Player's Stories

2002 Poker Highlights: A Month by Month Review
By Tim Kopp

(This article first appeared in the December 21st PokerPages newsletter)

There are only two days left in 2002. Looking back there's been many memorable events within the American poker community and around the world. Follow me down memory lane as we look back at the second year of the new millennium.

January:
While many off us were still shaking off the effects of our New Years Eve hangovers, poker players were flocking to Tunica, Mississippi for the Jack Binion's 3rd Annual World Poker Open. In what has become a great way to kick off the New Year, Jack Binion didn't disappoint. Attendance was up in almost every event, and in the $10,000 buy-in main event 140 players came to try for their chance at the $502,460 first place prize. In one of the strangest moments of the whole tournament, the final 7 players who remained in the main event were in a pitched battle for the last seat at the final table. Whoever got knocked out next would go home and the final 6 would return for the Final Day. The key hand came down in a three-way pot. Pros Chris Biggler and Barry Shulman were both all-in trying to get back in the race and secure their seat for the final day.

The third player in the pot, Humberto Brenes would spoil both Barry and Chris' day, winning the hand and eliminating them both! Since Chris Biggler had more chips to start the hand, he would claim the 6th place prize money, but would not get to play at the final table. The $47,530 Chris won likely softened the blow. If you missed PokerPages' or ESPN's exclusive coverage of this great event, Click Here for all the results and reports.

February:
The Internet never ceases to change the world we live in and the way we experience it. In the world of poker, the changes are no less apparent. For those of you who are familiar with our forums here at PokerPages, you may also be aware of another discussion forum known as RGP (rec.gambling.poker). The popularity of these forums has led to Casino's catering to the subscribers of this relatively new medium. In February, the Bicycle Casino, in California set up the first of many tournaments to follow that was limited participation to the events to subscribers to RGP. The Event was labeled ESCARGOT. Click here to see if any of your friends from The Net made it to the money.

March:
A milestone was reached in the word of poker in March, more specifically in world of Ladies poker. If you don't know where I'm going with this, I'm talking about the Party Poker Million. Novice's and Pros alike were on hand for this event that forced players to either qualify for on the Internet, or dish out the 8 grand for a seat.

Kathy Liebert, respected Tournament Pro, made Poker history becoming the first woman to win 1 million dollars in a Poker Tournament. Well done Kathy, for showing the boys that the girls can play rough as well! Ladies, the precedent has been set, now it's time for a woman to be crowned W.S.O.P champ! Go get 'Em!

April-May:
We all know what April brings. Here as hint: It's the biggest, best, and most challenging event in Poker. That's right, it's the 33rd World Series of Poker at Binions Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. If you missed out on PokerPages' exclusive daily video coverage, then shame on you! So much happens in the month that this event is held, I could write another 4 pages worth material on this event alone. This is the place Millionaires are made, and in 2002 Robert Varkonyi, a computer scientist from Brooklyn, NY made poker history with the biggest cash prize ever in a poker event.

Robert took home a whooping $2,000,000 and gave Phil Hellmuth years worth of Material to write about. Robert took quite a bit of heat after his win for some of his questionable plays throughout the tournament, but hey, he's the champ, so say what you will. Congrats Robert, you are the common man's poker hero.

June:

In June many of us traveled down to South America to Casinos Europa's 2nd Annual Linda Johnson Celebrity Challenge in Costa Rica. For anyone not familiar with the Tournaments at Casinos Europa, I can sum it up in one word, "re-buy". It's not uncommon for players to re-buy upwards of 30 times in these events. Each of Linda Johnson's Tournaments featured a former world Champ as the host. In the main event, one of my favorite players to watch, Daniel Negreanu, stole the show. Hopefully we'll see this event again next year, as Costa Rica is both rich in beauty and rich in action.

July-August:
The dog days of summer. Poker Players are more than happy to step out of the sun and into the Air Conditioning of their favorite card room during the hot summer months. The most memorable event for me this summer was Binion's Hall of Fame Poker Classic where Englishman Peter Costa won the main event after a grueling heads up match against Top American pro Howard Lederer. Peter, what's the exchange rate on 1 million dollars? Well Done!

September:
A year had passed since cowardly terrorist attacks on New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. On the 11th this year, many of us who thought that we were through with the emotional roller coaster from a year before woke up that morning to see mourners at the World Trade Center read name after name after name of those that were lost. I know that, at least for myself, all the emotion from the year before came flooding back. The magnitude of that day still weighs heavy on many of us. The word on the street was that Vegas was a virtual ghost town that day as threats of new attacks were directed towards the Booming Town in the Desert weeks before. I doubt that it was out of fear that many in Vegas decided to stay home on that day. Americans just aren't the type to run and hide in the face of danger. It was a day of remembrance, and I trust that folks just weren't in the mood to go out and have a good time. At least that's my take.

Enough of that however, we move on in life and in poker.

November and December
These months should still be fresh in your minds. For those of us who have short-term memories, or for those who were living it up during hollidaze (sic) click here for the newsletter archive.

On behalf of all of us here at PokerPages, I would like to extend to all of you a merry and safe Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanzaa / Ramadan / Boxing Day (am I forgetting anyone?), and a happy and successful New Year!

Be Lucky, take care, and see you in 2003!

Tim Kopp