27 July 2009
Inaugural Lebanese Poker Championship Round-Up
The first ever Lebanese Poker Championship went underway at Casino du Liban, about 30 miles from capital Beirut. Participation far exceeded expectations as 207 entrants took three days to battle over a $2m prize pool.
23 July 2009
Poker Player, JJ Hazan, Asks for £65,000 On Dragons’ Den.
Poker professional and Bluff Europe strategy contributor JJ Hazan appeared on BBC2, on the popular programme Dragons’ Den (in which entrepreneurs ask for varying amounts of money in return for a percentage of their business or idea), asking for a £65,000 stake.
Poker Legend Johnny Chan Returns to APT Macau.
The Asian Poker Tour is becoming a staple of the poker year, proved by Chan’s attendance.
Annie Duke Comments on National Poker Week.
As part of National Poker Week, the seven-day period set up by the PPA as they lobby against the UIGEA and other anti-poker measures, Annie Duke appeared as part of a charity tournament benefiting the USO of Metropolitan Washington.
Luke Schwartz and Annette Obrestad make Poker Million semi final
Peter Vasilou is the surprise name in the first semi final of the 2009 Full Tilt Poker Million. The online qualifier outlasted former Poker Million champion John Duthie, EPT winners Joao Barbosa and Mike McDonald and fellow qualifier Adam Carey before beating WPT winner Gavin Smith heads up in the runner up turbo qualifier.
Poker players set for reality TV appearance
Annie Duke may well have some competition for the most noted poker player to appear on a reality TV show. It’s been confirmed that The Amazing Race (which airs in the UK on Challenge and LivingTV) will feature two professional poker players.
22 July 2009
Jamie Gold and Peter Eastgate to host Charity Tournament at Poker in the Park
The Jamie Gold Foundation has teamed up with Poker in the Park and 2008 WSOP Main Event winner Peter Eastgate to host the Jamie Gold Charity Poker Tournament. The 50-seat, £500 buy-in tournament will take place at The Casino at The Empire in Leicester Square at 7.30pm on Thursday 13 August 2009.
Russian government ban poker
In a move that sounds as if it’s come straight out of the Cold War handbook, the Russian government has removed poker from its list of official sports. The government clamped down on casinos at the start of the year but a loophole allowed some of them to remain open as poker clubs.
Derek Murdie is the APAT Scottish Amateur Poker Champion
A sell out field of 130 players gathered at Edinburgh’s Gala Maybury Casino over the weekend for the Scottish leg of the Amateur Poker Association and Tour. In the end it was Hawick’s Derek Murdie who emerged victorious to claim the £3,000 first prize plus a seat in the GUKPT Champion of Champions event courtesy of sponsors Blue Square Poker.
ESPN to Air WSOP From Tuesday, July 28th
The final table at the 2009 WSOP has been set and the action has paused, meaning that ESPN can stop airing re-runs of the 2008 WSOP and begin broadcasting the new action.