one player dominated. I thought there would be three to four horses in a very similar spot with their bankrolls, but for Hawkins to be the only one to crush the field goes to show just how impressive his win was. I had fully expected more than half of the field to be eliminated within a week and that seemed to be the trend.”

Players took to the virtual felts of Lock Poker with varying strategies. Some headed to the $3 and $5 multi-table tournaments, while others looked for a big score right away in the Cake Poker Network’s weekend majors. Hawkins, by contrast, built his bankroll by taking down inferior opponents in heads-up sit and gos. Each contestant blogged about their experience on Bluff’s website. In his final video testimonial, the victorious Hawkins explained, “I’m really excited to be able to be featured in a magazine like Bluff. I’m pretty happy with how the competition went and I can’t wait for the magazine to come out.” Hawkins and Beckman also received entries into an upcoming Dream Team Poker event. The most recent one was held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in March, although no date for Dream Team Poker’s next event has been set.

Avid readers of Bluff and fans in the online poker community kept close tabs on the action as it unfolded on Lock Poker. They watched in amazement as fourth place finisher David “The Maven” Chicotsky played 389 tournaments in a single day. They watched as Hawkins recorded the most profitable day during the contest, amassing $5,200 in winnings, as well as the worst day on record, dropping $3,700. Parvis explained what feedback Bluff has received: “The players seemed to really enjoy the Challenge, as did our supporters. We actually had a group of forum members run the Challenge among themselves. They followed all of the same rules because they liked the idea so much. We also got a lot of great feedback on the video blogs and live scoreboard we had running, so I think it’s safe to say that it was a big success.”

The final ten in the standings were as follows:
1. Brian “SNo0oWMAN” Hawkins - $25,066.74
2. Garrett “GBecks” Beckman - $4,811.96
3. Brett “Gank” Jungblut - $2,419.13
4. David “The Maven” Chicotsky - $491.76
5. Eric “Rizen” Lynch - $421.65
6. Maria “MariaHo” Ho - $286.21
7. Tom “SBRounder” West - $273.96
8. Brett “YourCreepy” Hanks - $270.33
9. Jeff “yellowsub” Williams - $114.15
10. Phil “USCphildo” Collins - $86.10

On the prospects of running a second installment of the Bluff Online Poker Challenge, Parvis forecasted, “There have been talks about bringing the Challenge back with some variations. Nothing is set in stone right now, but it’s a good possibility.” Parvis explained that the Challenge may ultimately occur over a shorter time period, such as one week or ten days. In addition, it may also expand to include cash games. However, he cautioned, “There is always the concern of protecting the integrity of the Challenge, so we'd have to have a strong system in place to prevent any shenanigans.”