Poker News

December 19th – Weekly Update

Welcome back to the Poker News Daily Weekly update where we highlight the biggest stories in the world of poker. I’m your host, Sean Gibson, and let’s get to the news.

Well, It’s shaping up to be an interesting last few days of the current Congressional session for members of the online poker community. On Tuesday, Politico published an article revealing that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was attempting to add a bill legalizing online poker to the measure extending tax cuts.

Politico confirmed Reid’s desires with Senator Orrin Hatch. Senator Jon Kyl, one of the masterminds of the original UIGEA, would not allow the plan to come to fruition. Kyl told Politico,

“[There is] zero chance – no chance whatsoever that would be part of the tax deal. I don’t think it would be the right thing to do.”

We’ll keep you posted on this constantly changing story.

Nearly leading the tournament wire-to-wire, Antonio Esfandiari took down the Five Diamond World Poker Classic, a stop on the World Poker Tour. Esfandiari, a Victory Poker pro, banked eight hundred seventy thousand dollars for his efforts. The tournament can be seen as part of Season Nine of the WPT on Fox Sports Net next year.

Esfandiari edged out fellow Victory Poker pro Andrew Robl heads-up when “The Magician’s” King Jack held against Robl’s Queen Ten on the final hand. Here’s how the final group of six cashed out in the ten thousand dollar buy-in tournament:

1. Antonio Esfandiari – $870,124
2. Andrew “good2cu” Robl – $549,003
3. Vanessa Rousso – $358,964
4. John Racener – $232,271
5. Kirk Morrison – $168,924
6. Ted Lawson – $126,693

Earlier this week, PokerStars took the unexpected step of signing Isildur1. The Swede gained fame by multi-tabling against the world’s best players including Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, and Tom Dwan. The signing is atypical for PokerStars, which usually aims to ink established pros who have had a ton of television face time. This time around, they’ve gone with a player without an identity who has yet to play on TV.

As part of his sponsorship deal, Isildur1 will be taking part in high-stakes heads-up SuperStar Showdown matches exclusively played at PokerStars. These matches are feature a format of twenty five hundred hands at stakes no lower than fifty, one hundred. The official word from PokerStars is that these SuperStar Showdown matches will be played either as No Limit Hold’em or Pot Limit Omaha.

Poker News Daily polled the online poker industry to see what reaction several pros had to Isildur1’s signing. CardRunners founder Taylor Caby had this to say:

“I’m definitely excited to see Isildur1 back in the spotlight. As a poker fan, I’ve enjoyed watching him play and I’ll be on the rail when he starts playing again.”

Jay Rosenkrantz, founder of DeucesCracked said:

“Seems like a good move for PokerStars, creating a bit of a distraction too amidst all these legislative happenings. Watching Isildur1 play nosebleeds was better entertainment than anything on television and if they can create that kind of spectacle again, I’m sure it will be a good thing for their business and for poker.”

Unleashed Poker is handing out presents to all of its players this holiday season. Players on the site will have the opportunity to earn numerous prizes as part of Unleashed Poker’s Christmas Giveaways. From now until December Twenty-First, players can pick up exclusive Unleashed Poker swag along with high-end electronics. For those partial to Apple products, iPod Shuffles, iPod Touches, and iPads will be given away.

Players on the virtual felts at Unleashed Poker will earn Frequent Player Points, which can be used for the Christmas Giveaway prizes. Unleashed Poker will give out one FPP for each dollar raked at the tables and every prize has an associated FPP level. Unleashed Poker makes its home on the USA-friendly Cake Poker Network.

Actress Cheryl Hines of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and former World Series of Poker Main Event champ Joe Cada will host the third annual All In For Cerebral Palsy celebrity charity poker tournament at the Venetian’s poker room on Saturday. Proceeds from the event will benefit the One Step Closer Foundation, a non-profit organization whose main goal is to ease the lives of those who suffer from cerebral palsy through financial freedom and social acceptance.

The No Limit Hold’em charity tournament will have a five hundred forty dollar buy-in with unlimited two hundred dollar rebuys for ninety minutes. Half of the prize pool will go for the tournament’s payouts, with the other half going to the foundation. There will also be sports and Hollywood memorabilia available through auctions and an after-party with free drinks courtesy of the One Step Closer Foundation. Players can register at the Venetian Poker Room cage until the end of the rebuy period.

Finally, Full Tilt Poker released a software update on Monday that addressed many of its customers’ requests. Among the new features to the software were an “Auto Add-On” button for rebuys and a “Quick Fold to Any Bet” option for Rush Poker players.

The “Auto Add-On” button was probably the most asked-for feature that Full Tilt’s software was missing up until this latest upgrade. After PokerStars inserted a clickable “Auto Add-On” box for its rebuy tournaments in June of last year, Full Tilt players requested the same. It took well over a year, but the site came through for its multi-tablers who were frustrated about forgetting to add on after the rebuy hour. Full Tilt happily accepts players from the United States.

Well, that does it for a very busy and exciting week in the world of poker. Be sure to stay tuned in to Poker News Daily for the absolute latest in poker news and be sure to follow us at twitter dot com slash poker news daily. I’m Sean Gibson, thanking you for watching and wishing you a sick run this weekend at the tables!

Venetian to Host All In For CP Charity Poker Tournament

Actress Cheryl Hines of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Joe Cada will host the third annual All In For Cerebral Palsy celebrity charity poker tournament at the Venetian’s poker room on Saturday, December 11th. Proceeds from the event will benefit the One Step Closer Foundation, a non-profit organization whose main goal is to ease the lives of those who suffer from cerebral palsy through financial freedom and social acceptance.

The No Limit Hold’em charity tournament will be a $540 buy-in with unlimited $200 rebuys for 90 minutes. Half of the pool will go for the tournament’s payouts, with the other half going to the foundation. There will also be sports and Hollywood memorabilia available through auctions and an after-party with free drinks courtesy of the One Step Closer Foundation. Players can register online or at the Venetian Poker Room cage until the end of the rebuy period on December 11th.

Jacob Zalewski, who copes with cerebral palsy and serves as President and CEO of the One Step Closer Foundation, started the All In For Cerebral Palsy event in 2008. Zalewski is a huge poker fan can regularly be found at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino during the annual WSOP in Las Vegas. He has made friends with many of poker’s biggest stars throughout the years, many of which support his foundation by playing in the event.

“We hope to see a future where cerebral palsy is a thing of the past,” said Zalewski, who made a final table at the WSOP in 2005. “We know are getting one step closer to that vision every day.”

Mekhi Phifer, star of FOX’s “Lie to Me” and films such as “8 Mile” and “O,” bested 97 players last year to win the All In For Cerebral Palsy tournament. The event raised more than $80,000, as attendance doubled at the Hard Rock Casino from the previous year.

Phifer is expected to return to defend his title this year, along with fellow celebrities Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”), Sam Simon (creator of “The Simpsons”), Montel Williams (TV talk show host), Donnie Wahlberg (“Blue Bloods”), Gina Hecht (“Hung”), and former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis. Playboy playmates Lauren Anderson, Stacy Fuson, Alison Waite, and Brande Roderick have also committed to the event.

Poker pros that have given support to the cause and will likely play again this year include Dennis Phillips, Victor Ramdin, Scotty Nguyen, Barry Greenstein, Eli Elezra, Freddy Deeb, Darvin Moon, Todd Brunson, Mike Matusow, Mike Sexton, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Andy Block, David “Chino” Rheem, Tiffany Michelle, Maria Ho, Robert Williamson III, and Jamie Gold.

Cerebral palsy refers to motor conditions that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination. Effects of the disorder don’t worsen over time, but they can’t be cured. However, treatment will often improve a child’s capabilities, allowing them to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their disabilities are properly managed.

For more information about the disorder and the “All In For Cerebral Palsy” tournament, visit AllInForCP.com.

Phil Hellmuth to Host Charity Poker Tournament Benefiting HospiceCare

Eleven-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth will be lending his star power to benefit HospiceCare, Inc. when he hosts the Phil Hellmuth Hold’em with HospiceCare charity poker tournament in December.

The tournament will take place in Hellmuth’s hometown of Madison, Wisconsin in the penthouse of the Arbor Gate complex on December 18th from 3:00pm to Midnight. Hellmuth will be playing in the tournament and prizes will be raffled off during the evening to benefit HospiceCare, Inc. These include a seat in the 2011 WSOP Main Event and a two-year lease on a 2011 Honda Accord LX.

For those who want to participate in the festivities, there are several ticket options available. The $500 ticket will allow the buyer to enjoy the day fully, participate in the poker tournament, and have special access to a VIP room where Hellmuth and other celebrities will be mingling. A $300 ticket includes food, drinks, and a seat in the tournament.

Finally, a $100 ticket will allow people to get into the event, albeit not play in the tournament. All of the proceeds will benefit patients and families served by HospiceCare Inc., a nonprofit hospice caring for more than 630 patients a day in Wisconsin.

Over 500 players are expected for the tournament, with many of the competitors coming from all around the Midwest. If the players in the tournament are skilled enough to make the final table, there will be an additional treat waiting for them. The members of the final table of the tournament will have the privilege of having Hellmuth as one of their opponents and will face the arduous task of trying to take down the former World Champion.

Several sponsors have lined up to join Hellmuth at his charity tournament, including UB.com. Others companies that will be a part of the tournament’s festivities include Adams Outdoor Advertising, Bonfyre American Grille, Clear Channel Radio, Coors Light, McDonalds, Miller Lite, and Zimbrick Honda, which is putting up the Accord.

Despite his reputation in the game as the “Poker Brat,” Hellmuth is one of the most ardent supporters of using poker for charitable means. In the past, Hellmuth has been a supporter of several causes and used his poker celebrity status to bring attention to various organizations.

A cause that has been very important to Hellmuth is the law enforcement community. He has hosted several tournaments in Las Vegas that have benefited the TASER Foundation, an organization that helps the families of law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Hellmuth has also been involved in charitable events for such organizations as Habitat for Humanity, Doctors Without Borders, and Heifer International, a charity dedicated to relieving global hunger and poverty.

Phil Hellmuth to host charity poker tournament for HospiceCare

Poker After Dark Season 7 Premieres January 3rd

Poker PROductions announced this week that its popular poker television program “Poker After Dark” has concluded the taping of its seventh season.  Filmed at the Aria Resort and Casino at CityCenter in Las Vegas, the season premiere will air the week of January 3rd on NBC.

Season 7 will tie for the second longest season in the show’s history, spanning 13 weeks.  The fifth season, filmed in 2009, was the longest at 16 weeks, or 96 episodes.  The upcoming season will build on the popularity of cash games, all but phasing out the original six-handed sit and go competitions upon which “Poker After Dark” was built.

That said, the first week of the new season will feature a $100,000 buy-in sit and go dubbed “Big Heat.”  Competing for the winner-take-all prize pool will be popular high-stakes action seekers Tom “durrrr” Dwan, Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond, John Juanda, Erick Lindgren, Phil Ivey, and Huck Seed.

The other two sit and gos will feature the traditional $20,000 buy-in and a richer $50,000 buy-in.  The $20,000 version will be called “Wish List,” with amateur Mike Dappen taking on Mike Matusow, Phil Hellmuth, Jennifer Harman, Erica Schoenberg, and Chris Ferguson.  Dappen won the opportunity to play for the $300,000 first prize by winning the Howard and Suzie Lederer Charity Poker Tournament, which raised money for the Boys and Girls Clubs.

The $50,000 tournament, named “Idol,” will see Doyle Brunson go up against five young pros: Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin, Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad, Andrew “LuckyChewy” Lichtenberger, Melanie “Callisto 5″ Weisner, and Dwan.

The rest of the competitions will be cash games, each of which will span two weeks.  Two will have a minimum buy-in of $100,000.  The first of these will include Brandon Adams, Matusow, Ferguson, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Jean-Robert Bellande, Peter Jetten, and Hellmuth.  Hellmuth will return for the second $100,000 cash game, along with Antonio Esfandiari, Obrestad, Andy Bloch, Seed, and Justin “Boosted J” Smith.

A $150,000 buy-in cash game will see Eli Elezra, David “Viffer” Peat, Phil Laak, Greg “FBT” Mueller, Olivier Busquet, and Lederer all try to take each other’s money, while Ivey, Dwan, Patrik Antonius, Peat, Elezra, and David Oppenheim will sit down for another cash game with at least $200,000 at stake per person.

While all of the above cash games will be No Limit Hold’em, there will be one $100,000 cash game that will feature Pot Limit Omaha as the game of choice.  Sitting down at this table will be Ivey, Galfond, Adams, Antonius, Dwan, Brian Hastings, and Jared “harrington25″ Bleznick.

With 10 of the 13 weeks consisting of cash games, Season 7 will be far and away the most cash game heavy of all of the “Poker After Dark” cycles.  It was not until Season 4 in 2008 that cash games were part of the lineup.  The show was exclusively six-handed sit and gos for its first three seasons, serving as a complement to GSN’s “High Stakes Poker,” another Poker PROductions program that consisted of only cash games.

In Season 4, which was only seven weeks long, the first and seventh weeks were cash games, while the third was a special four-player “Heads-Up Challenge.”  Of the 16 weeks of Season 5, seven were cash games.  Six more weeks were cash games in the 13-week Season 6.

Poker PROductions also revealed this week that it has extended its deal with NBC Universal to produce “Poker After Dark” through 2014.  Aria will continue to serve as the host casino for the show’s filming through at least 2013.

Hellmuth to Hold Charity Event to Benefit HospiceCare

October 22 – PND Weekly Update

Hello and welcome to the Weekly Recap on Poker News Daily. This week, we congratulate Dan Harrington and Erik Seidel on entering the Poker Hall of Fame, witness an implausible twenty-three way chop in a live tournament, and more. I’m your host, Sean Gibson.

The Poker Hall of Fame Class of two thousand ten was announced this week. Nineteen ninety-five World Series of Poker Main Event champ Dan Harrington and eight-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel will be enshrined during a ceremony on November eighth at the Rio in Las Vegas. Harrington’s back-to-back runs in the two thousand three and two thousand four Main Events and valuable contributions to poker literature earned him one of the Hall of Fame spots. Seidel is a favorite of the poker industry and may be best remembered for his runner-up finish to Johnny Chan in the nineteen eighty-eight WSOP Main Event.

It’s not every day you see a twenty-three-way chop in a live poker tournament. The unlikely deal happened in a four hundred dollar No Limit Hold’em Deep Stack event held during the Foxwoods World Poker Finals this week. John Agelakis ultimately came away with the win, earning a commemorative leather jacket, a championship trophy, and twelve thousand dollars in cash. That was just nineteen percent more than the 23rd place finisher received and only eleven dollars more than second place. The winner of the tournament WOULD have taken home over $68,000, meaning that the deal resulted in the top prize being shaved by over eighty percent.

On Monday night, a brand new week of the PokerStars-sponsored “Big Game” kicked off on FOX. The newest cycle featured Elizabeth Houston as the “Loose Cannon.” Houston ended Monday’s kickoff episode up eighteen thousand dollars in large part due to taking down a major pot with pocket aces. There was a total of one point two million dollars on the table to start with, the most in “Big Game” history. Daniel Negreanu ended Monday’s “Big Game” episode up over a hundred thousand dollars and the big loser of the night was David “Viffer” Peat, who lost seventy-seven thousand. If you missed any of the “Big Game,” go to TheBigGame.PokerStars.net.

Dutch Boyd is being sued by TwoPlusTwo Interactive for “cyber squatting,” which means owning a website that intends to profit off a trademark belonging to someone else. In a post on TwoPlusTwo last week, site owner Mason Malmuth gave an update:

“TwoPlusTwo sued Boyd for cyber squatting, trademark infringement, and other claims after Boyd registered the domain name TwoPlusTwoPoker.com. The complaint was only served on Boyd after his numerous refusals to negotiate with TwoPlusTwo in good faith.”

The conflict started last year and it is still unclear whether Boyd profited from the disputed domain name. The lawsuit now moves into the discovery phase.

This November, the World Poker Tour will once again head to the historic and picturesque city of Marrakech, Morocco for its second ever poker tournament in the North African country. Co-sponsored by Chili Poker and the WPT, the event will begin on November 20th with a five hundred Euro Deep Stack tourney. Chili Poker pro Liz Lieu will attend this event along with Irish pro Andy Black and EPT champions Sandra Naujoks and Liv Boeree. The Main Event of the 2010 WPT Marrakech will be a five thousand Euro No Limit Hold’em tournament that will begin on November twenty-seventh. Since this is an official WPT stop, the victor will earn the bracelet awarded to all WPT champions along with a $25,000 seat to the 2011 Championship event at the Bellagio in April.

Mixed Martial Arts legend Randy Couture will host the third annual “Operation All In” charity poker tournament and auction fundraiser at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas on October thirtieth. The tournament and auction will benefit the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation, which honors the veterans of America’s armed forces. Confirmed attendants include MMA fighters Couture, Tyson Griffin, and John Alessio along with poker pros like Howard Lederer, Lacey Jones, and Matt Savage. The buy-in for the tournament is $225 with hundred dollar rebuys. The event will also feature auctions offering MMA memorabilia and dinner and a one-hour personal MMA lesson with Couture.

These were the top poker news this week. Don’t miss us next Friday for another executive recap of the week in poker. May the flop be with you.

Couture Goes All-in for Charity

The charity poker tournament is set to take place Oct. 30 with MMA fighters Tyson Griffin, Ryan Couture, Martin Kampmann, Gray Maynard, Jason Ron, Ray Sefo, Mike Pyle and John Alessio and actor David Zayas scheduled to play.

The event will benefit Xtreme Couture GI Foundation which offers financial assistance to injured veterans and their families. Couture served in the U.S. military for six years before getting into MMA.

Open to the public, the No-Limit Hold’em tournament will begin at 2 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

The buy-in will be $225 and rebuys will be available for $100. First place will be $10,000.

In addition to the poker tournament there will be a silent auction, raffles and a Halloween after party.

No stranger to poker, this is the third year that Couture has hosted Operation All-In and he even played in one of the $1,000 buy-in WSOP events this summer.

For more information check the Xtreme Couture website.

MMA Fighter Randy Couture to Host Charity Poker Event

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) legend Randy Couture will host the third annual “Operation All In” charity poker tournament and auction fundraiser at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas on Saturday, October 30th. The tournament and auction will benefit the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation, which honors the veterans of America’s armed forces.

The event is open to the public and will include a celebrity charity poker tournament featuring professional players and MMA and Hollywood celebrities. There will also be live and silent auctions offering MMA memorabilia, dinner and a one-hour personal MMA lesson with Couture, autograph sessions with photo opportunities, and a Halloween after party inside Gold Diggers.

The buy-in for the tournament is $225 with $100 rebuys. Tournament participants will also receive free entry to the first annual Randy Couture Halloween Bash starting at 8:00pm inside Gold Diggers nightclub overlooking the Fremont Street Experience. For those not wishing to participate in the poker tournament, general admission tickets to the Halloween bash will be available for $25 at the door.

The winner of the tournament will take home $10,000 in cash and top finishers will win valuable prizes from a handful of sponsors. “Operation All In” is sponsored and supported by Deepstacks, the Poker Players Alliance, Full Tilt Poker, Xtreme Couture MMA, Lord Griffon, Godard Art, and the Golden Nugget.

Confirmed participants for the event include MMA fighters Couture, Tyson Griffin, Ryan Couture, Martin Kampmann, Gray Maynard, Jason Ron, Ray Sefo, Mike Pyle, and John Alessio. Professional poker players taking part include Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Layne Flack, Gavin Smith, Perry Friedman, Antonio Esfandiari, Todd Brunson, Nick and Michael Binger, Dutch Boyd, Lacey Jones, Matt Savage, and “Donk Down Radio” personality Bryan Micon.

Couture is an army veteran himself, having served in the 101st Airborne Division. Together with his wife, Couture started the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation to raise money and awareness for troops wounded in action and their families. The Foundation’s goal is to help these brave men and women fulfill any of their unmet needs as they return to civilian life.

Couture has been involved in poker for years now. He first hit the tables during the inaugural “Operation All In” charity tournament, which was emceed by Jamie Gold in 2008. He began getting more involved with Full Tilt, holding charity tournaments on the site to support his foundation, and then during his fight against Brock Lesnar in November 2008, Couture switched brand of clothing from Affliction gear to Full Tilt Poker. The MMA legend has since been regularly linked to the site, even making an appearance on NBC’s “Poker After Dark” decked out in Full Tilt Poker logos during the show’s airing in August.

Poker News in Brief: Oct. 11-17, 2010

As a result, there were a few stories that didn't get the attention they deserved. Thankfully, we had a little space in our weekly Poker News in Brief feature and have thrown them in below.

This week Full Tilt signs a tennis star, an MMA legend hosts a charity tournament, poker might be Bad for Your Wealth and more.

Tilt Signs Blake

Full Tilt Poker signed US tennis star James Blake as a Friend of Full Tilt this week.

Since turning pro in 1999, Blake has consistently been ranked amongst tennis' elite and has led the US Davis Cup team since being selected in 2001.

He was also named the world's "sexiest athlete" in People Magazine's 2002 Sexiest Man Alive Issue.

Blake is an avid poker player.

London Calling

PKR's London Calling poker festival kicked off this week at the The Fox Poker Club in London's West End.

The PKR sponsored 28-day tournament series runs through Nov. 7 with 57 tournaments, the majority of which range in buy-ins from £20 to £100.

The festival will conclude with a £300 buy-in main event.

Nicolak Joins Cardrunners

John "Nicolak" Kim joined the poker training site CardRunners as a mid to high stakes cash instructor this week.

A winning pro since 1998, his first video for the site features Kim four-tabling $5-$10 six-max No-Limit Hold'em. 

Kim was already co-host of the site's bi-weekly strategy podcast Cash Plays, along with Jeremiah Smith.

Bad For Your Wealth

A new book claiming to provide scientific evidence that tournament poker is a losing proposition was released this week.

Bad for Your Wealth: A Scientific, Evidence-Based Study of Why You Should Avoid Playing Poker Tournaments, written by Ramy C. Tadros, includes calculations verified by Minimax Statistical Consulting, LLC.

Publishers claim the book is a must read for struggling players trying to understand why they cannot beat the game,

MMA Star Hosts Charity Event

Mixed Martial Arts legend Randy "The Natural" Couture will host the third annual "Operation All In" charity poker tournament and auction fundraiser benefiting the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation Oct. 30.

Held at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, the event is open to the public and will include a celebrity charity poker tournament featuring pro players, MMA and Hollywood celebrities; live and silent auctions; autograph sessions with photo opportunities; raffle prizes; and a Halloween after party inside the Nugget's Gold Diggers club.

Already confirmed are Tyson Griffin, Ryan Couture, Martin Kampmann, Gray Maynard, Jason Ron, Ray Sefo, Mike Pyle and John Alessio, David Zayas of "Dexter" and "The Expendables," and poker pros Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Layne Flack, Gavin Smith, Perry Friedman, Antonio Esfandiari, Todd Brunson, Nick and Michael Binger, Dutch Boyd and Lacey Jones.

The buy-in for the tournament is $225 with $100 multi re-buys. The winner will receive a $10,000 prize. Proceeds will benefit injured US soldiers.

Double Up October

Titan Poker is offering players a chance to increase their bankrolls at its popular Double Up Sit 'n' Go tournaments through its $150,000 Double Up October promotion.

$30,000 in weekly prizes will be awarded to the site's leading Double Up Sit 'n' Go players all this month.

Plus there will be an additional $30,000 in prizes awarded to players on top of the monthly leaderboard.

Commerce Casino To Host Charity Poker Tournament Benefiting Children’s Institute

The normally cutthroat world of poker once again will show its heart at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles by stepping up for a charity event later this month.

On October 23rd, the Commerce will play host to the Second Annual Children’s Institute Poker For A Cause. The event will start at 11:30AM with the opportunity for fans to greet the participants and take photos. Following the red carpet walk, the players will adjourn to the Commerce Casino tournament rooms at 12:30PM to battle it out for a prize pool of more than $15,000, a seat in the 2011 World Poker Tour (WPT) Celebrity Invitational on February 18th at the Commerce, and many other prizes.

The Children’s Institute is an organization that advocates for children in violent situations, such as domestic violence, child abuse, and/or neglect. The organization’s website states that there are more than 50,000 reports of child abuse/neglect reported annually in the city of Los Angeles and over 43,000 police calls for domestic violence issues that often affect children.

These children sometimes will fall victim to the circle of violence, usually reflected in poor performance in school, becoming criminally active, or repeating the trend of violence against loved ones. The Children’s Institute serves more than 17,000 children and their families in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods and has trained more than 60,000 professionals in the realm of child development, mental health, and welfare.

Taking on the hostess duties for the second year in a row for the “Poker For A Cause” festivities is acclaimed actress Camryn Manheim, an Emmy award winner who has also showed her skills on the poker tables. Joining Camryn for this year’s event will be noted Seinfeld actor and Friend of PokerStars Jason Alexander, the voice of The Simpsons Hank Azaria, actress Joely Fisher, legendary Days Of Our Lives performer Deirdre Hall, Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Cheryl Hines, talk show host Ricki Lake, former Saturday Night Live standouts Kevin Nealon and Cheri Oteri, and actors Mimi Rogers, Sara Rue, and Tuc Watkins. Joining them will be a fleet of poker pros.

Also on tap during the action on the felt will be a silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind merchandise for bidding including items such as an extravagant four-night stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Hawaii, a guitar signed by teen singing sensation Miley Cyrus, a year of unlimited dining at Johnny Rockets, and a tennis match with Bush singer Gavin Rossdale.

The inaugural Poker For A Cause event last year was a huge success, drawing a star-studded field while raising over $80,000 for the Children’s Institute’s philanthropic efforts. 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Jamie Gold and fellow poker pro Alex Outhred were in attendance and helped Manheim with the emcee duties for the tournament. Last year’s field included many of the celebrities listed above and also included baseball slugger Jose Canseco, former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Jennie Garth, The Ghost Whisperer’s Jennifer Love Hewitt, actor Mekhi Phifer, and The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney. The tournament was won by Tuc Watkins, who donated a large portion of the $5,000 first place prize in the tournament back to the organization.

Tickets for the Children’s Institute’s charity event are available on the organization’s website. To play in the tournament, a $250 donation is requested. For those that wish to attend the tournament as a spectator, a $75 donation is requested.

The Sin City Series: Visiting the New Hard Rock Poker Lounge

Montel Williams Interview

Montel Williams is best known for his long running daytime talk show “The Montel Williams Show” as well as his many philanthropic activities. In this interview with site editor Dan Cypra, Williams joins us from the red carpet at the 2010 World Series of Poker during the Ante Up for Africa charity tournament.

Williams enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and later was selected for training at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He was discharged as a Corporal in the Marines and in 1980 graduated with a degree in General Engineering. After 22 years of service in the military he left as a Lieutenant Commander.

This year, Montel Williams became the chief spokesperson for the Poker Training Network, which is an MLM based poker instruction and play money website. He participates in the World Series of Poker Main Event regularly and in 2007 pledged to donate any winnings to families affected by the war in Iraq. During that event, Williams spoke out against the UIGEA.

During this interview, Williams discusses why he’s at the World Series of Poker in 2010, what his level of participation will be and how much he enjoys the world of poker. He also discusses the importance of big stars involving themselves with great causes like Ante Up for Africa, which assists in efforts around that continent to assist those in dire need and dilapidated conditions. We also find out that this was actually taped on his birthday and as a present, planned to win the charity poker tournament.

Charity poker night raises £270,000

Beth Shak Hosting Charity Poker, Bowling Event on October 12th

On October 12th, poker pro Beth Shak will be hosting a fundraising event in conjunction with AOL at the Luxe Lounge at Lucky Strike in Manhattan. The gala will benefit the charity of the winner’s choice and several affordable ticket options are available.

Billiards, a hip DJ, a one-hour open bar featuring ZYR Vodka, numerous poker tables, and a massive HD projection screen atop the bowling lanes are just a few of the attractions that will bring charity dollars in. Shak told Poker News Daily in an exclusive interview, “We’re charging for ticket sales and all of the money will go to the winner’s charity of choice. Even if you don’t play poker, you can go there and pay a $40 general admission. You can bowl, play pool, and have a good time.” The open bar will become a cash bar after the one-hour mark.

Unlike other events, the Luxe Lounge fundraiser does not have a designated beneficiary for the money raised. Instead, the winner of the charity poker tournament will be able to donate funds to an organization near and dear to their heart. Shak explained the reasoning behind the decision: “I thought it was better to let people play for what they care about. Most people have a charity that they care about, so whoever wins will get money for it.”

Four AOL blogs are funneling readers to Shak’s fundraising effort: Asylum, Lemon Drop, Luxist, and Gadlin. Poker seats are available for $100 per person and prizes surrounding the theme of the “ultimate bachelor pad” will be given away. Instructor tables will also be available for those who aren’t versed in the game of poker. You can purchase tickets to the charity gala on October 12th in New York City by clicking here.

Shak has been a staple of the fundraising world, sinking a considerable amount of time and energy into raising money for a variety of worthwhile causes, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Shak explained why she continues to be actively involved in the charity scene after so many years: “A big thing that drives me is giving back to the world. As much as I like pretty things, I give back as much as I possibly can. As long as I have time, I go to any fundraiser I can. Unlike other poker players out there, I don’t charge anyone or take first class tickets. I don’t take anything. I’m there because I think it’s a good cause.”

On Shak’s horizon is a trip to Gauteng, South Africa for the World Series of Poker’s (WSOP) first ever Circuit stop on the continent. On the reason for taking the trans-Atlantic trip, Shak told Poker News Daily, “I thought a change of scenery might help. For whatever reason, I haven’t been doing well around here.” According to the Hendon Mob database, Shak has not cashed for five-figures in a major live poker tournament since late 2008.

Shak is one of the top female poker players in the industry. Accordingly, we asked her to give us the names of the top two women in poker, in her opinion. Her response: “I think it has to be Kathy Liebert and then Vanessa Selbst. Kathy has about $6 million in tournament winnings and completely flies under the radar. She is one of the most patient and amazing players out there. Vanessa won an open World Series of Poker bracelet. That’s big. Otherwise, you’re known for winning a women’s event. If I could emulate either of them, I’d be happy.”

Visit the Asylum, Lemon Drop, Luxist, and Gadlin AOL blogs for more information.

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2010 World Series of Poker: Big Money, Big Hearts

Independence Day Weekend In Las Vegas From Poker In Twitter

Whether it was for the various parties going on, the fireworks or the start of the World Series of Poker Championship Event on Monday, the Independence Day weekend brought all the pros to Las Vegas. The Twitterverse was abuzz with their activities as they worked towards the biggest day of the poker year.

One of the big events over the weekend was the Doyle’s Room party held at the Blush nightclub. UB.com’s Bryan Devonshire had an adventure prior to arriving at the Blush bash, tweeting, “Last night on my way to Doyle’s party I set my phone in a margarita. It doesn’t work anymore.” The Brunson family turned out to be great hosts for the party as Pamela Brunson chirped Sunday morning, “Got in @ 6am from Doyle’s room Blush party and after party @Surrender. I don’t remember WHY I used to enjoy doing that! I’m POOPED!” Even Doyle was stung by the party atmosphere when he recounted his night:  “I’m trying to recover from the Doyle’s Room party at Blush. I’m not going to drink anymore except for an occasional beer until New Years Eve!”

The Fourth of July celebrations saw many of the players hitting various spots around Sin City. “Happy Fourth of July,” Justin “BoostedJ” Smith tweeted on Sunday. “Steak dinner at aria then going to club bank at Bellagio. Should be awesome night…Vegas is packed for the weekend!” Allen Kessler seemingly made a tour of the city when he Tweeted his schedule for the day:  “3 parties tonite. First @fkassela bbq, then @twoplustwoforum forum party at aria, now at bluff party at sapphire.”

Some went for a more low-key Independence Day celebration. Tiffany Michelle included a Twitpic of her activities, adding, “What better way to spend the 4th than in the pool with your girlfriends?” Lacey Jones was reflective when she tweeted her thoughts to her followers, “If there is anything I love w my whole heart it’s our Troops. Thank you to all the men & women who have served our country proud. Happy 4th!” Finally, Kara Scott missed some of the action when she tweeted, “Watching fireworks in a cab. Can juuuuust about see through the gaps in the buildings as we drive past.”

For some over the Independence Day weekend, poker took center stage over the parties and fireworks. The “Ante Up For Africa” charity poker tournament at the WSOP had many on Twitter talking, including eventual champion Phil Gordon. “129,000 in prize money going to a worthy cause,” Phil tweeted after his win and his donation of the first place bounty. “That and a big hug from runner up Shannon Elizabeth made this a great day!” For her part, Shannon Elizabeth was pleased with her performance when she chirped, “So happy! I just got 2nd in Ante Up For Africa! I had lots of lucky hands today-& was so fun!” Annie Duke issued her heartfelt thanks to those who participated when she tweeted, “Great day for @Anteupforafrica. Raised nearly $300K. Thank you so much to everyone who played.”

In one of the more comical exchanges following Gordon’s win in the charity event, fellow Full Tilt Poker members Rafe Furst and Andy Bloch took turns razzing Gordon. After Furst offered his congratulations (“Congrats @PhilNoLimits in your first WSOP tournament win at Ante Up for Africa!”), Bloch jabbed at Gordon’s WSOP record by tweeting, “Does it count as a bracelet?” Furst stuck the knife in a bit deeper when he replied, “I think we should make him an honorary one.”

The WSOP Tournament of Champions wrapped up play on Sunday night and the Twitterscape was buzzing with activity. “Gave it my best in the TOC,” Duke tweeted upon finishing ninth. “Short stacked all day and got my money in as good as I could hope for. Thanks @WSOP for the freeroll.” Jennifer Harman was playful with her exit Tweet, saying, “I’m out 7th. The last hour I feel like I played like a goof ball. Next tourney Main Event.” Daniel Negreanu enjoyed his stay at the TOC final table, although he reported, “Just busted to Hachem. AA vs 55 flop came 652. Oh well, it was a fun tournament but in the end my cards ran out of gas.”

Once Huck Seed and Howard Lederer reached heads up play, Duke began to pay more attention to the play. Although she tried to stick with the action (“Still rooting @HowardHLederer on in TOC. No sleep till he wins!”), Duke eventually gave up, tweeting, “I’m giving up. I need to sleep. Hoping I wake up to find that @HowardHLederer won the TOC. If not Huck is a great back up! Go Bub and Huck!”

Lederer was quite prolific with his tweets as he reported the action. “Just got head up with Huck,” tweeted Howard. “I have 468 to his 342. Given his HU record, I feel like a small dog.” Howard did well for himself, forcing the action for almost two hours before busting out in second place. “Disappointed,” Lederer tweeted at the conclusion. “Huck played great and deserved to win. Thanks much to Harrah’s for the freeroll and the voters for opportunity.”

One of the things that was going on outside of the tables was players noticing the structure of this year’s Championship Event. Andy Bloch was on the case when he chirped, “Warning: when choosing main event starting day, day 1b plays on 2b and day 1c plays on 2a. WSOP has done an appalling job getting word out.” After reviewing the structure of play for the early part of the Main Event, Bloch noted, “Just looked at the main event structure sheet. Playing only 4 levels days 1-5 with a 90 minute dinner break after level 2? Seriously? To the people who decided to have dinner breaks at 4:20: what were you smoking?”

This launched further discussion from Allen Kessler and Pamela Brunson. “Wow I just found out day1a main event players can be in the event 10 days and still not cash,” Kessler tweeted. “Only playing 4 levels/day should be looked at.” Brunson thanked Bloch for his warning, tweeting, “Wow…..that’s stupid! Thanks for tweeting to let us know. I need to recheck my appointments!”

On the lighter side of poker in Twitter, it seems that Joe Reitman might need to start wearing a name tag around the Rio. “Guy on a rascal said ‘Jeff can u sign my hat?,” Reitman tweeted after once again being confused with Jeff Shulman. “Had to tell him ‘I’m not Jeff.’ He was disappointed. Could have lied. But he was on a rascal.” The always endearing Vicky Coren noted upon her arrival in Las Vegas, “Passing the blackjack area, I’d know I was in Vegas with my eyes shut. ‘Please translate for Mr. Wong: the cards must STAY ON THE TABLE.’” Finally, Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin reminisced about his Fourth of July memories:  “Next year I want lawn chairs, coolers, and fireworks in the front yard. Some of my best memories are running around trees with sparklers.”

Phil Gordon Wins WSOP Ante Up for Africa Event

In a relatively subdued atmosphere compared to previous cycles, the Ante Up for Africa event at the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) drew 83 players. The $5,000 charity poker tournament benefiting victims of the crisis in Darfur raised nearly $300,000.

Ante Up for Africa founders Don Cheadle and Annie Duke were the first two down the red carpet, stopping at each of the dozens of media outlets in attendance to relay why they founded the charity along with Norman Epstein. Actor Ben Affleck, one of the tournament’s leading celebrities, did not walk the red carpet due to a migraine and instead went directly to the tournament room. Among those media outlets reporting on Affleck and others in attendance were Fox 5 Las Vegas, Celebrity Update, and 888.

“Everybody Loves Raymond” actor Brad Garrett followed Duke and Cheadle down the red carpet around 1:00pm at the Rio in Las Vegas. At one point, the extremely tall actor stood behind the much shorter Jennifer Harman, holding her shoulders while delivering an Oscar acceptance speech as if the Full Tilt pro were a small trophy.

Other celebrities who took time to speak with the media included boxing legend Evander Holyfield, Carbon Poker pro Shannon Elizabeth, Pittsburgh Steelers great Jerome Bettis, comedian David Alan Grier, and talk show host Montel Williams. Pros lending their thoughts included Andy Bloch, Greg Raymer, and Rafe Furst.

With Affleck sidelined from the red carpet, fellow actor Matt Damon took up the reigns. In an exclusive video interview, Damon told Poker News Daily how he became involved with the movie “Rounders,” which turned many in the industry on to the game: “Harvey Weinstein had the script at Miramax and said, ‘I have this really great script.’ I was doing ‘Saving Private Ryan’ at the time and he sent it over to England. I read it and thought, ‘This is fantastic.’ It’s this crazy little subculture that nobody ever talks about.” Damon did not rule out the possibility of a follow-up to “Rounders,” which has been rumored to be in the works.

In the end, it was Full Tilt Poker pro Phil Gordon coming out on top in the Ante Up for Africa tournament, defeating Elizabeth heads-up. The “American Pie” actress and runner-up candidly told WSOP officials following the gala, “I wish the rest of my WSOP had gone the way this tournament went.” 2009 WSOP Main Event November Niner Phil Ivey hustled through the red carpet and did not take many interviews. Notably absent was UB.com’s Phil Hellmuth, who finished 15th in the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship that took place concurrently.

Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, and Erik Seidel did not walk the red carpet, although all three participated in the event. Seidel finished in fifth place after his 8-5 could not draw out on Gordon’s Q-10. Gordon flopped top pair on a 10-high board and never looked back. Ferguson bubbled the final table, also exiting at the hands of Gordon. This time, “Jesus” held pocket twos, which failed to outrace Gordon’s K-Q of diamonds.

Gordon donated his $130,000 first place payday to Ante Up for Africa in a highly generous gesture. Gordon got the best of Elizabeth with Q-3 against K-10 after flopping a queen to seal the win. The tournament marked Elizabeth’s first in the money finish in a WSOP event in three years. Here were the final results from the 2010 running of the Ante Up for Africa event:

1. Phil Gordon – $130,641
2. Shannon Elizabeth – $80,737
3. Alex Filatov – $56,516
4. Carter “BdyBldngpkrplyr” Phillips – $41,166
5. Erik Seidel – $30,287
6. Jerome Bettis – $22,624
7. Barry Hartheimer – $18,146
8. Kyle Carlston – $15,125
9. Claire Renaut – $12,998

Stay tuned to Poker News Daily for the latest headlines from the 2010 WSOP.

Image courtesy WSOP.com

Matt Damon Video Interview

Matt Damon joins us from the Ante Up for Africa event at the 2010 World Series of Poker straight from the red carpet. In this interview he is asked about the growth of the charity poker tournament as well as his beginnings in poker in the movie Rounders. He also addresses the rumor about Rounders 2 potentially being made and his enthusiasm behind that potential project.

UB.com July Second Sundays to Benefit Crystal King Foundation

This month’s running of the UB.com Second Sundays charity poker tournament will donate its funds to the Crystal King Benefit Foundation. The $10 buy-in tournament will pan out at 14:45 ET on July 11th and former “Amazing Race” contestant Tiffany Michelle, a member of Team UB, will host.

UB.com will match all of the proceeds raised from the tournament and then donate the entire prize pool to the Crystal King Benefit Foundation. In addition, those who play will be in the running for over $2,000 in added prizes.

What is the Crystal King Benefit Foundation, you ask? The fund came about when mother Crystal King and her three-year-old twins Camrea-Rose and Caden were involved in a major traffic incident two months ago. Caden died in the wreck with a semi, while Camrea-Rose and Crystal survived, albeit with a multitude of life threatening injuries. UB.com got wind of the family’s plight through PokerRoad.com and PokerPlayersUnite.org and decided to get involved.

Michelle, who has traveled the world as part of her participation in “Amazing Race,” commented in a press release distributed by UB.com on why she chose to host July’s event: “There is a lot of money thrown around in poker on a regular basis and it’s causes like this and the ability to help that make what I do for a living worthwhile. I’ve seen first hand the emotional and financial stress that comes from awful accidents like this one. Being a friend or bystander, it’s hard not to feel completely helpless. This is such a significant way to lend a hand.”

The top 10 on the leaderboard in July 11th’s running of the Second Sundays event will walk away with prizes. In addition to helping out a cause near and dear to Michelle’s heart, participants will also be vying for entries into UB.com’s $200,000 Guaranteed weekly flagship event and a wireless poker controller. The player who eliminates Michelle from the charity event will claim a $66 ticket to the UB.com $7,000 Guaranteed, redeemable at 21:30 ET the same day as the Crystal King Benefit Foundation tournament.

PokerRoad personality and UB.com pro Joe Sebok hosted the June Second Sundays tournament, which resulted in nearly $5,700 being raised for the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association. The player who knocked Sebok out, “Bob5Bob,” claimed the $66 bounty and promptly took third in the $7,000 Guaranteed for $800 – not a bad way to spend an evening. A total of 284 players bought in.

For those who don’t have time to partake in a multi-table tournament, but still want to donate to the Crystal King Benefit Foundation, funds are being accepted through the UB.com player account “CHARITIES.” The account has a first name of “Charity.” Members of Absolute Poker, which makes its home on the USA-friendly CEREUS Network alongside UB.com, can also participate in the Second Sundays fundraising efforts.

The inaugural Second Sundays event took place in March and benefited the San Antonio Aids Foundation. UB.com and Absolute Poker happily accept real money action from the United States. Besides Michelle and Sebok, UB.com pros include reigning National Heads-Up Poker Championship winner Annie Duke, 11-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, and blackjack guru “Hollywood” Dave Stann.

PPA Urges Online Poker Regulation on AmericaSpeakingOut.com

On Monday, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) issued an action alert to its one-million members authored by 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Greg Raymer. The alert calls for support of the PPA’s efforts to legalize and regulate online poker in the United States on AmericaSpeakingOut.com.

The Republican-oriented website, according to Raymer’s e-mail, focuses “on how to continue to make this great nation prosper. I believe we shouldn’t pass up this unique opportunity to share our message of personal freedom and liberty with these members of Congress.” Raymer’s call for support of HR 2267 (Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act) and S 1597 (Internet Poker and Game of Skill Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act) has received 75 responses and 742 votes at the time of writing.

Raymer’s plea posted on AmericaSpeakingOut.com reads in part, “In your fight to defend liberty, please protect my right to play poker. In 2006, Congress passed an ill-conceived law that seeks to restrict me from playing poker with other adults over the internet. This misguided prohibition has been a total failure and does nothing to provide necessary consumer protections.” The “ill-conceived law” in question is the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), whose compliance deadline came and went on June 1st. Now, banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions must fall into line with the 2006 measure.

In order to support Raymer’s initiative and push Republican leaders to reconsider their stance on internet poker, players are encouraged to create an account to vote, which requires an e-mail, username, password, postal code, and avatar. Then, they’ll be asked to confirm a registration e-mail sent to their address. Finally, they can visit Raymer’s post on AmericaSpeakingOut.com and vote “Thumbs Up” on the issue.

Among those who have provided comments are PPA Kentucky State Director Rich “TheEngineer” Muny and “keithcolton1946,” who remarked, “The government shouldn’t be able to tell me what recreational activities I can spend my own money on after taking their share of my paycheck. This is ridiculous.” The issue has received a total of 742 votes, the overwhelming majority of which support the idea.

In a hearing last month in the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Jim McDermott’s (D-WA) HR 4976, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act, took center stage. Serving as a witness in the hearing was Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), who revealed that HR 2267 would be marked up in July in the House Financial Services Committee. However, no date has been scheduled.

HR 2267, which establishes a full licensing and regulatory framework for the internet gambling industry in the United States, boasts 69 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle since its introduction in May 2009. However, only six new lawmakers have signed on in 2010. Moreover, general elections in the United States, during which all members of the House of Representatives must run, will likely take a considerable amount of steam away from the internet gambling issue.

Raymer has been a workhorse for the PPA, appearing at a number of charity poker tournaments and other fundraising events putting his trademark “Fossilman” persona to good use on behalf of the industry. A patent attorney, Raymer defeated recent World Poker Tour Championship winner David Williams in the 2004 Main Event and banked $5 million, double what Chris Moneymaker collected the previous year. Raymer is a sponsored pro of PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site.

The PPA is based in Washington, D.C. and features former three-term Republican Senator from New York Alfonse D’Amato as its Chairman. Check back with Poker News Daily for the latest poker legislation news.

Annie Duke Kicks off the 2010 WSOP

Poker News Daily: Thanks for joining us. Tell us how you’re feeling headed into the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas?

Annie Duke: I’m feeling pretty good. I really want another bracelet, so we’ll see how it goes. I’m physically good and mentally ready. I have a big confidence boost from the way my year started and I think I have a really good mindset.

PND: How are you preparing for the tournament series?

Annie Duke: I just go and do it. The way I live my life is a constant preparation for it. A lot of people will go on a health kick during the WSOP, but I’m always working out and eating healthy. It’s such a long haul that being physically healthy is the most important factor of success.

PND: How do you think women will fare in this year’s WSOP?

Annie Duke: The best chance will be in the Champions Invitational. I’ll be in it and Jennifer Harman will probably be in the top 20 too. That’s going to be the best chance for a woman to win. However, the numbers are against it. I’d like to see women win bracelets, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Women are 3% of the field in many events.

PND: You’re an automatic entry into the WSOP Tournament of Champions since you won the event in 2004. Who else would you like to see in the field?

Annie Duke: I definitely want to see my brother (Howard Lederer) and Erik Seidel in it for sure. Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, and Daniel Negreanu should be in it. Having a legacy is important to be in that event. Other people might look at it and say that people who are hot right now should be in it, but the title is Tournament of Champions.

PND: You recently anchored a charity poker tournament for After School All-Stars. How did the event go?

Annie Duke: I was really happy with it. Brad Garrett came out for it and so did Ali Nejad. David “Chino” Rheem made the final table and we had some good pros there. One of my students from the WSOP Academy came in second. Matt Savage came out and played and Tiffany Michelle was there too. The charity was over the moon in terms of being happy, so I was excited to support that cause. It’s an awesome foundation. UB.com was incredibly supportive of the event and donated a $10,000 WSOP Main Event seat.

PND: Your Twitter feed was filled with comments about the finales of “American Idol” and “Lost.” Give us your thoughts.

Annie Duke: I was definitely disappointed by the “Lost” finale. The ending really made me mad because it didn’t answer any questions. I get it: the island was real. All of those events happened. What is the island, though? You still don’t know. You don’t know what the smoke monster was. It didn’t answer anything about the parallel universe. Why was it about their personal journeys if they were all just there to show Jack the door?

It certainly didn’t explain why the plane crashed there. It didn’t explain why they had to come back to the island. Why did they start time traveling? What they did was wrap up one character’s story.

PND: We’re sure you watched the National Heads-Up Poker Championship play out on NBC. What are your thoughts on how you played now that you’ve seen the hole cards?

Annie Duke: I was very happy with how I played against Dennis Phillips. In the beginning, I made some missteps, but I knew that before I watched. I think I adjusted very well. With Erik Seidel, it’s what I expected. On the whole, I played better than him in the first match, but not as much as he outdid me in the second match. He played amazingly well in the second match.

Given the way he was playing, there was only one way to counter that, which was to let the blinds get high and play some pushy poker. In the third match, my Q-9 push was an auto-push and I got lucky there. In the second and third matches, I really was never connecting with the board. That makes a big difference against someone as good as Erik. If neither of us is connecting with the board, he’s clearly going to win.

PND: What makes Erik Seidel such a top-notch player?

Annie Duke: One of my strengths is playing in position heads-up. He’s so good out of position. He’s so good at taking your position away. I didn’t play anyone before him that took my position away from me. He was doing things like check-calling and leading he river and it’s hard to defend against that.

I started limping the button more and keeping the pots a lot smaller. I also started making my plays later. I made the play with 8-4 and the re-raise play with A-9. I had to find those spots where I could get the last raise in and didn’t feel like he could bluff me. Had I connected with the board, it would have been a different story.

PND: You’re leading a few classes at the Rio as part of the WSOP Academy. Tell our readers what they can expect.

Annie Duke: I’m doing a ladies’ session and a two-day WSOP primer. We’ll be talking about pre-flop strategies and spending a lot of time on all-in situations, meaning how do you decide whether to push all-in and call all-ins. Those situations come up all the time in tournaments. That’s so important to understanding how to win in tournaments.

UB.com Holding WSOP Main Event 25 Seat Guarantee on Sunday

On Sunday, June 6th, the virtual felts of the CEREUS Network site UB.com will come alive with a special 25-Seat Guarantee to send players to the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. The tournament begins promptly at 4:00pm ET and comes with a price tag of $530.

The cost to get into the Main Event in Las Vegas, which last year featured a top prize of $8.5 million, is $10,000, making Saturday’s tournament on UB.com quite a bargain. The packages are each worth $12,000 and qualifiers for the $530 buy-in event begin at $11. The tournament on June 6th serves as a prelude to a massive 50-Seat Guarantee two weeks later, which comes with the same $530 price tag. The 50-Seat Guarantee, which will play out on June 20th, also begins at 4:00pm ET on UB.com.

The 25 players who qualify for the 2010 WSOP Main Event this weekend will be eligible to reap the benefits of UB.com’s “Show Up, Get Paid” promotion. The USA-friendly online poker site will pump money into a central prize pool based on the number of players who qualify through UB.com and turn out to the Nevada desert. Up to $5,000 per player can be added.

Three-quarters of the “Show Up, Get Paid” prize pool will be divided equally among players who take to the felts of the Main Event donning UB.com gear. The other 25% will be divided among players who cash in poker’s most prestigious tournament. If nobody who qualifies through UB.com cashes, then the entire prize pool will be distributed to those who turn out. At the time of writing, 74 players have qualified, meaning that the jackpot stands at $370,000 assuming every player headed to Las Vegas.

Players who have qualified through UB.com for the Main Event are featured on its website. Several notable names grace the list, including Jeremy “thechemist83” Gaubert, who hails from Louisiana. Also winning his way in through the CEREUS Network is Jeff “HB_HITMAN” Anderson. Other players who have qualified for the 2010 WSOP Main Event through UB.com include Dave “doubledave22” D’Alesandro, Darren “darrenelias” Elias, and Jason “JaspudUF” Lee, who recently played poker with George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America” alongside Annie Duke, Phill Hellmuth, and Full Tilt pro Steve Begleiter.

In other CEREUS Network news, the June 13th installment of “Second Sundays” will feature a $10 charity poker tournament benefiting the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association. Former “Poker2Nite” host Joe Sebok will serve as the event’s host and UB.com will match all funds raised. The entire prize pool plus the matched donations will go to charity.

Sebok was looking forward to the opportunity to give back to the community. The PokerRoad personality commented in a press release, “There is nothing more amazing than being able to give back and help support causes that work to defeat a disease like Tay-Sachs. Anything done to benefit those stricken with it and their families I consider a privilege.”

Prizes for participants will include $200,000 Guaranteed seats (valued at $215 each) to the top 10 finishers. The champion of the Second Sunday tournament also takes home a UB.com swag bag valued at $100. Players who want to donate, but are unable to set aside time for a full-scale tournament can send money to the player account “CHARITIES” on UB.com. The first name for the account is, appropriately, “CHARITY.”

The CEREUS Network’s Second Sunday events take place on the second Sunday of every month. Visit UB.com and Absolute Poker for more details.

2010 WSOP Ante Up for Africa Celebrities Announced

On Saturday, July 3rd, the annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) Ante Up for Africa charity tournament will kick off from the Rio in Las Vegas. Already announced for the festivities are actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. This week, Harrah’s officials unveiled additional attendees.

In addition to Damon and Affleck, fellow actors Ray Romano and Brad Garrett will head to Sin City to play in the $5,000 charity tournament. Garrett is a regular on the charity circuit and will participate in Thursday night’s After School All-Stars fundraiser hosted by Annie Duke at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. Romano and Garrett co-starred in the popular sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Romano took eighth in the 2008 running of the Ante Up for Africa tournament for $18,000.

Representing the world of animated comedy in the Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament will be Hank Azaria, voice of Chief Wiggum, Moe Szyslak, and Comic Book Guy, among other characters, on “The Simpsons.” Azaria is a fixture in the WSOP Main Event and his movie appearances include the poker film “The Grand,” “Dodgeball,” and “Along Came Polly.” Joining Azaria will be fellow thespian Sara Rue, whose credits include “Less Than Perfect,” “Popular,” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

If you’re a sports fanatic, then look forward to New York Knicks star Tracy McGrady being in the house. The former Raptors, Magic, and Rockets star was a first round draft pick in 1997 and is a seven-time NBA All-Star. At 6’8”, he’ll likely be the tallest person on the red carpet, making photo opportunities easy to come by. Flanking McGrady will be fellow basketball player Kenny Smith, who attended last year and serves as an analyst for TNT. Smith won NBA titles with the Houston Rockets in back-to-back years in 1994 and 1995.

Don Cheadle, Norman Epstein, and Duke founded Ante Up for Africa in 2006. This year will mark the fourth tournament benefiting the charity to play out during the WSOP. Last year, the festivities aired on ESPN and ended with Alex Bolotin coming out on top for $176,000. According to Harrah’s, Nevada gaming laws do not allow prize pool money to be given directly to a charity. As such, many players who have cashed in the event have graciously donated half of their winnings to benefit the victims of the crisis in Darfur.

Poker News Daily was present on the red carpet last year, when attendees included “The Hangover” star Mike Tyson and basketball legend Charles Barkley. Sadly, Tyson’s now-famous tiger did not make an appearance, although fellow players like former “Best Week Ever” star Doug Benson were afraid of crossing the boxer. Benson jokingly told Poker News Daily last year, “My friend Sarah Silverman is here, as is my new friend Mike Tyson.”

Scheduled to represent the world of poker at the Ante Up for Africa fundraiser are Duke, Howard Lederer, Erik Seidel, Phil Gordon, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson, and event emcee Phil Hellmuth, with more to be announced.

On her poker brethren, Duke commented in a press release distributed by Harrah’s, “It is an honor to be working with the WSOP and the Rio for the fourth year of Ante Up for Africa. We created this event to make a positive impact on the lives of those in Darfur and throughout Africa. I am delighted the event continues to grow every year boasting more celebrities, more players, and more poker pros.”

Daniel Shak took down the inaugural Ante Up for Africa charity event in 2007, defeating Brandon Moran heads-up. In 2008, John “World” Hennigan trumped Michael Degusta; Shak reappeared at the final table and finished in third place. Last year’s gala attracted a field of 137.

May 17th – Daily Deal

On today’s Daily Deal, the PPA speaks about the looming implementation of the UIGEA, we find out who won the WPT Grand Prix de Paris, former WPT stockholders go into a new branch of business and new celebrities confirm attendance to the After-school All Stars charity tournament.

Hello, I’m Sean Gibson and welcome to the Daily Deal by Poker News Daily, brought to you by PokerSource.com.

On June 1st, the financial services industry in the USA must fall in line with the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act – the dreaded UIGEA. John Pappas, the Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance, reminded the poker community that the PPA was once successful in delaying this implementation, and that even if they fail to stop UIGEA it will not be the end of online poker. In Pappas’s words, “We don’t suspect this to be a doomsday scenario for online poker. To be clear, it is not going to be unlawful for you, the poker player, to play internet poker. Nothing in the UIGEA makes it illegal for individuals to play.”

WSOP bracelet winner Theo Jorgensen came out on top in the World Poker Tour’s Grand Prix de Paris on Saturday, taking home six hundred and thirty three thousand Euros. A total of two hundred and forty-seven players put up ten thousand Euros to play the Grand Prix de Paris, including heavyweights such as November Nine member Antoine Saout and Men “The Master” Nguyen. Jorgensen has more than Tournament wins to his credit: he once defeated Full Tilt Poker pro Gus Hansen in a boxing match.

Coming up, former WPT stockholders get energized, and more celebrities join the After-School All-Stars.

Former World Poker Tour chief executive Steve Lipscomb plans to use the cash from the sale of the popular WPT brand to enter a new type of business. The company, which now goes by the name Ante4 Inc., became an energy corporation in April and has seen its share price more than double in less than a month. On April sixteenth, the former WPT merged with an oil leasing firm in Billings, Montana to form Voyager Oil and Gas. Former professional poker player Lyle Berman, who served as Chairman of the WPT and holds the same position at Voyager, said “We thought if we could find a company with a great business model that needed cash, the stock would trade significantly above $1.40. We have fulfilled that mission.”

Good news for charity: former “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Brad Garrett will join the upcoming charity poker tournament benefiting After-School All-Stars. Other celebrities in attendance will include Ante Up for Africa co-founder Don Cheadle and Absolute Poker pro Trishelle Cannatella. The tournament will be hosted by UB.com pro Annie Duke, and it will play out on May 20th from the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.

Thanks for joining me on The Daily Deal by Poker News Daily, brought to you by PokerSource.com. Don’t forget to visit PokerNewsDaily.com and be sure to follow us at Twitter.com/PokerNewsDaily for the latest in poker news. I’m Sean Gibson…good luck on the flop!

Brad Garrett to Attend After School All-Stars Charity Poker Event

Former “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Brad Garrett will attend the upcoming charity poker tournament hosted by UB.com pro Annie Duke benefiting After School All-Stars. The $250 buy-in, $100 rebuy event will play out on May 20th from the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.

A bevy of superstars will attend, including Full Tilt Poker pro and Ante Up for Africa co-founder Don Cheadle. The actor, who can currently be seen in the blockbuster hit “Iron Man 2,” lends his name to very few charities outside of Ante Up for Africa, making his presence at the After School All-Stars event unique. Newly announced is Garrett, who is a regular in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas.

Absolute Poker pro and former “Real World: Las Vegas” bad girl Trishelle Cannatella will also be in attendance. Fellow CEREUS Network site UB.com will be giving away a $10,000 WSOP Main Event seat to the tournament’s winner. Also doled out will be a Segway personal transporter and everyone who makes the final table will take home a pair of headphones, a subscription to Poker Pro Magazine, and personal training. A total of $35,000 in prizes will be up for grabs at the final table.

Duke told Poker News Daily why After School All-Stars is a charity that’s near and dear to her heart: “There are certain things that are disastrous in this country. One of these is that you put kids in school and then send them home, where your best hope is that they’re watching TV. This program allows them to see what their alternatives are. After School All-Stars shows them that there are alternatives to what they think.” The organization services 78,000 kids in 13 cities.

In recent weeks, charity poker tournaments have been held en masse. Duke explained how she balances her time and energy in various fundraising endeavors: “I’m very selective about who I ask. I try to pick things that either would be important to my friends or me. I feel like I want to do a good job with this one. What After School All-Stars does is incredibly important.”

Other celebrities and poker pros who will make their way to the Commerce Casino for the tournament’s 7:30pm start time are “Poker After Dark” host Ali Nejad, Bravo personality Brian Peeler, UB.com pro Adam “Roothlus” Levy, pro wrestler Stacy Keibler, poker pro Karina Jett, Beverly Hills mayor Jimmy Delshad, World Team Poker founder Robert Turner, and “Dexter” actor David Zayas. The tournament’s sponsors include UB.com and the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).

In other news out of Duke’s camp, the runner-up in the second cycle of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” was invited to the finale of its third season. Duke emphatically told NBC producers no. She admitted, “On second thought, though, if [show host] Donald Trump makes a donation to Ante Up for Africa, I’d do it. I don’t feel any need to go on that show. I don’t think it went well for me in the end and didn’t feel like I needed to go and sit next to Joan Rivers. However, I think there needs to be a make-right with Ante Up for Africa. Had I won, they would have gotten a big donation.”

At the time of writing, NBC had not yet responded to Duke’s request for a charity donation in exchange for her presence at the finale, which will air on May 23rd. Five “Celebrity Apprentice” candidates currently remain: celebrity chef Curtis Stone, rocker Bret Michaels, talent agent Sharon Osbourne, actress Holly Robinson Peete, and former WWE diva Maria Kanellis. Rivers, who defeated Duke in the finale, will appear on tomorrow’s episode interviewing the final five.

Visit the official website of After School All-Stars for full details.

May 11th – Daily Deal

On today’s Daily Deal, Tom Dwan hoovers it up at High Stakes Poker, PND interviews Victory Poker’s Dan Fleyschman, we bring you the weekend’s poker tweets, and the final eight of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship are set.

Hello, I’m Sean Gibson and welcome to the Daily Deal by Poker News Daily, brought to you by PokerSource.com.

The Season Six finale of “High Stakes Poker” aired on Sunday night, with Doyle Brunson’s streak of fifteen straight wins in televised cash game sessions on the line. Doyle could not hold up his winning streak. Instead, it was Tom “Durrrr” Dwan who cleaned up at the tables, including a pot for over a quarter-million dollars that prompted Doyle to tell Dwan, “You’re like a vacuum cleaner.”

Victory Poker’s Dan Fleyshman tells PND about his plans for WSOP domination: “We have nineteen pros now, so at the WSOP, we’re going to smother the place… Right now in the $25,000 event, we have three or five percent of the field. We have grinders like Paul Wasicka, Lee Markholt, and Jonathan “FieryJustice” Little who will play every day and every event. We’ll definitely come up with a party. We might also end up doing a charity event.”

Fleyshman also disclosed an exciting TV project: “We’re going to be choosing the next Victory Poker pro. People will submit 60 second videos and the winner gets $10,000 in buy-ins, a fully furnished condo in Panorama Towers, a car, a watch, clothes, and will live and learn from us for a year. It’ll be like “The Apprentice” for poker. We’ll start with twenty-five players and every week, we’ll eliminate someone.”

When we return, we will bring you the best poker Tweets of the weekend and find out who are the last eight players standing at the National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

This weekend’s Twitter was dominated by Jennifer Harman’s charity poker tournament benefiting the National Kidney Foundation, which drew an impressive number of poker pros. Harman herself was impressed, Tweeting, “Wow, huge turnout for my charity event for the National Kidney Foundation. Thanks to everyone for coming.” Jeff Harrington ultimately took down the title.

Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth tweeted enticingly about the upcoming Fox cash game show “The Big Game.” Hellmuth started by saying, “A hand came up in The Big Game that was so sick I dare not talk about, ever! I guarantee it will be talked about worldwide.” Negreanu agreed: “I’ll second that. One of the sickest hands ever on TV. Best poker show I’ve ever done today, people are going to flip!”

The Tweet of the Week went to Doyle Brunson for one of his trademark blonde jokes, aimed at poker journalist and hostess Amanda Leatherman: “For you Amanda… What do you give a blonde who has everything?… Penicillin.”

Finally, Sunday’s broadcast of the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship featured a clash of the titans, as the newest Full Tilt Poker pro Annette Obrestad squared off against Doyle Brunson. Prior to the two-thousand and eight WSOP Europe festivities, the pair tangled in a best-of-three match in London, with Brunson winning two to nothing. This time, Obrestad quickly found herself behind again and Brunson advanced to the round of eight. Two thousand and seven WSOP Main Event champ Jerry Yang’s A-Q of spades held against Barry Greenstein’s 10-9. Also advancing was Dennis Phillips, who outlasted cash game pro Eli Elezra.

These are the matches for the Elite Eight, which will air this Sunday, May sixteenth, on NBC:

Erik Seidel versus Peter Eastgate?

Scotty Nguyen versus Jason Mercier?

Dennis Phillips versus Doyle Brunson?

Jerry Yang versus Annie Duke

Thanks for joining me on The Daily Deal by Poker News Daily, brought to you by PokerSource.com. Don’t forget to visit PokerNewsDaily.com and be sure to follow us at Twitter.com/PokerNewsDaily for the latest in poker news.