Posts Tagged ‘New Orleans’
WSOP Circuit New Orleans, Day 2: Gaspard Leads Final Table
WSOP Circuit New Orleans, Day 1: Kopp, Pilgrim Head Field
Poker News in Brief: May 11-17, 2009
This week we take a look at a horrible river card for legal Texas in poker, the shady operations of a multi-million dollar hedge fund manager and the dates for a popular Caribbean Poker tournament.
Bad beat for legal poker in Texas
HB 222, a bill to legalize poker in Texas, was taken off the Texas House agenda Thursday.
Rep. Jose Menendez, who introduced the bill, told lawmakers he knows the governor would veto the legislation, so he was saving them a heated debate for no reason.
According to an article in the Dallas News, Menendez said "You need to know when to hold them, and you need to know when to fold them."
Currently there is no casino gambling of any kind in Texas. HB 222 would have allowed poker games operated under the authority of the Texas Lottery Commission.
This is the third session in a row Menendez has tried, and failed, to get poker legislation passed in Texas.
To learn more check out trailblazersblog.com here and for more fallout check out the excellent work by Dan Michalski and the crew at Pokerati.com.
Hedge fund manager accused of fraud, losing millions in poker
A California hedge fund manager has been accused of conning investors out of approximately $44 million while losing about $5 million in high stakes poker games, according to a story with the New York Times.
The story with the Times identified the manager as 46-year-old Bradley R. Ruderman, the founder and manager of Ruderman Capital Partners.
Ruderman faces as much as 20 years in prison if he is convicted of wire fraud.
The biggest question on many poker players' minds is which high-stakes rounder he donated the majority of his $5 million to.
Read the Times story here.
Dates for the 2009 Aruba Poker Classic Announced
Ultimate Bet has finally released dates for one of the most scenic stops on the poker circuit.
The 2009 Aruba Poker Classic will take place Oct. 3-10 at the Radisson Resort. The $5,000 main event will start Oct. 5 and the champion will be crowned on Oct. 9.
The presenting sponsor will once again be Ultimate Bet with well-known poker personality Matt Savage filling the role as tournament director.
Last year Matt Brady outlasted 550 players, including the likes of Liv Boeree, Matt Vengrin and Johan Storakers to take down a $1 million first place prize at the tournament.
Kai "Prince of Darkness" Landry finds more WSOPC success
As much as the World Series of Poker Circuit events have fallen out of the spotlight over the past couple of years, there are still those that find tremendous value in the events.
One such player is Kai Landry, the self-proclaimed "Prince of Darkness," who won the WSOPC Tunica main event in January and followed it up with a win at WSOPC New Orleans this week.
Landry outlasted 543 players to take the crown in Event 15 of WSOPC New Orleans. It was a $300 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em event and Laundry received $35,620 for his poker heroics.
New Orleans continues to be one of the most successful stops on the circuit with attendance up this year over last.
The main event in Louisiana kicks off on May 18.
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Tags: 15, 2009, 5, bad beat, California, Caribbean, founder, Governor, HB, high stakes, High Stakes Poker, law, legal, manager, Matt Savage, New Orleans, New York, no-limit, player, Poker, poker player, Prince, Pro, Texas, tournament, WSOP
WSOP Circuit — New Orleans Main Event Begins Monday
Poker News in Brief: May 4-10, 2009
This week we're looking at some more Tom Dwan and Fullflush1 insults, a surprisingly resilient poker market and the ongoing battle to legalize online poker.
Tom "durrrr" Dwan and __FullFlush1__ trade blows on Poker Show
It was quite a week for Poker Show on Boylesport.com. The show, hosted by Jesse May, was fortunate enough to get both Tom Dwan and arch-nemesis Luke" __FullFlush1__" Schwartz in the same week.
Dwan was the first one to appear on the show and when asked what he thought about __FullFlush1__ he responded by saying, "Who?"
Other than that Dwan was fairly casual about Schwartz in the interview saying he really hadn't played him that much.
The next day Schwartz was the opposite. Schwartz implied durrrr only wins against him when he hits two outers and gets incredibly lucky. Dwan wasn't the only target either as Schwartz also talked trash about Andrew Feldman, Greeks, Italians and even Phil Ivey.
Dwan and Schwartz appear destined for a 50,000 hand battle royale.
You can listen to the shows by going here
New Orleans a bright spot for the WSOPC
Although it's been a slow year for the WSOPC the New Orleans event is off to a spectacular start. The first event of the series drew 572 entries which is the biggest turn out in more than two years for the New Orleans circuit stop.
The eventual winner, Casey Lang Chiasson, won nearly $50,000 for taking part in the $300 buy-in event. The main event of WSOPC New Orleans starts on May 21.
Debate continues to rage over online gambling legislation
It's been anything but dull since Rep. Barney Frank introduced his pro-online gambling bill earlier this week that would essentially repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
Now the author of UIGEA, Rep. Spencer Bachus, is speaking out against Frank's bill, suggesting it will lead to children becoming addicted to online gambling.
"Illegal off-shore Internet gambling sites are a criminal enterprise and allowing them to operate unfettered in the United States would present a clear danger to our youth, who are subject to becoming addicted to gambling at an early age," wrote Bachus on his website.
Earlier in the week, Jeffrey Sandman mentioned that despite the online gambling prohibition there were still millions Americans gambling online. A large part of Barney Frank's Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2267) is dedicated to limiting underage online gambling.
Florida approves gaming bill
Floridians looking to play some No-Limit Hold'em have finally had their prayers answered.
Earlier this week the legislature for the state of Florida approved the expansion of poker in the state and that includes a removal of the maximum buy-in for No-Limit Hold'em.
The bill was the source of serious debate between the Floriday State Senate and House but they were finally able to reach consensus this week.
The 15-year agreement is subject to approval by the Seminole tribal nation and is estimated to generate at least $150 million in annual payments from the Seminoles to the state.
The legislation also allows all cardrooms located at horse tracks and jai alai frontons to offer expanded No-Limit Hold'em without the buy-in limitations.
Click here to learn more.
Complications for legal poker in Texas
Amazingly Texans are still not legally allowed to play Texas No-Limit Hold'em in their home state and the group looking to legalize it was dealt a major blow this week.
Apparently Texas Gov. Rick Perry changed his position once again and assuming Perry plans to veto it, Rep. Jose Menendez said he has no intentions of bringing a dead bill to the floor.
The two biggest threats to legal poker in Texas, Texans Against Gambling and the Christian Life Association, put out memos regarding the bill this week and the House Committee seems to have taken notice.
It's worth checking out here. as they've been doing extensive coverage on the fight for legal poker in Texas. If you're interested you can also get more information here.
Players sue L.A. casinos over bad beat jackpots
L.A.-area casinos took a bad beat of their own this week as two players filed a lawsuit against them.
Dennis Chae and Jeff Kim are suing the Bicycle Club, Commerce, Hustler, Hollywood Park and Hawaiian Garden Casinos because floor managers would not let them compete in bad beat jackpots unless they played at tables that collected the $1 per pot fees, even though ads said no purchase was required.
It's not exactly a new issue. In 2005, Attorney General Bill Lockyer cautioned casinos that the promotions violated State Law unless players were allowed to win jackpots without paying the fee.
To learn more check out the L.A. Times story here
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Tags: 15, 2009, 5, ABC, Andrew Feldman, bad beat, Barney Frank, Dang, durrrr, Florida, Hollywood, internet gambling, Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, internet gambling sites, interview, jackpot, king, L.A., law, legal, manager, New Orleans, no-limit, Online Poker, Phil Ivey, player, Poker, poker show, PPA, Pro, Senate, state law, Texas, Tom "durrrr" Dwan, Tom Dwan, United States, WSOP
Bonomo takes WSOPC Vegas
This final table at Caesars Palace included no less than 2009 WSOPC Harrah's Rincon champ Dwyte Pilgrim, 2008 WSOP bracelet winner Matt Graham, pro circuit cash machine Matt Brady and the man with more WSOPC gold rings than anyone else in the game, Men "The Master" Nguyen.
However, it was former WPT L.A. Poker Classic and WPT Borgata Poker Classic champ Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi that gave Bonomo the most trouble, forcing him to endure a four hour heads-up battle for the title.
"It felt like I was playing him for ages," The Bodog Poker pro said after the win. "Mizrachi played great. It was a brutal match."
The back and forth battle lasted more than 100 hands with the lead changing hands several times before a flush over flush debacle ended it all.
"Playing heads-up was really exhausting," Bonomo said. "Every hand I played put me in a tough decision. That made it even more difficult. So, to win this event makes it all the more meaningful to me to have earned it this way."
Mizrachi took home $143,512 for second.
The WSOP Circuit's fifth season concludes at Harrah's New Orleans May 7 to 21. The 2009 World Series of Poker begins May 27.
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Tags: 2008, 2009, 5, Austin, bodog, Caesars Palace, L.A., Las Vegas, Matt Graham, New Orleans, Poker, Pro, vegas, WSOP
ZeeJustin Battles To WSOPC Caesars Championship
After battling through a heads up match that lasted longer than the elimination of the previous eight players, Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo finally defeated Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi to become the latest champion of the World Series of Poker Circuit at Caesars Palace late last night.
Originally scheduled to finish today, the 187 player field that put up $5000 each started play on Monday and quickly set about eliminating players from the field. When action started on Wednesday, only sixteen players were remaining and it was decided that the remaining players would play on through, rather than wait until today to determine a champion. Consistent with the action of the previous days, the final table was decided in rapid fashion.
In roughly an hour and a half, positions sixteen through eleven were determined, with notables such as 2006 Irish Open runner up Ian Woodley (15th) and 2007 WSOP bracelet holder Robert Cheung (11th) taking home some profit from their stay at Caesars. As the players stepped to the felt for final table action, such notables as Bonomo, Mizrachi, 2009 WSOPC-Rincon champion Dwyte Pilgrim and poker legend Men “The Master” Nguyen were in contention. They were all following the up and coming Russian player Evgeny Serebryakov, who entered the final table with the chip lead.
Some expected play would slow down once the final table was determined, but they were surprised to see the action ratchet up even more. After Bert Fujisaki was dismissed in tenth place ($20,181), players took turns doubling each other up. Nguyen went from the bottom of the leader board to the middle of the pack and Bonomo and Mizrachi surged towards the top of the heap.
Serebryakov was the victim of much of this action as he was taken out of the tournament in ninth place after about two hours of play by Bonomo. On the very next hand, Nashaat Antonious fell at the hands of WSOPC ring bearer Jack Schanbacher. Even with the elimination, Schanbacher was unable to rally much further and finished in seventh at the hands of “ZeeJustin”. In roughly two and a half hours, the table was down to six-handed play.
Unbelievably at this point, play at the table moved up another gear as heads up action was determined within the next half hour of battle on the felt. Bonomo dismissed Pilgrim in sixth place, then Mizrachi blitzed through WSOP bracelet holder Matt Graham (fifth) and Jeremiah DeGreef (fourth). “The Master’s” run at the final table was finally ended by Bonomo and heads up action was determined.
As heads up play began, Bonomo held a slight 500K chip lead over Mizrachi and the two decided to divvy up most of the final table money. What was held back was the gold and diamond championship ring, some cash and the all-important seat at this year’s WSOP Championship Event.
The two battle-hardened professionals then proceeded to put on a show for the crowd gathered at the Caesars Palace poker room. Over the next four hours, the duo swapped the chip lead back and forth with each man almost down to the felt on several occasions. After three hours of play, Bonomo faced an all in from Mizrachi and made the call, only to find his 
cooled by “The Grinder’s” 
which doubled him up. “ZeeJustin” struck back moments later when his Ace out-kicked Mizrachi’s and the battle continued on.
Another hour later, Bonomo was finally able to put Mizrachi away. On a 
board, “The Grinder” pushed the remainder of his chips to the center and “ZeeJustin” made the call. Bonomo’s 
and top pair was ahead of Mizrachi’s 
bottom pair and, once the board ran with two more diamonds, Justin Bonomo hit an unnecessarily higher flush to capture the WSOPC championship at Caesars Palace.
In all, heads up action lasted a half hour longer than eliminations ten through three took. The final ten rounded out as such:
1. Justin “ZeeJustin” Bonomo $227,692
2. Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi $143,512
3. Men “The Master” Nguyen $91,937
4. Jeremiah DeGreef $71,756
5. Matthew Graham $56,059
6. Dwyte Pilgrim $44,848
7. Jack Schanbacher $35,870
8. Nashaat Antonious $ 29,151
9. Evgeny Serebryakov $24,666
10. Bert Fujisaki $20,181
There is one final stop left on the 2008-09 World Series of Poker Circuit. Players will have their final chance to win their way into the 2009 WSOP with the $5000 championship event of the Bayou Poker Classic at Harrah’s in New Orleans from May 8-20. It will all lead up to the start of the World Series at the end of May.
Tags: 15, 2008, 2009, 5, aced, Caesars Palace, cent, irish open, Justin Bonomo, king, leader, Matt Graham, NBA, New Orleans, player, Poker, Pro, remaining player, runner, Russia, tournament, WSOP
World Series of Poker Circuit Events
For those of you that are not close to Las Vegas and can’t afford the trip to Nevada and the minimum $1,500 buy-ins for the World Series of Poker tournament schedule, there’s good news for you. In 2005 Harrah’s unveiled a brand new series of events, the WSOP Circuit Events, and the schedule has grown to its largest in 2009. These events appear at many of the Indian or Harrah's casinos around the country including:
- Horseshoe Southern Indiana (completed)
- Horseshoe Hammond Indiana (completed)
- Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (completed)
- Harrah’s Atlantic City (completed)
- Harrah’s Tunica (completed)
- Horseshoe Council Bluffs (completed)
- Caesars Atlantic City (completed)
- Harrah’s Rincon San Diego (completed)
- Caesars Palace Las Vegas (April 11 – April 29)
- Harrah’s New Orleans (May 08 – May 20)
For many on the East Coast the Atlantic City events represent a fantastic opportunity to take down a WSOP event. The circuit event at Harrah’s Rincon in San Diego is one of the more popular circuit events due to San Diego’s large county population of 2+ million citizens, as well as drawing players from both Los Angeles and Orange Counties (another 11+ million people). Since San Diego is a popular tourist destination some of the biggest names will be out during the March 19th-29th event series.
Those unfamiliar with the events will find the buy-ins and structure of the events to be highly attractive towards better play rather than the “push ‘n’ pray” structure that a lot of local casinos invent for tournament players. Event types include the following:
- No Limit Hold’em
- Limit Hold’em
- 6 Handed No Limit Hold’em
- Pot Limit Hold’em
- Omaha Hi/Lo
- Stud Hi/Lo
- Pot Limit Omaha w/ Rebuys
- H.O.R.S.E.
- Ladies No Limit Hold’em
- No Limit Hold’em w/ Rebuys
- No Limit Hold’em Circuit Championship Event
The event buy-ins range from $125 all the way to the $5,150 Circuit Championship Event. Most of the No Limit Hold’em tournaments have buy-ins for either $200+30 or $300+40 making them affordable to everyday poker players amid this economic climate. On top of this affordable buy-in price list, the tournament structure has drawn rave reviews from poker industry analysts and players alike.
“I couldn’t be happier with the tournament schedule and structures,” commented Southern California live game tournament player Melissa Peterkin. “I’m definitely making it out to Rincon for the circuit series and will probably try to schedule a trip to Vegas for the event at Caesars too.”
Specifically the tournament structure at the Rincon San Diego events look like they are set up to allow better play to win out over mathematically correct shoves to fight steep blinds:
- For events starting at noon, players are given $10,000 in starting chips. Blinds start at 25-50 and increase every 40 minutes.
- Blinds increase to: 25-50, 50-100, 100-200, 100-200 (25 ante), 150-300 (25 ante), 200-400 (50 ante), and so on through the tournament.
- Breaks are given after every 3 blind levels for 10 minutes, and the tournament director has the option of awarding a dinner break and his or her discretion.
The big event of the series is the Circuit Championship Event which usually draws out some of poker’s top and most recognizable professionals. This event is structured differently than the others:
- Buy-in is $5,000 + $150
- Players start with $20,000 in starting chips
- Each level will last 60 minutes
- Blind interval structure remains the same as other tournaments
- First day of play will end when down to 27 players remaining
- Second day of play will end when final table is determined
- Third day of play will end when winner is determined
- The first place finisher will receive a buy-in to the World Series of Poker Main Event and $1,000 in expense money in addition to the first place money.
Often casinos participating in the circuit events hold Mega Satellite tournaments to the Circuit Championship Event a day or two before the event takes place. Satellite times typically start at noon, 3pm, 8pm and 9pm and should be inquired about with the tournament director of the casino.
“Typically we do see some big names come to our Circuit Championship tournament. This year we’ve added some of the lower tiered tournaments to make sure poker players of all budgets can make it out for our event,” commented Harrah's spokesperson Nolan Dalla.
Tags: 15, 2009, 5, buy-ins, Caesars Palace, California, king, ladies, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nevada, New Orleans, Nolan Dalla, Omaha, player, Poker, poker player, Pro, San Diego, satellite tournaments, tournament, tournament player, vegas, WSOP
Pilgrim lands 2009 WSOP Main Event seat
But the Rincon ring is just the latest success story for the Guyana-born Pilgrim.
He has quickly emerged as the hottest player on the WSOP Circuit this season after cashing five times at WSOPC Atlantic City this past December and booking an $83,955 win at a prelim there in early March.
"Now look out," Pilgrim said. "I'm shooting for the gold bracelet."
Pilgrim, who has only been playing live tournaments for a little more than a year, beat well-known Las Vegas-based pro Esther "E-Tay" Taylor heads-up to book the win in California, stopping her bid to become the first female WSOP Circuit main event winner in history.
Jennifer Harman finished second in the 2005 WSOPC event at the Rio in Las Vegas, and Kathy Liebert took third at Rincon in 2007.
WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla claims Pilgrim is a burgeoning poker star, blessed with "personality, likability, and great poker talent," and has great expectations for him at the WSOP this summer.
"To know me is to love me," Pilgrim joked.
The WSOP Circuit will hit Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from April 11-29 and Harrah's New Orleans from May 8-20 before the 2009 WSOP starts at the Rio May 27.
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Tags: 2009, 5, Caesars Palace, California, Guyana, Jennifer Harman, Kathy Liebert, king, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Nolan Dalla, officer, player, Poker, Pro, San Diego, tournament, USD, vegas, WSOP, WSOP Media Director