Editors’ preface: PokerNews welcomes the New Year by asking a number of industry experts to share their views on the past, present and – most importantly – the future of poker. Over the next several days, these experts’ opinions serve to outline the shape of the modern poker world and provide an indication of what 2009 and beyond might hold. PokerNews also notes that these experts’ opinions do not necessarily represent the views of PokerNews.
Contributing to today’s question are: Matthew Parvis, Editor-in-Chief of Bluff Magazine; Brian Balsbaugh, the founder of top player-representation agency Poker Royalty; Pauly “Dr. P Read full
Editors’ note: Contributing columnist Denis Campbell brings an independent and experienced eye to poker’s political scene. Campbell has worked closely in the past with former Cabinet Secretaries in the Carter and Clinton administrations, Ambassadors and members of Congress. He offers commentary on US and UK politics for the BBC and Huffington Post. Here, Denis offers his insights on matters affecting poker. Denis’ views do not necessarily reflect those of PokerNews.
Last week, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland placed himself at the front of the Obama infrastructure and state aid queue, saying his state needs an immediate infusion of $5 billion to survive a projected budget shortfall of $7.3 billion, this despite laying off 3,000 state workers. Read full
There are many things to look forward to in the new year including the fantastic $2,000 Cash Freeroll Series at PokerStars from January to March 2009. This Series is exclusive to PokerNews players and gives you the chance to win some juicy cash prizes every single week.
The short version: To qualify – use a new/existing PokerNews referred PokerStars account to earn points in a calendar month, to receive tickets for entry to freerolls in the following calendar month.
The long version: To qualify – download PokerStars through PokerNews, register a new account, make a minimum deposit and earn 150 VPPs in the calendar month prior. F Read full
As anticipated, the attempt by leading online poker site PokerStars to break its own mark for most players in a tournament went off without a hitch on Sunday. Stars’ “Guinness World Record Tourney” easily reached its 35,000-player cap, with the event now awaiting certification by Guinness officials some time in the next several weeks. Stan34powa outlasted 34,999 others to win the record-making event.
The 35,000 participants paid an $11+1 entry fee each, and Stars chipped in the remainder of the $500,000 prize fund. The turnout easily eclipsed the official record of 20,000 set in a Stars Sunday Hundred Grand on July 29, 2007. Sunday’s tourney also saw a record 8,750 players make the money. Read full
The red-hot chili action is heating up at Chili Poker with more opportunities to win a seat in live events than ever before! And, the qualifying events going on now at Chili Poker, can give you the amazing opportunity to be a part of The Euro City Poker Tour! This amazing poker series is hosted at the hottest and most action packed cities in Europe, and thanks to Chili Poker you can be there!
The next event of this most prestigious Euro City Poker Tour is to be held in historic Salzburg, the fourth largest city in all of Austria. The Salzburg event will be taking place from April 3rd through April 5th of 2009 at the luxurious Alpine Palace Resort complex. Read full
PokerStars has announced plenty of promotional extras in conjunction with its latest assault on the Guinness Book of World Records. The record-setting event, which starts at 3:30 pm ET on Sunday, reached its 35,000-player cap early on Saturday, leaving late-arriving hopefuls only the option of watching and waiting to see if already-registered players drop out before the event begins.
The special tourney – with the establishment of the record itself likely now just a formality – is the centerpiece of Stars’ ongoing “World Record Week” promotions. S Read full
“Poker After Dark” launches its fifth season on Monday night with a matchup they are calling “Close But No Cigar.” It will feature six players who have all made a WSOP Championship final table in their careers, but came up just short of the taking home the most coveted bracelet in poker. There’s no shortage of non-championship jewelry in the crowd, however, as the players collectively own 13 WSOP victories.
The lineup includes Andy Black, Allen Cunningham, Mike Matusow, Dewey Tomko, David Williams and Lee Watkinson. The players are putting up $20,000 apiece for this winner-take-all event, which starts airing on NBC December 29th and will run for five consecutive nights. Read full
Some people play poker and some people make sure poker is played smoothly. The latter of that statement is every bit as important for those who only play it. Of course, it helps if you’ve done both, and in the case of Jack McClelland that’s exactly what he’s been doing for nearly his entire life. From going broke against his grandma in early poker games, to traveling the world for games, McClelland is one of the few people that have truly seen it all from both sides of the table. Like many, his career started as a humbling experience, cleaning ashtrays at his first job, but his hard work and dedication to the game he loved made him one of the most recognizable faces in the game today.
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Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG, proprietor of UltimateBet, released a statement on Tuesday acknowledging an unusual software glitch and explaining a fix that was rapidly put into place to prevent future instances of the same problem from occurring. The hand, being played at $200/400 heads-up limit hold’em, drew additional attention from the poker world because it featured longtime UB spokesman Phil Hellmuth, who was erroneously awarded the pot in the hand.
Examination of the hand histories showed that player “DOUBLEBALLER” should have won the hand after flopping trip queens on a hand where Hellmuth was caught running a bluff with nothing more than 10-2 for down cards. Read full
He’s won millions playing online as PrtyPkrSUX and JC Alvarado
Name: Juan Carlos Alvarado
Nickname: JC
Date of birth: 05/06/85
Place of birth: Mexico City
Currently residing: Vegas, but soon to be back on a beach in Mexico
Favorite song to listen to before tournament that gets you pumped up: Recently by Enae Volare Mezzo
Craziest prop bet: I don't really prop bet, I'm too much of a sucker.
Favorite places to travel: I love most places in Europe.
What do you like to do in your spare time: Watch TV, movies, read, play Xbox…pretty much anything that will keep me lying on my couch.
Any celebrity crushes: Mandy Moore and Natalie Portman
If you weren't playing poker what career would you have: Something having to do with movie making…I wanted to be a writer and I'd love to direct.
What is something no one knows about you: Not sure, but whatever it is I probably would not want to say.
Favorite movie: Ugh, I hate this question there's too many of them. Read full
