Daniel Alaei Wins Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic
photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Daniel Alaei walked away with $1.4 million after winning the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic at the Bellagio in Las Vegas
Daniel Christopher Alaei outlasted a poker pro rich field of 328 players to claim his first World Poker Tour title. The high-stakes poker player has won two WSOP bracelets, 2006 and 2009. His best WSOP Main Event finish was 25th in 2007.
The tournament got down to heads-up with Daniel Alaei facing Josh Arieh for the championship, but it was all Alaei on this night. Daniel Alaei received $1,428,430 while Josh Arieh left with $952,290. WSOP Main Event champion Scotty Nguyen finished 5th and pocketed $249,976 for his efforts.
2010 WSOP Schedule Released - Event Registration Open Now
photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Want one of the nine seats at the November final table? Sign up now for the 2010 Main Event $10,000 World Poker Championship
The 41st Annual World Series of Poker for 2010 has released the event schedule and online registration is now open. Players can also register for events at the Rio Resort's Main Cage and if you want to avoid being shut-out, then early registration is highly advised. Use this WSOP direct link to register now for events you wish to play. A complete schedule of all events including structures and details is available with this link.
Players will be competing over 51 days in 57 Gold Bracelet events, the same as 2009, during the May 28 - July 17, 2010 WSOP. The first open bracelet event will be The Player's Championship $50,000 buy-in 5-day contest that features eight variations of poker and begins on Friday May 28, 2010. Players will be competing for millions in cash, a coveted bracelet, and the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.
Other notable highlights for 2010 is the adoption of limits on play time. Player comfort will be enhanced with play days limited to 10 levels of play per day until the winner is crowned. Bracelet events will begin at 12 Noon and 5 PM. Another welcomed change is no food tent, instead, the Miranda Ballroom will be converted into a food court with an expanded menu of popular food items. And finally, the entire convention facility at the Rio will be dedicated to the 2010 WSOP to provide more room, more tables (over 350 anticipated) and improved media access to the World's Biggest Poker Show.
The Ladies World Championship and the Seniors Championship continues. The 4th Annual Up For Africa Celebrity Charity tournament returns with an all-star gathering of poker pros and celebrities.
CityCenter’s Aria Poker Room is Now Open
photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Aria's 24 table poker room
After four years of waiting the Aria Hotel and Casino is finally open to the public. We headed over to the property and made for the poker room to check out the latest option for poker players. The 24 table room appears to be designed with the poker player's comfort and convenience in mind. Located close to self parking and valet makes this room easy to get into and out. Restrooms are a few short steps down a side corridor.
The color scheme is pleasing and room lighting is subdued while the playing surface is brightly illuminated for ease of following the action. An enclosed high limit room is located within the poker room. Even in the Aria's poker room there is artwork in the form of oversize playing card cascading down from the ceiling to the floor.
The Aria poker room offers $1-3, $2-5, and $5-10 No-Limit Hold'em. Other limits and games will be spread depending on demand. While we were there a lively $100-200 Pot-Limit Omaha game was in progress in the high-limit room. Poker professional Thor Hansen was seen hanging out at the room. Stop in and try the all new, luxurious Aria poker room.
photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
Playing cards fall from the ceiling
photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com
The 24 table room has operated close to capacity since the Wednesday opening
Tweaks Of 2010 WSOP Schedule
The usual $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at next years World Series of Poker will be replaced by a more general $50,000 8 Game that features a final table of only No Limit Texas Hold'em. The move comes after American broadcaster ESPN complained that televised poker that is not in the highly popular Texas Hold'em format drew small ratings and following advice from the Players Advisory Council.
The move also comes after a disappointing 2009 running of the event which featured fewer runners than expected when the news broke that ESPN would not be broadcasting the tournament on television.
In the aftermath of the announcement, the WSOP was braced for criticism from poker purists who were against swapping the H.O.R.S.E. event to an 8 Game format. However, thanks to the backing of the Players Advisory Council the feedback from pros has been surprisingly positive.
“We really took the lead from the Players Advisory Council, which we often do,” said Seth Palansky, the World Series Of Poker Communications Director. “We had the goal of getting it televised … and we all supported it to make the Chip Reese memorial event the best it could be.”
Also up for change is a new $25,000 six handed No Limit Texas Hold'em tournament that replaces the outgoing one time $40,000 tournament of the same conditions.
“We wanted something late, closer to the main event, that could serve as a platform for the game’s best players,” said Palansky.
California to Attempt Online Poker Regulation
There are many reasons I’m happy I live in Southern California, however the abundance of functioning card rooms has to be right near the top of the list. From huge monsters like the Bicycle Casino and Commerce Casino to the smaller rooms like Hustler and Normandie, there is no shortage of places to play. California has also become known as a state that doesn’t mind being a trendsetter when it comes to controversial legislative action, which is why it may become the first state to regulate online gaming.
Apparently the growing shortage of cash available for the governing body is making the people in charge open-minded about hearing some radical new ideas, as California State Sen. Roderick Wright has announced that the state legislature is scheduled to hold a hearing on the merits of regulating online poker this upcoming February.
“I think it is workable and a potential source of new income,” said fellow State Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter). “How you structure it is the key.”
Helping to lead the way for the hearing are both the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Commerce Casino, both of whom have admitted interest in opening online gaming sites in the instance that California does approve of regulation.
“About one million Californians are playing poker offshore right now,” said Patrick Dorinson, a spokesperson for Morongo, referencing the popularity of current online poker sites that serve American players.
Reports show that California could stand to raise as much as $250 million a year from online poker sites, which is a cash infusion my fair state is desperately in need of. As you would expect, not everyone is thrilled at the news of the hearing, especially anti-gambling advocacy groups.
“If someone can come home from work and give their credit-card number to an Internet site and lose thousands of dollars, that is going to exacerbate a bad situation” Jim Butler, executive director of an advocacy group against gambling expansion, told the LA Times.
If California does manage to become the first state to institute newly regulated and legal online poker, you can only imagine that many states would soon follow suit. Can’t wait for February to roll around.
WPT’s New Owners Talk About 2010 as the Final ’09 Event Starts
Today, the $15,000 Doyle Brunson Classic tournament, the final event of the year for the World Poker Tour, will begin, signifies the what will likely be the last time this series is run as-is, considering that it was just recently bought out by PartyGaming. So far there haven’t been any real changes to the WPT since the buyout, though that will not hold true when the next season comes around, as PartyGaming has already announced that they plan on using the brand to further their reach into the European market, which is currently the company’s main source of poker players for PartyPoker.com.
“I think you can look for more tour stops in international locations (in the years ahead), areas like France and Italy,” said Adam Pliska, the new president of the WPT. “There will be more international land-based events, both televised and non-televised.”
“PartyPoker is going to be fundamental to our future success (with the World Poker Tour),” said Chris Welch, PartyGaming’s Chief Marketing Officer. “PartyPoker will support WPT events by running satellites … but to be clear, this isn’t going to be the PartyPoker World Poker Tour. This is the WPT. It’s a brand in its own right.”
Don’t expect the new owners to go full bore into international events though. The company full believes that the UIGEA will one day be reversed, allowing PartyPoker.com to once again offer it’s full suite of services to American players.
“We all think [the UIGEA is going to be reversed] at some point. It’s just a matter of when,” said Mike Sexton, the WPT announcer and PartyPoker spokesperson. “I’m convinced we’re going to see another poker explosion like we saw six years ago. It’ll be second to none.”
PartyPoker is where I got my start in online poker, so I’m definitely near the top of the list as far as US players that would be thrilled to once again to legally play on what was once the undisputed poker site in the States.
Joe Cada Meets with Lawmakers
Joe Cada is living up to his expectations as the newest ambassador of poker after his historic win at the 2009 World Series of Poker. He recently met with ten congressmen on Capitol Hill to discuss the future of poker. Cada spent time talking to representatives like John Ensign (R-NV), Dean Heller (R-NV), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), and Shelley Berkley (D-NV). As they continue to push for new legislation for poker, the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) sponsored the visit.
PPA’s Executive Direction, John Pappas, commented on the youngster’s role in Washington, “He doesn’t have the recognition that other pros we bring do, but he's just becoming a face on the scene. He was great from our perspective. He wasn't here to do the hard sell on public policy; he was here to give a good face to poker and tell his story.”
The PPA continues to push legislation to legalize and regulate online poker in the United States. They expect a committee to vote on HR 2267 in early 2010 and hope that it will be the first steps to finding solutions to the ongoing problems surrounding poker legislation. HR 2267 initiates guidelines for online gaming companies to solicit to U.S. customers in the future. It is currently being proposed by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), and has 63 co-sponsors to the bill.
The PPA and Cada have both expressed their interests in an ongoing relationship. Cada recently told Poker New Daily, “The PPA really treated me like a champion and made my stay very enjoyable. I’m looking forward to supporting the PPA in the fight.”
Jennifer Tilly Hosting Charity Tournament
December is a wonderful time of giving, and Jennifer Tilly is exhibiting her Christmas spirit by hosting a charity poker tournament to benefit the One Step Closer Foundation. The tournament will be attended by celebrities and poker players alike. Tilly is an obvious choice to bring together Hollywood elite and professional poker players, as she has had success on the big screen and the felt. The list of celebrities that will be attending include Dean Cain, Shannon Elizabeth, and Montel Williams. Jamie Gold, Barry Greenstein, Clonie Gowen, Men “The Master” Nguyen, and Phil Laak are among those representing professional poker players. Playboy Playmates Stacy Fusion, Jennifer Leigh, and Brande Roderick will also make an appearance to spice things up.
The One Step Closer Foundation is a non-profit organization that focuses on the efforts to ease the lives of those who suffer from Cerebral Palsy. The organization hopes to raise awareness and strive for a world where Cerebral Palsy is a thing of the past. Last year the tournament raised $44,000 for the foundation. This year they hope to surpass that number.
Jacob Zalewski, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, stated, “"We hope to see a future where Cerebral Palsy is a thing of the past. We know we are getting one step closer to that vision everyday."
The tournament will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on December 12, 2009. The buy-in is $550 with $200 re-buy and cards will be in the air at 2 p.m. There will be a celebrity after party hosted by the Poker Players Alliance.
Isildur1 Back Down After Epic Poker Match
Isildur1's bankroll continues to yo-yo this week as once again the mysterious Swedish player finds himself down. A masterful performance at the weekend saw the anonymous player turn around a near $900,000 overall loss to a $3.1m profit, however that turnaround came to a shuddering halt when Isildur1 ran into Brian Hastings.
Young pro Hastings does not have the reputation, nor the bankroll, of some of Isildur1's regular competitors such as Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius or Tom 'durrrr' Dwan. However, Hastings appeared to be in the right place at the right time when he was able to win around $4m off of Isildur1 during an epic match up.
Hastings is a regular at $50\$25 tables on Full Tilt Poker and rarely ventures onto the high stakes felts, although after observing Isildur1 he felt up to the challenge of taking on the newcomer heads up at $1,000\$500 pot limit Omaha. The gamble paid off, and Hastings picked up a bumper pay day.
During the match up, Isildur1 vented his frustration in the table's chat box by telling Hastings how 'lucky' he was to be winning and saying 'just f off'. When Hastings tried to leave the contest, Isildur1, in an attempt to win back some of his money, convinced the young player to keep on going. Even this ended up costing Isildur1 as Hastings just ended up adding to his impressive winnings before Isildur1 finally had enough of the contest and quit.
Running a Good Home Game
Home games for poker can sometimes be the most fun you’ll ever have playing cards, as long as the conditions are right that is. The typical home game is played on a kitchen table with slippery cards, plastic chips and no real sense of structure. While this may cut the mustard for the average card player, your tastes should be elevated about that. You don’t necessarily need to drop a lot of cash on good home game gear, but it helps, plus if you constantly have the same friends over night after night you can even ask them to chip in if you think they’d be willing to help out.
First up you need to go first rate on the essential items like cards and chips. When you buy cards you’ll want to stick to brand names like Bicycle, which are very cheap. Chips will run you a little more if you go for the better, heavier clay models, but it’s worth the investment since the chips are practically good forever. From there you can start looking at the little extra items that make a game more realistic, such as a dealer button and chip racks. These poker accessories are easy to find online and generally run very cheap.
If you really want to wow your friends though you’ll want to upgrade to a full poker table the likes of which you’d see only in the best poker rooms in Vegas. I personally dropped about $1,000 on my poker table (which is in the image featured in this post), and it was worth every penny. Most poker table makers will let you customize every aspect of your table, from having wood inlay installed, or cup holders put in, or even selecting what color the felt is.
Regardless of what your budget may be however, you’ll still be able to get a good selection of items for your home game. It’ll make your friends happy, which hopefully will make them more likely to gamble on those drawing hands of theirs.
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WSOP Info is your source to online poker news and information regarding the WSOP 2008. The World Series Of Poker is the largest Poker event in the world.
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