-Halfrek- Makes FTOPS History With 2 Milestone Wins.
May 19, 2008
Online Player “Halfrek” Wins Two FTOPS VIII Events.
Online poker player “Halfrek” has had a really great week. Not only did “Halfrek” win one FTOPS event last week - but he also managed to win another FTOPS event this past Sunday. It is believed that this is the first time that a player has won more than one event in the same FTOPS series. And to do it on a poker site known to feature the top MTT players around the globe is even more impressive. Both events were high buy-ins and will most definitely make a huge difference in “Halfrek’s” life, especially financially!
The first event “Halfrek” won was Event #11 which had 1,593 players and a buy-in of $1,000 + $60. The guaranteed prize pool was $1,500,000 but due to the amount of players that bought in the prize pool rose to $1,593,000. “Halfrek” took home $342,495.00 for his first place finish.
The second event “Halfrek” won was event #21 which took place on Sunday. 899 players entered the event with a buy-in of $2,500 + 120. The guaranteed prize pool was supposed to be $1.5 million but with the large amount of players entered the prize pool raised almost $1million to a whooping $2,247,500. “Halfrek” took home $516,925.00 for his first place finish which made his prize total for the week almost $900,000, an amazing payday for anyone, much less a lesser known online player.
I am sure we will be hearing more about “Halfrek” in the very near future, especially on the online poker tournament scene.
WSOP Circuit Main Event at Harrahs Begins Monday.
May 18, 2008
Main Event in New Orleans Will Conclude 2008 WSOP Circuit Series.
The city of New Orleans has been home to the best poker players in the world the past few weeks, with the WSOP Circuit coming down to Louisiana for its final leg of the 2008 season.
The World Series of Poker Circuit Series is currently being played at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans, with many of the tournaments being filled to absolute capacity. The buy-ins for each of the tournaments varied from just $200 all the way to $1,000.
However, if you want to punch your ticket for the final event of the WSOPC, you’ll have to pony up the $5k entry fee - or satellite in. Many of poker’s best players will definitely be playing in the Main Event, which begins tomorrow, May 19th, 2008.
It is not yet known how many players will enter, but it will most likely be the highest turnout of any of the WSOP Circuit in 2008. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if the prizepool didn’t come close to or exceed $2,000,000!
This is the last big tournament series that goes down before the World Series of Poker begins in Las Vegas next month.
Download PokerStars today and qualify today for as little as $2!
FTOPS Quick Recap of Events #17 through #20.
May 17, 2008
FTOPS VIII Series Almost Over - Main Event Looming.
I’ve been really busy the past few days so I really didn’t want to spend too much time recapping the prizepools and the drama that is FTOPS VIII. So I took a little screen shot over at Full Tilt Poker’s website for Events #17 through #20 that show the eventual winner and total cash guaranteed.
Below is a mini-breakdown of each event. It includes the host details, game and buy-in, total entrants, and of course the winners of each.
Enjoy!
High Stakes Poker Making An Exit From GSN?
May 16, 2008
Popular High Stakes TV Show Rumored to be Removed From GSN.
High Stakes Poker, one of the most popular poker programs on television today, is rumored to be on the chopping block over at GSN - also known as the Game Show Network.
The show, which is hosted by Gabe Kaplan and AJ Benza, has been a ratings hit for the network, so it’s a bit unusual why such a program may be slated for removal.
Pokerati first broke the story regarding a possible exit for High Stakes Poker, noting that the show normally began taping in March or April in previous seasons - something it DID NOT do for 2008.
They got the following quote from a reliable source concerning the possible cancellation:
“Far as Gabe and I know….the show isnt coming back. Apparently…the network is going to go in a different direction and that aint good news for our show, especially since we skew a higher-aged audiuence. Never mind that we’re the network’s No. 1 show. Still and all, no one calls us from the network to say squat. Only Kevin Bellincoff checks in periodically, but it just don’t seem like good news. If you ask me…they’re treating us like shit. All we ever did was make them a bunch of money. “
It is unknown when the rumor will actually be address by network executives at GSN, if indeed there is any merit to it. However, judging from the above quote from AJ Benza the future doesn’t look so positive.
In any case, I’m wondering myself that if High Stakes Poker did indeed get pulled from the GSN lineup which network would pick up the show. With ESPN putting in so much marketing dollars into the World Series of Poker, there could be quite an investment opportunity for a show that’s brought in the world’s best cash game specialists playing for millions of real money.
PokerOwnage.com will bring more about this story as its reported.
Charles Barkley To Pay Up $400,000 Debt to the Wynn Casino.
May 15, 2008
Hall of Fame Basketball Player Owed FOUR $100k Markers to the Wynn.
It was revealed earlier in the week that Hall of Fame NBA star Charles Barkley was in some very hot water with the world-renown Wynn Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And when I say hot, I mean $400,000 in debt kind of “hot.”
Legal representatives of the Wynn Casino, which is owned by hotel mogul Steve Wynn, filed a civil complaint this past Wednesday trying to get recourse for the money that was owed up to them by Barkley himself. The Las Vegas Sun got wind of the complaint and made the story public, funneling an array of media bombs that has people now wondering if the former NBA superstar may be broke.
“My mistake,” Barkley said in an interview at a pro-am golf tournament in Hoover, Alabama - “I’m not broke, and I’m going to take care of it.” In a radio interview that conducted the morning after the complaint, Barkley went on to say that “it’s my fault I let the time lapse. I screwed up.”
The $400k that the Wynn Casino was looking to recoup were from 4 separate $100k markers (loans) that Charles Barkley had received last October. He’s made it very apparent he loves to gamble, and has made it publicly known through ESPN that he’s gambled away more than $10 million in losses.
Clark County prosecutors may grant Barkley up to 6 months to pay back the loan, but according to him he’ll most likely write them a check for the amount in full. Failure to pay could result in up to 10 felony counts against the basketball great-turned-sports commentator.
“I’ve been gambling 20 years. I’ve never had this happen before.”
Well Chuck, there’s a first time for everything, right?
For more gambling news, please visit our global Australian Poker buddies too.
Quick Recap of FTOPS VIII Events #13 through #16.
May 15, 2008
Breakdown of Last 4 Events From Full Tilt Online Poker Series VIII.
Over the past couple of days Full Tilt Poker has been very busy with Events #13, #14, #15 and #16 coming to an end. Below is a quick summary of each event, along with the prizepool and the winners. Each FTOPS champion will receive a special gold Full Tilt avatar on the site, as well as a special custom-made gold jersey sent to their residence.
Tournament and Total Prizepool: FTOPS VIII Event #13 - $303,500
Buy-in and Game: $500 + $35 H.O.R.S.E.
Entrants: 607
Winner: the aviator1 - $70,381.65
Tournament and Total Prizepool: FTOPS VIII Event #14 - $428,000
Buy-in and Game: $200 + $16 No Limit Hold Em (Turbo)
Entrants: 2,140
Winner: dud711 - $87,290.60
Tournament and Total Prizepool: FTOPS VIII Event #15 - $186,400
Buy-in and Game: $200 + $16 HA Pot-Limit
Entrants: 932
Winner: Siggen - $42,872.00
Tournament and Total Prizepool: FTOPS VIII Event #16 - $1,132,800
Buy-in and Game: $300 + $22 No Limit Hold Em
Entrants: 1,072
Winner: stuckmyass - $236,188.80
Bluff Media Acquires -Woman Poker Player Magazine-
May 14, 2008
Popular Poker Media Company Increases Publication Portfolio.
Bluff Media, the brainchild behind Bluff Magazine and new home of ThePokerDB, has once again made big strides to increase their already-stacked media profile.
In an impressive move that will undoubtedly bolster their company, Bluff recently purchased Woman Poker Player Magazine.
The woman’s poker magazine has had a profound impact on the industry and the game of poker as a whole in recent years.
“Woman Poker Player magazine was founded as a vehicle for the encouragement of women to play poker. At that time women were only representing about ten percent of live players, and this is no longer the case,” said Maryann Morrison, publisher of Woman Poker Player.
Now women poker players have sprung up more and more in some of the biggest tournaments around the U.S. and the world over. Over the past 2 years, the increase in women in the game has made many of their male counterparts think twice about who truly is the dominant sex when it comes to poker.
“We’re very happy to accept Woman Poker Player’s readers into the Bluff community,” said Eric Morris, co-president and publisher of Bluff Media. “As women are beginning to make up a larger percentage of the overall player base it’s important that our magazine properly reflects this and we feel that this move does just that.”
To find out more information about this acquisition, you can visit BluffMedia.com or WomanPokerPlayer.com.
Don’t forget, you can also get some pretty decent rakeback offers by visiting our partner’s sites.
Curse of Shana Hiatt Haunts World Poker Tour…Again.
May 14, 2008
Layla Keyleigh Booted As WPT Hostess.
Let’s face it. The World Poker Tour just hasn’t been the same since Shana Hiatt was relieved of her hostess duties right after season 3. It’s unclear if the curse of Shana Hiatt (pictured, left) will EVER lifted off the shoulders of the WPT.
Since Shana, three other women have tried - and failed miserably, unfortunately - to take her place.
Courtney Friel (season IV), Sabina Gadecki (season V), and now Layla Kayleigh (season VI) have all been let go after just single-season gigs on the one of the world’s reigning television poker programs.
The WPT issued the following statement regarding the release of Kayleigh:
“Layla Kayleigh brought great edge, wit, and personality to the World Poker Tour as hostess in Season VI, and we sincerely wish her well as she continues to explore her TV career. We are currently casting for the Season VII TV hostess role, and look forward to introducing her to everyone soon.”
There are no current front-runners for the season VII hostess job, although it’s being rumored that the WPT’s very own Kimberly Lansing may be in line for the position. Lansing handles the online reporting portion of the WPT and is one of the more popular reporters on the poker circuit.
Poker After Dark Featuring a Unique Set of Pros This Week.
May 14, 2008
Producers To Show “Love is in the Air” Week on NBC.
NBC’s hit late-night poker show, “Poker After Dark,” is one of those poker shows that really knows how to switch things up for its audience.
The producers are very well-known for shaking up the program with different themes, as well as inviting a lot of different poker pros to play on the popular TV show.
This week will be no different according to P.A.D.’s directors.
Utilizing the theme “Love is in the Air,” show execs are going to be featuring poker’s “power couples” on Poker After Dark this week.
The $20,000 buy-in event will showcase couples Marco Traniello and Jennifer Harman, Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly, as well as David Benyamine and Erica Shoenberg all battling it out for the $120,000 first-place prize.
Each segment of this special tournament will be shown through May 17th, 2008.
WPT Spanish Championship Set To Start May 23rd.
May 14, 2008
Casino Barcelona Will Be Hosting World Poker Tour Event.
The Main Event will have a buy-in of $8,433 and is expected to last several days before the final table is set and completed. It is unknown just how many entrants the WPT is expecting for this event, but the figure should be in the high hundreds, if not more.
Satellites are going to be running non-stop for a few days leading up to the WPT Spanish Championship’s start date of May 23rd. For more information, please visit WorldPokerTour.com.
