Poker News

Hellmuth Doesn’t Believe In Ivey’s WSOP Victory

Phil Hellmuth has been traveling for a month, or so he tells in his latest blog entry. He speaks about how it feels like to coach a WSOP finalist, but also about his upcoming games.

The Poker Brat

Hellmuth have had a busy month. First he traveled all around the USA, then headed to Nottingham, UK, to play in English Open, from there to London and WSOPE and finally to Aruba to play in the Aruba Poker Classic.

He doesn’t feel tired at all, so he intends to keep busy with his traveling life without any breaks. Tomorrow he is heading to Justin Timberlake’s organized golf tournament and at Thursday and Friday he plans to coach Jeff Shulman.

Coaching a WSOP finalist

Hellmuth has promised to coach Jeff Shulman, who’s father, Barry Shulman just won the WSOPE Main Event. “Barry wins the WSOPE, can you imagine his son Jeff winning the WSOP in the same year?  Wow, that’s a sick thought!“, Hellmuth praises.

Jeff Shulman

Hellmuth won’t reveal what he is going to teach to Jeff, but has a solid faith in his victory. On the other hand, Phil doesn’t believe in Ivey’s victory. “Phil Ivey is truly amazing, but he only has $10 million in chips“, Hellmuth says.

Aruba was fun

Hellmuth tells that the trip to Aruba was mighty fun. He had a great suite where they had an epic party.

“The “Dan band” playing live in my suite, 30 bottles of Dom P, a full bar with two bartenders, a DJ, rap battles between Mooknam and Jeff Madsen, and a hot tub that involved some very adult entertainment. ”

To get into the party you had to either have an “Icon” status on Ultimate Bet, “Diamond Elite” on absolute Poker or get into the money at the Aruba’s poker tournament. Only 45 got into the money in the tournament and Hellmuth was 53rd. “The Poker Brat” took a beat when his aces didn’t hold in a 3-way all in pot.

Helmuth also reveals that he is going to play in some Poker After Dark and High Stakes Poker episodes in the next season. He is also participating in the WPT tournament in Bellagio which will start on October 22.

Source: Phil Hellmuth’s blog

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Hellmuth Doesn’t Believe In Ivey’s WSOP Victory

ESPN The Magazine Editor Discusses Poker Players in Body Issue

Hitting newsstands around the United States last Friday was the inaugural Body Issue of “ESPN: The Magazine.“ The periodical profiled athletes and their physiques and included an image of Phil Hellmuth, Scotty Nguyen, Daniel Negreanu, and Jennifer Harman playing poker in the nude.

Besides poker, other sports showcased in the magazine include boxing, bull riding, golf, baseball, Motocross, NASCAR, basketball, hockey, football, soccer, softball, swimming, surfing, tennis, track and field, and mixed martial arts. Poker News Daily sat down with “ESPN: The Magazine” Editor Sarah Turcotte to gauge reaction to the provocative issue.

Poker News Daily: Explain the background to the Body Issue of “ESPN: The Magazine.”

Turcotte: This is the first time we’ve done it and we’ll definitely be doing it again. My boss was trying to come up with a way to profile an athlete’s body. You see them in locker rooms, but you don’t really know what goes into them. Not only do we have poker and soccer players, but we also have sumo wrestlers and triathlon runners. It’s a huge mix. There are over 80 athletes involved and 40 in varying stages of being undressed. Poker is a great sport. The players work hard, make great money, and have good mental toughness. We believe it’s a legit sport.

PND: What has been the reaction so far?

Turcotte: We’ve been shocked by how positive it’s been, but there have been negatives with some of the more conservative sports. For example, LPGA fans heard about it and formed their opinions beforehand. When you realize what a massive undertaking this is and the kind of company these folks are in, it makes sense. It’s not “Playboy Magazine;” it’s about celebrating an athlete’s physique. So far, I’m shocked by how well it’s been received. I don’t think we ever could have conceived how popular it would be.

PND: Talk about the photo involving Harman, Nguyen, Hellmuth, and Negreanu.

Turcotte: That was a really great photo to do. My hats are off to all of them for being included. That was our only coed shoot because in most sports, you don’t compete against different genders. It turned out great.

PND: What can you tell us about the shoot?

Turcotte: The poker shoot was great. We had two hours and shot in Las Vegas. Anyone who has been around Daniel and Scotty would fall in love with them. Their interaction together was great and I found myself calling everyone “baby” for the next few days. Jen is such a sweetheart and I was amazed at how much respect the guys had for her.

PND: What do you want readers to take away from this installment of “ESPN: The Magazine”?

Turcotte: My perspective as the Feature Editor is to be on the shoots and be the advocate for the athlete. We made it a collaborative process and I want the athletes to be proud of it. In terms of readers, I think the biggest thing is that it’s awesome to see someone like Serena Williams looking beautiful, but people are familiar with her. However, not everyone knows Scotty Nguyen and Jennifer Harman, so hopefully this will give them some respect.

PND: Can you name other athletes that readers can expect to see in the issue?

Turcotte: Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, tennis star Serena Williams, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers, Sarah Reinertsen (the only female amputee to compete in the Ironman Triathlon), Andrew Cogliano of the Edmonton Oilers, Christina Kim of the LPGA, and six guys from the DC United soccer team.

Team Europe Wins Inagural Casesars Cup

The WSOPE recently offered the first edition of the Caesars Cup, a new twist on poker similar to golf's Ryder Cup in which members of the U.S. and Europe battled for bragging rights and the first Caesars Cup trophy. Unfortunately for the Team...

International Federation of Poker: Governing Body for the Industry?

Ever since the explosion of poker in the early years of the 21st century, attempts have been made to organize players, either through a governing body for the sport or an organization to impose changes in the game, with varying degrees of success.

In April, a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland attracted seven federations - the Danish Poker Federation (Denmark), the Fédération Française des Joueurs de Poker (France), the Stichting Nederlandse PokerBond (Holland), the United Kingdom Poker Federation (U.K.), the Russian Sport Poker Federation (Russia), the Ukrainian Poker Federation (Ukraine), and the Associacao Brazileira de Poker (Brazil) - to undertake the task of creating a worldwide poker federation that would bring the game into the sporting community. From this meeting was born the International Federation of Poker.

One of the tasks that the International Federation of Poker completed was electing its leadership and, when it comes to its President, its membership couldn’t have chosen a better man. Noted author Anthony Holden, who has written “Big Deal” and “Bigger Deal” and traveled around the globe playing poker, was elected as the first President of the organization. Poker News Daily had the chance to speak with Holden and discuss some of the challenges that face him.

PND: The International Federation of Poker (IFP) is not the first attempt at starting a governing body for poker. What chances for success do you believe the IFP has and how will it make a difference beyond other attempts?

Holden: The chances for success are as promising as they are exciting. The poker industry has grown so fast in the past decade that a governing infrastructure hasn’t been able to grow at the same pace. Poker is now one of the three most participated sports in the world alongside golf and fishing. There is a great need for a properly structured governing body, as there is in all competitive sports, and the IFP is such a body.

There are several features of the IFP that differentiate it from the previous organizations. The IFP is the first governing body in poker to be properly structured as a Sports Federation. The IFP is a not-for-profit organization with its head office in Lausanne, Switzerland, the global headquarters of international sports federations and the International Olympic Committee. It is subject to the Swiss Civil Code and will be arbitrated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, also in Lausanne. This is a major step towards securing recognition of poker’s status as a sport.

The IFP’s goals are broader than those of other poker organizations. Current organizations have very specific interests which the IFP will also be working towards: seeking recognition of poker as a skilled mind-sport and promoting a single unified set of rules to be used in card rooms across the globe. These goals are only part of the broader goal of the IFP, which is to form a comprehensive governing body comprised of national federations from around the world.

Also, the IFP has a well-qualified and dedicated staff working full-time to achieve its goals. Other organizations have been run part-time by very busy people and often fallen by the wayside. The IFP has the resources and manpower to establish itself as a major player on the international poker scene.

PND: The IFP has a strong start with seven national federations already members. Is there a goal in number of national federations to bring onboard or is it more quality-based?

Holden: One of the early missions of the IFP is to build up a strong membership base from around the world. We have identified governing bodies in more than 20 countries outside of our founding members and we are confident that our membership will grow quickly and steadily in the coming months. We hope to have 30 member nations by the end of this year.

When considering an application, the quality of the federation applying is paramount. The IFP has strict criteria for acceptance as a member: the federation in question must be a non-profit organization that truly represents the interest of poker players in that country and whose goals for the promotion of poker are aligned with those of the IFP. Applications from federations are submitted to the Board for approval by vote.

While we are working hard to secure membership of federations in key markets, the IFP is seeking member federations in all nations, no matter how small or remote. We are in advanced discussions about membership with federations from Germany, Italy, and Kyrgyzstan.

PND: What is the strongest component of the IFP, the overall governing body or the individual national federations that comprise it?

Holden: The IFP is a truly democratic body. Every member nation has one representative on the Congress, the supreme authority of the IFP. The IFP operates a “One Country, One Vote” policy, so no matter what the size of a nation, it participates in the governing of the IFP on an equal footing with all other nations.

PND: What are the challenges that the IFP faces?

AH: The greatest challenge that the IFP faces is the stigma that governments and the non-poker playing public attaches to poker. Government decision-makers see poker solely as a gambling activity and think its place is in a casino alongside craps and roulette. The IFP is seeking to educate people that poker is a skilled mind-sport and so to secure it the legal status it deserves all over the world. All the federations we have met are at different stages in the debate with their governments.

The IFP wishes to see a global coordinated approach to the issue and to provide our members with support and advice. We have had promising talks with the International Mind Sports Association in Paris, currently consisting of the international federations of Bridge, Chess, Draughts, and Go. We are optimistic about joining this organization later in the year, and, once we do, we will have official recognition as a mind-sport. Every four years, the IMSA holds the Mind-Sports Games, alongside and in the same city as the Olympics. The IFP looks forward to the chance to bring poker into this event. Once we achieve this, it will be a very useful tool in many debates.

PND: What attracted you to accept a position with the IFP?

Holden: As a lifelong author and journalist, I’ve been playing poker for 40 years and writing books about it for 20. My first visit to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) was in 1977. In recent years, I have been sponsored by PokerStars at events around Europe as well as the WSOP Main Event. That has now had to stop, alas, as the President of IFP obviously cannot accept sponsorship from any one website. I accepted the job, despite this sacrifice, because I believe the goals of the IFP are so important to the game. It enables me to spend my entire working life around poker, doing something worthwhile. Now that beats writing hands down!

PND: What would you like to see for the IFP before the end of the year?

Holden: We would like to have at least 30 member nations and to hold the first IFP team poker event. We would also like to see our member nations making progress with their national governments in the reclassification of poker from a luck-based gambling activity into a skill-based mind-sport. Finally, the IFP has had promising discussions with the International Mind Sports Association and we would be delighted to join this organization by the end of the year.

Terrence Chan (Unassigned) Discusses WCOOP Victory

Recently, Terrence “Unassigned” Chan took down a $1,050 buy-in Limit Hold’em Six-Max event during the PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). In April, he emerged victorious from the fields of the high- and mid-stakes versions of the 20th Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) event, also Limit Hold’em Six-Max. He is the undisputed king of short-handed Limit Hold’em until further notice and sat down with Poker News Daily to discuss his feat.

Poker News Daily: Tell us about your success in Limit Hold’em tournaments.

Chan: I feel comfortable playing high-stakes. I’ve been playing big-limit games for a while and it was the first game I learned to play. I bring a lot of experience to the table. In tournament fields in the WCOOP and SCOOP, you have a lot of people who are tournament players, but not necessarily Limit Hold’em players. They make a lot of typical mistakes that players who aren’t familiar with Limit Hold’em would make, which gives me an edge.

PND: Is it surreal to have won three major Limit Hold’em tournaments in a span of six months?

Chan: It has been surreal. The night after I won the WCOOP event, it didn’t really hit me and I wasn’t enjoying it. I was in shock and was all smiles. Everything felt awesome. I didn’t think at any point that I was going to win until the very end. You always hope you can win, but you always think you’re a few hands away from something bad happening.

PND: On online poker forums, you’ve received a tremendous amount of praise for your accomplishments. Does it feel good to see that you’ve earned the respect of the poker community?

Chan: It feels good. It’s flattering that people say nice things about me. I try to take it all in perspective and not think that I’m the greatest thing in the world. A lot of people are playing $1,000/$2,000 and crushing that, so it’s nice to have my moment in the sun, but I try to stay grounded.

PND: We know a lot of people admire your game, but whose game do you respect the most?

Chan: I’ve always been a fan of all of the people who have done a lot of the mathematical groundwork of the game. I’m friends with guys like Bill Chen and admire guys like Chris Ferguson and Andy Bloch. I’ve ridden the coattails off that and taken lessons from smart game theory guys. Those are the people who deserve a lot of credit. I’m the guy who is able to digest it.

PND: Are the mathematical and game theory aspects of poker concepts that anyone can learn?

Chan: Yes, anyone can learn it. It’s actually an easier framework from which to learn poker. If you’re trying to learn poker from a guy who thinks everything is feel, then how are you supposed to copy that? It’d be like learning golf from watching Tiger Woods swing. You need to have someone tell you how the hold the club and swing. It’s easier to have a logical framework. Unless you have that great ability, you’re not going to perform at as high of a level.

PND: How did you get started in poker?

Chan: When I was about 18, my cousin took me to a local casino. He just wanted to show me how to play blackjack. I got bored, started wandering around, and saw four poker tables. When you see a poker table for the first time, people are just flinging chips everywhere and things are happening fast. I had just gotten the internet, so I found online message forums and started reading books. Lee Jones’ was the first book I ever bought.

PND: What’s helped you grow in poker since then?

Chan: Having a support system. To be able to bounce hands off friends is the most valuable thing for people just getting started. You can draw a lot from others.

PND: Did you make any purchases with your online poker winnings?

Chan: I took my friends for lunch and things like that. I’m a typical poker player. It’s probably going to be sent back into the system somewhere. I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve been playing big cash games for a while, so things I want or need, I can already buy.

PND: You’re from British Columbia, Canada. Talk about representing your country well.

Chan: For a country with only 30 million people, we have quite a few strong poker players. The West Coast doesn’t have as many, though. Guys like Daniel Negreanu and Scott Montgomery are all from Ontario, so it’s good to represent the West Coast.

Face the Ace to Return Saturday Afternoon

After a month-long absence from the airwaves, the NBC game show “Face the Ace” will return to the networks line-up this Saturday. Several changes are in store for the program, which struggled in the ratings when it first debuted back in August.

Most notably, the show is no longer airing on a weekly basis, but will instead be shown once a month on Saturday afternoons as part of the NBC Sports lineup. Previously, the show aired in a primetime time slot on Saturday evenings. For those who may not be familiar with the show, the basic premise offers contestants a chance to square off against some of the top poker pros in the world over a series of three matches. If the contestant is able to get the best of the first pro, they have the option to either take $40,000 or risk it all by playing a second pro in a match worth $200,000. Should the contestant win the second match, they will again be offered a chance to leave with the money or go for broke in a third and final showdown worth $1 million.

The first two episodes saw contestant Don Topel defeat both Erick Lindgren and Howard Lederer only to lose to Gavin Smith in the final million dollar match and walk away empty-handed. Over the course of the first two episodes only one contestant has actually won any prize money, opting to walk away with $40,000 after defeating November Nine member Phil Ivey in the first round.

Mori Eskandani, who produces “Face the Ace” spoke about some of the alterations to the show in a statement on NBC Sport’s official website. “Viewers of this week’s show will see that we’ve made some changes from the first two episodes which are designed to create even more excitement. For instance, the live audience, which is comprised mostly of the other qualifiers and their friends or spouses, will be far more vocal and have a greater role in maintaining a high energy level on the set”, Eskandani explained. “There are some other subtle changes also, and we think the viewers will like them.” Eskandani’s production company Poker PROductions also produces the popular NBC series “Poker After Dark” and Game Show Network’s “High Stakes Poker.”

One player who will be featured on Saturday’s episode is French native Nicholas Mamy who won his way onto the show via a satellite on Full Tilt Poker, the program’s sponsor. Mamy was urged by fellow online poker players David “The Maven” Chicotsky and “Bodog” Ari Engel to give the satellite a shot. Next thing he knew he was flying to Las Vegas for a July taping of the show where he rubbed elbows with Schirripa, co-hosts Ali Nejad and Megan Abrigo as well as the host of Full Tilt Pros on hand to participate in the show. The identity of Mamy’s first opponent has not been disclosed, as the surprise reveal of the pro is a major part of the show.

Saturday’s episode of “Face the Ace” is scheduled to air at 2 PM, preceding coverage of the BMW Championship golf tournament. The following episode is set to air on Halloween, October 31st, at 3:30 PM.

Sports Legends Challenge Postponed Until 2010

Those players looking forward to a Caribbean vacation to the Bahamas to rub elbows with some of the biggest stars of the poker and sports world at the upcoming Sports Legends Challenge were let down when they received an e-mail from the event’s organizers informing them it was being postponed. No alternative date has been set, but the organizers plan on hosting the event at a new, yet to be determined U.S. location sometime in 2010.

Originally scheduled to take place from September 14th-17th at the Atlantis Resort and Casino on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, the Sports Legends Challenge intended to bring together big names from the poker and sports spheres for a few days of golfing, gambling and other antics. Those interested in joining the celebs for the festivities could buy-in to the event for $10,000 and take a stab at their share of $10 million in cash and prizes. Some of the big names in poker expected to attend were Ultimate Bet Pro Annie Duke, Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, Full Tilt Poker Pro Gavin Smith, PartyPoker spokesperson Mike Sexton and Johnny Chan. A number of major sports stars were also expected to be on hand, including Tony Hawk, Troy Aikman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Randy Couture and Herschel Walker.

The four day event was supposed to feature contests of blackjack, golf, slots and poker, including the PokerNews-sponsored Sports Legends All-Star Poker Challenge which was going to be taped and broadcast on the Fox Sports networks. Online poker site Absolute Poker was running a number of satellites into the event, offering its users the chance to cash in their frequent player points for a chance to win their way into the Challenge.

The e-mail from Sports Legends Challenge organizers Bruce Bibbero and Larry Lubin hit the registered players’ inboxes on September 1st and informed them the event was being both rescheduled and relocated to a new site somewhere within the United States. The e-mail cited the difficulty of travelling abroad and the less than stellar weather of the Bahamas in September as the major factors behind the decision to postpone the event.

“The essence of the program will be unchanged - creating unique opportunities for sports and gaming fans to interact with some of the greatest Sports Legends of our time along with some of the world’s top poker pros while competing for major cash prizes,” wrote Bibbero and Lubin. “However, we plan to use the time leading up to the rescheduled event to add elements and make adjustments that will make it even more exciting.”

The e-mail concluded by assuring those involved that they would receive details about the new time and place for the event in the next few days. On September 3rd the Sports Legends Challenge’s official website posted a press release stating it would be another few weeks before details of the new event could be finalized. The organizers also promised to tinker with the event’s format and determine a specified guaranteed prize pool. Details on exactly how the money would be distributed for the original Bahamas event were never disclosed, which resulted in a lot of criticism from members of the poker community.

“In addition to the logistical changes, it is also an opportunity to respond to specific input from the poker world,” Lubin said in Sports Legends Challenge’s latest statement. “In discussions with players and Poker Pros around the world, it became clear that adding a guaranteed prize pool will be a major step forward.”

The press release concluded by informing those who registered for the Bahamas event would have their buy-in honored at the revamped Sports Legend Challenge, but made no mention of whether or not they would issue any refunds for players who no longer wished to participate. It is also unclear whether or not all of the sports and poker stars scheduled to participate in the event will still be taking part in the project.

Caesars Cup Scoring Format Similar To Ryder Cup Golf

Yesterday marked the three week line until play begins in the Caesars Cup, the inaugural team event that pits the best that the United States has to offer against the strongest that Europe can put up in a unique team format that hasn’t been seen before in poker. What is confusing some people, however, is how the event is going to be scored and what it will take to be determined the winner. In this instance, Harrah’s (who is behind the creation of the Caesars Cup) has taken a page from the world of golf and its team competitions.

In competitions like the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup (both for the men) and the Solheim Cup (for the women), golf presents a challenge where each team can literally wear their flag on their sleeve and compete for their country. Through doubles matches and individual play, the competition breaks down into who can earn the most points, or wins, in the course of the event. Harrah’s is taking this same idea and applying it to poker, with some deviations to the game that haven’t been attempted previously.

In all segments of the competition for the Caesars Cup, the game is Heads Up No Limit Texas Hold’em, but it will start with a twist. There will be four “doubles” matches that will be contested and could actually decide the victor, as it will take four (4) points for the champion of the Caesars Cup to be determined. These “doubles” matches will bring some strategy decisions for Team Americas captain Daniel Negreanu and Team Europe captain Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad.

In the first match, it will be a “Doubles - Alternate Bet” format, similar to golf‘s Alternate Shot format. This means that two players from each team will play in a heads up match, but one player will play pre-flop and the turn while a teammate will play the flop and the river. Once the players are set into these positions, they will not be allowed to change positions or substitute in another player. The eventual winners of this match up will earn one point for their team and there will be two matches of this type, meaning four players from each eight man team will be utilized.

The second match still includes two players but it is slightly altered from the first style of play. In the “Doubles - Same Stack” format (similar to the Best Ball format in golf), the two players will be playing off of the same stack and each player will play two hands. By playing two hands, each of the four players will have the opportunity to play from the button at least once in the four player shift. The winners will get a point for their respective team and there will be two matches of this type; in theory, the captains will use their remaining four players in this format.

At this point, it is conceivable that one team could sweep all of the play to this point and have garnered the four points necessary for capturing the Caesars Cup. In this case, it would render the final part of the battle, the individual games, meaningless. In this segment of the battle, there is a traditional mano y mano match between each of the eight players on each team, with points allotted for each victory until one team reaches the magic number of four total wins, including the doubles matches.

Here’s where the Caesars Cup could ensure that there will be some entertainment for the crowd in attendance and any television audience that could potentially see this historic battle. With a total of twelve points up for grabs, make it that a team has to win seven points to take the Caesars Cup. If, after the twelve events the teams are tied, a final six handed Sit and Go would be the tiebreaker, with each team picking three players to defend the honor of their continent. The winner of this Sit and Go, of course, would get the point and their team the Caesars Cup.

Whether the powers that be change the format to ensure that the individual matches mean anything or not, the Caesars Cup promises to be one of the more interesting poker matches to come along in some time. Both of the captains, Negreanu and Obrestad, have two more selections left to add to the players they have already chosen and, come September 25th, the Caesars Cup will be up for grabs.

Sports Legends Challenge postponed

Originally planned for Sept. 14-17 at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, the event was to feature 25 sports legends and 25 top poker pros playing four days of poker, casino games and golf with anyone willing to pay the $3,999 to $9,499 package price.

Now, claiming the current economic climate and weather patterns in the Bahamas have hurt sales, organizers have decided to reschedule the event for a new location and dates in 2010.

"It's not a very exciting story," Sports Legends Challenge CEO Bruce Bibbero told PokerListings. "People were concerned about hurricane season in the Bahamas and with current economic conditions being what they are, this was just more than people were willing to do."

Bibbero and partner Lawrence Lubin's previous attempts to launch a celebrity and sports star poker tournament in 2007 also fell apart, culminating with a lawsuit against both by gaming publishers Sludikoff Gaming.

Organizers claimed some of sports biggest stars were expected to attend the Sports Legends Challenge, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Emmitt Smith, Reggie Jackson, Joe Namath, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, and Mark Messier.

Poker Pros including Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Johnny Chan, Jamie Gold and Mike Sexton were also expected to be on hand.

Bibbero said details on the new venue and dates are being finalized, but organizers will be looking for a location on U.S. soil that provides easy access to major population centers.

All prior entries will be honored at the rescheduled event and refunds have been offered.

The new location and dates are expected to be announced over the next few weeks.

Visit PokerListings.com

Caesars Cup Teams get Brunson, Antonius, Zigmund and Harman

The Caesars Cup, a Europe vs Americas poker tournament to be played in the style of golf’s Ryder Cup at the Betfair-sponsored World Series of Poker Europe 2010, has added more big names to the line-up.

Card Player Cruises Releases 2009-2010 Schedule

Starting in November, Card Player Cruises will return to the high seas aboard the 138,000 ton Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ Explorer of the Seas. Destinations over the next year for the cruising company include Alaska, the Mediterranean, and Mexico.

The nine-night Canada and New England Fall Foliage cruise will depart from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in New Jersey in November and steam up the eastern seaboard of the United States. Ports of call include Portland, Bar Harbor, Saint John, Halifax, and Boston and the cruise starts at $550 per person. Card Player Cruises partner and Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Linda Johnson commented in a press release distributed by the travel company, “This trip will feature some of the most spectacular scenery on the Eastern Seaboard. There’s no better time to visit this region than in the fall, when the foliage stands out in every imaginable color.”

Besides the fall foliage outside of the ship, the other main attraction on the November cruise will be its poker room. $100 to $200 buy-in poker tournaments will abound, with private seminars and free poker lessons also taking place. In addition, the press release notes, “Passengers can play as much or as little as they want during the week.” The Explorer of the Seas also features a rock-climbing wall, ice skating rink, miniature golf course, basketball court, disco, spa, fitness center, pools, Jacuzzis, and shops. In addition, what would a cruise be without a parade of food?

Here is the upcoming schedule for Card Player Cruises:

Canada and New England Fall Foliage nine-night cruise – October 15, 2009
Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas
Departs from Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, New Jersey

Mexican Riviera seven-night cruise – November 15, 2009
Royal Caribbean’s Mariner
Departs from Los Angeles, California

Western Caribbean seven-night cruise – March 7, 2010
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager
Departs from Galveston, Texas

Mediterranean Venice 12-night cruise – May 15, 2010
Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance
Departs from Barcelona, Spain

Alaska seven-night cruise – August 27, 2010
Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody
Departs from Seattle, Washington

Eastern Caribbean seven-night cruise – September 25, 2010
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis
Departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Mexican Riviera seven-night cruise – December 5, 2010
Royal Caribbean’s Mariner
Departs from Los Angeles, California

The poker room closes while the ship is parked in port and opens while the vessel is out in the open water. Card Player Cruises customers make up between 25% and 40% of the total number of passengers onboard, so traditional cruising activities still occur day and night. In order to play poker, Card Player Cruises guests must be at least 18 years-old, while some special events, such as the PartyPoker Million, feature a different age requirement.

Besides tournaments, each ship’s poker room hosts a wide variety of cash games, ranging from limits of $1/$2 to $30/$60. Customers with children are more than welcome to participate as well. Card Player Cruises explains, “There are extensive programs for children that provide entertainment for the kids from morning until night. Some of the activities are scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, talent shows, pizza parties, disco parties, trips to the spa/gym, video games, etc. Children are able to sail at reduced rates on most cruise lines.”

Prices for the above schedule vary between $448 per person and $1,719 per person. The cost covers food, cabin, nightly entertainment, and use of the ship’s amenities. According to Johnson, the majority of players who board a Card Player Cruise are recreational and several are celebrating milestones like birthdays and anniversaries. Players can call 888-999-4880 for additional information and to book passage.

Chasing The Dream

I just got the confirmation for my upcoming trip to Cyprus for the next WPT event. Layne Flack and I are traveling together. He’s coming to NY early next week and we will play a little golf and may play in some local games. It has been a while since …

The Sports Legends Challenge Picks Up Momentum

The Pokernews Sports Legend Challenge is set to get underway September 14-17, 2009 as 25 of the world's top sporting legends join forces with 25 top professional poker players to provide a weekend of exciting action. Featuring poker, golfing...

2 Months. 2 Million: Dani’s Downswing, Emil’s Personal Assistant (Lingerie Model) Quest, and More

The second episode of G4's 2 Months. 2 Million showcased our quartet on what many would call a poker player's home away from home-- the golf course. As they played for $1,000 a hole, we quickly discovered that Dani "Ansky" Stern is by far the worst...

2 Months, $2 Million: Tilt Room Debuts, Team Up $200,000

This week on the G4 online poker show “2 Months, $2 Million,” the Tilt Room made its premiere, featuring garbage cans, stuffed animals, and fresh fruit. When the smoke cleared on Week 2, the team of four was up $198,600.

“2 Months, $2 Million” followed G4’s airing of the comedy hit “Wayne’s World.” The online poker show, as usual, began, “Welcome to Las Vegas, where fortunes are made on the flip of a card.” Fortunes were actually made on the golf course to start this week’s “2 Months, $2 Million” episode. A variety of prop bets were featured, including Jay Rosenkrantz getting 4:1 odds that he could make a putt. In the end, he didn’t collect on the $1,000 bet and neither did Dani Stern, who was offered 13:1 odds that he could hit a fairway. However, he earned $2,000 from Brian Roberts when he purposely hit a tree. In the end, Stern owed Rosenkrantz, Roberts, and Emil Patel $1,000 each.

The foursome ended last week up $35,700, with the goal of boosting their bankroll by $2 million collectively. Roberts lamented, “That’s not that far off from $0. We need to be putting in a lot more hands.” Stern was the only player in the red last week and kicked off the episode by continuing to struggle. Down $10,000 early on in Week 2, Stern told “2 Months, $2 Million” cameras, “Lately, I’ve been losing a lot of money and it’s getting a bit frustrating.” Stern promptly headed for the Tilt Room, which was unveiled for the first time.

Patel gave the background of the Tilt Room: “The Tilt Room was Jay’s idea. It’s a place you can go to and take out your frustration.” The room, which appeared to be the garage, featured objects like watermelons, stuffed animals, and a full-sized aluminum garbage can. Meanwhile, Patel interviewed eight candidates to be Personal Assistants, giving the prospective employees various tasks to test their skills. They included a shopping run for exotic foods, removal of golf balls from the bottom of the swimming pool, organizing Patel’s closet, and cutting hair. In the end, Stephanie Tuggle was chosen as the new “2 Months, $2 Million” Personal Assistant.

By Week 2, Day 2, the team was up $122,000. To combat his losing streak, Stern planned a Lockdown Day, 24 straight hours of online poker. He claimed, “In poker, the more you play, the better your chances of winning assuming you’re a winning player. When you play tens of thousands of hands, the luck factor slowly dissipates.” Six hours into Lockdown Day, Stern had dropped $16,000. By hour number 12, he was $30,000 in the red. Consequently, halfway through the day, Stern began drinking instead of playing.

Roberts and the team elected to hire a harpist for Stern in hopes of improving his mentality towards the game. Rosenkrantz quipped, “I feel focused, sort of zenish.” Whether it was due to the dulcet tones of the harp or an attitude adjustment, Stern began winning and Patel’s fortunes turned for the worse. Patel was irritated at the harpist, asking the woman playing the large instrument to “turn it down.” Consequently, Patel and Stern edged closer to each other in bankroll over the week, leading to the first ever heads-up match for Week 2’s Penalty Stunt.

A best of five heads-up duel was held on Full Tilt Poker for the humiliation of carrying out the Penalty Stunt. After dropping the first two games to Stern, Patel righted the ship and won the next three. In the final hand of heads-up match number five, Stern pushed with A-3 and was called by Patel, who held pocket sixes. The better hand held and Stern was forced to carry out the Penalty Stunt. When the week’s results were tallied, Rosenkrantz was up $147,000, Roberts was up $46,000, Patel was down $11,500, and Stern was $18,600 in the red. Collectively, the team was up $162,900 for the week and $198,600 overall.

For his Penalty Stunt, Stern had to play the harp dressed as a fairy godmother on the Las Vegas Strip. In a scene reminiscent of an “Amazing Race” task, Stern had to generate $20 in tips before he could stop his serenade. A chorus of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” was featured, as was a woman telling Stern, “You look better in a dress than I do.” It was Stern’s second straight Penalty Stunt; both have involved the youngster donning a pink outfit.

Next week, a rival group of online poker players challenges the “2 Months, $2 Million” cast. Catch the show at 9:00pm ET on G4 every Sunday.

Poker News in Brief: Aug 17-23, 2009

The PokerListings news team has been as busy as ever bringing you all the headlines from across the globe, but there were a few stories that didn't quite make the front page.

As part of PokerListings' ongoing News in Brief feature, we've compiled a list of those stories below.

This week an NHL star is playing poker for charity, Absolute Poker is sending players to the Bahamas, PKR is celebrating a birthday and more.

((WPT)) gets another offer

As reported on PokerListings last week, a privately held investment group under the name Gamynia Limited agreed to pay $9,075,000 plus a percentage of future revenues for almost all of the WPT's assets, including its television, sponsorship, distribution and licensing units.

The deal was awaiting stockholder approval, but in the interim, another buyer has stepped up to the plate.

After filing a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC, the WPT's Board of Directors received an alternative offer and is forced by SEC guidelines to consider it.

Details regarding the new offer and where it came from were not released publicly.

Absolute sending players to Atlantis

Absolute Poker is running online qualifiers for The Sports Legends Challenge at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Dubbed a sports fan's ultimate fantasy, The Sports Legends Challenge will feature four days of casino gaming, poker, and golf tournaments with 25 of the world's greatest sports superstars Sept. 14-17.

Already confirmed are mixed martial arts legends Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture, skateboard icon Tony Hawk, hockey legend Mark Messier, Troy Aikman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Richard Petty, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Joe Namath, Reggie Jackson and more.

Absolute's $200+15 online qualifiers will run each week Wednesday through Sunday at 10:45 p.m. ET until Sept. 6 awarding a minimum of one Sports Legend package per tournament.

Lecavalier hosting charity poker tournament

NHL star Vincent Lecavalier will be hosting a charity tournament at The Casino de Montréal Sept. 1.

Several NHL greats are expected to be on hand in Montréal, Canada for the event, including Guy Carbonneau, Stéphane Quintal and Vincent Damphousse.

The buy-in is $350 with a $150 optional rebuy and a total of $60,000 in prizes will be up for grabs.

Lecavalier will be the honorary chairman of the tournament and proceeds will go to the Vincent Lecavalier Foundation to support financially-at-risk youth.

Registration will be taken at the Casino de Montréal's Poker Reception Desk or by telephone at 514-392-2720 or 1-800-665-2274.

Happy Birthday PKR

PKR celebrated its third birthday and the registration of its 3,000,000th player this week.

The 3,000,000th player registered on PKR Aug. 16, just 24 hours before the site's third anniversary of real-money play.

Over one million new players joined PKR this year alone.

"We're very pleased with the year's achievements, and it's especially exciting to see us maintain such a high rate of growth," PKR Marketing Director Simon Prodger said.

Visit PokerListings.com

Hellmuth, Juanda, Grospellier, Minieri Chosen for Caesars Cup

Four players now comprise each team that will battle in September in the Caesars Cup as part of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe festivities. Recently, team captains Daniel Negreanu and Annette Obrestad each made two more selections.

After grabbing November Nine member Phil Ivey with his first pick, Negreanu reached out to two of the game’s elite. Phil Hellmuth will join Team Americas in London. The Ultimate Bet pro owns the record for the most number of WSOP bracelets all-time at 11 and is regarded by many as the top Hold’em tournament player in the world. In fact, all 11 of his bracelets have come in that genre of poker. Hellmuth is a staple of the poker industry, infamously arrives late to tournaments, and, in the case of major events, enters in grand style.

Flanking Hellmuth in Jolly Old England will be John Juanda. The Full Tilt Poker pro dominated the last time he competed in WSOP Europe, winning its Main Event for £868,000. Negreanu had a courtside view of Juanda’s play throughout much of the event, ultimately taking fifth for £217,000. Juanda owns four WSOP bracelets and has made six final tables on the World Poker Tour (WPT), where he’s piled up $1.2 million in earnings.

Added to Team Europe, which already includes Obrestad and 2008 WSOP Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate, is Team PokerStars Pro icon Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier. His tournament resume includes a win in the 2008 European Poker Tour (EPT) PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $2 million. He followed up his performance in the island nation by winning its High Roller event in 2009 for $433,000. In between, Grospellier took down the WPT Festa al Lago for $1.4 million, defeating a final table that included Nam Le, Nenad Medic, and Ultimate Bet’s Adam “Roothlus” Levy.

The final addition to Team Europe is Dario Minieri. The Italian sensation made his first appearance on GSN’s “High Stakes Poker” during Season 5, an honor he earned after winning a WSOP bracelet in 2008. His piece of hardware came after taking down a $2,500 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Six-Max event for $528,000, defeating a final table that also featured Kevin Song. In April of 2008, Minieri made the final table and finished third in the EPT San Remo stop for €287,000 in an event that marked Jason Mercier’s first win on the PokerStars-sponsored tour.

A total of eight players will comprise each Caesars Cup team and the final four contestants for each squad will be announced in the coming weeks. The tournament will pan out during WSOP Europe on September 26th at the Casino at the Empire. Here’s how each team looks with the selections halfway completed:

Team Americas
Daniel Negreanu (captain), Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, John Juanda

Team Europe
Annette Obrestad (captain), Peter Eastgate, Dario Minieri, Bertrand Grospellier

The Caesars Cup will air on the ESPN family of stations in the United States and syndicated around the world. The name of the game is No Limit Texas Hold’em and the tournament’s structure will consist of heads-up and partner formats. One spot on the European squad will be reserved for a qualifier from Betfair, which is the presenting sponsor of WSOP Europe. Betfair does not accept players from the United States.

The Caesars Cup loosely resembles golf’s Ryder Cup, which pits teams from the United States and Europe against each other once every two years. The 2008 installment took place in Louisville, Kentucky and was won by Team USA, whose captain was Paul Azinger. In 2010, the action moves across “The Pond” to a course in Wales.

The 2009 WSOP Europe festivities will kick off on September 18th, with the £10,350 buy-in Main Event beginning eight days later.

Phil Hellmuth to Host Hold’em For Heroes Celebrity Tournament

Ultimate Bet’s Phil Hellmuth is once again doing his part in giving back to the families of police officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty. The 11-time bracelet winner is teaming up with the Taser Foundation for Fallen Officers to host the 5th annual Hold’em For Heroes Celebrity Tournament November 19-21 at Fort McDowell Casino in Arizona.

Last year, the event raised over $500,000 for the foundation and was labeled the “most successful charity poker tournament in the country” by national poker media. To date the TASER Foundation has awarded over $2.29 million to the families of fallen law enforcement officers in the United States and Canada. In 2008, 141 officers in the United States and Canada were tragically killed in the line of duty.

In a press release sent out by Ultimate Bet, Hellmuth was quoted as saying, “over the last several years, and especially since 9/11, my respect for policemen, firemen and the people who protect us has risen higher and higher. Our Hold’em for Heroes charity poker tournament gives money to the Fallen Officers Foundation, which supports officers and the families of officers who were killed in the line of duty. My friends and I are grateful to these brave men and women and we are proud to help.”

Joining Hellmuth at the event will be fellow Ultimate Bet Team member Brandon Cantu, Layne Flack, Todd Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, Kenna James, Clonie Gowen, Roy Winston, and several other poker pros and celebrities. Country music artist Mark Wills has signed on to co-host the event with Hellmuth.

There will be three separate tournaments running during the three-day event. A $115 buy-in with unlimited $50 re-buys and a $50 add-on will take place on Nov. 19. Then a $265 buy-in with unlimited $125 re-buys and a $125 add-on will be played on Nov. 20, and on Nov. 21 a high-roller $1,000 buy-in with unlimited $500 re-buys with a $500 add-on will round out the festivities. Half of all the buy-ins, re-buys and add-ons will be donated to the TASER Foundation for Fallen Police Officers. The top two prizes in each tournament are a combination of cash prize and a seat in a one-table tournament to be played during the evening of Nov. 21 with Hellmuth for a $10,000 Main Event seat at the 2010 World Series of Poker.

Prizes will also be awarded for special events within the celebrity golf tournament held on Nov. 20. One lucky player could even win a 2010 Mercedes for making a hole-in-one.

Here’s a look at the full schedule of the three-day event:

Thursday, November 19, 2009

12:00 pm: $115 Buy-In Tournament first seating (Ft. McDowell Casino)
7:00 pm: $115 Buy-In Tournament second seating (Ft. McDowell Casino)

Friday, November 20, 2009

12:00 pm: $265 Buy-In Tournament first seating (Ft. McDowell Casino)
12:15 pm - 5:15 pm: Celebrity Golf Tournament (We-Ko-Pa Golf Club)
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm: Celebrity Media time (Radisson Hospitality Suite)
6:00 pm: VIP Reception at The Peaks Steakhouse
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm: Meet & Greet for Tribal leaders (Ft. McDowell Casino)
7:00 pm: $265 Buy-In Tournament second seating (Ft. McDowell Casino Poker Room)
7:30 pm: Poker Class for Celebrities (Radisson Hospitality Suite)

Saturday, November, 21, 2008

10:30 am - 11:30 am: General public meet & greet (Ft. McDowell Casino)
12:00 pm: $1,000 Buy-In High Roller Tournament (Ft. McDowell Casino)
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Dinner for families, celebrities, and VIP law enforcement guests (Ft. McDowell Casino outside courtyard)
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Resume tournament (Ft. McDowell Casino)
8:00 pm: Final Grand Prize Table (Ft. McDowell Casino)

Interested players should sign up at HoldemForHeroes.com.

Hellmuth, ElkY, Juanda and Dario join Caesars Cup

In addition to Phil Ivey, captain Daniel Negreanu has chosen 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth and the 2008 WSOPE Main Event champ John Juanda to represent Team Americas.

Meanwhile, captain Annette Obrestad has added WPT and EPT title holder Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and WSOP bracelet winner Dario Minieri to a Team Europe roster that already includes 2008 WSOP Main Event champ Peter Eastgate.

Modeled after golf's Ryder Cup, the Caesars Cup is a made-for-TV tournament taking place Sept. 26 during the 2009 WSOP Europe.

The event pits Europe's best against North America's top players in a battle for international bragging rights.

The format will feature both heads-up and team contests and include alternate betting and other non-traditional elements as players aim to win points for their respective teams.

Each team will eventually consist of eight players.

Team Europe will also have one member qualify through a leaderboard race on Betfair Poker.

Visit PokerListings.com

Durrrr Challenge Promoter Reveals Plans for London Event

The Tom Dwan Million Dollar Challenge will make its live debut in London, England next month in conjunction with the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe festivities, according to its promoter, Matchroom Sport’s Eddie Hearn.

Dwan will square off against four opponents for 500 hands. Each player must buy in for $500,000 and blinds will be $500/$1,000. London cash game pro Sammy George was the first to accept Dwan’s challenge, with three more poker hopefuls waiting in the wings. Hearn sat down with Poker News Daily to discuss the background of the high-stakes live spectacle.

Poker News Daily: Tell us where the idea for the live version of the Million Dollar Challenge came from.

Hearn: I met Tom for the first time during the filming of the PartyPoker Premier League in London. I found him quite fascinating, to be honest, and as a poker fan, I admired his play and watched quite a few of his online sessions. I found it intriguing that someone so young with such a “normal” background was prepared to gamble with such huge stakes.

From a marketing perspective, I could see Tom was becoming a phenomenon. Every post on every forum that featured his name was attracting huge numbers and he was clearly creating headlines throughout the industry. The launch of his online challenge was mind-blowing. Offering 3:1 odds to the greatest players in the world? That’s like Tiger Woods offering Phil Mickelson strokes! I wanted to take advantage of his huge hype and televise the biggest cash game challenge that the world has ever seen.

PND: Why is Dwan a marketer’s dream for these types of high-stakes heads-up challenges?

Hearn: Tom is perhaps the only player in the world that is prepared to play anyone for any stakes. That’s what makes him so special. He is totally fearless. It’s also why he is so fun to watch because he is relentless. He will continuously put pressure on you and grind you down. As a television spectacle, it’s going to be something really special.

PND: What was your reaction when you found out that Sammy George would face off against Dwan in London?

Hearn: I have known Sammy George for a while and he is a good friend of mine. He was the first person I asked when I announced the challenge because this is made for him. Sammy loves the limelight and the buzz, two things that this event features. Sammy is a competent player and has played plenty of hands in high-stakes games. While he is not someone you would list as one of the best players in the world, he has deep pockets, a big heart, and plenty of balls. He won’t be scared of Tom. Instead, he’ll look him in the eye during every hand and test his metal at every opportunity.

PND: Four players are scheduled to face off against the youngster as part of the Tom Dwan Million Dollar Challenge. When will you announce the other competitors?

Hearn: There have been many players who have come out recently stating they would like to play Tom. It’s a different story when we ask to see their money. We have laid out the challenge to a number of players, including the world’s very best, and we will announce the other participants in the coming weeks. I guess it’s different than an online challenge in that there are no hiding places and buttons to sit out. It’s just you and the most fearless cash game player of all-time battling it out under television cameras for $1 million.

PND: As you said before, Dwan offered his online challengers 3:1 odds on a $500,000 bet. Will any odds be given in London?

Hearn: There will be no odds. It’s a simple heads-up cash game with a $500,000 buy-in. The edge is in the sample size. Online, his challenge is over such a huge sample that he feels his skills will overcome his opponent. Over 500 hands, it gives his opponent a much better chance, but it’s heads-up; sometimes there is no escaping getting it all-in on a coin flip.

PND: Where and when will the four heads-up poker matches take place?

Hearn: The games will take place in London during the WSOP Europe. They will either be just before the Main Event or during its final table (providing Tom and his opponents don’t make it). With all due respect to the WSOP Europe, it’s been a real disappointment in terms of organization, exposure, production, and television distribution over the last few years. The Durrrr Million Dollar Challenge carries significantly more hype than the WSOP Europe ever could.

PND: Besides Sammy George, what other players would be good fits to play against Dwan in London and why?

Hearn: They say in boxing that styles make fights and it’s the same thing when selecting the opponents for this match. That’s why Sammy is such a great pick because it’s like matching two big punchers with plenty of heart. I want Dwan to play against the best and so does he. Tom has left it completely in my hands and when I asked him if there was anyone he didn’t want to play, the answer was simple: “No.” Everyone is crying out for a match between Dwan and Luke “__FullFlush1__” Schwartz. Tom would love to play him for sure. I think the challenge may come a little early for Luke, but I know he is trying to get his bankroll together to make it happen.

PND: Tell us about Matchroom Sport and its promotion of the event.

Hearn: Matchroom Sport is the world’s leading producer and distributor of televised poker. We produce over 100 hours of fresh content every year with events like the PartyPoker Premier League, PartyPoker Poker Den, The Big Game, The World and European Opens, and the Full Tilt Poker Million. Away from poker, we are market leaders in sporting content, producing darts, boxing, pool, golf, snooker, fishing, and bowling events throughout the world.

Poker News in Brief: Aug. 3-9, 2009

As part of our ongoing News in Brief feature we've compiled a list of stories that didn't quite make the front page this week but are worth mentioning to hardcore poker fans.

This week sees an infamous golfer/poker player give up his case against the USGA, a new way to transfer money between sites and Doyle Brunson and Daniel Negreanu making their picks for the Poker Hall of Fame.

Brunson, Negreanu pick Sexton for Poker Hall of Fame

The nominees for this year's poker hall of fame include Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Barry Greenstein, Dan Harrington, Tom McEvoy, Men Nguyen, Scotty Nguyen, Eric Seidel, Daniel Negreanu and Mike Sexton.

Both Doyle Brunson and Negreanu have come out overwhelmingly in favor of Sexton as their number one pick.

It's hard to argue with their logic as Sexton has been around at the highest levels of poker for many years and has, perhaps more importantly, been one of the best ambassadors for poker in history.

You can check out Brunson's post here while Negreanu's is here.

SendMyChips opens site-to-site transfers

It's an idea that's been around for a long time but SendMyChips.com appears to have finally solved the challenge of getting money from one poker site to a competing one.

The site currently works with Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, Cake Poker and Ultimate Bet, although it does charge a fee to get money from one site to the other.

The service is already endorsed by several well-known pros, most notably Dave Colclough, Marc Goodwin and Paul Jackson.

Apparently the company also works with results tracker SharkScope.com to provide a credibility check to prevent fraud. The more history a player has the more they can transfer using SendMyChips.com.

Dusty "Leatherass" Schmidt withdraws USGA lawsuit

Online poker player and amateur golfer Dusty "Leatherass" Schmidt got into some serious trouble with the United States Golf Association when he offered a $1 million challenge to anyone that would play him in eight 9-hole golf matches and 10 heads-up poker matches back in March.

USGA didn't take kindly to Schmidt offering to play golf for money and promptly revoked his amateur status.

Schmidt responded by filing a lawsuit against the USGA, which he finally decided to drop this week, according to a story with the Associated Press.

Now that Schmidt has dropped the lawsuit he apparently going to work on his game and attempt to play some professional events.

More poker programming?

Poker seems to be making an all-out assault on television lately. We've already seen the premiere of Face the Ace, ESPN's Inside Deal and 2 Months 2 Million will debut next week, but Pokerati is reporting that even more poker TV shows may be in the works.

According to a Craigslist ad that was sent to Pokerati there will be four poker shows filmed at Binions Casino, Las Vegas, and they are currently recruiting hosts, writers and production crew. You can check out the complete ad for yourself here.

FTOPS XIII begins

With the sheer number of FTOPS even it's getting harder and harder to keep track of them all.

Nonetheless FTOPS XIII started on Wednesday with a $200+$16 No-Limit Hold'em event hosted by Russian super poker player Vitaly Lunkin. The eventual winner was DeceptionPT who grabbed $107,518 for first place.

Like most online series held by Full Tilt, FTOPS XIII will offer an extensive schedule with more than 25 events and $18 million in guaranteed prize money. There is even a special Ante Up for Africa event hosted by Don Cheadle.

For a complete look at the schedule go to Full Tilt Poker.

Visit PokerListings.com

Dusty Schmidt drops lawsuit

Last month we brought you the news that golfer turned professional poker player Dusty Schmidt was taking the USGA to court in a bid to win back his amateur status. Schmidt played golf professionally until a heart attack at the age of just 23 forced him to quit.

Dusty Schmidt (Leatherass) Drops USGA Lawsuit

Poker News Daily has learned that Dusty Schmidt, known in the online poker world as “Leatherass,” will drop his lawsuit against the United States Golf Association (USGA). He will likely play professional golf and continue his poker career.

A preliminary injunction originally scheduled for Monday, July 13th was delayed one day. The U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon heard arguments as to why Schmidt should have his amateur status reinstated after USGA officials revoked it due to his now-infamous poker/golf challenge. The prop bet focused on whether anyone could defeat Schmidt over 72 holes of golf and 10 heads-up poker matches. No poker player or golf pro took Schmidt up on his challenge. However, the USGA still revoked his amateur status. Schmidt’s challenge was worth $1 million.

Schmidt told Poker News Daily on Wednesday, “I lost the preliminary injunction on July 14th. I didn’t lose it because I was in the wrong from a golf rules perspective. The judge gave the impression that what the USGA did to me was not right. But from a legal perspective, I did not have a strong enough legal remedy for him to rule in my favor. He equated it to a church excommunicating a member unfairly and there not necessarily being a legal remedy under which a judge can force the church to reinstate that member.”

The USGA’s website has a section devoted to gambling that reads, “The definition of an amateur golfer provides that an amateur golfer is one who plays the game as a non-remunerative and non-profit-making sport. When gambling motives are introduced, problems can arise which threaten the integrity of the game.” Promotions designed to “create cash prizes” are frowned upon by the USGA, which is located in Far Hills, New Jersey and serves as golf’s governing body in the United States and Mexico.

According to the Oregonian, a trial date in Schmidt’s lawsuit was set for September 22nd. He candidly told the Northwest news outlet, “The USGA is pretty ingeniously designed. The way their rules are set up, they’re almost impenetrable from a legal perspective. I don’t think I could win with O.J.’s lawyers. No matter what angle you tried to go for, they had the loophole covered. There was just no way.” His amateur status was officially revoked in mid-June after an e-mail received three days earlier cautioned Schmidt that participating in the challenge could jeopardize his amateur status.

What’s left for Schmidt now that playing golf as an amateur is no longer an option? The golfer and poker player told Poker News Daily, “At this point, I am going to continue to work with my instructor, two-time PGA tour winner Brian Henninger, and when the time is right, likely make the decision to reenter pro golf.” According to stats posted on PGA.com, Henninger has over $3.3 million in lifetime earnings from PGA events, including 44 finishes in the Top 25. His wins came in the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic in 1994 and the Southern Farm Bureau Classic five years later.

In an article that appeared in July, the Associated Press noted that the USGA gave Schmidt the green light to reapply for amateur status, but “the process wasn’t timely enough because of the registration fees he’d already paid to compete in events over the summer.” In a July interview, Schmidt told Poker News Daily why maintaining amateur status was vital: “They have no professional events here [in Oregon]. I have a baby girl on the way and want to enjoy playing competitive golf close to home. If I have to play only in professional events, I’ll be forced to go on the road. I have no opportunity to play competitive golf here.”

Tiffany Michelle, Maria Ho May Compete on Amazing Race

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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EPT Founder John Duthie Discusses Season 6 Schedule

The sixth season of the PokerStars-sponsored European Poker Tour (EPT) kicks off on August 18th with a brand new stop in Moscow, Russia. The tournament series will also make its first sojourn to Portugal. Poker News Daily sat down with EPT Founder and Team PokerStars Pro member John Duthie to get his take.

Poker News Daily: Talk about the planning that went into the EPT Season 6 schedule.

Duthie: This is now the sixth season of the tour and the majority of our events are held in well-established venues with people we are used to dealing with, which makes the planning stage much easier. Scheduling itself becomes more of an issue as more and more events need to be accounted for.

PND: Talk about the additions of stops in Portugal and Russia. What makes them appealing for poker players?

Duthie: Both new venues have their own unique appeal to players and to us as emerging markets. Russia has enormous potential, where many people have been brought up playing games like chess. It is a natural transition to poker, evident by the phenomenal success of Russian players on the worldwide stage. There are already some exciting new events in Russia, namely the PokerStars-sponsored Russian Poker Tour, and we hope to add to this with the new EPT event in Moscow in August.

Portugal has always been one of my favorite destinations in Europe and I am delighted that we are finally going to be holding an event there. This will be a wonderful opportunity for players to take in the sights of Vilamoura and maybe get a few rounds of golf in. Poker in Portugal is growing day by day. Hopefully, the EPT will act as a catalyst and we will see poker booming there in the years to come.

PND: What has made the EPT such a phenomenal success, breaking records for prize pools and fields across Europe?

Duthie: The support of the players is the simple answer to this. The EPT offers so much more than simply a major poker tournament circuit. We offer venues in some of the most beautiful and inspiring cities in the world, which is where we differ from the U.S. tours. Combine this with the fact that you can play in European casinos at the age of 18 and this represents the perfect opportunity for younger players to see the world for nothing if they qualify on PokerStars.

PND: Tell us how the EPT began.

Duthie: I simply put the existing individual tournaments in Europe into an organized tour and then negotiated the filming of them for broadcast. The partnership with PokerStars has always been crucial, as they provided the critical mass of players the tour needed from the outset to make it such a success. It grew exponentially from there.

PND: Are there any visa requirements or other legal obstacles for players wanting to compete in the Moscow stop?

Duthie: Yes. Visas are required for traveling to Moscow. These can easily be obtained from your local Russian consulate or by using one of the many “Visa Express” services available for a small fee. It’s a good stamp to have in your passport too!

PND: Talk about your runner-up performance to Leo Wolpert in the No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up Championship at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Duthie: It was a great moment in my poker career and, while I was disappointed not to win, I felt I played my best poker and was unlucky not to take it down. Leo was a formidable opponent and played some great poker.

PND: How did you get started in poker?

Duthie: I saw some guys playing Seven Card Stud at the Victoria Casino about 15 years ago. I started chatting with them and the rest is history.

PND: The first seven events of EPT Season 6 have been released. Are there any details you can share about the final six stops?

Duthie: They will almost definitely be the same as last season, with one special surprise event, but until the dates and venues are secured, I would prefer not to shed too much light.

When is a pro not a pro?

Online poker pro Dustin Schmidt used to be a professional golfer. At the age of 23 he suffered a career ending heart attack forcing him to return to the amateur ranks. The competitive spirit he had on the golf course has carried on to the felt where his career winnings have topped the $3m mark. A simple case of moving from one type of green playing surface to another? Well not quite.

Dusty Schmidt Loses Amateur Status After Poker/Golf Challenge; Seeks Injunction

After posting a $1 million prop bet involving golf and poker, Dusty “Leatherass” Schmidt had his amateur status revoked by the U.S. Golf Association (USGA). In the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon on Monday, Schmidt will plead his case over why a preliminary injunction should be granted.

The challenge was laid out to any player in the worlds of poker or golf that could defeat Schmidt over 72 holes and 10 heads-up matches. When asked if he had though about the possibility of losing his amateur status as a result of the prop bet, Schmidt told Poker News Daily, “The potential for losing amateur status if I participated in the event was something I saw coming and was aware of. This happening in light of me not competing completely blindsided me.” In the end, no one took Schmidt up on his poker/golf challenge. However, the USGA still revoked his amateur status.

Schmidt recalled that on June 8th, he received an e-mail from the USGA stating that if he participated in the challenge, he risked losing his amateur status. Schmidt played by the rules and explained to Poker News Daily, “I told them I was aware of that and asked for an advisory opinion of how to move forward. The rules of golf allowed me to seek an opinion. In the end, it was determined that only if someone took me up on it, I would have an issue.”

Three days later, Schmidt received another e-mail stating that the USGA official who issued the advisory opinion had changed his mind. Instead of being in the clear, his amateur status was revoked as a result of issuing the challenge in the first place. The Associated Press notes that the USGA told Schmidt that he could re-apply for amateur status, but “the process wasn’t timely enough because of the registration fees he’d already paid to compete in events over the summer.”

Schmidt was up in arms over the change of heart and noted to Poker News Daily, “The rules of competitive events say that if you get a ruling that’s later deemed to be incorrect, they’re obligated to stand by it, and so I initially didn’t think much of it. Not only did they take my amateur status away, but they also gave me no recourse.” Instead, Schmidt will seek a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court in Portland. If successful, his amateur status may be immediately reinstated.

The online poker player asked USGA officials to comb through data on-hand to determine if a similar situation had occurred before. In the end, none was found over the past five years. Maintaining his status as an amateur is important to Schmidt, a native of Oregon. He explained, “They have no professional events here. I have a baby girl on the way and want to enjoy playing competitive golf close to home. If I have to play only in professional events, I’ll be forced to go on the road. I have no opportunity to play competitive golf here.” The PGA Tour, for example, offers numerous tournaments in California, but does not host events in Oregon or Washington.

In Oregon, golf tournaments typically occur from the middle of May until the middle of October, leaving Schmidt ample time to compete for the duration of the 2009 season. However, he noted, “I’ve missed out on events that are important to me. I didn’t do anything wrong, though. I asked for an advisory opinion and they said it was fine.”

Schmidt noted that the USGA charges violations of the “spirit of the game.” The same Associated Press article quoted USGA court documents saying, “Having promoted his prize money golf/poker contest for two months and having obtained tremendous publicity for himself, his entrepreneurial website and his prize money scheme, Mr. Schmidt cannot unring the bell no matter how hard he tries.” The news outlet also revealed that Schmidt will represent himself in court.

Ivey, Eastgate first picks for Caesars Cup

The event, modeled after golf's Ryder Cup, will take place Sept. 25 during the 2009 WSOP Europe and will pit the best of Europe's poker players against the best of North America's pros in a battle for international bragging rights.

The format will feature both heads-up and team contests and include alternate betting and other non-traditional elements as players aim to win points for their respective teams.

Negreanu, heading the Americas Team, and Obrestad, heading the Euro Team, announced their picks at a WSOP ceremony this week and will fill out their rosters with six team members in total over the weeks leading up to the WSOP Europe kickoff Sept. 17.

Obrestad's team will also have one member qualify through a leaderboard race on Betfair Poker, the presenting sponsor of the WSOP Europe.

The top 200 players on the monthly low-stakes leaderboard (tracking sit-and-gos and MTTs with less than a $22 buy-in) will be entered into a "Heat Low" freeroll.

The top 100 players on the monthly high-stakes leaderboard will be entered into a "Heat High" freeroll. The top 18 finishers in each move on to a $5,000 Guaranteed Monthly Final that awards Caesars Cup points to the top finishers.

In August, the top nine players on the Caesars Cup Leaderboard will then battle it out for a spot on the team. Positions 2-9 will share a $25,000 prize pool while the winner heads to London to join the European Team.

"The lineup for this year's WSOPE Caesars looks like a who's who of poker." said Obrestad in a press release.

"The fact that a member of the public can qualify to sit alongside some of the best players in the game will be a massive attraction to players on Betfair Poker. I look forward to captaining our team to glory."

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