GX Digital Example UK May 2010 by GX Magazine

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MAY 2010 UK £1,00

Hanging In The Balance HUNG PARLIAMENT ODDS ON IN THE GENERAL ELECTION

WHO WILL MAKE THE WORLD CUP CUT

Stars Battle To Answer Fabio's Call

THE IRISH POKER OPEN Mitchell and Zimbler Triumph

JUAN CARLOS MORTENSEN EXCLUSIVE The Matador Is Back

GX May

50 FIRST UP 08 EDITORIAL 12 NEWS

SPORTS BETTING 18 FOOTBALL: WHO WILL MAKE THE WORLD CUP CUT? Stars Battle to Answer Fabio’s Call

26 FORMULA ONE: FOUR RACES DOWN, THREE WINNERS Formula One Hots Up

30 TENNIS: NEW COURTS PLEASE Play Turns to Clay at Roland Garros

34 888 SPORTING ’EDLINE GENERAL ELECTION 38 FOOTBALL: THE BIG GAME TRADER Handling The Pressure of The Big Game

FA CUP FINAL

FRENCH OPEN

42 FOOTBALL: THE FA CUP FINAL A Tactical Preview of Chelsea vs. Portsmouth

46 SHARKEY’S SPREADS England Welcome Bangladesh

COVER FEATURE 50 POLITICAL BETTING: HANGING IN THE BALANCE The 2010 General Election

CONTENTS GX

58 POKER 58 MITCHELL MAKES THE MONEY MOVE The Irish Open 2010

68 BASSY ON SAFFARI Bassy’s Poker Round-Up

72 JUAN CARLOS MORTENSEN EXCLUSIVE THE IRISH OPEN

The Matador is Back

82 HERE COME THE GIRLS

The Women’s World Open IV

84 FROM A TO ZIMBLER AND BACK AGAIN... Pot Limit Omaha at The Irish Open

88 JACK EFFEL EXCLUSIVE The Game Of A Lifetime

96 REALITY POKER TAKES OVER The Big Game IV

100 POKER STRATEGY 4 Bet 4 Fun

JUAN CARLOS MORTENSEN

LIFESTYLE

104

104 DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE The Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

108 VIDEO GAMES Game On For Gamers in 2010

110 WHAT'S ON THIS MONTH May’s top UK Events

112 MUSIC: GAMBLING HEARTS LAMBORGINI GALLARDO LP570-4

114 THE FOX'S DEN An Act of God

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GX EDITORIAL

azine ok.com/gxmag www.facebo

RUNNERS & WRITERS Editor Fred Palley fred@gamblingexclusive.com

Eyjafjallajoekull. Or Jaffa Cake for short.

Designers Isabel Ferrer

Travel chaos, millions of pounds lost, and a sudden surge in the sales of GCSE Geography text books were the immediate results of the impossible to pronounce Eyjafjallajoekull volcano eruption last month. The eruption affected sportsmen and poker players alike, as the intercontinental nature of Formula 1, football and poker tours left players and fans unable to get to their required destinations, whilst millions of holidaymakers were left stranded abroad. It always amazes me how much of a deal is made over something like this, and it was this last point about holidaymakers that struck me, not as pathetic, but typically British. Sure, there would have been people who desperately needed to get back to the UK for personal reasons or urgent work related business. But the majority of those who made the news were merely coming back from holiday. The first stranded Brit who I heard from was a middle-aged male on holiday in Tenerife. Serious questions were put to him by the BBC Radio 5 Live presenter, who had clearly been just as disillusioned with his interviewee as I was, and who would have been hoping to have heard from a man in a frantic quest to get home to the church before the love of his life made a terrible error by getting married to the wrong man, or something like that. Instead we heard how he had managed to stay an extra week in the villa he had rented whilst discussing the terrible and unfortunate events with the other tourists at the resort, by the pool. There was no confirmation at the time, but we are probably safe to assume this man was sipping a cocktail whilst the interview was going on, possibly with the football on in the background and almost certainly with a Hawaiian shirt on. The media of course, after running out of things to say about the volcano, reverted to classic filler stories of how stranded Brits made their way home in the absence of flights, which I have to say, always stand for a good read. There was the chief executive of a London-based company who bought a child’s bicycle - which he was forced to ride up the ramp - so he would be allowed to travel on a ferry as a bike passenger. There was the family from Manchester who bought a clapped out old motor in Spain, drove it all the way back without filling up with petrol, and then flogged it on eBay as soon as they got home. And there was the young lady from Cornwall, who with no money to her name, made friends with a travelling nomad dolphin and persuaded it to give her a lift home in return for a can of tinned tuna upon arrival. But amongst all the chaos, there was at least some good news for the volcano, as after erupting in the middle of the week, it got its own day named after it: Ash Wednesday. And it is now my third favourite volcano, just behind the only two others I can remember from GCSE geography, Etna and Vesuvius. May all your profits be large ones. Fred Palley, Editor

Business Development Alex Soro Commercial Directors Andrew Capel andrew@gamblingexclusive.com Natalie Kenneally natalie@gamblingexclusive.com Online Marketing Albert Vellvé albert@gamblingexclusive.com Web Editor Elisa La Fuente elisa@gamblingexclusive.com Web Developer John Davison johnd@gamblingexclusive.com Printer Printerman Ctra. Madrid-Algete km 5 28110 Algete, Madrid - España Distribution GOLD KEY MEDIA ISSN 2042-342X

GX INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS

GERMANY

Contributors Chris Mann Sebastian Saffari Peter Sharkey Paul Zimbler John Tabatabai Paul Sculpher Ed Nicholson Tyson Appadoo Jamie Mallon Adam Goulding Steve Ward Jordan Clark Mark Elliott Ruth Heer Joshua Smith Oli Galvin-Jones

SPAIN

USA

CHINA

GX FIRST UP u

Bookie Refuses Defoe Payout

unters were left reeling last month after a bookie who had incorrectly priced a scorecast in Tottenham’s match with Chelsea, refused to payout the full price of successful bets. The unnamed bookie on Tottenham High Road had priced Jermain Defoe to score first and Spurs to win 2-1 at a whopping 185/1, when the price should have been closer to the 25/1 region. Defoe blasted home a penalty for Spurs in the first half before Gareth Bale added a second shortly before the

break. An abundance of wasted Spurs opportunities meant that when Frank Lampard pulled a goal back for Chelsea in injury time, punters believed it was their luck day and expected to pocket £1850 from just a £10 stake. The bookkeeper refused to pay out the full price though, claiming it would not payout when such a ‘clerical’ error in the pricing had been mistakenly made. Punters were paid out at 35/1; better odds than they should have expected but not as much as they would have hoped for.

Full Tilt Face Federal Grand Jury

he World’s second largest poker site was forced to face a Federal Grand Jury in Manhatten last month after an investigation into money laundering at Full Tilt, which started last October, took a further twist. Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer and several other Full Tilt players, who partown the company, were also targets of the investigation but Ferguson and Lederer filed a motion to dismiss the charges. Those hoping for Hollywood tales of drug-money, child trafficking, and illegal arms sales will be disappointed though, as the investigation merely encapsulates suggestions that Full Tilt Poker has been operating inside the US and accepting money from US players. This, of course, would be illegal under the terms of the Unlawful Internet

Gambling Enforcement Act, although the UIGEA is not scheduled to come into play until June 1st after a six month delay was agre Will He? Won’t He? ed last December. Further twists and turns can be guaranteed as

It’s Official, Poker Is A Sport (In Lithuania)

ith the Olympics now just two years away, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be desperately concerned with doing everything within their power to ensure Britain wins as many Gold Medals as possible in 2012. Well, if the behaviour of the Lithuanian government is anything to go by, then confirming the status of Poker as an official sport could be the way forward. The country, whose population stands at 3,340,000, confirmed poker as an official sport at the end of March after the Department of Physical Education and Sports recognised the Lithuanian Sports Poker Federation (LSPF) as an official federation. The ruling essentially means the LSPF can now hold non-commercial poker tournaments outside of casinos – something that was previously illegal in the country. Loudmouth Tony G will be delighted with the news, and will presumably be offered the role of team captain in any Lithuanian national poker team. Lithuania’s official national sport is Basketball, with the national team currently lying sixth in the International Basketball Federation’s rankings.

GX FIRST UP u

Ladbrokes Leave Italy

Will He? Won’t He?

rince William is now as short as 1/2 to get engaged to his long time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, this year, while a Royal Wedding taking place in 2010 is now available at evens. William Hill have cut the odds after a flurry of rumours on the future King proposing have circulated over the past few weeks. Rupert Adams, spokesman for William Hill said: “We saw a 1000% increase in bets for a Royal engagement in 48 hours in April and we can only hope Wills dithers for a bit longer or we will be facing a monster payout.” The 27-year-old air to the throne has been dating Kate Middleton since 2003, when the two were flatmates at St Andrew’s university in Scotland. A short split in 2007 did put a brief halt to proceedings and William Hill now clearly believe the couple are set to tie the knot. Those who think the Prince will wait until 2011 to propose can get odds of 6/4 on a 2011 engagement, and given that William’s father didn’t marry Princess Dianna until he was 33, there is every chance he will hold out a few more months before asking the question. The news comes after a William Hill near Windsor Castle refused to take a £2,000 bet from a man who they feared was friends with the Prince. The supposedly well-dressed and posh punter was not allowed to make the bet after the shop manager, Luke Tear, thought he might have insider knowledge. Tear told The Sun newspaper: “He wore a blazer, smart trousers, gleaming shoes and tie – not like our daily punters. We smelt a rat and turned him down so he put his wedge of notes back in his pocket, about turned and marched out.” The crucial question, of course, if the couple do get engaged, will be when would the couple actually be able to get married. With 2010 being a World Cup year, there are only four free Saturdays before the 2010/2011 football season starts. Looks like it’ll be 2011 then.

adbrokes have sold their 133 betting outlets in Italy to Cogtech after posting big losses in their Italian branches over the past four years. Cogtech have bought the branches for €5.25million and will also take on €18million of Ladbrokes’ guarantees. The company have posted large losses in the past couple of years in both Italy and the UK and have decided the time is now right to cut their losses and get out of Italy. Richard Glynn meanwhile, has taken up his position as

All Bets Are On In France

ith their superior culinary skills and their laissez faire attitudes to life, the French have long since looked down their noses at us Brits. They don’t like our summer invasions of their southern beaches, they don’t like our fantastical

Ladbrokes’ new Chief Executive following the departure of Chris Bell earlier this year. Glynn left his position at Sporting Index to take up the role and will reportedly earn a basic salary of £580,000 per year as well as receiving a golden hello of £1.75million. Glynn has also been handed the challenge of ensuring Ladbrokes’ share price doubles to 297p over the next five years – in which case the new Chief Executive’s portfolio of four million shares will be worth just under £12 million.

following of our football teams, and they don’t like our gambling. But now, one of those looks set to change as France looks set to legalise online poker and sports betting. The French Parliament passed a bill last month to end the state monopoly over online poker, which has restricted its growth while creating a ‘black market’ of betting and poker sites, and will legalize and regulate online poker, sports betting and horse racing. French Budget Minister, Francois Baroin, said: “This will allow us to progressively dry up the black market in online gambling by creating a legal offer which obeys the rules.” Sport and poker will be taxed by the government, at 7.5% and 2% respectively, and the bill is expected to come into play in time for France’s opening World Cup match on June 11th, after receiving a parliamentary majority of 299 votes to 223.

GX FIRST UP u

Liv Boeree Becomes Third Woman To Win An EPT

ondon-based poker pro, Liv Boeree, has become the third woman to have ever won an EPT main event after taking down the EPT San Remo last month. The model and TV presenter beat 22-year-old Swede, Jakob Carlsson, heads-up, taking home the title and €1,250,000. The 25-year-old secured the crown after her opponent had pushed all-in for 6,35 million. Boeree held 5♠5♦ while Carlsson had A♥6♦ and the board

Tran Turns Fifth To First At London GUKPT

uong Tran defeated Neil Channing in the heads-up stage of the GUKPT London leg last month to take home a £127,800 payout at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in Edgware Road. Tran bettered a field of 318 runners that included Ian Frazer, James Akenhead and Marty Smith, and was the second year in a row in which he managed to reach the final table

turned out T♦K♠8♠7♠J♣, leaving the second place and €750,000 to Carlsson, who had gone into the final table as overwhelming chip leader. Other players at the final table of the €5,300 buy-in event included English player Michael Piper (4th/ €345,000), Russian Alexey Rybin (5th/ €270,000), Italians Giuseppe Diep (6 th/ €210,000) and Claudio Piceci (7th/ €150,000), Bulgarian Atanas Gueorguiev (8th/ €90,000) and Finnish player Toni Pettersson (3rd/ €420,000). Alongside Victoria Coren in 2007 and German player Sandra Naujoks in 2009, Liv Boeree is only the third woman to ever win an EPT main event. The astrophysics graduate won her seat into the San Remo Main Event in a €500 live satellite at the casino. She has been playing poker for nearly four years and is a well known participant of various tournaments. Still, her recent win is the biggest success in a poker career which began after she competed in a reality TV show about poker, followed by her presentation of the EPT circuit on TV. With 1240 players from 44 countries creating a total prize pool of €6,014,000, the EPT San Remo Main Event was the biggest EPT event ever held in Europe. A total of 184 players were paid out.

after finishing 5th last year. Channing had gone into the duel with twice the number of chips that Tran possessed, yet after hitting a straight to double up against the BlackBelt poker guru’s trip eights, the Vietnam-born Tran won the tournament on the very next hand when a ten on the turn meant his tens were too much for Channing’s pocket nines. The four day event had been witness to some fascinating poker in the run-up to the final, Karl Marenholz and Praz Bansi had been placed right next to each other after the seating draw on Day 1, while Tony Cascarino later found himself up against his brother-in law on his table. Vicky Coren was the player to miss out on the final table when she busted in ninth, one place ahead of Laurence ‘Rivermanl’ Houghton.

Stoxtrader Shunned By High Stakes Community

igh Stakes player and poker author, Nick ‘Stoxtrader’ Grudzien, has been shunned by the high stakes community after he admitted to multi-accounting on Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars. Allegations had been rife on the Two Plus Two forum about multi-accounting and colluding, although the Stoxtrader.com tutor and blogger denied collusion and cited his account changes to ‘personal reasons.’ Grudzien responded to accusations from the high stakes community with a lengthy statement on Two Plus Two, in which he said: “At no point have I ever colluded. This is a categorical denial without exceptions. I played on a single account on FTP and a single account on PokerStars until January 2010. In January 2010 I created one new account on FTP and one new account on Stars. I played on these accounts for roughly one month and have not used them since.” Grudzien, who wrote Winning in Tough Hold’em Games: Short-Handed and High-Stakes Concepts and Theory for Limit Hold’em, also added: “Since I have admitted to breaking the terms and conditions of Stars and FTP I don’t plan on playing any poker until I receive communication that it is ok to do so.”Despite the denial, the high stakes community have been reluctant to believe Grudzien’s actions were above board, and accusations of cheating have continued to fly.

FIRST UP GX

Thierry Henwho?

Betting company Bodog have announced they will be ignoring any contribution that Thierry Henry makes at this summer’s World Cup after the Irishman and European MD, Keith McDonnell, said he would not be able to enjoy the tournament with Henry involved. The markets affected by Bodog’s decision will include top scorer, first scorer and each-way markets as well as outright match markets. When France take on Uruguay, for example, on the opening day of the tournament, if France win the game 2-1 and Thierry Henry is on the scoresheet, punters backing a draw will still be paid out as Henry’s goal will be ruled out. Punters backing a France win, however, will also be paid out as the rule will not apply to winning bets. Henry’s goals will also be mucked in the top scorer charts, meaning if Wayne Rooney finishes second top scorer behind Henry in the Golden Boot market, Rooney will be deemed the victor (bets on Henry will still be paid out though). The decision came after Thierry Henry’s infamous handball saw France edge the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup play-off last year. Keith McDonnell explained Bodog’s decision, saying: “I want to enjoy the World Cup and the only way I can do that is if Thierry Henry is no longer part of it. He has already ruined my World Cup and I want to make sure he can do no more damage” And with less time to worry about Thierry Henry, punters will be able can devote more of their busy schedule to studying the form of the delightful Bodog girls...

GX SPORTS BETTING

STARS BATTLE TO ANSWER FABIO’S CALL

Who Will Make the World Cup Cut? Words Joshua Smith Pictures Action Images

With Fabio Capello set to name his 23-man World Cup squad on the first day of June, England’s players have thirty days left to show the eagle-eyed Italian just what they can do to book their seat on the flight to South Africa.

e’re almost there. The long wait is nearly over. On 1st June Fabio Capello will name his squad for England’s first competitive tournament since the winker Ronaldo and Portugal knocked our nation’s football team out of the 2006 World Cup on penalties.

After the failure to qualify for Euro 2008 followed by a solid qualifying campaign, there is a huge level of expectation on Fabio Capello to lead our country to victory. It’s been four long years for England fans waiting to see their team play at the highest level, but the question now is who will be trusted to wear the three lions? There are sure to be decisions that will leave eyebrows raised. Sven’s selection of Theo Walcott four years ago came completely out of the blue. At the time, Walcott hadn’t made a single appearance for Arsenal and was still only seventeen years old.

Before that in 2002, Sven left out Frank Lampard for the Korea/Japan World Cup despite appearing in every single match of Chelsea’s league campaign. In his first year at Stamford Bridge, Lampard also helped his new club to the F.A. Cup final but a loss in that game and Sven’s decision to leave him out meant Frank was left with the blues. Glen Hoddle’s call to leave out Paul Gascoigne in 1998 reportedly led to Gazza wrecking the then England manager’s hotel room. The theatrical midfielder had played a big part in England’s qualification but never played for his country again. A man for the big occasion, Gascoigne could have sparkled on an international stage and would surely have been ahead of David Batty in the penalty queue. And so to the players vying to be a part of England’s bid to lift the World Cup Trophy in South Africa.

SPORTS BETTING GX

THE DEFINITES. After injuring himself whilst on Champions League duty, the whole country sweated whilst waiting on the prognosis for Wayne Rooney’s ankle injury. Rooney then aggravated it further when he surprisingly played again little more than a week later. When it was announced his injury was not as serious as first feared it felt like we’d been let off the hook, so let’s hope it stays that way. A fit Rooney who has scored freely for United this season is our only hope of victory in South Africa so provided he does stay fit, he’ll be on the plane, maybe even on his own one. What a year it’s been so far for John Terry. A mainstay in the media spotlight, but also for club and country, Terry will see the World Cup as his chance to remind the nation of what a good footballer he is despite being stripped of the captaincy.

Expected to lead the team out against the USA on 12th June, Rio Ferdinand’s inclusion seems a certainty and despite a shaky return after the summer, he has improved to marshal the Premiership’s meanest defence. While Liverpool have had a poor season, Steven Gerrard has not. Continually carrying his teammates at club level, Gerrard will be grateful to be playing alongside genuinely world class players. Frank Lampard, who recently became Chelsea’s third highest goal scorer of all time, has shone at the heart of the blues midfield this term and the time has finally come for Lampard and Gerrard to display the same form for their country as they have for their clubs. Fabio Capello sees Gareth Barry as the anchor needed in midfield to

incorporate both Lampard and Gerrard into the England starting line-up. Barry has played more games under Capello than anyone else. The majority of bookmakers have stopped taking bets on these six players (as well as a handful of others) but the betting exchanges however, will remain open until the very last minute, so there’s still a chance to gamble on these players. Odds of less than 1.1 for all six means there isn’t much value in backing them, but laying one or two - Rio Ferdinand in particular - seems to be the only way of making any money. Ferdinand has been plagued by injuries this season and there’s a chance his fragile back could flare up and rule him out of the squad – such an unpatriotic bet though, means punters celebrating it should keep their winnings quiet.

GX SPORTS BETTING

THE LIKELY LADS. Aston Villa have a strong contingent of English players hoping to make it to South Africa and James Milner will be heading the queue of Villa players hoping to make the grade. Having been in scintillating form on the way to the League Cup Final and the FA Cup Semi-Final, Capello has even gone as far as saying he has been England’s most improved player this season. Not far behind Milner in that queue will be Emile Heskey, who has returned once again to the international scene under Fabio Capello. Seven goals in 57 internationals is hardly going to worry too many opposition keepers, but his powerful approach play and unselfish game means he does create chances for others and could provide the perfect foil for Rooney. At 1/3 with Blue Square, Heskey is a good bet to make South Africa. Earlier this season Ashley Cole was

displaying the kind of form that had heralded the belief he is the best left back in the world. Injury and a string of tabloid headlines following his split from wife Cheryl may have derailed his good season, but when fit he is one of England’s best players and so expect him to be in South Africa this summer, even if one of our favourite WAGS won’t be. Only injury or a personal crisis would prevent Cole from making the cut, which is why he’s only available to back on the exchanges. Despite possessing some defensive frailties, Glen Johnson seems to be Fabio’s favourite choice at right back. His charging forward runs could also provide balance if Cole is picked to do the same on the left. Wes Brown is a solid choice as a second right-back and is currently priced at 1/2 with Paddy Power. Always reliable, he went to the last World Cup but didn’t play. Rob Green has hardly set the world alight at West Ham this season behind such a shaky defence but has looked solid when

standing between the posts for his country. He started the last friendly against Egypt and looks to be the favourite for the number one jersey in SA. Joe Hart’s spectacular form this season has meant he has also forced himself into contention for the World Cup squad. At the start of the season many deemed the Manchester City loanee to be too young to make the squad this time around but after a string of fine performances for Birmingham, his odds have dropped to 1/4 with Paddy Power and has led his doubters to think otherwise. Joleon Lescott, 4/11 with 888Sport, may have been overvalued when Manchester City spent £20million on him last summer but he is still a good player. Despite a distinctly average season, he has featured in previous squads under Capello and is also versatile enough to operate at leftback too. This could be Lescott’s saving point as in spite of England’s central

SPORTS BETTING GX

defensive concerns, there are others – notably Tottenham’s Michael Dawson – who could edge him out of the squad. Matthew Upson however, who has stepped in at the heart of the defence for games against Egypt and Brazil recently, should be included in the squad as backup to Ferdinand and Terry. Jermain Defoe has been in rich goal scoring form for Spurs this season. Currently his team’s highest scorer, Defoe bagged five goals in the 9-1 drubbing of Wigan last November to further his claims as England’s best finisher and only a miracle will see Defoe miss out this time round. Peter Crouch broke the record for most goals in a single calendar year last time the World Cup came around. Head and shoulders above the rest, his height gives defences a lot to worry about, even if he is by no means a deadly finisher in the air. Crouch, who is available at 1/6 gets more

goals than Heskey, and couldn’t have done more in the Egypt game to put his case for a start above Heskey to Capello.

THE MAYBES. Paul Robinson has had a steady if unspectacular season at Blackburn. Coming in at 10/1 with Paddy Power, the former England number one’s form has prompted his club manager, Big Sam Allardyce, into urging his goalie to phone Fabio personally and ask why he’s not been included recently. David James is the favourite to take the third goalie spot and has played more games in goal than any other under Capello. But is his age finally catching up to him? At 39 James has had an injury plagued year so far and this will be his last chance to shine on the international scene. We all remember what happened in his last tournament in an England shirt against France, but a wise old head could offer the younger keepers some experience.

Perhaps the best passer of the ball now Beckham has been ruled out, Michael Carrick must feel he stands a good chance for inclusion even if his form for Manchester United has dipped noticeably. Brought to United to feed Wayne Rooney, Carrick could be employed to squeeze a little bit more out of our main man. The right hand side of midfield is the position which is still up for grabs with several players vying for the role. It is unlikely Capello will pick more than two right wingers so a handful of the contenders will miss out. With Milner almost a shoe-in, the other players contesting for the wide roles are Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon, Shaun WrightPhilips, Joe Cole and Ashley Young. With his electrifying pace, Walcott can give opposing defences something to worry about as he showed in the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League QuarterFinal against Barcelona. With the