Poker News

Poker in Twitter: Mother’s Day, PokerStars Big Game, and Charity Tournaments

On Sunday, Mother’s Day was foremost on the minds of many of the stars of the game, with heartfelt thoughts sweeping across the Twitterverse. “Mothers of the world, I salute you,” chirped Maria Ho early during the special day. “You all deserve to be appreciated and acknowledged for your selfless love every single day.” Her “Amazing Race” partner, Tiffany Michelle, echoed her sentiment: “Sending love to all of you beautiful, brave, loving, and patient mothers out there.”

Even the gentlemen got into the act, with former FBI agent and poker tells expert Joe Navarro adding, “Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there and thank you for the overwhelmingly difficult job you do every day.”

Some of the Mother’s Day Tweets brought a tear to the eye. In a departure from his boisterous chirps, “Hollywood” Dave Stann was reflective: “Happy M Day everyone. Miss u, mom.” Beth Shak was moved to Tweet, “My most memorable Mother’s Day. When your own son says, ‘Mom, you did a great job raising me.’ He brought tears to my eyes.”

Annie Duke, taking time out from her multitude of charity poker events, included a Twitpic of her Mother’s Day gift, saying, “My kids planted me an herb garden for Mother’s Day. So sweet!” Duke’s boyfriend, Joe Reitman, was fortunate enough that his schedule worked out: “Was supposed to film tonight… was in a panic… it just got canceled, so now I can have a proper mom’s day dinner with @RealAnnieDuke.”

On the poker front, the Jennifer Harman charity poker tournament benefiting the National Kidney Foundation drew some of the biggest names in the game. “I’m currently in Reno, NV for Jennifer Harman’s Charity Tournament to benefit the National Kidney Foundation,” tweeted Victory Poker pro Paul “Kwickfish” Wasicka at the start of the weekend.

Others, such as Karina Jett (“I’m hanging out w poker ho, Kristy Gazes, Jennifer Harman, and many more at her cocktail party”), Andy Bloch (“Doing the charity poker circuit today, in Reno for Jen Harman’s kidney foundation event, then to Van Nuys CA for another tournament”), and Bryan “badbeatninja” Devonshire (“Cards about to get in the air for the Jen Harman charity event for the National Kidney Foundation in Reno, NV”), made the trip.

The outpouring of support surprised Harman: “Wow, huge turnout for my charity event for the National Kidney Foundation. Thanks to everyone for coming.” “Had so much fun! Ty so much,” Absolute Poker pro Trishelle Cannatella replied to Harman upon the completion of the event. Jeff Harrington ultimately took down the charity poker tournament.

For those who weren’t in attendance in Reno, the upcoming Fox cash game show “The Big Game” was their place for action. “Dropped by the set of The Big Game at South Pointe. Poker world, you are going to love this show! I play again tom in a super fun lineup,” Tweeted Daniel Negreanu. PokerStars serves as the presenting sponsor of “The Big Game,” which hits television airwaves on June 14th.

DoylesRoom pro Todd Brunson added that he would be playing: “I am playing in The Big Game tomorrow. That’s the new PokerStars show that will be on Fox. Playing with Daniel, Freddy Deeb, Vanessa.” Vanessa Rousso herself was ready for action, Tweeting, “Tomorrow I play in Fox TVs new show The Big Game… can’t wait!”

Some of the action Tweeted by the players may give poker fans something to look forward to. Barry Greenstein wasn’t pleased with his play when he Tweeted, “The Big Game was all No Limit Holdem. I’m so upset over a couple hands, I didn’t sleep well: Plays I would have made when I was younger.”

Phil Hellmuth and Negreanu, however, discussed a hand that whets the appetite for the program. “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,” Hellmuth chirped. 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!”

Topping off the best Tweets from the weekend was Doyle Brunson, apparently offering a joke for poker journalist and hostess Amanda Leatherman: “For you Amanda… What do you give a blonde who has everything?… Penicillin.”

Looking for a place to stay during the upcoming WSOP, Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad took a look at the Panorama Towers and Tweeted, “I did look at some places at Panorama and I must say… I wasn’t impressed.”

Finally, Alex Outhred had a thought that many have had when playing poker: “I’m comforted knowing that when my time is done here, I’m likely to come face-to-face with these ‘Poker Gods.’ With any luck, the Online Division.”

May 6th – Daily Deal

On today’s Daily Deal, Harrah’s officials prepare for the 2010 World Series of Poker, the internet gambling industry braces for a deadline, Annie Duke supports the Governor of California, and Phil Hellmuth wins one more poker showdown.

Hello, I’m Sean Gibson and welcome to the Daily Deal by Poker News Daily, brought to you by PokerSource.com, where players have been awarded over ten million dollars worth of gifts.

On Tuesday, Harrah’s officials hosted a conference call to go over details of the 2010 WSOP. Among the nuggets of information that came to light was that Phil Ivey leads the voting for the Tournament of Champions. Over three hundred thousand votes have been cast so far, and the final table will play out on the Fourth of July. A total of twenty seven players will take to the felts in poker’s version of an all-star game.

We’re one month away from mandatory compliance with the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The Poker Players Alliance is expecting a hearing on Congressman Jim McDermott’s internet gambling tax bill, but no date has been announced. What will happen when the June 1st UIGEA compliance deadline occurs? We’ll have to wait and see.

Straight ahead, we’ll find out how Annie Duke is helping The Terminator and we’ll find out why Phil Hellmuth needs more shelf space.

On May 20th, Annie Duke will host a Celebrity Poker Night at the Commerce Casino in LA to benefit the non-profit organization After-School All-Stars. ASAS was founded by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1992, back when he was still a full-time actor serving as Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The tournament has a buy-in of two hundred and fifty dollars with hundred-dollar rebuys, and prizes include a seat for the WSOP Main Event and a Segway personal transporter.

Phil Hellmuth will need a larger mantelpiece to display all of his poker trophies, which include eleven World Series of Poker bracelets and now the coveted “Good Morning America” Poker Showdown trophy. Hellmuth beat Annie Duke, Steven Begleiter, and former political advisor George Stephanopoulos, who fulfilled his dream of receiving poker lessons and playing with the pros. Stephanopoulos was hooked by his poker experience and said he’ll soon be playing in a charity poker tournament benefiting Ante Up for Africa.

Thanks for joining me on The Daily Deal by Poker News Daily, brought to you by PokerSource.com. Be sure to visit PokerNewsDaily.com daily and follow us at Twitter.com/PokerNewsDaily for the latest in poker news.

Poker in Twitter: Bryan Devonshire Injured and Phil Hellmuth Hangs with Ludacris

With a lull on the tournament poker schedule, poker players on Twitter decided to take care of non-poker related business this week. For some, it was enjoyable, but for others it was rather painful.

On Monday, recent World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit event champion Bryan “badbeatninja” Devonshire was injured while participating in an unnamed athletic activity. “They say s**t starts fallin apart at 30; I’m early. Just blew my knee, its bad, layin on bleachers waitin for paramedics,” Devonshire Tweeted after the incident. Surprisingly, “Devo” kept up the Tweets as he was transported for medical treatment, chirping, “In the back of an ambulance, just got morphine, headed to sienna.” This led fellow UB.com pro Adam “Roothlus” Levy to fire off, “Did you tweet before calling the paramedics?? Either way, feel better.”

More player support for Devo came rushing in from across the Twitterverse after the incident. “Really hope you didn’t actually blow it and is maybe a sprain,” Joe Sebok Tweeted soon after the accident. Tournament director Matt Savage offered some sage advice when he Tweeted, “Bad Beat Brother! Every time I’m asked to play softball I will think of you, @AlliePrescott, & @oleGSmith & remember my age!” In the end, the report from Devonshire was guardedly optimistic: “Made it home, in a brace and crutches, going up stairs and changing incredibly painful. Outlook is sprain->torn mcl/meniscus.”

While Devonshire had his medical issue, Phil Hellmuth was having a much better time. “In Vegas on set of Ludacris video shoot for his song ‘Sex Room’ right now,” Tweeted “The Poker Brat” from the set. “I shoot my part at 12:30 am. Expecting Nelly to be in same scene.” Hellmuth provided his followers with Twitvids from the scene: “Video of Trey Songs + Ludacris filming ‘Sex Room,’ behind the scenes at Palms tonight… shooting poker scene next.” While this was going on, Erik Seidel decided to have some fun with Hellmuth: “My man @phil_hellmuth on Ludacris set, finally getting props for being a rap pioneer. He spit about bling, limos, + Dom b4 anyone.”

With Cinco de Mayo occurring yesterday, many poker players took some time to celebrate the holiday. “It’s Cinco de Mayo manana… I was told just drink margaritas,” Beth Shak Tweeted on Tuesday. Others talked about how they were going to celebrate. “Taking the day off (from SCOOP events) to get wasted for Cinco de Mayo,” Tweeted the recently returned Jennifer “Jennicide” Leigh to her followers. “Hollywood” Dave Stann chirped, “Happy Cinco de Mayo, bitches! Hosting charity poker tourney 2nite with Shanna Moakler @ Velvet Margarita H’wood!” Another poker celebrity attending the charity event was Absolute Poker pro Trishelle Cannatella: “Happy Cinco! Yatai dinner then poker tourney at velvet margarita in hollywood!”

While there was a celebratory mood regarding the occasion, others offered some wisdom with their Tweets. Defending WSOP Europe Main Event champion Barry Shulman took time to Tweet, “Cinco de Mayo: In a light social setting, it is not cool to have political or other controversial conversations.” J.C. Alvarado pointed out the nature of the Cinco de Mayo celebration: “I feel the need to inform you guys that no one really celebrates 5 de Mayo in Mex. You’ve just been tricked into buying s***ty Mexican beer.”

World Poker Tour tournament reporter B.J. Nemeth decided to put aside his poker hat and become a movie critic. Nemeth Tweeted, “I just saw ‘Avatar’ for the first time in 3-D in the theater. I couldn’t believe how profoundly stupid it was. Every character was a moron.” He pointed out one of the odder facets of the film: “ If you ever find yourselves in a war against bows & arrows, I suggest staying *inside* of the bulletproof gunships.”

When it came to best Tweets of the week, Annie Duke steps to the top of the list. In Washington, D.C. for the “Bad Beat On Cancer” charity event, Duke took time to Tweet, “Damn. Just walked down to the lobby of my hotel to meet @HowardHLederer. Walked into AARP directors meeting. Realized we almost fit right in.” Joe Reitman amused his followers by hilariously Tweeting, “A month from today I’m back in Vegas for the summer for the WSOP. Time to make money! I better freshen up my lap dancing skills & pole work.” Finally, “Poker2Nite” host Scott Huff commented on the ongoing NBA playoffs: “Anderson Varejao plays like the guy at the park who wants to run in jeans and Doc Martens. He is Out of Control Body Man. He will hurt you.”

Annie Duke to Host Charity Poker Tournament for After-School All-Stars

Continuing her string of seemingly never-ending charitable efforts, UB.com pro Annie Duke will be hosting the Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night at 7:30pm PT on May 20th at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.  The $250 buy-in, $100 rebuy tournament will benefit the non-profit organization After-School All-Stars.

After-School All-Stars was established by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1992 (under the name Inner-City Games Foundation) when he was still a full-time actor serving as Chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.  The organization provides after school programs for at-risk youth who have no place to go after school.  After-School All-Stars aims not only to keep kids safe by giving them an alternative to crime, gangs, and drugs, but also help them succeed in school and prepare them for the rest of their lives.  The organization has 13 locations around the United States and serves 78,000 youth annually.

Almost $35,000 in prizes will be up for grabs, including a $10,000 seat in the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event and a Segway personal transporter.  In addition to the buy-ins and rebuys, players will have the opportunity to contribute to the cause by bidding on silent auction items.

A number of celebrities have been confirmed for the UB.com-sponsored event, including:

• Don Cheadle – actor, Hotel Rwanda, Ocean’s Eleven series
• Rafe Furst – Full Tilt Poker pro
• Ali Nejad – “Poker After Dark” commentator
• Sarah Rue – actress, “Eastwick,” “Popular”
• Trishelle Cannatella – Absolute Poker pro, “Real World” star
• David Zayas – actor, “Dexter”
• Shanna Moakler – Former Miss USA, reality television celebrity
• Adam “Roothlus” Levy – Team UB member
• Joshua Molina – actor, “The West Wing”
• Scott Ian – Anthrax guitarist, Team UB member

“ASAS (After-School All-Stars) is simply an amazing organization,” Annie Duke said in a press release.  “The children they serve live in some of the most poverty-stricken areas in the country where their other options are gangs, drugs, or worse.  ASAS not only gives them a safe place to be while their parents work, but also provides them additional support in school work and outlets for expression through extracurricular activities.  Poker players can be incredibly generous people, so it was a no-brainer for me that this event should happen.”

All registrants for the Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Night will receive $1,000 in starting chips, a $10 food voucher for any Commerce Casino restaurant, and a gift bag.  Those who wish to attend but not play may do so for a  $75 admission fee.  Tickets can be purchased on-site starting at 6:00pm on the day of the event or online at http://www.afterschoolallstars.org/poker.

Phil Hellmuth Wins Good Morning America Poker Showdown

UB.com pro Phil Hellmuth has won 11 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, including the coveted Main Event title. Now, you can add a win in the “Good Morning America” Poker Showdown to his list of accolades. The segment aired on Wednesday morning.

As part of “Living the Dream” week on “Good Morning America,” each of the show’s anchors crossed an item off their bucket list. For former political advisor George Stephanopoulos, playing against the pros was a dream. He dubbed it his “very own World Series of Poker.” Members of his high school home game appeared on screen and one explained, “I give him an A for effort and maybe a B for poker skill.”

“Poker After Dark” and National Heads-Up Poker Championship commentator Ali Nejad assumed the same role for the “Good Morning America” poker showdown. Before the cards hit the air, however, reigning National Heads-Up Poker Championship winner Annie Duke gave Stephanopoulos a few pointers, including, “By being aggressive and by being the person betting, you’re forcing other people to make decisions.” She reiterated that, on any given day, any player can emerge victorious: “On a particular time that we play, you can totally beat somebody.”

Stephanopoulos’ competition included Hellmuth, Duke, 2008 WSOP Main Event November Nine member Steven Begleiter, and Jason “Jaspuduf” Lee. Hellmuth’s UB shirt contained the only online poker logo displayed during the telecast. Stephanopoulos explained the rules of Texas Hold’em to viewers and revealed that the game at Harrah’s Atlantic City ran for an hour.

Stephanopoulos folded 7-4 on the first hand shown before getting frisky with 10-2 of clubs. Duke bet with A-9 on a board of 9-10-J-3-4 and Stephanopoulos called with top pair to scoop the pot, literally. He began raking in his own chips from the center of the table before Nejad cautioned, “Easy, George. Let the dealer do her job.” The first elimination belonged to Begleiter, who was all-in with pocket queens against Lee’s pocket kings. The board ran out 7-5-3-A-8 and Begleiter was ousted from the “Good Morning America” Poker Showdown.

After a raise by Lee, Stephanopoulos called all-in with pocket queens. Lee showed pocket eights and the ladies held to double up. Then, Lee exited, leaving Stephanopoulos to fend for himself against Duke and Hellmuth, two of the game’s elite. In his final hand, Stephanopoulos held A-2 against Hellmuth’s K-4, including the king of hearts. Hellmuth flopped a heart flush draw and turned the ace of the suit to seal Stephanopoulos’ exit.

Hellmuth went on to defeat Duke to capture the coveted “Good Morning America” Poker Showdown trophy, which featured an oversized chip on its top. Hellmuth critiqued Stephanopoulos’ poker prowess: “George played great. We need to get George to play in a couple of World Series tournaments.”

Back in ABC’s New York City studios, Stephanopoulos told his “Good Morning America” co-hosts, “It was so much fun. They were all terrific.” He added that he’ll be playing in a charity poker tournament benefiting Ante Up for Africa in a few months, but stated that the event will be in Washington, D.C., not Las Vegas during the WSOP. At the Rio in Sin City, the annual Ante Up for Africa tournament will take place on July 3rd.

Then, “Good Morning America” officials presented Stephanopoulos with his very own trophy, which featured the text “Spirit Award” across the top. Harrah’s was thanked several times and the segment was over.

In case you missed it, the “Good Morning America” vignette featuring Duke, Hellmuth, Begleiter, and Lee is available on ABC’s website.

Poker in Twitter: The Kentucky Derby and Throwing Out the First Pitch

In many ways poker took a back seat to other activities on Twitter. Tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby was on the minds of many, but there was still some time to throw some poker in on the side.

“Enough of the poker stuff, it’s KENTUCKY DERBY TIME!,” tweeted Tiffany Michelle early Thursday morning. “My first time in Louisville, looking forward to the festivities & beautiful weather.” Phil Hellmuth, who traditionally is a part of a special charity poker tournament prior to racing, had a similar schedule when he Tweeted, “Thurs: 9:00 am Atlantic City poker w @GStephanopoulos: 6:00 pm Louisville emcee Kentucky Derby charity poker; midnight VIP parties!”

“First time and day at Churchill Downs,” Michelle tweeted upon arrival in Kentucky, including a Twitpic. “It’s a gorgeous day. Wow, this feels so surreal. I’m a lucky girl!” Pamela Brunson was a bit envious of Michelle when she Tweeted, “@TiffnyMichelle I’m so jealous! I’ve never gone to the Kentucky Derby but would LOVE to. Y’all have fun & wear some big hats!”

On another non-poker front, 2009 CardPlayer Player of the Year Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin was invited back to his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, to throw out the first pitch for his former team. An excellent baseball player, Baldwin was less than enthused with his performance when he Tweeted, “Threw out the first pitch at my Alma mater UW-Whitewater doubleheader yesterday. I should have warmed up. Tried to throw hard. Went 50 ft.” Soon after, he added, “Catcher bailed me out and picked the hop before it made the backstop. Awesome day and a fun night out after!”

Apparently unaware of his exploits on the diamond that night, “Hollywood” Dave Stann let his followers know about a competition he might be a part of: “Just got picked by DodgersLive as an alternate to throw a baseball 25 feet into a target to win a 42″ TV. Paging baseball pro @basebaldy!” Baldwin quickly Tweeted back, “@Hollywood_Dave after my performance yesterday I am no longer qualified to give advice.”

The European Poker Tour’s (EPT) Monte Carlo High Roller event took place over the past couple of days and reports on Twitter showed how difficult the field was. “Out, lost JJ vs A5 of justin smith pf allin,” Tweeted Lex Veldhuis. “Gonna go home as soon as I can. Go to hospital for spleen and get ready for Vegas.” Daniel Negreanu had a similar situation: “Utg raise I flat QQ two more call. Flop 963 guy bets I go all in he calls and has AA. I’m out and headed back to Vegas.”

From Evelyn Ng’s Twitter account comes the news that there could soon be a new sponsored pro on the Bodog roster. “Getting ready for an interview and then a 2-day photo shoot with the newest Team Bodog female pro. Can’t wait to meet her,” Tweeted Evelyn on Thursday morning. While not indicating who the player is, Ng was quite coy: “The interview & shoot went great. Everyone is super cool, especially my new Bodog Teammate! you guys will love her… to be continued tmro.”

There were several choices for Tweet of the Week, with the always entertaining Doyle Brunson leading the way. Prior to a trip to Costa Rica, Brunson has apparently found another target for his jokes – instead of Negreanu’s golf game – when he humorously Tweeted about Jean-Robert Bellande, “@BrokeLivingJRB is so unlucky he got a hooker and she told him she had a headache.” Kara Scott enjoyed a quiet day off by Tweeting, “woke up, cleaned the house, put a pot roast in the slow cooker, did laundry…. I’m living in the 50s today.”

Attending the same Atlantic City event that Hellmuth was at, Annie Duke took the time to Tweet, “Thanks @GStephanopoulis and @GMA for a great day of poker. Worth the red eye. Obv, George will go pro now. I’ll join ABC news to fill in.” Beth Shak, who is in Kentucky for the Derby and was a part of Hellmuth’s charity event last night, Tweeted her followers, “The line of the night… Can I take a picture with you. I turn around he starts to put his arm around me N has no camera… WOW ALCOHOL.” Finally, it appears that pro Peter Jepsen will be making a return to Twitter when he chirped, “So, will start twitting again I guess… meanwhile figuring out how to rebuild my life and bankroll.”

Jennifer Harman to Host Charity Event for Kidney Foundation

Full Tilt Poker Pro Jennifer Harman doesn’t stop when it comes to giving back to those in need. Just weeks after hosting a charity poker benefit for the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Harman and the Peppermill Resort Casino will present the second annual Throw Down Poker Championship benefiting the National Kidney Foundation on May 8th in Reno, Nevada.

The 2010 Throw Down Poker competition includes a unique 10-player team format with the buy-in for each team at $2,500. Proceeds will go to the National Kidney Foundation, a cause that hits home for Harman, who took a year away from poker to have a kidney transplant in 2004. After receiving a second kidney through organ donation, Harman founded Creating Organ Donation Awareness (CODA), a non-profit organization to raise money and awareness for the cause. Harman also lost her mother to kidney disease when she was 17.

After walking into the Throw Down Poker event along the red carpet on May 8th, teams will take to the felts and earn points based on each person’s finish. They will be competing for the top three team prize packages, including a trophy, medals, and national branding opportunities. The team entry package includes tournament buy-ins and custom branded commemorative jackets for each person, complimentary tickets to the exclusive VIP party hosted by Peppermill’s Resort Terrace Lounge, official team photos, and complimentary gift bags courtesy of the National Kidney Foundation.

Individual entry to the event is $230 and includes the tournament buy-in and a chance to compete for individual prizes, including a $10,000 entry to the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event awarded to the overall individual winner. The top ten individual finishers will receive entries to the Nevada State Championship Main Event hosted by Peppermill on May 9th along with several other prizes provided by sponsors.

Among those joining Harman at this year’s Throw Down Poker Championship will be poker pros Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Marco Traniello, Antonio Esfandiari, Hoyt Corkins, David “The Maven” Chicotsky, Gavin Smith, Cyndy Violette, David Williams, Paul Wasicka, Pam Brunson, Karina Jett, Kristy Gazes, Layne “Back to Back” Flack, Bryan “badbeatninja” Devonshire, and Lee Watkinson. Celebrity captains expected to attend include Robert Iler (“The Sopranos”), Dennis Haskins (“Saved By The Bell”), Craig “CJ” Jackson (VH1 Host), Olympian Ross Powers, Lacey Jones, two-time Olympian Nate Holland, Mindset Guru Sam Chauhan, Tiffany Michelle, Maria Ho (“Amazing Race”), and Trishelle Cannatella (“Real World Las Vegas”).

Reno’s own William Roberts was the overall individual winner of the first annual Throw Down Poker Championship in 2009, collecting a Legacy Alliance custom crystal trophy, a $5,000 World Poker Challenge entry, and a Curtis & Co. Watch. The event attracted 300 participants, including 22 ten-player teams, and raised more than $111,000 for the National Kidney Foundation.

For more information, check out the Jennifer Harman Throw Down Poker Championship page.

Poker News in Brief: April 19-25, 2010

Liv Boeree won the European Poker Tour's San Remo title, David Williams took down the 2010 WPT Championship, the EPT Grand Final kicked off and the high stakes action on Full Tilt was running full force.

PokerListings had a beat on it all, but a few of the week's smaller stories managed to slip through the cracks.

Fortunately we've got them all below in our regular poker News in Brief feature.

This week we look at the World Series of Poker revamping its Academy for the summer, an Albanian winning in Australia, the Hard Rock in Vegas hosting a Supercross charity poker event and a whole lot more.

Matt Graham Joins DeepStacks Live

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Matt Graham has joined the poker training group DeepStacks Live as an instructor.

A member of Team UB, Graham will lead poker seminars around the country, focusing on events in the Southern and Western United States.
  
"I'm looking forward to joining champions like Mike Matusow and Tom McEvoy, traveling the country helping passionate poker players get better," he said.

Graham's first classes will be at the DeepStacks Live 1-Day Tournament Primer Course at the Pala Hotel Resort and Casino near San Diego April 30.

For more information visit www.DeepStacks.com.

WSOP Beefs Up Academy

The World Series of Poker Academy has announced a new schedule of events at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino to coincide with the 2010 World Series of Poker.

It all starts with a 2-day Tournament Academy May 28-29 with two-time WSOP bracelet winner Mark Seif designed to get you deep in the preliminary events.

There will also be an Alumni Only Hand Analysis Academy, a one-day Ladies Only Academy, and a Mind and Body Academy featuring poker mindset coach Sam Chauhan.

Plus there will be a Cash Game Academy at Caesars Palace and the signature annual Main Event Primer designed by Greg Raymer, Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth, just before the Main Event begins.

For more information click through to the Academy's website or call 1-800-989-9767.

Four Aces Finds a Winner

The first Poker Pro Canada Classic poker tournament at Four Aces Card Club in Montreal drew 250 players from all over Canada and the U.S. and Europe to compete for a piece of a $369,000 prize pool.

Sponsored by UB and Bodog, it was the largest poker event ever held in Quebec with a buy-in of more than $1,500.

Local player Oliver "O.B." Baksic took home $96,400 for first after defeating 2008 EPT Grand Final third-place finisher Maxime Villemure heads-up.

Daniel Negreanu: Psyched about the new teammates.

 

Team PokerStars, Eh!

PokerStars has added four new additions to its Canadian Team.

Joining Daniel Negreanu and Darus Suharto are Greg DeBora, who has better than $350,000 in career earnings, three-time WSOP final tablist Patrick Pezzin, Marcello Del Grosso, who had deep runs in the WSOP Main Event in 2005 and 2006 and Anh Van Nguyen, a 14-year pro and former dealer.

All four Pros competed at the PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour event at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, Apr. 6-13.

Hard Rock to Host Supercross Charity Event

The Hard Rock Poker Lounge Las Vegas and Feld Motor Sports are hosting the first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Charity Poker Tournament in Las Vegas May 6.

All proceeds from the tournament will go to benefit the Road 2 Recovery Foundation.

The $150 buy-in and $50 rebuy event is expected to draw stars of Monster Energy Supercross, professional poker players, and fans alike.

First pays $2,500 plus a number of sponsored prizes while the top twenty finishers will receive unforgettable products courtesy Hard Rock Poker Lounge, Monster Energy, Feld Motor Sports, Rockwell Time, Skullcandy, Ogio, DVS, Liquid Force, Metal Mulisha, Full Tilt, UB, and more. 

For more information check out the Road 2 Recovery website.

Ex-pat wins in Australia

Albanian born Aussie Angelo Hanataj took down the PokerStars ANZPT Sydney main event this week.

He grabbed $219,432 for his efforts and rocketed into the top 5 in the ANZPT Player of the Year race.

After a win in Perth and another deep finish, last year's POY winner and Team PokerStars Australia Pro Tony Hachem holds a commanding lead in the battle for an AUD$100k sponsorship deal.

Europe's Biggest Tournament

The dates have been released for what was Europe's largest live No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournament last year, the International Poker Open.

The €180+ €20 buy-in freezeout is set for Oct. 15-17, 2010 at the Regency Hotel in Dublin, Ireland.

Organizers are estimating the prize pool will reach up to €250,000 including €20,000 added by sponsors Boylepoker.

"Last year we set the record for the largest live tournament field ever assembled in Europe," said Paul Spillane, the site's head of poker.

"We're confident the 2010 event will prove just as popular and we expect another sell out field."

Matt Damon, Ben Affleck to Appear at 2010 WSOP Ante Up for Africa Event

Academy Award winners Matt Damon and Ben Affleck will return to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas this year for the annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) Ante Up for Africa charity tournament. The $5,000 buy-in event is slated for July 3rd.

Ante Up for Africa co-founder and UB.com pro Annie Duke was elated to hear that Damon and Affleck would be attending this year’s charity gala, commenting in a press release, “We are very excited to have Matt and Ben already confirmed to participate in our Fourth Annual WSOP Ante Up For Africa poker tournament. We look forward to hearing from more big names in the gaming and entertainment industries as they come on board to give their valuable time and energy and help bring attention to the dire crisis taking place in areas in Africa like Darfur.” Last year, the Ante Up for Africa event aired as part of ESPN’s coverage of the WSOP.

In 2009, a total of 137 players entered the Ante Up for Africa event at the Rio. In the end, Alex Bolotin took down the title and $176,000 first place prize, while Adam Richardson landed in second. Others in the top 10 included Rafe Furst, Erik Seidel, Chris Ferguson, Phil Gordon, Jennifer Harman, and John “World” Hennigan. The tournament attracted several A-list celebrities, including Charles Barkley, Mike Tyson, Sarah Silverman, Doug Benson, Jason Alexander, Montel Williams, and Brad Garrett. Many who finished in the money donated all or part of their winnings to the charity.

Alexander, of “Seinfeld” fame, finished 10th in the 2007 installment of the Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament. Last year on the red carpet at the Rio, fellow actor Damon told Poker News Daily, “They’ve raised over $2 million so far and we know where the money is going. The Enough Project is fantastic. There’s a lot of transparency there, so we know where the money goes. It’s a terrific cause to give to and hopefully it’s making a difference.” The Enough Project is one of the key beneficiaries of Ante Up for Africa.

Damon’s acting credits include 1998’s “Rounders,” a cult classic that increased awareness of Texas Hold’em throughout the poker community. One year prior, Damon and Affleck won Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay for “Good Will Hunting.” After appearing in hits like “Dogma” and “Saving Private Ryan,” Damon went on to lend his name to the “Bourne” and “Oceans 11” series as well as films like “The Departed” and “Invictus.”

Many were turned onto Affleck following his role in 1995’s “Mallrats.” He also appeared in “Armageddon,” “Boiler Room,” “Pearl Harbor,” and “Daredevil.” He starred in the casino hit “Smokin’ Aces” in 2007 opposite Jeremy Piven and Jason Bateman and appeared in three movies in 2009: “He’s Just Not That Into You,” “State of Play,” and “Extract.”

In 2009, a bevy of poker’s elite turned out for the annual Ante Up for Africa charity tournament during the WSOP. Last year’s entourage included 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, former “Amazing Race” contestant Tiffany Michelle, Team PokerStars Pro member Humberto Brenes, former MIT Blackjack Team member Andy Bloch, Greg “FBT” Mueller, Jennifer Harman, Barry Greenstein, Robert Williamson III, and Full Tilt Poker’s Howard Lederer. Hellmuth regularly serves as the event’s emcee and will also front the upcoming Derby Poker Championship next week prior to the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby.

To date, the fundraising prowess of Duke and Ante Up for Africa co-founders Don Cheadle and Norman Epstein has resulted in over $3 million in proceeds. Duke played for Refugees International, another beneficiary of Ante Up for Africa, during her appearance on the NBC reality series “Celebrity Apprentice” last year.

Kevin Pollak, Samm Levine Join Poker2Nite

Former “Celebrity Poker Showdown” host Kevin Pollak and “Inglourious Basterds” star Samm Levine joined this week’s episode of the UB.com sponsored poker news program “Poker2Nite.”

The show hit television airwaves following the Vancouver Canucks’ 6-4 win at Los Angeles in the NHL playoffs on Wednesday. “Poker2Nite” co-host Joe Sebok was feeling under the weather, so Scott Huff flew solo during the 30-minute broadcast. Discussion began with the PartyPoker Big Game IV, which was filmed in London last week sans mystery Swede Isildur1, who backed out just before the event started. David “Viffer” Peat recorded the largest profit in Big Game history at ?147,000.

Two players who appeared in the PartyPoker Big Game IV were Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo and Isaac Haxton. The latter told “Poker2Nite” cameras, “It was a really cool format to run a cash game for 48 hours and let people rotate in and out.” Bonomo added, “It’s a nice change of pace to be playing for high-stakes where everyone is chilling around and having drinks.” The extravaganza played out at the Les Ambassadeurs Club in Mayfair, London and also featured players like Dusty “Leatherass” Schmidt, Tony G, Phil Laak, Robert Williamson III, Neil Channing, and Roland de Wolfe.

Next up was an examination of the top 20 vote-getters for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Tournament of Champions, which Harrah’s officials released in recent days. The top 20 features some of the game’s best, but is void of internet pros and European players. Huff critiqued, “It’s not that these guys don’t deserve to be on the list. Everyone on this is a champion in their own right, but it does feel like the fans… went with the all-star game 2003 and 2004.” Huff questioned why David Williams, Chris Moneymaker, Annette “Anette_15” Obrestad, Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond, Carlos Mortensen, Erick Lindgren, and J.C. Tran did not reach the top 20.

The Dana Workman-hosted “P2N Online” segment, which covers poker gossip on the internet, featured web-based pilots for “6th Street: Life After the River” featuring 2009 WSOP Main Event champ Joe Cada and “The Kid” with Matthew Marafioti. Reader-submitted mailbag questions included responses from DoylesRoom front man Doyle Brunson and Full Tilt Poker’s Jennifer Harman.

“On the Clock” leader and Absolute Poker pro Trishelle Cannatella joined “Poker2Nite” via Skype. Each week, guests are asked rapid-fire questions in 60 seconds and the person who has the most number correct at the end of the season will receive a trophy. Cannatella recorded eight correct answers during her appearance. She also final tabled the World Poker Tour (WPT) Celebrity Invitational earlier this year and told Huff, “I was really happy with the outcome even though I did get third. I can’t complain about how I went out or anything like that. Sometimes, the cards don’t fall in your favor.”

Pollak told “Poker2Nite” viewers what makes “Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show” unique: “Because it’s online, there are no time constraints and no censorship. We’re getting the most in-depth interviews these people have ever given.” UB.com pro Annie Duke appeared on the show in March in an episode sponsored by Poker News Daily. Levine then revealed why he fell in love with poker: “It’s a very strategic game. I think most people love strategy. Poker is one of those things that you’ll spend a lifetime learning how to beat.”

Wednesday’s episode of “Poker2Nite” wrapped up with footage from the red carpet of Harman’s charity poker tournament benefiting the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Interviewees included Holly Madison, Tiffany Michelle, David “The Maven” Chicotsky, and Robert Iler. Chau Giang ultimately took down the charity event.

“Poker2Nite” airs at 11:00pm ET on Wednesdays on Versus.