Poker52Europa July-August 2012

N째6

www.poker52europa.com

JULY/AUGUST 2012

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS EPT Barcelona PPT Cannes WPT Grand Prix de Paris WSOP-E Cannes Estrellas Poker Tour Grand Casino Brussels APT Mauritius

EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN RANKINGS

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SERIES

The dealer thought everyone has folded

MARVIN RETTENMAIER King of the World Poker Tour CHRONICLES Jake Cody Victoria Coren Tony G. Doyle Brunson Kara Scott

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EDITOrial

All the summer tournaments are indeed a perfect way to wait for the big events this fall

Dear Readers, The World Series in Las Vegas are on their way, but just a few days before this 50-day marathon began, the best players in the poker world gathered in Las Vegas for the finale of the World Poker Tour, at the Bellagio. The heads-up was, for once, 100% European: Frenchman Philippe Ktorza, from Team PMU, and German wonderkid, Marvin Rettenmaier, who had just signed a few days before a new sponsorship with PartyPoker. The battle was tight, aggressive and a real feast. According to Mike Sexton, it was even “the most epic WPT heads-up” he had ever witnessed! Marvin Rettenmaier eventually won the title (and its million dollars), bringing back a great title to Germany.

But during the summer, the poker world’s eyes are not only focused on Las Vegas: Europe has a lot of great festivals and events going on, and it’s the perfect moment to combine poker, holidays and tourism. For those who like blue sea and sun day and night, destinations like Barcelona or San Sebastian will match perfectly! And if you hadn’t yet discovered the wonderful city of Brussels, its great food and night life, the Grand Casino out there launches a special event for poker players… All the summer tournaments are indeed a perfect way to wait for the big events this fall, with the Partouche Poker Tour finale, the WPT Grand Prix de Paris at Aviation Club de France and the World Series Of Poker Europe in Cannes… And don’t forget for those who dream of enchanted islands, the APT stops to Mauritius, an island which welcomed the WPT a few months ago with great success… Have fun at the tables and on the beach!

POKER 52 europa // july-august 2012 // ISSUE 6

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CONTENTS 12 28

NEWS INTERVIEW

34

POKER BUSINESS

40

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

72 77

HENDON MOB RANKINGS TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE CHRONICLES

Marvin Rettenmaier Casinos Austria Poker Tour

42 APT Mauritius 46 EPT Barcelona 52 PPT Cannes 56 WSOP-E Cannes 60 WPT Grand Prix de Paris 64 EPT San Remo 68 Grand Casino Brussels 70 Casino Kursaal San Sebastian

42

52

20 Doyle Brunson

«If you don’t think every day is a good day, try missing one» 22 Jake Cody Helicopters and hot tubs 24 Tony G. A New Paradise on Earth 36 Kara Scott Back home 78 Hendonmob Tournament Director 80 Victoria Coren Welcome to the Riviera

60

28 is published by Game Prod - 14 rue de Berri 75008 PARIS / France +33 (0)1 53 89 14 00 www.poker52europa.com Directed by: Bruno Benveniste +33 (0)1 53 89 14 08 - brunobenveniste@poker52europa.com Assisted by: Samantha Delmas - samantha@poker52europa.com Chief editor: Jérôme Schmidt - jerome@poker52europa.com Writers: Julien Morello, Antoine Salvi, Philippe Lemaire, Philippe Aronson Cover picture: PartyPoker.com Inside pictures: XDR, Neil Stoddart Re-writing and translation: Alexander JE Bradley Advertisement: Martin Garagnon +33 (0)1 53 89 14 04 - martin@poker52europa.com Founder: Bruno Fitoussi DESIGN Artistic Director: Frédéric Hallier - fredhallier@gmail.com Layout: Jennifer Bouvard Print: Imprimerie du Canal

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nEws // wOrlD POkEr TOur cYPrus

FirST STop oF iTS 2012 SerieS In cYPrus This is unexpected news, but great news indeed. The World Poker Tour has just revealed the first stop of its eleventh season, which is about to kick off: the sunny island of Cyprus has the honor of opening this new edition of the greatest international poker circuit next July. This first competition will run from July 31 to August 5 at the Merit-Grand Casino, and will feature a $4,000+$400 buy-in main Event that will drag crowds of pros and amateurs trying to the first champion of the 2012 tour.

The opening festival of Season XI will kick off on Tuesday, July 31, for 6 days of action with the Main Event and 3 side tournaments. The main event will be split into two starting days, with a re-entry option available for Day 1b of the $4,000+$400 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament that guarantees a prize pool of no less than $1 Million.

Matt Savage will supervise the action as usual, and Mike Sexton will once again man the commentary booth with the Royal Flush Girls on the flanks. Also good to know, a VIP Players’ Party is scheduled for Friday, August 3. So, those eager for cash games can play 24 hours a day with buy-ins at levels to suit even smaller bankrolls. The WPT will soon announce details of the many side tournaments included on the tour stop. For more information, checkhttp://www.worldpokertour.com/.

// wPT naTIOnal MaZagan

The NaTioNal SerieS are comiNg To MOrOccO After Paris and Cannes, the World Poker tour National series will cross the Mediterranean sea to settle in Mazagan, a gorgeous resort town on the coast of Morocco. From july 12-july 15, the Mazagan beach Resort will be all about poker, attracting a great number of international players, and many of them will surely be French – they always feel at home in Morocco.

the event will have the same structure as the other National series, featuring two Day 1’s with a possibility of re-entry to maximize your chances to reach the final table of the €1,500 + €150 Main Event. so if you don’t make it to the end in the two first legs of the National series, Mazagan could be your redemption. And in the gorgeous settings of the Moroccan coast, it will be one hell of a redemption.

12 IssuE 6 // july-August 2012 // POKER 52 europa

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nEws // ukIPT DuBlIn

WelShmaN RIcHaRD EVanS VicToriouS iN irelaND

The third leg of the UKIPT 2012 stopped in City West Hotel, Dublin, for a €700 Main Event that attracted a huge field of 597 players, generating a prize pool of €417,900. And after being down to less than two big blinds on Day 3, Richard Evans, an online qualifier for only €15, managed to come back on track and to take down the title, for €75,500.

Welshman took the lead on the final day. He saw Lee Atherton, Keith Swain, Graeme Crozier, Padraig O’Neill and Vincent Buis leave the final table, and concluded a three way deal with Seamus Birt and Stephen McGrath for €60,000 each, and €15,000 to the champion.

Evans busted Birt at the third place with As high, and entered the heads-up with five million chips, against 3,580,000 for his opponent. In the final hand, Evans’ pair of 9 dominated McGrath’s pair of 6, and the self-proclaimed “microstakes grinder” took home the UKIPT title and €75,000 for his second-ever live poker event.

// unIBET OPEn sT MaarTEn

amaZiNg graND FiNale iN The DUTcH anTIllES!

this winter, you’ll be able to play poker in paradise: from December 3-December 7, the unibet Open will conclude in the Caribbean island of st Maarten.

For its Fifth Anniversary special, the unibet Open will give you an extra dose of sunshine, with its greatest ever poker festival starting on December 3 on the tropical island of st Maarten! the €1,500+150 NlH freezeout Main Event will take place in the luxurious sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, a 10 acre beachfront complex in one of the Dutch Antilles’ most beautiful spots.

Many surprises are in store for the happy participants. It’s a birthday special, so nothing’s too good for unibet: just for starters, and for the first time ever the tournament will be extended for an extra day to ensure that you get to spend as much time as possible enjoying the sunshine. so pack your sunglasses, your swimsuit and your best game, you can’t miss out on this fantastic anniversary!

uKiPt DuBlin

lIsT OF wInnErs field: 597 players: Prize pool: €417,900 1st Richard Evans 75,500 nd 2 stephen Mcgrath 60,000 3rd seamus Birt 60,000 4th Vincent Buis 26,800 5th Padraig O’Neill 20,700 6th graeme Crozier 16,400 7th Keith swain 12,600 8th lee Atherton 9,600

14 IssuE 6 // july-August 2012 // POKER 52 europa

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news // ONLINE & LIVE EVENT

The ISPT will kick off in Wembley in June 2013 It will surely be the biggest poker event next spring: the International Stadiums Poker Tour (set up by Bernard Tapie, his son Laurent Tapie and Prosper Masquelier) has announced the first edition of this massive event, which will be held in London’s mythical Wembley Stadium, the biggest stadium in England, from May 31 to June 6, 2013. This extraordinary event, featuring a €600 buy-in, is expecting up to 30,000 players, coming from all over the world trying to take the biggest share of the €20 Million prize pool.

And the ISPT innovates from the start: indeed, this unique tournament, broadcast in more than 28 countries, will first be held online as the 30,000 participants will compete each other using digital tablets connected to another, comfortably sitting in the stadium’s renovated stands. After this first online part of the event, the 3,000 best players still running for the first ISPT title will gather on the field of Wembley and compete live, on 300 poker tables. The ISPT is a unique opportunity to write poker history, right where international sports history was played out.

For the tournaments directors, this is an ambitious challenge, but Bernard Tapie, Prosper Masquelier and Laurent Tapie are convinced that the event, which will be the greatest online & live poker tournament ever organized, will be a huge success and will revolutionize the worldwide poker scene. And with a massive €20 million prize pool for a really reasonable €600 buy-in, there is no doubt that poker lovers from all over the world will be in Wembley in May and June 2013! For more info, check www.ispt.com.

// POKER OUTFIT

Blue Shark Optics

Sunglasses are conceived for the sun, but the glasses Blue Shark Optics were created for poker! Official poker eyewear of the World Series of Poker, Blue Shark Optics will change your point of view on the poker tables, hiding your eyes, giving you maximum light penetration, and keeping your eyes fresh and rested thanks to the unique Crystalion-3 lenses technology.

Ideal for indoor use, and more specifically for poker, Blue Sharks Optics glasses are available in several models, such as the aggressive Swamp Shark, the

functional Saw Shark, the square shaped Hammerhead, the astonishing Viper Shark, the stylistic Bull Shark, the stunning River Shark, the replaceable lenses Reef Shark and the unique Tiger Shark, a frame combining Crystallion-3 lenses and MP3 player!

With any of those models, you can observe your opponents without being revealed, thanks to the Blue Shark lenses unique reflective properties and their special treatment. These glasses capture all the light and give poker players an incomparable comfort, allowing them to keep concentrated at any time. Stylish, with a large number of frame options, the Blue Shark frames are the perfect accessory, on a poker table or during a party.

“In today’s era, poker and sunglasses go together like peanut butter and jelly. But we’ve never seen a company as committed to the specific needs of poker players as Blue Shark,” said Ty Stewart, VP of the WSOP. And poker superstars have already understood the high capacities of Blue Shark Optics models, as Humberto Brenes, Chris Moneymaker, Hoyt Corkins and Jonathan Little associated their names with some of the finest models of the BSO’s catalogue. Blue Shark glasses are also ideally suited for women, as Vanessa Rousso has proved many times, wearing MP3 Tiger Shark on poker tables.

So forget your sunglasses, take a look at the Blue Shark Optics catalogue at http://www.bluesharkoptics.eu/ en/ and enter into the Poker Hall of Frame!

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// EurOPEan POkEr TOur granD FInal MOnTE-carlO

A lAst stOP As a suPrEME achIEVEMEnT The European Poker Tour concluded its eighth season with a stunning poker festival held in Monte-Carlo Casino, from April 23 to May 1. Thirty-six events were organized during this week-long series, including two amazing High Rollers events, the Champions of Champions event, where numerous EPT winners joined together for a friendly freeroll, and of course the €10,600 Main Event, which energized MonteCarlo for five days.

First tournament of the series, the €100,000 Super High Roller event attracted thirty-eight of the best players in the world, such as Daniel Cates, Sam Trickett, Phil Ivey, Sorel Mizzi, Victor Blom, Erik Seidel and Jonathan Duhamel.

Daniel Negreanu finished sixth, Patrik Antonius fourth, and Bertrand Grospellier third, before Justin Bonomo busted Tobias Reinkemeier on the heads-up, for a €1,640,000 cash prize, his best result in live tournaments.

With 271 players on Day 1A and 394 on Day 1B, the €10,600 Main Event generated a massive prize pool of €6,650,000. The poker superstars were all there, but Jake Cody, Luca Pagano, Roberto Romanello, ElkY, Patrik Antonius, Jonathan Duhamel and Eugene Katchalov didn’t reach Day 2. Jason Mercier, Chris Moorman, Vanessa Rousso, Sam Trickett, Sorel Mizzi, Chris Moneymaker and Barry Greenstein, as well as Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu were busted during the second day, and Erik Seidel, Pierre Neuville, Leo Margets, Sandra Naujoks, Max Martinez, Matthias De Meulder, Bruno Fitoussi and Guillaume Darcourt finished in the money. During the final table, Mohsin Charania and Lucille Cailly leaded the action, and after a three way deal with Bernard Guilgon, Mohsin Charania took the title for €1,350,000, besting Lucille Cailly on heads-up. The French player cashed €1,050,000 for her achievement, and thanks to this event, she reached the first place of the All

€100,000 suPeR hiGh RolleR

lIsT OF wInnErs field: 38 players: Prize pool: €4,432,500 1st justin Bonomo 1,640,000 2nd tobias Reinkemeier 1,064,000 3rd Bertrand grospellier 621,000 4th Patrik Antonius 443,000 5th Masa Kagawa 354,500 th 6 Daniel Negreanu 310,000

Time Winner List of French female poker players.

117 players registered for the first day of the €25,000 High Roller Event, and they were only forty-five to qualify for Day 2. David Williams, Chris Moorman, Patrik Antonius, Liv Boeree and Viktor Blom busted before the money bubble, and Justin Bonomo entered the final table as chip leader, with some of the best players on Earth, Daniel Negreanu, Noah Schwartz and Max Lykov. Negreanu eliminated Bonomo on fourth place and Philipp Gruissem finished third, as he couldn’t best Igor Kurganov during the heads-up; the Russian player took the title for €1,080,000.

This amazing series concluded with a Champions of Champions tournament, which attracted forty of the eighty EPT Main Event winners, for a freeroll event, with €100,000 at grab. The heads-up between Frenchman Christophe Benzimra, Warsaw 2009 champion, and Englishman Zimnan Ziyard, Loutraki 2011 champion, swung in Benzimra’s favour, and the champion of champions netted €35,000 for his victory.

The EPT Monte-Carlo was a huge success; this French Riviera series will also conclude the ninth season of the European Poker Tour in 2013 for some new crowning moments.

main eVent

lIsT OF wInnErs field: 665 players: Prize pool: €6,650,000 1st Mohsin Charania 1,640,000 2nd lucille Cailly 1,064,000 3rd Bernard guigon 621,000 4th sergio Castelluccio 443,000 5th Rodrigo Caprioli 354,500 th 6 Michael Dietrich 310,000 7th Clayton Mozdzen 310,000 8th Daniel gomez 310,000

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nEws // unIBET OPEn lOnDOn

pacK Your BagS, lOnDOn’S callIng! From September 13-16, 2012, the Unibet Open will descend upon the UK capital for the third time. The €1,500 + €150 Main Event will bring well over €100,000 for the winner, so if you want to enter the history of the young tournament, pack your bags, London’s calling!

After two stops, respectively in Prague and Paris, and two online legs, the Unibet Open will run for four exciting days in the brand new Aspers Westfield Casino in the very heart of hip East London. Starting on September 13, the competition will feature a €1,500 + €150 NLH freezeout Main Event with a 20,000 starting stack, and with a 400 cap, the winner is assured to bring back home more than €100,000.

// EsTrEllas POkEr TOur IBIZa

SpaNiarD PablO ROJaS WiNS Dig

The winner will join previous winners Thanh Doan (2009) and Paul Valkenburg (2010) in the prestigious club of Unibet Open champions and will get to take home the much-coveted Unibet Open trophy. In addition, everyone who plays the Main Event will pick up all-important Leaderboard points, with three different Unibet Open packages at stake. So if you have never tried the Unibet Open, give it a shot next September, you stand to win a lot.

the 2011 EPt Barcelona Main Event, was the first to bust, followed by jaume Niell Alomar and swede johan Ray. Frenchman Amaury legait then eliminated two players in a few minutes, Daniel Coloma and lithuanian saulius tuluosa. the three survivors concluded a deal, with €50,000 to legait, €40,000 to swede Daniel Ericson, €36,000 to Pablo Rojas and €4,800 for the champion. Ericson was busted by legait, and after two hours of heads-up, Rojas came back on the game and overcame Amaury legait, becoming the new champion of the Estrellas Poker tour Ibiza, for €40,800.

estRellas PoKeR touR iBiZa

lIsT OF wInnErs

After Madrid and Valencia, the Estrellas Poker tour 2012 stopped for its third leg in Ibiza, from May 16-May 20. 269 players from 29 different countries entered this €1,000 event, generating a total prize pool of €258,240.

After four days of high-level poker, the final table of eight players began, and Dragan Kostic, runner-up of

field: 269 players: Prize pool: €258,240 1st Pablo Rojas 40,800 2nd Amaury legait 50,000 3rd Daniel Ericson 40,000 4th saulius tuluosa 18,000 5th Daniel serna 15,100 6th johan Ray 12,390 7th jaume Alomar 9,800 8th Dragan Kostic 7,750

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DOYLE

s a x “te

”

lly do

BRUNSON

Doyleisme of the day:

«If you don’t think every day is a good day, try missing one» In the 1998 World Series of Poker, I had just been knocked out of the PLO tournament. I had made a bad play and was fuming about it as I sat down in a cash game to cool off. Despite the fact that I had won my eighth bracelet in the Razz tournament the night before, I was so upset I was playing bad in the cash game. I lost a couple of pots and picked up a stack of 500 chips and some cash and put it in my pocket. I started for my home on the Las Vegas Country Club not realizing what was in store for me that night.

As I parked my car in the driveway and walked up to my front door, I heard a noise behind me. I turned with my house keys in my hand and saw two men dressed in black and wearing ski masks pointing pistols at me. I instantly realized they were there to enter my house and rob me and possibly do harm to me and my wife. I remember saying “Oh shit” and throwing my keys as far as I could. One of the men put a gun to my head, telling me if I moved he would kill me, while his partner retrieved the keys from the street where I had thrown them.

One of the robbers was tall, the other one short. The tall one held the gun to my head and said we were going inside. I knew these guys were expecting to get a lot of money because they had several bags with them. I knew there was only a couple of hundred dollars in the house so I told them we were not going inside. The tall guy put the gun back to my head and said then you will die right here.

I didn’t know what to so. I was worried about my wife Louise but didn’t want to get shot resisting. I had just read Ty Thompson’s book, The Unsinkable Titanic Thompson, the life story of the famous gambler Titanic Thompson. Ty had killed five men who were trying to rob him by faking a heart attack and coming out with a pistol he carried in a shoulder holster.

I didn’t have a gun, but I grabbed my chest and gasped, “I’m having a heart attack, get the paramedics.” This flustered the robbers but they opened the door, triggering

the house alarm. They dragged me inside and started screaming at me to give them the code to turn the alarm off. I knew I had to get help because if they had time they would probably inflict bodily harm on me and Louise. So I kept giving them the wrong numbers until the alarm finally went off. The tall guy started hitting me with his pistol, breaking my glasses and cutting my face all over. My wife, who had been in bed upstairs, came down the steps and was forced to turn the alarm off.

I was still lying on the floor with blood all over me, moaning about my “heart attack.” I must have been an awful sight. Louise was trying to come over to me but the tall guy wouldn’t let her. The phone was ringing and everybody knew it was the alarm company calling. The short guy put his gun up to my head, telling me that if I moved he would kill me (I was getting tired of that). The other guy put his gun on Louise and told her the same thing would happen to her if she didn’t tell the alarm company everything was OK. Louise picked up and told the lady operator everything was fine and gave her a false number for our code.

This was supposed to alert the operator that something was wrong. When the operator told Louise that was an incorrect code, Louise answered, “Yes I know.” Then she repeated the wrong code and hung up. I couldn’t believe she could remember a wrong five-digit code number under such stress.

Twenty seconds later the phone rang again. I subsequently heard a tape of the conversation. The robber answered.

The operator screamed, “That wasn’t the right code.” The robber tried to sound like Louise and kept saying everything was OK. Finally the operator realized something was wrong so she hung up and called the police. The tall guy realized they were on to them and came running back to where I was. He cocked his pistol and said in a trembling voice, “I’m gonna kill you for what you have done to us tonight.” Like a heroine in an adventure film, Louise

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THE GODFATHER OF POKER The robber put everything in a bag then hit me again, wanting to know where the safe was. I told him I didn’t have a safe and had never had a safe.

I told them there was no money in the house and reminded them that the police were on their way. jumped in front of him saying, “Kill me, don’t kill him, kill me.” Everyone including me was stunned by what she had just done, and then the tall robber threw her to the floor beside me.

I was talking to the guys, telling them that the cops were on the way and they had better get going. I told them that if they wanted money I had eight or nine thousand in my pocket. He reached in my pocket and pulled out a small roll of bills, probably 3-4 thousand dollars and a handful of $500 chips. He threw the chips on the floor, saying “You call that money?” He reached in my other pocket and took more bills and a pouch that had $90,000 in $5000 chips.

It was money I had received the night before from winning the Razz tourney. I had completely forgotten about them.

I had meant to put them in my safety deposit box at the Horseshoe but had neglected to do so.

The robber put everything in a bag then hit me again, wanting to know where the safe was. I told him I didn’t have a safe and had never had a safe. I told them there was no money in the house and reminded them that the police were on their way.

He took out three sets of handcuffs and put them tightly on Louise and me, linking us together. Then he opened the door to leave and I said to him, “Buddy, leave my billfold.

There is no money in it and if you try to use the credit cards, you’ll get caught.” I’ll never forget how he paused, straddled the door between his legs and stared down at me for 30 seconds or so. He then threw my billfold over his shoulder and left. I believe he had some kind of sick sexual experience as he had the door between his legs.

As we lay on the floor after they left, unable to get up, Louise, who still thought I was badly hurt said, “Did you ever think after thirty-five years we would wind up like this?” I started laughing and assured her I was OK and had faked the heart attack. She asked me what was the flashing light in my pocket and I told her it was my cell phone. We could barely move but managed to get the phone out and called my neighbor, who rushed right over. Then the police arrived and took the handcuffs off. They tried to make me

Find Doyle Brunson at www.pokerroad.com

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go to the emergency room but I refused. It looked like I was badly hurt but I had taken lots of worse hits in sports and fights. So it was over and I was thankful that Louise and me were OK. The next day I went to the alarm company and talked to the head supervisor. The lady was very apologetic about what had happened, acknowledging that the operator had made a bad mistake by calling back about the wrong security code. She was in tears and told us that she had personally trained the operator. I told her I understood about people making mistakes and if she would give me the $100,000 the robbers took I would forget it. She said she couldn’t do that, so I told her we would sue. We filed a suit and settled out of court for $340,000. We could have gotten much more if we had gone to court, but I didn’t want to put Louise through the ordeal of reliving the robbery. She had never experienced anything like that and was having anxiety attacks. As for me, it was my fifth time looking down a gun barrel, so I wasn’t affected much. But it was time to put the robbery behind us.

Another amazing thing about this robbery was the fact that my two dogs Casper (the toy poodle) and Cutie (Bichon) stayed upstairs through the entire ordeal. Casper is very territorial toward anything or anybody that enters what he considers his domain. He was four years old at the time of our home invasion and had never ever failed to greet me when I came in the front door. Why he didn’t come down during the robbery, I will never know. Was it divine intervention? Or an instinctive sense that something was wrong?

I’m sure that if he had charged the robbers something bad would have happened because I would never allow him to be mistreated. Anyway, when the police got there he ran down the stairs and bit a cop.

Casper is now sixteen years old. His running mate, Cutie, is fifteen. Both are in good health and are the best dogs you could possibly have. Casper has bitten (brought blood) forty-seven people who have come into our back yard and house. We finally learned to lock him up in the bedroom when expecting visitors :) n

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JakE cODY

hElIcOPTErs anD hOT TuBs

I used to have this big fear of flying thing but I’ve done it so much over the last few years that I’m fine with it now. I do still have a ritual, though: a certain song I have to listen to during take-off… a bit weird but whatever, it’s just kinda comforting having that routine. Kind of like a tradition.

C H R O N I C L E JA K E CO DY

So we get to Nice and decide to arrive in Monte Carlo in style!

I’d never been in a helicopter before, it was pretty damn awesome. The taxi ride is 45minutes, versus 7 minutes by helicopter, so s ick!

SO, in the prop bet I kinda did lose the bet… but I had a choice and went for the suit obv! Somehow not many pictures were taken at all but i did find one — Actually wasn’t so bad, pretty sure we weren’t the only people in Monaco wearing white suits, haha. On to the main event… Urgh! is pretty much what sums it up. It really was one of those days, I had the 2nd best hand all day and just everything went wrong, eventually squeezed all in with A4s against a loose open and fish call and ran into 99 of the original raiser, sigh. I want to forget about this tournament.

Monte Carlo really is a very beautiful place and I was so happy that EPT brought the Grand Final here. It definitely is very fitting. I nearly flew home again straight after I busted. I always do this and I’m always happy I stayed when I do. I did decide to stay and grind some side events.

First up was the 5k turbo. Lost a big flip then shoved Q2 blind on blind and ran into Ax which held, I was actually quite tilted at busting this tournament. I busted in like 25th and it was 160k for first! Seemed so win-able. Reg’d the 2k turbo bounty later that day and span up a huge stack before eventually shoving 85dd blind on blind against Jon Turner with about 20 left he called with KT and flopped a decent KKT, but a min-cash a few bounties and most importantly the MC flag on hendon mob! It was actually my first live cash this year, even though I’ve hardly played with all the house stuff going on i was still surprised and hopefully there will be lots of USA flags this summer.

Went out on the Friday night and nearly booked my flight home again before finding out about the tournament of champions which is like a free roll for all the past EPT winners with 100k gtd or something… with only a small field I couldn’t really miss it even though I was desperate

to get back to Leeds. So reluctantly stayed but a lot of my friends were still there, and some people I don’t see that often so it was nice to hang out with them.

The tournament of champions is basically a 6max turbo with 100k starting stack with the blinds starting at 200/400/50 HEAVEN!!!!!!! Even though the field was quite tough it was a lot of fun and there was definitely a lot of value still, a few players I have no idea how they won an EPT. I had got talked into going out the night before and had like 3 hours sleep I was the most hungover I had been in a long time and this tournament had a lot media coverage so there was lots of interviews and TV stuff to do which was kinda the last thing I wanted to do and I’ll probably avoid it when it comes on TV lol. I lost AJ to AK allin pre quite early but then colored everyone and won every race and went into the final as chip leader!!

It was very very crapshooty by now though and even as chipleader I could be out in two hands very easily, I was quite card dead most of the final and Zimmy was knocking everyone out and we got to 3 handed pretty quickly. I then lost 95% of my stack in a weird hand blind vs blind where I ended up calling his shove on the river with A high on 67826 he had 108 and kinda owned me after making a pretty suspect call pre flop, I did spin 27k into 400 but then A6<99 and I was out in 3rd for €17,500 pretty sick for a free roll and hopefully starting to heat up pre wsop...

I somehow dragged myself to the pokerstars party for a few hours after the tournament which was actually pretty fun, got coerced into numerous tequila shots then finally got in bed and booked a flight home for the next day. It had been a really awesome trip, one of my favorites but I was SO SO SO happy to be back in Leeds, back in my own bed, and Pez, Ash and Jamie were all home too, it was soooooo good to be back!

The first few nights I slept really really well. I think I must have needed it. I slept 12hrs both nights no problem.

Friday was a pretty exciting day… the day THE HOT TUB FINNALLY ARRIVED!!!! It went shockingly smoothly. I

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so we get to Nice and decide to arrive in Monte Carlo in style!!! I’d never been in a helicopter before, it was pretty damn awesome. the taxi ride is 45 minutes, versus 7 minutes by helicopter, so sick! thought there would definitely be some hiccups in the installation but everything was fine and it was up and running and HOT the next day, I’ll take some pics for the next blog.

Ironically the hot tub arrived and in an unrelated incident my boiler broke so we had a hot tub but no hot water or heating all weekend. I didn’t realise how important hot water is... It’s pretty damn fucking important.. Massive tilt not having it. But still morale was saved by the incred hot tub and even grinded a few tournaments on the iPad last night IN the hot tub while watching guess who (great film too).

I’ve been loving life back home, been great having everyone at home all grinding in the office and chilling in the hot tub most of us have been doing chunks during scoop but still morale is high!

I woke up at 9 a.m. today, feeling very productive, started to write this blog and made some calls I’d been putting off. Then got round to calling British Airways... A few months ago I got in from a night out and randomly booked my flight for Vegas for May 10 (tomorrow). I booked business class for the hell of it and thought I was being responsible booking so far in advance, I think its maybe the first flight ever I’ve booked more than a few days before. Anyway because I was so homesick and loving being home I wanted to delay the flight at least a week maybe two... so I tried to change it online and they said I had to call… so I did. It turns out I booked a non-exchangable, non-refundable flight and if I don’t go tomorrow I lose the return flight too and I booked business class too so it’s chunks... SO it looks like I might be going to Vegas tomorrow, it’s a massive fml/wal spot...

I really want to be home. I’ve missed home so much but if I HAVE to go to Vegas it’s not exactly a punishment, in fact I’m kind of excited about the prospect… more so because I’m not prepared. So I have two options: I can fly tomorrow business class on my own and miss the rest of scoop (save decent bean), play the 25k WPT in a few days and have to wait for hot tub parties until after WSOP… orrrrr I can write off that flight book a totally new flight, miss the 25k but play all of scoop and be home then fly out in two weeks. Dempsey is in Vegas right now… could be the deciding factor… n

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TONY g.

a nEw ParaDIsE

CHRONICLE TONY G.

On EarTh

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ladies and gentleman, I believe I have discovered the best cash games in the world, and they are in Minsk, Belarus. At the time of writing, they are so good I am finding it hard to drag myself away.

I am making progress towards securing my entry for the One Drop at the WsOP! I have had a ma$$$$$$$ive score and would like to thank those who invited me for their excellent hospitality. I will be back. Minsk is a remarkable place and a new frontier for poker. the best PlO games are now in Minsk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; reach out to me. I have found a new paradise on earth â&#x20AC;&#x201C; clean, safe and secure. All it needs is more French players and I can truly call it paradise lol.

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I’m happy to see the growth of the WPt National series through spain, Italy and France. I will be attending as many events as I can in coming months.

The only game in the world that was potentially better than Minsk was that one with the Buddhists in South Korea. I have seen the publicity around this in the last week or so – drinking and smoking monks. Am I the only one who wondered if Andy “Mad Monk” Black was there? Where’s the Devilfish – where’s the Monkfish?

I am now back at Tony Resort in Lithuania. Zasko, my faithful German Shepherd friend, is now fully grown and loving life more than ever. He is frolicking in the forest, running free but at the same time keeping away from the dangerous bears. He’s a lover to most things but when he is on the attack, he is on the attack – you would not want to be his enemy. He is specially trained to be the guardian of Tony Resort and is kicking hard. He tolerates open mindedness but whatever you do don’t get on his wrong side. His jaw is big and active – in fact, Zasko is very active at the moment – he is still looking for his life mate as it is time to breed. Zasko looked on fondly when I completed the line-up for a new band I have put together – The Tony Betties – and we are going to have a concert at Tony Resort soon. Check out their debut single and video on You Tube – I predict their success will spread beyond Lithuania to the international market. They are all fired up and I want to be their Simon Cowell – they are going to do a big concert here at Tony Resort. They have true talent. I have told PartyPoker they should sign them – I hope they listen to me.

For the moment I think business is going to keep me on this side of the world. I have been monitoring my twitter and playing PartyPoker, taking up their Championship

Challenge. I have also been encountering Jungleman on the cash tables at Party recently too – I know he is scared of me as he won’t take up my challenge. Nice lad but leaks in his live game and online game too it seems!

I’m happy to see the growth of the WPT National Series through Spain, Italy and France. I will be attending as many events as I can in coming months but will also be focusing on bringing home Olympic gold for Lithuania and its men’s basketball team at London 2012. I’m sure there will be lots of stories about our poker playing friend Mr Michael Phelps but it is true that he is not a human dolphin, he’s really a fish! I’m sure he will be calling Phil Hellmuth every night asking him for tips on how to be a winner and succeed. That’s what I would do if I were one of the greatest Olympians in history!

Lots of you ask for my sports betting tips so I am going to give you one now. I have put a sneaky bet on Ukraine at 40/1 (41) to win the Euro 2012 soccer. They are hosts and shouldn’t be underestimated – I am also positive their price will shorten before and during the tournament too.

Easy money. England, absolutely no chance! France? Well the days of Desailly and Zidane are long gone but I think they are a value bet. I would put them in the same bracket as Italy though – a slightly longer priced team worth backing to oppose favourites Germany and Spain. As for the Olympics? Bet on Lithuania’s men’s basketball team to pick up a medal!

Remember who told you!

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interview

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Marvin

Rettenmaier Hail to the King of WPT,

Mad Marvin!

Marvin Rettenmaier may only be 25, but he has the wits of a long-time shark, and most importantly, a kindness and intelligence never before seen in an online grinder. Just after his biggest career achievement, he is back on the warpath with the World Series Of Poker in Las Vegas. The German player enjoys two things in life: poker and music. But now is not the time to play in small bars with friends: he badly wants a Triple Crown, in order be considered one of the very best players of his time. We met him at Rio Casino, just after he busted from a 2-7 Triple Draw event, a type of poker he had never played beforeâ&#x20AC;Ś

By Jerome Schmidt

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interview

You have just won one of the biggest titles in the poker world, the $25,000 World Poker Tour Championship, at Bellagio…

It gave me a lot of momentum because I had been grinding hard for two years, and had never won any big titles. Of course I had done well with the France Poker Series title in France, but it was mostly middle-stakes tournaments. This $25,000 WPT Championship is considered one of the most difficult and prestigious tournaments of the circuit, and it was really different.

The heads-up with Philippe Ktorza was very long and stressful…

I wanted this title so badly that I could not accept to be the runner-up. I knew Philippe already, from Team PMU, and I thought he would play tighter and that it’d be easier to beat him headsup but he fought like a real champion, and eventually he had the chiplead on me couple times. He really made me doubt a lot of times, especially with the structure which is pretty quick: we had 30-40 BB maximum, and could not make big moves. It’s almost ABC heads-up poker, and at any moment I felt that I could be the runner-up.

I hated this feeling so much! But my

friends on the rail really helped me to stay focused, and tough. I think the French rail also helped Philippe to adapt his game because of the live feed online, as they saw I stole a lot of pots (laughs). But I took my chances and ended up winning, which was incredible. Otherwise I think I would be made fun of for years.

Did you celebrate afterwards?

Not really. I mean, I like to party but I was so tired after this very technical heads-up that I had to go to bed after few drinks. I was sick for the next week, and had to stay in bed without being able to enjoy my victory or my girlfriend’s birthday. And by the time I felt better, the World Series had begun…

Maybe today I’ll party to celebrate this in a big private mansion near Vegas.

Didn’t you want to take some time off before going back to the grind?

Problem is, the World Series happens only once a year! If it were an EPT, I would not have played. But there is so much to do during the WSOP, with two or three tournaments every day. I really want a bracelet and I am eager to play any event I can. I even played the 2-7 Triple Draw, which I do not even know how to play. I play all kind of

tournaments, and even if my bankroll is bigger now, it does not change much for me. I would not buy-in myself for the One Drop, of course, and I will not start playing the $100,000 events, because I think there is not much value in them. For the One Drop, if I get a backer, I’ll play it for sure. I have been lazy about it but now that I feel better, I’ll start looking for backers again.

It’d be worth it, money-wise, because there are a lot of businessmen, it’ll be a very prestigious tournament and the one who wins it will go to the top of the All Time Money List.

Is it important for you to achieve something in the poker community?

It’s a small world but for me the rankings keep me going, because I am a very competitive person, and I just want to be the best in what I do. For example I am now fifth in the German All Time Money List, after Pius Heinz, Tobias Reinkemeier, Benny Spindler and Sebastian Ruthenberg, but I want so badly to be number one! (laughter) How did you seal your new sponsorship with PartyPoker?

We had been speaking together since a long time already, and after Titan

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decided not to sponsor poker players any longer, it was a quick decision. I am under contract for a whole year, and I am very happy with this because I am friends with a lot of people from this company — players and executives — and I hope I will be a good ambassador for them, with lots of winnings!

What have been your best memories in poker so far?

My WPT title aside, I have great memories from the France Poker Series title in Paris, because everyone was so kind and it was the first really big title of my career. I have good and bad memories from my first WSOP final table, two years ago, because I felt I could really win it and then I got coolered and had to bust seventh, which was really disappointing…

You are one of the young grinders who travels the most, why is that?

When I decided to play live, I really wanted to play the most hands possible in a live context, to learn tells, live psychology, etc. So I figured I had to travel to many tournaments, event regional or national series. That was fun, and it helped me to build my live plays, but this year I will slow down a little in order to enjoy life more. I also want to play near my girlfriend’s city, on East Coast, because I hate making her travel all the time to the West Coast, Vegas or Europe, since she works and has to take days off all the time.

Why did you choose to make a living playing poker?

I was always the nerdy guy who did not work at school: I read game strategy books, even played cards with my grandmother, for days on end! I got my bachelor degree, but I was the type of student who just learned everything by heart the day before the exam, without grasping a word of what I was learning! (laughs) I knew I wanted to be independent, totally freelance without being bound to a 9-to-5 job. I could have been a rock star, since I like music so much.

I always had my own band, but I think I had better success in poker (laughs).

I just built a bankroll online and never looked back… What I wanted was freedom, and I think I got some kind of freedom thanks to poker.

Is money very important to you?

I respect money, and I never spew on silly things, but I don’t care about money really: I do not especially want to be rich, to invest all my money in buildings for example, etc. I just want to feel free, to not have to worry about money issues, to be able to do what I want to do, but most of the time for a poker player, money is first of all a means to play in other tournaments (laughs). When you are a poker player, if you want to stop playing for three months, you can, no boss will hassle you… It’s this freedom that I crave.

And for example, if I want to launch my own band again, I could do it, go and play in small venues all around

Philippe Ktorza

American or Germany, and I’d be very happy and independent again.

Have you ever feared being totally broke?

I would not get to the point of owing a lot of money to people, especially now, since even if things go wrong, I’ll easily find backers. A lot of poker players are broke, as you said for example Gavin Griffin, who won the Triple Crown, but it’s mostly because of their gambling leaks. I do not play table games, or just for free drinks (laughs)! I do not enjoy it because you just play against the house and I’m a math and stats geek and cannot accept to depend on a ball that rolls… I don’t understand why great players like Phil Ivey, who is certainly the best player in the world, can spend nights playing craps and losing millions. It’s just crazy to me, but I guess that’s what makes him human!

I am now fifth in the German All Time Money List, after Pius Heinz, Tobias Reinkemeier, Benny Spindler and Sebastian Ruthenberg, but I want so badly to be number one!

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InTErVIEw

PrIZE lIsT

2012

tournament

Result

earnings

19 may

WPt $ 25,000 No limit Hold’em Championship WPt World Championship, las Vegas

1

1,196,858

28 april

€ 2,000 No limit Hold’em Monte-Carlo®Casino EPt grand Final, Monte Carlo

1

156,186

2011

tournament

Result

earnings

13 dec.

WPt € 3,000 No limit Hold’em Main Event WPt Venice, Venice

8

20,135

30 sept.

EPt uKIPt £ 5,000 No limit Hold’em - Main Event EPt/uK & Ireland Poker tour london, london

41

20,319

€ 1,500 No limit Hold’em II Partouche Poker tour - Main Event, Cannes

3

$ 5,500 No limit Hold’em - Main Event 2011 Merit Cyprus Classic, Kyrenia

6

WsOP $ 10,000 World Championship - No limit Hold’em 42nd World series of Poker (WsOP) 2011, las Vegas

266

2 july

$ 1,080 No limit Hold’em - grand Finale Championship the grand Poker series 2011, las Vegas

1

9 feb.

FPs € 1,800 No limit Hold’em Main Event France Poker series - Paris Finale, Paris

1

332,470

6 feb.

€ 1,000 No limit Hold’em WPt Venice, Venice

3

25,783

14 sept.

6 aug.

7 july

29 jan.

€ 1,000 No limit Hold’em EPt Deauville, Deauville

2

48,998

11 jan.

$ 1,000 No limit Hold ‘Em - 6 Max Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure, Paradise Island

3

40,880

2010

Result

earnings

18 nov.

€ 3,000 No limit Hold’em - Main Event - spanish Poker tour grand Finale, lloret de Mar

1

150,696

2 nov.

WPt € 3,200 No limit Hold’em Main Event WPt Amneville, Amnéville

11

22,869

25 sept.

€ 1,000 No limit Hold’em IPt Nova gorica, Nova gorica

1

49,717

15 sept.

50,000 No limit Hold’em - Main Event - Marrakech Poker Open, Marrakech

2

73,880

28 july

€ 3,000 No limit Hold’em Partouche Poker Million - spain, Madrid

3

40,286

4 june

WsOP $ 1,500 No limit Hold’em 41st World series of Poker (WsOP) 2010, las Vegas

7

78,681

19 mar.

€ 2,500 No limit Hold’em - ECPt Euro City Poker tour - Barcelona (ECPt), Barcelona

8

25,189

66,869

36,133

40,654

54,713

tournament

2009

18 dec.

tournament

Result

€ 1,500 No limit Hold’em - Main Event Christmas Poker Festival, Wiesbaden

2

earnings

32,150

Total earnings (career): $ 2,961,565 Total 2012 : $ 1,591,100

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poker business

CAPT about to achieve a great 2012 year Stefan Gollubits is the head of poker for one of the most important group of casinos in Europe: Casinos Austria. Its poker tour, the CAPT, has become a landmark in highquality poker events. We just had met Mr Gollubits before CAPT Velden and the upcoming PokerEM this fall, in Badenâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Since when does the CAPT exist?

The Casinos Austria Poker Tour is now in its 6th season. When the tour started, there were just 4 venues. We now have 6 CAPT locations and the European Poker Championship at Casino Baden.

Casinos Austria is the only legal casinos operator in Austria and spread across 12 beautiful locations throughout Austria.

The most important casinos for poker are Bregenz, Seefeld, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Velden, Kitzbühel, Vienna and Baden.

Besides those, we operate casinos in Klein Walsertal, Bad Gastein, Linz and Graz.

Could you tell us about yourself and your history in the poker industry?

I moved into the casinos sector in 2001.

I spent the first 2 years in Baden, where I learned all the relevant casinos games.

After that, I worked at Casino Wien for several years. By 2006, I was already responsible for poker at Casino Wien.

My team and I worked on establishing an exclusive cash-game location at Kärntnerstrasse 41. My position changed in 2011 and I became responsible for poker at Casinos Austria.

Could you tell us more about CAPT’s history, its past highlights and positive moments?

The idea behind CAPT was and still is to offer a poker tournament series to national and international poker players.

We try to offer tournaments with buy-ins for everyone. We are already hosting the European Poker Championship for the 23rd time. Over the past 23 years, nearly every important international poker player (e.g. Patrik Antonius, Gus Hansen, and Phil Hellmuth) has participated in this event at least once.

How has it evolved?

Since poker has already played an important role for Casinos Austria for 23 years, we are able to look back on a lot of experience. We try to change our poker

The Casinos Austria Poker Tour is going to change a lot in 2013 offer every year to respond as quickly as possible to the wishes of the player.

How has 2012 gone so far?

2012 has been a very interesting year for the poker sector. The players’ behaviour has changed and at the moment Deepstack tournaments are the most popular. Therefore, we have changed our tournament schedules and are offering a € 500 Deepstack tournament each tournament week. I don´t know what will happen next year, but I´m sure this trend will continue.

What is special about CAPT? Why should players from all over Europe attend?

Globally, CAPT is unique. Buy-ins of between € 200 and € 4,000 are interesting for every poker player. A perfect combination of online qualifiers, locals and international poker pros makes the tournaments interesting for everyone.

With about 200 players, the main events create a nice prize pool, which provides good pay-outs.

Please tell us more about the Velden event in mid-July? Its complete programme and schedule.

Velden starts on 13 July. The first largescale tournament (500 participants expected, € 500 buy-in) will be under way as early as 14 July. We expect € 250,000 prize money for this event. A 7card stud tournament and a PLO tourney are completing the tournament offer. On

the 21st and 22nd, the main event (a € 2,000 NLH tourney) will conclude the tournament week. The level of bookings is already very good, so don´t wait too long to buy your ticket. Further information can be found on www.velden.casinos.at Tell us more about your last event this year in Baden, the PokerEM… The complete tournament schedule is now published on pokerem.com. This year, players will compete for two European Poker Championship titles for the third time. In addition to the Texas Hold´em No Limit tournament, an Omaha Pot Limit tournament, in which the best national and international poker pros will compete, will also take place in 2012. Alongside the traditional final tournament of the Casinos Austria Poker Tour (CAPT), numerous tournaments with buy-ins starting at € 200 await you during the European Poker Championship.

What are your plans for CAPT 2013?

The Casinos Austria Poker Tour is going to change a lot in 2013. My team and I are working on making the series even more appealing for poker players from all over the world. It´s a bit too early to talk about all the changes now, but what I can say is that in 2013 the Casinos Austria Poker Tour will set new standards in the international poker sector. All the changes and the tournament schedule for next season will be released during the European Championship at Casino Baden.

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CHRONICLE KARA SCOTT

kara scOTT

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Back hOME After a few weeks on the road, it is great to get back home to Santa Barbara. I ended up sitting next to a famous American TV show host on the plane from Austria to LAX, although given my atrocious lack of knowledge about American pop culture due to the many years I spent living in England, I blithely assumed he was in a band or something. I could tell that he was famous though, as those people do seem to have something sparkly about them, as well as really impressive dental work. He was surprisingly friendly and very good company and in good humour, he let me prattle away at him for hours. He was pretty much the best seat-mate ever; supplying gum, trail mix and technical help whenever he saw me wrestling to try to make my seat or TV screen work. I also managed to drop my phone on his foot no less than 3 times. Yes. I was that person. I promised him a thank you in my not-yet-written memoirs and he seemed bemused.

tunnel-vision

I can’t even blame Ambien for my somewhat annoying behaviour on this flight. I think it was simply a matter of having reached the absolute limits of my energy. I was dog tired. After a really intense few weeks of work, I was so tunnel-vision focused on getting home that I was doing a pretty good imitation of Godzilla destroying a city in its single-minded pursuit of a goal.

And it is good to be home. I’ve got three weeks here and then I’m back on the road pretty much until August so I’m doing my best to enjoy it and spend as much time as I can with my friends. Somehow I also seem to be doing a lot of babysitting right now. I like watching my friend’s kids and all but I’m always shocked that they’d trust me. Lets be honest, I don’t even have a houseplant! Brave people…

My moving day is inching ever closer and I have yet to figure out the ‘where‘ portion of it all. I’m actually no closer to moving either as I’ve yet to actually go and get boxes or organise anything. Is it still considered ‘being in denial’ if you’re embracing the denial? I’ve got both arms wrapped tightly around my denial and am giving it a big, warm hug. All of that being said, I suppose I actually should begin to think about packing as I need to be out of here in around a week’s time.

Nothing like leaving things till the last minute! I kind of think it gives life that extra bit of spice.

WsoP 2012 time

Thankfully, it’s nearly time for the WSOP in Vegas, so that pretty much takes care of my summer plans and I can defer the ‘where to move’ question for at least a couple of months. I’m enjoying everyone’s suggestions on twitter for where I should consider making my new home, so keep them coming! In the meantime, I’m cramming as much as possible into my last weeks here in Santa Barbara with my friends. Lots of time spent eating,

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chatting and walking on the beach. It doesn’t get much better than this!

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks! I finally managed to get all of my things packed up and put safely away in storage in California after procrastinating horribly for days. I think that I needed the pressure of a hard deadline to get me to finally start putting things in boxes. The move went well though and the very next day I caught a plane for England.

I’m staying in Brighton for a bit while I catch up with old friends. I’m having such an amazing time here and am seriously considering moving back to this part of the world. I’ve always said that Brighton is one of my very favourite places in the whole world. And right now, the weather is amazing!

I spent the past week in Greece, doing some sailing with a group of nine friends. We rented a 50-foot sailboat and one of our friends has his skipper’s license so we were able to crew the whole thing ourselves. It was kind of a reunion of sorts.

Many of the same group were on a sailing trip to Italy that we took about five years ago. We’d had such a great time that we decided to do it again for one of our friends who was having a big birthday.

It was great. We learned very quickly just how important it is to check the weather forecasts (oops), even when it looks brilliantly sunny out.

We managed to sail into a storm but after a few tricky moments, a few hours of getting soaked through and really working hard on the sails plus a lot of adrenaline, we managed to find safe harbor.

It was a brilliant trip and now I’m just washing all of my clothes and repacking my bags as I’ll be heading off to Cannes in a couple of days for the WPT National Series event.

Hope to see you there!

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UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

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Tournament

Asian Poker Tour Mauritius

The Newest Stop of the Best Asian Series For the first time, the Asian Poker Tour will be making a stop in the Southern Hemisphere, at Mauritius. Situated in the Indian Ocean, southeast of the Seychelles, this island nation is the newest addition to the largest poker tour in the Far East. From August 19 to 26, the Ti Vegas Casino of Grand Baie will host this brand-new event. So welcome to Mauritius, where Europe meets India, China and Africa in an amazing mix of scents, cultures and savors, and where you can bask in balmy beauty while playing poker for huge prize money!

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Far from major poker hotspots such as America, Europe and Asia, the Southern Hemisphere doesn’t have much in the way of international poker tournament series. Mauritius is the exception to that rule, as its two casinos host several international competitions each year: the huge World Poker Tour National Series, the Mauritius Paradise Poker

By Julien Morello Tour, and now the very latest one — the Asian Poker Tour.

It’s quite a surprise to see the biggest Asian Competition going that far west, as Mauritius is closer to Africa than it is to Asia! Still, it makes sense. The beautiful island of Mauritius has large Indian and Chinese communities, and their cultures are preeminent there. In a way, it’s as if a little

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plans to hold its first stop in Cambodia from November 14November 20.

APT Mauritius should soon be classified as a full APT event, with Player of the Year points up for grabs. The €900 Main Event will feature a Day 1B re-entry option, and will run from August 22 to 25. The series will also include 8 side events with buy-ins ranging from €110 to €440, such as a €110 Ladies of Poker event, 4 Freezeout events (from €110 to €440), and a 6-Handed €440 event. This APT Mauritius will also host a €2,200 High Roller Event and a €3,300 “Battle of Nation” event, where teams of three players each will compete unique team tournament.

Charming Mauritius awaits you…

How to get there?

Several airlines serve Mauritius directly from Paris and from Frankfurt on a daily basis. You can also reach Mauritius via La Réunion.

At the Airports of Mauritius, you can rent a car for an affordable price with Pingouin Car Rental Ltd, and Mauritius-rentacar.

piece of Asia had been set in the turquoise waters off the coast of Madagascar. Many Europeans also live there, or choose this postcard-perfect tiny country as the ideal island retreat for holidays or honeymoons. Consequently, Mauritius is full of luxury resorts, hotels, golf clubs... and naturally, casinos.

The biggest Asian Poker Tour ever

APT CEO Jeff Mann just confirmed the news: the series will make its first stop in Mauritius from August 19 to 26: “I just think it is a WOW destination for everyone, including poker players! It will be APT’s first festival of poker week to be held outside Asia and we are very excited. The players are going to love it!” said Mann.

This means that the APT will hold at least eight major poker events in 2012, a dramatic rise from the two events it held the first year, in 2008: one in Macau, the other in Manila. Growth in 2011 spawned new stops in Goa in India and Cebu in the Philippines. Asia’s hunger for poker is ever stronger, and this year the Asian Poker Tour will take a huge step forward, becoming a large-scale series with events in Cebu, Manila, Goa, Hainan and Macau. Management has also announced that it

Beautiful Mauritius Island, east of Madagascar and La Réunion, is awaiting poker players for the biggest poker series of the small country’s history, hosted in the Ti Vegas Casino (“Little Las Vegas” in French Creole) of Grand Baie, in the northwestern part of the island. While winter engulfs Europe, this part of the world will enjoy summertime, the perfect moment to discover white sandy beaches and some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world.

Activities in Mauritius are limitless: golf, water sports, fishing, lion walks, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming with dolphins, catamaran cruises, skydiving and so much more.

You won’t have time to rest… But if it’s comfort you’re after, the island has all the facilities you need for an unforgettable holiday, such as all-inclusive four-star seaside resorts where luxury and comfort make for leisurely tranquility. You will also appreciate the island’s subtle yet zesty cuisine, the result and symbol of Mauritian history, a blend of European, African, Indian and Chinese cultures.

The Ti Casino, the perfect setting for a great series And if gambling is the primary purpose of your visit, the Ti Vegas Casino will be your headquarters. There you will find slot machines, blackjack, Chinese blackjack, roulette, sic bo and No Limit Hold’em tables. Designed with the utmost professionalism, innovation and technological know-how, it is the perfect place to pop in with your dear ones for a thrilling round of gambling.

“We are delighted to be working with a long term supporter of APT, MPPL/Paradise Events, who are the leading organizers of poker tournaments in this part of the World and Ti Vegas, one of the leading casinos on the island and at the forefront of poker development locally,” said APT CEO Jeff Mann. Sylvain Liotard, Paradis Events and MPPL CEO, added: “Players from this part of the World know APT and we have finally achieved our goal of bringing APT to Mauritius. Without a doubt it is going to be a huge success!”

Rapturous settings, comfortable facilities, exciting activities and, of course, high-level poker tournaments – everything is ready for your magical stay in the blue lagoons and tropical gardens of the Indian Ocean!

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Tournament

Night life

Restaurants

Located next to the main swimming pool of the Lux* Island Grand Gaube, The Bar is a lively hangout for guests who want to quench their thirst while lounging on comfortable sofas and barstools facing the lagoon.

Enjoy an extensive range of drinks, along with live music and entertainment.

Lux* Island Grand Gaube, Pointe Rejane, Grand Gaube, Mauritius

Set against a breathtaking lagoon backdrop, The Kitchen is LUX* Grand Gaube’s main gastronomic attraction, offering everything from fresh, healthy and bountiful breakfast buffets to lively themed evenings and flavorful Chef’s Specials on offer throughout the week.

Lux* Island Grand Gaube, Pointe Rejane, Grand Gaube, Mauritius Reservations: +230 698 9800

The Bar

Spirit Lounge & Bar

The Spirit Lounge & Bar is the perfect place to relax with a drink and a cigar after what’s sure to have been another amazing day of poker. Elegant and refined, it offers the finest champagnes, caviar, cocktails and aperitifs, while talented local entertainers make every night one worth remembering.

Lux* Island Grand Gaube, Pointe Rejane, Grand Gaube, Mauritius

Les Enfants Terribles

Are you and your friends looking for a great night out?

Well, look no further, as Les Enfants Terribles is the place where the music is pumping and bright lights shine. Simply the biggest and the best club in the whole island of Mauritius!

Royal Road, Pointe aux Canonniers, Mauritius Information: +230 263 8117

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The Kitchen

Les Quais

Les Quais, Le Mauricia’s main restaurant, is set among roofed terraces and extended wooden decks that run the length of the slate swimming pool. Enhanced by white ceilings, the décor is evocative of a marina wharf.

Modern storage cupboards and cooking stations are shaped like boat hulls. A stainless steel bridge spanning the buffet areas adds an extra, unique touch.

Le Mauricia, Royal Road, Grand Baie, Mauritius Reservations: +230 209 1100

La Goélette

La Goélette, the romantic terrace restaurant of Le Royal Palm Resort, has acquired well-deserved international status over the years. Today, the restaurant is recommended worldwide. There you can enjoy an eclectic mix of international and local favorites, combining the world’s finest ingredients with the freshest produce in Mauritius.

Le Royal Palm, Royal Road, Grand Baie, Mauritius Reservations: +230 209 8300

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Hotels

Lux* Island Grand Gaube

Conveniently located a mere fifteen minutes from the casino, this four-star resort is the closest you can get to paradise. 172 rooms, twenty-three suites and three villas — the largest of which is 3,100 sq ft. ­— await you on a stunning beachfront. Absolute luxury and comfort, splendid views of the Northern islands and Indian Ocean, all kinds of sports and activities to have fun and relax… Just make sure you don’t forget that you came here to play poker! Special rates for APT participants.

Pointe Rejane, Grand Gaube, Mauritius Reservations: +230 204 9191 reservation@luxislandresorts.com

Le Mauricia

A stone’s throw from the casino, Le Mauricia is a fourstar Beachcomber hotel with an atmosphere at once cosmopolitan, relaxed, simple and cozy. Decorated with exquisite taste, and boasting amazingly large saltwater pools, its 237 rooms, suites, apartments, lofts and villas are situated on the beach. Sit back, look at the sea, relax, and enjoy!

Royal Road, Grand Baie, Mauritius Reservations: +230 209 1100 mauricia@bchot.com

Le Royal Palm

A proud member of “The Leading Hotels of the World,” Le Royal Palm is the finest hotel in Mauritius. Stretching along a pure white sandy beach, this tranquil tropical haven has an uncompromising commitment to excellence. Luxury and refinement at their best.

Royal Road, Grand Baie, Mauritius Reservations: +230 209 8300 royalpalm@bchot.com

confident that next year there will be at least ten full APT event weeks organized. Asians love card games and they love what poker has to offer. For sure we are on a rapid growth curve that is certain to continue for the next few years at least.

• What have been the highlights of this tour in previous editions?

There is no real highlight in our history that stands out… other than the fact that in 2011 we introduced some events under the “Asian Series” banner. Previously all our events came with buy-ins of $2,500 and up. But we wanted to give more players the opportunity to play an APT tournament, so the Asian Series was introduced, in which the main event buy-in is never higher than $1,000. This was very popular with players. Our record to date for the number of players was set at the Asian Series APT Manila at Resorts World last year where we had 396 players for the main event and almost 1300 players total playing various side events and satellites.

• Could you tell us more about the Mauritius stop? What offers (lodging, cash-game, side-events, restaurants, leisure, etc) will it be providing its players?

I just think it is a WOW destination for everyone, including poker players! It will be APT’s first festival of poker week to be held outside Asia and we are very excited — ­ the players are going to love it!

To be honest, players will need to look at the APT website in a week or so to see what’s on offer. I only arrived yesterday (my first visit to Mauritius) to sign the agreement with the casino here. All I can say is I’m responding to this interview sitting on my balcony at what will be the host hotel for the event the LUX Grand Gaube — truly a five-star facility — and I’m presently overlooking a truly white sand beach virtually surrounded by the Indian Ocean... tough life, but someone has to live it! For sure, players are going to have a lot of fun and great poker action here when they come for APT Mauritius in August.

Meeting Jeff Mann • Could you please explain the history of the APT? The Asian Poker Tour has been running since 2008. In that year and for the following two years, 2009 and 2010, we only staged two events per year: one in Macau and one in Manila, Philippines. Last year we staged four events: two in Manila, one in Cebu and the first for international tour 1 in Goa, India. In addition we were involved with what we term special events. These are smaller 1, 2 or 3 day events, one being APT London at the Fox Poker Club. This year will see eight week long APT events taking in new stops: Mauritius and Cambodia as well as a number of smaller “special events.” I’m very

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Tournament

European Poker Tour Barcelona

A new season begins!

Fewer stops, but more tournaments, that’s the new version of the EPT. Indeed, several changes have been introduced to the European Poker Tour schedule and to each stop’s program, for the most intense competition ever! Spain will be the starting point of the European Poker Tour’s ninth Season, as the Casino Barcelone will host the famous circuit from August 5-August 15. The 6-Day €5,300 Main Event will run from August 19-August 25, and other big events will highlight this series, such as the brand new €50,000 3-Day Special Televised Event, the €10,300 3-Day Heads Up Championship and the €10,300 2-Day NLHE 8-Handed Event. This Spanish poker festival will also host the 4-Day €1,100 Estrellas Poker Tour Main Event and the 2-Day €2,000 Estrellas High Roller Event, for more action, and more cash money. Here is the full schedule of this blue-chip series!

By Steven Lake

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How to get there?

By air: Barcelona El Prat International Airport is located 12 km from the city center and serves many European and world destinations via most major airlines. Train service connects the airport with Sants railway station every thirty minutes and the Aerobús leaves for the Plaza de Catalunya every fifteen minutes.

Bus N17 operates all night. A taxi ride to the city center costs approximately 25€.

By train: La Estacion de Sants has daily rail connections to French cities Montpellier and Paris. There are connections to Zurich four times a week and three to Milan.

By car: From France, take the highway AP-7 to Barcelona-La Jonquera.

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Fewer stops, but more intensity. The EPT board has made big improvements to the schedule of the ninth Season of the main European poker tour, pulling down the number of stops from thirteen to eight and focusing on the biggest European poker cities, like San Remo, Prague, Deauville, London, Berlin, Monte-Carlo and, of course, Barcelona. But don’t worry — if the number of stops has been lowered, the number of tournaments held in each stop has been considerably increased, not to mention the overall length of the series. Home of the EPT since its creation, Casino Barcelone will open this new season with more than thirty EPT events spread out over ten thrilling days.

Barcelona, pleasure for all the senses

Barcelona is one of the most vibrant cities in Western Europe. It has everything to please the eyes: fantastic architecture, with monuments from the Gothic period and the Catalan art nouveau to ultra-modern, audacious buildings from the nineties; colorful streets full of life and history; an amazing blue sky with a sun that never stops shining over the Mediterranean Sea. But the Ciutat Comtal also has a lot to offer to the other senses. There, the food is among the finest in the world, with some of the best international chefs blending the local art of tapas with the most inventive techniques. These fantastic meals can be appreciated in luxurious establishments as well as little restaurants on the picturesque Ramblas, along with a glass of a wine that rivals the best Italian and French vintages. Barcelona is a city to smell, see, hear, and taste; it’s also a great place to play poker, as it boasts one of the finest casinos in Southern Europe.

A modern gambling paradise

Located at the heart of the modern complex of the Olympic Port, Casino Barcelone attracts crowds of players every summer. It is the perfect place to spend time at poker tables: host of some of the biggest tournaments in Europe, it provides a large number of leisure activities, such as Roulette, Black-Jack, “Caribbean” poker style and Mini-Baccarat, as well as several poker cash-games tables, you will

There, the food is among the finest in the world, with some of the best international chefs blending the local art of tapas with the most inventive techniques find everything a great casino can offer. And with its four local or international restaurants, its two bars, its café and its night-club, there’s no doubt that the Casino Barcelone will be your headquarters during your stay in Spain.

Estrellas Poker Tour

But if the Casino Barcelone is used to hosting huge tournaments, from August 15-August 25 it will welcome the Estrellas Poker Tour Final for the first time in its history — the Estrellas Poker Tour finale will be run on its own, separately from EPT. The Estrellas Poker Tour has been running all over Spain since 2010, and will reach Barcelona for two amazing opening events. The €1,100 4-Day Main Event will start on August 15 and the €2,000 2-Day High Roller Event is set to kick off on August 18, both having their final table on August 19. This year, the Estrellas Poker Tour stopped in Madrid, Valencia and Ibiza, where it attracted respectively 482, 387 and 269 players. Get ready for an even bigger field in Barcelona!

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Tournament

Hotels Hotel Arts

When playing at the Casino Barcelone, you won’t have to look very far to find the most prestigious hotel in town: the Hotel Arts is situated next door. The building itself is a treasure of contemporary architecture, with its forty-four stories of blue glass and exposed steel soaring high above the seafront. The 483 elegant apartments, suites and bedrooms all have fantastic bathrooms and offer state-of-the-art entertainment; some even boast a stunning fireplace. This is definitely the place to relax in perfect luxury. Special rates for EPT participants.

Address: Marina 19-21 – 08005 Barcelona Web: http://www.hotelartsbarcelona.com Tel: +34 93 221 10 00

Hotel W

Conveniently located on the breakwater at the very end of Passeig Joan de Borbó, a stone’s throw from the casino, this brand-new 5-star hotel has the most stunning views of sea and city, and its 473 rooms are all equipped with a telescope. The décor strikes a perfect balance of modernity and simplicity for an exquisite stylish atmosphere. Rooms from €150.

Address: 1 Plaça de la Rosa dels Vents 08039 Barceloneta Web: http://www.whotels.com/barcelona Tel: +34 93 295 28 00

Night life Opium Mar

Close to the hotel Arts, this trendy establishment is one of the hottest hang-outs in Barcelona for dancing and drinking, with the best international DJs rocking the largest seafront terrace in town. The club has a license until 6 a.m.

Address: 25 Paseo Marítimo de la Barceloneta 08003 Barcelona Web: http://www.opiummar.com/ Tel: +34 90 226 74 86

Marmalade

One of Raval’s more sophisticated watering holes, Marmalade features an elegant but unpretentious ambiance that is sure to appeal to a diverse crowd. Original cocktails are served in a stunning contemporary décor, and hitting the superb matte-black billiard table is a great way to socialize with the locals.

Address: 4-6 Riera Alta 08001 Barcelona Web: http://www.marmaladebarcelona.com/ Tel: +34 93 442 39 66

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Three exciting High Roller Events

Restaurants

For its ninth edition, the EPT Barcelona will mark the start of a new and highly improved schedule. For starters, the new €50,000 Special Televised Event, running over three days form August 17-August 19, will bring some of the best players of the world to the Casino Barcelone tables for one of the biggest tournaments ever organized by the EPT. But high stakes lovers will be pleased to learn that two other €10,300 events are going be played in Barcelona along with the High Roller event. The first will be the Heads Up Championship, where sixty-four players will battle it out over three days, from August 22-August 24. Then, starting August 23, the 2-Day Single Reload 8-Handed Event will be sure to draw poker pros to the tables in droves.

This inspired fusion of Asian cuisine and Spanish tapas is brought to you by chef Albert Raurich, exhead chef at the mythical El Bulli. Gorgeous Japanese burgers, sweet cherry tomato tempura, shrimp and foie gras shiu mai will make you want to come back for more. Also the wine selection is fantastic.

Degustation menus €55 and €75, lunchtime menu €20 Address: 9 C/ Elisabets 08001 Barcelona Web: http://www.dospalillos.com/ Tel: +34 93 304 05 13

New low and mid-range tournaments

Enoteca

High Roller Events are not the season’s only innovations: several mid-range and low-range events will be played during the festival. Starting from €110 to €5,200, all kinds of tournaments will be on offer for all budgets and games. For example, among its 30 + tournaments, the EPT will host a 2-Day €330 NLHE event, a 2-Day €440 PLO event, a 2-Day €550 PLO-Unlimited Rebuys event, a 2-Day €550 Deepstack event, as well as a €550 Women’s championship. For higher buy-ins, you will find a €2,100 PLO Turbo 8-Handed event, a 2-Day €1,100 PLO event, a 2-Day €1,100 NLHE event, a €1,100 6-Handed Win the Button event and a 2-Day €1,100 Heads Up 64 Cap event. Last but not least, two huge NLHE Turbo 6-Handed events will close the series on August 25, one with a €2,100 buy-in, the second with a €5,300 NLHE Turbo 6-Handed tournament, and a NLHE Turbo 6-Handed event.

Here comes the Main Event

The €5,300 Main Event will be the peak of this new season’s first stop. Televised from its Day 1B, the biggest event will start on August 19, and run through August 25, when eight finalists will vie for the title. We are expecting crowds of poker pros, as the EPT Barcelona Main Event has always been one of the biggest tournaments on the European circuit, with 619 players in 2008, 759 in 2010 and 811 in 2011 — a new record number of participants.

The list of winners contains big names of poker, like Luca Pagano (third in 2004), Patrik Antonius (third in 2005), Phil Ivey (runner-up in 2006), Davidi Kitai (third in 2008), Carter Phillips (2009 champion), and Eugene Katchalov (third in 2011).

Last year, Martin Schleich from Germany took the biggest share of the €4,055,000 prize pool, besting Spaniard Dragan Kostic for €850,000 in cash money. This year again, action will get intense within the field as the world best players will play their A-Game to reach the bubble, the final table and the title.

New championships and blue-chips events, crazy high stakes poker, low-range tournaments — all kinds of games of varying lengths and set-ups, this new European Poker Tour Barcelona is going to start off the 2012-2013 Season with a flourish.

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Dos Palillos

Di scover t he he ar t and soul of contemporar y Mediterranean cuisine at the hotel Arts’ Michelinstarred flagship restaurant: inspired by the food and produce of the region, this innovative cuisine brings out the best of Spanish products, with an emphasis on seafood. The cellar features more than 500 wines.

Tasting menu €65 Addess: Hotel Arts Barcelona Marina 19-21 – 08005 Barcelona Web: http://www.hotelartsbarcelona.com/en/Dining/ Enoteca Tel: +34 93 483 81 08

Arola

The tapas restaurant of the Hotel Arts is also a pure gem.

Disciple of French genius Pierre Gagnaire, chef Sergi Arola offers here a fine “menú degustación pica-pica” that is a selection of tapas mixing the best of Catalogna, France and the Far-East. Be prepared for a surprise-filled meal.

Testing menu of tapas €50 Address: Hotel Arts Barcelona Marina 19-21 – 08005 Barcelona Web: http://www.hotelartsbarcelona.com/en/Dining/Arola Tel: +34 93 483 80 90

Teppan-Yaki

The Grand Casino offers a wonderful Japanese venue, which provides Teppan-Yaki typical food, i.e. freshly cooked and grilled fishes and meat.

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Tournament

Casino Barcelone Regular Tournaments Here are the regular poker tournaments you can find anytime in Casino Barcelone: Weekend Poker. €50 + €10. With a low price and a turbo structure (15 min. levels), this is the perfect tournament to have a good time on a Sunday afternoon without having to stay up all night, as it ends early.

Poker In. €100 + €15. Very popular among confirmed players, this tournament attracts between 100 and 170 participants weekly. The first three payouts automatically classify for the monthly tournament of Casino Barcelone, the “Mes Poker Barcelona.”

Steps. €40 + €10. For just €50 you can qualify, step by step, to an EPT of €5,300 buy-in! The steps 1 are satellites for direct qualification to Steps 2 or tournament of buy-in €170, such as the Bounty Fever on Saturday, satellite to the Catalunya Poker Tour.

Playing a step 2, you can qualify for tournaments with buy-in lower than €1,000 (the EMOP, the Christmas Tournament) or to Steps 3 (buy-in between €500 and €950) that are qualifiers for major tournaments like the WPT or the EPT. DJ. Every Thursday from 8 p.m., a huge amount of players rush down to the poker room to live a night devoted to Sit’n go. All kind of games await you, from €25, €35 and €50, to €100 and €200.

Bounty fever. €100 + €50 (Bounty) + €20. Reasonable buy-in and attractive Bounty option, a very nice structure with 10,000 points: this is the perfect Saturday night.

Mes Poker Barcelona. €200 + €25 (Bounty) + €25. The Casino’s monthly tournament with a qualifying satellite on

Friday evening; the main event starts on Saturday at 6 p.m., with a bounty of €25 and 10,000 points. 4% from the prize pool is withheld for an overall ranking. The culmination of this tournament is the Barcelona Christmas Poker in December.

Campeonato de España de Poker. €600 + €60. First Spanish Poker Tour, this tournament has for the past seven years been played every month in a different Spanish casino. This year it has a new structure with one-hour levels and 20,000 points for three days of real poker. 6% is withheld from the prize pool for an overall ranking that will decide who is the Poker Champion of Spain.

Catalunya Poker Tour. €400 + €50 (Bounty) + €50. A Catalan national tour played each month in Barcelona, Peralada and Tarragona, except in August. A super satellite classification at each stage and an overall ranking to decide the Champion of Catalonia.

Satellite Gladiator. €50 + €10. A satellite for the tournament Gladiator of Casino Tarragona that is played on the first Friday of every month, held on the previous Wednesday. The whole package (€300) includes the buy-in for the tournament (€180 + €20), the hotel on Friday night and the dinner of Saturday.

Cum Laude Poker School. Advanced Texas course taught at Casino Barcelone by three professionals: Raul Horta “Rayu,” Javier Piazuelo “Pizu,” and Jordi Martínez “Alekhine,” professional players and champions of Spain. The courses are the first three Wednesdays of the month, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (€100) and there is a free seminar on the fourth Wednesday. Following the classes the Casino offers a Sit’n go to the students!

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EUROPEan POKER TOUR baRcElOna 2012 ScHEDUlE Wed., Aug. 15/12 pm • 1,100 Estrellas Main Event Day 1A

Sun., Aug. 19/12 pm • NLHE - Women’s Event - Day 2 Sun., Aug. 19/12.30 pm

Thu., Aug. 16/12 pm • 1,100 Estrellas Main Event Day 1B Fri., Aug. 17/12 pm • 1,100 Estrellas Main Event Day 2 Fri., Aug. 17/12 pm • 50,000 EPT9 Super High Roller - Unlimited Reload - «8 Handed» Day 1 - TV Fri., Aug. 17/7 pm • 330 NLHE Day 1

• 1,100 Estrellas Main Event Final

• 50,000 EPT9 Super High Roller - Unlimited Reload - «8 Handed» Day 2 - TV Sat., Aug. 18/12 pm • 550 NL - Holdem - Women’s Event

Sun., Aug. 19/1 pm

Thu., Aug. 23/12 pm

• 2,000 NL - Estrellas High Roller Final Day Sun., Aug. 19/1 pm • 440 PLO Final Day Sun., Aug. 19/3 pm • 2,100 PLO Turbo 8-Handed Mon., Aug. 20/12 pm

Sat., Aug. 18/4 pm • 2,000 Estrellas High Roller Day 1 Sat., Aug. 18/8 pm • 440 PLO Day 1 Sat., Aug. 18/9 pm • 1,100 NL Turbo Sun., Aug. 19/12 pm • 5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1A Sun., Aug. 19/12 pm • 50,000 EPT9 Super High Roller - Unlimited Reload - «8 Handed» Final Table - TV

• 1,100 NLHE «6 Handed» - Win the Button! - 30 Minute Levels Thu., Aug. 23/1 pm • 10,300 NLHE Single Reload 8-Handed Day 1 Thu., Aug. 23/1 pm • 1,100 NLHE Final Day

• 5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1B - TV • 2,100 NL Turbo 8-Handed

Fri., Aug. 24/12 pm • 5,300 EPT Main Event Day 5 - TV Fri., Aug. 24/12 pm

Tue., Aug. 21/12 pm • 5,300 EPT Main Event Day 2 - TV Tue., Aug. 21/4 pm • 2,150 NLHE Day 1 Tue., Aug. 21/8 pm • 1,100 PLO Day 1

Sat., Aug. 18/3 pm • 330 NLHE Final Day

Thu., Aug. 23/12 pm • 10,300 EPT9 Heads Up Championships 64 Cap Day 2

• 1,100 Estrellas Main Event Day 3 Sat., Aug. 18/12 pm

• 5,300 EPT Main Event Day 4 - TV

Table

Mon., Aug. 20/8 pm Sat., Aug. 18/12 pm

Thu., Aug. 23/12 pm

• 10,300 EPT9 Heads Up Championships 64 Cap Final Day Fri., Aug. 24/12 pm • 1,100 NLHE - 30 Minute Levels Fri., Aug. 24/1 pm • 1,100 NLHE Heads Up 64 Cap Day 1

Wed., Aug. 22/12 pm • 5,300 EPT Main Event Day 3 - TV Wed., Aug. 22/12 pm

Fri., Aug. 24/1 pm • 10,300 NLHE Single Reload «8 handed» - Final Day

• 1,050 NL Turbo Bounty Wed., Aug. 22/1 pm • 10,300 EPT9 Heads Up

Sat., Aug. 25/12 pm • 5,300 EPT Main Event Day 6

Championships 64 Cap Day 1

Final Table - TV

Wed., Aug. 22/1 pm

Sat., Aug. 25/1 pm

• 2,150 NLHE Final Day Wed., Aug. 22/1 pm • 1,100 PLO Final Day Wed., Aug. 22/4 pm • 1,100 NLHE Day 1

• 1,100 NLHE Heads Up 64 Cap Final Day Sat., Aug. 25/1 pm • 5,200 NL Turbo 6-Handed Sat., Aug. 25/5 pm • 2,100 NL Turbo 6-Handed

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Partouche Poker Tour Main Event of Cannes

The Grand Final arrives After a successful tour of France, the fifth season of the Partouche Poker Tour will make its last stop in Cannes, from September 3-September 9, in the stunning seaside Palm Beach Casino. Alongside the much awaited — and televised — €8,500 6-Day Main Event and its €5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, this week-long festival will — as usual — provide numerous huge side events, such as the 3-Day €3,000 NLHE tournament and the 2-Day €500 Deepstack, €550 PPT Ladies and€2,000 Short Handed events. On top of that, the icing on the PPT cake, Eurosport is going to broadcast the €5,000 Heads Up championship and the brand new €25,000 High Roller event in 59 countries, so poker fans worldwide will be able to watch the greatest poker players on the planet duke it out. Without a doubt, the Cannes Palm Beach will be the place to be in September!

N

No need to introduce Cannes: every poker player, moviegoer and lover of French art de vivre knows this sun-kissed Mediterranean city. With its luxurious hotels, high-end restaurants, vibrant nightlife and world-class poker series, Cannes’ stature as one of the foremost poker-playing cities in the world never ceases to increase. From September 3-September 9th, the poker scene will focus its collective attention on a place which boasts all of the fore-mentioned qualities — the Palm Beach Casino, host of one of the most richly-endowed series of the world, the Partouche Poker Tour Season V Final, and its 18 amazing events.

The Palm Beach, a gambling complex by the sea Ideally located on the seaside, opposite the Palais des Festivals on the Croisette, the architecturally hip 73,000 square foot Palm Beach Casino will provide an unforgettable experience. The scenic game room, with 100 slot machines and 21 poker tables, offers a stunning view on the bay and the Lerins Islands. The Casino also features a private beach and a pool, a lounge bar, two conference rooms with terraces overlooking the sea, two restaurants,

By Philippe Aronson

the extraordinary Hotel 3.14, and the Palm Club, the perfect place to enjoy the best of Cannes nightlife after a nice day of poker.

€5,000,000 Guaranteed for the Main Event Since 2008, the Palm Bach Casino has been hosting the Final Main Event of the Partouche Poker Tour, a French and Belgian circuit offering ticket packages to the €8,500 Cannes Main Event, and attracting huge crowds of players. Year after year, the PPT Cannes has become unmissable for international poker stars such as Phil Hellmuth, Jason Mercier, Daniel Negreanu, and Antonio Esfandiari, and it has launched certain careers while confirming superstars’ status. In 2010, US player Vanessa Sebst bested 763 opponents for €1,823,430, and last year, English superstar Sam Trickett grabbed first place after dominating 578 players, for a €1,000,000 cash prize. This year, the PPT direction has announced a €5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, and we can expect a tough struggle on the field to become the England All Time Money List n°1 on the PPT Cannes list of winners.

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An intense series with 18 events

Besides the Main Event, the Partouche Poker Tour organizers have increased the number of events in this week-long series to 18. The televised €5,000 Head’s Up Event will run for two days, and will surely be one of the major events of the PPT festival, along with the well-known €500 2-Day Deepstack event, the €2,000 2-Day Short Handed tournament and the €550 PPT Ladies, also spanning two days.

This year however, several new tournaments will also be held in the Palm Beach Casino, including numerous Freezeout tournaments, with buy-ins ranging from €300 to €3,000, such as the 3-Day €1,500 and €3,000 events. Pot Limit Omaha lovers will be treated to two amazing tournaments, with a €500 PLO Freezeout and a €1,000 8-Max PLO event, over a two-day period.

Major events broadcasted on Eurosport

Last but not least, a brand new €25,000 3-Day High Roller event will bring all the world poker superstars to the Croisette until the last day of this French series, which goes to show that the PPT is truly one of Europe’s top tournament series. And Eurosport has clearly understood the impact of this kind of meetings, as the European TV channel will be broadcasting some of the most exciting events of the PPT in 59 countries: the Main Event (starting from Day 4), the Heads Up championship and the High Roller tournament. The Partouche Poker Tour provides high-level action for big money in an impressive setting — it also confers worldwide fame.

The Casino features a private beach and a pool, a lounge bar, two conference rooms with terraces overlooking the sea, two restaurants, the extraordinary Hotel 3.14, and the Palm Club, the perfect place to enjoy the best of Cannes nightlife POKER 52 europa // july-august 2012 // ISSUE 6

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All in one at the Palm Beach Casino by the sea, the Palm Beach offers more than gambling excitement and comfortable sunbath. Have a look at its splendid offer:

or the Lebanese cuisine, for a true culinary voyage.

Price range : €49-140

Le 3-14 Hotel

La Villa

Spending a night in this over-the-top décor is a total experience. Without leaving the heart of downtown Cannes, you will be able to travel to a new continent on each of the establishment’s five floors — and don’t forget to end this perfect journey in the roof-top swimming pool!

5 Rue François Einesy Hotel reservation: By phone: +33 4 93 82 66 84.

By email: partouchepokerhotels@partouche.com

Le 1929 Restaurant

The Palm Beach Casino’s restaurant offers a fantastic fusion of Mediterranean and exotic flavors, combining to perfection tradition and modernity. Try the sushi, served every Friday,

Overlooking the sea from its 1,000-sqm terrace, La Villa combines originality and elegance, in one of the best locations on the French Riviera. For lunch, a cup of coffee or a cocktail, this is definitely the go to joint!

Restaurants reservation: +33 4 97 06 36 90

Le Palm Beach Club

Pretty classy club, this. A young and cosmopolitan crowd gathers nightly to drink cocktails and go crazy to the music played by an array of famous visiting DJs. This is the place to be — and the place to be seen.

Pointe Croisette, Place F.D. Roosevelt Open until dawn

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PaRTOUcHE POKER TOUR cannES ScHEDUlE Sun 2 Sep/3 pm • €500 R + A Satellite to Main Event Sun 2 Sep/8 pm • €900 Satellite to Main Event Mon 3 Sep/1 pm • €8,500 Main Event Day 1A (6-Day) Mon 3 Sep/3 pm • €500 R + A Satellite to Main Event Mon 3 Sep/8 pm • €900 Satellite to Main Event Mon 3 Sep/9 pm • €300 Turbo Freezeout Mon 3 Sep/12 am • €900 Flash Last Chance to Main Event

Wed 5 Sep/1 pm • Main Event Day 2 • PLO 8-Max Day 2

Fri 7 Sep/3 pm • €500 PLO Fri 7 Sep/6 pm • €25,000 High Roller Day 1 (3-Day) TV

Wed 5 Sep/3 pm • €500 Freezeout Wed 5 Sep/8 pm • €3,000 Freezeout Day 1 (3-Day) Wed 5 Sep/9 pm • €300 Turbo Freezeout Thu 6 Sep/1 pm • Main Event Day 3 • €3,000 Freezeout Day 2 Thu 6 Sep/3 pm • €500 Deepstack Day 1 (2-Day)

Tue 4 Sep/1 pm • Main Event Day 1B – Re-Entry

Thu 6 Sep/8 pm • €5,000 Partouche Poker Tour Heads’up Day 1 (2-Day) TV • €510 + €400 + €90 Knock Out €1,000

Tue 4 Sep/3 pm • €510 + €400 + €90 Knock Out €1,000

Thu 6 Sep/9 pm • €300 Turbo Freezeout

Tue 4 Sep/8 pm • €1,000 PLO 8-Max Day 1 (2-Day)

Fri 7 Sep/1 pm • Main Event Day 4 TV • Deepstack Day 2 • €3,000 Freezeout Day 3 • Partouche Poker Tour Heads’s Up Day 2 TV

Tue 4 Sep/9 pm • €300 Turbo Freezeout

HOw TO EnTER

You can register for the €8,500 Main Event online at http:// www.partouchepokertour.com/site/en/Tournaments/finale/, by email at jjichai@partouche.com and by phone: +33 4 97 06 36 90. You can also qualify via online satellites at www. partouchepoker.fr. Live satellites to the Main Event will open the series, but if you are planning to visit France in July and August, don’t hesitate to grab your ticket for the big final during the Partouche Poker Tour Summer Satellites, where the prize money will be distributed in tournament tickets to the Cannes Main Event. Starting the end of July, and on every weekend until the end of August, five tournament series will be held in five different French Partouche Casinos, scenic

Fri 7 Sep/8 pm • €550 Partouche Poker Tour Ladies Day 1 (2-Day) Fri 7 Sep/9 pm • €1,500 Freezeout Day 1 (3-Day) Sat 8 Sep/1 pm • Main Event Day 5 TV • High Roller Day 2 TV • Partouche Poker Tour Ladies Day 2 • €1,500 Freezeout Day 2 Sat 8 Sep/3 pm • €500 Freezeout Sat 8 Sep/8 pm • €2,000 Short Handed Day 1 (2-Day) Sat 8 Sep/9 pm • €300 Turbo Freezeout Sun 9 Sep/1 pm • Main Event Final Table TV • High Roller Day 3 TV • €1,500 Freezeout Day 3 • Short Handed Day 2

venues featuring a 2-Day €1,250 event and a €250 side event which will provide a lot of tickets to the €8,500 final tournament. But keep an eye on local players. Over the fifth regular season of the PPT, all the tournament winners — as well as most of the table finalists — were French …

summer satellites season V 28-29 July, Pleneuf Val-André 4-5 August, Arcachon 11-12 August, Juan-les-Pins 18-19 August, La Grande Motte 25-26 August, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux

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World Series of Poker Europe 2012

Round II for the WSOPE in Cannes

For the second year running, the World Series of Poker Europe will be held in Cannes, from September 21 to October 4, confirming the status of the French resort city as the well-established Mecca of European poker. The two-week long series will be a real festival with no less than seven golden bracelet events with buy-ins starting at €1,100 and more than fifty satellites and side-events, including a big improvement, the €50,000 Majestic High Roller. From September 29, the €10,000 + €450 Main Event will be the pièce de résistance, attracting the best players in the world. Want to challenge last year’s winner, Elio Fox? Come to Cannes — this might be your chance to shine.

I

In 2011, the World Series of Poker Europe said goodbye to London and moved for the first time to the perennially sunny city of Cannes. The least we can say is that it was a lovely idea. With the sumptuous Lucien Barrière Casino, the legendary Hotel Majestic, and the gorgeous landscape of the French Riviera as the perfect settings for this huge international poker series, this first edition in Southern France was a real hit. There is no doubt: Cannes has confirmed its position as the leading city of poker in Europe, and the WSOPE has found its new home.

The perfect combination for the WSOPE

One of the keys to success of the new Cannes venue is the alliance of Lucien Barrière Casino, a well-run organization focusing on excellence, with Harrah’s, the world longest running and richest poker brand, who provided the best quality ever for this international event, directed by Jack Effel. This year, the winning team is back on track, as US floor staff and French employees working together proved the perfect combination for the WSOPE. Since 1951, Lucien Barrière has been the leader of the casino market in France and Switzerland, with thirty-nine casinos, seventeen luxury hotels, over 135 restaurants and bars, over 2,740 shows and events per year and over 7,300 employees. Establishments represented by the Lucien Barrière Hôtel & Casinos brand have developed a range of unrivalled high-quality leisure offers focusing on excellence, high quality service and French art de vivre, and its legendary facility in Cannes will be the perfect setting for two

By Julien Morello amazing weeks of poker. The first days of the tournaments will take place in the Hotel Majestic*****, one of the finest palaces on the French Riviera, and the following days will be held at the Croisette Casino, located inside the mythical Palais des Festivals. Last but not least, players will receive special room rates for their stay in Cannes, thanks to the Majestic and Gray d’Albion Hotels.

Two intense weeks of competition

Last year’s formula was such a success that the schedule will almost be the same this season, with a few slight changes. The Six-Handed No Limit Hold’em event will kick off the tournament on Friday, September 21 at 5:00 p.m., and feature a €2,500 + €200 buy-in and a 3-day structure.

Other events include a €1,000 + €100 No Limit Hold’em event, a three-day €5,000 + €300 Pot Limit Omaha event, a €3,000 + €250 No Limit Hold’em Shootout event, a Sixhanded €1,500 + €150 Pot Limit Omaha event, and a Mixed Max No Limit Hold’em €10,000 + €450 event. But a big surprise is awaiting the best players, as Cannes Casinos Barrière director Alain Fabre recently announced the creation of a new tournament, the €50,000 Majestic High Roller, for more high stakes action on the French Riviera. The schedule of this promising event hasn’t been officially announced yet, but we already know that the winner won’t be awarded a WSOP bracelet.

The Series will conclude with the 6-Day €10.000 + €400 buy-in No Limit Hold’em Main Event, which will start on Saturday, September 29. The tournament directors are

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How to get there?

There is no doubt: Cannes has confirmed its position as the leading city of poker in Europe, and the WSOPE has found its new home

Air: Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport has international connections with most cities worldwide. From there, a number of travel alternatives can get you to Cannes, situated only 24 km away: Coach, Express Coach and taxi.

Helicopter: Cannes-Mandelieu Airport has helicopter connections to Nice, Monaco and St Tropez. From there, you’ll need a ten-minute taxi drive to Cannes. Cannes Festival heliport is more conveniently located at the end of the Boulevard de la Croisette.

Train: TGV rail services to the Gare de Cannes provide access from major French cities, including Nice, Marseille, Lyon, Paris and Toulouse. Other cities with rail connections include Brussels (six hours), Milan (five hours), Basel (ten hours), Rome (ten hours) and Venice (ten hours).

Road: Coming from Italy, take the Motorway A10, which runs along the Liguria coast, until the French border, and then Motorway A8 and exit at “Sortie 42 – Cannes-Centre.”

waiting for a huge field this year and the prize pool will surely break the 2007 record of £3.676.990.

Cannes, the poker stars’ rendezvous

Since 2007, the world’s poker elite has been participating to the WSOPE. Some of the best players on the poker scene were awarded during this Series, like Annette Obrestad, Dario Alioto, John Juanda, Daniel Negreanu, Sorel Mizzi, Jason Mercier, Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Jeff Lisandro, Jesper Hougaard, Barry Shulman, Praz Bansi, James Bord, Gus Hansen, John Racener or Men Nguyen, and you can be sure to find this poker stars in October, running for one of the seven WSOPE gold bracelets to grab.

Last year, the first WSOP-Europe Main Event held in Cannes offered a fascinating show, as world poker stars were gathered for one of the toughest tournaments ever held in France. The final table provided an incredible cast, with the participation of Patrik Antonius, Jake Cody, Shawn Buchanan, Brian Roberts, Moritz Kranich, Max Silver, Dermot Blain and Chris Moorman vying for the WSOP bracelet before all falling under the domination of Elio Fox. The young American player got back to New York City with the €1,400,000 first prize, for his best performance in a live tournament, only three months after his victory on the Bellagio Cup Main Event, for $669,692.

With high level action and luxurious settings, this two-week major event, held for the second time on the French Riviera, will bring together the greatest players and the leading organizing brands in a stunning décor, making Cannes the world capital of poker. Don’t miss this perfect poker vacation!

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hOTEls

rEsTauranTs

Ideally located on the Croisette, facing the sea and the Palais des Festivals, this mythic Cannes palace has been entirely renovated and refurbished by French designer Christian Dior. This five-star hotel is among the Leading Hotels of the World, and is renowned for its exquisite taste and refinement.

Special rates for WSOPE participants.

Address: 10 Boulevard de la Croisette Reservations: +334 92 98 77 00 Web: http://www.lucienbarriere.com

La Petite Maison, in Nice, has been the reference for Southern cuisine over the last twenty years. In April 2010, it opened a new restaurant at the Hotel Majestic.

Serving traditional local cuisine, it has already become the place where international stars come to feast on Provençal delicacies. €55-100 Address: 10 Boulevard de la Croisette Reservations: +334 92 98 77 89 Email: petitemaisondenicole@cannesbarriere.com

hotel majestic

hotel Gray d’albion

This four-star Lucien Barrière Hotel offers 191 rooms and eight suites, decorated in a highly modern, contemporary style, combining comfort and attention to details. Mere yards from the sea, the Gray d’Albion is the perfect option if discretion is what you are after.

Special rates for WSOPE players.

Address: 38 Rue des Serbes Reservations: +334 92 99 79 79 Web: http://www.lucienbarriere.com

nIghT lIFE

Bar Galerie du fouquet’s

Inside the Hôtel Majestic Barrière, this modern-chic bar is a clever combination of authentic luxury and a superb lounge. Comfortably seated in traditional armchairs or on high bar stools, you will be able to enjoy hot beverages, champagnes and a wide range of cocktails. A must!

9:00am – midnight (weekdays), 9:00am – 1:00am (Fridays & Saturdays) Reservations: +334 92 99 79 79

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la Petite maison de nicole

Chez Vincent & nicolas

Crowded with young people, this cozy restaurant, both trendy and charming at the same time, is situated near the old port. The food here is modern with a French touch, like the foie gras hamburger or the raspberry millefeuille. You can sit in the stone-vaulted dining room or opt for the terrace, and enjoy a laid-back, hip evening. €45-50 Address: 92 Rue Meynadier Reservations: +334 93 68 35 39

Da Da Da

A hybrid club blending cabaret, theatre, disco, midnight movies and more, this nonconformist space is trendy and attractive, terribly contemporary and offbeat — the perfect place to discover an irreverent, independent art scene on the Riviera.

Address: 15 Rue Frères Pradignac 9:30pm – 2:30am Reservations: +334 93 39 62 70 Web: http://www.dadadaclub.com

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wSOP-EUROPE 2012 cannES ScHEDUlE The €50,000 Majestic High Roller Event schedule will be announced soon.

Fri., Sept. 21/5 pm • €2,500 + €200 No Limit Hold’em Six Handed (Event #1) (3-Day) Sat., Sept. 22/12 pm • €1,000 + €100 No Limit Hold’em Day 1A (Event #2) (5-Day) Sat., Sept. 22 • Event #1 Day 2 Sun., Sept. 23 • Event #2 Day 1B • Event #1 Final Mon., Sept. 24 • Event #2 Day 2

Tue., Sept. 25 /5 pm • €3,000 + €250 No Limit Hold’em Shootout (Event #4) Wed., Sept. 26 • Event #3 Final • Event #4 Day 2 Wed., Sept. 26 /5 pm • €10,000 + €450 No Limit Hold’em Mixed Max (Event #5) (Day 1 plays 9-handed. Day 2 plays 6-handed. Day 3, play Heads Up) Thu., Sept. 27 • Event #4 Final • Event #5 Day 2

Sat., Sept. 29/12 pm • €10,000 + €450 No Limit Hold’em Main Event Day 1A (Event #7) (6-Day) Sat., Sept. 29 • Event #6 Final Sun., Sept. 30 • Event #7 Day 1B Mon., Oct. 1 • Event #7 Day 2 Tue., Oct. 2 • Event #7 Day 3

Mon., Sept. 24/5 pm • €5,000 + €300 Pot Limit Omaha (Event #3) (3-Day) Tue., Sept. 25 • Event #2 Final • Event #3 Day 2

Thu., Sept. 27 /5 pm • €1,500 + €150 Pot Limit Omaha Six Handed (Event #6) (3-Day) Fri., Sept. 28 • Event #5 Final • Event #6 Day 2

Wed., Oct. 3 • Event #7 Day 4 Thu., Oct. 4 • Event #7 Final

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rendeZ-vous À Paris 2012

ThE BIggEsT ParIsIan sErIEs

Between the two Cannes’ series, Paris will attract worldwide poker attention when the World Poker tour reaches the Aviation Club de France card room on september 5 for a two-week series packed with great events. the renowned Aviation Club de France, Paris’s number one poker hotspot, was the first European card room to host a WPt event. In the last decade it has hosted some of the biggest French poker series, such as the Euro Finals of Poker, the Rendez vous à Paris and the ACF Hold’Em series. this 2012 stop of the largest poker circuit in the world will bring its share of great moments, with the 5-Day €7,500 WPt grand Prix de Paris Main Event and its televised final table, the 2-Day €5,000 Omaha Cup triple Chance and the 3-Day €15,000 High Roller event. Numerous satellites and side events will run during the series, closing with the great final event of the ACFPoker tour, a 3-Day €1,500 tournament. Here’s the full program of the biggest annual Parisian series.

By Dwayne Anderson

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I

In September, France will definitely be the place to mix it up with the best players in the world, as Cannes will host two of the biggest European poker festivals the same month, with throngs of superstars crowding the Croisette. But once again this year the French Riviera has to share the limelight with Paris, for an incredible month-long poker extravaganza.

Indeed, perfectly inserted between the Partouche Poker Tour Final and the WSOP-Europe, the festival Rendez-vous à Paris will run from September 5 to 20 in the classy and exciting atmosphere of the Aviation Club de France.

A prestigious club on the “most beautiful street in the world” The Aviation Club de France is an institution in the gambling world, and for the last decade, the Champs-Élysées gaming room has hosted some of the greatest poker tournament series in Europe. Created more than 100 years ago, and redesigned in 2007 with a modern and sumptuous touch, this venue is a genuine temple of poker, with hundreds of members coming every day, 24/7, to enjoy a large variety of cash games and daily tournaments in a sparkling atmosphere. Extensive facilities, great service, ig-class restaurant, there’s no reason to leave! The ACF gained its international reputation with the well-known Euro Finals of Poker, the Paris Open of Poker, the WPT National Series and of course the WPT Grand Prix de Paris, the oldest WPT stop in Europe, held since 2003 in the prestigious club.

5 days for a title

This year, the 5-Day €7,500 WPT GPP Main Event will start on Saturday September 8, and the two Day1 won’t necessarily be enough to welcome the huge international field of players.

David Benyamine, Surinder Sunar, Roland De Wolfe and Roger Hairabedian have already inscribed their names on the Grand Prix de Paris list of winners, but we will have to wait until September 13 and the broadcasted final table to know who will succeed Matt Waxman, who bested 311 opponents for a €500,000 cash prize last year. And with a WPT title at stake, there is no doubt that the action will be intense around the purple tables of the ACF.

€5,000 Omaha Cup and €15,000 High Roller Poker superstars won’t be limited to the Main Event crown, as Rendez-vous à Paris will feature two other massive events, the 2-Day €5,000 Omaha Cup Triple Chance, and the 3-Day €15,000 High Roller Event. The Pot Limit Omaha event, with one of the highest buy-ins in Europe, will attract some of the best experts of the game, such as Antony Lellouche, Davidi Kitai and Vadim Kursevich, respectively champion, runner-up and third of the 2011 edition. The High Roller Event, for its part, will run from September 15-September 17, and it might see the third heads-up in a row between poker

superstars Freddy Deeb and Sorel Mizzi. The American champion bested the Canadian in 2010 for €290,000; Mizzi got his revenge on Deeb last year, to the tune of €234,495…

17 satellites and side events

Besides those major events, the Rendez-vous à Paris will host no less than seventeen satellites and side events, with buy-ins ranging from €50 to €1,500. Three €1,000 daily Satellites to the WPT Grand Prix de Paris will open the series on September 5, 6 and 8, and a €1,500 Satellite to the High Roller Event will be played on September 14, along with feeders with buy-ins up to €100. Two €1,000 Satellites to the WSOP-Europe Main Event will take over the ACF tables on September 17 and 20. And if you want to qualify for those WSOP-Europe Satellites with a lower buy-in, you will have four chances to grab a seat during the daily €50 + 1H Rebuy + 1 Addon Feeders, running from September 16-September 20.

Back to the ACF for a perfect final

This year, the Aviation Club de France will also host the final event of the first ACFPoker live circuit, the ACFPoker Tour, which started in the ACF in March and reached Cannes in early June, before highlighting the Parisian Summer Series two weeks later and crossing the Mediterranean Sea on July 14 for its fourth €750 2-Day event in Mazagan. For its Final, ACFPoker Tour will conclude with a €1,500 tournament, played over three days, from September 18-September 20.

And if you haven’t manage to qualify during one of the 4 steps (the winner of each step get a ticket for the Final) you won’t have to sweat it because two €100 and one €50 + 1H Rebuys + 1 Addon Satellites to the Final will run on September 10 and 15.

Those two weeks of poker will be a Parisian interlude during your stay in France, the only country where you can daily play high-level games with top pros all through September.

So don’t forget to plan a stop in Paris for unforgettable late summer poker adventures!

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Hotels

Four Seasons Hotel George V

Just off the Champs Élysées, this mythical palace is the place for the most luxurious stay possible in Paris. Its gorgeous 1928 building offers 244 rooms and suites, many of them with a terrace overlooking the lively streets of the French capital, a fantastic spa, a pool in a very « Versailles » décor, a two-star Michelin restaurant and high-end technologic facilities. Rooms from €900.

Address: 31, avenue George V – 75008 Paris Reservations: +331 49 52 71 00 Web: http://www.fourseasons.com

Hotel Marriott

When playing at the ACF, what better place to stay than the Champs-Élysées themselves? The five-star Hotel Marriott is the best in the area, and it has great service and facilities, with 167 rooms and 25 suites decorated in a simple style. Rooms from €500.

Address: 70 Avenue des Champs-Élysees – 75008 Paris Reservations: +331 53 93 55 00 Web: http://www.marriott.com

Restaurants Le Cinq

Two Michelin stars and an exquisite dining room, Le Cinq is a culinary experience you should definitely not miss if you want to fully enjoy the French art de vivre. All the great classics are served here with a touch of modernity, paired with an amazing wine selection and perfect service. C’est magnifique. Menus from €90.

Address: 31, avenue George V – 75008 Paris Reservations: +331 49 52 71 00 Web: http://www.fourseasons.com

Chiberta

Less famous than Le Cinq, this fantastic restaurant offers a series of black and white dining rooms, an enoteca lined with bottles, and a bar section. One-star chef Guy Savoy will make your taste buds come alive with his pigeon with risotto and foie gras or his truffle and artichoke soup. Lunch menu from €49.

Address: 3 rue Arsène-Houssaye – 75008 Paris Reservations: +331 53 53 42 00 chiberta@guysavoy.com

Night life Le Baron

This very exclusive club off the Champs-Élysées puts one in mind of a mini-cabaret, with red velvet, pearls, soft light, great music. Le Baron may well be one of the hardest places in the French capital to get a table at, but it’s definitely worth it. Open 11 p.m.-dawn everyday.

Address: 6 Avenue Marceau – 75008 Paris contact@clublebaron.com

Culture Bière

The name of this classy establishment speaks for itself: it’s beer-lover heaven. Hundreds of brews from all over the world are available here. 1,100 square meters are dedicated to the sparkling beverage: three bars, a restaurant and a lounge, to slake your thirst, enjoy the varied savors and let your curiosity run free. Open everyday until midnight, 2:00 a.m. on Fridays and 5:00 a.m. on Saturdays.

Address: 65 Avenue des Champs-Élysées – 75008 Paris Web: http://www.culturebiere.com/

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REnDEZ VOUS À PaRIS 2012 ScHEDUlE Wed. Sep. 5/2:30 p.m.

• 150 NLH Feeder WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite 1000 - Freezout Wed. Sep. 5/8 p.m.

• 1,000 NLH WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite - Freezout Thu. Sep. 6/2:30 p.m.

• 150 NLH Feeder WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite 1000 - Freezout Thu. Sep. 6/8 p.m.

• 1,000 NLH WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite - Freezout Fri. Sep. 7/2:30 p.m.

• 50 PLO Feeder OMAHA CUP Satellite 500 - rebuys 1H + 1 Addon Fri. Sep. 7/8 p.m.

• 500 PLO Satellite OMAHA CUP Freezout Sat. Sep. 8/2:30 p.m.

• 5,000 PLO OMAHA CUP Triple Chance day 1 (2 day event) Freezout Sat. Sep. 8/8 p.m.

• 1,000 NLH WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite - Freezout Sun. Sep. 9/2:30 p.m.

• 150 NLH Feeder WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite 1000 - Freezout Sun. Sep. 9/2:30 p.m.

• OMAHA CUP Triple Chance DAY2 + FINAL Sun. Sep. 9/8 p.m.

• 1,000 NLHWPT Grand Prix de

Wed. Sep. 12/3 p.m.

• WPT Grand Prix de Paris DAY 2

Sun. Sep. 16/8 p.m.

• 200 NLH ACFPoker Tour FINAL Satellite - Freezout

Thu. Sep. 13/3 p.m.

• WPT Grand Prix de Paris DAY 3 Thu. Sep. 13/8 p.m.

• 100 NLH Feeder HIGH ROLLERS Satellite 1500 - rebuys 1H + 1 Addon Fri. Sep. 14/2:30 p.m.

• WPT Grand Prix de Paris DAY 4 Fri. Sep. 14/2:30 p.m.

• 100 NLH Feeder HIGH ROLLERS SATELLITE 1500 Satellite 500 rebuys 1H + 1 Addon Fri. Sep. 14/8 p.m.

• 1,500 NLH HIGH ROLLER Satellite - Freezout

Mon. Sep. 17/2:30 p.m.

• HIGH ROLLER DAY3 + FINAL Mon. Sep. 17/2:30 p.m.

• 50 NLH Feeder WSOP E Satellite 1000 - rebuys 1H + 1 Addon Mon. Sep. 17/8 p.m.

• 1,000 NLH WSOP E Satellite Main Event - Freezout Tue. Sep. 18/2:30 p.m.

• 50 NLH ACFPoker Tour FINAL Satellite - rebuys 1H + 1 Addon Tue. Sep. 18/8 p.m.

• 1,500 NLH ACFPoker Tour FINAL DAY 1 (3 day event) - Freezout

Sat. Sep. 15/2:30 p.m.

• 15,000 NLH HIGH ROLLER DAY 1 (3 day event) - Freezout Sat. Sep. 15/2:30 p.m.

• WPT Grand Prix de Paris DAY 5 FINAL Sat. Sep. 15/8 p.m.

• 200 NLH ACFPoker Tour FINAL Satellite - Freezout Sun. Sep. 16/2:30 p.m.

• HIGH ROLLER DAY 2 Sun. Sep. 16/2:30 p.m.

• 50 NLH Feeder WSOP E Satellite 1000 - rebuys 1H + 1 Addon

Wed. Sep. 19/2:30 p.m.

• 50 NLH Feeder WSOP E Satellite 1000 - rebuys 1H + 1 Addon Wed. Sep. 19/8 p.m.

• ACFPoker Tour FINAL DAY 2 Thu. Sep. 20/2:30 p.m.

• 50 NLH Feeder WSOP E Satellite 1000 - rebuys 1H + 1 Addon Thu. Sep. 20/2:30 p.m.

• 1,000 NLH WSOP E Satellite Main Event - Freezout Thu. Sep. 20/8 p.m.

• ACFPoker Tour FINAL DAY 3

Paris Satellite - Freezout Mon. Sep. 10/3 p.m.

• 7,500 NLH WPT Grand Prix de Paris DAY 1A (5 day event) Freezout Tue. Sep. 11/3 p.m.

• 7,500 NLH WPT Grand Prix de Paris DAY 1B (5 day event) Freezout

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TOurnaMEnT

euRoPean PoKeR touR san Remo

ThE ITalIan suPEr sErIEs

From October 3-October 11 — and for the sixth year running — Casino san Remo will welcome the second stop of the main European circuit, right on the heels of the big WsOP-Europe event held few kilometers from there. Poker players will invade the ligurian city in droves during this ten-day series, as they have since 2008. the residents of san Remo are used to it by now — but this year, with the innovations brought to each EPt leg, the series will be more intense than ever: the €5,000 + €300 6-Day Main Event will run from October 5-October 11, and several new events — the €50,000 special televised Event, the €10,300 3-Day Heads up Championship and the 2-Day €10,300 single Reload 8-Handed event — will highlight one of the most popular poker series in Europe. so mark it on your calendar: san Remo will be the place to be for the first two weeks in October!

By Julien Morello

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euRoPean PoKeR touR san Remo

A

A member of the European Poker Tour program since 2008, the Italian leg of the continental circuit has since become one of the biggest EPT series, attracting crowds of poker superstars each year to the Ligurian city’s stately, century-old Casino, vying for some of the biggest prize pools ever, such as in 2010, when Liv Boeree bested 1,239 opponents for €1,250,000. This sixth edition of the series will be longer and tougher, and feature improvements to the EPT stops schedule. And if some stops have been erased from the new EPT program, San Remo, where crowds of local players mix it up with some of the biggest names in the world, is still very much a part of it.

the perfect experience on the italian Riviera

lIsT OF wInnErs season iV: 2008

field: 701 players: Prize pool: €3,195,860 1st jason Mercier (united states): €869,000 2nd Antony lellouche (France): €505,000 3rd Dario Minieri (Italy): €287,600

season V: 2009

field: 1,178 players: Prize pool: €5,713,300 1st Constant Rijkenberg (Netherlands): €1,508,000 2nd Kalle Niemi (Finland): €862,000 3rd gustav sundell (sweden): €480,000

season Vi: 2010

field: 1,240 players: Prize pool: €6,014,000 1st liv Boeree (England): €1,250,000 2nd jakob Carlsson (sweden): €750,000 3rd toni Pettersson (Finland): €420,000

Located on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-west Italy near the French border, the city of San Remo is blessed with the famously warm climate of the Italian Riviera. Its most famous landmark and a favorite with tourists, the Casino Municipale is situated smack in the center of the city. Built in 1905, this neo-baroque Casino is now a gaming temple. Within its 2,500 square meters, divided into several rooms with exotic names such as “Sala Dorata,” “Sala Gio Ponti,” “Sala De Sanctis,” and “Sala Liberty,” the Casino features more than 500 slot machines as well as French and American games. And its facilities, to say nothing of its roof garden restaurant, will give you the perfect Italian Riviera experience.

the €5,300 main event, october 5-october 11

The Casino Municipale has been welcoming large poker events for years, and has hosted the EPT since 2008. It will undoubtedly stay in the minds of a certain number of superstars for quite some time. Young Jason Mercier won his first major tournament there, for €869,000, and Liv Boeree confirmed her super pro status thanks to her victory in 2010, when she became the second woman to bag the European title, after Sandra Naujoks. Last year, 837 players entered the competition, generating a €3,734,694 prize pool, and Russian player Andrey Pateychunk bested Bulgarian Dimitar Danchev during the Heads Up, for a €680,000 cash prize.

This year again, action will be intense during this 6-Day tournament, which will highlight the series from October 5-October 11.

season Vii: 2011

field: 987 players: Prize pool: €4,786,950 1st Rupert Elder (England): €930,000 2nd Max Heinzelmann (germany): €600,000 3rd Xuan liu (Canada: €360,000

season Viii: 2011

field: 837 players: Prize pool: €3,734,694 1st Andrey Pateychunk (Russia): €680,000 2nd Dimitar Danchev (Bulgaria): €600,000 3rd Daniel Neilson (Australia): €285,000

POKER 52 europa // july-August 2012 // IssuE 6

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Tournament Huge High Roller events…

The full program of the EPT San Remo 2012 has not yet been officially released, but players can expect a huge and thoroughly improved series. The new €50,000 Special Televised Event will span three days, bringing high stakes action to the Ligurian tables for the second edition of the biggest ever EPT tournament. Two other High Roller events will then be played in San Remo.

The first, the €10,300 Heads Up Championship, will include sixty-four players battling it out over three days, followed by the €10,300 2-Day Single Reload 8-Handed Event, during which loads of poker pros will hit the tables.

… and low and mid-range tournaments

High Roller Events aren’t the season’s only innovations: after Barcelona, San Remo will benefit from the new schedule, full of amazing mid- and low-range events.

Starting from €110 to €5,200, all kinds of tournaments will be provided, for all budget and games. For example, among its 30 + tournaments, the EPT will host a 2-Day €330 NLHE event, a 2-Day €440 PLO event, a 2-Day €550 PLO-Unlimited Rebuys event, a 2-Day €550 Deepstack event, as well as a €330 Women’s championship.

For higher buy-ins, you will find a €2,100 PLO Turbo 8-Handed event, a 2-Day €1,100 PLO event, a 2-Day €1,100 NLHE event, a €1,100 6-Handed Win the Button event and a 2-Day €1,100 Heads Up 64 Cap event.

Last but not least, two huge NLHE Turbo 6-Handed events will close the series, one with a €2,100 buy-in, the second with a €5,300 NLHE Turbo 6-Handed tournament, and a NLHE Turbo 6-Handed event.

Whether you are a high roller or a middle-range tournaments player, whether you prefer Pot Limit Omaha or NLHE Heads Up tournament, you will find everything you are looking for in San Remo!

How to get there?

The closest airport to San Remo is the Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport (in France), which is 75 minutes away by car or train. By car, take the French autoroute A8 to Menton, and then the A10 Autostrada to San Remo, via Ventimiglia and Genoa. The railway line snakes along the coastline, close to the sea, providing a great view of the Mediterranean.

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the city of san Remo is blessed with the famously warm climate hOTEls

hotel de Paris san Remo

rEsTauranTs taverna al 29

Quietly hidden on a little side street of the shopping district, this small, charming and intimate restaurant offers some of the region’s finest cuisine, with a great selection of classic Ligurian food, to which the chef has added a modern touch. With just nine tables, it is an intimate place to enjoy slow food during an intense poker week — a must! And if you wonder why the restaurant is called “29”, ask the staff, they will be more than happy to tell you the whole story!

• Piazza Cassini, 5 Reservation: +39 0184 570034

Caffè Ducale

With its vaulted ceilings and chandeliers, the interior of Il Caffè Duccale retains the hint of a palatial past. Part enoteca, part café, part restaurant, it is located on the Palazzo Borea d’Olmo, in the heart of the city’s shopping district, which makes it an ideal place to visit at any time of day, for a full meal with a Ligurian touch, or just a coffee and gelato.

• Via Matteotti, 145 Reservation: +39 0184 195 5202

andrea Doria Restaurant

In the refined setting of the Castellaro Golf Resort, the Andrea Doria is the ideal place to enjoy the local cuisine with a modern twist. The fresh Italian Riviera fish prepared with extra-virgin Taggiasca olive oil and accompanied by a rich selection of wines, is totally worth the trip!

This four-star hotel is perfectly perched over the sea, and mere meters away from two structural symbols of the City of Flowers: the Casino, and the Russian Orthodox Church of San Remo. Its twenty-eight suites spread over four floors, are equipped with the latest technology, while the two remaining floors, the “mezzanine” and the “basement flat,” are service-oriented. The first accommodates the glittering lobby, the bar and a large reading room, and the second a sauna, a spa, a gym, and a brasserie.

• Corso Imperatrice, 66 Reservations : +39 0184 1925 250 reservation@hoteldeparissanremo.it Web: http://www.hoteldeparissanremo.it/en/

hotel Paradiso

Located a few meters from the Casino, this four-star hotel, owned by the Gaiani Family since 1926, offers great accommodations in San Remo. Surrounded by a 600-square meter garden, this cozy establishment provides the perfect blend of city bustle and the tranquility of a four-storey residential building. In the restaurant you will find delicious Ligurian specialties with local ingredients on offer. While booking you can request shuttle service from Nice International Airport.

• Via Roccasterone, 12 Reservations: +39 0184 571211 info@paradisohotel.it

Castellaro Golf hotel

Situated 7 km from the city center, the Italian Riviera’s most modern hotel structure is surrounded by the greenery of its golf course, and offers a great view of the sea.

This four-star hotel, with its sixty-four rooms and 120 holiday apartments built in the style of a typical Ligurian village and beautifully situated in a sixty-acre park, is home to an elegant restaurant with refined and memorable cuisine on offer. The large outdoor pool and the wellness center with indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath and fully-equipped gym provide all the relaxation needed for your greatest stay ever in San Remo.

• Strada per i Piani, 1, 18011 Castellaro Reservation: +39 0184 054100 reservation@castellarogolf.it Web: www.castellarogolf.it/en

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Tournament

Grand Casino Brussels

Enjoy the New poker room!

The Belgian capital has a brand poker room! Grand Casino Brussels, located in the beating heart of Brussels, is a vast complex dedicated entirely to leisure, games and showtime. In a vibrant interior, you will find everything a modern international casino can offer, with its theme-bars, its showroom for the performing arts, and of course its innovative gaming rooms. Poker receives all the honors in this new complex, with a great choice of daily cash games and weekly Sit & Go’s. And in order to celebrate the poker room, Grand Casino Brussels will host the Summer Poker Challenge, with its 2-Day €500 + €50 Main Event. Come and have a great time in Grand Casino Brussels!

L

Less than two hours from Cologne, Paris, Amsterdam and London, Brussels is one of Europe’s most vivacious cities.

With its modern and contemporary museums, stunning architectural monuments, traditional brasseries and classy restaurants, the Belgian capital is always a great place to visit. And since spring 2010, Brussels features a new reason to come and enjoy its stupendous atmosphere: the brand new Grand Casino Brussels, located a few steps from the GrandPlace, in the heart of downtown.

Modern entertainment in one of Europe’s most vivacious cities Bigger and much more modern than its predecessor, Grand Casino Brussels is the best place to enjoy Belgian joie de vivre in an astonishing atmosphere. Besides its Brown’s Sports Bar & Grill, with its twelve large TV screens, and its Cinna-Bar, with its great choice of cocktails, Grand Casino Brussels is home of Saffron, an Asian and traditional Belgian restaurant opened until 2 a.m. The modern gaming rooms offer some of the very latest equipment. Mah Jong, Black Jack, Punto Banco, and English Roulette, as well as Slots, Video Reels, Automatic Roulette and Video Poker Machines, Grand Casino Brussels provides all kinds of games, to the great delight of gambling lovers.

Poker has also benefited from these improvements, as daily

By Philippe Aronson

cash games tables welcome poker players starting at 6 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, 5 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with NLHE tables up to €10 - €20 and PLO tables up to €5 -€5. Weekly Sit & Go’s up to €300 + €30 buy-in are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and the first Saturday of the month, and Grand Casino Brussels will organize a 3-Day series, the Summer Poker Challenge, from July 13-July 15, with a €500 + €50 Main Event running from July 13-July 14. €55 + €10 Satellites to the Main Event are arranged every Sunday and Tuesday until July 10, and the series also includes a €100 + €20 event and a €300 + €30 Re-entry tournament.

So if you’re looking for modern entertainment in one of Europe’s most exciting cities, Grand Casino Brussels is for you!

Information

Address: Anspach Boulevard 30, 1000 Brussels Telephone: +32 2 300 01 00 E-mail: info@viage.be Web: www.viage.be Opening hours: Monday – Thursday + Sunday: 12 p.m. – 4 a.m./ Friday & Saturday: 12 p.m. – 5 a.m.

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rakE & sTakEs nl texas hold’em €2 - €2

Buy-in: Min €100 – Max €300 Rake: Pot €20 – €38 (rake €2) / Pot €40 – €58 (rake €4) / Pot €60 – €98 (rake €6) / Pot > €100 (rake max €8) time Rake: €4/hour

nl texas hold’em €5 – €5

Buy-in: Min €200 – Max €2,000 Rake: 5% of the pot size between €20 – €400.

Rake is taken in units of €1 for every €20 placed in the pot.

Maximum rake: €20/pot

nl texas hold’em €5 – €10

Buy-in: Min €500 – Max €4,000 Rake: 5% of the pot size between €20 – €400.

Rake is taken in units of €1 for every €20 placed in the pot.

Maximum rake: €20/pot

nl texas hold’em €10 – €20

Buy-in: Min €1,000 – No Max Rake: 5% of the pot size between €20 – €400.

Rake is taken in units of €1 for every €20 placed in the pot.

Maximum rake: €20/pot

Pot limit omaha €2 – €4

Buy-In: Min €200 – Max €2,000 Rake: 5% of the pot size between €20 – €280.

Rake is taken in units of €1 for every €20 placed in the pot. Max rake: €14/pot

Pot limit omaha €5 – €5

Buy-in: Min €500 – No Max Rake: 5% of the pot size between €20 – €400.

Rake is taken in units of €1 for every €20 placed in the pot. Maximum rake: €20/pot

Poker ViP “salon privé”

All stakes of €5 – €5 and above are available on the VIP Poker table.

Regular rake: €20/pot max – €10/hour/seat (for unlimited food & drinks)

DaIlY cash gaMEs nl texas hold’em 6 p.m. : Monday to thursday 5 p.m. : Friday 3 p.m. : saturday & sunday

Pot limit omaha 8 p.m. : tuesday & thursday

wEEklY sIT & gO’s every monday – 7:30 p.m.

Poker Sit & Go – Single Re-buy – €150 + €20 20 minute levels 5,000 Chips Starting Stack / 5,000 Chips Single Re-Buy / 5,000 Chips Single Add-On 50 max players 1 Re-buy (on de bar) during the first 3 levels & 1 Add-On permitted after the 3rd level.

every Wednesday – 7:30 p.m.

Turbo Sit & Go – Multi Re-Buy €50+ €10 15 minute levels 2,000 Chips Starting Stack / 2,000 Chips for each Re-Buy / 4,000 Chips Double Add-On 50 Max Players Unlimited Re-Buys for the first 4 levels – Double Add-on after level 4.

every 1st saturday of the month – 3:30 p.m.

Super Saturday Sit & Go Deepstack Freezeout – €300 + €30 30 minute levels 30,000 Units Starting Stack 70 Max Players

suMMEr POkEr challEngE

satellites summer Poker Challenge

7:30 p.m. - Every Sunday & Tuesday from June 10 to July 10 2012 €55 + €10 No Limit Hold’Em 2,000 Chips Starting Stack 15 minute levels 30 Players Max Single Re-Buy (2,000 Chips) – Single Add-On (2,000 chips)

summer Poker Challenge

Fri July 13 – Sat 14 – Main Event – starting 5:00 p.m. € 500 + €50 No Limit Hold’em Freezeout 20.000 Starting Stack 40 minute levels 120 Players max Sat July 14 – Event #2 – starting 3:00 p.m. €300 + €30 No Limit Hold’Em – Re-Entry 15,000 Starting Stack 30 minute levels 100 Players max Sun July 15 – Event #3 – starting 3:00 p.m. €100 + €20 No Limit Hold’Em Freezeout 10,000 Starting Stack 30 minute levels 100 Players max 100 Max Players

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Tournament

Casino Kursaal San Sebastian

The Estrellas Poker Tour

stops in San Sebastian

The heat is rising this summer in Spain, with two major tournaments rocking the tables of Valencia, Madrid, Ibiza, San Sebastian, Barcelona, Peralda and Tarragona: no part of the beautiful country are left out of the Estrellas Poker Tour, running for its third season from January to August. But the summer is definitely the high peek of this impressive circuits, so if you’ve never played it, it’s time to go to Spain and see what the Red Fury’s poker world is made of, especially for the San Sebastian stop in one of the country’s most beautiful city, situated at a simple hop from Biarritz and the French frontier…

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Information

S

Spain loves poker. This passion is obvious when you look at the calendar of events: with a huge national circuit, the Estrellas Poker Tour, from January 23 to August 19, it seems that it’s always time for gambling there! Summer has the best share of events and the Estrellas poker tour’s stop in wonderful Casino Kursaal in San Sebastian is for sure the more interesting one.

The Estrellas Poker Tour had a great third season so far, with a new stop in Valencia and regular visits to the partyisland of Ibiza and the Spanish capital. Now it’s time to go to the gorgeous historical city of San Sebastian, the best place in the world to eat “pintxo” or tapas in Spanish, for an all-time favorite €1,000 + €100 Main Event from July 23 to 29 in Casino Kursaal.

San Sebastien, the Queen of Euskadi Ask someone from the west-south of France or from Spain which city is the most astonishing one, and almost hundred percent of them will snap back with the name of San Sebastian. This a small city of 183,000 inhabitants displays a remarkably high level of cultural activity for its size. The beauty of its Bay, known as the Pearl of the Cantabrian Sea; its situation in a natural amphitheatre facing the sea and protected by mountains; its quality of life, and its famous gastronomy have turned it during the past two centuries into a world-class tourist destination. San Sebastian is world famous as a food tourism destination, since it’s collected more Michelin stars per square metre of its territory than anywhere else in the world; and, as the birthplace of the “new Basque cuisine” movement, it’s nurtured

More information about the beauty of San Sebastian can be found online at : www.sansebastianturismo.com And discover the secrets of Euskadi region here : http://tourism.euskadi.net/en/ www.casinokursaal.com www.estrellaspokertour.com/tournaments/ sansebastian/

the renaissance of Basque gastronomy. That’s why Casino Kursaal has launched, all over the year, the great idea of “Poker week-end”: enjoy some poker festival and also discover the beauties of this Spanish gem, its restaurants and its fabulous bay. In the casino itself, you’ll also find NLHE and PLO cash-games, as well as all the games you dream of: blackjack, Stud poker, horse betting, American roulette and even tax-free coin machines!

A very well attended event Last year, 290 players made it to San Sebastian for the Estrellas Poker Tour, generating a prize pool of €253,344, and the Final in Ibiza attracted 426 players for a total of €372,154. So far this year, the fields are about the same, but the slightly higher buy-in than last year’s has made the prize pool much bigger. Two Spanish players were crowned in Madrid and Valencia: Juan Miguel Tomé Perez and Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Bermudez respectively brought back home €70,619 and €76,000. This year, don’t let the Spanish win it all! And don’t forget : Casino Kursaal also offers a wide range of satellites with very low buy-ins (50€+10€, with rebuys), on July 6th, 13th, 20th and 24th…

The affordable buy-ins makes those events very popular with Spanish amateurs who come to take their first chances in a big event without risking too much. It’s an excellent opportunity for inexperienced players who want to make a first try, but also a fantastic opening for sharks who want to get all they can from the newbies coming for the first time.

This summer, Spanish casinos are waiting for you!

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rankIng

2012 euRoPean PoKeR money lists

fROm 1st Jan 2012 TO 15th JUnE 2012 Now that the WsOP has started, and after the ending the WPt World Championship in las Vegas, the rankings are all upside down. Our cover boy, Marvin Rettenmaier goes straight up to the second place whereas five French players are in the top 15 ! But the upcoming WsOP Main Event and the big buy-ins tournaments such as One Drop (1 million dollars) or the $50,000 Mixed-games could shuffle our rankings real hard in the next upcoming weeksâ&#x20AC;Ś

Patrik Antonius

Ranking

Tobias Reinkemeier

Marvin Rettenmaier

Player

1

Patrik Antonius

2

Winnings (usD)

Ranking

Player

Winnings (usD)

1,945,242

16

Frederik Brink jensen

682,148

Marvin Rettenmaier

1,591,101

17

Mikhail smirnov

675,943

3

tobias Reinkemeier

1,465,148

18

Aubin Cazals

671,681

4

Igor Kurganov

1,447,882

19

Kevin Vandersmissen

5

lucille Cailly

1,397,420

20

sergio Castelluccio

6

Viktor Blom

1,348,742

21

Philipp gruissem

500,208

7

Bertrand grospellier

1,266,165

22

Mickey Petersen

447,490

8

leonid Bilokur

1,248,173

23

Andrei stoenescu

432,912

9

Vadim Kursevich

1,196,965

24

Morten lihn Christensen

431,390

10

Davidi Kitai

952,262

25

Vuong than trong

431,369

11

jannick Wrang

888,446

26

Ruben Visser

428,374

12

Phillippe Ktorza

863,070

27

Mohamad Kowssarie

416,937

13

gus Hansen

823,579

28

Fabrice soulier

410,107

14

Paul guichard

744,209

29

tom Middleton

395,266

15

Bernard guigon

728,368

30

Fraser MacIntyre

380,438

604,449 572,851

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Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

31

Andre Morath

379,125

66

Koen De Visscher

220,164

32

Juha Helppi

372,148

67

Max Lykov

219,356

33

Govert Metaal

372,106

68

César García

218,394

34

Eric Sfez

369,396

69

Vojtech Ruzicka

210,217

35

Dominykas Karmazinas

352,568

70

David Dean

209,608

36

Rinat Bogdanov

342,205

71

Vyacheslav Igin

203,493

37

Yorane Kerignard

341,939

72

Besim Hot

202,114

38

Bruno Lopes

341,724

73

Ronan Gilligan

199,962

39

Robert Baguley

334,037

74

John Paul Kelly

199,402

40

Artem Litvinov

331,135

75

Sebastian Winkler

199,069

41

Ercin Corc

326,354

76

Iqbal Ahmed

198,454

42

Stefan Huber

325,745

77

Patrick de Koster

196,652

43

Nicky Evans

309,128

78

Kirill Kruglov

191,896

44

Pierre Neuville

302,647

79

Luca Pagano

191,666

45

Ognjen Sekularac

300,298

80

Martin Jacobson

188,663

46

Vincent Van Der Fluit

298,117

81

Anton Karasinsky

187,637

47

Martin Kabrhel

296,542

82

Jaroslaw Barglik

187,021

48

Thomas Beer

296,419

83

Ben Vinson

186,512

49

Talal Shakerchi

294,417

84

Andrei Nikonov

184,407

50

Dave Shallow

289,032

85

Stephen Chidwick

183,656

51

Mario Puccini

287,612

86

Rifat Palevic

183,026

52

Oleksii Kovalchuk

274,950

87

Kai Ren

182,758

53

Andreas Eiler

265,545

88

Fabrizio Rossi

182,142

54

Konstantin Tolokno

265,217

89

Daniel Gómez-Anadon

178,043

55

Davide Biscardi

264,351

90

Philippe Clerc

177,145

56

Bruno Jais

263,030

91

Bjarke S Hansen

176,777

57

Gordon Robert Huntly

260,176

92

Steffen Retterholt

176,091

58

Roman Romanovskyi

238,243

93

Aage Ravn

175,457

59

Matthias De Meulder

237,351

94

Hugo Lemaire

174,439

60

Bahadir Kilickeser

232,856

95

Steve Watts

174,268

61

Chris Moorman

230,930

96

Anton Wigg

173,808

62

Toby Lewis

228,225

97

Rocco Palumbo

172,388

63

Balazs Botond

227,983

98

Massimiliano Bellon Bellucci

171,667

64

Damiano Sette

223,428

99

Thomas Butzhammer

169,637

65

Borge Dypvik

222,532

100

Anatoly Gurtovy

168,368

POKER 52 europa // july-august 2012 // ISSUE 6

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rankIng

all TImE mOnEy lIST - EUROPE No big changes in the all time money list Europe, as all the leaders have not cashed recently in 2012. But the one Drop tournament ($1,000,000 buy-in) who will welcome most of the champions from this list will change it all for sure. Elky, Katchalov, trickett, Antonius, Hansen will play it for sure, along with players like Ivey, seidel, Negreanu and other big names from the poker world. the winner will ship more than 10 millions in a single tournament...

Peter Eastgate

Ranking

Country

Carlos Mortensen

Player

Winnings (usD)

Gus Hansen

Ranking

Country

Player

Winnings (usD)

1

Peter Eastgate

10,918,443

16

surinder sunar

4,588,737

2

Carlos Mortensen

10,806,141

17

Andy Black

4,423,333

3

gus Hansen

10,210,073

18

juha Helppi

4,411,194

4

Bertrand grospellier

9,912,768

19

yevgeniy timoshenko

4,406,257

5

Pius Heinz

8,876,067

20

Vitaly lunkin

4,258,116

6

Eugene Katchalov

7,071,226

21

Fabrice soulier

3,999,909

7

Ivan Demidov

6,768,821

22

Antoine saout

3,948,059

8

sam trickett

6,359,098

23

Marcel luske

3,942,166

9

David Benyamine

6,189,182

24

Marty smyth

3,876,139

10

Dave ulliott

6,011,126

25

Alexander Kravchenko

11

Martin staszko

5,579,986

26

Annette Obrestad

3,766,977

12

Roland de Wolfe

5,330,556

27

tobias Reinkemeier

3,730,575

13

Patrik Antonius

5,328,713

28

Ram Vaswani

3,477,251

14

Chris Bjorin

5,219,242

29

Filippo Candio

3,463,266

15

jeff lisandro

4,797,295

30

sebastian Ruthenberg

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3,775,710

3,457,185

available at www.poker52europa.fr

14/06/12 10:14

top ten

all time money list Italy

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

England Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Jeff Lisandro

4,797,295

1

Sam Trickett

6,359,098

2

Filippo Candio

3,463,266

2

Dave Ulliott

6,011,126

3

Max Pescatori

3,206,351

3

Roland de Wolfe

5,330,556

4

Salvatore Bonavena

2,271,674

4

Surinder Sunar

4,588,737

5

Luca Pagano

2,055,370

5

Ram Vaswani

3,477,251

6

Alessio Isaia

1,971,946

6

Tony Bloom

3,308,051

7

Dario Minieri

1,861,016

7

John Gale

3,301,782

8

Dario Alioto

1,411,163

8

Jake Cody

3,130,181

9

Sergio Castelluccio

1,215,415

9

James Akenhead

3,060,048

10

Gianni Giaroni

1,107,246

10

Mark Teltscher

2,955,593

Spain

Ranking

Player

1

Carlos Mortensen

2

Winnings (USD)

Germany Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

10,806,141

1

Pius Heinz

8,876,067

Raul Paez Corral

1,571,248

2

Tobias Reinkemeier

3,730,575

3

Juan Maceiras Lapido Jr.

1,082,049

3

Sebastian Ruthenberg

3,457,185

4

Raul Mestre

863,598

4

Benjamin Spindler

3,134,924

5

Dragan Kostic

827,975

5

Moritz Kranich

2,932,396

6

JesĂşs Cortes

824,047

6

Marvin Rettenmaier

2,893,413

7

Leonor Margets-Perez

719,885

7

Andreas Krause

2,265,465

8

Juan Manuel Pastor

688,197

8

Philipp Gruissem

2,127,048

9

Santiago Terrazas

651,405

9

Florian Langmann

2,013,634

10

Tomeu Gomila

597,427

10

Sandra Naujoks

1,736,901

POKER 52 europa // july-august 2012 // ISSUE 6

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rankIng Russia Ranking

Player

Winnings (usD)

Denmark Ranking

Player

Winnings (usD)

1

Ivan Demidov

6,768,821

1

Peter Eastgate

10,918,443

2

Vitaly lunkin

4,258,116

2

gus Hansen

10,210,073

3

Alexander Kravchenko

3,775,710

3

theo jørgensen

2,867,165

4

Alexander Kostritsyn

2,915,269

4

Rehne Pedersen

2,299,640

5

Max lykov

2,803,200

5

jan sorensen

2,162,419

6

Kirill gerasimov

2,563,108

6

Frederik Brink jensen

2,127,205

7

Igor Kurganov

2,338,660

7

søren Kongsgaard Nielsen

1,988,594

8

Andrey Pateychuk

2,184,617

8

lars Bonding

1,816,746

9

leonid Bilokur

1,618,782

9

sander lyloff

1,712,552

10

Dmitry gromov

1,573,999

10

Rasmus Nielsen

1,418,747

sweden Ranking

Player

Winnings (usD)

norway Ranking

Player

Winnings (usD)

1

Chris Bjorin

5,219,242

1

Annette Obrestad

3,766,977

2

Martin De Knijff

3,419,490

2

jan Olav sjavik

1,839,863

3

William thorson

3,357,966

3

Andreas Hoivold

1,648,401

4

johan storakers

2,996,321

4

trond Eidsvig

1,623,879

5

Martin jacobson

2,835,402

5

Dag Martin Mikkelsen

1,470,618

6

Michael tureniec

2,773,934

6

Andreas Walnum

1,197,518

7

Erik Marcus Friberg

2,751,068

9

johnny lodden

1,125,214

8

Christer johansson

2,161,275

7

Bjorn-Erik glenne

1,092,588

9

Mikael thuritz

1,707,983

8

Kristian Kjondal

1,057,150

10

Kent lundmark

1,653,828

10

Marcel Bjerkmann

977,333

irland Ranking

Player

Winnings (usD)

france Ranking

Player

Winnings (usD)

1

Andy Black

4,423,333

1

Bertrand grospellier

9,912,768

2

Marty smyth

3,876,139

2

David Benyamine

6,189,182

3

Eoghan O'Dea

2,513,592

3

Fabrice soulier

3,999,909

4

Padraig Parkinson

1,623,023

4

Antoine saout

3,948,059

5

Fintan gavin

1,397,235

5

Roger Hairabedian

3,367,375

6

john Magill

1,207,856

6

jean-Paul Pasqualini

2,572,137

7

Dermot Blain

1,193,246

7

Antony lellouche

2,525,172

8

Noel Furlong

1,145,807

8

Bruno Fitoussi

2,429,275

9

liam Flood

1,142,446

9

Alain Roy

2,280,294

10

Donnacha O'Dea

1,137,412

10

Arnaud Mattern

2,151,928

76 IssuE 6 // july-August 2012 // POKER 52 europa

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touRnament sCheDule July

1 - 8 jul

2012 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 7, Plymouth 2 jul

Palm Beach Big Game, London 3 - 18 jul

Bellagio Cup VIII, Las Vegas 4 - 8 jul

WPPT Sri Lanka, Colombo 5 - 8 jul

Namur Deepstack XII, Namur 6 - 8 jul

2012 Super Stack Series - Madrid, Madrid

6 - 15 jul

[WPTR] WPT Derby Lane Rebound Series, St. Petersburg 7 - 8 jul

APAT - Irish Amateur Poker

Championship, Cork 9 - 15 jul

[WPTN] WPT National Series Mazagan, El Jadida 9 - 15 jul

[LCIPT] LCI 2012 UK Poker Tour Nottingham, Nottingham 13 - 15 jul

Partouche Poker Deepstack - Aix en Provence, Aix En Provence 13 - 15 jul

Grand Casino Brussels Summer Poker Challenge, Brussels 14 jul

2012 Catalunya Poker Tour, Barcelona 14 - 22 jul

2012 CAPT Velden Open, Velden 15 - 22 jul

2012 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 8,

Bolton

19 - 23 jul

WPT National Series - Venice, Venice 20 - 22 jul

2012 Barriere Poker Tour - Enghien-lesBains, Enghien 21 - 29 jul

Grand Prix, Nottingham 21 - 30 jul

IPT San Remo, Sanremo

26 - 29 jul Estrellas Poker Tour - San Sebastian, San Sebastian 28 jul - 5 Aug 2012 Wallonie Series of Poker, Namur 28 jul - 30 Aug WPT Legends Of Poker, Los Angeles auGust 1 - 12 Aug WPT Merit Cyprus Classic, Kyrenia 5 Aug 2012 Super Stack Series - Leg 10, London 6 Aug Palm Beach Big Game, London 7 - 12 Aug Latin American Poker Tour V Colombia, Medellin 10 - 12 Aug Black Belt Nottingham Live II, Nottingham 10 - 12 Aug 2012 Barriere Poker Tour - Deauville, Deauville 11 - 20 Aug Macau Poker Cup - Red Dragon, Taipa 13 - 19 Aug Irish Poker Classic, Cork 13 - 19 Aug [LCIPT] LCI 2012 UK Poker Tour - Leeds, Leeds 15 - 25 Aug EPT/Estrellas Poker Tour - Barcelona, Barcelona 19 - 27 Aug 2012 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 9, Coventry 24 - 27 Aug APAT - European Championship Of Amateur Poker, Nottingham 24 - 27 Aug WPT Regional Series - Florida Seminole Hard Rock Summer Splash, Hollywood 25 - 26 Aug 2012 Super Stack Series - Leg 12, Birmingham 26 Aug Freeze Out Turnier, Erfurt 30 Aug - 2 sep The Irish Tour 2012 - Leg 3: The Southern Open, Unknown

30 Aug - 2 sep

CNP - San Sebastian, San Sebastian sePtemBeR 3 sep

Palm Beach Big Game, London 6 - 9 sep

German Poker Tour - Warnemunde, Rostock

6 - 10 sep

UK & Ireland Poker Tour - Newcastle, Newcastle 7 - 9 sep

2012 Barriere Poker Tour - Lille, Lille 8 - 9 sep

Sky Poker Tour - Grand Final, Nottingham 10 - 15 sep

WPT Grand Prix de Paris, Paris 12 - 16 sep

[LCIPT] LCI 2012 UK Poker Tour London, London 12 - 16 sep

WPPT Seoul, Seoul 13 - 16 sep

European Masters of Poker IV Barcelona, Barcelona 16 - 20 sep

WPT Malta, Portomaso 16 - 21 sep

WPT Borgata Poker Open, Atlantic City 16 - 23 sep

2012 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 10, London

18 - 21 sep

English Poker Open 2012, London 21 sep - 4 Oct

2012 World Series of Poker - Europe, Cannes

26 - 30 sep

Winamax European Short-Handed Poker Championship, Dublin 27 - 30 sep

Genting Poker Series - Leg 5, Online 28 - 30 sep

2012 Super Stack Series - Leg 13, London 30 sep - 7 Oct

WPT Cruise, Cruise

POKER 52 europa // july-August 2012 // IssuE 6

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yOU aRE THE TOURnamEnT DIREcTOR SERIES 5

THE DEalER THOUgHT EVERyOnE HaD fOlDED

CHRONICLE HENDONMOB

this one was sent in by David Blane.

At the Boylepoker IPO, the largest live event I had played, I was dealt 88 in middle position and raised. Everyone folded and the dealer pushed me the pot, whereupon I returned my cards. I’m always very deliberate about the order of this. then a French guy two to my left, who I couldn’t see clearly, said he still had cards. the tD was called and ruled I give him my freshly stacked chips as his was the only remaining live hand. surely this can’t be right? jack Effel

Disagree with the decision that was made here. Although the dealer should have known there was another player in the pot before he pushed it to David, the other player should have made an attempt to stop the dealer before the pot was pushed. Therefore, I would have awarded the pot to David and returned the amount of the call to the other player. The reason behind returning the call to the other player is because this was a dealer error as well, and there was a chance that the player didn’t realize what the dealer was doing until after the fact.

thomas Kremser

David didn’t make a mistake – he was awarded the pot by the dealer and then he released his cards. First I would verify that the French player also called the raise. I would ask the dealer to explain me the situation exactly in order to make the right decision. The French player has a responsibility to speak up immediately if the dealer pushes the pot and he still has cards. Further the dealer made a mistake by forgetting that the French player still has cards. It is possible that the French player was hiding his cards below his hand.

If the dealer explains that the French player claimed the pot immediately and his cards have been clearly visible, I would decide to split the pot. If it turns out that the French player didn’t make the call and more than 2 actions happened behind him, I would kill his hand and award the pot to David.

David lamb

Sure seems to make it a great idea to hide cards and pop them out whenever the last player mucks. If French guy failed to stop the action in a timely fashion and protect his right to act on his hand, I would rule that he surrendered all claim to the pot and the chips would be yours.

David luzago

In this case basically the dealer and player attention mistake causes that the pot will go to the last live hand in progress that is the only one that is entitled to collect the pot.

Matt savage

If there was substantial action (3 folds) following the player his hand would be dead and if the player was hiding his cards I am also going to kill his hand. The fact that he was French has no bearing on my decision.

thomas lamatsch

I am sorry for this. I would made another decision for sure!

First thing I have to check, if play can be continued, if the deck maybe isn’t completely mixed with the mucked hands and if your two cards are still safe. If there is a chance, hand has to be played to the end!

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We like thomas lamatsch’s idea about continuing the hand if this is both fair and possible, but extreme caution would be needed in exercising this option as players may have received information to which they were not entitled when the hand had been deemed to be over.

If not, because you didn’t make any fault, the dealer pushed the pot to you and then you mucked your hand, it is not relevant in this case, that the other hand is still here or not!

The second players was waiting too long to complain, so he can’t claim the pot for himself!

The only way is to split the pot between the two “remaining” players.

jP McCann

I disagree with the ruling that was made in this example. The French player has allowed at least 3 or 4 players to act behind him without him informing the dealer or the players on the table that he still has a live hand. He has not protected himself so I would rule his hand dead, the player with 88 wins the pot

FIDPA (the International Poker Rules) Ruling (Marcel luske)

Wow , so it looks like players could hold back their cards & show them suddenly and claim A pot. lol ... Middle position have 88 and plays, so all the other actions had passed his neighbour player already, Cut off, Button , SB & BB ! ( All out of turn & even the dealer didnt noticed). The player who had done nothing wrong , collecting first the pot & then give his hand to the dealer get penalised?

To the player that was not acting in turn...

3.2 A player shall not benefit from an error caused by their action.

4.1 Players are responsible to report any errors, discrepancies or violations that promote an unfair game.

4.2 A player is responsible to notify the dealer of any irregularities when it occurs or is first noticed.

5.1 Poker is an individual game. Actions, statements and/or behaviors that compromise the fairness of the game, whether knowingly or unknowingly, are considered unethical play and unsportsmanlike behavior.

All players are obligated to this, so the player who was still holding cards clearly did not tell the dealer in time of which

he or she had enough to do so, in order to have a live hand & claim!

The ruling should be easy, the game is played out and the sleeping players hand is dead.

David Flusfeder (IFP - International federation of Poker)

A: No, it can’t be right. Substantial Action (rule 29) of at least three folds has taken place and the pot has been awarded. Even though the ‘French guy’ has not voluntarily folded his hand, we move on to the next one.

the MoB verdict If the incident took place in the way David describes then he was the victim of a gross injustice which would give unscrupulous players a green light to hide cards and attempt to claim pots they were not entitled too.

David acted correctly in protecting his cards until he had been passed the chips and that is all a player should ever have to do to prevent a mistake of this nature resulting in the forfeiture of the pot.

We like Thomas Lamatsch’s idea about continuing the hand if this is both fair and possible, but extreme caution would be needed in exercising this option as players may have received information to which they were not entitled when the hand had been deemed to be over.

We agree with those who seek to establish the intent and degree of culpability of the other player. If he has called the last bet, had his cards in view and was simply distracted momentarily when the dealer made his mistake then we would be inclined to return his last call. Indeed if he had done nothing wrong and there had not been substantial action or reasonable time to prevent the error we would even consider splitting the pot. However, that is not what is indicated here. The player with 88 should certainly have been awarded the pot, and at the very most the other player may sometimes get his call back.

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VIcTOrIa cOrEn

wElcOME

TO ThE rIVIEra

CHRONICLE VICTORIA COREN

I won another EPt tournament! this was the €5000 Heads up event at the grand Final in Monte Carlo. I won’t write much about it now because it’s 2 o’clock in the morning here and I’ve got the main event to play later on today — though god knows how my fevered brain will go back to early-level, nine-handed poker after the fast & furious battle of heads up.

PK52EURO_N6.indd 80

I feel pleased with myself because they were tough battles (I had to play eleven matches to get to the final, beating Basil from France, Juha from Finland, Dori from Dubai and the fearsome Annette Obrestad) and then a best-of-five final match against brilliant Melanie Weisner from New York, which I finally managed to take 3-2. And I think I played really well. I had some good luck along the way, but I also had some terrible luck, which is pretty much how it should be in a long and best-of-three or deep-stacked poker tournament.

I also want to add that it was really fun playing the final with Melanie. We were both taking it extremely seriously without taking it too seriously, if you see what I mean.

We p l a y e d p o k e r very hard, but stopped for

breaks when we needed them, shared a bottle of red wine, and spent the best part of match 3 talking about boys.

Readers of my book might remember how disconcerting I found it when I played the World Series of Poker ladies’ event in… oh it was ages ago, maybe 2002?... and found my opponents chatting about life and love at the same time as playing cards — it was so different from the Vic, my head spun and I couldn’t concentrate. I’m a little more comfortable with poker tournaments these days and can now do both at once; this wasn’t specifically a gender thing (I chatted a lot to Dori Yacoub, my round 4 opponent, as well) but it wasn’t completely irrelevant either. Obviously we were both amused, as the whole room seemed to be, at the idea of the last two players standing in a tournament both being women, which is still very unusual (maybe even unprecedented?) in a major international mixed tournament — it made the event feel a bit special. Rather sci-fi, in fact. I’m sure (or at least hopeful) that it won’t be such an unusual sight twenty years from now. Melanie, a heads-up specialist and very crafty professional player, is extremely bright and very funny; five matches is a long time, and I really enjoyed spending them in her company.

Mainly I’m happy because I LOVE Heads Up tournaments and I have a sick history of always finishing on the bubble (ie. winning the first two rounds, then losing 1-2 in the third match for the money) but I feel like this vindicates my determination to keep trying. AND it means I’ve won another EPT tournament, after my distant main event victory in London 2006! And the €58,900 prize money is pretty good news as well.

I’m very, very happy and am now going to try — I suspect in vain — to get some sleep.

UPDATE, Tuesday May 1st: ... and I came second in the women’s event! God, I’d have loved to win that one as well, for a double Monte Carlo victory — and I would have done, if my AK had beaten Leo Margets’ QJ, or my QQ had beaten her KJ — but hey, can’t have everything, and she played brilliantly and deserved the win. And I have to be happy with second. What a very good week in Monte Carlo, and thanks very much for all the support on Twitter.

14/06/12 10:14

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