Poker News

Top Ten Poker Stories of the 2009: #5, Jeffrey Pollack Resigns as WSOP Commissioner

Good morning WSOP Nation! Anyone following Jeffrey Pollack on Twitter knows that every morning during the World Series of Poker began with that phrase and that phrase was generally followed by the song of the day. The 2010 WSOP will be missing...

Annie Duke on the 2009 WSOP Main Event, Phil Ivey’s Table Presence

Fresh off watching the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table pan out, Ultimate Bet pro Annie Duke discusses the wild action that unfolded from the Rio in Las Vegas and aired on ESPN.

Poker News Daily: Now that you’ve had a chance to check out the 2009 WSOP Main Event final table, give us your thoughts on what occurred.

Duke: The Main Event was really interesting. On the one hand, I don’t think there’s any question that it was the most skilled final table we’ve seen in a long time. Some of the play was brilliant, but at the same time, it also had some of the worst play we’ve seen. There were some very ill-advised plays at the final table.

The thing I worry about is that I’m involved with the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) and spend a lot of time arguing that poker is a game of skill. I understand that when someone gets their money in with deuces against jacks, they’re going to hit it 18% of the time. I have a concern that on a national stage, we came out on the weird end of variance. People are going to look at that and conclude that poker is a game of luck.

Darvin Moon did some crazy things and everyone could see that. Joe Cada got his money in with deuces and threes and hit both times. We can have arguments that he overplayed his hands, which proves that poker is a skill game. Because we can argue about it, it’s a skill game. The fact is he hit both of him and to the viewing public, it’s just luck. I actually think in that sense, it was unfortunate.

PND: Can you comment on a few of the other players at the 2009 WSOP Main Event final table?

Duke: Phil Ivey aside, who never got anything going, and Kevin Schaffel aside, it looked like Antoine Saout was playing amazingly well. I was impressed with him. I was also impressed with Eric Buchman and I think Steven Begleiter benefited from the coaching he received. You saw someone change the way they play because of the coaching in between. If you have four months and you’re a player who needs a lot of help, coaching is a good thing for you. If you’re already a really good player, coaching will hurt you. After four months, you’re trying to feel your way around the changes and trying to see where things apply. It’s not a good idea.

PND: What about Buchman impressed you? What were your thoughts on Cada?

Duke: When Ivey was there, people weren’t playing poker. Ivey is a huge presence and no one wanted to be the person to double him up. The other players didn’t want to get their chips in play because they were afraid of giving them to Ivey. Cada and Buchman were the only two playing during this period. They took advantage of that situation and did a good job of taking down the blinds and antes. That shows Cada has something going on. He recognized the situation and played accordingly.

PND: Did Ivey play too tight?

Duke: Ivey folding jacks is the big question. Everything else he did made sense. My guess is that Ivey was sitting there with Moon to his right and felt that he didn’t want to put his chips at risk. If he could double up, he had all of these chips sitting to his right. He was raising in early position in relation to Saout, who wasn’t playing aggressively and pushed in. Saout hadn’t been out there skating and Ivey probably would have called Cada or Buchman. Would I have called? Probably, but I’m speaking in retrospect and I don’t think I’m as good of a player as Ivey is.

PND: What makes Ivey so talented?

Duke: Ivey is the top-winning player in the history of online poker. He’s amazing in cash games. It doesn’t matter if it’s Mixed Games, Stud, or Pot Limit Omaha; pick a game and he’s good at it. His weakest game is probably Limit Hold’em and he’s still really good at that. He’s worked really hard and he puts in the time and hours. He’s good at the math and he’s also good at the feel. He has ridiculous heart and he has the follow-through.

PND: Does Ivey have the same intimidating table presence that your Ultimate Bet colleague, Phil Hellmuth, does?

Duke: Hellmuth’s advantage comes from somewhere else. Ivey terrifies people. No one wants to give him chips. Hellmuth has a different presence. People are so emotionally wrapped up in him that they cease to be able to think. People will throw chips at Hellmuth because they’re so pissed off at him. They want to beat him so badly. You try to avoid him because you’re afraid of getting yelled at or you want to show him up.

PND: What have other players you’ve talked to said about Jeffrey Pollack leaving his post as the WSOP Commissioner?

Duke: The community agrees that it may be bad for the players. What that speaks to, whether it’s true or not, was that he was a big friend to the players and that’s his legacy. What an amazing legacy for someone to have.

PND: What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Duke: I’m celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday as opposed to Thursday. My brother and everyone are converging on my house. I’m doing a small thing on Thursday as well. I love the cooking: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top, and all sorts of desserts.

2009 WSOP Year in Review

When the late gaming legend Benny Binion brought the World Series of Poker (WSOP) on the world, little did he know what it would become. What began 40 years ago as a gathering of Texas road gamblers in a quaint Las Vegas hotel has grown to become a behemoth that now spans an entire calendar year. By 2009, the WSOP was no longer a week-long reunion, but rather a year-long caravan that traverses the United States and ventures across the Atlantic to play in England.

While many may still think the WSOP begins in June, it truly takes place year-round with the WSOP Circuit. Now in its fifth year, the WSOP Circuit was created to combat the drawing power and success of the World Poker Tour (WPT) and, for the most part, has been successful. In 2009, many Circuit events took place that brought special moments.

The WSOP Circuit could be considered the minor leagues of poker, offering previously unknown players a chance to make their name in the game. In addition, such professional players as Gavin Smith, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Men “The Master” Nguyen, Matt “All In At 420” Stout, and Alex Bolotin made final tables during the run of the 2009 WSOP Circuit schedule prior to the start of the Las Vegas WSOP in May. Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo and Los Angeles poker veteran Jean “Prince” Gaspard took home WSOP Circuit championships, but perhaps the person who can say he “pwns” the Circuit is Dwyte Pilgrim.

Pilgrim began an unprecedented run by capturing the title at Harrah’s Rincon in San Diego in April and rolled off four consecutive cashes in WSOP Circuit Championship Events, something that no other player had ever done. With this performance, the Brooklyn, New York poker player established himself as one of the up and coming stars of poker.

Days after Gaspard’s triumph at the New Orleans WSOP Circuit Championship Event, the 40th Anniversary WSOP kicked off in Las Vegas at the Rio. With a new sponsor in Jack Links Beef Jerky, the 57 bracelet events drew combatants from around the world, with over 120 nations represented. While it wasn’t known when the cards first flew in late May, the 40th WSOP would go down as arguably one of the best of all time.

For the first time ever at the WSOP, a No Limit Texas Hold’em event was held that exceeded the traditional $10,000 Championship Event. The $40,000 Anniversary Special drew some of the top names in the game. Former World Champion Greg Raymer drove deep into the event before falling in third place. Eventual champion Vitaly Lunkin bested Isaac Haxton to take down the once in a lifetime championship.

In such a combative field over the multitude of events, there were an astounding four multiple bracelet winners during the 2009 WSOP. Full Tilt Poker could claim two in Phil Ivey and Greg “FBT” Mueller and Brock Parker announced his arrival on the poker world with his two bracelet victories. Making history, though, was poker veteran Jeffrey Lisandro; his three bracelet wins in different Stud disciplines were enough to enable him to capture the 2009 WSOP Player of the Year award.

The $10,000 Main Event drew a substantial field of 6,494, which would have been larger except for a Day 1D fiasco that prevented an estimated additional 500 players from participating. After two weeks of play, the poker world was once again set for the November Nine, with amateur poker player Darvin Moon leading a pack of players that included Ivey and fellow poker notable Jeff Shulman.

The £10,000 WSOP Europe Main Event drew 334 players and saw two members of the 2009 “November Nine,” Antoine Saout and James Akenhead, make the final table. Eventual champion Barry Shulman, the father of Jeff, defeated crowd favorite Daniel Negreanu via a stunning, rivered two-outer on the next to last hand of the tournament.

After the furor of WSOP Europe calmed down, the November Nine came back to the felt on November 7th to determine the next World Champion. Moon held his own at the final table, as Ivey was dismissed in seventh and Shulman departed in fifth. Saout made a stirring run at the title, starting as the short stack, but battling through adversity to finish third. The true story of the November Nine, though, was Joe Cada.

Cada rode a roller coaster through the final table, his chip stack surging up and down throughout the 14-hour battle. At one point, his stack was at 2.5 million, but he began a comeback for the ages.

With a tremendous chip lead, the youthful Cada, who was weaned on online play, seemed to be the odds-on favorite to take out Moon, who eschewed sponsorship from online poker rooms. It took a rousing two and a half hours of play, with the chip lead shifting back and forth, before Cada emerged as the champion. With the victory, Cada eclipsed the record for youngest WSOP Main Event champion ever, set in 2008 by Peter Eastgate.

The most stunning development of the year in the WSOP occurred after the completion of the November Nine. Longtime WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack announced on November 13th that he would step down as the leader of the penultimate event in poker after a four-year run. During his time as Commissioner, Pollack increased the visibility of the WSOP, brought huge sponsorships to the tournament, and introduced the November Nine concept to the Main Event. While there were some low points in his tenure as commissioner, Pollack helped to enrich the history of the WSOP and left his mark on the venerable institution. As of December, there has been no move to replace Pollack in the position of WSOP Commissioner.

As the calendar turns to 2010, the WSOP continues to roll along. Even now, people are already in preparation for the event, much as it has been for the past 40 years and will continue to be for decades to come.

Online Poker May Be Coming to Quebec, British Columbia

Quebec, British Columbia, and the four Atlantic provinces of Canada may soon see legalized and regulated online poker headed their way, according to an article that appeared in the Montreal Gazette newspaper.

Loto-Québec has submitted a proposal to the province’s government “for an internet wagering initiative in partnership with British Columbia and the four Atlantic provinces, which already have limited online gaming,” according to the Canadian news outlet. Loto-Québec claims that Canadians are currently placating more than 2,000 offshore internet gambling outfits, sending nearly $700 million in wagers away from the country each year, a number that will likely top $1 billion in three years.

Quebec plays home to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC), which is located on the Indian reservation of the same name outside of the city. Although the KGC is not currently linked to Loto-Québec’s endeavors, the organization’s Chairman, Dean Montour, told the Montreal Gazette, “The fact that Quebec is now entering the online gaming business in partnership with the Atlantic provinces and British Columbia is an indication that the industry is thriving and is gaining wider acceptance. For over 10 years, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission has had a positive working relationship with online gaming regulators throughout the world and looks forward to sharing its knowledge and experience with the Régie des alcools des courses et des jeux.”

The KGC is fresh off completing the investigating surrounding Ultimate Bet, an online poker site that recently changed its name to UB.com. In a September report, the KGC continued to finger former World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champion Russ Hamilton as the mastermind behind the scandal and noted that 31 other individuals were involved, but would not identify who they were. The KGC also issued over 100 screen names associated with the misgivings, a list that included “nvtease,” “Sleeplesss,” and the infamous “NioNio.”

Given the seemingly “Wild West” atmosphere of the internet, Canadian control of the online poker industry will likely bring a considerable amount of validity: “The integrity of the online games often is dubious, as it was for some lotteries and VLTs before Loto-Québec was mandated by the government to funnel them into controlled circuits and oversee them,” noted Loto-Québec President and CEO Alain Cousineau. Loto-Québec added $1.4 billion to the bottom line of the province during the last fiscal year.

Potentially adding to the pressure of Loto-Québec to legalize and regulate the internet version of the age-old card game is a move towards licensing in the United States, spearheaded by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA). Back in May, the lawmaker introduced HR 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act, which establishes a full framework for legalized internet gambling in the USA. The measure is up to 63 co-sponsors, including Anthony Weiner (D-NY), who signed on four days ago. The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) expects HR 2267 to be marked up in the House Financial Services Committee, of which Frank is the Chair, in January. Other reports signal that markup is coming in December.

On December 1st, the financial services industry in the United States must fall into full compliance with the regulations of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which was passed three years ago. The PPA and other organizations have been feverishly working to delay the compliance date by one year, but so far, pleas to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and the U.S. Congress have not been heeded.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that the newly-created Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment (HIE), headed by former Party Gaming CEO Mitch Garber, would be based in Montreal. Former WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack was originally slated to be HIE’s President, but recently parted ways with the Las Vegas-based gambling giant.

Poker2Nite Debuts on Fox Sports Net

Wednesday night marked the first episode of the UB.net poker news show “Poker2Nite.” The new franchise stars PokerRoad personalities Joe Sebok and Scott Huff and airs at 11:00pm ET on Wednesdays on Fox Sports Net.

Last night’s show began with a discussion of the major news item of the week, the win by Joe Cada in the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Cada became the youngest champion ever of the $10,000 buy-in feature tournament at age 21 and turned 22 on November 18th. In the final hand of the tournament, which was replayed on “Poker2Nite,” Cada shoved with pocket nines and Maryland logger Darvin Moon made the call for his tournament life with Q-J of diamonds. The two were off to the races with $3 million in real money on the line. In the end, Cada emerged victorious. He told “Poker2Nite’s” Lacey Jones after play had concluded, “I knew the odds of winning it were a long shot.”

Huff gave his take on the emergence of Cada: “The kid immediately goes out and does a lot of live interviews. He’s accepted a number of mainstream media appearances and it feels like he’s ready to step into the spotlight and be an ambassador for the game.” Huff and Sebok then debated whether it was fair that the winner of the Main Event had a “job” to promote the game. Sebok stated, “It’s an opportunity. I would snatch up that job in a second.” Sebok took 56th in the 2009 Main Event, earning $108,000.

Attention then turned to the departure of WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, who resigned from his post just days after Cada was crowned the newest World Champion. Pollack’s legacy includes the introduction of the $50,000 buy-in HORSE Championship, the November Nine, and a reduction in the number of player complaints. Sebok, who was one of several pros who weighed in following Pollack’s departure on social media sites like Twitter, told “Poker2Nite” viewers, “Jeffrey Pollack definitely changed the game for the better.”

UB.net logos appeared in the background and in commercials during each break. The new site was launched earlier this week replacing Ultimate Bet, which was long known by the two-letter acronym. “Poker2Nite” is featured on the front page of UB.net and UB.com and a press release announcing the new site called the series “a new television show that is truly about poker, not just another reality or game show.” Huff and Sebok are veterans of the media side of poker through their work with PokerRoad Radio. Both bring an energetic demeanor to the silver screen and looked at home in front of Fox Sports Net television cameras.

Dana Workman, who has appeared in various sitcoms on ABC and FOX, gave her Weekly Misdeal and Huff and Sebok examined which fans at the tournament in Las Vegas were the rowdiest. Cada’s won the contest, as the youngster’s cheering section came decked out in yellow shirts and screamed loudly throughout the marathon festivities. The younger age of Cada’s fans may have contributed to their excitement, as supporters of Antoine Saout and Steven Begleiter, who were dressed in blue, appeared to be of an older age.

Joining the show as its first guest was San Jose native and ESPN poker announcer Lon McEachern, about whom Huff jokingly claimed, “I brought him on to force him to pass the torch.” McEachern, who first broadcasted the WSOP on ESPN in 2002 alongside Gabe Kaplan, told “Poker2Nite” fans, “It’s an event now. To have that many people watching nine guys sit and play cards was incredible. To come from the obscure beginnings to where it is now has been the ride of a lifetime.”

In addition to its 11:00am ET debut each Wednesday night, “Poker2Nite” re-airs on Thursdays at 4:00pm ET and Fridays at 11:00am ET and 6:00pm ET. Check local listings for full details.

Ex-WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack leaves a farewell video

RawVEGAS.tv interviewed Jeffrey Pollack after his farewell from the WSOP Commissioner duties last week.

Pollack tells why he resigned from the WSOP Commissioner job and what good he accomplished during those four years he was working with WSOP.

He also tells how he respects poker media generally and evaluates the poker industry’s future.

You can watch the three-part interview here: part 1, part 2 and part 3.

Source: rawVEGAS.tv

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Ex-WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack leaves a farewell video

Poker Pros Rally Behind Former WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack

Late last week, World Series of Poker (WSOP) Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack stepped down from his post and removed himself from Harrah’s entirely. The move caught much of the poker world off-guard and Poker News Daily solicited the reaction from a few of the game’s top names.

“Celebrity Apprentice” runner-up and marquee female pro Annie Duke told Poker News Daily that Pollack’s ascension to the role of WSOP Commissioner in 2006 marked a player-friendly movement for the tournament series. She explained, “The first thing he did was meet with top players and I was fortunate enough to be among them. He really listened to us. There was only so much he could do because in the end he didn’t own it, but he was committed to working with the players and making sure they had a strong voice.” Pollack formed the Players Advisory Council, of which Duke was a member.

On the future of the tournament series without Pollack’s involvement, Duke admitted, “I know that Jeffrey stood as a partner with the players and fought with management over some of the issues. I feel like he was the players’ protector and it does concern me that he’s gone. I hope people at the WSOP take a lesson from what he did and partner with the players because that’s how you grow the brand.” Two years prior to Pollack’s Commissioner nod, Duke won the WSOP Tournament of Champions event for $2 million.

Among those lamenting Pollack’s departure was PokerRoad’s Joe Sebok, who made a deep run in the 2009 WSOP Main Event and finished in 56th place. Sebok told Poker News Daily, “I think it’s a bummer. The biggest thing is that the players are losing out. Jeffrey did a good job and people don’t understand how much he fought for different things. He really was an advocate for us, so it’s a sad day. He was a great Commissioner and I think he did a great job of fighting for the WSOP and fighting for the players.” PokerRoad will take to the television airwaves this Wednesday with the debut of “Poker 2Nite,” a poker news show that airs on Fox Sports Net.

Two Poker News Daily Guest Columnists also weighed in on Pollack’s resignation from the WSOP and Harrah’s. Linda Johnson, co-owner of Card Player Cruises, explained, “This is not necessarily the best thing for poker players. He was a great communicator. If you sent him an e-mail, he responded immediately and he listened to us.” ESPN “Inside Deal” host and noted poker author Bernard Lee added, “I’m surprised. I think he did a great job of bringing the WSOP to another level with not only the commercial success, but also the growth in the number entrants. I thought he was doing a great job.”

Last night, the CBS reality series “Amazing Race” aired, one of the first episodes since the elimination of poker pros Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho, who were sent packing in the Netherlands. Michelle gave her take on Pollack’s exit from the WSOP: “I’m very sad to see Jeffrey Pollack resigning. He has been so instrumental in the excellent changes and adaptations we’ve seen over the last four years. Jeffrey was professional, yet personal, which is why I think he held the respect of the entire poker community.” Michelle was the last woman standing in the 2008 WSOP Main Event, while Ho held that honor one year earlier. In 2009, the designation went to Leo Margets, who finished in 27th place.

According to WSOP officials, there are no immediate plans to fill the Commissioner’s role, leading many to wonder who will become the next face of the annual festivities in Las Vegas. Pollack was slated to become the President of Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment, the casino giant’s Canadian-based online arm. Former Party Gaming CEO Mitch Garber remains the head of the new outfit.

Mike Sexton Relives Poker Hall of Fame Induction

It was a great honor for me to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.  It really is the ultimate career achievement award.  To know that you’ll always be linked to the legends of poker – guys like Chip Reese, Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, Johnny Moss, and Jack Binion – is an awesome feeling.

Several things made my induction into the Poker Hall of Fame extra special.  The first is that this year, for the first time, a process was used to determine who would get in.  This included being nominated by the fans and then being voted in by the media and living members of the Poker Hall of Fame.  It also makes me the answer to the trivia question, “Who is the first player to ever get inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame through a voting process?”  The most meaningful part to me was to be welcomed into this exclusive club by the Hall of Famers themselves.

Another thing that made my induction so special were the 2009 nominees I was up against, literally a “who’s who” of the poker world.  Their poker accomplishments are amazing.  The other nominees were Barry Greenstein, Erik Seidel, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Tom McEvoy, Dan Harrinton, Scotty Nguyen, and Men “The Master” Nguyen.  I truly believe that most, if not all, of these guys will be joining me in the Poker Hall of Fame one day – and deservedly so.

The induction dinner was held at the Rio during the dinner break of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table on November 7th.  It was a first-class, two-hour affair that was put on by Harrah’s and the WSOP and was sponsored by JAQK Cellars.  A special thanks to all of those people.  For all of us that attended, it was an evening to remember.  I believe the process of getting elected and the Poker Hall of Fame dinner add a lot of prestige.  I hope the induction dinner becomes an annual event.

I provided a slide show during dinner that featured my family (especially my one year-old son, Ty), numerous Hall of Fame poker players, and me.  The World Poker Tour (WPT) was kind enough to provide some entertaining footage of Vince Van Patten and me as well as some clips of Doyle Brunson and the 2009 nominees when they won on the WPT.  My brother Tom had some collages of me as well as some terrific pictures that were put on display.  All of these things added a great deal to the event.

The speakers must have thought this was a Mike Sexton roast, but I must admit that they were quite entertaining.  They included Doyle Brunson, Jack Binion, T.J. Cloutier, and Tom McEvoy.  Jeffrey Pollack then gave a very warm welcome speech and my brother Tom was the person I chose to introduce me. He was terrific, as I knew he would be.  Thanks to everyone for their participation.

No one gets to the top of any profession without drive, dedication, being in the right place at the right time, help from some key people, and the love of family.  All of those things certainly apply to me.  I spoke, wove my way through my career, and thanked those who were extremely helpful to me along the way.  They included Linda Johnson (who hired me to write for Card Player), Doyle Brunson (who hosted my Tournament of Champions and has been a longtime friend), Ruth Parasol (who hired me for PartyPoker), and Steve Lipscomb (founder of the WPT).

I was recently asked by a reporter, “What’s the neatest thing about being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame?”  I said, “The neatest thing about getting inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is when I think about my son and when he gets to Junior High and High School.  The other kids will say, “Wow!  Ty’s old man is in the Poker Hall of Fame.’  That’s really cool!”  And it is.

Being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is an honor I’ll cherish forever.

Mike Sexton Relives Poker Hall of Fame Induction

It was a great honor for me to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.  It really is the ultimate career achievement award.  To know that you’ll always be linked to the legends of poker – guys like Chip Reese, Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, Johnny Moss, and Jack Binion – is an awesome feeling.

Several things made my induction into the Poker Hall of Fame extra special.  The first is that this year, for the first time, a process was used to determine who would get in.  This included being nominated by the fans and then being voted in by the media and living members of the Poker Hall of Fame.  It also makes me the answer to the trivia question, “Who is the first player to ever get inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame through a voting process?”  The most meaningful part to me was to be welcomed into this exclusive club by the Hall of Famers themselves.

Another thing that made my induction so special were the 2009 nominees I was up against, literally a “who’s who” of the poker world.  Their poker accomplishments are amazing.  The other nominees were Barry Greenstein, Erik Seidel, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Tom McEvoy, Dan Harrinton, Scotty Nguyen, and Men “The Master” Nguyen.  I truly believe that most, if not all, of these guys will be joining me in the Poker Hall of Fame one day – and deservedly so.

The induction dinner was held at the Rio during the dinner break of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table on November 7th.  It was a first-class, two-hour affair that was put on by Harrah’s and the WSOP and was sponsored by JAQK Cellars.  A special thanks to all of those people.  For all of us that attended, it was an evening to remember.  I believe the process of getting elected and the Poker Hall of Fame dinner add a lot of prestige.  I hope the induction dinner becomes an annual event.

I provided a slide show during dinner that featured my family (especially my one year-old son, Ty), numerous Hall of Fame poker players, and me.  The World Poker Tour (WPT) was kind enough to provide some entertaining footage of Vince Van Patten and me as well as some clips of Doyle Brunson and the 2009 nominees when they won on the WPT.  My brother Tom had some collages of me as well as some terrific pictures that were put on display.  All of these things added a great deal to the event.

The speakers must have thought this was a Mike Sexton roast, but I must admit that they were quite entertaining.  They included Doyle Brunson, Jack Binion, T.J. Cloutier, and Tom McEvoy.  Jeffrey Pollack then gave a very warm welcome speech and my brother Tom was the person I chose to introduce me. He was terrific, as I knew he would be.  Thanks to everyone for their participation.

No one gets to the top of any profession without drive, dedication, being in the right place at the right time, help from some key people, and the love of family.  All of those things certainly apply to me.  I spoke, wove my way through my career, and thanked those who were extremely helpful to me along the way.  They included Linda Johnson (who hired me to write for Card Player), Doyle Brunson (who hosted my Tournament of Champions and has been a longtime friend), Ruth Parasol (who hired me for PartyPoker), and Steve Lipscomb (founder of the WPT).

I was recently asked by a reporter, “What’s the neatest thing about being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame?”  I said, “The neatest thing about getting inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is when I think about my son and when he gets to Junior High and High School.  The other kids will say, “Wow!  Ty’s old man is in the Poker Hall of Fame.’  That’s really cool!”  And it is.

Being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is an honor I’ll cherish forever.

Mike Sexton Relives Poker Hall of Fame Induction

It was a great honor for me to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.  It really is the ultimate career achievement award.  To know that you’ll always be linked to the legends of poker – guys like Chip Reese, Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, Johnny Moss, and Jack Binion – is an awesome feeling.

Several things made my induction into the Poker Hall of Fame extra special.  The first is that this year, for the first time, a process was used to determine who would get in.  This included being nominated by the fans and then being voted in by the media and living members of the Poker Hall of Fame.  It also makes me the answer to the trivia question, “Who is the first player to ever get inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame through a voting process?”  The most meaningful part to me was to be welcomed into this exclusive club by the Hall of Famers themselves.

Another thing that made my induction so special were the 2009 nominees I was up against, literally a “who’s who” of the poker world.  Their poker accomplishments are amazing.  The other nominees were Barry Greenstein, Erik Seidel, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Tom McEvoy, Dan Harrinton, Scotty Nguyen, and Men “The Master” Nguyen.  I truly believe that most, if not all, of these guys will be joining me in the Poker Hall of Fame one day – and deservedly so.

The induction dinner was held at the Rio during the dinner break of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table on November 7th.  It was a first-class, two-hour affair that was put on by Harrah’s and the WSOP and was sponsored by JAQK Cellars.  A special thanks to all of those people.  For all of us that attended, it was an evening to remember.  I believe the process of getting elected and the Poker Hall of Fame dinner add a lot of prestige.  I hope the induction dinner becomes an annual event.

I provided a slide show during dinner that featured my family (especially my one year-old son, Ty), numerous Hall of Fame poker players, and me.  The World Poker Tour (WPT) was kind enough to provide some entertaining footage of Vince Van Patten and me as well as some clips of Doyle Brunson and the 2009 nominees when they won on the WPT.  My brother Tom had some collages of me as well as some terrific pictures that were put on display.  All of these things added a great deal to the event.

The speakers must have thought this was a Mike Sexton roast, but I must admit that they were quite entertaining.  They included Doyle Brunson, Jack Binion, T.J. Cloutier, and Tom McEvoy.  Jeffrey Pollack then gave a very warm welcome speech and my brother Tom was the person I chose to introduce me. He was terrific, as I knew he would be.  Thanks to everyone for their participation.

No one gets to the top of any profession without drive, dedication, being in the right place at the right time, help from some key people, and the love of family.  All of those things certainly apply to me.  I spoke, wove my way through my career, and thanked those who were extremely helpful to me along the way.  They included Linda Johnson (who hired me to write for Card Player), Doyle Brunson (who hosted my Tournament of Champions and has been a longtime friend), Ruth Parasol (who hired me for PartyPoker), and Steve Lipscomb (founder of the WPT).

I was recently asked by a reporter, “What’s the neatest thing about being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame?”  I said, “The neatest thing about getting inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is when I think about my son and when he gets to Junior High and High School.  The other kids will say, “Wow!  Ty’s old man is in the Poker Hall of Fame.’  That’s really cool!”  And it is.

Being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is an honor I’ll cherish forever.

Mike Sexton Relives Poker Hall of Fame Induction

It was a great honor for me to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.  It really is the ultimate career achievement award.  To know that you’ll always be linked to the legends of poker – guys like Chip Reese, Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, Johnny Moss, and Jack Binion – is an awesome feeling.

Several things made my induction into the Poker Hall of Fame extra special.  The first is that this year, for the first time, a process was used to determine who would get in.  This included being nominated by the fans and then being voted in by the media and living members of the Poker Hall of Fame.  It also makes me the answer to the trivia question, “Who is the first player to ever get inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame through a voting process?”  The most meaningful part to me was to be welcomed into this exclusive club by the Hall of Famers themselves.

Another thing that made my induction so special were the 2009 nominees I was up against, literally a “who’s who” of the poker world.  Their poker accomplishments are amazing.  The other nominees were Barry Greenstein, Erik Seidel, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Tom McEvoy, Dan Harrinton, Scotty Nguyen, and Men “The Master” Nguyen.  I truly believe that most, if not all, of these guys will be joining me in the Poker Hall of Fame one day – and deservedly so.

The induction dinner was held at the Rio during the dinner break of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table on November 7th.  It was a first-class, two-hour affair that was put on by Harrah’s and the WSOP and was sponsored by JAQK Cellars.  A special thanks to all of those people.  For all of us that attended, it was an evening to remember.  I believe the process of getting elected and the Poker Hall of Fame dinner add a lot of prestige.  I hope the induction dinner becomes an annual event.

I provided a slide show during dinner that featured my family (especially my one year-old son, Ty), numerous Hall of Fame poker players, and me.  The World Poker Tour (WPT) was kind enough to provide some entertaining footage of Vince Van Patten and me as well as some clips of Doyle Brunson and the 2009 nominees when they won on the WPT.  My brother Tom had some collages of me as well as some terrific pictures that were put on display.  All of these things added a great deal to the event.

The speakers must have thought this was a Mike Sexton roast, but I must admit that they were quite entertaining.  They included Doyle Brunson, Jack Binion, T.J. Cloutier, and Tom McEvoy.  Jeffrey Pollack then gave a very warm welcome speech and my brother Tom was the person I chose to introduce me. He was terrific, as I knew he would be.  Thanks to everyone for their participation.

No one gets to the top of any profession without drive, dedication, being in the right place at the right time, help from some key people, and the love of family.  All of those things certainly apply to me.  I spoke, wove my way through my career, and thanked those who were extremely helpful to me along the way.  They included Linda Johnson (who hired me to write for Card Player), Doyle Brunson (who hosted my Tournament of Champions and has been a longtime friend), Ruth Parasol (who hired me for PartyPoker), and Steve Lipscomb (founder of the WPT).

I was recently asked by a reporter, “What’s the neatest thing about being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame?”  I said, “The neatest thing about getting inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is when I think about my son and when he gets to Junior High and High School.  The other kids will say, “Wow!  Ty’s old man is in the Poker Hall of Fame.’  That’s really cool!”  And it is.

Being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is an honor I’ll cherish forever.

Mike Sexton Relives Poker Hall of Fame Induction

It was a great honor for me to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.  It really is the ultimate career achievement award.  To know that you’ll always be linked to the legends of poker – guys like Chip Reese, Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, Johnny Moss, and Jack Binion – is an awesome feeling.

Several things made my induction into the Poker Hall of Fame extra special.  The first is that this year, for the first time, a process was used to determine who would get in.  This included being nominated by the fans and then being voted in by the media and living members of the Poker Hall of Fame.  It also makes me the answer to the trivia question, “Who is the first player to ever get inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame through a voting process?”  The most meaningful part to me was to be welcomed into this exclusive club by the Hall of Famers themselves.

Another thing that made my induction so special were the 2009 nominees I was up against, literally a “who’s who” of the poker world.  Their poker accomplishments are amazing.  The other nominees were Barry Greenstein, Erik Seidel, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Tom McEvoy, Dan Harrinton, Scotty Nguyen, and Men “The Master” Nguyen.  I truly believe that most, if not all, of these guys will be joining me in the Poker Hall of Fame one day – and deservedly so.

The induction dinner was held at the Rio during the dinner break of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table on November 7th.  It was a first-class, two-hour affair that was put on by Harrah’s and the WSOP and was sponsored by JAQK Cellars.  A special thanks to all of those people.  For all of us that attended, it was an evening to remember.  I believe the process of getting elected and the Poker Hall of Fame dinner add a lot of prestige.  I hope the induction dinner becomes an annual event.

I provided a slide show during dinner that featured my family (especially my one year-old son, Ty), numerous Hall of Fame poker players, and me.  The World Poker Tour (WPT) was kind enough to provide some entertaining footage of Vince Van Patten and me as well as some clips of Doyle Brunson and the 2009 nominees when they won on the WPT.  My brother Tom had some collages of me as well as some terrific pictures that were put on display.  All of these things added a great deal to the event.

The speakers must have thought this was a Mike Sexton roast, but I must admit that they were quite entertaining.  They included Doyle Brunson, Jack Binion, T.J. Cloutier, and Tom McEvoy.  Jeffrey Pollack then gave a very warm welcome speech and my brother Tom was the person I chose to introduce me. He was terrific, as I knew he would be.  Thanks to everyone for their participation.

No one gets to the top of any profession without drive, dedication, being in the right place at the right time, help from some key people, and the love of family.  All of those things certainly apply to me.  I spoke, wove my way through my career, and thanked those who were extremely helpful to me along the way.  They included Linda Johnson (who hired me to write for Card Player), Doyle Brunson (who hosted my Tournament of Champions and has been a longtime friend), Ruth Parasol (who hired me for PartyPoker), and Steve Lipscomb (founder of the WPT).

I was recently asked by a reporter, “What’s the neatest thing about being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame?”  I said, “The neatest thing about getting inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is when I think about my son and when he gets to Junior High and High School.  The other kids will say, “Wow!  Ty’s old man is in the Poker Hall of Fame.’  That’s really cool!”  And it is.

Being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is an honor I’ll cherish forever.

Poker Community Reacts to WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack’s Resignation

Within minutes of news breaking that Jeffrey Pollack would be stepping down as the Commissioner of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), the poker community began to sound off on the matter, be it through Twitter, online poker forums, or personal blogs.  The reactions ranged from relief to despair and people on both sides of the issue contemplated what this move said about the future of the WSOP.

Longtime tournament reporter B.J. Nemeth was one of the people saddened by Pollack’s departure.  Nemeth, who missed out on the televised WSOP Main Event final table because he was reporting on the Foxwoods World Poker Finals, posted his thoughts on the resignation on his Twitter account (@BJNemeth): “If I had known this was @JeffreyPollack’s last WSOP, I would have done whatever necessary (quit my job, hitchhike) to photograph the Nov 9.”

Nemeth elaborated about Pollack’s time as Commissioner to Poker News Daily: “I think when we look back, it will be far more important than the fact that [this year] was the 40th anniversary.  The 40th anniversary is just a milestone that’s going by, whereas Pollack’s departure is the end of an era.”

Nemeth also offered his insight on Pollack’s strong relationship with the poker media: “Jeffrey Pollack was definitely a friend to the media.  In an age of exclusive media deals, he allowed bloggers and everyone else to show up and never restricted what they wrote about.  Wicked Chops Poker, Tao of Poker, and everybody else were allowed to cover the WSOP as they see fit.”

Not only did Pollack allow these bloggers extensive freedom in how they reported on events, but he also often gave them a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his day-to-day activities as Comissioner.  Nemeth put together a photo blog documenting a day in the life of Pollack for PokerRoad and Pollack also recorded several video blogs for Wicked Chops Poker.

While Nemeth and other media members like Tao of Poker blogger Paul McGuire (@TaoPauly) and PokerNews Editor Matthew Parvis (@MatthewParvis) wished Pollack well via Twitter, not everyone was sad to see the Commissioner go.  Poker player Jon “pokertrip” Friedberg has less enthusiastic words for Pollack’s time at Harrah’s.  A regular on the tournament circuit since the mid-2000s, Friedberg won his WSOP bracelet in 2006, the same year Pollack took over as Commissioner, and has attended every WSOP during his tenure.

Friedberg told Poker News Daily he was not surprised when he heard that Pollack and the WSOP were parting ways: “I expected it to happen in 2006, I expected it to happen in 2007, and I expected it to happen in 2008,” he explained.  “I really felt like there were so many mistakes being made and so many opportunities he failed to capitalize on and each year I was just thinking that Harrah’s has to notice and let him go, but he was continuing to stay onboard each year.”

Friedberg’s opinion of Pollack’s performance is based both on his experiences as a poker player and as a businessman.  Prior to pursuing poker full-time, Friedberg worked for Petco and served as CEO of Reatrix Systems, a company that produced interactive video display technology.

“As a player, I think he made a lot of really, really foolish mistakes as to how the tournaments were run,” Friedberg argued.  He cited the use of the much-maligned Kem “Poker Peek” cards at the 2007 WSOP as well as continued frustration with tournament registrations and payouts as just a few of the mistakes during Pollack’s tenure.

“From a business perspective, I think he did a terrible job getting corporate sponsors.  Even though the numbers have been okay the past couple of years as far as the size of the fields, I think underneath his administration, the brand equity behind the WSOP has really gone to shit.  The turnouts are not as high as they could have been and the corporate sponsors he has gotten have been a total joke.”  Friedberg conceded that it is somewhat difficult to find corporate sponsors for a gambling-related event, but cited the Kentucky Derby as an example of one that has consistently drawn marquee title sponsors.

Several posters on the TwoPlusTwo forums, including poker pro Todd Terry, echoed Friedberg’s sentiments.  Terry cited the elimination of the popular rebuy events and the exclusionary nature of Pollack’s Player’s Advisory Council as some of the decisions made that he has taken issue with over the years.

Neither Nemeth nor Friedberg was able to say definitively what the future holds for the WSOP, but Friedberg offered his thoughts on Harrah’s decision not to appoint a replacement anytime soon: “It’s sad to say this, but I think that since they don’t have plans to hire a new Commissioner, it shows me that they really don’t give a shit about the WSOP because overall with Harrah’s, it’s not a big moneymaker for them.  I think they’re going to try to let it run itself rather than capitalize on what it could become.”  Nemeth also expressed concern over the future of the WSOP without Pollack.

Pollack fan or not, this latest change at Harrah’s has everyone concerned about what to expect in 2010.

Jeffrey Pollack Resigns from Harrah’s, WSOP

In breaking news from Las Vegas, World Series of Poker (WSOP) Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack has resigned from his post at the WSOP and Harrah’s, according to the Associated Press and his Twitter feed. Today, Friday, November 13th, is Pollack’s last day on the job.

Pollack told the news service on Friday, “It’s bittersweet, but I’m leaving with just great memories and a really nice sense of it being a great run. More than anything else, I’m just appreciative of the opportunity to have been part of the WSOP.” The WSOP entered its 40th year in 2009, with Michigan pro Joe Cada having been crowned its latest champion earlier this week. The youngster became the youngest WSOP Main Event winner ever at age 21 and defeated Maryland logger Darvin Moon heads-up. Cada will celebrate his 22nd birthday next week.

The Associated Press reported, “Series spokesman Seth Palansky said there were no immediate intentions to replace Pollack.” Back in May, Pollack teamed with former Party Gaming CEO Mitch Garber to lead Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment, the casino giant’s newly-formed online arm. Pollack was slated to be its President and Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman commented in a press release announcing the launch, “As the world’s largest gaming company, Harrah’s is taking a proactive approach toward international and interactive expansion. It is important we position ourselves to explore new markets as well as new technologies with our best in class brands.”

Pollack was instrumental in growing the WSOP since 2005. The annual festivities from Las Vegas picked up shop and moved from Binion’s in the Downtown area to the Harrah’s-owned Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino off the Strip. 2005 saw Australian Joe Hachem take down the $10,000 buy-in Main Event to the tune of $7.5 million. A total of 5,619 players entered, a number that would swell to 8,773 in 2006, the year that Hollywood agent Jamie Gold claimed victory.

Pollack told the Associated Press that his next career move remains up in the air: “I really wanted to see this year through, see this series through. I’m leaving on an absolute high note.” No indication was given to media on-hand at the Rio last weekend that Pollack was departing, as the Commissioner seemed in high spirits. Pollack awarded Mike Sexton his Poker Hall of Fame trophy in a ceremony held during Saturday’s play in the Main Event that saw the field trimmed from nine players to two, Cada and Moon.

Under Pollack’s leadership, the WSOP brand hopped “The Pond” for WSOP Europe. The festivities began in 2007, with Annette “Annette_15” Obrestad becoming the youngest bracelet winner ever by taking down the Main Event, defeating fellow Betfair pro John “Kunkuwap” Tabatabai heads-up. The inaugural Main Event drew 362 entrants. In 2008, Full Tilt Poker pro John Juanda took down the title, defeating Russian poker players Stanislav Alekhin and Ivan Demidov. In 2009, Barry Shulman, father of WSOP November Nine member Jeff Shulman, claimed victory in the WSOP Europe feature tournament. A total of 57 events in Las Vegas and four more in Europe were held this year.

Palansky told Poker News Daily, “We appreciate Jeffrey’s contributions over the past four years and wish him the best in the future. The World Series of Poker remains the market leader with this year’s tournament exceeding all expectations and we are well positioned for the future. There is no intention at this time to replace the Commissioner role.”

Pollack also held positions with the NBA and NASCAR and is the half-brother of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. On his Twitter page, Pollack boasted on Friday, “Thank you for allowing me to be part of the #WSOP these last few years. I will always be a fan and friend to the poker community.”

Jeffrey Pollack Out as World Series of Poker Commissioner

Only days after the World Series of Poker crowned its newest champion, Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack has resigned from his post effective immediately. Initially reported on by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Pollack said in an interview with Howard...

Jeffrey Pollack resigns from WSOP position

World Series of Poker commissioner Jeffrey Pollack has announced his resignation from the post. The former NASCAR and NBA director gave no reason for his decision, prompting speculation around the poker world.

Mike Sexton enters the Poker Hall of Fame - Watch the video

Doyle Brunson has something funny to say in a video that rawVEGAS.tv filmed on Mike Sexton’s Poker Hall of Fame induction.

There’s also speeches by WSOP Commissoner Jeffrey Pollack, Mike’s brother Tom Sexton and of course the maestro himself, Mike Sexton.

Source: rawVEGAS.tv

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Mike Sexton enters the Poker Hall of Fame - Watch the video

Darvin Moon Takes Lead Heads-Up at 2009 WSOP Main Event

It took all of 12 hands of heads-up play of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event for Darvin Moon to retake the chip lead from young gun Joe Cada, at least temporarily. A total of $8.5 million is up for grabs for the first place finisher.

In the first 11 hands, Moon earned five, while his rival, Cada, emerged victorious in six. In the deciding hand thus far, Cada made it 2.5 million pre-flop and Moon called. The first three community cards came 6-5-J and Moon checked. Cada put in a continuation bet of 3.5 million before Moon made it 8.5 million. Cada called, with an enormous pot brewing, and the turn came queen. The action slowed down considerably, as both players checked to see a deuce hit the river. Moon lead out for 7.25 million and Cada called. Moon tabled Q-8 for top pair and scooped the pot. At the time, he had ballooned his stack to 101 million, ahead of Cada’s arsenal of 93 million. Cada later clawed back to reclaim the chip lead himself.

While standing in line to purchase food at the Rio’s Sports Grill this afternoon, Moon told Poker News Daily that he could not possibly panic being on the short stack. He revealed, “I’m not having a tree fall on me. I’m not getting shot at. What would I possibly panic about?” He then rolled up his left sleeve to reveal a major scar from an accident involving a falling free.

Motley Crue front man Vince Neil, fresh off holding a charity tournament last night, gave the shuffle up and deal command on Monday night. WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack told the assembled fans, “Ladies and Gentlemen! This is the night when we award the most coveted prize in poker.”

WSOP Main Event: Cada and Moon talk heads-up

But after running like Gods to get heads-up for the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event title, both 21-year old online pro and heads-up guru Joe Cada and 46-year-old Darvin Moon, the luddite logger from Western Maryland, sound confident heading into Monday's fight for poker's most prestigious title.

Despite being bailed out by the deck after several missteps during the more than 14-hour play down to the final two Saturday, and the fact he's facing a 2.5:1 chip deficit, Moon believes he can win.

"I feel confident about everything I do," said Moon. "I know I'm not the best at everything I do, but I feel confident."

Cada's road to heads-up included being down to as little as four big blinds and hitting more than one two-outer on the way up Saturday.

Although he's feeling lucky to still have a shot at the $8.5 million first-place prize, he feels like heads-up is his game.

"What can I say? I got lucky," he said. "I'm not too mad about the plays I made. It was unfortunate the results and unfortunate what happened to the other guys, but good for me I guess.

"I'm very excited to get heads-up because that's what I play and I'm feeling pretty confident. But anything can happen. I came from down to 2 million and now I'm heads-up. Anything can happen. There's still a lot of tournament to be played."

While Cada regularly plays $10/$20 heads-up cash games online, Moon says he's played heads-up only once - when he won a satellite into the Main Event.

"Back home we always get down to two and chop," he said. "It'll be a learning experience. We'll see how it goes. He's better than me, but I'm confident. They say he's some kind of specialist heads-up online. I'm not online to watch or see, so we'll just see what happens."

Cada has studied heads-up strategy on online forums and through his backers at PokerXFactor.

Moon's strategy appears to be a little less refined.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Can you give me the definition of strategy?"

When play resumes Monday, Cada will hold 135,950,000 chips to Moon's 58,850,000 and the entire poker world appears to be buzzing about the match up.

"This has been the most exciting Main Event Final Table I've ever witnessed," said World Series of Poker President and Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "To see Joe Cada go from about two million in chips to nearly 136 million in chips - and to watch Darvin Moon go from chip leader to short stack and back again - was truly astonishing.

"The heads-up competition is going to be outstanding."

To catch all the action as it happens, tune into PokerListings 2009 Main Event Live Coverage beginning at 10 p.m. PT Monday.

Visit PokerListings.com

Mike Sexton Inducted into Poker Hall of Fame

Doyle Brunson kicked off the Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony dinner at the Brasilia Room at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. The festivities honoring Mike Sexton occurred during the dinner break of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table at 7:00pm PT.

The guest list read like a “who’s who” of the poker community, including Howard Lederer, Phil Hellmuth, Jack Binion, Ali Nejad, David Singer, and Dewey Tomko. Also in the house was World Poker Tour (WPT) Co-Host Vince Van Patten, who told Poker News Daily, “I couldn’t miss this. Mike is such a great champion and a great friend of mine. What we share together on the WPT is one of the most important parts of my life. So many laughs and Mike is such a great guy. He is the real thing.”

The WPT is currently filming its eighth season. In fact, The Foxwoods World Poker Finals, the November WPT stop, is currently playing out at the Connecticut casino. On Van Patten and Sexton’s chemistry after eight seasons, the Poker Hall of Fame nominee’s co-host told us, “We could go for 25 years. We don’t get bored with it, we love it, and we’re not faking it. We’d probably do it for no money. We love it that much and we enjoy each other’s company. He’s one of a kind, a great family man, and the real thing in poker.”

Those on stage were Brunson, Jack Binion, Poker Hall of Fame Class of 2009 candidate Tom McEvoy, and T.J. Cloutier. The latter told the assembled crowd of about 175, “We both went broke plenty of times… This man would bet on anything… Mike always thought he was the best split pot player of them all. He could always play those eight or better games.” In fact, Sexton’s lone WSOP bracelet came in 1989 in a Seven Card Stud High-Low Split tournament.

McEvoy then took to the podium and admitted, “This man holds a grudge,” referencing a story from the first WSOP Pot Limit tournament ever held. Binion, a Poker Hall of Fame member who helped popularize the WSOP, commented, “Mike was the one who got PartyPoker started, the one who got the software started. He’s the one who really made poker.” Sexton currently serves as the ambassador for PartyPoker, whose parent company, Party Gaming, recently completed the purchase of the WPT for $12.3 million plus a percent of future gaming revenues.

WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack formally presented Sexton’s trophy and his speech was preceded by an emotional speech from Tom Sexton. The new Poker Hall of Fame member’s brother stated, “Mike has the gift of vision, where he can see things that others can’t in the poker world.” Sexton’s brother also referenced the WPT host testifying in a poker court case in South Carolina and serving as the spokesperson for approximately 500 players shut out of Day 1D of the 2009 WSOP Main Event when the contest reached capacity.

One of Tom Sexton’s most memorable quotes came when referencing the “Daddy Hall of Fame,” which he revealed, “If there were a Daddy Hall of Fame, Mike would be in it.” Young Ty Sexton, whose nursery has overrun the Sexton home’s dance floor, is just 15 months; Mike is 62 years-old.

Sexton received a 30 second standing ovation upon being introduced and recognized each of the other eight candidates for the Poker Hall of Fame Class of 2009: Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel, McEvoy, Dan Harrington, Scotty Nguyen, Men “The Master” Nguyen, and Barry Greenstein. Ivey, who was one of seven players remaining in the WSOP Main Event at the time, even stopped by, flanked at the door to the Brasilia Room by Layne Flack, Lacey Jones, and Nejad.

Sexton took the time to recognize a bevy of individuals, including Linda Johnson, Steve Lipscomb, and Brunson. He also recalled a phone call received over Christmas in 2000 from Ruth Parisol, co-founder of Party Gaming, who asked him to fly to India to launch the then-nascent online poker site. After eight months, PartyPoker was born, quickly challenging Paradise Poker for tops in the industry.

JAQK Cellars presented the two-hour affair, which wrapped up at 9:00pm PT. The living Hall of Fame members then took to the stage of the Penn and Teller Theater to resume play in the WSOP Main Event final table, with Sexton issuing the evening session’s “Shuffle Up and Deal” command.

WSOP Main Event Final Table Shuffle Up and Deal Command Given

The cards are in the air at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas. Inside the massive Penn and Teller Theater at the Rio, you can hear a pin drop on every turn of the card.

Phil Ivey facing a bet by Joe Cada leads to a dramatic uneasiness inside the 1,200 person capacity theater. Many are literally on the edge of their seats watching the action, as the general admission line continues to build outside the door. Only a few flops have been seen so far and a variety of red, white, and blue balloons line the railings inside the theater.

In the minutes leading up to the “Shuffle Up and Deal” command, a moment of silence was held for Hans Lund, the runner-up in the 1990 WSOP Main Event to Mansour Matloubi. A hearty round of applause followed before WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack told the assembled crowd, “This will clearly be a final table for the history books. As we get started, I wanted to thank you, the best fans in all of poker and the best fans in all of sports, for being here and supporting the WSOP.” Pollack introduced Absolute Poker pro Lacey Jones, decked out in a pink cocktail dress, who will serve as the WSOP Main Event’s hostess.

Pollack covered the rules of audience etiquette during a poker tournament, which included encouraging cheering for your favorite players, not interfering with hands in progress by yelling phrases like “go all in” and “don’t do that.” Other than player names, other audible phrases have included “Stack em, stack em, to the top” (playing homage to Julie Schneider, wife of Tom Schneider) and “Let’s play already!”

Jones then interviewed 2008 WSOP November Nine member Dennis Phillips, who told the crowd what sage words of advice he gave this year’s group: “A lot of different things, They were asking me how to handle it from a media perspective and a lot of other things. I told them to play well, be proud of your play, and enjoy.”

Also taking to the stage with Jones was Peter Eastgate, the reigning champion of the prestigious $10,000 buy-in tournament. On his latest success, Eastgate told Jones, “I’ve been having some good results lately. I’m still running hot.” His advice to the next Main Event winner: “Be yourself.”

At 1:30pm PT, Ivey pushed all-in facing potential calls by CardPlayer Magazine Editor Jeff Shulman and young gun Joe Cada. Both players folded to Ivey’s all-in and speculation ran rampant that Cada had at least pocket queens and ultimately laid it down, sparking a debate among media members in attendance that will be answered when the event airs on Tuesday night. Ten minutes later, Frenchman Antoine Saout, who has a rowdy cheering section inside the theater, shoved all-in, but was also not called.

In the minutes leading up to the WSOP Main Event final table resuming, Barry Shulman, father of the aforementioned November Nine member, was presented with his WSOP Europe Main Event gold bracelet. After a lengthy delay, the national anthem of the United States played, as has been customary in previous bracelet ceremonies.

The final tradition to play out was the “Shuffle Up and Deal” command, issued by 10-time WSOP bracelet winner Doyle Brunson. “Texas Dolly” told fans and others in attendance, “I think we should congratulate Jeffrey Pollack and Ty Stewart for putting this all together. It looks like a football game.”

Those on stage include Chau Giang, Jonathan “FieryJustice” Little, Brunson, Eastgate, Joe Sebok, Greg Raymer, Chris Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Gordon, and Phillips. About 125 people are seated on the Rio’s stage.

Bernard Lee Gives the Inside Scoop on Inside Deal

Every true sports fan has watched ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary on the air.  On September 6th, Chris Berman (30 years), Bob Levy (30 years), and John Saunders (23 years), the elder statesmen of ESPN, hosted a trip down memory lane for this iconic sports recap show.  The 90 minute special showed how the franchise had evolved over the past three decades from the set design to the daily anchors to the multitude of highlights.

I am one of the millions of sports fans who religiously watches “SportsCenter,” so you can understand how thrilled I was to be asked to co-host ESPN.com’s weekly poker show, “Inside Deal.”  When we rehearsed for our initial show on one of the ESPN sets (Studio G), I could not have been more awestruck.  It looked like the set I grew up watching and now I was sitting behind the desk as one of the hosts.  Half-heartedly, I expected Stuart Scott or Scott Van Pelt (current “SportsCenter” anchors) to tap me on the shoulder and ask me to get out of their seats.  During the entire taping, I kept humming the “SportsCenter” theme: Da-da-da… da-da-da.

After watching so many hundreds, if not thousands of shows, I was so honored to be part of the family of broadcasters who are privileged to be in the ESPN studios.  Over the past several weeks, I have received numerous e-mails from not only family and friends (many of whom are insanely jealous), but also the readers of my columns and listeners of my radio show.  Thank you for your kind words and please keep watching.

With “Inside Deal” running online for over three months, there definitely have been some key revelations about hosting the show:

ESPN

Could there be a more professional sports production?  From our producer (Eric Pierce, who is truly the master behind the scenes) to my co-hosts, ESPN: The Magazine contributor Laura Lane and ESPN.com Poker Editor Andrew Feldman, the show is done so professionally.  I am proud to be part of this team!

Teleprompter

When you use one, you read more vertically as opposed to when you read from a piece of paper horizontally.  It is not as easy as you might think.  From the beginning, I have been very impressed by my co-host Laura Lane’s ability to read from the teleprompter so smoothly.  During lunch one day, Laura shared her secret on how she became so proficient.  She explained that when she was in college at USC, she would watch the nightly news and hit the mute button.  When the closed caption words would come across the screen, she would read text as if it was from a teleprompter.  What a great idea!

Makeup

I never thought I would wear makeup.  Before each show, we go to get our faces done.  Ugh!  I’m so glad I don’t have to do that every morning.  After each taping is complete, I immediately head straight to the bathroom to wash my face thoroughly.

Earpiece

Somewhat undetectable on camera, each of us wears an earpiece that allows the producer and director to give us instructions during the show’s taping.  The earpiece takes getting used to at the beginning, as you don’t want to react to the directions you are receiving in your ear.  Additionally, when the director is speaking to my co-host and she answers, I used to think she was talking to me.  It’s the small things that you have to get used to.

Opening Segment

I have thoroughly enjoyed helping create the opening segments of the shows.  Back in my working days in marketing, I often created videos to inspire the sales force to learn the features and benefits of my specific product.  I was known among my colleagues as the video marketing guy.  Funny how that became preparation for my current job.

During the run of the show, our guests have included a “who’s who” in poker.  The following are some interesting highlights from our first shows:

Episode #1: Chris Moneymaker tells the poker world that he lost his WSOP Main Event bracelet during a move.

Episode #2: Dennis Phillips discusses his near back-to-back November Nines and World Series of Poker (WSOP) Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack discusses the Day 1D sellout.

Episode #3: Barry Greenstein describes his charity work and shows his paternal side, while the cast of “2 Months, $2 Million” describe the Tilt Room.

Episode #4: Howard Lederer discusses his sister in “Celebrity Apprentice” and Eric Buchman (2009 November Niner) shows his “passionate” side.

Episode #5: Victor Ramdin breaks down East Coast versus West Coast poker debate.

Episode #6: Mark Seif discusses the Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet scandals.

Episode #7: Michael Binger duels with Daniel Negreanu in a Twitter Battle Royale.

Episode #8: Joe Sebok announces his Ultimate Bet signing (also look out for Joel Mchale of E!’s “The Soup”).

If you haven’t seen the show, hopefully this will give you an incentive to tune in each week.  A new episode is posted every Tuesday on ESPN.com/InsideDeal.  After watching each episode, please tell me which opening you liked the best.

And as always, don’t forget to listen to my radio show, “The Bernard Lee Poker Show,” on RoundersRadio.com on Tuesday nights from 7:00pm to 8:00pm ET and repeated throughout the week.

Mike Sexton Elected to Poker Hall of Fame

The 38th person elected into the Poker Hall of Fame is none other than PartyPoker Ambassador and Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Mike Sexton. He will be enshrined as part of ceremonies to be held on November 7th.

2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the Poker Hall of Fame. This year, nine finalists were up for nomination to the Hall, with a panel of 15 living Hall of Fame members and 15 media representatives (including this author) determining the fate of the 2009 class. Sexton was the only one that I felt was a shoe-in for election, as 75% of the 30-member vote was required in order to capture one of poker’s most prestigious accolades. A press release distributed by World Series of Poker (WSOP) officials properly labeled Sexton “a true gentleman who has constantly enhanced the game of poker both with his play at the tables and his promotion of the game off of it.”

Ballots were due on October 2nd, with each person able to vote for up to three candidates for the 2009 class. This author selected Sexton, Tom McEvoy, and Dan Harrington, the three elder statesmen on the 2009 ballot. Other nominees included November Nine member Phil Ivey, “The Robin Hood of Poker” Barry Greenstein, “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” lead man Daniel Negreanu, Men “The Master” Nguyen, WSOP Main Event and HORSE Championship winner Scotty Nguyen, and eight-time bracelet holder Erik Seidel.

The list of Poker Hall of Fame members reads like a roll call of poker legends: Doyle Brunson (inducted in 1988), Johnny Chan (2002), Phil Hellmuth (2007), Stu Ungar (2001), Chip Reese (1991), and Barbara Enright (2007), just to name a few. Now, Sexton’s name will be added to this illustrious list. In a press release distributed by PartyPoker, Sexton commented, “I am deeply honored to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame and it is particularly special because for the first time it was a process that involved the fans, the media, and the living members of the Hall of Fame. To me, the most meaningful aspect of this process was the acceptance by the living Hall of Famers, who welcomed me into their exclusive club.”

One of Sexton’s most impressive feats was taking down the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions, which saw the new Poker Hall of Fame member best a final table that included Daniel Negreanu, Mike Matusow, Andy Black, and Chris Ferguson. Sexton earned $1 million for the victory and, according to WSOP officials, donated half of his prize money to charity. His lone WSOP bracelet came in 1989, when the World Poker Tour (WPT) host outlasted a field of 174 players to win a $1,500 buy-in Limit Seven Card Stud High-Low event. He has reached the final table in 20 of the 47 WSOP events he’s entered, a 43% success rate.

Sexton is the voice that many in the industry “grew up to” following the poker boom in 2003 and was instrumental in bringing the WPT to life. Sexton sat, and continues to sit, alongside Vince Van Patten on WPT broadcasts, popularizing the notion that Texas Hold’em takes “a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.” He represents one of the few constants in an industry constantly in flux and had the backing of a bevy of influential industry veterans in his push for the Poker Hall of Fame, including Howard Lederer, Annie Duke, Steve Lipscomb, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, Padraig Parkinson, Matt Savage, Roland de Wolfe, and an army of public relations staffers at PartyPoker.

To me, one of the most defining acts for Sexton was when he took on a lead role to campaign on behalf of players shut out of the 2009 WSOP Main Event after Day 1D had reached capacity. Sexton joined forces with “Captain” Tom Franklin to present WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack options to accommodate players. Sexton, curiously, had little to gain from taking an active role in the situation, as he had already played on Day 1A and survived with an average chip stack. The situation manifested Sexton’s stature within the industry and is one of the many reasons we will look forward to welcoming him into the Poker Hall of Fame in November.

Commerce hosting Annie Duke celebrity tournament

The Annie Duke Celebrity Poker Tournament will take place during the Commerce Casino's L.A. Poker Open with celebrities Scott Ian, Shannon Elizabeth, Brande Roderick and Joe Reitman all taking to the felt.

Joining the stars will be poker players Dan Harrington, Howard Lederer, Rafe Furst, Adam Levy, Andy Bloch, Dave "Hollywood" Stann and WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.

The event is sponsored by the WSOP Academy and presented by Rockwell Time. Globe-trotting Matt Savage will be handling the tournament directing duties.

Anyone willing to put down the $330 buy-in can take a seat at the tables. Re-buys and a one-time add-on are both available for $100.

Organizers are promising a "home style" poker game with fans being given the chance to mix it up with their favorite celebrity/poker players.

More than $30,000 in prizes and giveaways will be awarded throughout the event. The red carpet begins at 7 p.m. with the cards getting in the air at 8 p.m.

DEF was established in 2001 by educators, decision scientists and business people who had an interest in providing decision education to today's youth.

The organization already has several connections to poker world.

In 2008, Eric Brooks shocked the poker world by winning the $10,000 World Championship Stud event at the WSOP and donating 100% of the $415,856 he earned to the organization. Duke also sits on the board of directors.

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Brian Powell, Jason Mercier Lead WSOP Europe Main Event Day 1A

Day 1A of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe Main Event played out on Saturday. When the smoke cleared, Brian Powell and Team PokerStars Pro member Jason Mercier led the field, which began with 156 players.

By the end of play in London, just 75 runners remained in contention. Packing the pack is Powell, who hails from Louisville. Powell made a deep run in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, finishing in 66th place and earning $90,000 for his $10,000 buy-in. He also finished 13th in the World Championship Mixed Event for $27,000. Powell owns a stack of 194,600 in London. Trailing him on the leaderboard is Mercier, a WSOP bracelet winner and newly-minted member of Team PokerStars Pro. Mercier holds 189,725 chips and will watch as Day 1B plays out today.

During a break in play, WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack awarded Jeffrey Lisandro WSOP Player of the Year honors. Lisandro won three bracelets during the 2009 festivities in Las Vegas, two in Seven Card Stud and one in Seven Card Razz. Lisandro recorded a total of six in the money finishes during the 2009 WSOP overall. As a result of claiming Player of the Year honors, Lisandro will be bought into the 2010, 2011, and 2012 WSOP Main Events.

Fittingly, Doyle Brunson issued the day’s “Shuffle Up and Deal” command to begin play in the third running of the WSOP Europe Main Event. Pollack told the gathered crowd, “Doyle was there in Las Vegas at the very start of the WSOP 40 years ago. Doyle was also with us when we started WSOP Europe three years ago in London. And, we are proud to have him with us today.” Brunson, a member of the Poker Hall of Fame, holds 10 WSOP bracelets, tied with Johnny Chan for the second most overall. The leader in that category is Phil Hellmuth, who has collected 11 pieces of hardware over the years and also won the 1989 WSOP Main Event.

Speaking of Hellmuth, a press release distributed last week by Ultimate Bet outlined his complex parade route around London leading to his entrance at the Casino at the Empire. WSOP officials painted the picture of Hellmuth’s arrival: “Hellmuth entered Empire Casino much like Nero burning through Rome, oblivious to the ongoing tournament and taking his seat at the televised feature table. The bizarre spectacle was ornamented by an army of faux Roman soldiers erect and pretty girls standing at attention, while trumpets blared.” Hellmuth entered dressed as Julius Caesar on Day 1C of the Main Event in Sin City.

Here are the Top 10 chip stacks after Day 1A of the 2009 WSOP Europe Main Event:

1. Brian Powell - 194,600
2. Jason Mercier - 189,725
3. Sami Kelopuro - 168,925
4. Viktor Blom - 163,175
5. Jonathan Aguiar - 160,100
6. Martin Hansen - 152,775
7. Christian Harder - 134,125
8. Tommy Pavlicek - 119,825
9. Richard Grace - 116,850
10. John Kabbaj - 104,500

Other notable players who will take to the felts when Day 2 plays out on Monday include:

13. Doyle Brunson - 92,900
15. Brandon Cantu - 89,000
19. Barry Shulman - 80,250
21. James Akenhead - 77,675
28. Liz Lieu - 65,600
37. Eric Friberg - 49,475
43. Todd Brunson - 46,050
45. Chad Brown - 44,975
47. Men “The Master” Nguyen - 43,200
58. Marco Traniello - 33,000
60. Alex Kravchenko - 31,100
62. Mike “The Mouth” Matusow - 28,900
71. Phil Hellmuth - 18,450
72, Scott Montgomery - 18,225
73. Erik Seidel - 9,925

Shulman and Akenhead are both part of the November Nine, the members of the final table of the Main Event in Las Vegas who will take to the felts in two months. Another November Nine member, Phil Ivey, was sent packing on Day 1A. Registration for Day 1B is expected to close around 3:40pm local time on Sunday.

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

Joe Hachem, Jeffrey Lisandro Featured on WSOP on ESPN Coverage

Day 3 of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event hit television airwaves on ESPN on Tuesday night, with two hours of coverage dedicated to the festivities. Seated at the feature table were two Aussies, Joe Hachem and Jeffrey Lisandro.

Lisandro became the fifth player in WSOP history to take home three bracelets in a year and has logged 29 cashes since 2004. Hachem took down the 2005 Main Event and ignited a poker boom of his own in Australia. Joining the duo from Down Under was George Hardie, the former owner of the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles. On the first hand, Lisandro raised to 3,600 with pocket eights and, after peeking down at pocket queens, Hachem made it 9,600. Lisandro called to see a flop of 10-4-2. Lisandro checked, Hachem bet 16,000, and Lisandro quickly released his hand, igniting chants of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!”

ESPN announcer Norman Chad commented that, while Phil Ivey remains his perennial pick to win the WSOP Main Event, Lisandro’s heroics in 2009 make him a close second: “Let’s assume that aliens come down and lure Phil Ivey away to a cash game mother ship, then I must turn to Jeffrey Lisandro.” Ville Wahlbeck was the only player remaining in the field that could catch Lisandro for WSOP Player of the Year honors. However, he’d need a seventh place finish or better in order to do so. Wahlbeck was seated at Table Two during the 8:00pm ET episode alongside Kenny Tran.

Also found in the field were Ivey and Phil Hellmuth. “The Poker Brat” found that one of his tablemates, Lauchlin McKinnon, did not want to shake his hand. Instead, his opponent told Hellmuth, “I don’t respect anything you do. I think you’re a complete prick.” Hellmuth joked, “I think this is going to be a good day.” Elsewhere in the Amazon Room, Bodog pro Jean-Robert Bellande pushed with A-10 of diamonds for 20 big blinds and rivered a flush to double up. Chad labeled him a “survivor,” a reference to his appearance on the China installment of the CBS reality franchise.

Kent Senter, who is undergoing stem cell treatment for an incurable form of cancer, was all-in with pocket tens against Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier’s pocket jacks. The board ran out K-5-3-3-5, giving Grospellier the win and sending Senter home. He was met with a herd of television cameras upon his departure. Grospellier is a PokerStars pro; his site began sponsoring chip count leaderboard graphics on Tuesday night on ESPN.

The “Straight from the Pros” segment featured Daniel Negreanu battling against Sammy Farha in a hand during the 2005 WSOP Main Event. Negreanu folded a straight after a third spade hit the river to give Farha a flush. Negreanu, the captain of the Team Americas squad that will compete in the Caesars Cup, told ESPN cameras, “He’s either bluffing here or I’m dead.”

Negreanu’s comrade on Team PokerStars Pro, Hachem, was featured in the Jack Link’s Beef Jerky Wild Card Hand, in which the cards of one player are not shown so the audience can play along at home. Hachem raised to 4,100 pre-flop with the Wild Card hand and Claus Nielsen called with pocket threes. The flop came 8-2-5 and Nielsen checked. Hachem fired out a bet of 6,200 and Nielsen made the call. The turn was a deuce and Nielsen put in a check-raise to 32,000, causing Hachem to relinquish K-Q.

Also in the field was former November Nine member Dennis Phillips, who relived tossing out the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. However, he wound up throwing the ball directly at the ground. Wahlbeck then hit the skids after running pocket queens into pocket kings, leading to an announcement from WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack that Lisandro had claimed Player of the Year honors. Ivey then moved to Grospellier’s table, leaving Chad to remark, “Poker’s superpowers clash.”

The second episode of Tuesday night kicked off at 9:00pm ET and continued coverage of Day 3 of the 2009 WSOP Main Event. David “Devilfish” Ulliott joined the cast at Table Two, while Hellmuth found himself flanking Josh Arieh. Former Main Event winners Peter Eastgate (2008), Greg Raymer (2004), Dan Harrington (1995), Hachem (2005), and Hellmuth (1989) all remained alive to begin the episode, but Raymer quickly found himself on the sidelines after running pocket tens into pocket aces.

Lunkin doubled up after rivering a straight, causing Chad to lament, “I know Lunkin has played good, but I can’t tell you how ridiculously good he’s run. He should be halfway back to Moscow on an Aeroflot flight in coach.” Meanwhile, Nielsen bet out on an ace-high board after raising pre-flop with just 8-4. However, Hachem laid down pocket queens and Lisandro released pocket kings, giving the pot to Nielsen.

The Full Tilt Poker sponsored segment “Deal Me In” featured Howard Lederer taking on Hellmuth in a hand from the 2004 WSOP Tournament of Champions, which was ultimately won by Poker News Daily Guest Columnist Annie Duke.

Hevad Khan cheerily smiled at ESPN cameras, leading to the following comment from announcer Lon McEachern: “That’s the first real sign of life from him we’ve seen in two years.” Khan finished sixth in the 2007 WSOP Main Event. His lively antics resulted in the “Hevad Khan rule” against excessive player celebrations. Elsewhere in the dwindling field, J.C. Tran and Joe Sebok doubled up, while L.A. Lakers Guard Jordan Farmar was eliminated. Also hitting the exits was “Seinfeld” actor Jason Alexander, whose opponent made trips on the river.

Finally, “The Nuts” featured Chad and Hellmuth taking turns in a dunk tank. After Chad, a southpaw, finally sent Hellmuth to a watery demise, he commented, “I took more pleasure out of dunking you than anything in my whole life. That was two honeymoons rolled into one.”

New episodes of the 2009 WSOP Main Event on ESPN air on Tuesdays at 8:00pm ET and are repeated throughout the week on ESPN’s family of networks.

2009 Poker Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

The final list of nominees for the 2009 Poker Hall of Fame was announced on Tuesday and the ballot is loaded with the game’s biggest names. It is now up to the 15 living Hall of Fame members and the 15-member Media Panel to cast their votes before the inductees are revealed on Saturday, November 7.

The nine selected candidates are Barry Greenstein, Dan Harrington, Phil Ivey, Tom McEvoy, Men Nguyen, Scotty Nguyen, Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel and Mike Sexton. Any of those nine who receive at least 75% of the vote will be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, which will be part of a special Hall of Fame dinner ceremony at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas during the dinner break of the World Series of Poker Main Event Final Table.

The voters must determine which nominees most deserve an induction this year. Each candidate is voted the following criteria:

–A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
–Played for high stakes
–Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
–Stood the test of time
–Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

Current Hall of Fame members also have the ability to add a write-in candidate — someone they feel deserves consideration — but were not among the list of finalists this year. This write-in candidate will be added to the 2010 nomination list automatically. The voting members will receive their ballots this week and have until October 2, 2009 to submit their completed forms.

Before starting the 2009 WSOP, the WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack announced that the process for becoming a member into the Poker Hall of Fame would undergo a slight modification. Starting in this year, the Poker Hall of Fame started accepting nominations from the public.

Ten players received the required number of votes to make the nominees list. Tom Dwan, known as “durrrr” online, was the lone preliminary nominee left off the final ballot. The nosebleed cash game specialist only recently burst onto the poker scene but quickly gained worldwide fame after proposing a challenge to anyone in the world (except Phil Galfond) that believed they could beat him in a four-table heads-up format on Full Tilt Poker.

“With all due respect to Mr. Dwan, one of the games most exciting young players, he does not currently meet the criteria for Hall of Fame selection”, said a member of the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council. “We wish him well and expect he will again be considered once he has ‘stood the test of time’.”

The inductees will be invited to a special dinner held and hosted in their honor where they will give their induction speech and be awarded their commemorative trophy. Each of nine of the finalists will be invited to the dinner, and room will be reserved for additional family, friends, the current Hall of Famers and the media voting panel.

Poker heats up in Hollywood

A glimpse of the celebs into the game is available every year at the World Series of Poker, the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational and various charity tournaments, but many celebrities also scratch their poker itch at home games and online.

Anthrax lead singer Scott Ian has been playing poker for years and has seen several celebrity friends converted into players first hand.

"Keanu Reeves just recently got into Hold'em," Ian told PokerListings. "A few months back he said to me, 'Hey man, I was playing a lot of poker with this director on my last movie and he was just constantly taking my money."

Ian said Reeves is learning more and more about Hold'em and has become a semi-regular at a private game in Santa Monica.

"I know tons of people who play and when I'm home we all try to get together and play as much as we can," Ian added.

Keeping a weekly slot open for a real-life home game is tough for Hollywood types and rock stars on the road - a predicament that led Ian to move his home game online to Ultimate Bet.

"The first one had Kirk Hammett from Metallica, Jerry Cantrell from Alice in Chains, Slash, Vinnie Paul from Pantera and John Dolmayan from System of a Down," said the Anthrax frontman.

"What it means is just a lot of my friends in bands, these 'rock star' guys, who like to play Hold'em. It is a way for us to get to play together since we don't get to play together physically because of everyone's schedules."

Actor Lou Diamond Phillips has had a semi-regular home game running almost as long as he's been in show business.

Phillips put the skills he learned in that home game to good use this summer finishing 186th out of 6,494 at the WSOP Main Event.

"The home game has been crazy," Phillips told PokerListings. "It's been going on for 20 years."

Over two decades his game has seen a rotating group of actors and entertainers.

"George Clooney used to hang back in the day," Phillips recalled fondly. "Brad Pitt before he got Thelma and Louise, all the 90210 kids."

Like a lot of Hollywood home games the stakes are anything but astronomical, and the level of play is anything but professional.

"No, it's a lot of bullshit is what it is," Phillips laughed. "We're drinking a lot of beer and going, 'My two-three offsuit will kick your kings' ass.' "

Low stakes and a casual yet competitive atmosphere seem to be the norm in celebrity home games.

Actor and Simpsons cast member Hank Azaria has a regular game at his Soho, New York, residence where the buy-in is reported to be a modest $500.

Simpsons creator Sam Simon shares a similar attitude, one that he's taking to television this year with Sam's Game on the Playboy Channel.

Juxtaposing his casual home-game style with serious shows like GSN's High Stakes Poker, Simon is recreating the home game experience and expects to tap into viewers' natural love for the format.

While HSP relies on big names and big dollar amounts, Sam's Game uses the same things we all love about home games - Jokes, food, beer and a little bit of poker.

While celebrity home games are mostly about good times, poker's popularity in Hollywood circles could have a real effect on the vitality of the game.

With Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander and Phillips both running deep in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, much was made about what a celebrity at the final table could mean.

In 2003, Chris Moneymaker's victory catapulted poker into the public's consciousness.

Now, with the four month break before the Main Event final table, players are given an even bigger opportunity to take the poker word to the masses.

WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack says having a poker pro like Phil Ivey at the final table this year will surely help grow the game, but the exposure someone like Alexander would garner in mainstream media could be staggering.

"I think anytime a big name makes the final table of the Main Event it's good for poker and good for the WSOP," he said. "At the same time, any personality that can crossover in that setting would also be great.

"Phil Ivey will be great, Jason Alexander would have been great and, last year, Tiffany Michelle would have been great. You have a top poker pro, a big Hollywood celebrity and a compelling newcomer.

"All three are different and all three have the capacity to crossover and that's something that's always attractive to have."

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ESPN, World Series Of Poker Officially Extend Partnership To 2018

After much conjecture and rumor in the poker world, it was announced on Tuesday that Harrah’s Entertainment, the owners of the World Series of Poker, and cable sports monolith ESPN have officially extended their broadcast partnership of the most prestigious event in poker through 2018. The original deal was set to expire at the end of next year’s WSOP.

As part of the deal, ESPN has agreed to televise 32 hours per year of the World Series. This coverage is normally concentrated on the Championship Event (24 hours of coverage are dedicated to this year’s 40th anniversary tournament) but will also encompass other popular bracelet events in the future. Original programming will air on ESPN and future repeat broadcasts will be shown on the rest of ESPN’s broadcasting family, including ESPN2, ESPNClassic and ESPN International. The WSOP will also be a prominent part of ESPN’s online offerings through ESPN.com and ESPN360.com.

“The WSOP is proud to call ESPN home for another nine years”, an exuberant Jeffrey Pollack, President of Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment and Commissioner of the World Series of Poker, said. “This long-term agreement ensures that our content will continue to reach sports fans around the world through a wide variety of platforms.” Doug White, the senior director of programming and acquisitions at ESPN, echoed Pollack’s comments when he added, “We are very excited to continue our relationship with Harrah’s to deliver the largest, richest, and most prestigious gaming event in the world to fans across a variety of our platforms. Poker continues to be a solid ratings performer for us and allows us to continue offering diverse programming to our viewers.”

The 2009 television ratings for the World Series, which has sponsorship through Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, have been slightly down over the first two weeks of broadcasts that featured the special 40th Anniversary $40K No Limit Hold’em tournament and the Champions’ Invitational. The numbers have shown an 8% drop in television ratings through the first two weeks to an 0.72 rating versus last year‘s 0.78. In addition to ratings seeing an 8% slide, household impressions also fell, albeit a modest 5%. The total number of household impressions through two weeks of the 2009 WSOP was 714,904, compared with last year’s tally of 750,315.

The renewed agreement between the World Series and ESPN continues a longstanding relationship between the two. ESPN returned to broadcasting the World Series in 2003 – notable for the raucous and surprising victory of Chris Moneymaker – and has continued to put the venerable poker tournament on the air since then. Last year, ESPN and Harrah’s devised the “November Nine” concept, which delayed the final table to November to allow for a “plausibly live” broadcast of the Championship Event final table, which was received with a surge in ratings on ESPN when broadcast the same day the World Champion was determined.

ESPN has been the primary broadcast outlet for the World Series since the late 1980s. Other than a two-year period in the early 2000s – when the Discovery Channel produced documentaries on the year’s play (2000 and 2001) – and a year where there was no coverage at all (1996), coverage of the tournament by ESPN can be traced back to 1988. Prior to that time, the World Series was broadcast as a part of the CBS sports programming “CBS Sports Spectacular” or was taped as a specialty broadcast by the WSOP’s previous owner, Binion’s Horseshoe, without a network home.

With the agreement in place for future broadcasts of the World Series of Poker, the sport of poker has found that it will always have a television home with ESPN as the game continues to intrigue players worldwide.

WSOP inks ESPN deal

"We are very excited to continue our relationship with Harrah's to deliver the largest, richest, and most prestigious gaming event in the world to fans across a variety of our platforms," said Doug White, senior director of programming and acquisitions at ESPN.

"Poker continues to be a solid ratings performer for us and allows us to continue offering diverse programming to our viewers."

Under the terms of the deal, ESPN will air a minimum of 32 hours of event coverage every year, including a selection of bracelet events and the Main Event.

"The WSOP is proud to call ESPN home for another nine years," said WSOP commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.

"This long-term agreement ensures that our content will continue to reach sports fans around the world through every medium that matters."

ESPN has been airing World Series coverage since 2003 and claims nearly 82 million US viewers watch every year.

ESPN's coverage of the 2009 WSOP continues tonight with the first Main Event episode and will wrap up Nov. 10 when a champion is crowned.

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