http://www.pokerfolio.spruz.com en Sun, 1 Feb 2009 16:03:48 GMThttp://www.pokerfolio.spruz.comhere
]]>Sun, 1 Feb 2009 16:03:48 GMTand Tiffany Michelle opted to travel east to AC the event attracted 1592
players for the $300 event. Results:
1) Eugene Rojas 125k
2) Oscar Reyes   65k
3) Sara Chau      35k

Event #2 provided a much needed payday for David Plastik.
The ex photographer, CardPlayer employee, was scoring for
the first time since 2006 here in LA. Congrats to David.

Stay tuned for some live blogs from the LAPC right here. ]]>Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:07:42 GMT
This is my favourite cafe, great pastries and croissants, if I have a comp.
It is also on a direct route to the Tower Ballroom where the WPT
final is being played out.

Hoyt Corkins is out. He walked by with TD Jack McClelland.
A respectable distance behind Pam Brunson, Anjela Brunson
and Ken Hale.

Steve, Amnon and Chino share the same friend base. Ironically,
Justin Young (supported by Shannon Shorr + Adam Geyer.)and
Evan McNiff are the joint chip leaders.

Curly haired David Levi just topped up my chai and Joe Tehan
is on his way down to sweat Justin.

The cold weather continues in Las Vegas although no more
snowstorms are predicted.

Palio closed and I lost my connection.

Anyhow, as most of you will know by now Chino Rheem
continued his brilliant run and defeated Justin Young.

I really hope Justin continues to play the smaller buy in
tournaments around town rather than follow the circuit.
his $900k will last a lifetime if he does.

Don't forget to vote on the Real Deal poll. I cannot see it
lasting much longer especially if the backers can escape
paying the $5k an episode some of the stars are rumoured
to make.

The Pokerbattle rep/owner? Phillip Rouas has been active
signing players . Michael + Robert Mizrachi , Chino Rheem
Nenad Medic are wearing the logo and I saw him talking
with Andrew Robl at the Bellagio. Danny, the CardPlayer
cameraman has already signed up for videoshoots.

Matt Savage is promising a very player/media friendly LAPT
at the Commerce which is good news.

]]>Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:58:32 GMTJustin Young, a pro player ,originally from NC, now Vegas is the end of
Day2 chip leader. He also sat to Doyles left today. maybe an omen.
The players will reach the money on Tuesday.

My friend Yarum didn't quite make it through Day2.

Everything is in the Fontana looking out onto a deserted strip .
A combination of the slowest time of the year and a winter storm
responsable for that scenerio.

]]>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:32:42 GMTis always organising dinners with dealers, players and media and
never worries too much about the poker side.

His only dark side is he is always killing wildlife. Even a drive to
Tahoe ended in the death of a deer. The deer was grazing two
fields away from the interstate at the time.

To return to my story, Yarom returns to Vegas today and he
really does have the worst table draw. Ex champion Joe Hachem,
Men Nguyen, Kevin Tran, Quinn Do, Mikael Thuritz, Devilfish +
Isabelle Mercier.

Yarom doesn't eat buffets, even the Bellagio one, but he did send
me a text to say he finished the day with 51900.

Photo of his table companions here.

Tomorrow things look better with plenty of shorter stacks:
Vivek Rajkumar
Jacobo Fernandez
Jose Rosenkrantz
John Friedberg
Jared Okun
Tom Lutz
Tom Schneider

]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:25:02 GMTeveryone loves to play online on Sundays the alternative Day1.

The single table satellites are still going as is the final Super.

Doyle, Eli,David Oppenheim+ John Hennigan all went straight
from the Fontana to Bobbys room to play cash, hoping that
Guy Laliberte would show.

Ted Lawson did end of day honours and chose a five card. Five
hands later Ted was at the front of the buffet line.

Phil Hellmuth, whose table was in front of the media table is
the chip leader with 188k. Also at his table Iweargoggles is up
there with 147k.

Those with work to do on Monday Lee Markholt, the shortstack,
with 6800 and Jennifer Tilly with 9125.

]]>Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:51:44 GMTOnly 18 places paid for the $5k and we may have to wait until
tomorrow before anyone cashes. Payouts here.

Lots of Russians and Allen Kessler still alive at the dinner break.
Also David Levi, Ted Lawson, Erica Schoenberg, Anna
Wroblewski, Lika Gerasimov, Shannon Shorr, Jon Little
Joe Tehan, Jared Hamby, Elky,JPOSU + Marco Johnson.

The winner was hockey playing Matt Graham. He defeated
Davidson Matthew who always has a smile . The final
played out , without a dinner break, until 1am.

A massive super today with 350 players. The lucky 32
included Clonie Gowen + Tom Schneider.

Phil Hellmuth entered and left the room tonight without
any applause so he re-entered . So one player sat with
Vivek + Roothlos asked for his autograph on a napkin
just to make him feel better.

1) Matt Graham           $400k
2) Davidson Matthew  $258k
3) David Pham             $146k in slot credits :)
4) Russell Rosenblum  $82k

]]>Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:37:04 GMTAt the WSOP they boasted 45 different nationalities entered
the series.

The Russians have replaced the Scandies as the Bellagio
invaders and this has led to some controversy.

My take on the matter is this: Demidov won $5.8m. I
believe he had backers. The money probably never
returned to Russia so the backer sent some young players
over to "launder" the money.

These players do not speak much English and obviously
talk with each other in their native tongue. They may
not even know each other , such is the size of Russia.
They are more likely to be commenting on what a great
venue the Fontana lounge is or if they know the score of
the Madrid v Zenit game.

Some Americans are currently at the EPT in Prague. Can
you imagine if they were told to speak Czech only?

Most of the dealers at the Commerce understand Vietnamese
better than English so they can police conversations
between players there.

Allen Kessler was bitterly disappointed to be eliminated
with pocket kings three spots off the money in a $5k
tournament. I haven't talked with him today but I did
yesterday when the "Russians used hand signals" post
was blowing up bigtime.

I am sure Allen and the Russians will return to action
tomorrow in the next $5k.

]]>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:56:25 GMTthe Flamingo casino exit. On Monday evening as I passed through all
three tables were being used.
The casino has an aces cracked promotion and comps at a competitive
$2 per hour.

Over 150 for the reduced buy in Seniors. Players who survived
day1 include: Yosh Nakino, Giou Luong, Stan Fulton, Nancy Todd,
Humberto Brenes, Soheil, Ron Stanley, Tom Franklin,
Chris Bjorin + Max Stern. First prize is $84k.

I mixed up Steve Sung and Danny Wong in my report yesterday.
Steve is at the FT today albeit the shortstack guy.

Live coverage on CardPlayer.com.

The unpopular Englishman Mark Teltscher starts as chip leader.

1) Mark Teltscher
2) Ken Smaron
3) Hafiz Khan
4) Tim Bullard
5) Ben Bianco
6) Corwin Cole
7) M Mizrachi
8) Sergey Altbregin
9) Remy Biechel
10) Danny Wong

The pecan reindeers in the Bellagio here. The display is still not
100% ready but the public are allowed inside.

]]>Tue, 9 Dec 2008 22:49:13 GMTTue, 9 Dec 2008 22:38:05 GMTthe tax situation as many of them look good enough to cash here at the
Bellagio. WSOP final table players Denis Philips and Ivan Demidov
started .Philips was gone long before my arrival as was Jennifer Tilly.

As I left 27 players left on three tables including :
Allen "chainsaw" Kessler, Yosh Nakino, Ivan Demidov,
Vladimir Poleschenk, Eugeny Serbryako, Corwin Cole,
Ian Woodley, Mark Teltscher, Alan Smurfit, Adam Levy,
Sorel Mizzi, Ben Fineman, Luke "Iweargoggles" St,
Joe Tehan, Grinder, Giou Luong + Steve Sung.

Highlight of my day was meeting Alexis Skye outside
the bar . Alexis is the six foot five inches tall beauty who
was promoting Gamma O supplement at the WSOP.

Todays stats are here

]]>Tue, 9 Dec 2008 10:41:13 GMTprevious cashes according to thehendonmob.com database , won
the $5k around 9:30pm tonight. He probably had more supporters
than Ivan Demidov.
Full details, from Julio, on cardplayer.com here

Yarom Limor won his super satellite seat in what looked like a
soft super by Bellagio standards. Yarom is one of the most social
players on the tournament circuit always organising dinners.

The Bellagio winter wonderland display is open in front of the
cafe Bellagio.

]]>Mon, 8 Dec 2008 09:13:19 GMTBellagio duck today in the $3k. James has a bracelet from the WSOP
2007 and a second place nest egg from the WSOP 2008.

James is also successful online as mig1.

It was the longest tournament of the Five Diamond so far.
Tomorrows, $5k may beat that record with the number of
entries reaching 143.

At the dinner break survivors included Allen "chainsaw" Kessler,
Jimmy Fricke, Sorel Mizzi, Tim Vance, Rodeen Talebi, Jeff
Madsen, Carlos Mortenson + Sergei Rybachenko.

Saturday stats here

1) James Mackey         $207305
2) Sean Getzwiller       $124990
3) Amit Makhija          $71020
4) Farzad Rouhani       $39760
5) Richard Tatalovich  $31250





]]>Sun, 7 Dec 2008 09:27:53 GMThas closed. It isn't really in a prime location for anything except maybe a
keno lounge and the Excalibur still has the sole use of the pokerpro
dealerless tables. The Tropicana is in financial trouble so I am sure the
move was part of an attempt to cut staff numbers.

The Bellagio poker room was busy tonight. I have not been able to
write that for a long time.

Over in the Fontana lounge Brian Wolfe from NC was the dinnertime
chip leader in the $2k. Payout photo here

]]>Fri, 5 Dec 2008 09:28:47 GMTtournament in his honour now?
After a long heads up play that threatened my 9pm dinner buffet
Toto finally beat WSOP bracelet winner Blair Hinkle.
1) Toto Leonidas   $172k
2) Blair Hinkle      $103k
3) Kevin Marcotte $62k

Todays $1500 brought together a good size field. By dinner time
we had almost reached the money with the following players
still there: Sorel Mizzi, Richard Tatalovich, Tim Vance, Fabrice
Soulier, Allen Cunningham, David Sklansky, Amanda Baker +
Barry Greenstein.

Even the 7:15pm tournie broke the 40 mark for the first time.

$1500 stats here.

]]>Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:40:45 GMTIf the Mizrachis, Chino had played and JC Tran, Nam Le, Quinn Do
and co had been in town the century mark would have been reached.

The $5k field was down to four tables by dinner. Survivors included:
Russell Rosenblum, Scott Clements, Scotty Nguyen, Elky,
Burt Boutin, David Singer, Giou Luong, Toto Leonidas +
Soheil Shamseddin.

He may be a monster online but Sorel Mizzi had never won a live
tournament on American soil. Until today that is. He went on a
 run to move up from his fourth place at the start of play.
The final started slow with only Kelly Samson + Mike Skomac
being eliminated in the first three hours.

Sorel was sponsered by Brits Betfair whose hospitality suite I
enjoyed during the WSOP, especially the scones.

Two Canadians and a Frenchman in the top three.

1) Sorel Mizzi        $143k
2) Nicolas Fraioli   $81k
3) Chris Bush         $46k




]]>Wed, 3 Dec 2008 08:52:29 GMTand heading for a payday were JJ Liu, Yosh Nakino, Justin Young,
Theo Tran, Brandon Cantu, Scott Clements, Jon Little, Kelly Kim,
Toto Leonidas, Marco Johnson,David Baker + Sorrel Mizzi.
The entries and payouts here.

Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler never gets it in bad and the 99 or under
bet he has had on tomorrows $5k field is exceptional. I would still
have bet the under if the line was 65 as the "money people" like
Alan Smurfit, Rene Angelil, Wayne/Emily Boich + Stan Fulton
are not here.
The over/under on the time to go into the buffet at 9pm tonight
was a win for the under with no line whatsoever. I had dinner
with Justin Young and then dessert with Chainsaw.
Two interesting short handed games.
One had Fabrice Soulier
Robert Mizrachi and Barry Greenstein.
The other Elky and Lee Watkinson.

]]>Tue, 2 Dec 2008 10:09:22 GMTwalked through yesterday. The Jonas Bros concert turned the
casino into a pre teen hotspot, ideal for Jon Eaton.

Toto Leonidas, with 5 final tables at the Festa in October, started
where he left off as he was heads up with Chris Roat as I left.
Other results from the day:

10) George Griffin  $3k
9)   Larry Kenzy
8)  Richard Schwartz
7)  Dan Donati
6) Tom Berg
5) Phi Nguyen
4) H Antonesian
3) Bert Holting
2) Toto Leonidas
1) Chris Roat  $112790

Todays survivors included : David Pham, Ted Lawson, Bruce Corman,
Giou Luong, Vivek,Jon Little + Yosh Nakino.
]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 11:19:48 GMTThe $230 buy in's ,begin at noon in the ballroom, include a
trophy. If you are in Vegas why not visit downtown. I did today.
Neonopolis still looks closed but the El Cortez has improved
tenfold. I never thought I would write that and I wouldn't if
Jackie G had stayed in charge.

The GN is a maze, completely different. The buffet is upstairs,
new restaurants, new poker room, great pool. Only 23 in Saturdays
mixed which is a shame.

Here is the remaining schedule:
26th PLO h/l
27th LO  h/l
28th HORSE
29th mix
30th LO h/l

The Golden Nugget has always been the nicest casino downtown.
The tournaments are in the ballroom not the poker room.

]]>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:56:50 GMT"Chainsaw" Kessler's offer of "Real Deal" tickets. However here is
the skinny (and it is skinny):

Buy in : $2500
Entries: 233
Prize Money: $167283

Players left: Fabrice Soulier, Jeff Rene, Michael Binger.



]]>Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:42:36 GMT