McLean Karr has become a regular face on the EPT, so much so that’s he’s beginning to blend into the crowd. That’s no mean feat for a tall guy with a lot of table chat. At EPT Madrid he seemed to merge identities with Kevin MacPhee, although that didn’t seem to help him as he bubbled the main event, and last night, as he stood smoking on his balcony, we had trouble deciding if it was Karr, a PokerStars events manager or a blogger for PokerNews.

Karr, who has $2,228,390 of live tournament winnings to his name, is currently navigating his way through this Day 1A with around 15,900 of his starting 30,000 stack left but appears to be remaining active. This should come as little surprise given that at EPT Madrid he more than proved he’s not someone willing to weakly limp into the money.

McLean Karr grinding at EPT Campione

“I think the cut-off opened and I had fives in the small blind,” started Karr, talking through the hand that saw him bubble EPT Madrid little more than a week ago, “I had about 30 blinds, he opened as a big stack on the bubble, I had a pair and thought that three-bet calling would put me in a worse place against his range. I thought that it was better, slightly more profitable to shove there than fold or three-bet call.”

After shuffling to the side of the tournament floor to avoid a legion of Italians pushing through for the break, Karr continued: “He’d opened every now and then from late position and with the bubble dynamics I thought it was a good place to shove but as it was he had tens.”

You’re shoving more liberally than most in that situation. Is it because you’ve played so many events and had a lot of success already?

“Yeah, sure. Once you get used to playing events a little more you get used to viewing the chips as chips rather than as real tangible money at the time. Sure they represent equity but there’s a certain detachment that you need, some people are born with but others have to learn through experience.

Karr bubbling EPT Madrid

“When you play you have to think ‘What is the right mathematical play here?’ and do the strategy in your head. Since I’ve got the experience playing lots of bubbles it’s easier for me to carry through with a play that I may think is right rather than get scared and fold. Over time you can develop the temerity to shove the 30 big blinds.”

Karr has a large embossed ring, one of those popular in the States to celebrate sporting achievements, such as winning the Super Bowl. Well, that’s as far as I understood it. They’re called class rings supposedly, something we don’t get in Europe.

“It’s from the United States Air Force Academy,” said Karr, twisting his fist inwards and upwards to look down at the ring. “I graduated from there in 2004, it’s the Air Force’s version of West Point (a school for officer candidates). After that I was an Air Force officer for a little time. It’s something that you get at the end of your third year.”

The ring of which we speak…

Most, however, do not come with a diamond ring set into the centre of the bezel.

“The stone in here is actually from the ring that my dad originally proposed to my mum with. Since then he’s upgraded her so he’s given it to me to keep it in the family. It’s got sentimental value on several levels.”

Karr, who plays online at PokerStars under the name PureProfitFo , has just one EPT main event cash to his name, a 60th place finish at the EPT Grand Final last season for €20,000 (he was knocked out with tens to the jacks of runner-up Torsten Brinkmann’s jacks). But EPTs aren’t just about the mains anymore. Karr took down the £10,000 High Roller Turbo at EPT London Season 6 for £270,500, helping him considerably on his way to winning $872,572 on this side of the Atlantic over the last two years. While EPT main event success has thus far eluded him, you can’t help feeling a deep run is just around the corner. So what does he think of differences between North American and European tourneys?

“European events right now tend to have really great numbers. They also tend to skew a little bit younger than other events, which can be good and bad. It can mean that you have a lot of those kids that have that detachment, they’re still young and don’t have responsibilities. If they lose the money, ‘Oh, it’s poker, it’s fun money and I can go home and live with my parents.’ So you have a little more aggression here than you do in the States. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better or worse. It can mean it’s trickier. In the States it’s skewed a little older so there’s guys waiting for perhaps a slightly tighter range of hands.”

Karr adopting the MacPhee

And the real McCoy MacPhee

Although he’s had plenty of success in tournaments he’s not a one trick pony, as he leans on cash games, frequently PLO, to buffer the dry patches on tour.

“Yeah, absolutely I play cash games frequently at stops. If you bust early or there’s no side event that you want to play it’s a great way to get a useful full day’s work in. On the EPT (I’ve come out on top) but this year so far I’ve had a rough time thanks to Australia but that’s how it goes sometimes. You can’t win at every stop, especially if you’re playing high variance games like Omaha. You have to embrace the swings.”

Coming from a guy who’s happy to follow his read by shoving thirty big blinds on the bubble with pocket fives, you know that’s he’s as good as his word. That variance is bound to throw Karr’s name into the final 24 soon and with three main events left, it could yet be this season.

Tournament snapshot
Level 6: blinds 200-400, ante 50
Players: 150 of 178
Click here for live coverage and more features.

Tags: Asia Pacific Poker Tour | facebook | france | napt | online-poker | pokerstars | russian poker series | SCOOP | Super Tuesday | tcoop | videos

There are downsides to being a Team PokerStars Pro. Like, you have to do constant media interviews, be nice to fans, or show up early to tournaments for press conferences. There are probably more bad things, but you get the gist. Being a Team PokerStars Pro means a lot of the personal time you might normally spend counting your money is spent doing stuff that can get tiresome.

But for all that mundane stuff, there is stuff like this:

Not only do you get free buy-ins to poker tournaments, not only do you get all kinds of great travel experiences and fantastic hotels, not only do you get the admiration and love of poker players around the world, but you also get to do fun stuff a lot of regular Joes don’t get to do.

To wit, this:

That’s what the Team PokerStars Pros here in Brazil did last night. Because PokerStars is nice, and because the Team Pros are Team Pros, these folks got some really high-dollar tickets to the Sombodromo. Sitting in the Brahama Beer box last night would’ve normally cost them almost as much as the buy-in to this tournament.

Tickets to the Sombodromo are not only really expensive, but they are also hard to come by. They’re not really the type of things you just go and pick up from the box office.

“It’s like trying to get a ticket for the Super Bowl on the day of the Super Bowl,” one friend told me last night.

But PokerStars got it done, and for the Team Pros, it was just another night on the town.

Well, that’s not exactly true. Even Daniel Negreanu–a man who can pretty much buy whatever he wants whenever he wants it–described his chance to see the Carnival parades as “amazing” and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This little trip down to Brazil seems to have answered an oft-asked question: “What do you get the Team Pro who has everything?”

Answer: A seat in the Sambodromo.

Tags: australia | eureka poker tour | italian | lapt | latin-america | napt | news | pokerstars macau | SCOOP | videos | World Series of Poker

Though most people outside of North America refer to it as American football, the game’s championship game is a worldwide event. Tens of millions of people around the world tuned in last night for the National Football League’s Super Bowl. While it was a big deal, it was just background noise for the thousands of people focused on winning big money on Sunday.

As the day kicked off with some big Sunday majors, more than 3,600 people showed up for the Sunday Warm-Up. When it was done, MarinaBalbes was rolling in some new cash. You can check out that final table report here: MarinaBalbes makes nearly $100K for Sunday Warm-Up victory.

A little bit later in the night, the Sunday Million final table popped up with a bunch of people looking to lock up some big cash. The final result was a six-way deal and a champion named MatejK992SLO. You can read the whole story right here: MatejK992SLO slowly but surely won $177K for Sunday Million success.

2-5-12 Sunday Million final table

For a full rundown of all the big winners from the weekend, check out the 2-5-12 PokerStars Sunday major results.

Good luck in the coming week.

Tags: australia | belgian poker series | entertainment | ept | russian poker series | SCOOP | tournaments | twitter | videos | world cup of poker | World Series of Poker

It’s the mark of a true champion: to master online poker, almost redrawing it in your own image, before transferring that gift to the live poker stage while the eyes of the world are watching. Not only that; only a true champion could do this against the best opposition, themselves labelled with the accolades of greatness, and on one of poker’s biggest arenas.

Among observers of the Super High Roller event this week many thought they could see a noticeable difference in Viktor “Isildur1″ Blom, a more measured style and a boldness in his play; as well as a new look.

Viktor Blom

Gone was Blom’s matted sweep of hair, replaced instead by a neat and washed trim. It was enough to make some players look twice. Was this the kid so feared online? Well yes it was, but suddenly he didn’t seem like such a kid anymore.

In the 12 months since Blom was unveiled as “Isildur1″ in this very room, the young Swede took to the live scene in much the same way he tackled it online, with a reckless, often casual abandon that was almost impossible for opponents to counter. But it was a strategy with weaknesses, and 2011 proved scant on reward.

Now though, like a golfer taking time to perfect a new swing, or a Major League starter adding a new pitch to his repertoire, Blom has developed a new method that may now conquer this new domain of his.

Comfortable in this polished aptitude, Blom was crowned winner of the $100,000 Super High roller event tonight, defeating former EPT winner Mike McDonald, a former PCA winner in Galen Hall, a former World Champion Jonathan Duhamel and Daniel Negreanu who has, like Blom, shaped modern poker. Today you might say the Swede stepped out of the Isildur shadow, becoming Viktor Blom, and picking up $1,254,400 and a Shamballa Jewels bracelet in the process.

Blom wins

“It feels really good,” said Blom. “I have never done this well in any tournament before, and I’m really lucky to do so well in this specific tournament. I have worked on my tournament play. In all the tournaments I played last year, I played bad. It feels good to succeed.

“I really appreciate this win, and I love the Bahamas,” he said, before adding. “It’s sick.”

“It feels even better to win here, at this time, at this place. After the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, I’ll be taking it easy for awhile, and then I’ll travel to a few upcoming EPT’s. I’m looking forward to it. After that, I’ll take a vacation for awhile.”

To Negreanu it must have served as a chilling reminder of how the game is changing. To his credit (Negreanu himself is the player of his generation) he’ll likely adapt in any way he has to in order to keep his edge. But it will be the likes of Blom showing the way.

It was a final that proved typical of high stakes events such as this.

Daniel Negreanu

In the first session nobody wasted any time making their intentions clear. The three remaining pre-bubble players – Humberto Brenes, Mike McDonald and Scott Seiver- swiftly despatched.

Mike McDonald

The day then continued with gusto; Negreanu went in fifth before Duhamel, who if you remember had been one of two players to re-buy, departed in fourth (making $113,600 on his initial $200,000 investment).

Jonathan Duhamel

It left the final three, a trio who chose to dig in and prove themselves immoveable for the hours following.

Play goes three-handed

With the clock striking 8.30pm the deadlock was finally broken. The lead had been slowly shifting; first into the hands of Blom and then to Dan Shak. Hall, who was looking to add 2012 Super High Roller success to his main event title of 2011, was left the short stack and got his chips in when he found pocket nines in the hole.

Galen Hall

Having started the day as chip leader he’d at least made it to the money, but now his day was at an end, owing partly to Blom’s momentum and partly to the aces he’d just found.

Hall had fallen two places short of a remarkable back-to-back, but this was proof enough that the reigning main event champion is on top of his game with some thirty-odd events left to play at this year’s PCA.

Shak himself would be no mere formality for Blom to despatch.

Dan Shak

The American is a regular figure in high roller events and has ‘previous’, winning the $100,000 at the Aussie Millions back in 2010. Would it be a fight of age over youth? Perhaps it would be more about gritty determination against the flash and bang of the internet generation?

Play goes heads-up

Either way their heads-up was brief, the chips going in within minutes of play restarting.

With a board showing [9d][7c][6h][qh], Shak shoved with [ah][5h] while Blom called with [kc][qs]. With just a river to come there was nothing to challenge Blom’s destiny, the [4s] delighting Blom’s supporters on the rail.

How did Blom react to what would serve as a coming of age moment, and one of vindication? It was like watching old footage of the sportsmen from the fifties, those refreshing clips of Super Bowls being won and perfect games pitched, marked by nothing more than a handshake and a pat on the back. There were no histrionics. Blom simply smiled, stood up and shook Shak’s hand.

Shak congratulates Blom

Blom seemed taller somehow, older perhaps, but showed no sign of relief or exhilaration. He plays poker to win, something he does regularly. Why should this be any different?

Grinning broadly, he looked at his friends and pointed at the door, the tiredness across his face, leaving the stage to the random congratulations of strangers, all of which he seemed genuinely grateful for.

A hug for Viktor

For Shak the sizeable consolation of second place and a cheque worth $846,700. For Blom a trophy, some (perhaps unwanted) attention, and a turning point. We may have seen something special today, witnessed a paradigm change for a game constantly evolving.

Super High Roller champion Viktor Blom

For now we’ll settle for the first champion of this year’s PCA – Viktor Blom
Thanks for following the Super High Roller coverage on the PokerStars Blog, more of which can be looked back on from today. If this isn’t enough don’t forget that coverage of the Main Event continues elsewhere on the blog.

Goodnight from Paradise Island.

All photography &copy Joe Giron/www.joegironphotography.com

Tags: australia | bahamas | Baltic Poker Festival | Battle of the Planets | delicious | gambling | harrah's | napt | russian poker series | sports | TOC | UKIPT

By Pauly
New York City

Time flies, eh? Hard to believe that 2012 is around the corner, but I’m kinda glad that 2011 is over. This year was one of the roughest, saddest, and most excruciating that I experienced since I ventured into the poker world. I can only be optimistic about the future, because it can’t get any worse… right?

Without further ado, here’s the best of the Tao of Poker…

* * *

January 2010

God’s Cell Phone Number – Things got a little crazy while betting on the NFL playoffs and I successfully pulled off a Band of Brothers reference…

Sometimes I refer to God as Gretzky. At least, that’s what I have him labeled on my cell phone. I’d hate for someone to steal my phone and than have a direct number to God. Hence, why He’s coded as GRETZKY. He doesn’t gives those out to anyone. It’s one of the perks of attending a Jesuit high school. You learn Latin, Greek, and get God’s cell phone number… MORE

Dispatches from the PCA: You Enjoy Myself – My lovely girlfriend won a satellite to the Ladies Event, so I flew down to Paradise Island in the Bahamas to attend the PCA as a civilian and professional railbird. I also drunk a shit-ton of rum and gambled at the sports book.

The cabbie pulled into Atlantis and I tipped him fairly decent, enough that he tried to sell me a bag of blow. I politely declined. Do you know the six words that aptly describes cocaine from the Caribbean? Clumps together, but only cut once… MORE

Dispatches from the PCA: Divided Sky – I spent a lot of time watching the Dead People Channel and then hung out on the rail to sweat Change100 during her victorious run in the Ladies Event.

It’s no secret that I feel uncomfortable and unwelcomed at any Ladies Only events because I’m getting thousands of daggers shot at me from evil glances from the players, many of whom on principle hate men, not to mention a slew of female players who think I’m an asshole because my writing glorifies misogyny and the poor treatment of women by condoning prostitution and promoting stripping… MORE

Tao of Pokerati Podcast: Bahama Mama – Change100 Scores Ladies PCA Title – Listen to a super quick podcast that I recorded with Change100 after she beat Lauren Kling heads-up to win the PCA Ladies event.

Looming Municipal Debt Crisis the Key to Online Poker Legislation? – The majority of the states in the union were faced with severe budgetary problems at the start of 2011. I hypothesized that some states will look to legalize online poker in order to make a dent into their ginormous debt obligations.

The future is grim no matter how you look at it. That’s why there’s very little chatter in the media about the looming municipal debt crisis. It’s sort of like an asteroid ready to crash into Earth — it’s much easier to be the ostrich with its head buried in the ground, and let everyone go about their daily lives, rather than clue them in on the reality of the situation and that the end of the world could be right around the corner…MORE

Dan Shak’s Hedge Fund Nearly Blows Up the Gold Market – Speaking of finance… did you hear the one about Dan Shak nearly causing a financial tsunami?

Talk about a trader who has a set of titanium balls! That’s what I love about Dan Shak — he made a ballsy trade, it went south, he cut his losses, shrugged it off, and wants to get back in the game… MORE

Eight Voices and a Sea of Trouble – I broke down the eight different voices inside my head that often get me into gambling trouble.

Accessing the future for my own financial gain is an unattainable pipe dream. I meet people all the time in Vegas and in poker circles who claim that have foolproof systems for blackjack, roulette, the horses, stock options, etc. I’ve met lots of shit-talkers, but I’ve never crossed paths with a legitimate psychic who can accurately predict the future. Believe me, I scoured the world for a seer and found lots of charlatans, but came up empty…MORE

* * *
February 2010

Your Hands and Feet Are Mangos, Part 1 – For one week, I conducted an experiment — do nothing except drink rum and bet on sports.

In the last few years, what used to be a ravenous love affair with sports betting had become a coarse, listless, co-dependent relationship. Each bet used to be like riding a rollercoaster for two hours while jacked up on cocaine. But not anymore because watching each game was more like being prisoner on a cruise ship adrift in stormy seas that’s inducing you to puke your nads out….MORE

Your Hands and Feet Are Mangos, Part 2 – Here’s the second and final installment of my rum-inspired sports betting diaries, which started out as a social experiment but over a long weekend, I nearly lost my shirt on college hoops and had an accident that left our kitchen floor all… sticky.

“Good news and bad news,” I barked and then inspected my soaked jeans. “Bad news is that the kitchen floor is pink and sticky. Good news is that thanks to the supreme technological advances in developing plastics, the shatter-proof bottle prevented the rum from exploding.”…MORE

Syracuse Point-Shaving Rumors Debunked; Major College Basketball Betting Scandal Averted? – The Syracuse point-shaving rumors blew up overnight and what would have just been whispers among paranoid bettors, until it became a national scandal.

College athletes have become pawns for corporate entities. All of those annoying redundant commercials during March Madness made you nauseous, but it’s a clear indication at the significant money that is thrown around by major advertisers. Someone is making a buck on college athletes, everyone except the athletes themselves….MORE

Tao of Pokerati Podcast: Exotic Betting on the Super Bowl with Change100 – I recorded a quick podcast with my girlfriend, who was excited to bet on how long it was going to take Christina Aguilera to sing the National Anthem.

Live Sumo Is Rigged – If you didn’t know, the national sport of Japan has a shady past of rigging matches.

Taking a dive was a dishonor yourself, let alone a sincere dishonor to the entire Sumo community of wrestlers, trainers, promoters, fans, and even the guy who gets paid to wipe the arses of ginormous wrestlers…. MORE

The Bluff Power 20; Howard Lederer Has the Juice – Howard Lederer was named the most powerful person in poker.

Deadhead. Former bookie. Poker pro. Online poker visionary. Top dog. Top gun. King of the Hill. The Godfather… MORE

* * *
March 2011

Closing the Sahara – I took a walk down memory lane when I found out that the Sahara Casino in Las Vegas was closing its doors.

Las Vegas rose up out of the nothingness of the sand. A former Mormon missionary outpost had transformed into a gambling Mecca by gangsters, real estate developers, and bankers. Mecca is actually an inappropriate word to describe Las Vegas because there’s nothing religious about a pilgrimage to modern day Sodom and Gomorrah — the epicenter for the orgy of consumption… MORE

Orphaned Cards – I cannot explain why, but sometimes I find random cards in the middle of the street.

Rolling Out the Magic – If I was a TV exec and I could rig a final table, I’d pick nine specific personality types.

Television executives in poker are faced with two rigorous obstacles: 1) inaction at the tables, and 2) lack of stimulating dialogue. Both are detrimental to ratings. Lackadaisical ratings gave poker a blemish, which is why the suits in charge of programming banished poker to uncoveted late night slots, where stoners and insomniacs alike watched with an indifferent glaze. The few remaining programs were lost in the shuffle at the farthest ends of the satellite spectrum, embroiled in fierce competition against 1,000 other stations…. MORE

Sweating Sachin Tendulkar – New low as a degen gambler… I bet on cricket.

Despite being plagued with a short attention span, an 8-hour sporting event like cricket is a definite commitment, both physically and mentally, but due to medical breakthrough and advances in technology, 8-hour long cricket matches are conductive if you have proclivities to specific time-released pharmaceuticals…. MORE

* * *
April 2011

Down With Diseased Monkeys – I began the month betting on baseball and went on a horrid losing streak.

Sports betting is a huge life leak, but it’s also a life sweetener, or a bottle of hot sauce that spruces up mundane aspects of daily life, which is why it’s inherently dangerous. Finding the perfect balance between entertainment, merriment, stroking the ego is essential to healthy lifestyle. It’s when you cross over the proverbial demarcation line in the murky, cloudy grey area that you takes strides away from the light and rush toward the dark…. MORE

Black Friday, Vampire Squids, and 1,000 Masturbating Monkeys – I was in Lima, Peru when Black Friday hit and waited until after I finished climbing Machu Picchu before I wrote about my take on the worst day in the history of online poker.

What was the point of even sending the PPA to Washington? Instead, we should have sent a hundred masturbating chimpanzees to lobby for online poker — they would have accomplished the same fucking thing as the PPA, but at least we’d have some cool YouTube videos of monkeys jerking off on the steps of the Capitol…. MORE

* * *
May 2011

Aunt Emma – Another installment of the infamous Pai Gow Diaries.

A disheveled woman sat down next to me. She wore a green terry cloth jacket. For a second I thought she walked into the casino wearing her bath robe. But she smelled like she had slept in her car, woke up, blew a snot rocket, smoked the ends of three week-old cigarette butts, then walked over to the Pai Gow table…. MORE

PokerStars Offices Raided in Costa Rica – I just happened to know a few friends in Costa Rica who were around when the federales raided the San Jose offices of online poker rooms.

Black Friday Fallout: Offshore Sportsbooks Fleeing U.S. Soil – The sportsbetting industry also took a hit when they experienced residual fallout from Black Friday.

14 Fun Moments from the 2010 WSOP and 14 More Fun Moments at the 2010 WSOP – I was reminiscing about some fun times I had in the summer of 2010.

Fading the Rapture – I love betting against Jesus Freaks, especially those predicting specific dates for Armageddon.

Glow in the Dark Dragons – And what’s the WSOP without kicking it off by going on dealer tilt at a Pai Gow table?

The new line of Pai Gow bots will not arrive until late in 2011, which means I only have to deal with older version, which are prone to glitches and the occasional error. I guess that’s the only good thing to come out of the Japan quake. Sure, Japan is drowning in radiation soup while traces of radioactive material flutter its way toward North American airspace, but at least I won’t have to worry about an upgraded version of the Pai Gow bots…. MORE

* * *
June 2011 and August 2011

Thanks to Alexander, I got to be on the cover of The Circuit. here’s my interview…

I covered my 7th World Series of Poker on Tao of Poker. Here’s the index of coverage…

Let’s start with a couple of posts that were published before cards went in the air on Day 1. Among those were a few tidbits about the Ivey/Full Tilt lawsuit.

2011 WSOP: Before the Madness Begins – A prelude to the seven-week fiesta of poker.

WTF? Phil Ivey Suing Full Tilt Poker – In one of the most peculiar news stories since Black Friday, Phil Ivey announced he was leaving Full Tilt, suing Tiltware, and sitting out of the WSOP. All of these important announcements were made on his Facebook fan page. Whaaaaa?

Full Tilt’s Angry Response to Phil Ivey’s Lawsuit – The drama-filled start to the WSOP continued with an angry response from Full Tilt’s HQs. That’s the fastest they ever responded to anything in the wake of Black Friday.

Finding Pil Ivey and the Doctor Is In – The video crew at Bluff Magazine did an awesome job with their videos this summer, especially the bit Finding Ivey. I got tapped to tape an interview and you can see a teaser in this video.

The Circuit Cover and Interview – I was fortunate that Alexander asked me to be a part of his amazing photo project — The Circuit. Check out what went down behind the scenes during the photo shoot, including a candid interview about what life is really like on the road following around the tournament circuit.

Okay, and now here are the daily recaps from the 2011 WSOP…

Day 1: Welcome to the Jungle and Phil Ivey’s Titanium Balls – The 2011 WSOP kicked off with lots of questions swirling around about which pros would toe the company line and support Full Tilt Poker, and which red pros would ditch the patches and other FT branding. Phil Ivey fired the first shot with his lawsuit (announced via Facebook), but did he incite a mutiny with other red pros following his lead?

Day 2: Ivey’s Hippodrome and Bare-Chested Scandis – Gus Hansen wandering around with his shirt undone and the ongoing saga between Phil Ivey and Full Tilt were among the more dramatic topics on the second day of action.

Day 3: Moneymaker and Johnny Fucking Chan Win Grudge Matches and Men the Master Cheating Accusations – A Made-for-TV event occupied the Mothership with Chris Moneymaker and Johnny Fucking Chan winning their Main Event “grudge matches”. Meanwhile, in the real WSOP, Men the Master was the center of hurricane of shadiness when he hypocritically accused Hollywood Dave of shorting a pot. A shouting match ensued and both were on the verge of being disqualified.

Day 4: Jake Cody’s Emos, Hooligans, and Hat Tricks – Jack Cody, the latest British wunderkind made history when he became only the third member of the Triple Crown club. His victory did not come without a little rail rowdiness along the way.

Day 5: Apocalypse Now (Guest Post by Change100) – Yes, I had the day off and Change100 stepped up to pen an atmospheric piece on the tension in the air at the start of the 2011 WSOP — the first series in the wake of Black Friday and “money getting stuck on Full Tilt” fiasco.

Day 6: Ho-most for Maria Ho – The lovely Maria Ho went deep in the 5K NL event and came within one spot of winning her first bracelet.

Day 7: British Invasion, Vampire Squids, and the Devil – After the first week of nonstop poker, the first zombie begin to appear at the Rio. The zombies in turn attract the Devil along with treacherous vampire squids.

Day 8: The Marked Cards Conspiracy and the Last 5 Pros I Pissed Next To – It’s not the WSOP unless there’s a controversy involving the cards. There’s always something wrong with the decks. At the 2011 WSOP, a couple of the decks had a printing error that was only visible underneath the groovy purple grow-lights inside the Mothership.

Day 9: Cocking Blocking the Brits – The Brits launched an all-out assault on Las Vegas once again as they threatened to win another bracelet but the bloody 10-level rule was the only thing that prevented them from shipping another bracelet.

Day 10: Banning Booze, World Series of Mormons, and Sweating the Mavs – Despite the financial woes bringing America to the brink of ruin, the WSOP continued to thrive in the face of external adversity on both the political and financial fronts. The influx of players always brought with it a wave of fervor on the rail during final tables. The powers to be did not anticipate a Mardi Gras-like atmosphere inside the Mothership that is a fragile TV set and not a country-western bar. As a result, booze was officially banned at the final table.

Day 11: Social Media in Poker and Tex Dolly Blows Chunks – The poker world has changed for the better (or worst) because of the heavy influence of social media. Oh, and we found out through Twitter that Texas Dolly got ill during the middle of a tournament because of something he ate.

Day 12: Hellmuth Chokes and Prohibition Ends at the Mothership – Phil Hellmuth was on a mission to win his 12h bracelet, yet his attempt was thwarted. Meanwhile, much to the delight of the alkies in Vegas, booze was permitted to be consumed inside the Mothership. Yes, the short-lived prohibition was over.

Day 13: Tweaker City, USA – I experienced a rather sketchy encounter in the parking lot at the Gold Coast while hanging out with Benjo.

Day 14: Subterranean Homesick Alien and Brits Snag Third Bracelet – By the end of the second week of the WSOP, everyone is ridden with homesickness. Despite the malaise, another Brit won a bracelet, meanwhile, we decided to pay homage to old school Vegas with a trip downtown to where it all began — Binion’s.

Day 15: Triple ElkY and The Mark is the 22nd Best PLO Player in the World – The French surged during the beginning of the third week of the series. They won three bracelets in a short period of time and ElkY became only the fourth player to win the Triple Crown. Meanwhile, a close friend of the Tao of Poker went deep in a PLO event. Yeah, The Mark fell short of his first WSOP final table.

Day 16: Le Deux; French Snag 2 Bracelets in 24 Hours – The French surge continued with their second bracelet within a 24-hour period.

Day 17: Mike Sexton Heads-Up for Bracelet and Liquidating the Sahara – The Ambassador of Poker, Mike Sexton, went deep in the Stud 8 event, only to have it suspended due to the 10-level rule. Sexton was heads-up when his tournament was halted. Meanwhile, the big liquidation sale at the Sahara kicked off. Jerome and Camille shot a stunning video of that dreary sale day.

Day 18: No Country For Old Men; Barry Greenstein and Mike Sexton Denied Bracelets – Two poker greats came very close to winning bracelets, yet they fell short of the mark. In addition, the Senior’s Event kicked off with everyone standing to attention when the Stars and Stripes were played.

Day 19: The Donkenator and Eating Death – Dominating a donkaments are never an easy task. Woever wins that bracelet damn well deserves it. I delve a bit into Milton’s Paradise Lost in this recap. Enter at your own risk.

Day 20: The Egregious Case of the $9 Pizza and Stein Shines – It was a matter of time before I went off on an old-fashioned anti-food rant because of the horrendous $9 pizza that the Poker Kitchen tries to pass off as a culinary delight.

Day 21: A Day in the Life; Hellmuth Denied 12th Bracelet (Again) – This is my favorite piece of the summer, mainly because most of the hijinks happened outside the Amazon Ballroom that eventually morphed into my first Memento moment of the WSOP. Anyway, I went on a classic bender at the Gold Coast while Phil Hellmuth went deep once again and tried to win bracelet #12.

Day 22: Slowdown, Rocky Mountain High, and Chau Giang Confirmed Alien – The WSOP caught its breath at the start of the fourth week of play, while I determined that Chau Giang is really an alien.

Day 23: Timex Flashback, Jason Mercier Wins PLO Bracelet, and More Sordid Tales About Chasing the Dragon – I squeezed in a little personal Pai Gow degeneracy in between a recap about Jason Mercier’s victory in the PLO event along with a flashback about the origins of Timex.

Day 24: Dwan Song, Revelry, and Hooligans – Whenever Tom “durrrr” Dwan makes a final table, the entire poker world stops to watch. With a few million in prop bets on the line, Dwan’s final tables always have an added element of excitement. Alas, it was the Brits who sucked up all of the attention in the Amazon Ballroom as they railed their boy Middy and even drank Jager bombs out of their shoes.

Day 25: Rubber Soul, Electric Daisies, and Two-Tabling Pai Gow – The Electric Daisy Carnival swept through Vegas and a quarter million ravers invaded Sin City. Fabrice Soulier shipped a bracelet and became the third Frenchie to win one in 2011. Ah, and I also engaged in a live session of Pai Gow again and two-tabled it. I’m lucky I didn’t get 86′d.

Day 26: The Sickness – If you’ve spent a significant amount of time in Las Vegas, then you’ve seen those afflicted with The Sickness. I spoke about some of my experiences with the dreaded disease.

Day 27: Shaking Down Ravers; November Niner Snags Bracelet – I had a situation when I should’ve rolled a couple of schwasted ravers in the elevator, but I couldn’t cross over to the dark side and take advantage of the party people on the last day of the Electric Daisy Carnival.

Day 28: The Glass Onion; Lamb Leads POY – Donkey slayers, Brazilians, and Ben Lamb seizing the top spot in Player of the Year race.

Day 29: Carnival at the Mothership; Akkari Wins Bracelet – I went to cover a final table and a Brazilian soccer match broke out. The Mothership was transformed into a World Cup final when Brazil’s native son Andre Akkari advanced to the final table and was heads-up for a bracelet.

“Vamooooooooooooooo!”
Days 30-33: OFF

Day 34: Happy Birthday, America – On the Fourth of July, America celebrated with its annual Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island. Only in America can we boast about binge eating to celebrate our creation and independence from British tyranny.

Day 35: Catching Up - After a brief holiday away from the Vegas grind, it was time to catch up on everything I missed.

Day 36: Don’t Stop Believen‘ – Hellmuth and the 50K hit a hard stop. Grumbles ensued.

Day 37: Another Runner-Up Finish for Hellmuth; Whiffs on Three Flush Draws to Lose Bracelet#12 – Hellmuth had another disappointing evening after he whiffed on three big flush draws only to lose to Brian Rast, who won his second bracelet in 2011.

* * *

2011 Main Event Coverage

Prelude to the Killing Fields – The 2011 Main Event
With a Little Help From My Friends: The Michael Stevens Story by Change100
Day 38- Main Event Day 1A: Dolly’s Abyss
Day 39 – Main Event Day 1B: Luck Rack of Lamb
Prope Bets with Remkos and Micros WSOP Episode
Day 40 – Main Event Day 1C: One More Saturday Nite
Day 41 – Main Event Day 1D: Spiderman Big Records, Perma-Bans, and 6,865
Day 42 – Main Event Day 2A: Torturing the One-Eyed Clown, Hellmuth Awakes, and the Euro Surge
Day 43 – Main Event Day 2B: Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Day 44 – Main Event Day Off; Annie Duke Wins Media Tournament
Day 45 – Main Event Day 3: Poirier and Jace Are Million Men and Tilt-A-Scandi
Day 46 – Main Event Day 4: Soft Bubbles, Zombie Apocalypse, and the Reincarnation of JRB
Day 47 – Main Event Day 5: There Must Be Some Way Out of Here
The Skinny: Day 6
Day 48 – Main Event Day 6: House of the Rising Sun; NOLA’s Ryan Lenaghan Leads with 57 Remaining
The Skinny: Day 7
Day 49 – Main Event Day 7: Buy the Ticket, Survive the Ride
2011 November Nine Set

* * *

And here’s the Best of Tao of Pokerati… which are some of my favorite episodes of the Tao of Pokerati podcast that Michalski and I recorded from the 2011 WSOP featuring special guests Benjo, Snoopy, KevMath, Remko, and AlCantHang.

Episode 6: Ivey’s Lawyer (4:17) – Dan and Pauly chat about the Ivey drama that transformed the opening days of the WSOP into the “World Series of Phil Ivey.” Dan also shares some inside info on Ivey’s lawyer, renown criminal attorney David Chesnoff.

Episode 7: Sahara Liquidation with Remko and Benjo (6:12) – Benjo and Pauly discussed the Sahara Casino liquidation sale/auction with one of the members of the Dutch press, Remko. Both Remko and Benjo expressed a keen interest in acquiring a slot machine for super cheap, while Pauly has his eyes set on a Pai Gow table. Meanwhile, Benjo and Remko try to figure out how to ship a slot machine from Vegas to France and Holland.

Episode 12: The Tweaker Edition with Benjo (4:02) – Benjo and Pauly hang out at the Gold Coast and watched a tweaker get 86d by security. They later encounter the tweaker in the parking lot, and Benjo asks Pauly for a quick tutorial about the seedy Las Vegas meth scene.

Episode 14: Old School Cheats with Johnny Hughes (6:02) – Pauly sat down and chatted with a special guest — the legendary Johnny Hughes — who has been in poker circles for 50+ years. Pauly asks Johnny to share some stories about old school poker cheats and the “fear” of getting caught, which kept a lot of shady characters in line.

Episode 16: Brickless Cash Games Reprise (3:22) – Dan and Pauly recorded a quick follow-up to their previous episode while they hang out on the rail of the high-stakes cash games. They spot Eskimo Clark, “Cowboy”, and other broke dicks lingering around seeking handouts from the high rollers.

Episode 17: WSOP Fashion Report with KevMath (5:10) – Pauly chats with KevMath, who is a self-described “fashion expert.” The two compare and contrast the different styles of clothing worn by members of the media. KevMath also reveals why he won’t wear shorts.

Episode 19: KevMath Keno System with KevMath (6:01) – Pauly and KevMath hang out at the dive bar in a bowling alley at the Gold Coast. KevMath was in the middle of crushing a video Keno game, when Pauly asked him to share a couple of his big secrets to beating the game.

Episode 20: Adieu, Benjo (8:40) with Benjo – After almost a week of speculation and rumors, Benjo confirms that he’s leaving Las Vegas and heading home to France. His brief stint at the WSOP is officially over. One chapter ends, and a new one begins. Dr. Pauly, Dan and Benjo hang out in the dive bar inside the bowling alley at Gold Coast to listen to Benjo bid his farewells.

Episode 21: New Dynamic Duo with Snoopy (5:59) – Pauly holds auditions for a new sidekick with only one requirement — a outrageous accent. Snoopy, a writer from London, nails the audition. In this episode, they discuss modeling their new dynamic duo on the Batman & Robin television series, in addition to re-locating the Bat Cave to England and installing bat poles in the press box.

Episode 23: Brazil’s Mothership Invasion with AlCantHang (2:50) – Pauly and AlCantHang are on the rail inside the Mothership watching the heads-up battle between American Nachman “The Landlord” Berlin and Brazil’s native son Andre Akkari. Al and Pauly record a quick episode moments after Akkari won a decisive pot to cripple Berlin, and the Brazilians went berserk.

Episode 26: Main Event Begins! (6:34) – The Main Event is upon us and before the cards went in the air, Pauly is hanging out and listening to TD Jack Effel’s long-winded introduction and a quick rundown of the rules to all Main Event players. Jack then introduces Texas Dolly to utter the famous phrase, “Shuffle up and deal!”

Episode 27: Almost Famous with Snoopy (3:32) – While players return to their seats after the dinner break, Pauly and Snoopy notice Jason Alexander posing for pictures with fans. Snoopy explains why Seinfeld wasn’t a big hit in England and Pauly discovers someone dressed as Snow White in the crowd. Pauly also wonders if Snoopy would ever dress up in a costume for the Main Event.

Episode 29: Media Mania and Golden Toilets with Change100 and AlCantHang (3:08) – Pauly is still in the media event, so Change100 takes the opportunity to chat with AlCantHang. They both busted rather early, especially AlCantHang, who won a dubious honor of being the first player to bust out. His reward? A Golden Toiler trophy for last place.

Episode 33: Two Brits, One Irishman with Snoopy (5:09) – Snoopy gives Pauly the latest British report with three tables remaining in the Main Event. Snoopy clues us in on the two Brits (Sam Holden and JP Kelly) still alive along with Eoghan O’Dea from Ireland. Even though O’Dea is Irish, Snoopy and Brits are still keeping an eye on their “adopted” player.

Episode 36: KevMath WSOP Exit Interview with KevMath (8:50) – Kevin “KevMath” Mathers is officially done with his WSOP assignment, but he stopped by the Rio to watch the action on Day 8. He bumped into Pauly, who sat him down to discuss his favorite moments (and least favorite) during his first ever WSOP. Pauly also quizzes him on any strange “fan” encounters along the way.

Episode 37: Pseudo-Final Table (6:02) – Dan and Pauly are on the rail of the Mothership as action resumes for the pseudo-final table of ten, otherwise known as the November Nine bubble. Plenty of tension in the air because the final table will be set with just one more elimination.

Episode 39: Bruno’s New Toy (4:20) – Fun Warren brought a batch of dolls to the WSOP. The dolls, resembling famous poker pros, were custom made in London . He left a couple behind for Pauly and Dan. Pauly got Phil Hellmuth, while Dan seems a little disappointed with Daniel Negreanu. Dan suggests that he’ll probably give the Negreanu’s doll to his dog Bruno, so Bruno will now have a new play toy.

If you want to listen to more episodes from the 2011 WSOP, visit Tao of Pokerati podcast archives.

* * *
August, September, and October 2011

I took three months off and moved to San Francisco. I only posted 19 times in that stretch. Less is more, eh? Here’s a few gems from the hiatus months…

Hot Sauce
A Brief Letter to Full Tilt Poker: Fuck You, Pay Me
Full tilt Ponzi Poker
Rocketman and Welcome to the Ice Palace
The Degen Market
I Didn’t Know I Was That Far Gone
Superstitions, Jinxes, and River Rats

* * *
November 2011

I returned to semi-regular poker writing with the November Nine on the agenda and the conclusion of the 2011 WSOP Main Event Championship.

Betting guide to the 2011 November Nine
2011 November Nine – Sunday LIVE Blog
November Nine Down to Three; Germany’s Pius Heinz = Chip Leader
2011 WSOP November Nine – Tuesday Live Blog
Pius Heinz Wins 2011 WSOP Main Event

Michalski and I also recorded a few special Tao of Pokerati podcasts….

Tao of Pokerati Podcast – 2011 November Nine Edition
Episode 1: Evolution
Episode 2: Naming Names
Episode 3: Betting on Belize
Episode 4: Non-Silence of the Lambs
Episode 5: Giannetti Lives
Episode 6: Quad Lambs
Episode 7: Poker Hall of Fame Ceremony
Episode 8: First Hand Fireworks
Episode 9: Heads-Up Outfits
Episode 10: The Final Hand
Episode 11: Hooker Bar Farewell

* * *
December 2011

The year ended with the annual blogger gathering to Vegas, which inspired a three-part trip report and as the year ended and I began to reflect on 2011, I sounded off on a few topics.

Four Haikus – Lost Vegas
Ocho – WPBT, Part 1
Ocho – WPBT, Part 2
Ocho – WPBT, Part 3
Zombie Poker Apocalypse
Puppeteers of America

* * *
That’s it. The highlights from 2011. I hope you have a happy new year.

And if you like what you read, I encourage you to vote Tao of Poker for Best Poker Blog in Bluff’s Readers Choice Awards. Thanks for your support.

Tags: 2011 wsop | armageddon | deg | elky | gambling | gold | las vegas | On the Road | pius heinz | politics | rise poker | twitter

5.41pm: ‘No more joli’
Lucien Cohen is dancing in his chair singing the same ditty over and over. It goes something like this: “Oo, oo, oooo, pahba ba ba, c’est joli.”

“No more Joli,” said a slightly irritated looking Pieter de Korver, who is currently sat just behind De Korver. The request appears to have been ignored.

Will Fry is up to 240,000 after busting Ivan Freitez. — RD

5.32pm: Lewis and Freitez out
That’s three of this season’s champions that have fallen with Toby Lewis and Ivan Freitez joining Ben Wilinofsky on the rail. That said, Wilinofsky is not on the rail, he’s massaging Anton Wigg. It’s a slightly surreal slight. And Pascal Perrault is also out. — RD

5.26pm: Correction
Make that 43, EPT2 Grand Final winner Jeff Williams is out. — SB

5.25pm: Numbers
44 players remain. — SB

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 600-1,200, ANTE 100

5.20pm: Wigg whams ElkY
Anton Wigg opened in early position, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier raised to 7,200 in the cut off before Wigg raised to 18,700 and ElkY raised again. Wigg shoved for 111,900, ElkY called. It was all very straight forward.

Wigg [qh][qc]
Grospellier [as][kd]

The board came [3s][7d][4c][4d][tc]. Wigg doubles to nearly 230,000. ElkY crippled though, down to 4,500. – SB

5.10pm: One Constant
Constant Rijkenberg and Jason Mercier are now on the “fun” table. Rijkenberg opened a pot for 1,600 from under-the-gun which Alexander Stevic called, as did Mike McDonald on the big blind for a flop of [4s][9h][3h].

McDonald checked, Rijkenberg bet 2,300 and both Stevic and McDonald called for a [9s] turn. Again McDonald checked to Rijkenberg who bet 5,300. Stevic then raised to 12,000 which McDonald raised to 23,200. Rijkenberg passed to Stevic who called for a [4h] river card.

McDonald dumped in another 32,100 into the middle. Stevic tanked, and passed. McDonald, as the rules of the table dictate, showing one card, the [8s]. McDonald up to 115,000. Stevic down to 73,000. – SB

5.08pm: Another faller
EPT Baden champion Julian Thew is out.

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 500-1,000, ANTE 100

5.04pm: Romanello ruining French relations
I’m not entirely sure what’s going on at the TV table but it seems that Roberto Romanello has taken exception to the fact that Jan Boubli isn’t playing truth or dare. Someting to do with top to bottom or bottom to top.

“Sometimes you have to put your foot down in life,” said Romanello trying to force Vicky Coren to badger Boubli into answering. She quickly declined. Lively action which you can follow at EPT Live. — RD

Roberto Romanello

5pm: You can take the boy out of the poker room, but…
During the break I walked past Galen Hall who was saying, without a hint of irony: “Each time you win with seven-deuce you win €700, that’s a third of your tournament equity.” It’s a fair point and also shows how poker players just can’t turn off! — RD

4.52pm: Wilinofksy out
Ben Wilinofsky just ran [ah][kd] into the [ad][ac] of Reuben Peters. No miracle outdraw and Peters chips up to 180,000. — RD

4.42pm: Back into the action
We’ve lost Nicholas Chouity to Michael Tureniec but it was Will Fry who largely did the damage. “I kept donk calling him because he kept paying me off. He said to me, ‘How did you win an EPT?’,” said a very amused Fry, who is now sat on 180,000. — RD

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 400-800, ANTE 50

4.16pm: Eight rooms, three flights of stairs, 1 minute 46 seconds
That is our journey to the CoC room. And what did I see on my most recent trip?

Tim Vance was up on his feet stabbing the air with his sunglasses in the direction of Jens Kyllonen. Vance is quite a character and should he get chips he’ll cause a lot of problems. He’s above his starting now…

Will Fry had spoken to me before the tournament and said that his strategy was basically to wind people up. It seems to be working. He’s up to 160,000 after raking in a pot with a straight against last year’s Grand Final winner Nicholas Chouity who threw his arms up in frustration. “He’s beating me in every pot!” he ranted before telling the table at large the hands Fry has beaten him with.

Jason Mercier has taken the seat vacated by Vladimir Geshkenbein and instantly accepts invitation into the seven-deuce game. — RD

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 300-600, ANTE 50

4.05pm: Geshkenbein out
Geshkenbein is out, all-in against Anton Wigg with only one card of each hand face up, Wigg’s jack to Geshkenbein’s king. Wigg made the flush though, both players turning over sevens, Wigg’s being a crucial spade. Handshakes all round for the entertaining Snowfest winner. We’re already starting to miss him. – SB

Vladimir Geshkenbein

4pm: Geshkenbein playing a blinder
This “last day of term” tournament continues with more commotion on the fun table, where Vladimir Geshkenbein was just all-in. Anton Wigg did the calling, showing a respectable [js][qh]. Geshkenbein was waiting for the cameras to arrive before showing. When he did he turned over [7d][2s].

You’ll be aware by now that there’s a bet going on, worth €100 from each player, to any other player who wins a hand with seven-deuce. This opportunity certainly wasn’t going to pass by Geshkenbein uncontested.

The flop…

[7h][7c][6h].

The table erupted in cheers and laughter as €100 notes began to flutter in Geshkenbein’s direction. For his part, he’d stood, arms aloft before making a thrusting motion with his pelvis. The turn came [ad], the river the [2d].

“Nuts,” said Geshkenbein, still alive. – SB

3.55pm: First faller
Salvatore Bonavena is the first player to depart, something I only discovered after I’d warmly said “Hi Salvtore!” as I passed him coming down the stairs.

He got his money in on the turn with the board reading [9d][ad][2d][kc]. Harrison Gimbel called, showing [kd][8d] to Bonavena’s ace-king. The [2c] on the river sent Bonavena on his collision course with the thoughtless blogger on the stairs. – SB

Salvatore Bonavena
3.50pm: Table draw
Here you go, folks. Her’s that table draw, but you can eliminate two players; Salavatore Bonavena and… the next KO is about to be revealed.

1. Sandra Naujoks EPT5 Dortmund Team PokerStars Pro
3. Jeff Williams EPT2 Monte Carlo
4. Kevin Stani EPT7 Tallinn
5. Jan Skampa EPT6 Prague
6. David Vamplew EPT7 London
7. Roland de Wolfe EPT3 Dublin
8. Kent Lundmark EPT7 Barcelona

1. Constant Rijkenberg EPT5 San Remo
3. Michael Martin EPT5 London
4. Michael Tureniec EPT7 Copenhagen
5. Jason Mercier EPT4 San Remo Team PokerStars Pro
6. Noah Boeken EPT1 Copenhagen Team PokerStars Pro
7. Pascal Perrault EPT1 Vienna
8. Mats Iremark EPT2 French

1. Tim Vance EPT4 Copenhagen
3. Bjorn-Erik Glenne EPT3 Barcelona
4. Rob Hollink EPT1 Monte Carlo
5. Antonio Matias EPT6 Vilamoura
6. Julian Thew EPT4 Baden
7. Jens Kyllönen EPT5 Copenhagen
8. Kevin MacPhee EPT6 Berlin

1. Andreas Hoivold EPT3 Dortmund
3. Pieter de Korver EPT5 Monte Carlo Team PokerStars Pro
4. Christophe Benzimra EPT6 Warsaw
5. Toby Lewis EPT7 Vilamoura
6. Rupert Elder EPT7 San Remo
7. Brandon Schaefer EPT1 Deauville
8. Galen Hall 2011 PCA

1. Salvatore Bonavena EPT5 Prague Team PokerStars Pro
3. Harrison Gimbel 2010 PCA
4. Will Fry EPT5 Hungarian
5. João Barbosa EPT5 Warsaw
6. Ivan Freitez EPT7 Grand Final
7. Lucien Cohen EPT7 Deauville
8. Nicolas Chouity EPT6 Monte Carlo

1. Reuben Peters EPT4 Dublin
2. Roberto Romanello EPT7 Prague
3. Michael Eiler EPT7 Vienna
4. Vicky Coren EPT3 London Team PokerStars Pro
5. Michael Schulze EPT4 Warsaw
6. Liv Boeree EPT6 San Remo Team PokerStars Pro
7. Jan Boubli EPT2 Barcelona
8. Ben Wilinofsky EPT7 Berlin

1. Mike McDonald EPT4 German
3. Arnaud Mattern EPT4 Prague Team PokerStars Pro
4. Anton Wigg EPT6 Copenhagen
5. Alexander Stevic EPT1 Barcelona
6. Vladimir Geshkenbein EPT7 SnowFest
7. Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier 2008 PCA Team PokerStars Pro
8. Maxim Lykov EPT6 Kyiv Team PokerStars Pro

There’s a great atmosphere here – I’ve only been at one tournament similar, and that ended up very messy indeed. — RD

3.47pm: Give me seven deuce
At least three players are at least €500 up already today from the seven-deuce game; Elky, Max Lykov and Alexander Stevic. Each time a player wins with [7][2] a flutter of green €100 notes is tossed at the grinning bluffer. It’s being played at just one table from what I can see. It’s likely to spread… Arnaud Mattern is begging for seven deuce. — RD

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 250-500, ANTE 50

3.40pm: Lykov in control
On a board of [th][qh][5c][6h][6s], and with 10,000 in the middle, Max Lykov was assessing his options. Then he bet 300. This caused great mirth at the table. Mike McDonald, in the hand with him, raised to 7,300 before Lykov raised again to 18,200. More laughter.

“I call,” said McDonald.

“Six,” replied Lykov, showing [ad][6d].

“Yeah, I figured,” said McDonald.

Pot to the Russian. – SB

3.30pm: The fun table
It’s pretty clear that the fun table is the ElkY table, with the likes of Arnaud Matter, Mike McDonald, Max Lykov and Vladimir Geshkenbein all getting into the spirit of things.

For a start the hands are played a lot faster than you’d ordinarily see. On a flop of [4s][kd][9c] Geshkenbein 300 under-the-gun, ElkY Grospellier 600 one seat along, Lykov called, another seat along, Geshkenbein called.

The turn came [3h]. Geshkenbein bet 300, Grospellier raised to 1,225 forcing Lykov out. Geshkenbein called for a [9h] river card. Geshkenbein checked, then open surrendered, folding his six-deuce face up to save Grospellier the time. The Frenchman showed pocket jacks.

Vladimir Geshkenbein drained his glass. “Sir,” he said, looking at the dealer. “where is the nice person who’ll bring us alcoholic drinks?” – SB

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 200-400, ANTE 50

3.20pm: Great banter
This is a €100,000 freeroll with 50 runners, that’s €2,000 a head. Not bad for a one day turbo, eh? All our 50 champions won more than that when they claimed their title and the ensuing levity on the tournament floor is not hard to see. Will Fry is trying to wind up both Ivan Freitez and Lucien Cohen; “I’m going to stack you,” he said to the pair, or perhaps it was “whack,” which would give an entirely different meaning.

The next table along has Anton Wigg, Arnaud Mattern, Elky, Max Lykov and Vladimir Geshkenbein and it’s the last two mentioned that just played a bizarre hand against each other where Geshkenbein open mucked on the [7s][5s][4h][3c][2s] river. Lykov showed king-high.

“Nice bluff call on the turn,” said Geshkenbein, “you made me open muck.”

“Open folding, that’s pretty strong,” said Betrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier with a smile. This is going to be a fun tournament. — RD

3.05pm: Prop bets, get your prop bets
EPT presenter Michelle Orpe is asking players at each table if they have any prop bets, not unlike a cinema ice cream vendor. Galen Hall has ideas, starting with the first hand of every new level played with one hole car face up. Then he suggests every four-bet should be accompanied by a shot, every five bet should be played shirtless. Lose the five bet and someone else wears your shirt. – SB

LEVEL UP: BLINDS 150-300, ante 25

3pm: Coren takes an early lead
EPT London winner Vicky Coren has taken an early lead here at the Champion of Champions after shoving the river of a [5c][kd][3d][4d][ks] board into Jan Boubli. The Frenchman drops to 52,000, Coren up to 147,000. A seat draw is on its way, currently getting cobbled together in the hot box that is the EPT Grand Final press room.
The players are starting with a huge 100,000 stack for 500 big blinds.– RD

2.50pm: The last seven years
It’s all a bit strange walking around the tournament room today, with every work trip I’ve made in the past six years represented by every single player. My life is literally flashing in front of my eyes.

That said it’s pretty impressive out there, seven tables filled with “notables”, although I nearly just accused Bjorn-Erik Glenne (complete with moustache) or being an impostor.
One player of note, but who is easy to miss, is Alexander Stevic, winner of the first ever EPT event back in Barcelona, in Season 1.

Remember, players start with 100,000 chips with rapid-fire 20 minute levels taking us through to a winner tonight. Every player qualified in a satellite (buy-ins between €3,000 and €10,000), and stands to win a share of the €100,000 prize pool made up of EPT buy-ins. — SB

2.40pm: Cards in the air
Play gets under way.

2.30pm: Change to the structure
News is that we’re ditching the first levels and going straight to blinds of 300-600. No, forget that. We’re starting at 100-200. — SB

2.20pm: Say cheese…

Champions in the Champion of Champions

2.10pm: No harm keeping it authentic
In keeping with EPT tradition, we will be starting late today. But don’t forget, the entire event is available to watch on EPTLive. — SB

2pm: Welcome to the Champion of Champions
If there was a Super Bowl feel to yesterday’s main event finale, then there’s a summer barbeque with your friends feel to the Champion of Champions.

Old friends have returned to swap war stories and talk shop, a room in which wherever you look walk players whose names are followed by the name of an EPT leg in brackets.

Casino Gran Madrid (we’re round the back)

We’ll be bringing live updates from all the action at this most exclusive event, the first of its kind, with €100,000 worth of EPT packages up for grabs. The full draw and window dressing coming up. — SB

Tags: 2011 | berlin | champion | monte-carlo | news | pokerstars | russian | shirt | team pokerstars pro

12pm: Welcome to Grand Final day
Welcome back to the final day of the EPT Season 7 Grand Final, at the Casino Gran Madrid, a day that, when complete, should become one of the tour’s most memorable.

There will be ample opportunity for hyperbole and bluster today, so why use it up right away. Only to say that I already have that Christmas feeling, one you also get on FA Cup final day or Super Bowl day. I imagine inmates get the same sensation on the day before release.

Here’s what will happen during the course of today.

Play starts at 2pm, when the final eight players, profiles of which can be found here, will stride forwards (they did actually stride forward last year), to take their seats on the feature table. You’ll be able to watch every hand on EPT Live, as play continues until either 6.30pm local time, or when four players remain.

At this point you’re free to get dinner, go to the gym; even go to work. This is the pause before the real show begins. At 9pm the remaining players will return; only they will be sequestered in a sealed room, with armed guards posted on the doors.

That’s because at 11pm, allowing for a two hour delay, events from Casino Gran Madrid will be televised across Europe, as well as continuing on EPT Live, until there is a new champion. Why the seclusion and security? Because you, the viewer at home will be able to see the hole cards.

Finishing touches being made to the TV table

It promises to be a long day but a great one, which is why the Blog team have been in isolation chambers (also known as hotel rooms) for the last 12 hours in preparation. Rick Dacey for example, turned up for work looking like Martin Sheen on his way to bash Kurtz, while Marc Convey jumped out of his room like Cato in the Pink Panther films. That’s the level of seriousness.

That’s all to come in a few hours from now. You won’t want to miss it, and thanks to the PokerStars Blog, and EPT Live, you won’t.

See you at 2pm.

Tags: 2011 | because-at-11pm | christmas | ept | europe | grand-final | madrid | martin-sheen | pokerstars | rio | super bowl | super-bowl | viewer-at-home

By Pauly
Los Angeles, CA

Photo by Flipchip
Mondays are the perfect time for killing time with poker-themed fodder, so let’s get down to it with these heady nugs…

Shaniac appeared in the Well. He survived. (2+2)

Los hombres cranked out a new podcast. Topics were Ashman’s 70 mile prop bet and American Idol. Talk about diversity! But if you’re a rabid fab of AI, then you’re in luck with the latest episode. Ohhh, and everyone’s favorite Hollyweird blonde, Change100, was one of the special guests sharing the inside dope on AI. Listen here. (Wicked Chops Poker)

Speaking of Ashman, a couple of opinions on the 70-mile wager: Grange95′s The Modern Duke Brothers – A Contrary View of a “Sick” Wager and Dr. Chako’s MY Million Dollar Prop Bet. H/T to FTrain for pointing those articles out to me. (crAAKKer, Never Play Cards with a Man Named Doc)

And since we’re on the topic… Sick Bet: Griffin, Qureshi, and “the World of Poker Players”… is Shamus’ take on the matter. (Hard-Boiled Poker)

I love Grumps’s posts that include numbered bullet points. You know it’s gonna be a thorough and organized rant. He recently shared his thoughts on the latest episode of Poker After Dark, which made me chuckle… PAD Annoyances. (Poker Grump)

Were you wondering how the Las Vegas casinos made out during the Super Bowl? David G. Schwartz compiled the stats for you… 2011 Super Bowl Breakdown. (The Die Is Cast)

I fucking love the Silver Bears. Pure genius. The Silver Bears returned with Part 4 on their series about the manipulation of the silver futures market. (Tao of Fear).

That’s it. You know the drill. NGTFOOMO.

Tags: contrary-view | download-poker | las vegas | latest | love-the-silver | million-dollar | Podcast | poker-players | super-bowl | tao of fear | Vegas

This week’s Super Tuesday follows a Super Sunday the Green Bay Packers had after winning the Super Bowl. While a fancy ring wasn’t available to tonight’s winner, over $90,000 was available for the 475 players who participated, with the final 54 players getting a piece of the $475,000 prize pool, as grifo173 burst the bubble in 55th place.

A handful of Team PokerStars Pros were in the field, as Joe Cada and Victor Ramdin finished one table from the money. Team Canada Pro Pat Pezzin was the top performing member of Team PokerStars once again. Hoping to improve on his 12th place finish in last week’s Super Tuesday, Pezzin was under 500 chips during the first level; going on an extensive grind as his stack was near the bottom of the standings for hours before eventually making the money. Pezzin wasn’t content on a min-cash, battling his way through the field before eventually getting an above average stack with two tables left before reaching the final table.

Now that we know Pezzin had one of the final nine spots, how did the other eight get there? Hand for hand play didn’t go very well for DrewPinsky, finishing 10th for $6,175.00. Having lost a coinflip a couple of hands earlier against Travis “TravestyFund” Rice, DrewPinsky was in the 5,600 chip big blind with just 10,255 chips remaining. Ketan “kbp33″ Pandya min-raised from UTG to 11,200 with [kc][qh] as the table folded to DrewPinsky, calling with [9c][2s]. The board ran out [Tc] [7d] [6s] [7s] [3c]
and we now had a final table, as pictured below:

Seat 1: marioq2 (149,311 in chips)
Seat 2: Luis “Turko_man” Rodriguez Cruz (270,940 in chips)
Seat 3: a$$ou (881,672 in chips)
Seat 4: Shyam “G’s zee” Srinivasan (45,405 in chips)
Seat 5: Schinken777 (212,155 in chips)
Seat 6: Travis “TravestyFund” Rice (392,004 in chips)
Seat 7: Ketan “kbp33″ Pandya (270,803 in chips)
Seat 8: Pat Pezzin (77,315 in chips)
Seat 9: Jon “G6Dragon” Lane (75,395 in chips)

Jon “G6Dragon” Lane was the first casualty at the final table, earning $7,885.00 for 9th place. The blinds were at 3,200/6,400 with an ante of 800 as kbp33 opened from the cutoff with a raise to 13,800 with [js][ts]. G6Dragon reraised all-in for 64,295 chips from the small blind with [qh][jc] as kbp33 made the call. The flop flip-flopped the leader of the hand: [Th] [Ad] [5d]. The [3d] turn and [7s] river meant a short stay at the final table for G6Dragon.

The next two players dispatched from the final table occurred in back to back hands. The first hand started with kbp33 opening the action with a raise to 13,800, followed by a re-raise to 32,000 by marioq, as kbp33 made the call. On the flop of [9d] [5h] [3d], kbp33 bet 64,000 as marioq moved all-in for 87,811 total as kbp33 made the call. When the cards were on their backs, marioq showed [ah][kc] while kbp33 had a flush draw with [jd][td]. The turn was the [6h] changed nothing, but the [kd] on the river gave kbp33 the flush and marioq zero chips. The next hand was the final one for Shyam “G’s zee” Srinivasan, earning $15,437.50 for 7th place. From the button, a$$ou raised to 14,000 with [jd][js] then G’s zee reraised to 96,000 with [ad][6h]. A$$ou moved all-in as G’s zee called for their remaining chips. The board ran out [Qh] [Ts] [Kh] [2d] [3c] as the final table was now six-handed.

Pat Pezzin would ride his short stack to a 6th place finish for $20,187.50 in a blind v blind battle. From the small blind kbp33 raised enough to put Pezzin all in with [tc][4s]. Pezzin snap-called with [js][jd] and seemed primed to double up. It would be a cruel flop for Pezzin when it came down [Th] [2h] [4d] to give kbp33 top two pair. The [4h] on the turn changed nothing as one of the two remaining jacks would double up Pezzin. However, the river was the [qh] as Pezzin hit the rail.

Play slowed down a bit until Schinken777 pocketed $26,600.00 for 5th place. The blinds were now up to 4,000/8,000 with an ante of 1,000 as a$$ou opened the action from the button with a raise to 18,555 with [9d][9h]. In the big blind Schinken777 re-raised to 45,987 with [qs][qc]. a$$ou shoved as Schinken777 made the call. The flop was [6h] [Ks] [Kh] as a$$ou was drawing to two outs. One of those outs appeared on the turn, [9s] and the re-suck would not come for Schinken777 as the [jd] river card sent Schinken777 short of a major victory.

Four-handed play didn’t last long as Travis “TravestyFund” Rice collected 4th place money, good for $38,000.00. TravestyFund shoved for 140,884 chips with [ad][7d] and a$$ou instacalled with [ah][qc]. Five cards later Rice was cooked: [Kd] [6h] [2h] [4h] [9c] as a$$ou held over half the chips in play.

Luis “Turko_man” Rodriguez Cruz held the short stack for a long stretch, and was even able to double up to stay in contention. However, time was not on the player’s side as in less than 20 minutes, a scheduled server restart would halt the tournament for over an hour. The blinds were now at 5,000/10,000 with an ante of 1,125 as Turko_man opened with a raise to 24,000 with [qd][9s] as a$$ou made the call from the big blind holding [7c][6s]. The flop would be gin for a$$ou – [9c] [5h] [8c] for the nut straight while Turko_man held only top-top, leading out for 28,000. a$$ou reraised to 56,000 to set the trap, and Turko_man fell into it by shoving for 346,436 as a$$ou made the triple fist-pump snapcall. The turn was the [4d] as Turko_man was drawing dead. The meaningless river was the [kh] to bring the tournament down to heads-up play as a$$ou held a 3-1 chip lead.

The chip lead remained a$$ou’s for several minutes as both players hoped to end the tournament as quickly as possible. The blinds were now at 6,000/12,000 with an ante of 1,500 as a$$ou shoved with [2s][2c] as kbp33 decided to flip with [ac][jd]. The flop rewarded kbp33: [8s] [Kc] [Ah], as the [tc] turn and [ad] river closed the gap. On the next hand as the server restart loomed ever closer, the players quickly agreed to a chip chop deal:

a$$ou $80,189.04
kbp33 $78,650.96

After the players agreed to a deal, Ketan “kbp33″ Pandya would win the remaining two hands first with [kh][kc] v [ts][6d] to double up, then take the rest of the chips with [qs][5s] v [ts][2s] as the board ran out [2d] [5h] [7c] [As] [7h] to appear at the top of the tournament standings while a$$ou earned more money for finishing 2nd.

2/8/11 Super Tuesday Final Table Results**:

1st: Ketan “kbp33″ Pandya – $78,650.96
2nd: a$$ou – $80,189.04
3rd: Luis “Turko_man” Rodriguez Cruz – $49,875.00
4th: Travis “TravestyFund” Rice – $38,000.00
5th: Schinken777 – $26,600.00
6th: Pat Pezzin – $20,187.50
7th: Shyam “G’s zee” Srinivasan – $15,437.50
8th: marioq2 – $10,687.50
9th: Jon “G6Dragon” Lane – $7,885.00

**Reflects deal made heads-up

On Sunday, Viktor “Isildur1″ Blom holds his fourth SuperStar Showdown against Eugene “MyRabbiFoo” Katchalov. More details can be found on the PokerStars Blog here.

Tags: cards | final | from-the-button | greed | green | money | pezzin | players | pokerstars | remaining | schinken777 | super | Super Tuesday | tournament | victor-ramdin

Lucky Bastaa is this week’s Twitter Poker League tournament champion.

A smaller field than usual this week, probably due to the super bowl – 992 players turned out for the 5th week of the season. Three players also volunteered to have 300FPP bounties placed on their heads, “HAnN18AL”, “iamfrmindia” and “Fly2lv”.

“Fly2lv” was eliminated by “DDscouser” and he tweeted to let everyone know @ddscouser: “I took out Fly2lv already…” #tpoker only moments after the bounty players were announced. Fast work, and it sounded like he wanted another! Bounty player “HAnN18AL” outlasted the others, and so his reward was increased to 500FPP. “HAnN18AL” didn’t seem to that was enough tweeting: “I feel so cheap, just 500 FPP to knock a player like me!” #tpoker Sure enough though he was eventually eliminated by “micheal soh”, congratulations on claiming the 500FPP bounty.

The Twitter Poker League is a pretty fast tournament, anyone would tell you that. By the 1st break we had lost around half the field, by the 2nd we were near the bubble and shortly after the 4th break we had our final table, formed of “coopabc”, “el zocke”, “Luck Bastaa”, “peproom”, “Kir kar”, “14kwat10″, “serj389″, “sajkoo99″ and “diegool.”

Chip leader “coopabc” raised with [Ah][9s] and “serj389″ decided to defend his small blind with [Kd][3c], defending that light is bound to get you into trouble. Especially when someone makes four of a kind on a board of [9d][Ks][9h] [9c] [10s], plus it’s never easy to fold a full house. As a result “serj389″ finished in 9th place. “14kwat10″ was next to go, he was involved in a flip with his [Tc][Ts] vs. [As][Kd] despite a 10 on the flop, the river brought the nut straight for big slick and “peproom” won the hand, busting “14kwat10″ in 8th place.

Virtually forced all-in in the small blind, “sajkoo99″ found themselves out in 7th after getting very short earlier at the table. “coopabc” had a huge chip lead now at the final table, and was using that fact to bully the other players, stealing the blinds and adding to the already clear lead. Proving that sometimes top pair with [Js][4c] is sometimes good facing a shove on a flop of [3s][4d][2d] “coopabc” held up against [Ah][Kh] and eliminated “diegoodl” in 6th place.

Later on “Kir kar” shoved as a short stack with [Ad][2h] it was folded around to “coopabc” who was getting 4.5:1 in the big blind, with those odds I think anyone calls with any two cards. Maybe even just one card! As a result “Kir kar” left in 5th after he failed to make a pair with his hand, and “coopabc” made two with [Qh][Ts]. 4th place this week went to “peproom” since he was unable to recover losing most of his chips in an all-in with [8h][8s] against the [As][Ac] of “el zocke”.

Three handed “coopabc” had over half the chips in play! He used that fact to put maximum pressure on the other two players, and after a while “el zocke” snapped and shoved [9c][8s] from the small blind into [Ks][Tc] of “Lucky Bastaa” – to go out in 3rd place. We were now heads up and “coopabc” had twice as many chips as “lucky bastaa” but either he lived up to his name, or was just the better heads up player because after a lengthy 70 hand battle, he came out on top. Probably the latter as there were virtually no all in situations in the match, just lots and lots of small pots. The final hand was pretty standard, and perhaps a little lucky:

Congratulations to all who made the money, the final table and well done to the “lucky bastaa” on the win. With those 20 points from the win the lucky basket rockets up to a tied 2nd on the leaderboard his final table appearance has meant that “14kwat10″ is our new overall leader with 29points. But previous league leader “KozhevnikovR” is only a point behind with 28, as is the lucky bar tender also with 28 points. Three weeks left in this season, we are getting close to crowning the king of season 5.

As usual we also awarded 150FPP for our favourite tweet of the night.
@FacetiousKaren: “Lord Love a duck, some of these players have as much skill as a soggy cornflake, but at least I doubled up” #tpoker We enjoyed that one a lot, and will be awarding the same 150FPP prize again next week so be sure to use the #tpoker hashtag when tweeting. With just a $1.10 buy-in, FPP bounties, league leaderboard prizes and a friendly community both at the tables and on twitter – there is something for everyone. Come and join in the action. Next week’s game is already open for registration, tourney ID: 358316932.

Tags: chips | final | leaderboard | lucky | lucky-bastaa | match | pokerstars | river | super bowl | twitter poker league | twitter-poker