Well, another Global Gaming Expo (G2E) show has come and gone. As I write this the event is almost four weeks in the past, but it already seems much longer to me.
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Well, another Global Gaming Expo (G2E) show has come and gone. As I write this the event is almost four weeks in the past, but it already seems much longer to me.
PokerStars is about to put on one of the biggest showdowns it's ever hosted, and it's one like you've never seen.
Eight people. A $100,000 buy-in. Seven days. A $550,000 first prize.
They're calling it the All-Star Showdown, and it is scheduled to begin this weekend. The contest will pit eight of the biggest dogs in heads-up no-limit online play against each other in a single-elimination event that will end with one of them banking more than half a millon dollars.
If you've been been following along in the PokerStars world for the past week, you won't be surprised to learn the newest member of Team Online, Isaac Haxton, was first in line to sign up for the contest. We're still working to confirm all eight names on the list. Here are the six who have put in their RSVPs so far.
Here's how we're told it will work:
The All-Star showdown will function much like the SuperStar Showdowns of old. Players will face off heads-up on four simultaneous tables. In the old days, the matches lasted for 2,500 hands. Now, the matches will continue until one of the players goes broke. The players will begin their matches with 1,000 big blinds. If the match isn't finished by the 3,000th hand, the blinds will double.
The All-Star Showdown is scheduled to begin Saturday and continue through Sunday November 4th. There will be one match every day except October 30th and November 1st. Each match will begin at noon ET (18:00 CET). We're told the brackets and dates for each match will be ready this Friday.
In the meantime, let the guessing begin on who will fill in the last two spots in the bracket. Who do you think it will be? If you use Twitter, let us know at our account @PokerStarsBlog.
For more information, visit the All-Star Showdown page.
Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging
A study by the Gambling Commission within the Uk found almost every betting shop visited had no problem taking gambling action from underaged customers.
A study by the united kingdom Gambling Commission revealed that bookmakers are failing miserably at ensuring underage players aren't allowed gambling options. The identification process was ignored at almost every venue tested by the commission, which desired to know laws against betting under eighteen were being enforced.After visiting 100 different gaming outlets, including operations by all the five biggest British bookmakers, the commission's investigators found an incredible ninety-eight took bets from a seventeen-year-old. Staff training is meant to insist on seeing identification for anyone not clearly twenty-one or older.
Industry insiders have reacted quickly, professing shame and promising to make adjustments to handle the issue. But gambling opponents have seized the consequences as proof children can't be guarded against an exploitative betting industry.
"We were told by the federal government that reforming gambling laws would help to offer protection to our children, but all over again we've got damning evidence that shows that is not happening," said Don Foster, a spokesman for the anti-gaming Liberal Democrat party.
"We must take these findings at the chin and admit that for some reason that culture has not been embedded within the industry within the way that it is going to have been," said Andy Lyman, a representative of the Association of British Bookmakers. He said employees who couldn't buy into the age-checking culture can be released.
Commission spokesmen said the testing achieved what it was meant to, discovering weak links within the system. One said simply, and maybe ominously, "WE PREDICT to look significant improvements."
Published on May 31, 2009 by JulieWong
A total of 55 entries turned out for the inaugural 2014 World Poker Tour Alpha8 Bellagio $100,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em super high roller event, building a prize pool of $5,395,500. From that field made of poker’s elite tournament professionals and wealthy poker enthusiasts Andrew “luckychewy” Lichtenberger emerged victorious, earning $2,104,245 and his first live tournament title in over three years.
In addition to the cash and the title Lichtenberger also scored 600 Card Player Player of the Year points. This was his fourth final table finish of 2014, including runner-up finishes in a $50,000 high roller at Aria and a $5,250 event on the L.A. Poker Classic and a 3rd place showing within the $5,000 six-max no-limit hold’em event on the World Series of Poker. On account of this most up-to-date win Lichtenberger climbed to 44th place within the overall POY standings with 2,465 points and $2,859,290 in year-to-date earnings.
Going into the overall day Lichtenberger was second in chips of the eight players remaining. Only the highest six would cash, with Brandon Steven eventually being eliminated at the $323,730 money bubble. Lichtenberger survived to heads-up play against Tom Marchese with just over 56 percent of the chips in play. The 2 battled it out for 44 hands before a winner was finally decided.
On the overall hand the 2 got right into a raising war that ended up with all of the chips within the middle preflop. Marchese raised to 300,000 from the button and Andrew Lichtenberger three-bet to 900,000. Marchese four-bet to 1.9 million total and Lichtenberger moved all-in, having Marches covered by Marchese quickly called with the 88 and was in for a race against Lichtenberger’s Q9. The board ran out J44K5, giving Lichtenberger a flush to secure the pot and the title.
Marchese was sent to the rail because the runner up with $1,240,965 and 500 POY points. This was his third final table finish in 2014, all top-three showings in super high rollers and interested in seven-figure paydays. After this latest cash Marchese brought his year-to-date earnings total to $4,013,216.
Third-place finisher Brian Rast earned $755,370 and 300 POY points at his ninth final table of the year. He now sits in 34th place within the POY race with 2,658 points and $1,869,283 earned up to now in 2014 in live events.
Here is a glance on the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:
Place | Player | Earnings (USD) | POY Points |
1 | Andrew Lichtenberger | $2,104,245 | 600 |
2 | Thomas Marchese | $1,240,965 | 500 |
3 | Brian Rast | $755,370 | 400 |
4 | Noah Schwartz | $539,550 | 300 |
5 | Jason Les | $431,640 | 250 |
6 | Bryn Kenney | $323,730 | 200 |
Photo courtesy of WPT / Joe Giron.
If you didn't spend last month under a rock, you probaly know PokerStars had a little bit a promotion (read: its biggest ever) throughout the month of the July. The tip of the PokerStars 2X promotion saw a whole bunch people win tournaments that bumped up their PokerStars VIP Club level.
In the month of July, we witnessed seven people reach the top level of the VIP Club: Supernova Elite. Among those seven, messier111 did it the old school way (busting his tail end on the tables). Six people, however, found themselves with Supernova Elite statuses without putting in place the entire grind. The next people won special tournaments that carried them the remainder of how you can Supernova Elite: amarillion, Nookx, vinny ferret, Milwaukee2, non5ense, and IntenseDawg.
Amarillion played within the Platinum Star freeroll on the end of the month. Mainly a mid-stakes cash game player, you'll often find him within the big Sunday tournaments. Living in London, Amarillion have been playing fulltime for the past couple of years.
"I'm waiting for the WCOOP events, especially the primary Event, because it must have an enormous prize pool," he said. "As for now, I'll profit from Supernova Elite by playing a large number of cash, and hopefully a couple of EPTs this year. I'll attempt to earn myself a Porsche within the not too distant future, too."
Across the Atllantic, Alan "IntenseDawg" Liu aroused from sleep sooner or later as an ordinary PokerStars VIP Club member. Before he went to bed again, he was a Supernova Elite. Liu started playing poker seriously at first of this year. Inspired bu a chum who grinds mid-stakes for a living, Liu started out fiddling with play money.
"I eventually moved to the 2-cent tables, and now I regularly play .50/$1 NLHE cash games," he said.
Now, a grinder in his own right, Liu is a Supernova Elite, way to the PokerStars 2X VIP Status promotion tournaments.
"At first, I had zero expectations going in," Lui said. "I USED TO BE playing really well, made it to the general table, and willed my approach to the highest two."
Lui plans to continue his .50/$1 grind, while continues to be keeping his eye at the chance to transport up once possible. His new Supernova Elite status gets him an entry into the EPT Monte Carlo or the sector Series Main Event. Lui hasn't decided which he wants yet.
"My dream is to play in big live tournaments and check out to make a reputation for myself on the earth of poker," he said.
A state senate committee in California will begin hearings in February to inspect the choices available for intrastate online poker.
A California state senator says his committee will hold hearings in February to think about intrastate online poker. Roderick Wright, the chairman of the Governmental Organization Committee, which handles gambling legislation, said the revived subject of Internet gaming might be discussed after the brand new year.Wright said any new bill trying to regulate intrastate online gambling must ensure no expansion of electronic gaming that will endanger tribal casino compacts would occur. Wright also said any poker bill must meet the approval of gaming tribes.
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians, probably the most powerful of the casino-operating tribes, has already endorsed the plan to function online poker within state boundaries. The Morongos purchased $50,000 in television ads for Wright's re-election campaign last year.
"I think it (online poker) is workable and a possible source of latest revenue," Senator Dean Florez, a member of the committee, told the la Times. "THE WAY YOU structure it's the key."
Gaming experts say the state of California could create $250 million in annual revenue by licensing intrastate online poker.
Published on December 15, 2009 by PrestonLewis
Published on August 10, 2013 by Vincent Tapoglia III
The steroid scandal in Major League Baseball have been hanging over the league for the simpler a part of the past decade, and despite evidence of dozens of players using the illegal performance enhancing drugs, the hammer had not come down on these players. Until the past two weeks.
After spending years collecting evidence of PED use among its players, MLB handed down the penalties this past week, and the announcement left several teams without their top stars heading down the stretch of the 2013 season.
The biggest name to fall came last week, when former MVP Ryan Braun was suspended for the remainder of the season. The suspension was not contested by Braun, who will now attempt to repair his image before he begins play next year in Milwaukee.
Braun's Brewers have long been out of playoff contention, but that was not the case with one of the crucial other players suspended as of Monday. Texas' Nelson Cruz, Detroit's Jhonny Peralta, and the Yankess' Alex Rodriguez were all suspended Monday, with their teams fighting to play in October.
Cruz' loss was expected to be the largest blow before the Rangers acted quickly and traded for Alex Rios on Friday. Rios have been one of the crucial bright spots for the Chicago White Sox before he was dealt yesterday.
The Tigers could have a far tougher time replacing Peralta. The Detroit shortstop played within the All-Star Game this season, and his defense have been the most effective within the league in 2013. Detroit has a couple of young players of their organization that might fill the void, although early reports have Detroit filling the spot from the main League roster.
As for Rodriguez, he'll become the one one of the most 12 players suspended to appeal the suspension. The Yankees third baseman was hit the hardest, with a 211 game ban that may take him in the course of the 2014 season. Rodriguez is getting back from a season-long injury, and has vowed to fight the suspension handed down by the league. He'll be allowed to play in games until an arbitrator rules at the appeal.
Focus at the Family fanatics, not satisfied with looking to limit the liberty folks residents in regard to online gambling, also are telling Angelina Jolie how her daughter need to be raised.
Focus at the Family, an evangelical religious group that advocates dictating personal choices and limiting freedom, isn't stopping at denying US residents the correct to select whether to play at online gambling sites. The brand new target of the fascists is celebrity Angelina Jolie and her parenting of her children.Specifically, Focus and its representatives thought it appropriate to touch upon Jolie's decision to trim the hair of her three-year-old daughter Shiloh. Despite the toddler's evident feminine appearance, Focus officials felt it essential to intervene before Angelina somehow forced gayness at the child.
“It’s important to show our youngsters that gender distinction could be very healthy,” said Glenn Stanton of Focus in a "Life and magnificence" article that clearly was desperately seeking to exploit the hunger of tabloid readers for news at the US's most enticing mom. No word was released on whether Glenn is male or female.
"“The length of Shiloh's hair or the garments she wears are really matters for her and her parents to decide," replied knowledgeable on gender in child rearing. “What's important here's that each child, including Shiloh, has the chance to specific herself and explore her world in some way that may be safe and nurturing for her. "
Angelina Jolie and her partner, Brad Pitt, are known for his or her humanitarian work across the globe, including her receiving the primary Citizen of the arena Award presented by the United Nations Correspondents Association and the liberty Award given by the International Rescue Committee. Deal with the Family is noted for using faith to bilk millions from poor, misguided followers.
No mention was made by Focus representatives at the damage done to children brainwashed into believing literal interpretations of ancient fables, even to the purpose of using violence and hatred to forcibly inflict those views on others.
Focus was a noted leader within the movement to forestall US residents from exercising their freedom to patronize Internet gambling sites. This is defended as being for citizens' own good, as Focus officials know what's best not just for them but everyone else besides... almost like Osama bin Laden.
Published on March 6, 2010 by K.C.Carmichael
Federal recognition of a local American tribe located within the Hamptons, on Long Island, could lead to gambling and a casino funding further tribal legal efforts to give protection to their ancestral lands.
After hundreds of years, the Shinnecock Tribe may finally be capable of maintain their wealthy neighbors within the Hamptons as equals. A 32-year legal struggle has ended with federal recognition of the tribe, opening the right way to tribal gaming and a Shinnecock casino amongst the haughty mansions.Shinnecock leaders remain biter even after winning the lengthy battle to be formally listed as a tribe of Native Americans by the U.S. government. Some think the influence of the billionaires who live across the tribe's tiny piece of the tony Ny resort area was a significant factor in holding back recognition for therefore long.
"Why will we need federal recognition to turn we're who we're"? asked Tribal Trustee Lance Gumbs angrily. "IT IS A humiliating, degrading and insensitive process. Why do Indian people need to undergo that?"
Now the Shinnecocks are eligible to receive government fundimng for schools, health care, and police services. They usually have the precise to function a casino on their land.
Some predict the Shinnecock will use the leverage in their gambling rights to barter a casino location elsewhere on Long Island, But in an effort to still open up incredible revenues for the tribe.
Now the opposite legal fights with which the tribe has struggled may be fought b y the most efficient lawyers, paid for with gaming dollars earned by spinning slots. The Shinnecock Hillls golf course, which has hosted the united states Open four times, sits on land sacred to the tribe. Now, gambling may make lawsuits to reclaim the land suddenly grow teeth.
Published on July 17, 2010 by EdBradley
Matthew Haugen sat down on the World Series of Poker Main Event's Day 5 with just one assurance. Holding 2.8 million chips on the 6,000/12,000/2,000 level, Haugen got to fall asleep last night knowing there has been no person who could challenge his lead. He had around 11 hours to enjoy that before putting all of it at the line again.
Now, he's considered one of 291 individuals who have returned for Day 5. It will be a marathon. It kicked off only a few minutes ago with a dubious promise: if you wish to fall asleep before 2am, you'll need to bust out.
Haugen has enough to maintain him awake for a while.
As we mentioned last night, PokerStars now not has a possibility of having one in every of its Team Pros or members of Team Online to a last table. Matthias De Meulder finished in 433rd place for $25,756. He was the last member of the Red Spade brigade within the field. It was a fair finish for the Belgian, but one who highlighted the truth that none of his fellow team members were around to celebrate with him. Nonetheless, it has been an out of this world summer for plenty of members of Team Pro. We'll have more on that later this afternoon.
In the meantime, we'll turn our attention to the evaporating field within the Amazon Room. Two dozen players have already been eliminated. Their only consolation is that they won't be here until 2am like everyone else.
Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging. Photos by Jayne Furman/Poker Photo Archive
The World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic played out on the Bellagio in Las Vegas over the last six days, and a winner has finally been determined. The development attracted 586 entrants, up considerably from the 449 the year before, and created a prize pool of $5,682,200, of which greater than $1.4 million was reserved for the winner. The sphere was made out of the largest names within the game, but after all it was Mohsin Charania who captured the title and etched his name at the WPT Champions’ Cup for a second time.
1 | Mohsin Charania | $1,477,890 |
2 | Garrett Greer | $869,683 |
3 | Brett Shaffer | $562,736 |
4 | Ryan Julius | $383,684 |
5 | Ryan Fee | $272,842 |
6 | Tobias Reinkemeier | $218,842 |
Notable Finishes: Jared Jaffee (7th - $167,684), Keven Stammen (8th - $119,368), Will Failla (9th - $85,263), Aaron Massey (18th - $42,632), Fabian Quoss (21st - $36,947), Daniel Negreanu (25th - $36,947)
The WPT Five Diamond made headlines long before a champion was crowned; in fact, Daniel Negreanu sparked a debate on reentries after buying in five times. He ended up finishing in 25th place for $36,947, meaning he did not turn a profit. For more at the reentry debate, take a look at Rich Ryan’s latest Five Thoughts.
According to live updates from the event, the primary final table elimination came to be had #36 in Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000) when Tobias Reinkemeier got his stack all in preflop holding the and was seeking to improve against the of Garrett Greer. That proved easier said than done though because the board ran out a dry . The German missed and needed to accept sixth place and $218,842.
Seven hands later, in Level 30 (50,000/100,000/15,000), Ryan Fee min-raised from the cutoff and Greer called form the button to look a flop of . Fee bet 400,000, Greer called, and the appeared at the turn. Fee bet again, this time 1 million, and Greer raised all in. Fee called off for 3.885 million total with the , nevertheless it was no good as Greer had flopped top set with the . The river improved Greer to quads, and Fee was bounced from the tournament in fifth place for $272,842.
On Hand #49, Brett Shaffer raised to 225,000 from the button after which snap-called after Ryan Julius three-bet all in for 1.595 million.
Julius: Shaffer:
It was a foul spot for Julius, and he watched helplessly because the board ran out a dry . Julius did not discover a nine and finished in fourth place for $383,684.
Shaffer was the following to go, though it’d take awhile; in fact, his elimination didn’t come until Level 32 (75,000/150,000/25,000) available #114 of the general table. It happened when Greer min-raised to 300,000 and Shaffer shoved from the large blind for 2.55 million. Greer called with the , and he was racing against the of Shaffer. The flop didn’t hit Greegr directly, but he did pick up both straight and flush draws to compliment his overs. The turn actually completed the said flush, nevertheless it also paired the board meaning Shaffer could stay alive with either an ace or nine at the river. It wasn’t within the cards though because the blanked and Shaffer was ousted in third place for $562,736 while Greer took a greater than 4-1 chip lead into heads-up play against Charania, who had played a quiet game as much as that point.
Garrett GreerCharania overcame an enormous chip disadvantage when he won the 2013 WPT Grand Prix de Paris, and amazingly an analogous comeback happened on the Bellagio. Charania, who would dip to as little as 1.55 million, managed to double four times to claw his long ago into contention, after which available #180 doubled for a fifth when his held against the of Greer, who was left with just three big blinds after the hand.
Four hands later, Greer shoved holding the and Charania called with the . The flop gave Charania a double gutter to compliment his overs, and while he didn’t hit it at the turn, he did when the spiked at the river. A FOUL run of cards saw victory slip through Greer’s fingers, and he needed to accept runner-up and a $869,683 consolation prize. Meanwhile, Charania captured the $1,477,890 first-place prize, which incorporates a $15,400 seat into the season-ending championship, and can have his name put on the WPT Champions’ Cup for a second time.
The next WPT event is the Borgata Winter Poker Open from Jan. 25-30, 2015. After all PokerNews will bring you a recap of the entire action. For more information, visit worldpokertour.com.
*Photos courtesy of WPT.
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