Seat 1, Linh Tran (Canada) - 1,870,000

Linh Tran hails from Canada and plays full time on PokerStars, where one can find him grinding cash games on the $1/2 limits. He's been playing poker for ten years now and learned the sport on TV.

Tran cites winning APT Cambodia as his best result thus far. That victory in Sihanoukville earned him $26,130. He's really enjoyed playing within the venue this week and alongside great players. He says winning a large flip on Day 3 with jacks versus ace-king was crucial in helping him get to the general table.

Seat 2, Mike Takayama, 27 (Philippines) - 670,000

Mike Takayama hails from the town of Caloocan and is a certified poker player. He's been playing for three years and learnt by watching other folks play the sport. He loves to play "high stakes" and his biggest achievement up to now is taking down an APT event on this very city for $79,041.

His heroes in life are God and his family. The article he's enjoyed most about this event is the challenges he's faced when competing with the opposite players. The idea of winning the title and trophy is what's kept him going to this point.

Seat 3, Sam Razavi, 35 (England) - 500,000

Sam Razavi lives within the Philippines but originally hails from Brighton on England's south coast. He's a qualified poker player and he's been playing for 12 years. His greatest tournament result to this point was taking down ANZPT Melbourne in 2012.

Razavi says he only has one hero on the planet and that's the reason his pal Babis Lappas. He says that holding in there time and again when all of it seemed doomed was probably the most enjoyable thing about this tournament thus far. He says he also should not have got to the overall table without his life hero wife Menchu who convinced him to stick and stick it out, as opposed to leave for Cebu, when he was feeling down and tired. As for his hobbies, he says Tasties and Menchu may have the solution to that too.

Seat 4, Seongsu Kong, 47 (Korea) - 970,000

Seongsu Kong comes from Seoul in Korea and says he loves to entertain for a living! He's only been playing poker for 365 days and learned at Holdem School. This result (already) is his greatest poker achievement. He came second in a facet event last month so wherever he finishes within the final, he's already eclipsed that result.

That was his first ever tournament and it led him to play here in Manila where he feels blessed and honoured to play with such great players. His Mum and dad are his heroes and in his spare time he loves to play soccer.

Seat 5, Joven Huerto, 41 (Philippines) - 355,000

Joven Huerto comes from town of Cainta here within the Philippines and is a Marketing Manager by day. He's been playing for 7 years and learned from his friends. He loves to play cash games starting from PHP500/100 as much as PHP 100/200. His greatest poker achievement so far was making the APT final here in Manila last December.

Huerto's heroes in life are his wife and three kids - they're his inspiration. He loves the truth that's he's run so deep this week and very hopes he can win. The challenge of playing Asia'a best players, like Celina Lin and Bryan Huang, have helped bring him to this point.

Seat 8, Alan Lau, 29 (Hong Kong) - 1,015,000

Alan Lau is a certified poker player from Hong Kong and were playing the sport for 4.5 years. He first learned the sport by reading Colin Moshmann book: Sit n Go Strategy. He loves to play any MTT tournaments with a buy in below $1million! Lau's greatest tournament result to this point was coming second within the Baby Dragon tournament in Macau.

His cites his poker heroes because the members of Team Chu and the admins from HKPPA. The object he's liked most about this tournament is that the structure is so great, and he isn't even kidding! The support of his fiancé Amy and all his dear friends are a very powerful reasons he's got this far. When Lau's not playing poker he loves to hearken to music.

Seat 7, Jesse Leonarez, 29 (Philippines) - 4,595,000

Jesse Leonarez from Pasig here within the Philippines will head in to the overall table as overwhelming chip leader. He's a qualified poker player and was plying his trade for six years. He learned the sport with friends on the Metro Card Club and loves to play "high stakes". That is Leonarez's second appearance in a row on the APPT Manila final table after he won PHP2.083 million for finishing third last year, and he's in a super position to do better this year.

His hero is God and he loves challenging himself against the most productive player at each table he's on the. big prize pool on offer and the concept of having his hands at the trophy has carried him up to now so far.

Seat 8, Bruno Tzu Chien Lo, 30 (Taiwan) - 860,000

Taiwan's Bruno Tzu Chien Lo tells us he's been playing poker for 6 years and originally learned the sport by playing online tournaments and putting in place hours studying. His best live result thus far was an outstanding 1st-place finish within the Macau Poker Cup 24 Megastack event earlier this year for $29,564.

Lo tells us what he's enjoyed most concerning the tournament this week is talking to players. He attributes his discipline at the felt for this final table appearance. When he is not playing poker, Lo enjoys tennis and reading.

Seat 9, Sang Yong Lee, 38 (Korea) - 795,000

Sang Yong Lee hails from Korea and have been playing poker for a decade now. He says that he got his start twiddling with friends and now frequents private games. Lee only has one live cash thus far which was within the APPT Cebu Main Event back in 2012. By locking up a seat on the final table Lee has already ensured himself his biggest score yet.

Lee tells us that an important moment to get him up to now within the tournament was winning with ace-king against a tablemate's pockets tens. Clear of the tables Lee can often be found watching movies.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Asia Pacific Poker Tour]

It was a revolutionary form of day for mark 999. The Canadian advanced to the general table of MicroMillions 6 Event #97, yet he found himself near the back of the pack. mark 999 waited for the very best moment to peak on the right time. Along the way, he snapped off pocket Queens with a fortuitous flop, and in another hand, his own pocket Kings held up in a decisive pot. However, mark 999 still found himself because the short stack when he took part in a money chop with three players remaining. Despite the fact that he was way behind, mark 999 was not deterred one bit. He somehow got heads-up and awoke with pocket Aces on the perfect time. He avoided an elimination and collected a timely double up. At the very next hand, mark 999 delivered a surprising knock out blow to successfully complete a come-from-behind victory and win MicroMillions Event #97.

MicroMillions 6 Event #97 $11 NL also doubled because the Sunday Storm Special Edition, which drew in 52,491 runners. They created a prize pool worth $524,910, which was significantly greater than the guaranteed prize pool of 300K. The highest 6,633 places paid out with $38,110.83 put aside to the eventual champion. That could be a juicy dividend on a trifling $11 investment.

The Sunday Storm progressed at a rapid pace. Three hours passed before the money bubble popped. Over 90% of the sphere was liquidated within the first 3.5 hours.

The frantic pace bogged down in the course of the final two tables. Action went hand-for-hand with ten to go, and flaviusff leading the best way with over 50 million. Slovakia's KovTa bubbled off the overall table in tenth place when A♦J♠ unfortunately lost to mark 999's K♥8♦ after mark 999 flopped two pair. With KovTa's bustout, the overall table of nine was set.

Event #97 - Final Table Chip Counts:Seat 1: patrik2003 (37,534,946)Seat 2: TheCTrain (25,509,603)Seat 3: Sevathebes46 (16,574,678)Seat 4: mark 999 (22,235,169)Seat 5: flaviusff (56,278,605)Seat 6: seby cacho (12,396,885)Seat 7: TocalaSam (48,524,796)Seat 8: StackYou780 (9,760,692)Seat 9: HAL7000 (33,639,626)

The final table for this Sunday Storm Special commenced during Level 49 with blinds at 325K/650K and a 65K ante. Romania's flaviusff held the lead with 56.2 million, while StackYou780 clung to the fast stack with a shade under 10 million.

StackYou780 eliminated in 9th place

The final table played out almost three full levels before someone busted. And it was one heck of a cooler... seby cacho opened to 2.4 million, StackYou780 bombed it all-in for 14,701,384 with K♦K♠, and seby cacho called with J♥J♦. The board ran out 6♥4♠2♠J♣4♣. seby cacho turned a collection of Jacks and rivered a ship to win the pot. StackYou780 had Kings brutally cracked and have become the primary player to bust on the final table. StackYou780 took home $2,005.15 for a ninth-place finish.

TheCTrain eliminated in 8th place

TheCTrain min-raised to two million, mark 999 bumped it as much as 5,454,599, TheCTrain moved all-in for 10,813,911, and mark 999 called. TheCTrain led with Q♠Q♦ against mark 999's A♠Q♣. The board ran out A♦K♠4♥5♣4♣. TheCTrain's Queens were cracked and mark 999 won the pot with two pair -- Aces and fours. For eighth place, TheCTrain collected $3,401.41.

With seven remaining, HAL7000 took over the lead with 50 million, but mark 999 was not far behind with 49 million.

Sevathebes46 eliminated in 7th place

Wrong time to get ambushed by cowboys. patrik2003 min-raised to 2.4 million, Sevathebes46 re-raised to 4.8 million, mark 999 four-bet to 13.2 million, patrik2003 folded, and Sevathebes46 called all-in for 4,549,678. Sevathebes46 made a last stand with A♥8♥, but he bumped into mark 999's K♠K♦. The board ran out K♣Q♥4♣4♦6♠. mark 999 flopped a suite of Kings and turned a ship. Sevathebes46 didn't improve and hit the virtual rail in seventh place, which paid out $4.986.64.

With six to go, mark 999 took over the chip lead with 61 million.

HAL7000 eliminated in 6th place

Short-stacked HAL7000 open-shoved for 15,456,121 with Q♦T♥ and monster-stacked mark 999 called with A♦T♦. The board ran out K♦9♣7♦9♠4♠. HAL7000 flopped a gutshot draw, but neither player improved by the river. mark 999 won the pot with an Ace-high kicker. HAL7000 was taken offline in sixth place, which paid out $7,180.76.

TocalaSam eliminated in 5th place

Action didn't play out five-handed for greater than an orbit before someone bowed out. seby cacho min-raised to 3.2 million, TocalaSam bombed it all-in for 23,615,897 with A♦2♥, and seby cacho called with A♥Q♦. seby cacho was ahead and his hand would delay when the board ran out 7♣5♠4♦T♠T♦. TocalaSam flopped a Wheel gutshot draw, but didn't get there. Portugal's TocalaSam was knocked out in fifth place, which paid out $10,755.40.

With four players remaining, mark 999 was the leader with 98.4 million, seby cacho was second with 85.4 million, patrik2003 was third with 48.9 million, and flaviusff mentioned the rear with 29.6 million.

flaviusff eliminated in 4th place

With four to head... mark 999 min-raised to 4 million, flaviusff re-raised all-in for 28,055,668, patrik2003 called, but mark 999 folded. patrik2003 led with A♥K♥ versus flaviusff's K♦J♥. The board ran out Q♥5♥3♥8♠7♥. patrik2003 flopped an Ace-high flush, which held up. For fourth place, flaviusff earned $14,345.79.

DEAL

With three remaining, action was paused to speak about a deal. At that juncture, patrik2003 held the lead with 98.5 million, seby cacho was second with 83.3 million, and mark 999 was the "shorty' with 80.5 million. They agreed to the next terms with $6,000 left at the table to the eventual champion:

patrik2003 - $26,851.33seby cacho - $25,481.35mark 999 - $25,230.10

With a deal in place, play resumed.

seby cacho eliminated in 3rd place

seby cacho min-raised to five million, patrik2003 re-raised to 42.5 million with A♠3♦, and seby cacho called all-in for 24,701,051 with K♦T♥. The board ran out J♣4♥4♣3♠8♦ and patrik200 won the pot with two pair -- fours and treys. seby cacho didn't improve, and headed to the rail in third place, which paid out $25,481.35.

HEADS-UP: patrik2003 (Hungary) vs. mark 999 (Canada)Seat 1: patrik2003 (126,939,109)Seat 4: mark 999 (135,515,891)

With two remaining, it was a comparatively close race, despite the fact that mark 999 held a slight lead.

On the second one hand of heads up, patrik2003 won a 70 million pot and seized the lead. However, mark 999 got the lead right back after patrik2003 four-bet shoved with A♠T♦ and mark 999 awoke with A♥A♦. Aces held up and mark 999 won a pot worth 240 million. It was everywhere at the ensuing hand.

patrik2003 eliminated in 2nd place; mark 999 wins Sunday Storm and MicroMillions Event #97

Trailing 240 million to 22.4 million, patrik2003 got his remaining stack all-in preflop with 6♥3♥ and mark 999 called with A♣4♣. The flop was A♦7♦5♥ and patrik2003 picked up a gutshot draw. The turn was the 8♠ and patrik2003 picked up more outs with an open-ended straight draw. The river was the T♣. patrik2003 did not improve and only held Ace-high, which meant he busted in second place. mark 999 faded a straight and won the pot with a couple of Aces to correctly bink Event #97.

For a sensational runner-up performance, Hungary's patrik2003 took home $26,851.33.

Congrats to Canada's mark 999, won earned $31,230.10 for an outstanding first place victory in Event #97. mark 999 won a MicroMillions 6 event, which also doubled because the Sunday Storm Special Edition.

View the overall hand via the replayer:

RSS readers must click through to view replayer

MicroMillions-097 $11 NL Hold'em [Sunday Storm Special Edition]Entrants: 52,491Prize pool: $524,910.00Place paid: 6,663

1. mark 999 (Canada) - $31,230.10 **2. patrik2003 (Hungary) - $26,851.33 **3. seby cacho (Argentina) - $25,481.35 **4. flaviusff (Romania) - $14,345.795. TocalaSam (Portugal) - $10,755.406. HAL7000 (Czech Republic) - $7,180.767. Sevathebes46 (Ukraine) - $4,986.648. TheCTrain (Canada) - $3,401.419. StackYou780 (Canada) - $2,005.15

** Denotes a deal some of the final three players

Visit the MicroMillions 6 home page to look who currently sits atop the leader board.

Pauly McGuire is an author and freelance contributor to PokerStars Blog.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: MicroMillions]

Win Systems, global technology supplier for the gaming and entertainment industry, has recently launched a brand new mobile platform, which customers can access free so as to enjoy a degree of shopper service that is unique within the industry.

This APP offers all of the perfect tools had to streamline communication processes and speed all operations. Users of the App could have instant and uninterrupted access to the buyer service department. They'll also submit a brand new case via the “New Tickets” form to instantly request assistance, can follow and track the ticket using “My tickets”, and will also get the most recent company news and access to generic casino statistical information.

“The development of this App reflects our technique to provide a differentiated service to our customers and to supply personalized attention, by which we guarantee a superior performance and a novel user experience" Carlos Barrachina, customer support director states.

To adapt to the brand new digital reality wherein we live, Win Systems has integrated this new tool into its existing customer support system, perfecting its excellent after-sales service.

The Win Systems Customer support App, is offered for both iPhone and Android devices and will be downloaded from the best digital store. WIN’s guarantees technical assistance and ongoing maintenance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with immediate response and top of the range service

Read More... [Source: Featured Products]

The forfeiture case involves the seizure of cash being moved through foreign banks to the us for payments from and to Bodog, a well-liked online gambling site.

The Baltimore City Paper has uncovered documents revealing the filing of federal money laundering charges against two men interested by transactions in the case of funds belonging to Bodog.com online casino. Edward Courdy and Michael Garone were charged by federal authorities in a Maryland court, although nor is in custody.

Federal government proceedings have resulted in a forfeiture finding against Bodog related bank accounts within the amount of $24 million. Courdy and ZIP Payments had filed a claim against over $9 million of the suspect funds on September 29th, and the similar day, authorities brought the laundering charges.

Maryland is the house site for the case as it was the state through which an secret agent gambled at Bodog and other online casinos. The forfeiture case involves the seizure of cash being moved through foreign banks to the us for payments from and to Bodog, a well-liked online gambling site.

The forfeiture was filed in April of 2007, after the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act made financial transactions involving online casinos illegal within the United States.

Although Garone and his company, JBL Services, didn't contest the seizure of over $14 million, the laundering charges against both men seem spurred by Courdy's decision to contest the only forfeiture. Department of Justice policy was to persecute executives of Internet casinos that operated within the U.S., without reference to jurisdiction questions.

Authorities have used the specter of ominous felony charges to extract agreements to pay fines, allow forfeitures, or even accept smaller jail sentences, as accused executives seek to give protection to threatened members of the family. The actions of federal law enforcement has been morally shameful, if not illegal.

Published on October 30, 2008 by A.J.Maldonado

Read More... [Source: US Casinos in the News]

Advertisements trying to fill positions running a web based casino were released by land-based slot machine company WMS.

WMS Gaming, a manuacturer of slot machines for land-based casinos, is seemingly preparing to expand its interests to incorporate online casinos. Consistent with a report by Casino City Times, the Illinois company has posted ads seeking employees with experience in online gambling operations.

The ads include positions for affiliate manager, creative designer, payments director and risk analyst. The listings specify that the operation could be a UK Internet gaming company, and job positions could be based in London.

WMS has long been a premier manufacturer of hardware for land casinos world wide. Movement toward online operations could also be an try to redefine its business to incorporate the prospective overshadowing of land gambling by Internet casinos.

WMS could also be following the trail being set by Harrah's Entertainment, the land-based gaming giant which has begun offshore online casino operations in anticipation of eventual opening of the united states market. While neither Harrah's nor WMS has shown any indication of accepting US residents as customers, each may seek an advantageous position when the market conditions change.

Pressure continues to construct within the US Congress to control online gambling and protect individual rights to make a choice Internet casino gambling. Several bills has been introduced to supervise and tax online casinos, and both practical and philosophical reasons for regulating the industry are gainging support.

Published on May 19, 2010 by MattMiller

Read More... [Source: Harrahs Casino News]

The Norwegian measure makes assisting online gambling sites, as an example by processing transactions, a contravention of law.

The UIGEA was omitted two years ago by the us Congress when it was hidden inside a bill supporting port security, allowing it to proceed without proper debate and investigation. Since then, the law has caused legitimate businesses within the online casino industry to withdraw from the united states market, while allowing a black market, wherein consumers are helpless, to grow.

Now Norway has decided to emulate the United States, enacting its own version of the UIGEA. As within the US, outcry has come from every direction regarding implementation of this system. Bankers call the law unworkable and a competitive disadvantage, and civil libertarians are horrified.

Further, international law experts are concerned that the Norwegian law may violate or conflict with obligations the nation has to the ecu Union. The Remote Gaming Alliance has already filed a complaint with the ecu Free Trade Association.

The Norwegian measure makes assisting online gambling sites, for example by processing transactions, a contravention of law. Only the state-owned gambling services, including the lottery, are legal.

Once again, a central authority body tries to offer protection to its competitive advantage during the harsh use of law, as opposed to seeking to provide a superb project. If Norway desires to ensure government revenues, perhaps it may provide the most efficient and most varied gambling available, in place of legislate competition out of existence.

Published on December 12, 2008 by EdBradley

Read More... [Source: US Casinos in the News]

We're creating a TV show

Returning to the Convention Center of the Rio All Suites Hotel this morning it was clear that the sector Series of Poker is coming to a detailed. The Pavilion Room is deserted, the Brasilia isn't long for the arena and the merchants within the hallways are packing up their wares.

This is the good poker paradox. At the surface it appears like the things are fizzling out, yet that is the time that it's growing ever more thrilling.

Of the 6,737 players who started this tournament per week ago, only 251 remain. They're now guaranteed no less than $42,285 apiece, but there won't be a single one among them who hasn't double-checked the whole payout schedule and allowed their eyes to linger for some time on the top. It's $8 million for the champion, and will not all of them know that.

The identity of the winner won't be known until November, so it is a great distance still to move. Today the plan is to play for 5 or six levels (to be determined by the speed of eliminations), before further attrition on Sunday after which a race to the overall table on Monday. Absolutely every pot means something now, and with the entire television stage now in operation--two side tables beside the central feature table, ringed by bleachers--the pressure will reach its peak.

When we left you last night, the invitation was to make a choice your individual adventure because the tournament plays into its deep stages. A FEW the plot-lines have twisted off form and one or two others have now had their pages torn out entirely.

Jason Somerville may not be winning the 2016 WSOOP Main Event. He was knocked out late last night, in 320th place. But both Jennifer Shahade and Marc-Andre Ladouceur continue to fly the PokerStars flag, returning with 976,000 and 1.245 million, respectively. Both are a bit of less than average, but should want to remember the departed Somerville's "Run It Up" mantra.

Two former WSOP Main Event champions are still on this one. Although Ryan Riess departed, Greg Raymer (992,000) and Johnny Chan (968,000) continue the quest for an additional world title.

There's still an entire clutch of online bosses still proving they are able to play with real cards and chips. Shaun Deeb, James Obst, Tom Middleton, Griffin Benger, Ami Barer, Tony Gregg, Chris Klodnicki and so forth are involved still.

James Obst

Tom Middleton

Of our behind-the-scenes heroes, only Kenny Hallaert remains. Victor Saumont was one of the vital last players to be eliminated before the klaxon sounded yesterday, ending his movie-worthy spin-up. However the new schedule for the Belgian Poker Championship will still need to wait while Hallaert shepherds his 1.684 million stack.

This may yet become the year we crown our first female champion in general Event, and the players left all have great form. Melanie Weisner was a top-level grinder for several years; Maria Ho was the last woman standing twice before typically Event, and Gaelle Baumann came 10th on this event many years ago. That is the closest any woman has come to the November Nine for the reason that concept was introduced.

Melanie Weisner

There is, of course, another potential storyline--the person who has proved essentially the most durable over time. Shall we be about to find a brand new poker star, a person or woman who has flown under the radar until this point but is set to emerge within the most dramatic fashion possible.

Only time--specifically the following three days--will tell.

$1 million Spin & Gos running now! Click here to get a PokerStars account. WSOP photos by PokerPhotoArchive.com.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: World Series of Poker]

So, you are a poker tourney regular. It is your job to size up your competition as quickly as you'll. Put a reputation to a face. Create a backstory you should utilize. Do anything to realize an edge. It's what you do. You are a pro.

So, what's your read in this guy?

What do you're thinking that? Are you a favourite against him? Maybe he's an old home game player who has extra money than fear. Maybe you think that you were given lucky to have him at your table.

He would accept as true with you. He didn't start playing poker until he was nearly 50 years old, and so far as he's concerned, that's much too late.

"My belief is that you just cannot be world class at anything unless you begin young," the person said this morning. "I just started playing poker, unfortunately, late in life."

This guy knows a specific thing or two about being world class at cards. After all, he's Harold Lilie.

Who is Harold Lilie? Well, you'll Google him for those who like. Otherwise you can just attempt to walk him through a bridge tournament.

"I'm in bridge what these persons are in poker. Or I WAS anyway," Lilie said.

Harold Lilie is a multi-time national bridge champion. He started playing at age 18 and turned himself into one among America's best.

"In bridge, I'd have the equivalent of 5 or six bracelets," he said today.

This isn't something Lilie advertises. You need to corner him within the hallway simply to confirm the main points of his background and ask a relevant question: how are you continue to here?

That question means numerous various things. First, it is a question of ways he's still alive after five days of WSOP Main Event play. He started Saturday a few of the final 240 out of the 6,737 who registered for this event.

"To me, this can be a miracle. I've seen the way in which these people play. I DO KNOW I AM NOT that good, but I enjoy it so much, and that is the important thing at this stage in my life," Lilie said.

When he says that, "this stage in my life" means much more than the truth he'll turn 70 next year. Why? Because it is not only a question about how he's still alive on this tournament. It is a matter of the way he's still alive at all.

See, Lilie was playing poker since 1990. He started playing on the planet Series in 2010. Since then, he has managed to cash annually he played, including creating a Seniors event final table. He got to the purpose he called himself a "Seniors Specialist."

And then his doctor called.

"It was a whole shocker to me, because at that time in time, I USED TO BE strenuously exercising on a daily basis. Walking no less than three miles. Dropping pounds. Entering into shape. I had no pain. No shortness of breath. No problems," he said.

He felt fine, but he wasn't. He needed a kidney transplant. He ended up on dialysis and couldn't play poker most days of the week.

Never one to go into reverse from a fight, Lilie dug in, found a donor, and got ready for his surgery. That's when his doctor called again.

"They said you've got six major blockages. Your heart is operating at like 30 percent," Lilie remembered today. "At no time limit in all my problems did I BELIEVE anything but great. I USED TO BE exercising like a demon."

It was a kind of real life bad beats, one you do not see coming. He went from thinking he was completely healthy to needing bypass surgery, six months of recover, after which a kidney transplant.

So, that is what he did. He spent most of 2015 facing surgeries and recovery, and on December 20, he received his transplant. By this summer, he was healthy enough to go into the WSOP Main Event.

Lilie has his doctors to thank for his new good health, but he has only himself to thank for making this far within the WSOP. He's was some of the oldest people to begin the day.

"That's a miracle. That's a larger miracle than my medical problems!" he said.

Lilie set a goal for himself, and it wasn't simply to cash here. The WSOP paid out a larger percentage of players this year, but Lilie desired to cash by old standards. He desired to make it to the highest ten percent.

He ended up doing much better than that. He made it to 237th place, the highest four percent of the field.

"If you told me I would've gotten this far before the tournament and never go a step farther, I would've said, 'Where do I sign?' I'm thrilled," Lilie said. "I THINK totally blessed. Here I am, an old man who started poker late in life who's cashed generally Event. I'm very proud to have done this."

For everyone watching here (including his stepdaughter, Jayne Furman, who's one in every of our valued photographers), seeing Lilie go was a difficult thing to look at. Nevertheless, if Lilie has proven anything up to now year, it's this: he'll be back to fight again, and next time, you'll know his name.

$1 million Spin & Gos running now! Click here to get a PokerStars account.Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging. Follow him on Twitter: @BradWillis. WSOP photos by PokerPhotoArchive.com.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: World Series of Poker]

With 19 players left within the 2016 PCA Main Event, finding the chip leader was made the entire easier by the truth that it's the exact same man it's been for the past three days. Leonardo Pires has not backed off the gas once in 72 hours, and his efforts have ended in a chip stack worth greater than 4.5 million. Thats 187 big blinds.

Leonardo Pires

In Brazil, finding a Pires is like finding a McDonalds. They're everywhere. Between the Portuguese Pireses and Brazilian Pireses, there are nearly 50 of them famous enough to have their very own Wikipedia page. Leonardo Pires aims to extend that number by one.

The wild and crazy Brazilian finished Day 2 with the chip lead. Then he finished Day 3 with the chip lead. On Day 4, he did it again together with his friend poker ally Marcelo railing him for many of the day. Marcelo told us just a little in regards to the man of the moment.

Pires hails from the town of Belo Horizonte - the sixth largest in Brazil - and is an ordinary Omaha cash game player. However, after winning a casino tournament in Uruguay for $50,000 last month, he has decided to offer poker tournaments a shot.

It has clearly been a fair decision. The person who goes by the nickname 'Leo Burguês' (meaning a person of high class and wealth), is storming his way through this Main Event.

It's tempting to maintain our focus keenly on Brazilian, however it can be a mistake not to keep tabs at the smiling face of Phillip McAllister. After a gradual rise in the course of the field during the last couple of days, McAllister stuck his talons within the top of the leaderboard on Monday afternoon.

His runner-runner royal flush at the feature table (examine at it 6:45pm here) will go down as some of the PCA's legendary hands, and it helped McAllister land within the top five.

Phillip McAllister, all smiles

These two men spent the top of the day seated next to one another. In the event that they were the one show, it would've been enough. But just have a look at this remaining field. Have a look at it and picture what could be. Fabian Ortiz made the overall table a few years ago and has two LAPT titles to his name. Tony Gregg already has two PCA Main Event final tables and a really perfect High High Roller final on his resume. That does not even start to consider the likes of powerhouses Stephen Chidwick, Toby Lewis, Mike Watson, and...oh just see for yourself. This might be a very good one.

Leonardo Pires (Brazil) 4560000Randy Kritzer (USA) 2385000Fabian Ortiz (Argentina) 2309000Timothy Ulmer (USA) 2200000Phillip McAllister (UK) 2152000David Eldridge (USA) 2100000Stephen Chidwick (UK) 1728000Toby Lewis (UK) 1396000Vasken Demlakian (Australia) 1394000Matthew Waxman (USA) 1228000Tony Gregg (USA) 1089000Martin McCormick (UK) 1007000Mike Watson (Canada) 952000Paul Gooley (Australia) 705000Ami Barer (Canada) 679000Vladimir Troyanovskiy (Russia) 612000Fabian Chauriye (Chile) 513000Fedor Holz (Germany) 453000Taylor Paur (USA) 404000

Fabian Ortiz

Stretch it out, Stevie

Toby Lewis

The day was not without its casualties.

There are lots of people you'll want to call Mr. PCA--Tony Gregg involves mind--but Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier is operating his way into the running. When he busted in 20th place tonight, he recorded his third consecutive (and highest) in-the-money finish within the PCA Main Event.

He may need made all of it the general table but for running kings into aces midway through Day 4. He picked up $32,360 for the finish (which, if he wanted, can be good enough to shop for in to the continuing $25,000 High Roller happening now).

Mercier was among several well-known pros to head bust on Day 4. When the day began, there have been 73 people still within the running. Among folks who made tracks for the cage were Jason Koon, John Racener, Jonathan Jaffe, Felipe Ramos, Ilkin Amirov, Shawn Buchanan, and Davidi Kitai. To peer the whole list of money-winners from the day, see our 2016 PCA Main Event winners page.

Felipe Ramos

Jason Koon

If you are still in search of more action tonight, we'll have live updates of the $25,000 High Roller going for one more several hours.

Or, if you are able to sign off and get some sleep, join us back here tomorrow because the Main Event plays all the way down to its final table.

See you then!

Ready to enroll in PokerStars? Click here to get an account. Brad Willis is the PokerStars Head of Blogging.

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: PokerStars Caribbean Adventure]

There are two frustrating things that may befall you in a poker tournament: firstly your aces can get cracked, and secondly there'll be times whilst you bust at the bubble. Sometimes, both this stuff happen together; two misfortunes that make for one devastating conclusion.

Such was the case for Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko yesterday. He'd been comfortable enough in day two of the debut Russian Poker Tour event in St Petersburg, and was trying to make a deep run into the money, which started in 18th place (201 entries).

Alex Kravchenko: aces woe

With 19 still in with a shout, and with 50,000 chips behind him, the house favourite moved all in confidently with A-A when chess player Alex Grishuk pushed with what turned out to be a slightly feeble A-2.

The double up would make Kravchenko, a former WSOP Main Event final tablist, a force to be reckoned with. But wait! A two at the flop, and another falling devastatingly at the river was enough to send Kravchenko to the rail in 19th place - only one off the money.

Grishuk's slice of luck didn't last, though. Only a twinkling of an eye later he got all his chips in with 10-10 and was busted by Vadim Markushevsky's A-K when the king fell at the river.

The glass trophy - and, for no obvious reason, a telephone!

That gave Markushevsky the momentum to last the day and reach today's final table of nine players, where Dumitru Gaina from Moldova will lead the pack chasing the 10,600,000 rubles first price (about $300,000):

1. Dumitru Gaina, Kishinev, Moldova - 501,0002. Sergey Popuk, Arkhangelsk, Russia - 302,0003. Sergey Solntsev, St. Petersburg, Russia - 256,0004. Vadim Markushevsky, Minsk, Belarus - 256,0005. Anatoly Ozhenilok, St. Petersburg, Russia - 203,0006. Bulat Bikmetov, Novokuznetsk, Russia - 181,0007. Evgeny Zaytsev, Lubertsy, Russia - 178,0008. Alex Pantuhin, Kaliningrad, Russia - 76,0009. Oleg Suntsov , St. Petersburg, Russia - 64,000

It had taken 90 minutes to burst the general table bubble, so spare a thought for Mark Vronsky, who pushed with pocket nines but bumped into a mighty - and ultimately - conquering J-Q.

Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa Rousso started day two but was unable to make things happen along with her short stack of little greater than 10,000. She pushed with an ace, was called by Q-7, and a seven at the board was enough to eliminate her. She was gracious in defeat, though, and offered an excellent" luck" in Russian to everyone on the table. PokerStars sponsored player Ivan Demidov also fell early within the day in 39th place.

Today's final kicks off at 3pm local time. In case you can decipher Russian - and let's accept it, it is simple enough... NOT! - you'll be able to follow the action with Pavel Sychev, our Russian blogger here. If you happen to can't understand a word of it, do not be concerned - we'll report at the progress on these esteemed pages later!

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Russian Poker Tour]