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PokerSchool Online
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PokerSchool membership is only $14.95 per month or $149.95 annually. With that membership, you get an amazing amount of content and advice from the top players in poker. Our supportive poker community is the best on the internet. Learn from them and compete with them for a chance to play in our current major tournament promotion, the Big One III with prizes in sponsorships worth over $100,000! Read more about PokerSchool Online and the Big One III!
The Pokerschool Online Tutorial Team
Poker In America
Tim Kopp of PokerPages writes about Poker in America
Welcome back once again to Poker In America! The results are in and the 2003 World Poker Open was an even bigger success than last year, proving that indeed, there is gold tucked away in the hills of Tunica, Mississippi. Before we get into all the action, I'd like to say thank you to Owner/Operator Jack Binion and all the dedicated employees of the Horseshoe/Goldstrike Casino Resort in Tunica for running another quality tournament. I would also like to recognize all of the hard work from Nolan Dalla for his daily event reports as well as PokerPages' founder Mark Napolitano for brining us all daily video from the final tables as well as exclusive audio from the main event. For our full WPO archive from the last two years of Tunica's premier event, click here.
This year's WPO started off in the regular fashion with Super Satellites officially kicking off the festivities on January 7th. As players from all over the world were still making their way to Tunica, 230 people were there in time to make the First official event, Event #1 Pot Limit Omaha. 27 people would make the money, including the future WPO champ Dave Ulliott (15th, $2,614), but only 9 would come back the next day for the final table. Of that final 9, Robert Williamson lll would take first place honors and net just a bit over $95,000. Quite a hefty prize for this, the first event.
An unprecedented number of entrants showed up for Event #2. A mind-blowing field of 682 players showed up to try and claim the $500 buy-in Pot Limit Omaha diamond bracelet. Apparently the word was out that they were playing some poker in Tunica. Tournament Pro "Eskimo" Clark held the chip lead through much of the tournament looked like a shoe-in to take first place as action moved to the final table. Clark did look unbeatable, but that was until Clark's 2-pair ran into John Oetker's set of Kings. The hand would change the course of the event giving Oetker enough gas to eventually motor his way to first place and a $122,383 prize. Clark would settle for second place and $62,846.
Limit 7-Card Stud was next in Event #3 and 199 players vied for the final table. Attendance was quite a bit lower for this event, but it was still a strong showing for the 7-stud event. With Miller Lite in hand, Texas Oil man, Mike Hatfield decided to play in his first major 7-Card Stud tournament. His hunch paid off. He chugged his way to victory and collected $38,605 for his first place prize. Note to west Texas: Drinks are on Mike!
As we know, No Limit Hold'em has become America's favorite brand of tournament poker. Event #4 was the first of four No Limit events that would run over the course of the WPO. Appropriately so, this event featured the cheapest buy-in of the four, yet it still couldn't crack the record for number or entrants set a few days earlier. That's certainly not to say that the 555 players that did show up for this event was anything to scoff at. On the contrary, it was still the 2nd biggest field in WPO history. Eventual winner, Mark Seif ($99,595) must have had somewhere to be that day as he made quick work of the final table. As Nolan Dalla reported, it only took a little over an hour for Seif to eliminate 8 of his 9 opponents and after that it was only a matter of time for the well-known circuit player to eliminate his final opponent, David Bach ($51,143). I'm happy to report that of the 27 players to make the money, 3 of them were PokerSchoolOnline members. Congratulations to Wendell Teets (5th Place, $12,113), Jerry Hodges (17th Place, $2,153), and Greg Thompson (Tied for 18th, $1,884).
Triple Draw Low-ball events generally have a small yet very strong field. Old-school pros seem to eat this game up; Event #5 was no different. Only 88 men and women would play this event yet the total prize pool would stay respectable at $95,060. Tunica local, Jacky Chitwood would get the coveted bracelet as well as $38,024. If you recognize the name, it's because Jacky also won the same event in last year's WPO. Who said tournaments are all about luck? Well done, Jacky!
In Event #6 the game was 7-Card Stud Hi/lo. 236 Player showed up but only 24 would make the money. A native of Israel who now makes his home in California, Asher Derei outpaced them all and took 1st ($42,348). Steve Jankovic, from my hometown of Chicago, IL would take 2nd and $21,747.
Pot Limit Hold 'Em, I might add, my favorite flavor of Hold'em was on the platter for Event #7. As was the trend, another multitude of players (370) would duke it out. Many have said upon returning from Tunica that this may have been one of the most exciting final tables in WPO history. John "the cat" Trudeau would start final table play severally out chipped yet he would survive multiple All-ins to go on to win $66,392 and 1st place. If you haven't already, I recommend reading Nolan Dalla's excellent report on this event by clicking here.
The last of the smaller $500+40 buy in events came with Event #8. One of poker's more mysterious, lesser-known pros, would step up and cast his shadow over the field of 320 and swoop down on the $57,426 first place prize. The Prince Of Docness, as he is affectionately known as, is a self-professed "flop-oligist" and can be seen lurking at many of the year's big tournaments. If anyone can put me in touch with The Prince, I'd love to interview him for a future Poker in America. Poker players, an interesting breed indeed.
Moving along to Event #9 and the 1st of the $1,000+60 events, in a game of patience and skill, Limit Hold'em was the game of the day. Last year's $1,000 Limit Hold'em champion, Nicky Dileo from New York, made a great run at making the final table yet again this year. He would be cut off just short of the mark and have to settle for 13th place ($2,192). Amir Vahedi would be the one who would eventually stand victorious and take home $81,112.
People who become Champions rarely earn that title by a fluke. Let me assure you Humberto Brenes is certainly not the exception to that Rule. In Event #10, 7-Card Stud, the Defending 2002 WPO Champ, Costa Rican Humberto Brenes expelled any doubters to the legitimacy of his skills. His victory ($31,040) came at the expense of a strong final table that featured Uruguay's Jaime Ateneloff (2nd, $17,848) and everybody's favorite gynecologist, PokerPages' columnist Dr. Mark Burtman (5th, $4,656). Well-done guys!
Event #11, Pot Limit Omaha's final table was not the place any recreational player would feel too comfortable at. With the likes of Scotty Nguyen, Erik Seidel, and London's Chris Bjorin staring you down you had better hope you brought your "A" game. Mississippi native Galen Kester must have gotten the memo as he trounced through the all-star field to pick up his second WPO Bracelet and a hefty $152,096. In total, there were 154 players and 238 re-buys to inflate the prize pool to $380,240.
It was time for another dose of No limit Hold'em, this time with a $1,000 buy in for Event #12. In the final hand Avner Levy from Boca Raton Florida would crack European poker circuit pro Rob Hollink's pocket Aces with his K-4 with a flop that contained 2 kings. His win would net Levy $84,699 and would earn him a well-deserved ride on the shoulders of his friends as he exited the poker room. Congratulations to one of pokers most likeable pros.
Event #13, Limit 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo turned into a marathon of wills. When the final two players, Farzad Rouhani and Ken 'Skyhawk' Flaton would go heads up, neither of them expected to play another 2 hours and 45 minutes for all the money. Eventually it would be Rouhani who would get the jewelry and 1st place ($31,816).
Event #14, Pot Limit Hold 'Em, was next on the list and it was none other than 2002's Player of the Year, Men 'The Master' Nguyen to steal the show. The four-time bracelet winner at the World Series of Poker would add another notch to his belt with his 2nd WPO Bracelet ($54,710).
Frankie O'Dell (Denver, Co) thought he might have a chance to win Event #15. IN fact, he was sure of it. Though he could have been a little nicer and let the other players have a little fun, but decided to make quick work of his final table companions and collect $45,397. Like a winning boxer after a big title fight O'Dell remarked, "I want to glorify Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for blessing me with this victory tonight." Spoken like a true champ. If this trend continues, watch for this years WSOP winner to be the first to use the classic clichι "I'm Going to Disneyland!"
Tournament wiz, Chip Jett started off '03 where he left off at Foxwoods in '02. Another big win was in store for Chip in Event #16. Just months after winning two events at the Foxwoods Chip put on a fine display when he went heads up against Beaumont Billy Williford. The win would net Chip a whooping $129,589.
Super Bowl Sunday brought Event #17 and Limit Hold'em. Bruce Yamron would edge out English Pro, Peter Costa ($44,174), to claim a first place prize of $76,824. Only 99 Players would enter this event. Were they saving their pennies for the main event that was now only 3 days away?
Events 18 and 19 brought a treat for the ladies as well as a gift to all the busted players that were still lingering around and hoping that they would get another chance to win. In Event #18 we had the Women's Limit Hold'em Championship. A good turn out of 125 of Tunica's finest showed up to play some Hold'em. In the end it was Misty Morrison who took home the gold and $9,698.
Event 19 featured a drastically reduced buy in and was a 2nd chance of sorts for all the players still looking for a bracelet. The $300 buy-in Limit Hold'em event saw 220 players and 319 Rebuys. When all was said and done it would be the wife of a WSOP Champion in the winner's circle. Cecilia De Mortenson, wife of Carlos Mortenson, would get her time in the spotlight and take home $156,849. I don't know if the two have kids, but I hope they don't play poker in my town.
It was time for the Main Event. 160 of Pokers Biggest names mixed in with some hopefull amateurs who ponied up the 10K to play in the No-Limit Finals. At the end of day 1 there would only be 97 left. When play would end on day 2, a meager 27 would remain, yet they would rest that night knowing that they had made it into the money but there was still much work to be done. Only 6 would advance to the final after day 3. English pro Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott held a commanding chip lead over his competition on the final table.
Phil Ivey, Jeremy Tinsley, Buddy Williams and Johnny Donaldson still had some life however and would not let the Devilfish simply walk away with it. Alas, their efforts were in vane, Dave never looked back and he would claim the title of 2003 World Poker Open Champion. To read some of the great player bios as well as a recap of the final day by Nolan Dalla, click here. If you missed it, Pokerpages also had exclusive audio of the final table from Mark Napolitano. The Audiocast is currently being archived and will be availible to everyone in our WPO Archive soon.
Wow, what a great way to start the year! If this keeps up 2003 will be one for the record books. Congratulations to all the people who made it into the money as well as all those who didn't. It seems that Poker is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds and I for one am happy to be a small part of it. I invite you to take a look at what's coming up in the world of Tournament Poker in '03 by clicking
here. Now get out there and win some money. You never know, maybe you'll see your name in the next issue of Poker in America.
Stay Lucky,
For corrections, clarifications, additions, and good cheer feel free to email me.
Tim Kopp
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The Big One III
You must be a member of PokerSchool Online in order to participate! PokerSchool membership is only $14.95 per month or $149.95 annually. Click here to join now!
The Big One III began January 1st 2003 with over $100,000 of Sponsorship Awards Available for Major Tournament buy-ins Worldwide.
If you enjoyed our World Poker Open Warm Up on PokerPages, why not participate in 3 times the excitement by entering The Big One III? You wanted to win a $10,000 seat at the Open so why not take a chance at winning your share of over 100,000 Sponsorship Points?, with a top prize in each of the 3 finals of 15,000 Sponsorship Points, that can be traded in, to enter any tournament of your choice worldwide. If you thought the World Poker Open Warm Up was tremendous value then take a closer look at The Big One III as the points are higher and there are 3 finals a year.
We are excited to announce our next 'Big One' promotion, aptly called The Big One III. There will be over $100,000 of Sponsorship Awards for major tournament buy-ins worldwide available. The difference this year, is instead of one final event, we will hold 3 Big One III Finals.
*** The Spring Final on April 26th ***
*** The Summer Final on August 23rd ***
*** The Winter Final on December 20th. ***
Watch this space for more information about the Big One III!
To see results of Big One II, click here, and to read the Big One II wrap up report, click here.
Poker In Europe
Kevin Pratt of PokerPages writes about Poker in Europe
Finally we had some action in Europe in 2003 at the Poker Winter Challenge in Seefeld Austria. There were two tournaments a 200 Limit 7-Card Stud and a 2 day 200 Pot Limit Omaha. The Stud was won by Peter Hohenleitner 5,790 and the Omaha was won by Heinz Piroth 7,290.
One of the Major European festivals of the year The Euro Finals of Poker has just got underway in Paris. Things kicked off with a 1,000 No Limit Hold'em 2 day event. 60 players entered this double chance format for a prize pool of 55,800 and the overall winner was local player Bernard Donat who scooped 22,200.
The next 2 events saw the emerging Russians strike. Alexander Kuzmin won the 500 Pot Limit Hi/Lo (11,900) and he also came second in the 500 Pot Limit Dealers Choice (9,800) to Alex Golik who won 9,800.
Sunday saw a Super Satellite for the Main Event the 10,000 EFOP World Poker Tour and in case you do not know the Main Event is being televised for showing in the U.S and may well produce the biggest prize pool in Europe this Year. There are other Super Satellites on February 9th and 11th with the Main Event starting on February 12th and the final on the 15th.
Expect to see all the top Europeans at the Aviation over the coming weeks with a few big names from the States turning up as well.
After Paris the action returns to Austria for the Omaha Poker Championship in the pretty town of Bregenz on the 23rd February. There is a full schedule of tournaments right through to the 2nd March with the Main Event being the 1,500 No Limit Hold'em, a 2 day freezout.
Keep up to date with all the results on a daily basis at the website and good luck to everyone, wherever you play.
By Kevin Pratt
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Poisonous Poker: A Poker Cop Mystery
By Robert Arabella
"Poison, the coward's weapon."
- Benjamin Franklin, Crimes Against The Publick
Part 1 - The Sinner's Game
There are seven deadly sins. One of them is Greed. That's the one that got three players murdered at the Majestic Poker Room. I will tell you, and only you, the story of the poisonous poker murders on one condition. That you promise not to repeat it, not to anyone. There's no sense in causing a panic in the poker room. The story begins -
"911. What is your emergency?"
"I'm calling from the Majestic's Poker Room. I have an elderly man suffering severe breathing difficulty. I think it's a heart attack. I need EMS here, now!"
"It's OK, sir. The paramedics are already on their way to the Majestic. They were dispatched on a heart attack call less than a minute ago"...Read more
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A Poem for Columbia
By OEJ
I watched in Awe as you fell from the sky
I held my breath, I dare not ask why
I knew without thought your souls will survive
I knew that none of you would come down alive
Broken parts and broken hearts scattered through the land
Wailing cries of sorrow permeate our atmosphere
... Read more
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Trip Report: Tunica Ramblings...
By Larry W. (Wayno) Phillips
Strange, here were all the same people checking in, the same faces, in the gigantic, smooth-marbled, potted-palmed lobby of the Gold Strike, that I had just recently seen checking out of hotels at another venue. Here, just ahead of my car, as I drove up, for instance, was TJ Cloutier unloading stuff from the back of what looked like a white Ford Expedition onto one of these brass-colored luggage bell-boy carts, in what was at that time southern-breezy, wonderfully hair-blowing, warm Mississippi weather, while his wife and the valet guy looked on... Read more
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Poker in the U.K.
Andrew Lacey of the PokerPages Team writes about poker in the UK.
Following on from the Grosvenor Grand Challenge in Luton, the UK's next tournament was the January Sales Festival held at the Rendezvous Casino in Brighton, running from January 20th to 26th.
The first event was the £10 No Limit Hold'em which attracted 62 entries, creating a prize pool of £2,680. C. Ellis took first place and £1,000. The £50 Pot Limit Hold'em had 57 entrants and a prize pool of £8,400. M. Shalabi took the top spot and a prize of £3,150.
Next up was the £50 No Limit Hold'em which saw 68 players register and a prize pool of £8,250. First place honours went to regular tournament player Keith Hawkins, who picked up £3,135 for his efforts. The £50 Pot Limit Omaha event saw 41 players compete for the £5,500 prize pool. M. Mear emerged victorious and scooped the £2,100 first prize.
Saturday, January 25th marked day 1 of the main event - the £250 buy-in No Limit Hold'em. 52 players competed for the £24,000 prize pool. When the dust finally settled on Sunday 26th, it was Vic regular Willie Tann who saw off the rest of the field and claimed the first place prize of £9,100.
The final event of the Festival was a £100 buy-in Pot Limit 7 Card Stud. 60 players contested a prize pool that grew to £14,000 after rebuys and add-ons. Top spot and £5,300 was claimed by H Leff. Our congratulations go to all the winners.
This week sees the start of the North of England Open at the Grosvenor Casino Salford, Manchester, which will run from February 5th to 9th. Be sure to check out our Daily Results for up-to-date news on each event as it happens.
February 19th to 23rd will see many players head east for the Teeside Poker Festival at the Gala Casino Teeside in Stockton on Tees. No doubt the £500 buy-in, 2 day No Limit Hold'em event will prove popular with locals and visitors alike. Once again PokerPages will be keeping you up-to-date with daily results as they happen.
Before I sign off I'd like to say a hearty congratulations to Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott on his outstanding performance at the World Poker Open in Tunica. Well played Dave. No doubt his $589,990 first place win will come in handy at the Vic next month when the British Open gets underway. Will he play any looser we wonder? Until next time, take care.
You can e-mail me with any thoughts, views, or general information at andrew@pokerpages.com
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Poker Down Under
Reported by David Parlor
The Crown Casino regular tournaments have started again with the first event of the year on the 6th of February and are sure to prove popular with all of the Melbourne locals. Approximately every third Thursday a special tournament will be held. These will include satellites for trips to Australian and overseas poker tournaments, a poker cruise and novelty cash tournaments (terminator etc). Tournament Director, Danny McDonagh is open to any suggestions for tournaments and can be contacted at dannym@crowncasino.com.au
The National Poker Championships will begin in Canberra on the 22nd with a large variety of buyins to please all players. Canberra is sure to live up to their reputation for providing excellent hospitality and is sure to attract many big players waiting to settle some scores in the cash games. For more details on the event click here.
The New Zealand Poker Championships have been scheduled for March 15th - 22nd. This is the only major poker tournament in New Zealand and is very important for all N.Z. poker players, not so much for the cash, but for the title of New Zealand Champion, although if I remember last year an American invader gladly took the title home.
Many North Island players will be visiting including Constantine Harach who just won an Australasian Championship. Many of the these players are fresh from the Aussie Millions and are eager to show their improved tournament skills after playing against a world class field.
One new event this year is the Dealers Championships. Around 30 dealers from Australia will be coming over to compete in this event and it is expected a few N.Z. Casino dealers from Auckland will enter.
For full details of the NZ event click here.
For any other questions about Poker in Australia please email me.
-David Parlor
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PokerDollars
Play for free on our PokerPages software and win a chance to join PokerSchool Online! Just download the PokerPages software here!
If you have registered and downloaded our software and play in the fun play cardroom of PokerPages you can Win Poker Dollars. The Top 3 players on the ranking system at the end of the month win, 3 months, 2 months and 1 month respectively in PokerSchool Online. You must play in at least 20 freeroll tournaments during this month in order to win. To see our winners so far, click here!
If you are an existing school member you can still play in the Fun Play cardroom and win Poker Dollars towards your existing school membership.
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Signing Off
We hope you enjoyed our twice-monthly newsletter. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter or have any suggestions, please email tina@pokerpages.com. So until next time, be lucky!
Sincerely,
The PokerPages Staff.
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