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Phil Hellmuth’s Ego Blows Out of Control with Look-a-Like Contest

17/11/08 08:17 Filed in: Poker News

The well known “Poker Brat”, Phil Hellmuth has just taken his legendary ego to new heights with the announcement of a look-a-like contest. To mark the occasion of his attempt at a twelfth World Series of Poker bracelet the player is launching perhaps his grandest publicity stunt by rounding up twelve models and an impersonator to accompany him during upcoming games.

Hellmuth certainly deserves the level of recognition he receives having established himself as a major force in online and physical casinos across the world. Currently holding eleven gold bracelets and the record for most WSOP cashes (at sixty-nine overall) the Poker Brat is now setting his sights on grabbing up a twelfth championship to further cement himself as a presence in the poker world. The winner of Hellmuth’s outrageous contest will receive £2,000 and the chance to hang out with the man himself as he brags and plays throughout upcoming games.

Those who think they bear a striking resemblance to the Poker Brat should check out the contest and see if they’re interested in entering. For the rest of us, look forward to what is sure to be on many highlight reels when Phil Hellmuth makes his grand debut with twelve models and a personal look-a-like at his side.

Tags: poker, phil hellmuth

Poker Survey Ranks Most Intimidating Professions

14/11/08 14:22 Filed in: Poker News

A recent survey of the poker world has determined the top professions and celebrities viewed as formidable opponents by industry professionals. The results are somewhat along the lines of what you would expect but the listings are still interesting enough to take a look at as they reveal the skills which poker players most value and fear at the tables.

Actors received 29 percent of the votes due to their ability to ‘become’ another person entirely with stockbrokers (27 percent) taking second place for their career-making skills in odds and mathematical speculation. Politicians (13 percent) and accountants (11 percent) came in third and fourth, the former being feared for their ability to naturally make use of convincing lies and the latter for their knowledge of figures and percentages. Lastly, comedians and public speakers held 6 percent of the overall votes because of their high level of comfort in banter and being scrutinized publicly.

The character traits found in the five occupations make a lot of sense and may give a bit of support to the waves of celebrity poker players often signed to premier gaming sites and teams. The poll also asked participants to name a few specific celebrities they would hate to meet at a poker table. Sir Alan Sugar was number one with other notable celebrities including Professor Stephen Hawking and terrifying television chef, Gordon Ramsay placing in the top rankings of results.

Tags: poker

New Application Makes Avoiding Poker Sharks Simpler

10/11/08 18:34 Filed in: Poker News

Although other screening methods do exist which attempt to keep players aware of poker sharks, a brand new program has just been launched which should make the process simpler than ever before. The ‘Interactive Fish-O-Meter’ is available now for interested users to check out.

The application screens through various criteria entered by the user to allow for a warning of any site that is deemed ‘fishy’. The online climate in many poker rooms can be pretty foreboding for new players just looking to get acquainted with the game and the Fish-O-Meter can go a long way toward helping make the learning curve a more comfortable one. Using the program, players can check out geographical locations, bankrolls and gaming details of a top-three result listing of sites picked by them before deciding on the best site to play from. The widget allows for players to spend less time worrying about potential sharks at every table and instead seek out games that are more appropriate for their skill and comfort level.

It’s worth a look for anybody, novice or experienced, who want to enhance and safeguard their playing experience online. The Interactive Fish-O-Meter is one of the better tools available within the category and definitely warrants taking a look at. The widget is available through the SitAndGoPlanet poker site and is free for use for any visitor.

Tags: poker

PKR Receive Prestigious Industry Award

06/11/08 20:06 Filed in: Poker News | PKR

The critically acclaimed UK poker site, PKR has recently been made the recipient of the 2008 eGaming Review Awards ‘Hotshot Operator of the Year’ prize. The award is a great acknowledgement of PKR’s dedication toward innovation and excellence within the business of internet poker and should help to boost traffic at the site.

Independent panels of business experts oversee and hand out the eGaming Review Awards every year as a method of providing attention for those services which truly excel in the industry. The event took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on September 19th, making it the fourth annual occurrence of the ceremony. PKR not only took home the aforementioned Hotshot Operator of the Year award but the company was also nominated for the Poker Operator of the Year (along with 888.com, Everest and Party Gaming). Malcolm Graham, CEO of PKR told press that he was excited to have taken home the prize and stated that he hoped the recognition would lead to further attention in the future.

PKR has been well-known as one of the most interesting and unique virtual poker rooms on the internet for some time but their critical reception hasn’t always meant an equal level of traffic. The distinction of receiving an eGaming award may help to boost awareness of the site and draw more players to PKR in the future.

Tags: poker

PokerStars Advertisement Banned by UK Committee

04/11/08 08:23 Filed in: Poker News | PokerStars

The British Advertising Standards Authority has banned yet another gambling ad which they deem irresponsible. This time the removed ad was the product of Isle of Man based company, PokerStars and featured only the picture of a player and a quote regarding his stance on how to succeed in the game.

PokerStars launched their ‘Play Mind Games’ advertising campaign a short while before having one of the posters removed. The material in question may seem tame but the ASA’s verdict found it inappropriate enough to level the charges set against it. The PokerStars poster features card playing professional, Daniel Negreanu holding a hockey stick with the quote, “Poker is a sport of courage, conviction and confidence” placed underneath his image. The ASA argued that the advertisement likened poker to sexual conquest and self-improvement, traits that the committee decided shouldn’t be seen by impressionable children and young adults. PokerStar’s spot was criticized as offering a path to personal growth through gambling even though the company replied that this was not, in any manner their intention.

The popular poker business maintained that the quote on Negreanu’s poster referred only to the game itself and aspects of it that players view as valuable characteristics. Despite PokerStar’s seemingly appropriate rebuttal the ASA still managed to ban the poster so it will not be available for public use again.

Tags: poker

Denmark Player Holds WSOP Titles in Europe and North America

04/11/08 08:23 Filed in: Poker News | WSOP | WSOPE

Danish poker player, Jesper Hougaard has been making waves within the industry as he cleaned up at both the 2008 World Series of Poker and World Series of Poker Europe. Hougaard came to public attention with his stunning performance in Las Vegas earlier this summer and has now further proved himself in London.

The twenty-four year old established himself with a bracelet at the World Series of Poker in Vegas, taking first place in a $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘Em tournament and walking away with a $610,304 cash-out. Hougaard is sponsored by popular UK gambling business, Bet365 who are obviously pleased with the performance of their rising star. At the World Series of Poker Europe finals (held in Leicester Square, London) the gambler was also able to make a significant mark in the proceedings, winning first place at the £1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘Em tournament and adding £144,218 to his bankroll. Having won two bracelets on each side of the Atlantic within such a short period of time, Hougaard seems to be a player worth following in the future.

Jesper Hougaard will be the player to watch out for in the coming years, especially considering his fantastic performances and youth. Bet365 is set to continue featuring the Dane in high-profile events and sponsorships throughout the year, both online and off.

Tags: poker

Full Tilt Poker Sponsors Blind Poker Player

03/11/08 08:49 Filed in: Poker News | Full Tilt Poker

Premier online poker room, Full Tilt Poker has announced the sponsorship of a new player as part of their team of reputable professionals. Hal Lubarsky, a blind American was added to the roster last week and now joins the company of many other prestigious players from the Full Tilt family.

Lubarsky has been playing poker for over thirty years but has only recently begun to make news within the industry. At last years 2007 World Series of Poker, ESPN featured an interview with the American that helped to boost his notoriety, ultimately helping to secure the Full Tilt sponsorship deal. Lubarsky wrote on the site’s forums to express his gratitude regarding being signed by the company along with his excitement about his ability to play in upcoming tournaments. He also posted thanks to those Full Tilt players who discussed and followed his career after the life-changing ESPN interview, citing them as one of the biggest catalysts toward his new opportunities as a poker professional.

The player was a regular at brick and mortar casinos in Vegas before loosing his vision. Now, with the aid of readers, Lubarsky is able to play poker again and in a much higher profile manner. His inclusion in the team (which also features such stars as Phil Ivey, Jennifer Harman, David Benyamine and more) is set to get Hal Lubarsky into more games than ever.

Tags: poker

Two Online Poker Training Sites Ready for Company Merger

25/10/08 17:26 Filed in: Poker News

StoxPoker and CardRunners, two of the foremost online poker training websites have announced plans for an amalgamation of their services. The merger is set to create what will soon become the internet’s most comprehensive poker training service when it fully finishes the crossover in the near future.

Both of the sites have been running special promotions to ready their users for the imminent change. StoxPoker has decided to stay open for a limited time with drastically reduced registration costs while CardRunners will retain its name during the merger (as well as offering a free, trial membership until the end of September). Combined, the two services are set to become the webs largest archive of articles and videos regarding poker strategy, something that is sure to attract many visitors toward becoming full-time members. Online coaches from each service will also be consolidated to one site too which is expected to give every member more time chatting with seasoned tutors and professionals.

Taylor Cadby, co-founder of CardRunners told press that he was excited for the upcoming change and that both companies were enthusiastic about the combined resources they’re set to offer for members. Those in need of a poker training site owe it to themselves to check out the new CardRunners and browse through the immense library of material.

Tags: poker

Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott to Star in Five-Part Poker Television Series

20/10/08 17:44 Filed in: Poker News

Welsh television broadcaster, ITV Wales has announced the upcoming release of a five-part poker series starring professional player and industry star, Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott. The show, entitled, “How to Become a Poker Millionaire” premiered Thursday, September 4th at 10.35pm and will continue on through completion as an elimination-style reality program.

The premise is a novel one that wisely takes advantage of Devilfish’s legendary status in the poker world to further its reputation. In, “How to Become a Poker Millionaire”, the producers of the show take four negligible players and put them under Ulliott’s tutelage through the half-hour episodes. The series promises to demonstrate the bad players becoming excellent ones (or being cast off) which should provide for a solid mix of gaming tips and pure entertainment. “How to Become a Poker Millionaire” will see even more celebrities than Devilfish as well with it having already been confirmed that interviews with his famous professional ‘friends’ will be featured in each episode.

Devilfish told press that the show was a lot of fun to make and should appeal to a wide demographic as he instructs players in a dramatic, ‘poker boot camp’. With the winning student receiving a seat at Las Vegas’ World Series of Poker there will be a lot on the line and plenty of reasons for viewers to tune in to check out the series.

Tags: poker

Dublin, Ireland Named Best European Poker Destination

20/10/08 17:44 Filed in: Poker News

Popular industry magazine, Bluff Europe has just announced the winners of their annual, ‘European Poker Capitol’ award to the delight of Irish fans. Dublin, capitol city of Ireland won the prestigious title for 2008, beating out other culturally and historically vibrant EU centers as the best continental destination.

The 2007 contest saw Dublin place second behind London, England but further improvements to the city’s poker infrastructure have now established it as the foremost option. Aside from a solid assortment of poker rooms and leagues, poker is growing on a largely grassroots level within the city. As more and more players start enjoying the game, poker is growing into a massively popular pastime in Ireland with much of the action concentrated within the urban center of Dublin. ‘Gentleman’ Liam Flood, an Irish poker fanatic interviewed by Bluff for the feature stated that Dublin was a great place to play due to the friendly, communal culture of Irish players.

London saw a reversal in fortunes this year, coming in second to Dublin in the poll. Vienna came in third, Amsterdam in fourth and Barcelona fifth through the rest of the article. Although many European players are already aware of the Irish capitol’s strengths as a poker destination, Bluff Europe’s award should help get even more traveling players heading to Dublin to check out the scene.

Tags: poker

Full Tilt Host High-Stakes Games to Attract Online Pros

19/10/08 17:27 Filed in: Poker News | Full Tilt Poker

Full Tilt Poker has always maintained a reputation for providing excellent, high-stakes options for their players and with a recent decision to increase their upper echelon games the company has apparently remained committed to this facet of their business. Premier poker sites which offer rich gambling opportunities are also known to attract gambling pros which may have provided incentive to Full Tilt as well.

Although legendary poker professionals such as, Phil Ivey, Brian Townsend and Cole South can already be found in the high-stakes Full Tilt games the company has remained committed toward continuing to attract celebrities and rich poker fans alike. The ‘nosebleed’ section of stake offerings are already starting to increase with the addition of tables such as the recent, $500/$1,000 No Limit and $200,000 buy-ins. These stand out as a substantial increase against the formerly highest fare provided in Full Tilt’s $200/$400 No Limit rounds.

The approach is working as Full Tilt has already reported the presence of Tom ‘durr’ Dwan and World Series of Poker bracelet holder, Phil ‘OMGClayAiken’ Galfond at the new tables. Although many of us don’t have the bankroll to take part in the action it’s still exciting to have a chance to watch the big players sit down at their computers.

Tags: poker

BoylePoker’s International Poker Open Hosts €100,000+ Prize Pool

17/10/08 18:03 Filed in: Poker News

The prize pool for Dublin’s International Poker Open has now swelled to an excess of €100,000 through generous sponsorship and overwhelming fan support. BoylePoker devotees and global poker enthusiasts alike are swarming from across the globe to get a chance to play for the big prize, generating more support than the event has ever seen.

Although there are some 1,200 available seats for the enormous tournament, seven hundred have already been sold with the remaining entries projected to run out by the end of the month. Aside from BoylePoker’s sponsorship contribution, part of every registrant’s entry fee (twenty percent of the overall rake) has been added to the pot which has helped to generate much of the buzz surrounding the festivities. The International Poker Open is set to take place at the Regency Airport Hotel in Dublin, Ireland from October 17th to 19th and will be played out through €135 + €15 buy-ins to the No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em games. The prize pool is set to grow to an ultimate €200, 000 amount which is bound to create fierce, quality competition.

The event’s spokesperson, Paul Spillane told press that the event is exceeding expectations and should be a fantastic time for everyone involved. For those interested in grabbing up one of the few seats left, registration and qualification satellites are available at the BoylePoker.com lobby until October 16th (or upon being sold out).

Tags: poker

Speedpay and Sportingbet UK Announce Partnership

17/10/08 18:03 Filed in: Poker News | General News

Sportingbet has announced a partnership with Affiliate Speedpay, currently one of the best companies dealing in electronic payment systems. The one-day, global payout technology developed by Speedpay will mean that gambling affiliate sites will be able to further ramp up business and increase productivity.

For any affiliate site hosting Paradise Poker, Sportingbet, Miapuesta or Superbahis these changes will come into effect on commissions within the next few days. Sportingbet’s decision to join with Affiliate Speedpay should have a big impact on their business, helping to drive more traffic toward their sites while improving the experience of those creating affiliate services for their network. Commission payments will now be sent and received almost instantaneously, allowing for affiliates to increase their profits and re-circulate the money into other projects without spending downtime awaiting finances. This partnership will lead the way toward better public visibility of the Affiliate Speedpay system, a process which could ultimately lead to greater efficiency and functionality within the industry for everyone involved.

Gamblers wondering how this partnership will affect their own time playing online only need to know that an increase in affiliate sites can mean an appropriately positive growth in user rewards and quality when looking into new online casinos, poker and bingo rooms or bookkeeping services. Affiliates of Sportingbet UK should notice a drastic increase in payout speed within the next few days.

Tags: poker, Sports Betting

VivaMacau Launches New Gambling Tutorials and Strategies

17/10/08 18:02 Filed in: Casino News | Poker News

Popular online casino, VivaMacau has recently shifted interests toward providing a veritable gambling university for fans of the site. A recent increase in tutorials and strategy guides has been widely publicized by the company in an effort to draw further attention to the service.

Over one hundred pages of new content were added to the site in the past few days, part of a larger business plan enacted by VivaMacau owners. Guides are available for more than fifty games, including baccarat, roulette, blackjack, craps, poker and more. Mong Ha Media, the Costa Rica-based owners of VivaMacau maintain that they have intended this approach every since the sites inception. True enough toward supporting this statement it's worth noting that VivaMacau has always offered a healthy number of free games and help for the uninitiated. Now, the tutorials will accompany the ability to play no-cost games without even having to download or register.

Sam Casteel, Public Relations Director for Mong Ha Media spoke to press regarding the decision to incorporate such a large number of guides. He stated that one of the primary goals of VivaMacau will be to foster novice and intermediate gamblers into great ones through plenty of instruction and practice. Anyone interested in this approach should check out the site and see what they think.

Tags: casino, poker

PartyPoker Kicks-Off Second Annual Women’s World Open

16/10/08 12:52 Filed in: Poker News | PartyPoker

The second annual PartyPoker Women’s World Open is set to start this Friday, October 3rd in London and run until the following Monday (October 6th). Thirty-six poker competitors from across the world have traveled to England for the chance to take first place and a prestigious bracelet by taking down each game scheduled for this weekend.

PartyPoker has assembled a decent enough $108,000 prize pool which the players will be competing for a share of. Buy-ins are set at $3,000 and the first place winner of the entire tournament series will be rewarded with an impressive $50,000 sum. Among the contestants gearing up for play this weekend is last year’s champion, Bev Pace. She is the wife of another professional poker player (and comedian), Norman Pace and hopes to repeat her success yet again by sweeping the event. Pace managed to take down Jen Mason at the final game to retrieve the $50K prize while simultaneously establishing herself as a formidable presence in the poker world.

Although it may still only be a small event in light of the larger mixed-sex tournaments which take place during the rest of the year, PartyPoker should be commended for their work toward bringing greater visibility to those female poker professionals who are still greatly ignored in comparison to their male counterparts. The company announced that last year’s Women’s World Open received fantastic international television ratings and that the 2008 installment should prove no different.

Tags: poker

BetFair Poker Lags behind Competition despite High-Profile Sponsorship

11/10/08 14:09 Filed in: Poker News | BetFair Poker

One of the most highly regarded online poker agents, BetFair Poker has been struggling to keep traffic and tables stocked even in light of their overall success within the industry. Despite solid sponsorships for the company’s poker offerings, management have expressed concern regarding the site’s ability to push ahead of competition.

BetFair were able to secure yet another year’s sponsorship of the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) but have been disappointed by a lack of traffic growth thus far. The company has signed impressive acquisitions and made their poker client a well-known name within the UK but are still falling behind other industry giants like PokerStars. BetFair Poker was able to reach a high level of notoriety from the site’s inception just by virtue of its reputable betting service but has had a hard time drawing and keeping traffic at their poker service. Similarly, Ladbrokes, a well-known bookkeeping brand has had to fight a loss of revenue from their poker site even though they are still ranking just head of BetFair.

Although some may think that BetFair’s lack of growth could be attributed to an inability to enter the American market, the top five online poker clients in the world are currently composed of three other businesses which struggle with this same issue (PartyPoker, the iPoker Network and OnGame). The company seems to be hedging their bets on a signing of current player commodity, Michael Phelps but the Olympic athlete may be more likely to join DoylesRoom than the dwindling BetFair Poker.

Tags: poker

2008 Poker Kings Tournament Gives to Players and Charity

11/10/08 14:09 Filed in: Poker News

Buildings second charity poker tournament is set to debut in mid-October as another push toward providing annual entertainment for gamblers along with aid for children in need. Last year’s edition of Poker Kings was an overwhelming success and now organizers are hoping to repeat their charitable efforts.

The event will be held at Grosvenor Victoria Casino for one day and requires a £250 ticket (which includes an all-access pass to the proceedings along with complimentary food and drink). The 2008 Poker Kings is set to host a series of games with one third of the overall proceedings going to the ‘Wishes 4 Kids’ foundation. Wishes 4 Kids provides hope for Leicestershire children who have experienced serious medical trauma or been diagnosed with a terminal illness or HIV. Sponsorship is being provided by Doyle PLC with the company chairman, Stef Stefanou offering up his own watch for anyone who can knock him out of the tournament.

Last year saw Willie ‘the dice man’ Tann playing against Tony McWalter (a former Labor Party MP) at the end of the proceedings and raised considerable funds for the same charity. Interested poker players in the area should check it out. The tournament is being held on Thursday, October 16th and is available for any of the interested public with the purchase of a ticket.

Tags: poker

Dave Cain Attempts World Record for Poker Endurance

11/10/08 14:09 Filed in: Poker News

UK poker player, Dave Cain has currently been awake and taking out opponents at poker tables for a little over three days with no sign of stopping in sight. All eyes are on him as he continues to work toward raising money and establishing the world record for continuous poker playing in the process.

Cain is attempting to play out a solid one hundred hours of cards from a table at the Lincoln University and is already well on his way toward completion. Different opponents are flocking toward the venue to try their luck at knocking him out or just contributing to the record affair. The money raised from the effort is set to go toward charitable organizations, a decision which definitely helps to make the entire process a lot more interesting and worthwhile for everyone involved. Cain is playing Head-Up and needs anyone in the area to come on by to keep the game moving along. The current world record for poker endurance is held at seventy-two hours of non-stop gaming.

Observers can log onto pokerplayingmarathon.com to read about Dave Cain and his efforts or to help out by providing a remote, charitable donation. The site is also hosting a live video feed of Cain at the cards for those interested in seeing if can pull off the big moment at hour one hundred.

Tags: poker

2008 World Series of Poker Broadcasts Main Event to Date

09/10/08 22:38 Filed in: Poker Tricks

After this summer saw a controversial halt come at the climax of the 2008 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, fans were forced to keep patient and bide their time before being able to witness the final outcome of the Main Event. Now, after an excruciating wait the conclusion of the series will finally begin to be played out and broadcast on television.

The $10,000, No-Limit, Texas Hold ‘Em is scheduled for broadcast before the actual finish of the 2008 WSOP on November 9th and 10th. ESPN is set to play coverage of the tournament as it boiled down to those finalists now waiting for their chance to win the most coveted bracelet in the world of poker. It’s an excellent chance to get a look at exactly how the series to date finished and watch world-class poker professionals battle it out for the prestigious title itself, as well as the final, $9 million first prize.

Although it’s not a wrap-up to the 2008 WSOP proper, the televised coverage of the count-down to the November Nine is certainly worth a look for fans who want a glimpse of everything leading up to the actual conclusion. If nothing else, ESPN’s work should at least give poker fans something to hold them over for the next few months.

Tags: poker

2008 World Championships of Online Poker Kicks Off

05/10/08 21:31 Filed in: Poker News

The 2008 World Championships of Online Poker have finally started off with Friday, September 5th’s Events #1 and #2. With the beginning of the 2008 WCOOP, poker fans now have a high-profile event to grab their attention throughout the month of September (with all games wrapping up on the 23rd of this month).

Event #1 was a $215, 6-Handed No-Limit with Event #2 being a round of $215, 5-Card Draw. All told, some 8,241 competitors took seats at the two events which made them run for almost twenty-four hours of play. Ultimately a British player with the screen name, ‘shane147’ emerged victorious in Event #1, winning $202,000 and the first WCOOP bracelet of the year. A heads-up showdown in Event #2 saw, ‘ImBillMcNeal’ take down, ‘Wedlowjones’ and go home with $34,000 and the WCOOP gold bracelet. The PokerStars’ run series saw only one of Team PokerStars’ members enter into the events as Hevad ‘RainKhan’ Khan played (and was knocked out in 7th place) during Event #2.

There are thirty-three scheduled events in all but already players and poker fans have been thrilled by the large prizes and skilled games of the 2008 WCOOP. PokerStars have established a $30 million guarantee for the series which is already estimated to exceed expectations through the next few games. The final round will take place on September 23rd with the second day of the concluding, $5,200 Main Event.

Tags: poker

Shannon Elizabeth Becomes Newest Member at Doyle’s Room Poker

04/10/08 21:24 Filed in: Poker News | Doyles Room

Model, actress and devoted poker player Shannon Elizabeth has been added to the roster of professional and celebrity members at DoylesRoom.Net. Elizabeth is determined to elevate her status as a formidable competitor through Doyle’s Room promotion and participation at events.

Team Brunson (named after Doyle’s Room inspiration, Doyle Brunson) will certainly attract a lot of attention with the former “American Pie” and “Dancing with the Stars” actress as part of their roster. Elizabeth is set to play in this summer’s 2008 World Series of Poker where she will not only be seated at smaller tables but also be appearing at the main event itself. The new recruit often refers to poker as her ‘second career’ and is no stranger to the gaming world as she frequents Las Vegas rooms. Elizabeth also made waves (and showed that she was no slouch at the tables) playing at the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

Shannon Elizabeth starred in the recent poker comedy “The Grand” where she portrays the character of Toni and is also a main character in “Deal” which saw release last month. Doyle’s Room is sure to receive a lot of publicity as Elizabeth starts her career with Team Brunson and expect to see loads of coverage during events she attends in the future.

Tags: poker

APT Macau Hosts Celebrity Poker Tournament for Local Charity

04/10/08 19:21 Filed in: Poker News

The Asian Poker Tour 2008 is just about to enter the Macau leg of gaming tomorrow (August 27th) and officially start playing out the largest-ever poker guarantee in Asia with $1.5 million to be won. Instead of just focusing on poker professionals however, Chris Parker, CEO of the APT has organized a set of charity games to take advantage of the surrounding hype and put it toward a good cause.

Many celebrities from across the globe are set to play at the tournament with proceeds going toward Caritas de Macau, one of the city’s foremost social service organizations. Among those at the tables will be models including Tila Tequila, Natalie Ng, Janice Man and Tracy Ip as well as film actor, Michael Wong, commentator, Angie Mak, singer, Renee Dai as well as globally renowned boxing star, Manny Pacquiao. The stars will be hitting poker tables at 7pm tomorrow night. As with the rest of the Macau festivities, charity play will be hosted at the Galaxy StarWorld Casino Resort and Hotel in the city.

Aside from the charity game there will also be notable poker professionals in attendance at the ATP Macau. Doyle Brunson will be holding a book signing on the 27th and legendary figures such as Johnny Chan, Todd Brunson and APT Manila’s winner, David Saab will all be at the tables for the competition.

Tags: poker

Sky Poker Announce the Launch of Live Poker Tour

04/10/08 19:21 Filed in: Poker News | Sky Poker

Sky, one of the best known online gambling vendors has recently announced their plans to branch out into real-world ventures through their Live Poker Tour. The company is set to offer a competitive venue for devotees of their site while formally entering into the company of online poker rooms with physical tours.

Sky’s Live Poker Tour will take place over six legs across the UK with the first and final events taking place at Nottingham’s Dusk Till Dawn. It all kicks off on September 13th when players will vie for a chance to make their mark at the tables before the final proceedings return to the same city for a televised final event in next June, 2009. Entry will be determined through internet play at Sky Poker with satellite tournaments already underway. Hopefuls can get into games for as little as £2.65 and work their way up through the ranks to try for a shot at the physical games. Sky has revealed a £25, 000 guaranteed prize pool for the tour and this should combine nicely with television coverage in order to get a lot of quality poker players interested in the events.

Emma Crowe, Sky’s Head of Marketing stated that the company has been planning this type of tournament for some time after testing the waters with the last year’s few one off, live games. Those interested in competing at the Sky Live Poker Tour should head online and jump into some of the satellite games already starting up.

Tags: poker

UltimateBet and Ante Up for Africa Present Celebrity Weekend for Sudan

30/09/08 22:39 Filed in: Poker News | UltimateBet

Industry giant, UltimateBet has recently announced a partnership with the “Ante Up for Africa” foundation to launch a high-visibility charity event. The upcoming gaming series is filled with some of the most recognizable faces in the world of professional poker and film which is sure to create a lot of attention as its weekend draws near.

This enormous event has been created in order to raise funds and promote awareness of the ongoing genocide of the Sudanese population in Darfur. Ante Up for Africa will feature substantial prizes and celebrity endorsement in order to create the kind of stir it aims for. Among the featured guests to be in attendance are, Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, Tiffany Michelle and actor, Don Cheadle. Celebrities will be playing online games and users will be able to go up against them for the chance to run into their favourite stars or vie for great rewards (such as tournament entries, trips or private poker lessons).

Ante Up for Africa has been in the works since July and now this weekend (August 22nd to 24th) players and business backers will finally see the potential good possible through such a charitable event. The announcement of the fundraiser detailed different manners by which UltimateBet loyalty points (UltimatePoints) can be donated to the relief efforts so those users interested should log on now and check out the program.

Tags: poker

UK Players Clean Up at the Devilfish Poker ‘Devilympics

23/09/08 23:26 Filed in: Poker News

Devilfish Poker’s recent ‘Devilympics’ were a promotional event intended to tie into Olympic fever as the 2008 Beijing games ran alongside and have only just concluded. The tournament results saw a large number of British poker players sweeping the standings, most notably, the Gold winning ‘olipizer’ who took home €5,000 and the championship in twelve of the seventy-five events.

UK poker fans truly have something to be proud of as the final results demonstrated an overwhelming victory. British players won 59 medals (21 Gold, 16 Silver and 22 Bronze) with Ireland coming in second with a significantly smaller 41 medals (18 Gold, 14 Silver and 9 Bronze). Canadian Devilympics competitors took third place overall with a total of 30 medals (12 Gold, 7 Silver and 11 Bronze). Devilfish creator, Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott took part in the events by playing in the opening and closing events where he had a €250 bounty placed on him. The UK poker star told press that he was delighted with his home nation’s showing in the tournament and was blown away by the impressive results.

Even though the Devilympics are finished now (along with the summer games), the final tally should give UK players a lot to talk about and encouragement for further growth in their regional poker field. British poker fans should be pleased with their showing at one of the premier summer tournaments and excited for the next big Devilympics when the actual games hit the UK in 2012.

Tags: poker

Yuval Bronshtein Makes Poker History at 2008 FTOPS

22/09/08 16:11 Filed in: Poker News | Full Tilt Poker

This year’s Full Tilt Online Poker Series saw twenty-four year old poker player, Yuval Bronshtein establish a new record for the game with an unheard of showing over two online games. The competitor made history through two, consecutive tournament wins which both took place in under twelve hours of play.

Bronshtein made his mark through events #14 and #15 of the Series, a $500 Buy-in HORSE and $200 Buy-in No-Limit Hold ‘Em Turbo tournament respectively. The young player totaled an impressive $172,387 from the two games, beating out over three thousand others in the HORSE tournament and more than six hundred competitors in the No-Limit Hold ‘Em Turbo event. Bronshtein, playing under the account name, “yuvee04”, was ecstatic for his winning money but reported that he is more pleased with the notable status of a historic title than anything else. He has made waves online in the past and hopes to capture some bracelets while holding onto his record in the future.

The player has also started to breach into the world of live poker where he hopes to continue his success, having already performed admirably in last years World Series of Poker 2007. This September, Bronshtein will be traveling to Amsterdam and Austria to compete in the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe.

Tags: poker

London Poker in the Park Festival Determined a Huge Success

22/09/08 16:10 Filed in: Poker News

Last weekend’s, Poker in the Park festival was experimental in many ways and served as something of a testing ground for future, UK-based events of this kind. Luckily for all involved (and British poker enthusiasts in general) this first attempt at a large-scale London gaming showcase went off without a hitch.

The Poker in the Park festival set out to prove that the UK was as fertile a ground as the United States for events based around the game. With the sponsorship of PKR and a fantastic showing of some of the industry’s best players and providers the weekend demonstrated the possibility of continued success in the future. Hordes of British poker players came out to take part in the tournaments and celebrity tutorials, ultimately convincing the city of London and those behind the festival that the entire affair was an overwhelming hit and worth investing in for the future.

Editor-in-Chief of Bluff Europe, Michael Caselli, reported that he and the rest of his company were thrilled with the showing and excited for future possibilities centered on the game. Fox Poker Club added further good news for English poker players with their announcement of a fully-licensed club set to open in London, the first of its kind. While no official word has been given regarding a 2008 Poker in the Park, all evidence seems to point toward it being a distinct possibility.

Tags: poker

UltimateBet Adds Celebrity Tiffany Michele to Team Roster

19/09/08 12:28 Filed in: Poker News | UltimateBet

UltimateBet have recently announced the addition of celebrity poker player, Tiffany Michelle to their line-up of professionals. Although this kind of acquisition is usually more of a publicity stunt than anything else, Michelle’s relatively obscure status and considerable skill at the tables may actually hint at something more than just name recognition behind the move.

Tiffany Michelle, twenty-four, is a former actress and singer-songwriter who has been making a big name for herself in the world of poker. With this year’s 2008 World Series of Poker Michelle emerged as the only female competitor left at the Main Event, ultimately finishing in 17th place overall and setting the record for best performance within her category. She was fully decked out in UltimateBet apparel but wasn’t yet signed to the premier poker brand yet. Michelle initially started appearing at big tables as a way of supplementing her acting and music income but it took her little time to show up on sponsors’ and professional player’s radars (including Annie Duke, legendary player and UB Cardroom Consultant who sung her praises during press releases).

After taking home $334,534 from the WSOP Main Event Michelle was quickly snatched up by UltimateBet to become the newest member of their franchise. This Tuesday made the move official and will likely see the actress turning her poker-hobby into a much more substantial part of her career. UltimateBet users may stumble across Michelle as she plays under the name ‘Tiffany M’ online.

Tags: poker

PokerSharks Radar Reveals 3 Million Online Poker Players Records

15/09/08 15:59 Filed in: Poker News

A massive amount of statistical data has been compiled and readied for public use by PokerSharks Radar, a freeware developer that has taken a great interest in giving online poker players every tool available. As the system now has roughly three million users indexed it is quickly becoming a truly viable option for poker fans to look into.

The PokerSharks Radar software is free for download and offers online poker fans the ability to research the background of any player they come up against at the tables. Aside from the staggering volume of records detailing every gambler’s hand and play history the software is also capable of deducing an ‘historical strategy’ (only for Texas Hold ‘Em at this point) based on this data. The PokerSharks Radar system essentially functions as a massive notebook that will no doubt serve to increase the level of strategy and pure skill required online once it becomes commonplace among gamers.

It’s an excellent piece of freeware for the serious player or any novice who doesn’t want to come up against sharks as they start to learn the ropes. PokerSharks Radar is sure to cause its fair share of controversy as it finds the mainstream but for now it can be seen as an impressive database for savvy poker fans to take advantage of.

Tags: poker

PKR Prepares 2009 WSOP Main Event Reward Packages

11/09/08 16:10 Filed in: Poker News | PKR

While players and poker fans alike await this fall’s 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event, popular online tables at PKR are planning to offer incentives that will bring fans to the Las Vegas action next year. Although it may seem a long way away, PKR want to get a head start on the excitement surrounding qualifying satellites and the 2008 November Nine finalists.

The Road to Vegas promotion kicks off on September 15th and promises to provide thirty-three weeks of freerolls. Players who come out on top of the weekly freerolls win 2009 WSOP prizes from entry to a $1,500 Buy-In to some packages which can send fortunate players to the $10,000 Main Event. PKR will require players to meet certain criteria (which will change weekly) in order to enter the freerolls and try for a WSOP reward. This format is intended to allow serious users the ability to target specific packages which appeal most to them, which should result in an intense and satisfying level of competition during the entire thirty-three week run.

Simon Prodger, PKR’s Marketing Director told press that the Road to Vegas series was intended to give all levels of competitors a chance to get into Las Vegas games at the industry’s largest competition and that the company’s commitment resulted in this being their biggest promotion yet. PKR is also running reward offers for other tournament series, such as the currently underway, Asian Poker Tour Macau and satellite stops at the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour.

Tags: poker

The Real Deal!’ Poker Show Set to Launch at the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino

10/09/08 11:46 Filed in: Poker News

Entertainment powerhouse Merv Adelson and the Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino have announced a partnership which will see the first live, interactive poker stage show premier at the famous venue this fall. “The Real Deal!” is set to provide a great time for visitors looking for big prizes and lots of poker-based fun.

The Venetian Resort has released details on several aspects of the upcoming show and perhaps most exciting is the inclusion of notable poker professionals (including Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Jennifer Harman, Phil Laak and Daniel Negreanu) as part of the cast roster. “The Real Deal!” is set to take worthy advantage of their professional supporters through audience participation and competition. Probably the most interesting aspect is that the show will attempt to cross demographics and offer something fun for both seasoned poker players and complete novices alike. Although the action is poker based those without any knowledge of the game are given ample prize-winning opportunities through random events and simple-choice bets throughout the play.

Currently the Venetian Resort and Adelson’s company, Lorimar Telepictures are undertaking the full casting process and are in talks with a number of poker-savvy comedians who they believe will bring the show the type of energy and humour it needs to successfully match their vision. “The Real Deal!” is set to premier this fall and will run six nights a week at the Venetian with tickets available for pre-release soon.

Tags: poker

Johnny Chan’s Online Poker Service "Chan Poker" Shuts Down

07/09/08 22:08 Filed in: Poker News

ChanPoker, the passion project of poker professional, Johnny Chan has recently cut its losses and shut down service. Although management is still trying to locate a new platform for ChanPoker, last week saw an official blog posting announce the imminent closure of the website.

Last Thursday, August 21st saw the well-known poker platform finally close down after a final August 19th, $50 daily freeroll. Johnny Chan, ten-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner launched the provider in the summer of 2006 with a popular WSOP booth and endorsement through the Ongame Network but hit trouble only months after opening from the passing of the American UIGEA. The legislature immediately stopped US players from gaining access to the site and cut down traffic significantly, a hit that ChanPoker was never able to fully recover from. With a business market that was drastically changing in the light of the UIGEA, Chan and his company tried their best to bypass the obstacle and succeed in the competitive industry but now, roughly two years after starting, financial difficulties and unstable traffic have forced the decision of closure.

The site promised to honour all outstanding withdrawals and will also attempt to transfer player points in the event of starting up a new ChanPoker service. Although the closure of ChanPoker comes as a substantial setback for the namesake player, the company’s commitment toward a return to business should be heartening for fans of the site.

Tags: poker

Former ‘EastEnder’ Joins with Littlewoods Poker in Endorsement Deal

07/09/08 08:21 Filed in: Poker News

Michael Greco has revealed an exclusive deal with UK online giant, Littlewoods Poker which will see the former soap star trading in acting for card playing. The site is hoping to get fans on board with gameplay designed toward interaction and bonuses associated with the celebrity’s presence at their virtual tables.

Greco may be better known by some as Beppe di Marco, a central cast member of the BBC1 serial, “EastEnders” but the actor is now hoping to make a transition into the world of poker through his Littlewoods endorsement. Six years after leaving the show Greco is attempting to escape from some of the celebrity limelight by lessening his time acting and more fully pursuing his passion for cards. He should have ample opportunity to prove himself as players flock to test out his skills and Littlewoods puts their new member into live tournaments such as the European Poker Tour during this season.

Players will be able to play against Greco in a variety of events including the monthly Littlewoods bounty tournaments where the actor holds a £250 prize which can be gained by knocking him out of the game. No matter the opinion users may have on celebrity poker players Littlewoods at least promises a bit of variety and excitement with their latest acquisition.

Tags: poker

Absolute Poker Gives Players the World Series of Absolute Poker

06/09/08 08:31 Filed in: Poker News | Absolute Poker

Not to be outdone by the excitement and thrills associated with the upcoming Las Vegas based 2008 World Series of Poker industry leaders Absolute Poker has announced that their site will be hosting a digital rendition of the enormous tournament.

The World Series of Absolute Poker has just launched and will seek to give users the chance to play along with their favourite professionals as the site matches tournament events with their own take on the games. Nightly tournaments will award great prizes and present online iterations of the same styles being played in Vegas by the pros. Absolute has gone to considerable measures in order to make the most of their concept and fans of the WSOPs will definitely enjoy the simulation offered through the website.

The grand prize for the 2008 WSAPs will be entry into the Aruba Poker Classic this year with Absolute providing access to the fall tournament for some of the biggest winners. Aside from this there are also auxiliary cash awards and chances to receive four-week passes to Absolute’s own $150,000 Guaranteed Weekly tournament. It’s a great idea that is sure to drum up a lot of interest for poker fans who want to mirror the events of the biggest season in poker.

Tags: poker

UltimateBet Signs New Pros to Ward off Cheating Scandal

06/09/08 08:31 Filed in: Poker News | UltimateBet

Recent allegations of shady business practices have meant a widespread decline in traffic for UltimateBet.Com and related Tokwiro internet casinos. In a widely publicized move the company has announced the signing of two new additions to their professional team which could be interpreted as an effort to create some level of distraction or legitimization.

Last month saw the Tokwiro network subject to torrents of bad press due to a problem wherein certain players were able to view their opponent’s cards. The company blamed previous employment but the service’s reputation was badly damaged especially in light of similar allegations aimed at AbsolutePoker.Com from earlier in the year, a client also maintained by the corporation. These software errors were defended and subsequently said to have been fixed although in many ways the damage to PR is continuing to have irreversible effects on public trust.

Now UltimateBet.Com has signed Cliff Josephy and Eric Lynch to their casino offering in an attempt to finally warrant positive media coverage. The new additions have had to repeatedly defend their contracts in light of the prevailing, malignant attitude toward their new benefactors. Only time will tell how this acquisition ultimately works on popular perception of the corporation but it is one step that has at least been able to provide the industry with news diverted from scandal gossip.

Tags: poker

Absolute Poker Awards World’s Largest Bad Beat Payout

06/09/08 08:19 Filed in: Poker News | Absolute Poker

Many of the best established online poker sites have begun to offer ‘bad beat’ jackpots which seek to take a bit of the sting out of a big loss with a kick-back of reward money. Absolute Poker has long maintained their version of the award with last week seeing a record-breaking amount paid out to a player on the site.

The user, who goes by the screen name of RiverMan1969, had his fortunes quickly reversed as his crushing defeat soon earned him a payout far larger than what the tables would have given. The gambler lost a bet with four tens by another player who had an unbelievable quad Queens. Apparently the beat was a good enough story to earn RiverMan1969 roughly $325,200, a payout which dwarfs almost every other single player bad beat jackpot yet.

Although the $325,200 is noteworthy enough in its own right this amount was only a fraction of the $996,115 total prize shared among the other contestants playing at Absolute’s Bad Beat Jackpot rooms. With a payback worth almost one million dollars USD Absolute Poker has definitely set a mark so far unprecedented within the industry. Now that the majority of the premier internet poker businesses offer competitive bad beat jackpots betters should check out this play style for themselves and try to turn around what being a ‘loser’ really means.

Tags: poker

UltimateBet Offers Expanded Poker School

04/09/08 17:30 Filed in: Poker News | UltimateBet

Industry leader, UltimateBet has announced the expansion and further promotion of their online poker school, a feature of the site which has long held a draw for many players looking for expert advice. With a well developed tutorial section and the guidance of some of the best card sharks in the field it is certainly a good move for the company to promote this section.

The poker school gives competitors an extra edge at many different levels of play by providing tips for novice to more experienced fans of the game. Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke (two of the leading poker professionals in the industry) belong to the UltimateBet team and are now being touted as extremely qualified tutors. By emphasizing free games and low-stakes play the site should be able to continue implementing educational gaming as a major aspect which dwarfs the competitions similar efforts.

Although many online poker sites have adopted in-depth tutorials and guides to the game, UltimateBet’s offering is quickly becoming one of the best to be found anywhere. With more funding being put toward its further development and advertising as a key aspect of the site’s experience expect the service’s fan base to expand even further in the future.

Tags: poker

Titan Poker to Be Represented in Manila

04/09/08 17:28 Filed in: Poker News | Titan Poker

As the Asian Poker Tour kicked off on Monday May 26th, Titan Poker, one of the leading companies within the business, sent eight of their best players to represent the brand in the tournaments. The Tour will be decided from then until June 2nd and Titan hopes to make a big impression on the community at large by demonstrating just how talented their stable is.

Titan chose their delegates through a series of satellite games which meted out the hopefuls from the winners. The players were awarded a prize package valued at about $6,000 which includes their $2500 APT buy-in, room and board at Manila’s Dusit Hotel along with flight expenses and spending money. The contestants will be up against over four hundred other talented card sharks that are all playing hard to win the 2008 APT million dollar prize pool. For many of the Titan champions this will be one of the first real opportunities to show their skills (and personalities) off to an eager audience so expect many new, interesting names in poker to come up over the next week.

The Asian Poker Tour will continue on past Manila into cities within Singapore, South Korea and Macau where fans of the game are being won over in droves. Only time will tell how the Titan Poker winners fare but watching their progress through the events will surely only constitute on part of the excitement to come throughout the APT this year.

Tags: poker

CircusCasino Create Rendering of the ‘Perfect Poker Face

01/09/08 14:58 Filed in: Poker News

The poker face is a well-known concept and one that has been attributed to player success for as long as the game has been played. Now, CircusCasino have released a rendering of what could possibly demonstrate the perfect