Poker52 Europa n9 - January/February 2013

N째9

www.poker52europa.com

january/february 2013

exclusive european rankings

upcoming tournaments Wpt National Mauritius Ept Deauville Wpt National Brussels Aria Poker Room Capt Seefeld Mega Poker Series Vienna WPT Vienna Euro Finals Of Poker

tournament director series

Chip Slips Out of Hand

Kara Scott

hosts the GPI European Poker Awards Victoria Coren Doyle Brunson Phil Galfond Marc Bariller

January 2013, 8 tournaments,

There Will Be No Mercy.

Euro Finals Of Poker at the ACF, from January 8th to January 28th Tuesday, January 8th

2:30pm 8pm

Satellite ACFPoker Tour Paris Satellite ACFPoker Tour Paris

NLH NLH

€100 €100

Freezeout Freezeout

Wednesday, January 9th

2:30pm 8pm

Satellite WPT National Series Paris Satellite WPT National Series Paris

NLH NLH

€50 €200

Rebuys 1H + 1 Add on Freezeout

Thursday, January 10th

2:30pm

WPT National Series Paris - Day 1A (4 day event)

NLH

€1,500

Freezeout (max 150 players)

Friday, January 11

2:30pm

WPT National Series Paris - Day 1B (4 day event)

NLH

€1,500

Re-entry (max 150 players)

Saturday, January 12th

2:30pm 10pm

WPT National Series Paris - Day 2 Satellite ACFPoker Tour Paris

NLH

€100

Freezeout

Sunday, January 13th

2:30pm 8pm

WPT National Series Paris - Day 3 ACFPoker Tour Paris - Day 1 (2 day event)

NLH

€750

Freezeout

Monday, January 14th

4pm 8pm

WPT National Series Paris - Final Table ACFPoker Tour Paris - Day 2 + Final

Tuesday, January 15th

2:30pm 8pm

Satellite Bronze Championship Bronze Championship - Day 1 (2 day event)

NLH NLH

€50 €500

Rebuys 1H + 1 Add on Freezeout

Wednesday, January 16th 2:30pm 4pm 8pm

Satellite Silver Championship Bronze Championship - Day 2 + Final Satellite EPT Deauville

NLH NLH NLH

€150 €500 €600

Freezeout Freezeout Freezeout

Thursday, January 17th

2:30pm 8pm

Satellite Silver Championship Silver Championship - Day 1 (2 day event)

NLH NLH

€150 €1,000

Freezeout Freezeout

Friday, January 18th

2:30pm 4pm 8pm

Satellite Gold Championship Silver Championship - Day 2 + Final Satellite Gold Championship

NLH

€100

Rebuys 1H + 1 Add on

NLH

€250

Freezeout

Saturday, January 19th

2:30pm

Gold Championship - Day 1 (3 day event)

NLH

€2,000

Freezeout

Sunday, January 20th

2:30pm 8pm

Gold Championship - Day 2 Satellite Omaha Championship

NLH PLO

€100

Rebuys 1H + 1 Add on

Monday, January 21st

2:30pm 4pm 8pm

Omaha Championship - Day 1 (2 day event) Gold Championship - Final Satellite Diamond Championship

PLO

€1000

Triple Chance

NLH

€500

Freezeout

2:30pm 4pm 7pm 8pm

Feeder Satellite Diamond Championship €500 Omaha Championship - Day 2 + Final EPA 2012 Ceremony and Dinner Satellite Diamond Championship

NLH

€50

Rebuys 1H + 1 Add on

NLH

€500

Freezeout

Wednesday, January 23rd 2:30pm 8pm

Feeder Satellite Diamond Championship €750 Satellite Diamond Championship

NLH NLH

€50 €750

Rebuys 1H + 1 Add on Freezeout

Thursday, January 24th

2:30pm

Diamond Championship - Day 1 (4 day event)

NLH

€5,000

Freezeout

Friday, January 25

2:30pm 8pm

Diamond Championship - Day 2 Feeder Satellite High Roller

NLH NLH

€150

Freezeout

2:30pm 8pm

Diamond Championship - Day 3 Satellite High Roller

NLH NLH

€1,000

Freezeout

Sunday, January 27

2:30pm 4pm 8pm

High Roller - Day 1 (2 day event) Diamond Championship - Final Satellite ACFPoker Tour Brussels

NLH

€10,000 Freezeout

NLH

€100

Freezeout

Monday, January 28th

2:30pm 8pm

High Roller - Day 2 + Final Satellite WPT National Series Brussels

NLH

€200

Freezeout

th

Tuesday, January 22

nd

th

Saturday, January 26

th

th

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EDITOrial

The number of new poker tours has increased, bringing great opportunities to players all over Europe

Dear Readers, Sure enough, 2012 was quite a year for poker, full of great moments and good news for the poker industry. Black Friday has been totally forgotten, and the number of new poker tours has increased, bringing great opportunities to players all over Europe; and European poker players have never been so successful in international tournaments…

To celebrate this year in the poker world, “Poker52 Europa” is featuring an exclusive interview of one of poker’s most charming practitioners: Kara Scott. Both player and media celebrity, Kara Scott will host the upcoming GPI European Poker Award event in Paris, on January 22. With famous nominees such as Sam Trickett, Gus Hansen, Ole Schemion, Marvin Rettenmaier, Viktor Blom, ElkY, Neil Channing, Chris Moorman and Tony G., this year’s ceremony will surely be a treat for everyone, a grand event held near the Champs Élysées for a whole night of VIP festivities.

The beginning of 2013 will also be star-studded with top-notch players, especially at EFOP in Paris, EPT Deauville, the whole CAPT poker tour, the WPT National circuit, the ACFPoker Tour, the WPT Vienna and also the WPT Mauritius, where many European players plan on going, to escape the coldness of the European winter… I hope to see you in these venues — and I do wish you the best runs possible during 2013!

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

5

14-18 FEBRUARY

WPT NATIONAL BRUSSELS MAIN EVENT

€1500 + €150 RE-ENTRY ON DAY 1B

16-17 FEBRUARY

ACFPOKER TOUR €675 + €75

Poker Room Grand Casino Brussels - Boulevard Anspachlaan 30 - 1000 Brussels - www.pokergcb.be - www.win2day.be

contents 12 28

NEWS interview

38

upcoming tournaments

72 77

Kara Scott

40 WPT National Series Mauritius 44 EPT Deauville Season IX & FPS Final 50 WPT National Brussels 54 Aria Poker Room 58 CAPT Seefeld 62 Mega Poker Series & WPT Vienna 66 EFOP and WPT National series in Paris

62

36

Hendon Mob Rankings Tournament schedule chronicles 22 Phil Galfond

Poker and Your Life

34 Marc Bariller

36 Doyle Brunson

70 Victoria Coren

78 Hendonmob

The Greatest Poker Tournament “Money talks alright.

What it usually says is goodbye” Interesting hands in Bristol

Tournament Director

44 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, Steven Lake, Rob Harsch, Antoine Salvi, 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 Layout: Jennifer Bouvard Print: Imprimerie du Canal

including

€ 2.000.000,-

estimated prizepool

WPT @ MONTESINO OPENING Buy-In: € 340,-

€ 200.000,- guaranteed

WPT MAIN EVENT

Buy-In: € 3.500,Date: 19.02.2013 - 24.02.2013 GSOP LIVE Buy-In: € 1.100,-

€ 400.000,- estimated

MEET THE STARS LIVE AT MONTESINO

22. February 2013 17:00

12.02.2013 - 24.02.2013

Day

Date

Time

Tournament

Buy-in

Stack

Levels

Information

Tue

12/2/2012

19.00

GSOP Satellite

60,- 1 RB รก 50,-

5k/10k

30/20

9 Tickets guaranteed

Wed

13/2/2012

13.00

GSOP Day 1

1100,-

20k

60 min

19.00

Satellite Montesino Opening

40,-

15k

20

13.00

GSOP Day 2

17.00

Montesino Opening Day 1a

340,-

15k

30 min

20.00

NLH Bounty Freezeout

220,- + 100,- Bounty

15k

20

13.00

GSOP Day 3

17.00

Montesino Opening Day 1b

340,-

15k

30 min

20.00

Potlimit Omaha

330,-

15k

30

13.00

GSOP Final

14.00

Montesino Opening Day 1c

340,-

15k

30 min

20.00

NLH Turbo

115,-

10k

15

14.00

Montesino Opening Day 2

15.00

Planetwin365 Bounty

440,-

20k

40

19.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Satellite

40,- unldt. RB + 1 Add รก 30,-

2k/2k/5k

30/20

14.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Satellite

115,- Buy-in, 100,- unldt. RB + 1 Add รก 100,-

4k/4k/8k

30/20

14.00

Montesino Opening Final

19.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Satellite

340,- + 30,-

15k

20

13.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Day 1a

3500,-

30k

60 min

17.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Satellite for 1B

115,- Buy-in, 100,- unldt. RB + 1 Add รก 100,-

4k/4k/8k

30/20

21.00

NLH Latenight Turbo

220,-

10k

15

13.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Day 1b

30k

60 min

17.00

PLO

550,-

20k

30 min

21.00

Satellite Highroller

1100,-

20k

25

13.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Day 2

14.00

NLH Freezeout

330,-

15k

30

19.00

NLH 8max

1100,-

25k

40

13.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Day 3

90

14.00

Final NLH 8max

40

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

14/2/2012

15/2/2012

16/2/2012

17/2/2012

18/2/2012

19/2/2012

20/2/2012

21/2/2012

22/2/2012

23/2/2012

24/2/2012

17.00

NLH

15.00

PartyPoker.com BIG GAME

21.00

Satellite Highroller

Re-Entry

200.000 guaranteed

Re-Entry

40 1 Main + 9 Sat. Tickets for Monday guaranteed

60 Freezeout

Freezeout Re-Entry unldt. re-entries Level 1-4 Re-Entry

90

550,-

20k

30

1100,-

20k

25

13.00 17.00

NLH Highroller Event

10.000,-

50k

60

19.00

NLH

115,- + 1RB รก 100,-

10k

30

13.00

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Final Highroller Final

200.000 guaranteed

60

Playersparty

115 Last Chance Turbo

200.000 guaranteed

60

PartyPoker.com WPT Vienna Day 4

17.00

Re-Entry

60

21.00

14.00

Freezeout 10 Tickets guaranteed

Re-Entry

90 Re-Entry 20k guaranteed

60/30 60 10k

15 min

Re-Entry

news // POKER INDUSTRY

MyPokerSquad becomes the official partner of ISPT

The partnership strategy surrounding the development of the International Stadiums Poker Tour, the biggest international poker event ever organized, founded by Bernard and Laurent Tapie and Prosper Masquelier, is still in progress. Indeed, after Skrill and Partouche, it’s now time for MyPokerSquad, the first staking and sponsoring platform for professional poker players, to join forces with this ambitious project, a both live and online €600 week-long tournament held from May 31-June 6 in Wembley Stadium, where 30,000 players are expected, for an estimated €20,000,000 prize pool.

After three years of continuous growth in Belgium and France, MyPokerSquad will open its new platform dedicated to Germany and the UK by the end of the year. With this partnership, the whole poker community could soon stake ambassadors ISPT, like David Benyamine, Michael Mizrachi, Sam Trickett and Roger Hairabedian, also new recruits of MyPokerSquad. “MyPokerSquad offers new opportunities for pro players, extending its staking system worldwide, says high stakes poker star Benyamine.

This is a new way for all players to take part in ISPT. I am pleased to bring my experience to this project.”

During its development, in France and around, MyPokersquad created a team of more than 120 players dying to

// World Poker Tour Mazagan

Giacomo Fundaro overcomes a field of 146 in Morocco

From November 27 through December 1, the stunning Mazagan Beach Resort welcomed for the first time ever a World Poker Tour stop, only a few months after a successful WPT National Series won by Roger Hairabedian over his 157 opponents, for $76,330. This time, the €3,500 re-entry Main Event, running over four days, attracted a total of 146 entries, for a $546,635 prize pool.

Only 18 of them could enter the prize places, and French players Fabrice Soulier and Bruno Lopes left the tournament before the final table, 12th and 11th respectively, for $10,282 each, such as Guillaume Darcourt, eliminated 8th, for $18,715.

Paul Tedeschi’s exit in 7th place (for $23,394)

12 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

do their best in all kinds of live poker tournaments. With this new partnership, and the opening of the platform in UK, they will be able to play the international event at Wembley. In this way, it will be possible to stake online a part of the €600 buy-in for each MyPokersquad player and each ISPT ambassador.

According to Florian Lang, CEO-founder of MyPokerSquad.com, the goal of this partnership with the International Stadium Poker Tour is to help players improve their game: “The success of our adventure is the culmination of three years of action and work in the service of our players and our community of investors,” he says. “We now offer a simple and effective way to grind more, while maximizing our player bankroll and make his talent in a pro team. The arrival of big names such as Michael Mizrachi, Roger Hairabedian or David Benyamine, shows the way for all players who want to join MyPokerSquad. MyPokerSquad is proud to become the official partner of the ISPT, the most innovative adventure in poker. GL to all!”

Whether entering the tournament directly or stacking one of MyPokerSquad Team’s members, the first International Stadiums Poker Tour tournament will be the event to be part of in 2013!

More information on mypokersquad.com and ispt.com.

opened the 6-handed final table, and Belgian Davidi Kitai, chip leader of the tournament, was en route to nab his second WPT title, after his victory at the WPT Celebrity Invitational, in 2011.

Welshman Jeremy Nock busted Bruno Fitoussi 6th, and Giacomo Fundrao eliminated Clément Beauvois in 5th place, and Davidi KItai third. Frédéric Brunet, the last surviving French player, ended Nock’s tournament before the heads-up, but couldn’t manage to best Fundaro, who took the title thanks to a pair of Aces. Fundaro won $168,207 (including a $25,000 ticket to WPT Bellagio), while Brunet took home $99,082, both for the biggest cash prize of their careers.

Final Table Results 1st Giacomo Fundaro (Italy) $168,207 (including a $25,000 ticket to WPT Bellagio) 2nd Frédéric Brunet (France $99,082 3rd Jeremy Nock (Wales) $64,048 4th Davidi Kitai (Belgium) $47,279 5th Clément Beauvois (France) $35,518 6th Bruno Fitoussi (France) $28,531

WELCOME TO THE MERIT

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WPT World Champion Season X

© 2012 WPT Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. WPT, World Poker Tour and Card Designs are trademarks of WPT Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

news // Unibet Open St Maarten

Rising Romanian player Dan Murariu wins the 5th Anniversary Main Event From November 27 through December 7, the Unibet Open celebrated its five-year anniversary under the sun of the Caribbean on the beautiful island of St Maarten, affording a great opportunity to poker lovers to join a thrilling series in the tropical paradise of the Casino Royale at the coldest time of the year. From December 3-7, the €1,500 + €150 Main Event of this very special edition was a great success, attracting 238 players from all parts of the world, generating a prize pool of €346,290.

The competition was harsh, and even great names of poker such as Jean-Paul Pasqualini, Nicolas Dervaux, Arnaud Mattern, François Dur, Julien Therond, Charly Grenet, Pieter Burgers, Dominik Nitsche, Jaroslaw Barglik, Paul Valkenburg or Tomas Brolin got kicked out on Day 2. After four intense days of play, rising Romanian star Dan Murariu won the event, grabbing €110,000, leaving second place to Frenchman Michel Fardel (€59,000), and third to Hungarian Emil Hegedus (€31,000).

This victory stunned everyone, as the Romanian champion beat all odds in 2012, winning big in the Unibet Open in London in September, in Paris in May and in Prague in February, for four ITM (in-

Final Table Results 1stDan Murariu (Romania) $110,000 2nd Michel Fardel (France) $59,000 3rd: Emil Hegedus (Hungary) $31,000 4th: Olivier Robveille (France) $26,000 5th: Maksym Lavrov (Ukraine) $21,800 6th: Paulo Rodrigues (Netherlands) $17,600 7th: Kamil Paluszkiewicz (Poland) $13,800 8th: David Gabrielsson (Sweden) $10,000 9th: Ruggiero Scommegna (Italy) $6,690

14 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

cluding three final tables and one victory) out of four tournaments! Overall, Dan Murariu cashed seven times during Unibet Open festivals, with six final tables, and two victories (he won in Varna in 2010, for €150,705). With these victories, the Romanian prodigy managed to be first of the Unibet Leaderboard for 2012, awarded with four packages for the next Unibet Open stops. But that’s not all: the 30-year old champion also finished first of the Deep Stack Extravaganza III event in Las Vegas last July and got the final tables of an EPT Berlin side event in April and the CAPT Seefeld Open in January among others. Be sure to remember his name, as this man might soon become one of Europe’s best players.

This fifth edition of the Unibet Open was great, full of action and surprises — congratulations to Dan Murariu for his memorable victory! The next step of the Unibet Open Tour will be in Casino Copenhagen, for a €1,500 + €150 Main Event running from March 7-10. Information at unibetopen.com

EPT Deauville

Qualify online now

January 30 - february 2 2013

January 30 - february 9 2013

we are poker

news // Casino Malabata Tangier 2013 Program

Yahia ababou welcomes you to casino tangier

Yahia Ababou. There, and only there, the cold currents of the Atlantic embrace the warm waters of the sea, resulting in a subtropical paradise that never gets too hot. Unsurprisingly, this ideal setting has become a popular touristic destination, but it is still very well preserved from the massive flocks of European tourists that descend upon Morocco every winter. Tangier is a place for privileged people who look for the authentic charms of North Africa, its sun and wonderful natural setting, and it has everything poker players wish for in the great Casino Malabata.

Home of some of the country’s greatest poker tournaments, the seaside complex of Mövenpick Hotel & Casino Malabata of Tangier, located in the north of Morocco, has announced an intense program for the first half of 2013, thanks to its dynamic team led by Yahia Ababou and Francisco Lopez and its new partnership with European tours. First, in February, the Casino will welcome an international field of players during its quarterly Tangier Poker Festival, including a €700 3-day Main Event with a €90,000 GTD prize pool, and a €2,000 High Roller tournament. Then, in April, the Deepstack Open and its €550 Main Event will make a week-long stop, followed, from June 5-9, by the Circuito Nacional de Poker 770, for another €550 Main Event. With its new international tournaments and amazing package offer starting from €750 (buy-in included), Tangier is getting even closer!

“Blessed by the best climate, Tangier is a true Moroccan gem. It has everything you could dream of: the majestic mountains of the Atlas give it the most stunning background; the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean offer the most beautiful horizons”, says

16 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

Poker at the Casino Malabata This beautiful complex is ideally located on the seashore, offering great activities both indoors and out. For those who value their surroundings, there is a stunning landscape composed of mounts and waves with an ever-shining sun, gorgeous gardens and a great swimming-pool; for those who prefer indoor entertainment, the modern equipment of the casino is complete, with 30 live game tables, English roulette, Black Jack, Punto Banco, and all kind of poker games. Daily €5/€10 and €10/€20 NLHE cash games tables, as well as PLO cash games tables are held three days a week.

During live tournaments, the Casino opens tables with higher limits, and the games continue until 8.00 a.m. on weekdays and run 24 hours a day on weekends. This huge venue also provides private rooms to play, apart from other players.

The great team of Casino Malabata will do everything in its power to satisfy your every requirement; this young squad is entirely dedicated to the well-being of customers and is doing its utmost to make this casino the new paradise of poker for players from all over the world. Indeed Yahia Ababou, CEO & Founder of Mediterranean Poker Management, his brother Ghali Ababou and Francisco “Paquito” Lopes, manager of the Poker Room, are working together to popularize and develop poker in Tangier, trying to create a new generation of Moroccan poker players with three weekly tournaments (with buy-in as low as €20 to €100) and the Tangier Poker Festival, while forging deep links with Europe, welcoming for the first time in 2013, an international series.

Tangier Poker Festival “The next edition of the Tangier Poker Festival, held during the second week of February 2013, will offer the usual structure for the Main Event (€700 buy-in, re-entry option, 35,000 starting chips, 45min. levels on Day 1 and 60min. levels from Day 2), and will award the best players with a €600 ticket to the International Stadium Poker Tour, partner of the Casino.

And for the first time ever, the Poker Tangier Festival will also organize a huge €2,000 High Roller event (satellites to these two events will open the series)”, underlines Yahia Ababou.

Package offers

Deepstack Open By the end of April, Casino Malabata will host its first international branded series, the Deepstack Open, one of the most popular European poker circuits, attracting massive fields at each stop with its affordable €550 Main Event. For its third season, the 3-day Main Event traveled all over Europe, each time meeting with huge success, such as Cannes (545 players), Paris (582 players), Vienna (326 players), and Barcelona, the final stop, where Spaniard Josep Lopez overcame a 346-player field for a €30,000 first prize. The addition of Casino Malabata Tangier to its fourth season program is as new a step for the Deepstack Open as it is for the Moroccan casino, and there is no doubt that the deepstack festival will once again be a smash hit.

Circuito Nacional de Poker It’s now official; Tangier Casino is part of the Circuito Nacional de Poker (National Poker Circuit), one of the leading Spanish Poker Tours, which concluded its first season in Gran Casino Madrid on October 2012. This first official Spanish Tour was a hit, with a huge field of local players entering the €550 Main Event, generating big prize pools, such as in Alicante (€137,709) and Barcelona (€167,850). For its second season, the Circuito Nacional de Poker 770 will be changing its destinations with nine stops, kicking off its tour at Casino de Barcelona in January to reach the Casino Gran Madrid on November for its grand final. In the meantime, the Spanish circuit will join the coast of the Atlantic Ocean (La Corogne and La Toja), the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (Valencia, Ibiza, Alicante and Malaga) and even the Moroccan coast of Tangier, for the tour’s first venture outside Spanish territory, from June 6-9.

The schedule of each stop will include a €500 + €50 Main Event (a 3-Day tournament with two Day 1), along with several side events, such as Super Satellites to the Main Event (€150 + €20 and €100 + €15), a €200 + €20 NLHE tournament, a €100 + €15 Win the Button event and a €2,000 + €200 Heads-Up High Roller tournament.

The Tangier Poker Festival, the Deepstack Open and the Circuito Nacional de Poker are three good reasons to discover the Mövenpick Hotel & Casino Malabata of Tangier during the first half of 2013!

Two different kinds of packages are provided by Casino de Tanger. The first is the “Cash Game Stay”, which provides a totally free VIP service for two people to any player who spends at least three hours a day at the cash games tables. It includes a room at the five-star Hotel Casino Mövenpick, dinner meal with drinks, access to the fitness room, spa and swimming pool, as well as free shuttle transfers to and from Tangier airport (20 min. journey).

Also available is the tournament package: the Casino offers a €950 package for the Tangier Poker Festival (€700 buy-in to the Main Event included), and €750 packages for the Deepstack and the CNP stops (€550 buy-in to the Main Event included).

These packages include the same services as the “Cash Game Stay,” and cash games players can extend their stay for free after the tournaments.

Casino Malabata

2013 schedule

2nd week of February: Tangier Poker Festival: €700 Re-entry Main Event and €2,000 High Roller Event April: Deepstack Open: • €550 Main Event June 5-9: Circuito Nacional de Poker: • €500 + €50 Main Event (a 3-Day tournament with two Day 1), Super Satellites to the Main Event (€150 + €20 and €100 + €15), a €200 + €20 NLHE tournament, €100 + €15 Win the Button event and €2,000 + €200 Heads-Up High Roller tournament.

news // World Poker Tour Prague

Marcin Wydrowski

offers Poland its first WPT title

567 players entered the three Day 1 of the €3,300 WPT Prague Main Event at the King’s Casino, generating a €1,683,990 prize pool, shared by the 72 best players. None of the poker celebrities who took part in this huge event — such as Eugene Katchalov, Morten Christensen, Olivier Busquet, Liv Boeree, Jonathan Duhamel, Mike McDonald and Faraz Jaka — reached

the final table, as Frenchwoman Lucille Cailly busted 28th, Shannon Shorr 23rd, Dermot Blain 13th, Jason Mercier 12th, Kevin MacPhee 11th and Fabian Quoss 10th. And Elio Fox, WSOP-Europe 2011 Main Event champion, left the tournament 7th (for €53,214), right before the 6-handed final table.

German Bodo Sbrzesny entered with the biggest stacks, ahead of Russian Alexander Lakhov, Pole Marcin Wydrowski, Romanian Alin Grasu, Chinese Tony Chang and Michael Gagliano from America, for a well-balanced final table.

Chang busted Grasu 6th, with set of 7 vs. Q-Q, Sbrzesny eliminated Gagliano 5th, with a set of Queens, while Lakhov overcame the Chinese player with two pairs. With three players left, Sbrzesny was still ahead, but he lost a big pot against Wydrowski a few hands before leaving the table in 3rd place.

Wydrowski started the heads-up with a 3:1 lead to Lakhov, and on the last hand, the Russian player raised all in with 7-6, called by his opponent with 7-7. The board was blank and Marcin Wydrowski took the trophy, along with the €325,000, becoming the first player from Poland to win a WPT title.

The €10,300 High Roller tournament attracted 56 players, for an intense day of competition. Jonathan Duhamel busted first on the final table, followed by his countryman Mike McDonald. Martin Finger, 2011 EPT Prague Main Event champion for €720,000, took fourth place, as Swiss Besim Hot finished third, winning another big cash prize in Czech Republic.

On heads-up, Frenchman Bertrand Grospellier couldn’t find a way to dominate Czech Scott Hana, and the local player took first place, grabbing €212,800 for his performance.

// LIVE EVENT

International Cash Game Meeting at Gran Casino Costa Brava, from January 23 to 27 Gran Casino Costa Brava, in Lloret del Mar, located North-West of Barcelona will welcome a new event, organized in partnership with Show Down Events, the first International CASH GAME Meeting from January 23 to 27. The event will be held in a poker room separated from the rest of the Casino, for a great comfort, and a better privacy.

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The casino will open Texas Hold’em tables from €5/€10 to €50/€100, and even €100/€200, with a 3% rake and max 3 big blinds, as well as Omaha tables, from €5/€10 to €20/€40, with a 2% rake and max 3 big blinds.

The poker room will open from 5.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. Buffet supper and accommodation are offered to the participants.

For more information or for a reservation, please contact Mr. Basile Chantzis: 0033 6 80 96 08 51.

EPT SEaSon 9

Qualify online now to the world’s largest and richest poker tournament only at pokerstars.

SeaSon 9 VenUeS Barcelona San Remo Prague Bahamas (PCa) Deauville London Berlin Monte-Carlo Final For more details visit www.ept.com

we are poker

news // European Poker Tour Prague

Swede Ramzi Jelassi dominates a record field The sixth edition of the European Poker Tour Prague was held in the Hilton Hotel of the Czech capital from December 5-15, for an intense series of thirty tournaments which attracted a huge field of players, including some of the most famous international poker pros, such as Chris Moorman, Jake Cody, Roberto Romanello, Jason Mercier, Marvin Rettenmaier and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier.

The €5,300 Main Event, which ran over six days, bested its own attendance record, with 864 players entering the tournament and generating a massive prize pool of €4,190,400. Russian Iosif Beskronyy led the first two days, while 161 players qualified for Day 3, hoping to grab one of the 128 prized places. Bertrand Grospellier ended 100th (€8,000), followed by John Eames (87th, for €10,000), and Canadian Marc-André Ladouceur (77th, for €10,000). By the end of the day, Swede Ramzi Jelassi was the chip leader of the 55 survivors’ field. England’s Ben Warrington finished Day 4 as the chip leader, while Dutchman Danyel Boyaciyan, runner-up of the last edition for €535,000, was making his way to the top of the leader board, second in chips.

Roberto Romanello was still hoping to win his second EPT title, but he busted at the beginning of Day 5 (21st, for €25,000). Mariusz Klosinski, from Poland, was eliminated 9th (€53,000), and the names of the eight last players were finally known, as Ramzy Jelassi took back the lead.

American Mark Herm was the first to leave the table, followed by Belarusian Aleh Plauski, and Danyel Boyaciyan eliminated both Russian Sergey Kuzminskiy and Spaniard Diego Gomez. Ben Warrington left 4th, and Boyaciyan 3rd, winning another €310,000 from a EPT Prague Main Event.

On heads-up, Jelassi overcame Greek Sotirios Koytoypas, and grabbed €835,000 for his first victory on an EPT Main Event, after 13 ITM on the European circuit (including 3 final tables, and 2 victories). He took home the biggest cash prize of his career, as his biggest win so far had been a €170,000 first prize on the 2009 IPT San Remo Main Event.

The second biggest event of this EPT Prague, the €10,300 High Roller tournament, attracted for its part 108 players, among some of the best international poker pros, like Eugene Katchalov (15th, for €25,000); Aubin Cazals (9th, for €33,200), and Jason Mercier (7th, for €44,200).

Canadian Sorel Mizzi ended 5th, joined on the rail by Frenchman Philippe Ktorza, and Finn Juha Helppi. On heads-up, Marvin Rettenmaier got the best of his countryman Fabian Quoss, grabbing his umpteenth title in 2012, for €365,300.

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Main Event

Final Table Results 1st Ramzi Jelassi (Sweden) 2nd Sotirios Koytoypas (Greece) 3rd Danyel Boyaciyan (Netherlands) 4th Ben Warrington (England) 5th Diego Gomez (Spain) 6th Sergey Kuzminskiy (Russia) 7th Aleh Plauski (Belarus) 8th Mark Herm (USA)

$835,000 $510,000 $310,000 $250,000 $196,000 $150,000 $108,400 $75,000

€10,300 High Roller Event

Final Table Results 1st Marvin Rettenmaier (Germany) 2nd Fabian Quoss (Germany) 3rd Juha Helppi (Finland) 4th Philippe Ktorza (France) 5th Sorel Mizzi (Canada) 6th Marcin Wydrowski (Poland) 7th Jason Mercier (USA) 8th Andrey Gulyy (Russia)

$365,300 $210,300 $121,800 $96,900 $74,800 $55,500 $44,200 $3,200

Phil galfond

Poker and Your Life C H R O N I c l E p hi l g a l f on d

While I’m not arrogant enough to assume that my 27 years of existence have given me the wisdom to make major life decisions for people I don’t even know, I hope that I can help people methodically think through their own situations and make the best decisions they can. Actually, I hope this text will be general enough that it need not apply only to major poker related decisions

I

think it’s important, when making big decisions, first off to realize that there is often no “right” answer (in my opinion). Or there is one, but it may not end up turning out “right.” What I mean is, all you can hope to do is to make the best decision you can, given the information you have. I say this for no reason other than to remind you that you shouldn’t beat yourself up later on if you feel you made the “wrong” decision, and you shouldn’t hesitate to make a decision out of fear of it being the “wrong” one.

We learn this through poker. I make the best play I can every chance I get, but sometimes my reads are wrong, or they aren’t even wrong, but I run into a small part of my opponents range that I made the “wrong” play against. There are SO many things that will happen in your life that you have no way to predict, and you can’t blame yourself for completely unforeseen consequences. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the possibilities though (more on this later).

Next, it’s important to note that everyone’s situation is different The right answer for me, or for your friend, may not be the right answer for you. There are so many factors… not only your poker skill, your alternative career options and financial situations, but your personality, your goals, wants, needs – what will make you happy.

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Happiness

When making a big decision, I like to start here. Ask yourself: what is important to me? What do I value?

What are my goals?

I’ve personally done a lot of soul searching on this, and though many of you will have different goals and values (next section), I’m happy to share the conclusions I’ve come to for me so far.

I went through things I wanted, and kept digging deeper. So, I want to succeed at poker. Why? Competition, money. Why? etc.

It all seems to boil down to only two things I want in life — 1) I want to have a net positive effect on the world and the people around me. To be kind, fair and respectful to everyone I interact with. To be the best friend/loved one I can to those I care most about.

This is a personal goal of mine, and not one that helps me much with many major life decisions. Maybe I just made sure to include it so you don’t judge the other thing that matters most to me: 2) I want to be happy. All of the minor and major things I want, I want because they make me happy.

Not so profound, but an important thing to admit.

What’s great about realizing this is that I now know that I want to be successful in poker because it makes me happy. I want to earn more money because I think

it will make me happy too. So, how is this helpful?

Well, I oftentimes in the past have weighed poker and life-related decisions: Should I go out with my friends or should I play these good games?

Should I move out of the country so I can continue to play online?

Should I drop down in stakes to lower my stress levels, or maximize EV and deal with the swings?

What I used to think I was doing was sacrificing happiness/contentment/peace of mind for EV (aka money).

What I now realize is that I’m sacrificing happiness for… happiness! Once I made this realization (recently), I started seeing how much happier I could be in my day-to-day life by sacrificing some EV. I used to feel like I HAD to work hard, and I was doing the “right” thing by maximizing my earn rate rather than being my happiest. It almost felt like a duty… like it was honorable. But now, when faced with the decision of making a sacrifice in happiness for more $EV in poker, I’m no longer comparing apples to oranges. I’m choosing apples (happiness) or apples (happiness). So really, all I need to do is decide what (which apple) will make me more happy (apple).

Recently, I’ve realized that stress is the worst thing for my happiness, so I’m making efforts to minimize stress, even at the cost of $EV. (Playing while in better moods will probably gain me some EV back anyways)

Goals and Values

Happiness is pretty general goal. I think all of us want to be happy (if you’re someone who doesn’t, I mean, that’s pretty weird, man). It’s important to decide for yourself what major factors lead to your personal happiness and contentment. This is what you can use to help make decisions.

For me: 1) Personal relationships — all of the people closest to me matter much more than anything else, especially in terms of my happiness. I derive the greater part of my happiness from my closest friends and family.

2) Competition, Success — not just financial, but I like to be working towards something and doing well at it.

Poker has been great for me because I dedicated myself to becoming good at it, and it’s gone extremely well.

3) Stability, Routine, Security — I like things planned out, and I like to have backup plans. I’m not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of guy (nor do I completely understand what that saying means).

4) Freedom — again, not only financial, though financial freedom is awesome. I like not being buried in obligations and commitments. I like to be able to take a few days off when I’m not feeling focused. I like to

be able to spend an entire day alone if I’d like.

This list was off the top of my head, and I’m sure there’s more, but my list isn’t really important. It’s just an example. You need to come up with yours to help you make decisions.

So, for me, playing poker works pretty well. I nail #2 and #4. I have the ability to setup #3, and I have been lucky enough to have the freedom (financial and in terms of time) to take it upon myself to travel to many of the people who matter most to me.

4 is something I didn’t have much of in the past, when I was a complete slave to the games. Whenever a great game ran, I was there, and I dropped whatever else was going on (sleep included). I made a lot of money during this time, but if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t.

1 is something I haven’t worked on as hard as I’d like. Black Friday threw a huge wrench in my plans (a saying I now understand a bit better), and I’m not positive I handled it the best way I could’ve, or how I’m going to handle it going forward.

Obviously, the fact that I’ve been financially successful has helped with many of my goals, so that is certainly part of any career decision you make.

Another good thing to do would be to make a list of things that make you unhappy, unless they’re covered by the above list (meaning they’re just the opposites of them). I’d add stress, bad sleep, lack of personal space/time, and maybe a few more. Again, these are just examples… You need to list yours.

Now, there are a ton of smaller things that lead to happiness (reading, exercise, TV, ice cream, cat videos, etc). They are very important too, in that you should: a) strive to do these things as much as possible on a day-to-day basis. b) Consider if any major decision will impact your ability to do so.

The Standard Part

Of course, when making any decision, you need a list of your options. Whether this list is on paper or in your head doesn’t matter (unless you have a horrible memory) Then you can go through the obvious process — pros and cons. Which option will satisfy more of your personal goals, or happiness triggers?

I don’t have much to say on this topic because we all know how decisions are made. The only advice I have, other than everything included in the other sections, is to not just choose a path because you “want to,” or especially because you “think you should.” Those aren’t good reasons alone for doing anything. Why do you want to? Why do you think

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Phil galfond

you should? Add those in to your lists of pros and cons.

C H R O N I c l E p hi l g a l f on d

Long Term vs. Short Term

It’s important to think long term, but it’s also very important to think short term. A lot of people sacrifice their short-term happiness in hopes that it pays off later. The problem is, as I’ve said, we can’t predict what will happen later in life, or what we’ll want in the future.

ESPECIALLY if you’re under 25, not only are there are so many things that could pop into your life and change its path, but you are still very much growing and maturing as a person (I’d probably say this is true past 30 too, but I’m not there yet). Your values will change, and you’ll learn so much more about yourself and about life.

You know how when you were a teenager, grown-ups would tell you that you didn’t really know what you wanted in life yet, and that you just didn’t know nearly as much in general as you thought you did? Remember how you would get extremely annoyed because you were smart and you knew what you wanted and what you valued and believed in, and you obviously weren’t going to listen to them?

Well, what sucks is, the grown-ups are right. Hopefully you’re more likely to believe me because I’m only like, a half grown-up. The truth is, people grow and change for a very long time. I learn a lot every single year, and I look back at things I thought/did two years ago and feel stupid.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do what you want, and follow your passions, because you should (for the most part). It’ll make you happy, and that’s how you’ll learn more about what you really do want and value. BUT, you should be very careful making a big decision that will be life-altering (like dropping out of school to play poker full time).

One of the embarrassingly few books I’ve read was called Stumbling On Happiness.

The author, as one of his main few points, argued that we are terrible at predicting what will make our future selves happy. He gave a whole bunch of good explanations for this, which I wouldn’t care to recycle even if I remembered them all. He said that people older than us, even if they aren’t all that much like us, are better predictors of what will make us happy than we are. I believe him (due to his many compelling arguments, that I’ve now forgotten), and I think this is especially true the younger we are.

The moral of this is two-fold (I feel smart and cool saying “two-fold”): 1) Don’t trust your own judgments of what will make you happy 20 years from now.

2) Ask and put more weight into the advice of your elders. They know more than you think.

More Than Money

Many people look at poker vs. their job or poker vs. college as purely a financial decision. They think, “Which path will make me more money?”

Is this an important part of the decision? Of course.

Do I think it’s an overvalued part of the decision?

ABSOLUTELY! Any career is about much more than money. Do you love what you do, or can you tolerate what you do? Do you like your work environment? How do the demands of your job impact other important aspects of your life?

Playing poker professionally is a pretty big lifestyle change compared to most jobs. You will almost certainly be under more stress day-to-day. Your hours aren’t structured (pros and cons to this, of course).

You have no guaranteed income (ignore the $EV of this, and consider the month-to-month happiness ramifications for you, your family, and anyone else around you).

There’s not much job security in poker (though there’s not much anywhere right now, I understand). In addition though, no health care, no retirement plan… those are additional expenses.

Then many things will depend on your particular situation within poker.

For me, I often have to make a hard decision to cancel or not make plans with friends in the first place, since there are occasionally “unmissable” games I “need” to play in. Poker also “forces” me to spend at least two months a year in Las Vegas, and currently is “forcing” me to spend a lot of time outside of the US. I use quotes because those are technically my decisions to make (some of which I still struggle with), but they are important parts of allowing me to compete at the level I’d like to.

Online poker lends itself to a more solitary day-to-day life than most jobs. I have friends in poker who are clearly extroverts, and I can see that sitting alone at their computer all day drains them. I love my alone time, so it’s usually not a problem for me.

Another thing to consider is what people think: I don’t worry about people judging me because I don’t have a real job, but if that’s something that will bother you, keep it in mind. Something that’s more important is how poker affects those in your life. Specifically, if you are or would like to be married, even if your wife doesn’t judge poker, she may feel very uneasy about the uncertainty of it. Also, even if you don’t mind people judging you, she may mind, especially if it’s her

family. Just remember that you’re not only accepting the risks and stress for yourself, but for those who depend on you (or will in the future).

The Future of Poker and You

One major thing that many people may not think about: When you have a regular job, you get better with experience, and your resume grows over the years, making you MORE employable and more secure within your company. Poker isn’t like that.

You think, “I’ll just get better each year,” and you’re right, but your opposition gets better at an extremely fast rate. Think of how many pros used to crush poker and can’t win nowadays. I even know people who used to destroy the highest stakes online five years ago that can barely beat 1/2nl now.

To stay competitive, you need to actively work very hard on your game, even after 10-20 years. Young kids with new software will be analyzing things that you didn’t even think of (this already happens to me).

So, unless you make a TON of money, you won’t ever be able to sit back and just casually grind and earn your salary. It never gets easier… our brains don’t get bigger and faster.

The more obvious thing to worry about is the future of poker. Will it forever be as popular as it is now? As beatable? Will bots take over online poker within five years? Will multiple countries ban internet poker?

These all fall into the category of things you can’t predict, but you can consider as outcomes, along with things like: What if you start a family and the expenses drain your bankroll (and ability to make money)?

If you’re currently staked, what if you are unable to find a deal in the future?

What if everyone stops playing your game of choice, and you end up being terrible at the new popular game?

There are so many things to consider, and you should prepare yourself for the possibility of them occurring, depending on how likely you think each of them is. For instance, learn other games, have backup plans, money set aside, etc.

My Opinions and Experience:

Poker Skill: Predicting Greatness

Do you think you have what it takes to be a very good poker player?

Great! That means you’re a person.

Nearly everyone thinks that they are already good at poker, or that with just a little bit of work, they could become great… either because they excel at math, or they watch poker avidly, or they played a sick hand one time.

There’s a Catch-22 with predicting one’s own poker ability. Some of the best traits a good pro poker player can have are self-awareness and humility. They allow a player to know when he or she is on or off their game, what they need to improve, when someone is better than them, when someone has something to teach them. They allow players to make responsible and prudent decisions about poker in their lives. The self-aware, humble people who will often be great at poker aren’t sure they can cut it, and are often the last to make the jump and play full-time or move up in stakes.

Then there are people with no self-awareness. They think they are great and that they will definitely succeed. Those with no humility think that books, training videos, and other players all have very little to teach them. These are the people who most often fail, and who don’t even know they lack these qualities as they read this paragraph.

So, how can you trust yourself to predict your own ability?

You can’t.

The only way you can be confident you have what it takes is with over a million hands of poker experience and data, showing your progress and your win-rate with a somewhat reasonably high degree of certainty.

Some people seem to be under the impression that poker skill is a stand-alone ability that you are born with, like singing or sprinting (both of which can be improved, though some people are just born with a much higher ceiling than others). Poker is a culmination of skills. There aren’t just dumb people who are bad at everything but great at poker.

So what are these other skills that add up to one, powerful, poker-playing mind? n

(To be continued)

So far, I’ve just given you a ton of things to think about.

I haven’t weighed in too much on my own experience or opinions and advice.

In my last blog, I told my own story of my early years in poker. I’d recommend you check it out. I wrote it.

I want to touch on some other experiences and opinions I’ve formed over the last handful of years.

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O f f i c i a l

s p o n s o r s

GPI EUROPEAN POKER AWARDS 12TH CEREMONY

Tuesday, 22nd January 2013 PARIS

www.europeanpokerawards.com www.globalpokerindex.com/awards

rencontre

Kara Scott

hosts the GPI European Poker Awards The most charming and brilliant person in the poker community has a name: Kara Scott. This poker player and media celebrity has been an active promoter of the game for years now; she was the one that welcomed and interviewed busted players during this summer’s WSOP Main Event or One Drop tournament, calming them in a glance thanks to her great smile and insights. She is soon coming to Paris to attend Euro Finals Of Poker and host the GPI European Poker Awards ceremony (organized by the Aviation Club de France, Poker52 Europa and Alexandre Dreyfus’ Global Poker Index), taking place on January 22nd, at Elysées Biarritz, near the Champs Elysées.

By Jérôme Schmidt / Pictures: Jules Pochy What were the high points of 2012 for you?

I had a really great year at work although it was so full and busy that it does all kind of blur together. I spent most of the year on the road, traveling for work and playing some poker as well. I was able to go to Africa for the first time ever when I played WPT Morocco. It was my first time on that continent and it reminded me of how lucky I am to work for Party Poker, as they send me to such great places to represent them. Also, hosting the 10-minute break segments during the WSOP Main Event final table live on ESPN, in a kind of “Sports Center” way, was incredible. The feeling of doing live television for such a large audience is an adrenaline shot like no other! In terms of playing poker, I loved being able to travel to Canada a few months ago for the Montreal

Party Poker Classic charity tournament. Getting to stand up on the winners’ block for one of the top prizes of that tournament was a thrill.

What do you remember most about being part of the WSOP Main Event?

The final table was so long! Nobody really expected it to play three-handed for so many hours but even still, the crowd was constantly cheering, screaming, waving, stomping, whistling — just going crazy really! I couldn’t believe how much energy they had. The feeling in the room was electric and it didn’t slow down even a little bit, right to the very end. Being part of that massive spectacle was special and very memorable.

What do you like best about being in Las Vegas?

During the past couple of years, I’ve only really been to Las Vegas for work, so I don’t get to go out as much as I used to. I find that both playing poker and working on the TV broadcast are so physically demanding that I can’t afford to be out all night dancing like I might have a few years ago. My favorite places tend to be the quieter ones now. I love a good steak in the “Old Vegas” tradition and a group of my friends (poker players and journalists) always do an “OldTimey Vegas” night out at least once during the summer. We usually go to Binion’s Steakhouse downtown, but this year we branched out and hit the Golden Steer, which used to be a hangout for Elvis and the Rat Pack.

It’s a completely different way to look at Las Vegas, and I always urge people to make sure that they get off strip at least once, to take in a bit of what Las Vegas used to be like.

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interview How has televised poker evolved since Poker Night Live?

And to what extent is it similar to or different than before?

Poker Night Live was a really special show. We had carte blanche to talk about whatever we wanted for hours on end, and the viewers both indulged and encouraged it! It had this feeling of a big, extended family, which is quite unique in television. It was one of the first places where tournaments (in our case, online) were being followed from beginning to end with commentary on all of the hands. Now, many live events have that kind of coverage, be it through television or online streaming. Things have certainly changed though as poker TV gets more mainstream and polished for a wider audience. Although many of the big stars remain the same, there’s always an influx of new faces, which keeps the games fresh.

Your life is a never-ending journey. Settling somewhere just isn’t an option. How do you deal with such constant traveling?

Each January for the past few years I’ve resolved to travel less and spend more time with my family and friends. And each year I’ve broken that resolution in spectacular fashion! In 2012 I spent a record low of only ten weeks at home.

It’s exciting to be on the road so much and to see such fabulous places, but it’s definitely challenging, too. I miss out on most of the big moments in my friends’ lives — weddings, babies, birthdays, holidays etc. It’s hard to be involved and connected when I’m always either getting off of an airplane or boarding one.

Thankfully, I have wonderful friends and a great family who understand this and allow me to dip in and out of their lives like some kind of poker vagabond.

Also, it really helps that the poker community is a familiar and cozy place to be. Over the years, I’ve met some really fantastic people, and each new stop feels more like “home,” because of all of the familiar faces. You learn pretty

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We usually go to Binion’s Steakhouse downtown, but this year we branched out and hit the Golden Steer, which used to be a hangout for Elvis and the Rat Pack. It’s a completely different way to look at Las Vegas, and I always urge people to make sure that they get off strip at least once, to take in a bit of what Las Vegas used to be like quickly how to relax in a new hotel by taking over the lobby bar as your new office space.

As a PartyPoker ambassador, what “values” are you keen to promote and convey in the poker world?

For me, poker is a game that’s interesting, exciting and most of all, fun.

I’m not a professional player, although I do get to play a lot of events for Party Poker. I always tell people that I’m a Poker Enthusiast. Although many people make a very good living at the game, many more play for entertainment and because they love the competitiveness involved. I like to promote the idea of poker as a game to be enjoyed. In order for that to happen, I think it’s important to remember when we’re at the tables that many people are there for fun. If the table is rude or makes newcomers feel like they’re not welcome, the fun just leaks out of the game and then everybody loses.

How do you manage to switch from poker host to poker player?

Do you always focus on the table, and forget your other activities?

The GPI European Poker Awards nominees Rookie of the year : Gaëlle Baumann, Lucille Cailly, Aubin Cazals and Ole Schemion Best Tournament performance : Davidi Kitai, Rocco Palumbo, Marvin Rettenmaier, Ole Schemion and Sam Trickett Europe’s Leading Lady : Gaëlle Baumann, Liv Boeree, Lucille Cailly and Elisabeth Hille Internet Player of the year : Viktor Blom, Jens Kyllönen, Chris Moorman and Ilari Sahamies Poker Staff Person of the year : Dave Brannan, Nicolas Fraioli, Neil Johnson and Simon Trumper Rob Gardner Memorial Award for the poker personality of the year : Neil Channing, Bertrand «Elky» Grospellier, Tony Guoga, Gus Hansen, Marvin Rettenmaier and Kara Scott Best European Event of the year : EPT Barcelona, Irish Poker Open, Prague Poker Festival and WSOPE Cannes

I’m not sure I actually do manage to do this! I’m very aware that as an

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interview

I was really surprised and flattered when I was asked to join the jury at the EPA last year.

It was a fun experience and interesting to see how the decisions were made ambassador, I want to represent the Party Poker brand well. I like to make sure that people (especially qualifiers or amateurs) are comfortable at the poker table, so I spend a lot of time chatting and being sociable. I’m sure that this isn’t great for my game, but I can’t help myself. I’m a very social person and I love to chat and hear people’s stories. It’s my weakness!

What are your memories of your jury session at the GPI European Poker Awards last year?

I was really surprised and flattered when I was asked to join the jury at the EPA last year. It was a fun experience and interesting to see how the decisions were made. We spent quite a bit of time debating the merits of each nominee and there were no “easy” categories to decide. I even changed my own mind after hearing the other judges put forward their arguments for certain choices.

You’ll be hosting the ceremony this year. Can you tell us a little bit about its importance in the poker community?

For any industry, it’s important to stop and recognize successes and contributions. There are so many people out there working incredibly hard to push poker forward and to find new frontiers. An awards ceremony like this is a great way to say a collective “Thank you” to them and show people that their contributions matter.

Who do you feel are the most important “historically” important stars in the European poker world (such as Jesse May, etc.)?

I was so happy to watch Jesse May take home a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award last year. The shock on his face when his name was called was priceless! The poker

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scene on this side of the pond has a long history and I hesitate to mention names because there are SO many that I know that I’ll leave people out. Also, over a decade in England means I’m a little bit Brit-centric.

Some names that do stand out for me are people like Bruno Fitoussi, The Hendon Mob, Mad Marty Wilson, Marcel Luske, Neil Channing and John Duthie.

What are your (crazy) traveling plans for the upcoming weeks?

I’ve just finished a crazy 33-day work trip — six countries and two continents! Thankfully, the holiday season will be a bit more relaxing and I won’t be back on the road until the European Poker Awards in January. With a whole month in one place, I don’t think I’ll know quite what to do with myself. I’m sure I’ll be dreaming of macaroons and steak frites by mid January.

Prize list

3 Jul 2008

2012

Tournament

Result

18 Jan

18

3,813

31 May

WPTN € 1,500 No Limit Hold’em Main Event WPT National Series - Cannes, Cannes

28

3,883

2011 4 Jun 2010

Tournament $ 1,000 No Limit Hold’em 42nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2011, Las Vegas Tournament

4 Jan

$ 20,000 Week 1 - Commentators III Entry restricted Poker After Dark VI, Las Vegas

1 Jul

$ 1,000 No Limit Hold’em 41st World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2010, Las Vegas

2009

Tournament

Result 397 Result

Earnings

Result

3,701

50,977

3 Jul

$ 10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold’em 39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas

104

41,816

28 Oct

€ 4,000 No Limit Hold’em EPT - Budapest, Budapest

52

6,658

2007

Tournament Tournament

Result

7 Aug

Heat 1 Entry restricted Partypoker.com Women’s World Open, Maidstone

1

7 Aug

Celebrity Heat Entry restricted Partypoker.com Women’s World Open, Maidstone

1

10 Aug

$ 3,000 Final - No Limit Hold’em Entry restricted Partypoker.com Women’s World Open, Maidstone

6

15 Oct

Celebrity Qualifying heat 888.com UK Open IV, Maidstone

2

Earnings

10 Apr

€ 3,200 No Limit Hold’em – Main Event 2009 Irish Open, Dublin

2

413,612

11 Jun

$ 1,500 No Limit Hold’em 40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas

58

6,875

Earnings

1

6

98

Result

32,963

Final Entry restricted Partypoker Sports Stars Challenge III, Maidstone

Earnings 1,880

Tournament

238

17 Feb Earnings

€ 1,000 No Limit Hold’em - Silver Championships Euro Finals of Poker 2012, Paris

$ 10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold’em 40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas

Earnings

5,000

Total earnings (career): $ 571,179

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

33

C H R O N I C L E m a rc b a ri l l er

marc bariller

34 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

the greatest poker tournament

PKR Live is a tournament that is regularly held in London by PKR, with the express goal of allowing players to compete in a live tournament with a sizeable prize pool, in the course of a weekend. There are side-events, sit and go’s, and cash games as well. All of this occurs in a festive and extremely friendly environment. It also affords the site’s users the opportunity to put a face to certain pseudonyms and 3D avatars.

I’ve been every year so far, and I must say that each time was a great success! The first edition was held in 2008. The following year, for the PKR live2 I went with Adrien Allain, whose first ever live tournament it was, and he made it to the final table, which I thought was a sure sign of the promising career about which you are now all aware, since he won the APT Macau four months later (his second live tournament).

As for me, I reached the final table of PKR the following year!

It was one of my finest poker moments, for PKR really goes all out to put you in the spotlight during the final table (interview, hosts, presentation, etc…). I was able to discover the room’s

deep sense of community, and I believe I can honestly say that PKR has the most tight-knit and family-like vibe of all the online rooms. I have been able to bond with the staff and the site’s best players. Those relationships coupled with my rather unusual resume undoubtedly had something to do with PKR offering me a contract in the ensuing months. Last year during the tournament weekend, PKR took its headline players to a UFC event and we were sitting in the first row. It was insane, we got blood all over our faces! Then I went with the French players to a London nightclub to finish out the night. I even played in a cash game half-drunk. I arrive à la table en faisant tapis à toutes les mains in the dark, après 2 mains j’étais payé, je retournais 23o et mon adversaire QQ...

Flop 456 and everyone burst out laughing! (except for the man qui était venu grind depuis 2h qui vient de se faire gentiment suck out by a drunken fool).

This year’s PKR Live will be held on Easter weekend, from March 29-31, 2013 in London’s brand new Aspers Casino, with its new poker room seating 500, brand-new equipment with cutting-edge technology, and a view of the spectacular 2012 Olympic Village. $500 buy-ins over three days. The prize pool should be in excess of $100,000.

You can qualify for this tournament directly on PKR through five steps going from a few PKR points to the last step, at €100, en passant par des paliers de 3 €, 10 € et 30 €. The final step allows you to win a 750€ package.

Even if you are not a regular player, you need only be a lover of poker in a relaxed setting to enjoy an excellent weekend you will never forget! If you are a PKR player, then you are familiar enough with our community to know that I’m not making dishonest claims, and that a PKR event such as this one can only be a hit!

I sincerely hope I have made a positive presentation of this PKR jewel, so don’t miss it!

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

35

DOYLE

BRUNSON

C H R O N I C L E d o y l e b runson

as x e “t

”

lly o d

36 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

THE GODFATHER OF POKER

Doyleisme of the day:

“Money talks alright.

What it usually says is goodbye” Times have certainly changed in basketball since I played several decades ago. I was voted the MVP in a major basketball conference in the 50s. I averaged 15 points per game.

Jack Taylor from Grinnel College, a Division 3 basketball team, threw in 138 points against Faith Baptist College. He didn’t even shoot 50%, but he took 108 shots including 71 three pointers. The losing school had a player that made 70 points. If Grinell didn’t steal the ball right away, they would let the other team have a lay up. That is making a mockery of the game of basketball and the coach at Grinell should be fired for taking advantage of a school that only has 270 students. But on the other hand, he got a ton of publicity for his school.

I was so glad to see the cease-fire agreement in the Middle East. I hope America backs Israel 100% because after Canada and Great Britain they are our strongest ally.

Looking at a map of that region, Israel is such a small country, it’s hard to see how they can survive in such a hostile atmosphere but they are going to cause all-out war if the Arab states don’t back off.

It looks like with our economy in such bad shape, the dollar is going to continue to fall. I’m taking all my spare money and buying gold and silver as a hedge against inflation. It may not help, but I don’t believe the government

can print enough money to get us out of this financial trouble we are in. America is very resilient, so I hope I’m wrong.

For the first time that I can remember, Daniel Negreanu admits in his “rant blog” that there is a slight chance he might on occasion be slightly wrong and prejudiced. I have always admired him for speaking his mind but I think he does take it to the extreme sometimes. Nobody can be the judge and the jury; there are almost always two sides to every story. At least we agree that something has to be done about the slow play in the poker tournaments. It makes almost unwatchable TV and is very boring. A shot clock is the answer and the only question is how long can a player wait before he acts? I think one minute is plenty of time.

We had a tourney in Lake Tahoe that had a 20-second clock, and it was the most fun I’ve ever had in a tournament.

Again, I appreciate all the concern about my most recent cancer scare. I’m completely cancer-free from a skin cancer.

I didn’t mean to alarm people when I tweeted about it. I guess I used bad language when I wrote about it, so all you RIP Doyle folks can cool it!

May the flop be with you n

I appreciate all the concern about my most recent cancer scare. I’m completely cancer-free from a skin cancer. I didn’t mean to alarm people when I tweeted about it

Find Doyle Brunson at www.pokerroad.com

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

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UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

Tournament

World Poker Tour National Series Mauritius

The Sunny Festival strikes again

After an amazing record-breaking first season last year, the World Poker Tour National Series will once again be making a stop in the southern hemisphere, from March 3-12 on the island of Mauritius, sparkling gem in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar and southeast of the Seychelles. The Ti Vegas Casino of Grand Baie will host 16 events and satellites, including a €1,360 + €140 Main Event and a €675 + €75 ACF Poker Tour event, making this second edition even more thrilling than the previous one. Welcome back to Mauritius, the southern hemisphere’s new poker-playing hotspot, as well as a land overflowing with colors, smiles and spices, and which is blessed with sunshine year-round!

U

Unlike most major poker hotspots, the southern hemisphere — apart from Australia and New Zealand — was deprived until very recently of its own international poker tournament series. Last year, after a great deal of effort, the dedicated Sylvain Liotard, CEO of Paradise Events, managed, in partnership with the French poker website PMU.fr and the Paradise Girls, to bring the World Poker Tour National to his small island.

This first edition was extraordinarily successful, beyond its organizers’ wildest expectations: the Mauritian competition instantly became not only the biggest ever to be held in the Indian Ocean, but also the WPT National series’ most crowded stop, attracting a field of 290 players. After such a success, the WPT National Series was sure it would be coming back to the tropical island, and it was clear that, come 2013, things would get even bigger. Now that the schedule of the coming season is official, let’s have a look at what awaits you on the white sand beaches of Mauritius!

The charms of Mauritius await you…

The beautiful island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar and La Réunion, is awaiting poker players for the biggest poker series of the small country’s history, hosted by the Ti Vegas Casino (meaning “Small Las Vegas” in French Creole) of Grand Baie, in the northwestern part of the island. While winter strikes

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By Julien Morello Europe, this part of the world will be enjoying summertime — the perfect moment to discover the white sandy beaches, the turquoise sea and one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world.

Activities in Mauritius are endless: golf, water sports, fishing, walking with lions, snorkeling, scuba-diving, swimming with dolphins, catamaran cruises, sky-diving, and so much more.

You won’t have time to rest… But if it’s easy enjoyment you’re after, the island features all the facilities necessary to ensure that you have an unforgettable stay, such as all-inclusive 4-star seaside resorts, where luxury and comfort are perfectly combined for leisure and tranquility. You might also appreciate the island’s subtle and tasteful cuisine — a result as well as a symbol of Mauritian history — a blend of European, African, Indian and Chinese cultural influences.

The Ti Vegas Casino and the Paradise Girls And if you’re looking for a full gambling experience, the Ti Vegas Casino will be your headquarters. The Mauritian establishment has been gearing up for this second edition with utmost care, and has decided to inaugurate a new room with 35 tables — almost twice as many as last year — especially for the occasion. In case it’s not poker you’re after, have no fear, you’ll have plenty to do, as slot machines, blackjack, Chinese blackjack,

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 prize with Pingouin Car Rental Ltd, and Mauritius-rentacar.

sic bo and roulette are all available on the premises. Designed with the utmost professionalism and innovation — including the latest technology, the Ti Vegas Casino is definitely the perfect place for a thrilling gambling session.

There you will also find Gabriella, Melissa, Vania, Katlyn, Deeya and Megane, the sublime Creole stars of the “Paradise of Poker” TV Show, broadcast in countries of the Indian Ocean, and France. The Mauritian sisters known as the Royal Flush Girls will host the WPT opening ceremony on March 3. And if one fantastic party is not enough for you, not to worry, the beautiful Paradise Girls will be displaying their charm and glamour during the entire series!

A series shaped for poker lovers of all stripes With Affordable buy-ins, the WPT Mauritius series has been perfectly reshaped by tournament director Matt Savage to suit all poker lovers: the €1,360 + €140 Main Event will last six days instead of four, with 25,000 starting chips instead of last year’s 20,000. It will also include the €675 + €75 ACFPoker Tour’s first stop in the southern hemisphere on March 9 and 10. Bruno Fitoussi, founder of the legendary French poker room, will participate in these two major events.

To please all kinds of players with all kinds of budgets, 14 other side events and satellites will take place during this amazing ten-day poker festival, including a €500 + €50 Deepstack event on March 3, a €3,000 + €300 High Roller event on March 8 and 9, and a €270 + €30 Ladies event on March 6. The final table of the Main Event, broadcast in France, South Africa, Mauritius, La Réunion, Seychelles and Madagascar, will play on March 10, but the festivities will last two more days, with a €400 + €40 Paradise Deepstack 6-handed on March 11 and 12, and the €300 + €30 Ti Vegas Deepstack on March 12.

Great expectations for a major WPT National Series event

350 players are expected to attend this amazing series and try to succeed South African Gary Lentin, who pocketed €70,000 of the €300,000 total prize pool, besting his 289 opponents.

Among them were WSOP champion Elie Payan, WPT champion Guillaume Darcourt and his teammate Philippe Ktorza, PPT champion Jean-Paul Pasqualini, and EFOP champion Bruno “Kool Shen” Lopes, who placed seventh in the Main Event. In 2013, the whole PMU team — Darcourt, Rohr, Gérin, Ktorza, Petit, Beauvois, Jean-Paul Pasqualini and Bruno Lopes — will be making the trip once again, this time along with WSOP champions Fabrice Soulier and Freddy Deeb. So if you want to beat the best, come take your chances in Mauritius!

Heavenly settings, comfortable facilities, exciting activities and, of course, high-level poker tournaments: everything is set for a magical stay in the blue lagoons and tropical gardens of the Indian Ocean. You can qualify for the Main Event and win a WPT package via satellites on PMU.fr. For more information, visit www.wptmauritius.com.

All-inclusive packages for the perfect poker vacation To make the best of your stay, enjoy poker and laze about in Mauritius at the most affordable prices, check out the great packages specially designed to suit every type of player: three seven-night options — WPT, Gold and Diamond packages — are available in the luxurious LUX Resort, including accommodation in gorgeous rooms or suites, breakfast, private Jacuzzi, airport transfers and access (direct buy-in or satellite) to the €1,360 + €140 Main Event, for prices ranging from €1,290 to €4,990. But then again, you might prefer staying in a five-star apartment accommodating up to four people in the gorgeous five-star Domaine des Alizées, for €159 a night...

If you live in the neighboring island of La Réunion, two special options are available, featuring return flights to Mauritius, accommodation for six nights in the sumptuous Lux* Resorts or Flowers of Paradise Hotel, and access to the Main Event, or the €300 + €30 Mega Satellite. Prices range from €990 to €2,890.

Until February 10, several of these packages are up for grabs on PMU.fr, so take your chances; you might be able to go to Mauritius for free!

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

41

Tournament

hotels

Lux* Island Grand Gaube

Conveniently located only 15 minutes from the casino, this four-star resort is as close as you can get to paradise. 172 rooms, 23 suites and 3 villas — the biggest one is 3,100 sq. ft. — await you on a stunning beachfront. Absolute luxury and comfort, a splendid view on the Northern islands and the Indian Ocean, plus all kinds of sports and activities will help you have fun and relax... Just make sure you don’t forget why you came here: to play poker! Special rates for WPT participants.

• Address: Pointe Rejane, Grand Gaube, Mauritius Tel: +230 204 9191 Reservation: reservation@luxislandresorts.com & www.luxresorts.com

Domaine des Alizées

This residence, run like a prestigious hotel, offers 90 luxury two- or three-bedroom apartments. With your own place, plus the perfect services of a spa-club, gorgeous tropical gardens and a restaurant on the water flanked by small kiosks — relax, everything has been taken care of...

• Address: 211, Grand Baie Business Park, Mauritius Tel: +230 269 1800 Email: contact@evacogroup.com Reservation: evaco-alizees.com

Flowers of Paradise Hotel

This charming hotel has a very intimate feeling, with a beautiful and authentic Creole décor and a great sense of coziness and hospitality. This is the perfect spot to enjoy rum cocktails on your private terrace and forget about everything else.

• Address: Beach Lane, Péreybère, Mauritius Tel: +230 934 5320 Email: info@hotel-paradise-mauritius.mu Reservation: www.hotel-paradise-mauritius.mu

Night life The Bar

Located next to the main swimming pool of the Lux* Island Grand Gaube, The Bar is a lively hangout for guests to quench their thirst while lounging on comfortable sofas and bar stools facing the lagoon. Enjoy an extensive range of drinks, along with live music and entertainment.

• Address: Lux* Island Grand Gaube, Pointe Rejane, Grand Gaube, Mauritius

Spirit Lounge & Bar

The Spirit Lounge & Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing

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restaurants The Kitchen

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

• Address: Lux* Island Grand Gaube, Pointe Rejane, Grand Gaube, Mauritius

Les Quais

Les Quais, Le Mauricia’s main restaurant, is set among roofed terraces and extended wooden decks running the length of the slate swimming pool. The décor, enhanced by white ceilings, is evocative of a marina wharf. Modern storage cupboards and cooking stations are shaped like boat hulls and a unique feature is a stainless steel bridge spanning the buffet areas.

• Address: Le Mauricia, Grand Baie, Mauritius

La Goélette

La Goélette, the romantic terrace restaurant of Le Royal Palm Resort, has acquired well-deser ved 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.

• Address: Le Royal Palm, Grand Baie, Mauritius

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 apéritifs to savor, while the local talent makes every night one worth remembering.

• Address: Lux* Island Grand Gaube, Pointe Rejane, Grand Gaube, Mauritius

Les Enfants Terribles

Are you and your friends hankering for a great night out? Look no further: Les Enfants Terribles is the place where the music is pumping and the lights are bright. Simply the biggest and the best club in the whole island of Mauritius!

• Address: Royal Road, Pointe aux Canonniers, Mauritius

Didier Chabaud

TI Vegas CEO

The wonderful WPT National Series Mauritius (as well as ACFPoker Tour stop in the Island) is organised by a very professional team. The head of them is Didier Chabaud, the very charismatic owner of Ti Vegas Casino, Mauritius gambling jewel.

By Jérôme Schmidt

How did you get involved in the gaming business?

I am originally from Paris region, where I was a businessman. I then began acquainted with the automatic games culture for more than two decades! This helped me a lot to launch Ti Vegas Casino. It has been both a simple and complicated story: I got the unique license allowing slot machines on Mauritis island, without being obliged to provide live games as well. First, I had a tremendous pleasure organising such games, but I knew in my heart that if I wanted to go to the next level, I had to be able

to provide table games for my customers.

Thus, I decided to ask some professionals from the casino culture to join me: they would be the perfect link between the knowledge of me and my team regarding Mauritian customers and the new staff required by such table games. First, I decided to implement only Chinese-type games (Van Lak, Sic Bo) as the law allowed us to have only a limited number of table games.

And one day, the Texas Hold’Em! We developed it very fast, with local and international tournaments: satellites for the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas or APT Macau, etc. And then, the WPT or APT licenses, which was totally brand new for the area!

I am very proud of poker, whereas the payback, financially speaking, is very different from any other games.

When I see pictures of young Mauritian players with Mauritius flags partying on Las Vegas Boulevard, it is really rewarding…

Poker is still in its first steps in the Indian Ocean area. You own the most active casino there, with APT and WPT stops. Why did you decide to make such huge investments?

The poker culture is in fact very present in the Indian Ocean area, and there are many alumni who want to play live and altogether in good con-

ditions; our development and our communication around the poker phenomenon has started to have real impact on the local poker scene as well as internationally speaking.

Thanks to Paradise Events and people like Sylvain Liotard who spend great time and energy developing poker, we are in a long-term process to develop poker in Mauritius.

My staff and I still remain challengers who want to do their best to develop this game. We have a very simple and efficient advantage: we give 100% of ourselves for the best free thing in the casino world, our customer relation.

We want to provide the warmest welcome to any of our customers.

Why could Ti Vegas Casino and Mauritius Island become landmarks in the international poker circuit?

We are pioneers in our own land and in the whole Indian Ocean zone.

Moreover, we fondly love this game and our players can feel it as soon as they sit down at the table. Our teams love the game, and the poker-room staff is really experienced and professional. And do not forget that Mauritius Island landscapes, beaches, luxurious hotels are known worldwide… Coming to Mauritius to play poker is an experience you will not ever forget…

In March 2012, you even beat the WPT National Series record (290 entries). What is your goal for the future editions of WPT National Series Mauritius?

Bringing some suprises and pleasure to the players; enjoying every minute of the tournaments and the events.

In Muairitus, we provide all the good reasons to register to a WTP tournament, in a very warm and human environment. We share these qualities and beliefs with all our partners, and especially the Team PMU.fr, who will be present once again this year! We hope to bring you the best experience for this wonderful tournament…

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

43

Tournament

European Poker Tour Deauville Season IX & France Poker Series Final

The French series is becoming even more intense

In February, the European Poker Tour will stop once again in one of the most prestigious French seaside resorts, the city of Deauville, known as the “Queen of the Norman beaches.” Crowds of players are awaited for this weeklong series highlighted by a €5,300 Main Event beginning on February 3 in the mythical Casino Barrière de Deauville, and running through February 9. To give you even more reasons to join the rush of poker lovers flocking to this beautiful seaside city, it will also host the grand finale of the France Poker Series from January 30 to February 3. Here’s what to expect from these two great events.

By Steven Lake

44 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

How to get there?

By air: There is a small international airport in Deauv ille-St. Gatien. Connections limited to Marrakech, Athens, Crete, Funchal, Palma, London.

For other international flights, the first stop is Paris, which has direct flights from almost every European capital, and many flights from North America. You can then reach Deauville from Paris airports by car or train.

By train: From London, take the Eurostar to Paris (2 hours 15 minutes, from £69 return). Then cross Paris to Gare St. Lazare by RER train (Line E), or a taxi (around €8). From Paris St. Lazare station, 4 times a day, approx. 2 hours journey time.

By road: Caen-Deauville: N176 then N177; ParisDeauville: A13, 195 km, including 186 km of highway (necessary time: approx. 2 hours).

Sea: Multiple trips per day from England. Brittany Ferries: Portsmouth – Caen/Ouistreham. P & O: Southampton - Portsmouth - Le Havre..

2

2013 will definitely be a year to remember for poker in Deauville, a small city off of the English Channel with a centurylong tradition of high-quality gambling and horse-racing, featuring perfectly organized facilities and impeccable staff, beautiful natural surroundings, gorgeous turn-of-the-century architecture, international cultural events and some of the most sumptuous palaces France has to offer.

The FPS Final opens a new year of poker Indeed, two major tournaments will soon be hitting the tables of the Casino Barrière: first off, the charming little French town will host the France Poker Series Season 2 Finale, a €1,000 + €100 four-day tournament with two Day 1 which will open the series running from January 30-February 3. During the Season 1 Paris Finale — a €2,000 tournament held in the Cercle Haussmann — German pro Marvin Rettenmaier bested a huge field of 567 players, generating a €979,776 prize pool, and claiming one of the numerous titles of his young career, while pocketing €244,036 for his feat.

Deauville already welcomed an FPS stop of this second season exactly one year ago, when 329 players entered the game, for a €315,840 prize pool, and Frenchman Ludovic Sultan dominated Russian Yury Gulvyy (3rd) and Dutchman Joep van den Bijgaart (runner up) for a €82,000 first prize. But this €1,100 Grand Final won’t be the sole tournament of the FPS festival (January 30-February 3), as several side events are planned, such as a €300 + €30 Turbo event, a €300 + €100 + €40 , a €300 + €30 NLHE 2-day event, not to mention the €2,700 + €300 FPS High Roller event, running February 2-3.

EPT Deauville Main Event has always been an intense tournament for the poker elite EPT Deauville 2013, more intense than ever The festivities will take place in the sumptuous Casino Barrière, with the EPT Main Event and its usual €5,000 + €300 buy-in, a six-day battle beginning on February 3 (Day 1B on the 4th) and ending on February 9. EPT Deauville Main Event has always been an intense tournament for the poker elite as well as for poker lovers of all stripes: poker pros never miss the tournament, which has crowned some of the greatest European players (including Englishman Jake Cody, German Moritz Kranich and Frenchman Lucien Cohen). Naturally, the event attracts massive crowds of players every year, with 891 participants making for a record-setting year in 2011. In 2012, no less than 889 players attempted to grab their share of the €4,267,200 prize pool. Belarusian Vadim Kursevich ended up with the title for €875,000, after defeating Luca Pagano (7th) and five French players on the final table.

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Tournament

Hotels

Restaurants

“At the Royal Barrière, each guest is a star.” The 220 rooms and 31 suites of the most luxurious palace hotel in Normandy, were recently refurbished by famous designer Jacques Garcia. This sumptuous 1900 structure, with French doors opening to a great ocean view, seems to be the favorite hotel of British and American visitors. €250-500 per night. Special rates for EPT participants.

Address: Boulevard Cornuché, Deauville

With one Michelin star, L’Étrier is the most prestigious restaurant in Deauville, known for its pleasant summer terrace, stylish service and the best fish in town. Blending innovation and tradition, this establishment offers a taste of rich Norman flavors in a ritzy atmosphere. The food is delicious, as is the wine and of course the regional specialty, Calvados, which you can enjoy in the nicest lounge bar in Deauville. Very chic. Menus from €60 to €195.

Address: Boulevard Cornuché, Deauville

Normandy Barrière *****

Le Drakkar

Royal Barrière Deauville *****

This beautiful Anglo-Norman dwelling offers 290 rooms, including 28 suites and 8 apartments, decorated in style and tradition with authentic Toile de Jouy.

Each suite has character and is warm and refined, with views of the sea, the old town or the hotel’s magnificent courtyard, for charm-filled stays. The classic atmosphere and enchanting natural surroundings will make you forget that you are right in the city center. Special rates for EPT participants.

Address: 38 rue Jean Mermoz, Deauville

Hotel du Golf Barrière ****

The Hôtel du Golf Barrière is the ideal sanctuary for a stay focussed on getting back in shape or just for a golfing weekend. In magnificent settings opening onto an exceptional 18-hole course, the location offers the peace of the countryside, close to the seafront in Deauville, plus numerous sport and leisure activities.

Address: Golf de Deauville

L’Étrier

Looking like a true boat, the Drakkar is a must-go for any player staying in Deauville during the European Poker Tour. Located just few meters away from the casino, this warm and welcoming venue is always crowded with fun and entertaining people, thanks to the great team managing this place. Try the seafood as well as the signature-mussels for a real treat!

Address: 77 rue Eugène Colas, Deauville

La Régence

Located in the famous fishing village of Trouville, La Régence is a timeless restaurant which dates back 1853.

Situated on the waterfront near Trouville’s seaside promenade and casino, the restaurant, with its ornate interior, mirrored walls and decorative whitewashed wood paneling, is the perfect setting for romantic meals and celebrations. You’ll be able to enjoy the finest seafood, such as the grilled lobster the fresh Isigny oysters — La Régence’s signature dishes.

Address: Boulevard Fernand Moreau, Trouville

The schedule of the EPT Deauville side events is more intense than ever, with 38 tournaments and satellites (buy-ins ranging from €100 to €10,300) from February 2-9. A €300 + €30 Women’s Event and €300 + €30 Turbo Men’s Event will run on the 3rd, such as a €2,000 + €150 PLO event, played 8 handed. A €2,000 + €150 NLHE 8 Handed tournament will kick off on the 4th, followed the next day by a €2,000 + €200 NLHE event running on two days. The €1,000 + €100 HeadsUp event and the €1,000 + €100 NLHE event (both 2-day events) will start from the 6th, and three great tournaments will be held on the 7th: a €1,000 + €100 NLHE 6 Handed event, a €500 + €500 + €100 NLHE Bounty event, and a 2-day €1,000 + €100 PLO 8 Handed event. The 2-day €2,000 + €200 NLHE event will start on the 8th, and the €2,000 + €150 NLHE Turbo 6 Handed tournament will begin on the last day of the festival.

A large choice of side events and satellites for all budgets

Night life The O2 Sofa Bar

With a lounge spirit and a seaside terrace, the modern and baroque sofa bar of the mythical Casino Barrière offers a great choice of cocktails and a specialty menu of vodkas and sakes. Enjoy the Oxygen bar and dance to the music of guest DJs, who come to town every weekend.

Address: Rue Edmond Blanc, Deauville

But that’s not it, as three big events will be awaiting lovers of high stakes, starting from the 2-day €10,000 + €300 EPT Pot Limit Omaha Championships, played 8 handed. The tournament will start on February 6, and a €550 Super Satellite will be held the day before. Then, starting February 7, the €10,000 + €300 High Roller Single Rebuy event will kick off, a 2-day and 8 handed tournament won last year by Frenchman Éric Sfez for €242,000. Finally, on the 9th, a €5,000+ €250 NLHE Turbo 6 Handed event will close this series, as players will struggle in order to join Kevin MacPhee (2012 champion, for €50,000) on the winners list.

Another great selection of tournaments will also be provided, including several Super Satellites to some of the greatest events of this series, with a large choice of games, buy-ins and structures. Big action for all kind of budget, the EPT Deauville will once again celebrate a new year of poker in a great way!

Vintage café

Just a stone’s throw from the picturesque harbor of Honfleur — a lovely small town located 15 kilometers form Deauville — this Jazz club and wine bar is a great place to grab a cocktail and listen to some live jazz late into the night.

Addess: 8 quai des Passagers, Honfleur

Le Point Bar

Open late at night, le Point Bar is quite attractive for those in search of some action alongside a few friends, with a piano bar, lounge, pool hall and foosball.

Address: 94 avenue de la République, Deauville

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Eric Cavillon Welcome to Deauville Want to know where to find the most important tournament of the new year? At Deauville, for the European Poker Tour stop. This now traditional event is an absolute must for poker players in France and the world over, and is always packed with satisfied players of all stripes. We caught up with the man in charge of live poker for the Groupe Lucien Barrière — Eric Cavillon — in order to talk about the upcoming tournament.

By Jérôme Schmidt How do you explain the continuing success of the Deauville EPT?

Could you tell us about the 2013 edition of the Deauville EPT? What new additions will there be?

This year we will be opening the festival with the France Poker Series on January 30, in Deauville’s legendary Ambassadeurs Room at Casino Barrière. The tournament will run until Saturday, and the Final Table will take place on Sunday at the Centre International de Deauville; so it will be taking place on day 1A of the EPT, on Sunday at the CID. We will also be featuring a 3k highroller FPS tournament, the €10,300 PLO Championship, and an EPT High Roller event, also €10,300. Low priced Turbo cash and satellites will be available daily! The festival will last eleven days, from January 30-February 9.

The Casino Barrière de Deauville is a legendary place, and you mustn’t forget that that it was in this casino that Texas Hold’Em was played for the first time in France! Also, the first Deauville EPT took place in 2005, well before poker became so fashionable. So, 2013 will be our seventh edition! We have some strong selling points: the proximity to Paris, flights from London… Plus the entire Lucien Barrière team is totally into the event, it’s amazing to see! And then there’s also the fact that we have always had a good relationship with the EPT, one which for each side has always been a win-win situation, with mutual respect and understanding.

What are your most memorable moments of this tournament?

Last year’s Final Table with all the French players, the first French victory in 2011 with Lucien “Rat Man” Cohen, the first time we had 80 tables at the CID — a very proud day for us!

Could you present the team in charge of poker within the Groupe Barrière?

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My job description within the Groupe Barrière, is Director General of the Normandie-Bretagne regions; I’m also in charge of Poker Live for the Groupe Barrière, and my role is to head a small team of four people who are the true motor of our activities, for the BPT, the WSOPE as well as the EPT! The team: Lucille Denos, Tournament Director, Stéphane Godet, Denis Chapot, and Nathalie Collard.

All of these people live in Deauville, as do I. What are you planning to offer players this year in terms of hotel rates in Deauville?

This year, as in the past, players will have special rates in all of our Deauville hotels: the Normandy Barrière, the Royal Barrière, and the Hôtel du Golf Barrière.

Could you break down for me the Casino de Deauville’s strong points in terms of organizing the EPT, as well as the FPS and the BPT?

The Poker team’s professionalism and the enthusiasm, the hotel rates, the proximity of the Casino to the hotels and the Centre International de Deauville, not to mention Normandy’s wellknown charm!

The Groupe Barrière has become number one in France — and even in Europe — for casinos.

How do you explain such success?

Hard to answer such a question and remain modest! We have had the opportunity to organize two of the biggest tournaments in Europe (the WSOPE and the EPT), and we have always measured our success, just as we have with the Barrière Poker Tour, in terms of player satisfaction. The higher-ups in the Groupe Barrière have always backed and encouraged us, even when we didn’t have the results we had hoped for. And of course we are lucky to have Lucille Denos, who is a wonderful ambassadress for our website, barrierepoker.fr

2013 schedule Jan 30/Wed (12.00 am) • e1,100 France Poker Series Main Event Day 1A (4-Day Event) Jan 30/Wed (7.00 pm) • e120 Super Satellite to FPS Main Event (Unl. Rebuy + Double Addon) Jan 30/Wed (10.00 pm) • e330 Turbo Event Jan 31/Thu (12.00 am) • e1,100 France Poker Series Main Event Day 1B (4-Day Event) Jan 31/Thu (6.00 pm) • e225 Super Satellite to EPT Main Event (Unl. Rebuy + Double Addon) Jan 31/Thu (10.00 pm) • e75 Super Satellite to e770 Super Sat (Unl. Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 1/Fri (4.00 pm) • e330 NLHE Event Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 1/Fri (6.00 pm) • e770 Super Satellite to EPT Main Event Feb 1/Fri (9.00 pm) • e300 + e100 + e40 Turbo Bounty Event Feb 2/Sat (12.00 am) • e3,000 FPS High Roller Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 2/Sat (4.00 pm) • e550 Super Satellite to EPT Main Event (1 Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 2/Sat (8.0 pm) • e1,100 Turbo Event Feb 3/Sun (12.00 pm) • e5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1A (6-Day Event) Feb 3/Sun (1.00 pm) • e330 Women’s Event Feb 3/Sun (2.00 pm) • e2,150 PLO Turbo 8 Handed Event Feb 3/Sun (6.00 pm) • e550 Super Satellite to EPT Main Event (1 Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 3/Sun (8.00 pm) • e330 Turbo Men’s Event Feb 3/Sun (10.00 pm) • e1,100 Last Chance Turbo Satellite to EPT Main Event Day 1B

Feb 4/Mon (12.00 am) • e5,300 EPT Main Event Day 1B (6-Day Event) Feb 4/Mon (4.00 pm) • e800 + e200 + e100 Turbo Random Bounty Event Feb 4/Mon (8.00 pm) • e2,150 Turbo 8 Handed Event Feb 4/Mon (10.00) • e225 Super Satellite to e2,200 Event (Double Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 5/Tue (4.00 pm) • e2,200 NLHE Event Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 5/Tue (8.00 pm) • e300 + e100 + e40 Turbo Bounty Event Feb 5/Tue (9.00 pm) • e550 PLO Super Satellite to e10,300 PLO Championships (Double Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 5/Tue (10.00 pm) • e120 Super Satellite to any e1,100 Event (Double Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 6/Wed (12.00 am) • e10,300 EPT PLO Championships 8 Handed Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 6/Wed (12.00 am) • e500 + e500 + e100 Turbo Bounty Event Feb 6/Wed (2.00 pm) • e1,100 Heads-Up 32 Cap Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 6/Wed (4.00 pm) • e1,100 NLHE Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 6/Wed (7.00 pm) • e1,600 Super Satellite to e10,300 High Roller Event Feb 6/Wed (8.00 pm) • e330 Turbo Event Feb 6/Wed (10.00 pm) • e120 Super Satellite to any e1,100 Event (Double Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 7/Thu (12.00 am) • e1,100 NLHE 6 Handed 30 Minute Levels Event

Feb 7/Thu (1.00 pm) • e 10,300 High Roller Single Rebuy 8 Handed Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 7/Thu (5.00 pm) • e 500 + e500 + e100 Bounty 30 Minute Levels Event Feb 7/Thu (7.00 pm) • e 1,100 PLO 8 Handed Day 1 (2-Day) Feb 7/Thu (8.00 pm) • e 440 Turbo Event Feb 7/Thu (10.00 pm) •2 25 Super Satellite to e2,200 Event (Double Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 8/Fri (12.00 am) •2 ,200 NLHE Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 8/Fri (1.00 pm) •1 00 Super Satellite to e880 Deepstack Event (Double Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 8/Fri (5.00 pm) • e 330 Super Satellite to e5,250 Event (Double Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 8/Fri (6.00 pm) • e 880 Deepstack 30 Minute Levels Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 8/Fri (7.00 pm) • e 550 PLO Event Feb 8/Fri (8.00 pm) • e 330 Turbo Event Feb 8/Fri (10.00 pm) •1 75 Super Satellite to e2,150 Event (Double Rebuy + Double Addon) Feb 9/Sat (12.00 am) •5 ,250 Turbo 6 Handed Event Feb 9/Sat (1.00 pm) •3 30 Winter Deepstack Turbo e30K GTD 30K Stack/15Minuten Levels Feb 9/Sat (4.00 pm) •2 ,150 Turbo 6 Handed Event Feb 9/Sat (5.00 pm) •1 20 Hyper Turbo e10K GTD 10K Stack/10 Minute Levels

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Information

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

World Poker Tour National Brussels

The circuit’s first stop

ever in Belgium

From February 14-18, Brussels will, for the first time ever, be holding a World Poker Tour National Series event, with a €1,500 + €150 Main Event which will see the best European players descend in droves on the lively Belgian capital. The newly remodeled Grand Casino Brussels @ Viage will be the sumptuous décor of this brand new stop, offering numerous events, with buy-ins ranging from €50 + €10 to €675 + €75 and featuring the first stop of the ACF Poker Tour in Belgium.

So if you want to participate in this historic competition, pack your bags and fly to Brussels, where players from France, Germany, the Netherlands and more will also be rushing, generating a solid prize pool!

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T

To inaugurate the Grand Casino Brussels @ Viage in the heart of Brussels, the World Poker Tour will stop in the Belgian capital for a very special National Series event, as it is the first ever to be held in Belgium. For all of the country’s poker lovers — as well as those from neighboring Holland, France, Germany and Denmark — Brussels will be the place to be from February 14 to 18, with a great re-entry €1,500 + €150 Main Event. A very special first stop of the ACFPoker Tour will be included in the festivities, featuring a great €675 + €75 event on February 16 and 17, and a €225 + €25 satellite WPT National Cannes on February 17. The schedule includes many other games, such as €150 + €20 NHL Turbo Cash on the 14th or a €200 + €100 + €30 NHL Bounty side event on the 15th.

So get your ticket to the WPT National series in Brussels, it’s the opportunity to play in a vast and modern complex in the beating heart of the lively Belgian capital, one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. With a large choice of museums, a palpitating nightlife, stunning architectural monuments, traditional brasseries and first-class restaurants, Brussels is an exciting destination. And since spring 2012, it has also become a fantastic place for poker as it now has the new Grand Casino Brussels @ Viage, a genuine temple of gaming with the latest modern equipment, located just a few steps from the Grand-Place, the most animated spot of the city center.

A brand new complex to host the WPT National event Opened in April 2012 after three years of construction work, the Grand Casino Brussels @ Viage is a vast complex dedicated entirely to leisure, games and shows. In a gorgeous interior, you will find everything a modern international casino can offer, and much, much more, such as a spectacular roof-top restaurant, theme-bars, a showroom for the performing arts, and of course cutting-edge gaming rooms offering 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, Viage provides all kinds of games in the best way possible, to the great delight of gambling lovers. When you don’t play, you can indulge at the Brown’s Sports Bar & Grill, with its twelve large-screen TVs, and the CinnaBar, offering a great choice of cocktails, or feast in Saffron, an Asian and traditional Belgian restaurant open until 2 in the morning. And don’t forget the Theatre, which provides great shows and events all over the year.

had the potential to become one of Europe’s new gaming hotspots. Therefore, in order to celebrate its recent opening, the Grand Casino Brussels @ Viage has been picked by the most amazing poker series in the world for a first national competition. We can already guess that attendance will be huge as Belgians are real poker lovers (Davidi Kitai, holder of the Triple Crown, will surely be there), and the venue as well as the WPT brand will undoubtedly bring players from all over Europe. If this first edition is a success, the World Poker Tour will certainly be back next year for an even bigger event!

How to get there?

By air: Brussels National Airport is 14km northeast of Brussels. It is connected to all major European cities such as Paris, London, Berlin, Frankfurt or Copenhagen by most traditional and low-cost airlines.

By train: Brussels has three main train stations: Midi-Zuid, south of the city center, Central-Centraal, next to the city center, and Nord-Noord, north of the city center (at Place Rogier). High-speed trains stop only at Midi/ Zuid, except the ICE, which also stops at Nord/ Noord. Thalys connects Brussels with Cologne (1h52), Paris (1h20) and Amsterdam (2h00); an hourly Intercity train from Amsterdam (2h28, via Schiphol Airport, The Hague, Rotterdam, Antwerp), connects to Brussels Midi/Zuid and Brussels Central. An hourly Intercity train from Luxembourg (3h07, via Arlon, Libramont, Namur) runs to Midi /Zuid, Central, Nord / Noord, Schuman and Luxembourg/Luxemburg stations. The Eurostar links Lille (0h39), Ashford (1h38) and London St. Pancras (1h51) with Midi/Zuid ; German ICE connects four times a day to Cologne and Frankfurt, and the TGV connects many French destinations to Midi/Zuid.

The next European poker hotspot

Poker receives all the honors in this new complex, with a great choice of daily cash games and weekly Sit & Go’s. The huge poker room is the perfect place to host big events, and the WPT National series quickly understood that Brussels

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Tournament

hotels

The Dominican Brussels

Set in downtown Brussels, this hotel stands on what was a fifteenth-century Dominican abbey. Now nestled among the golden gables in the heart of Brussels, it has become a luxurious twenty-first-century luxury hotel, offering a unique combination of historical elegance and modern design. The reduced WPT price for a deluxe room is €140 per night (city tax and breakfast not included), but early bookers will receive a €10-discount (for all booking before 2013).

• Address: Rue Léopold 9 - 1000 Brussels Tel: +32 2 203 08 08 Reservation: www.thedominican.be

The Adagio Brussels Centre Monnaie

The Adagio Brussels Centre Monnaie is located in the Anspach shopping center, and each of its 140 apartments is fully equipped with a kitchen. This three-star Aparthotel is located in the heart of the city, a one-minute walk from the Grand Casino Brussels, and provides Internet and two fitness rooms free of charge. This privileged location between the Grand Place and the Rue Neuve gives you easy access to the city for your tournament. In case you prefer a hotel, or if the Adagio Brussels Centre Monnaie is fully booked, the establishment will be pleased to offer you an Accor Group Hotels selection, with dedicated rates. All these hotels are also a short walk from the Casino.

• Address: Boulevard Anspach, 20 - 1000 Brussels Tel : +32 (0)2 212 93 00 - Fax : +32 (0)2 212 93 01 www.adagio-city.com

The Grand Casino Brussels @ Viage is a vast complex dedicated to leisure, games and shows restaurants Saffron

If you love Asian cuisine but also crave real Belgian classics, you’ve come to the right place: Saffron can do both, from sake flambéed king prawns to Grilled beef rib steak with French fries. Conveniently located in the Grand Casino Brussels @Viage, it will literally be the closest option to have a good meal and recoup before a new game. Main courses €8-€22.

Saffron, the trendy restaurant in the heart of Grand Casino Brussels presents the « casino menu », a 3-course dinner according to the suggestion of the chef. Starter, main, dessert, ½ bottle of water and a coffee for 25 euro only!

This offer is valid every day as from 17h. You can also choose one of the delicious dishes à la carte. Saffron is

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one of the few places in Brussels where the kitchen is open until early morning.

•A ddress: Grand Casino Brussels @ Viage Anspach Boulevard 30 - 1000 Brussels Tel : +32 2 300 01 00 Reservations: info@viage.be - www.viage.be

Aux Armes de Bruxelles

This 80-year-old restaurant near the Grand Place has some of the freshest mussels in town, complete with French fries and mayonnaise. Mingle with real Bruxellois and Bruxelloises, and discover the greatness of Belgian hospitality in this legendary establishment!

• Address: 13 rue des Bouchers - 1000 Brussels Tél : +32 2 511 55 98 Reservations: http://www.auxarmesdebruxelles.com

WPT National Series Brussels Schedule Feb 11/Mon (4.00 pm) • e200 Satellite to WPT Main Event

Feb 15/Fri (5.00 pm) • e100 Satellite to ACFPoker Tour

Feb 12/Tue (6.00 pm) • e60 Satellite to ACFPoker Tour

Feb 15/Fri -9.00 pm) • e30 Side Event #2 Bounty

Feb 13/Wed (6.00 pm) • e200 Supersatellite to WPT Main Event

Feb 16/Sat (4.00 pm) • e750 ACFPoker Tour (2-Day Event)

Feb 14/Thu (1.00 pm) • e1,650 WPT Main Event Day 1A (4-Day Event)

Feb 16/Sat (8.00 pm) • e170 Side Event #3 Win the Button

Feb 14/Thu (5.00 pm) • e200 Satellite to WPT Main Event

Feb 17/Sun (6.00 pm)

Feb 14/Thu (9.00 pm) • e170 Side Event #1 Turbo Cash

• e250 Satellite to WPT next event

Feb 15/Fri (1.00 pm) • e1,650 WPT Main Event Day 1B Re-entry (4-Day Event)

Feb 18/Mon (3.00 pm) • W PT Main Event Final Table

Brussels Grand Casino Poker Tournaments

Results

2012 Spring Poker Open (€330 Event)

Field: 82 players; Prize pool: €24,600 1st: Amel Dai (France): €8,280 2nd: Touhami Zekhini (Belgium): €4,920 3rd: Illir Goci (Belgium): €2,950

2012 Summer Poker Challenge (€550 Event)

Field: 71 players; Prize pool: €35,500 1st: Wim Verhaegen (Belgium): €11,892 2nd: Redouan Bettioui (Belgium): €7,100 3rd: Thomas Declerck (Belgium): €4,260

2012 Fall Poker Series (€770)

Field: 66 players; Prize pool: €46,200 1st: Arsim Jashanica (Belgium):€10,360 2nd: Agim Altindag (Belgium): €10,360 3rd: Jing Jiang (Belgium): €7,000

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Aria Poker Room

Multi-action in Las Vegas

The Poker Room at ARIA Resort & Casino is considered as the place to be in Vegas to play poker. Kathleen Paculan, poker host at Aria, Poker Host at ARIA has agreed to do a cross-interview with one of her very good friends, Sabine Hazoume, the poker host at Aviation Club de France, in Paris. Despite their different language and culture, the two hosts have a lot in common: providing the best service, the best cash-games and the best environment for the players… And both places will also host soon a step of season 2’s ACFPoker Tour.

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las vegas poker scene Could you please provide us with your career details: where and when did you start in the casino business?

Kathleen Paculan: My career started with MGM Resorts in July, 1998. I was only 21 years old and knew this company had opportunities of growth. I have been able to work at many properties including Treasure Island, Golden Nugget, Bellagio, The Mirage and now ARIA. During my growth I have also had experience working in Housekeeping/Public Area as an Assistant and Human Resources as Employment Supervisor. In 2004 I wanted to challenge myself within the company. I transferred to The Mirage for a position in the Poker Room as Poker Office Coordinator. Working in the casino versus the back-ofhouse was an entirely different ballgame. I loved it. I loved the challenge the Poker Room gave me but I wanted more.

In 2009 MGM Resorts built another spectacular property at CityCenter — ARIA Resort & Casino. I applied for the position of Poker Office Coordinator. In only a few years, I have been promoted to Poker Host. I have been exposed to some amazing guests, famous poker players and exceptional co-workers. The team here at ARIA’s Poker Room has really pulled together to make our room No. 1 worldwide. It is a fun place to work and play.

Sabine Hazoume: I joined the Aviation Club de France in 1997. I started out as a dealer, then I became floor manager, and then pretty quickly I became tournament director. Whereas I used to be in close contact with the players, now I organize the events.

Could you tell us about the ARIA Poker Room, and the ACF poker-room?

K.P.: ARIA has a spacious 24-table card room offering live poker games in a wide range of limits from 1-3 No Limit Hold’em to the highest limits. We offer two daily tournaments at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The buy-in is $125 with 10k starting chips. Each tournament offers an optional re-entry for $125. Our comp promotions are $2/hr all day and $3/hr from 5 a.m. — 10 a.m. We offer tableside dinner service, and guests are allowed to call in to get on the list with their game of choice for one hour.

S.H.: The room being cozy and intimate makes for a relaxed atmosphere, with buy-ins ranging from €100 to €10,000 — not to mention more than a dozen poker variants. Tournaments also take pride of place, as there are no less than six per week, with between four and five festivals all year round: the Euro Finals of Poker, the Paris Open of Poker, the WPT Grand Prix de Paris, and the ACF Hold’Em Series. Members of our staff offer the players their expertise and service, while doing all they can to ensure absolute comfort for all.

What attracted you initially to the gambling world?

K.P.: I wanted a challenge in my life. I found that the poker industry is a fast-paced environment for me to grow and apply my customer service experience to not only guests but to my fellow employees.

Kathleen Paculan

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las vegas poker scene

We also afford our guests the opportunity to eat at tremendous restaurants, see sensational shows, and enjoy some top-notch retail shops S.H.: I became part of the gambling world — which I didn’t know at all before working at the Aviation Club de France — by chance. I had studied science, so there was nothing in my makeup that might have pointed to a future in this very, shall we say peculiar environment.

Yet, the jovial atmosphere and the uniqueness of the job made short shrift of my initial doubts.

To what extent do foreign casinos influence the way you run your poker room, be it on a day-to-day basis, or for major events?

K.P.: We are different than other poker rooms in the way that we focus on providing exceptional customer service to our guests. Not only have we become the preferred destination for people to stay and play poker, but we also afford our guests the opportunity to eat at tremendous restaurants, see sensational shows, and enjoy some topnotch retail shops. Adam Altwies, Director of Poker Operations, has traveled around the world to other poker rooms to see how we can improve to strengthen our hold as the No. 1 poker room in the world.

S.H.: We are always keen to keep tabs on new technologies, and to try to adapt them as well as we can to our poker room, with the goal of improving service for our members. For example, we adopted the use of touchscreens and shuffling machines as soon as they appeared on the market. And our tournament directors and supervisors regularly visit casinos worldwide in order to keep track of poker’s ever-changing rules, regarding both tournaments and cash games.

What do you prefer best about your job? What events do you prefer?

K.P.: I love what I do. As Poker Host I have the ability to go above and beyond my duties. What I do best is ensure that our guests are satisfied with their stay. The best part of my day is hearing guests tell me, “I love this place and I am definitely coming back!”

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S.H.: The international tournaments, for example the WPT Grand Prix de Paris or Euro Finals Of Poker, which are some of the Aviation Club de France’s major events.

What kind of relationship do you have with your players/customers?

K.P.: I have a special relationship with our customers.

I try to give them exceptional customer service by remembering their preference when booking a room. I try to engage them in conversations about the restaurants they enjoyed, the shows they have attended and most of all, I do whatever I can to ensure that they will return in the near future.

S.H.: A warm and friendly atmosphere has set in over the years. Players contact me regularly to sign up for our tournaments, or for tournaments abroad, as well as for help with hotel or restaurant reservations — all sorts of questions, really.

What are the highest stakes available? Is it that different to manage a low-stake than a high-stake table?

K.P.: Other than the “usual” games of 1-3, 2-5, 5-10, 10-20 No Limit Hold’Em, 1-3, 2-5, 5-10 PLO and an assortment of various mixed games, I have seen games played as big as 1000-2000 No Limit, 500-1000 PLO, and 1000-2000 Mixed Games. These games usually run when there is a big event in town such as a big holiday or the WSOP events.

S.H.: Our most expensive games are the €2,500, €5,000, and €10,000 buy-ins. Each player gets identical treatment regardless of the sum he or she has invested, our goal being to open the poker world to those with limited means. The Aviation Club de France strives to guarantee quality service and unimpeachable hospitality to every one of our members.

Who would sit at your perfect cash-game table?

K.P.: We greatly appreciate and respect all guests who are staying with us at ARIA. Any full poker table with our guests is a perfect cash game.

S.H.: That’s a hard one. I’d probably have to say Bertrand Grospellier, Freddy Deeb, Phil Ivey, Tony G, Bruno Fitoussi, Kara Scott, David Benyamine and Theo Jorgensen.

Who do you think who would win heads-up in a mixed-games competition between both of you?

K.P.: Wow — tough decision but I think I would. I’m not much of a mixed game player but I play no-limit and limit often and I think I can adjust. As they say, firsttime players are generally lucky. I can definitely say I am LUCKY! S.H.: Seeing as I don’t play poker, I’ll let you answer that one for yourself.

AriA lAunches Multi-Action Poker tired of waiting minutes and minutes between poker hands at your favorite Vegas casino’s table? AriA resort & casino now provides players with a new type of live poker game: Multi-Action Poker. it allows you to play two games at once: two dealers sit across the table from one another, each taking care of a separate hand. the front and back of the cards are different and at each player’s seat there are two betting spaces (one red, one black) where different chip stacks can be placed. two flops are then drawn on each diamond line. the game play is exactly the same as a regular poker game, but with twice more action! this brand-new thrill has seduced a lot of Vegas players, so be sure to stop by the Poker room at AriA to try it as soon as possible!

Tournament

Casino Austria Poker Tour Seefeld

More games and more money

for a very special edition

of the CAPT

In the gorgeous Tyrolean Alps, 2013 will start with a flourish! Indeed, the great Casino Austria Poker Tour is introducing bigger events than ever, with a brand new concept, the Big Four. All main events of the Austrian tournament will now last for four days instead of two. The first stop of the year, from January 18-27, will take place in the legendary Olympic village of Seefeld, known for its fantastic snowy slopes and unspoiled landscapes. A wonderful opportunity to combine winter magic, outdoor sports and an intense poker experience in the beautiful Casino Seefeld! So pack your gear and your best game, and be ready for high stakes, as the prize money should reach at least €900,000.

I

It’s always a pleasure to join the Casino Austria Poker Tour: this well-established circuit offers great events in beautiful locations around Austria; each year, the organization is perfect, the prize money huge, the games intense. But in 2013, things are going to get even more exciting, as the CAPT is expanding: Kitzbühel and Linz will be added to the usual stops in Baden, Velden, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Bregenz and Seefeld. The other big improvement is the launching of a brand new concept, the Big Four. The four biggest stops of the series will feature longer main events, as they will now be lasting four days instead of two. Seefeld, starting on January 18, will be the first of 2013, and it should be one of the highlights of European poker for the coming year. So get ready for ten days of competition in the Casino Seefeld!

Seefeld for the adventurous and the epicurious The location itself is reason enough to join the series, as Seefeld is nestled in one of the most beautiful spots in the Alps. Chosen on two different occasions to host the Winter Olympic Games, Seefeld offers a wide range of activities for the more adventurous guests: amazing ski trails, crosscountry skiing, Nordic walking, paragliding... But not all of us are interested in such things. Some of us enjoy comfort, warmth and good food; heated Jacuzzis, horse carriages,

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By Rob Harsch

gambling. Seefeld has something for all of us, with some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, restaurants and spas, and of course, a great casino. All games — American Roulette, Easy Roulette, Multi Roulette asset, Black Jack, Baccara-Chemin-de-fer, Punto Banco, Easy Hold’em, Tropical Poker, and of course Poker (Texas, Omaha, Seven Card) — are played here. And if you get tired of cards, you can always rely on the 99 slot machines.

Bigger tournament, higher stakes

Stakes have never been higher in the snowy mountains of Tyrol: after five years of steadily increasing success, the CAPT is aiming to attract more participants than ever in 2013, and players from all across Europe are expected to enter the €2,000 Main Event, from January 22-26, with the aim of getting a share of the series’ estimated prize pool — a colossal €900,000. The exciting CAPT schedule has many other events to offer, covering different kinds of games, such as a 2-day Deepstack Texas Hold’em No Limit, January 25-27, or a 2-day Pot Limit Omaha January 20-21, both for a €500 buy-in. Satellites and supersatellites, with buyins ranging from €150 to €350, will also be on the menu, providing you with a wide variety of options. In January 2012, the CAPT Seefeld €2,000 Main Event attracted 187 players, mostly nonprofessionals, and generated a prize pool of €355,300. It was won by Serbia’s Dorde Jovanovic,

who brought home ₏94,690. This time, will you take your chances? Big money is at stake, and few professional players will get in the game, meaning it’s the perfect opportunity to notch up a first big win.

The four biggest stops of the series will feature longer main events, as they will now be lasting four days instead of two

How to get there?

By air: Innsbruck Airport has direct flights from Vienna, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hannover, Cologne/Bonn, Niederrhein-Weeze and Hamburg. Flights to Innsbruck leaving the UK from London, Bristol and Liverpool. From the airport, the Olympiaregion Seefeld is reachable in 25 minutes by car.

By train: There are good rail connections daily from Innsbruck and Munich in Austria, or Mittenwald and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany. Cheap and comfortable, the trains to Seefeld also feature great views of the stunning landscape.

By car: From Innsbruck, Seefeld is 25km to the northwest, just off Germany-bound Highway 177.

The road follows the Inntal until it rises sharply near Zirl. The track starts climbing soon after departing Innsbruck, providing spectacular views across the whole valley.

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Tournament

Hotels

Restaurants

Everything you need for a great stay in Seefeld is here, as this gorgeous four-star complex offers the complete package for poker lovers. Conveniently located in Seefeld’s pedestrian zone, it offers beautiful rooms and suites decorated in the genuine Alpine style, as well as all the amenities of the local lifestyle: sauna, steam bath, hot tub, solarium, indoor sports, and of course, a great casino. You can stay in and make the best of the cozy atmosphere; after a great game, you’ll be able to dance at the Nachspiel, the in-house disco, or head out to discover the surroundings, as the hotel offers free use of the village shuttle bus. Rooms from €85.

Address: Familie Albrecht Am Kurpark 124 6100 Seefeld Tel. +43 5212 2655 0 Bookings: office@karwendelhof.com

Don’t look any further, as the restaurant of the casino is one of the best in town! Here, you’ll be able to experience the fantastic typical cuisine of the region, with the most delicious roasted veal, lamb or fresh water fish.

The ever-changing menu of the Vorspiel is rich and authentic, featuring hearty dishes blending Italian, German and Austrian influences: from smoked meat to gnocchi and chocolate mousse, the three cultures blending harmoniously. Add the great local beers, and your meal will just be perfect. Prices are very reasonable: main courses €16-24 ; 4-course set menu €55.

Address: Bahnhofstr. 124 6100 Seefeld Tel +43/5212/2655-17 Reservations: office@karwendelhof.com

Casinohotel Karwendelhof ****

Relax & Spa Hotel Astoria*****

This amazing five-star spa hotel, located a stone’s throw from the casino in a stunning 20,000 square-meter park, is the most luxurious establishment in Seefeld. With a 2,000 square-meter spa area including connected indoor and outdoor pools, several saunas, a modern fitness room, a Kneipp basin, heated waterbeds, and a relaxation area with a bar and an open fireplace, it’s the ultimate relaxation spot in the region. After a thrilling day of poker, indulge! You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of massages, baths and beauty treatments to start fresh the next day. If it’s sports you’re after, you won’t be disappointed: Nordic walking, yoga, Pilates, guided cross-country ski tours, and much more, are available.

And if you just want to... sleep, the most comfortable kingsize beds will await you in each of the individually decorated rooms. Rooms from €220.

Address: Relax & Spa Hotel Astoria Geigenbühel 185 6100 Seefeld Tel. +43 5212 2272 Reservations: hotel@astoria-seefeld.com

Restaurant Vorspiel

Ritter Oswald Stube

In the center of the village, the Ritter Oswald Stube is a must for food lovers. This address, praised by the Gault&Millaut guide, is famous for its exquisite cuisine, which while respecting Italian, Austrian and French traditions, adds to them a dash of audacity. In this sumptuous historic décor, discover the surprising veal consommé with mushrooms and sesame, or the splendid local salmon served with Pata Negra ham, after which you might indulge yourself with the variation of chocolate with rhubarb sorbet... And don’t forget what you came for, as the tables of this restaurant might eclipse those of the casino! Main courses €18-34; 8-course menu €89.

Address: Klosterstrasse 30 6100 Seefeld Tel +43/5212/2621-0 Reservations: http://www.klosterbraeu.com

CAPT Seefeld Open

List of Winners €2,000 Main Event

2012: Field: 187 players; Prize pool: €355,300 1st: Dorde Jovanovic (Serbia): €94,690 2nd: Thomas Butzhammer (Germany): €56,850 3rd: Antonio Turrisi (Italy): €35,540

2010: Field: 192 players; Prize pool: €364,800 1st: Marco Meloni (Germany): €96,680 2nd: Ronald Zapantis (Austria): €68,580 3rd: Harry Casagrande (Austria): €48,150

2011: Field: 177 players; Prize pool: €336,300 1st: Andreas Griesser (Austria): €89,110 2nd: Istvan Toro (Hungary): €63,220 3rd: Peter Muhlbek (Austria): €44,390

2009: Field: 164 players; Prize pool: €311,600 1st: Bernhard Perner (Austria): €87,260 2nd: Vlado Sevo (Austria): €62,320 3rd: Wolfgang Simperl (Austria): €43,260

€1,000 Side Event

2012: Field: 150 players; Prize pool: €142,500 1st: Cristian Tardea (Romania): €39,190 2nd: Jan Heitmann (Germany): €24,220 3rd: Name and Country Withheld: €15,670

2010: Field: 220 players; Prize pool: €209,000 1st: Xhavid Berisha (Switzerland): €55,400 2nd: Milan Joksic (Austria): €39,290 3rd: Name and Country Withheld: €27,890

2011: Field: 151 players; Prize pool: €143,450 1st: Stjepan Jokic (Austria): €39,190 2nd: Daniel Schweitzer (Switzerland): €27,830 3rd: Walter Weber (Austria): €19,510

2009: Field: 153 players; Prize pool: €145,350 1st: Reinhard Dersch (Germany): €40,730 2nd: Benno Jobst (Germany): €29,070 3rd: Gyamati Andrea (Hungary): €20,350

CAPT Seefeld Schedule Jan 18/Fri (5.30 pm) • e300 Deepstack Day 1A (2-Day Event) Jan 19/Sat (2.00 pm) • e300 Deepstack Day 1B Re-entry (2-Day Event)

Jan 22/Tue (5.00 pm) • e500 Last Chance Satellite to CAPT Main Event Jan 23/Wed (2.00 pm) • e2,000 CAPT Main Event Day 1B Re-entry

Jan 20/Sun (2.00 pm) • e350 Turbo Deepstack Satellite to CAPT Main Event Jan 20/Sun (5.00 pm) • e500 Pot Limit Omaha Second Chance (2-Day Event) Jan 21/Mon (2.00 pm) • e200 Supersatellite to CAPT Main Event (1 Rebuy + 1 Add-on)

Jan 24/Thu (2.15 pm) • e150 Turbo Deepstack Satellite to €500 Deepstack Jan 25/Fri (2.15 pm) • e500 Deepstack Day 1A (2-Day Event) Jan 26/Sat (2.15 pm)

Jan 21/Mon (5.00 pm) • e250 Turbo Deepstack “Win the Button” Jan 22/Tue (2.00 pm) • e2,000 CAPT Main Event Day 1A (4-Day Event)

• e500 Deepstack Day 1B Re-entry (2-Day Event) Jan 27/Sun (3.00 pm) • e350 Deepstack

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Mega Poker Series and WPT Vienna

Two good reasons to go to Vienna in February From January 29-February 3, the Mega Poker Series will be hosted by the great Montesino Casino in Vienna, the Austrian temple of poker and entertainment, and so will be the World Poker Tour, from February 19-24. The fantastic “Pokertainment Center” running 24/7 will be the perfect setting for two exciting series that you should not miss, as poker players rush from across Europe to try to get a share of the huge prize pools. So get ready for winter in Vienna, the lovely Austrian capital, both international circuits are waiting for you!

V

Vienna is in the heart of Europe, and its famous poker events always bring huge crowds of players from the Balkans, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic and much more. Its busy Casino Montesino is the perfect place to immerse oneself in a thrilling atmosphere, as it offers great service 24/7 and a large number of games for all kinds of gamblers. It is proud of its very own “Pokertainment Center” that never sleeps, with live tournaments, a sit and go and cash game area, a poker school for beginners through advanced-level players, an exclusive restaurant featuring outstanding international cuisine, a betting lounge with its own sports bar, 42 flat screens, online terminals and live broadcasts, a game zone equipped with slot machines as well as tech slot machines and a show stage.

Montesino, perfect host of two first-class circuits Casino Montesino is one of the most exciting poker spots in Europe, providing international poker events such as the Deepstack Poker Championship, the Mega Poker Series and the World Poker Tour (International and National Series) in the heart at the Austrian capital, each time racking up a big success. Montesino has also hosted incredible events, such as the Party Poker Premier League in April 2012, when 16 of the best players on the international poker scene (Sam Trickett, Tom Dwan, Patrik Antonius and Tony G, among others), grappled in a $125,000 buy-in tournament, leaving American players Scott Seiver ($500,000), Daniel Cates ($300,000) and Phil Laak ($175,000) trusting the first places. And this ideal casino will begin 2013 in a big way, by hosting two amazing international poker circuits this winter.

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By Antoine Salvi

Mega Poker Series, from January 29-February 3 First, the Mega Poker Series, a European poker tour which last year reached cities such as Opatija, in Croatia, Madrid and Nottingham, will stop in Vienna for the second time in its history from January 31-February 3, with throngs of European players expected. Last year, the €700 + €70 Main Event brought 390 participants, generating a prize pool of €273,000. Hungarian Bago Csaba won the first prize, returning home with €47,445; the final table was entirely composed of different nationalities, reflecting the very international character of the event, as Romanian, Lithuanian, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, Austrian and Serbia players were all competing.

This year, the €770 4-day Main Event will start on January 30 (Day 1B on the 31st and two €60 Satellites on the 30th and the 31st), and will be followed by several side events, such as a €150 + €150 + €15 Bounty event on the 31st, a 2-day €220 tournament starting on February 1, a €330 event on February 2 and 3, and a 2-day €1,650 High Roller event, also on February 2 and 3. This winter, will you have the guts to measure up to poker aficionados from all across Europe?

The World Poker Tour Vienna, from February 19-24 The same month, the legendary World Poker Tour will also stop in Montesino for an intense five-day competition, from February 19-24. Its €3,200 + €300 Main Event is always a big success, dragging 396 players last year for an impressive prize pool of €1,660,680. Indeed, 2012 edition offered an intense struggle, with Roberto Romanello, Anton Wigg

and Tristan Wade approaching the final table (respectively 10th, 11th and 12th), and Ukrainian Eugene Katchalov and Yevgeniy Timoshenko entering the money (respectively 19th and 23rd). By the end, Dane Morten Christensen grabbed the €313,390 first prize, beating heads-up Russian Konstantin Tolokno (€191,740).

The €9,700 + €300 High roller is always a great moment of the Austrian series, with high stakes players animating the poker room and doing their best for the first prize. Last year, Canadian Sorel Mizzi bested Yevgeniy Timoshenko heads-up for €114,070, and Tobias Reinkemeier ended second in 2011 (€104,560), leaving the title and the €185,120 first prize to Mclean Karr. The full schedule of this 2013 WPT Vienna has not been announced yet, but players can be sure to find all kind of side events, with buy-ins ranging from approximately €330 to €1,080.

In February, Vienna will definitely be the place to be for poker lovers, so pack your winter clothes; Casino Montesino is waiting for you!

How to get there?

By air: Vienna-Schwechat Airport is connected to most European cities by a large number of airlines, including low-cost. The City Airport Train (CAT) will take you to the city center in 16 minutes. The airport express buses and the express train S7 are also very convenient.

By train: There are very frequent trains for all neighboring regions and countries. Night trains and quicker Euro-City trains arrive from virtually every city in Central Europe. High-speed ICE and RailJet trains arrive from places like Munich, Budapest and Zurich.

There are frequent (hourly) regional trains to Czech, Slovak and Hungarian border regions.

By car: Located smack in the middle of Europe, Vienna is very easy to reach by car. The quality of the Austrian roads is excellent but keep in mind that tolls are compulsory on all motorways and expressways in Austria and that you will also need a vignette to use Vienna’s city motorways.

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Tournament

Hotels

Restaurants

This good and affordable hotel is by far the most convenient place to stay when playing at the Montesino Casino, as it located just 50 meters away. Here the rooms are stylish yet simple, service is good, the bar is perfect for beer and sports lovers, and the restaurant serves fine cuisine. Rooms from €59.

Address: Paragonstrasse 1 – 1110 Vienna Tel: +43 (1) 7431 777 Reservations: www.roomz-vienna.com

Look no further – you won’t have to run across town to enjoy great food at any time of the day or night! The casino restaurant has everything to satisfy your various cravings, from Italian classics to traditional Austrian dishes as well as the juiciest burgers in the area. Main courses €7 - €15

Hotel Roomz

Vienna Sporthotel

Closer to the city center, but only 1,5 km from the casino, the Sporthotel is a convenient, modern and comfortable option. It features a great bar and restaurant, a large spa and wellness center with a sauna, an exercise room, an outdoor pool, a tennis court and indoor golf.

Rooms from €95.

Address: Baumgasse 83 – 1030 Wien Tel: +43 (1) 7988 201 Reservations: info@vienna-sporthotel.at

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Montesino Restaurant

Montesino Sportsbar

To relax after a great game, the Sportsbar of Montesino Casino is the perfect place. Fine wines, chilled beers, long drinks, soft drinks and all kinds of snacks are available anytime, leaving no wish unfulfilled. If you like sports, 42 flat screens will make you very happy; if you prefer a quiet atmosphere, the chill-out zone and its stunning view of the Austrian capital is the ideal spot. Drinks €1- €4.

Address: Montesino Casino Guglgasse 11, Top 5 – 1110 Wien Tel: +43 (1) 9904 729 www.montesino.at

Mega Poker Series Montesino Schedule Jan 29/Tue (7.00 pm): • €60 Satellite to MPS Main Event (1 Rebuy + 1 Addon) Jan 30/Wen (2.00 pm): • €770 MPS Main Event Day 1A (Re-Entry; 4-Day Event)

€3,500 Main Event

List of Winners 2012

Jan 30/Wen (7.00 pm): • €60 Satellite to MPS Main Event (1 Rebuy + Addon)

Field: 396 players; Prize pool: e1,267,200 1st Morten Christensen €313,390 2nd Konstantin Tolokno €191,740 3rd Benjamin Willinofsky €122,910

Jan 31/Thu (2.00 pm): • €770 MPS Main Event Day 1B (Re-entry; 4-Day Event)

2011

Jan 31/Thu (7.00 pm): • €150 + €50 + €15 Bounty Event Feb 1/Fri (8.00 pm): • €170 Satellite SNG’s to High Roller Event (Rebuy + Addon) Feb 2/Sat (5.00 pm): • €330 NLHE Event Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 2/Sat (9.00 pm): • €1,650 High Roller Event Day 1 (2-Day Event) Feb 3/Sun (3.00 pm): • Invitational VIP Freeroll Feb 3/Sun (5.00 pm): • €50 + €50 + €10 Bounty Event Feb 3/Sun (7.00 pm): • €160 Satellite to MPS (2 Packages)

Field: 555 players; Prize pool: e1,776,000 1st Dmitry Gromov €447,840 2nd Maksim Kolosov €241,180 3rd Simon Ravnsbaek €140,175

€10,000 High Roller Event

List of Winners 2012

Field: 30 players; Prize pool: e291,000 1st Sorel Mizzi €114,070 2nd Yevgeniy Timoshenko €71,290 rd 3 Stephen O’Dwyer €42,780

2011

Field: 50 players; Prize pool: e475,300 1st Mclean Karr €185,120 2nd Tobias Reinkemeier €104,560 3rd Nicolo Calia €57,040

Tournament

EFOP and WPT National series in Paris

Busy month of January at the Aviation Club de France Paris will be the most exciting European city for poker in January, with no less than three major tournaments: first the Tournoi Anniversaire of the legendary Aviation Club de France, offering a very special schedule to celebrate the 18th year of the poker room’s existence, from January 4-6, then the Euro Finals of Poker from January 8-28, crowning European champions in six different categories, and featuring an amazing number of satellites and side events, such as the €750 ACFPoker Tour Main Event, and last but not least, the World Poker Tour National series from January 1014 will provide all the fun and excitement it’s rightly famous for. Three very good reasons to head to the French capital in early 2013, and even more opportunities to win big, so get your tickets now!

E

Ever thought about visiting Paris? If you love poker, it’s now or never, as it will be the busiest place for gambling in early 2013.

Sure, the city of light is beautiful and has a lot of charm on offer; between the museums, architecture, unbelievable restaurants and the French art de vivre, you will never get bored there. But you probably won’t have time to enjoy all that, as amazing poker tournaments will follow one another and even overlap. Don’t worry though — you won’t have to run hither and thither as everything will be happening in the great Aviation Club de France, known as one of Europe’s best spots for poker, offering thrilling events all year-long and attracting the best players in the world. Indeed, the mythical French poker room, located on the Champs-Élysées, the most beautiful avenue in the world, will have a very busy schedule in January as it will host three major events: its Tournoi Anniversaire, the EFOP and the WPT National Series.

18 years of poker at the Aviation Club de France This great month of poker in Paris will start with a celebration! Indeed, the Aviation Club de France has been providing poker tournaments for 18 years, and it will honor its regular players with a €200 Re-entry Anniversary Tournament, which will run over three days, from January 4-6. The prize pool will be enhanced by tickets to the EFOP’s biggest events, with a €500 ticket to the EFOP Bronze Championship for the 4th place finisher, a €750 ticket to ACFPoker Tour for the 3rd

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By Philip Aronson place finisher, a €1,000 ticket to the EFOP Silver Championship for the runner-up, and a €2,000 ticket for the champion!

The WPT National Series opens the 2013 EFOP festival Then, the European Final of Poker will kick off on January 8, for three weeks of high-class poker in the heart of the French capital. The first big moment of this series will undoubtedly be the first edition of the €1,500 World Poker Tour National Series Paris. This 4-day re-entry tournament will start on January 10 (Day 1B on January 11), and it will be a great occasion to grab a WPT title in Paris (which was the first European place to hold a WPT series in Europe), for a lower buy-in. Two satellites to the WPT National Series Main Event will be organized on January 9: the first one will be a €100 Freezeout event, while the second will provide a €50 Re-buy structure.

ACFPoker Tour Paris

The homemade poker series will be back home for the first time of its second season, after a stop at Casino Gruissan (68 players, for a €44,064 prize pool), and before traveling around Europe (ACFPoker Tour Brussels from February 16), and in the southern hemisphere (ACFPoker Tour Mauritius from March 9). In Paris, this 2-day €750 tournament will start on January 13, and three €100 Satellites to the event will run on January 8 (at 2.30 pm and 8.00 pm) and 12.

Euro Finals Of Poker Paris

Right after these two amazing events, the European Finals of Poker will enliven the tables of the Aviation Club de France. The 2-day €500 Bronze Championship will start on January 15, right after its €50 Satellite. Then players will join the tables for the €1,000 Silver Championship on the 17th (also a 2-day event), and the €2,000 Gold Championship on the 19th, for three days of tournaments. The 2-day €1,000 Omaha Championship (starting on the 21st) will also be a huge moment of this series, as French poker players love this game, along with the 2-day €10,000 High Roller event which will begin on the 27th.

But the highlight of the EFOP festival will undoubtedly be the €5,000 Main Event Diamond Championship, a four-day tournament which attracts crowds of players every year.

Last year, 109 participants entered the event, generating

a €517,750 prize pool, and Frenchman Bruno Lopes won €100,000 after his heads-up against his fellow citizen Aubin Cazals (€94,760).

Besides all these great tournaments, several satellites will be opened, giving tickets to the whole EFOP Championship, with buy-ins ranging from €50 to €1,000. But that’s not it, as three other qualifier tournaments will be held during this series: a €600 Satellite to EPT Deauville Main Event on the 16th, a €100 Satellite to ACFPoker Tour Brussels on the 27th, followed by a €200 Satellite to WPT National Series Brussels on the 28th.

The EFOP 2013 will be an intense poker festival, so if you wish to play great tournaments in January, look no further: the Aviation Club de France is the place to be!

How to get there?

By air: Most international airlines fly to Paris; the French capital is served by Aéroport d’Orly and Aéroport Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle, both well-linked by public transport to central Paris. More of a trek is the Aéroport de Beauvais, which handles charter and certain budget carriers, including Ryanair and Central Wings.

By train: Thanks to the very fast TGV (train à grande vitesse) trains, getting to Paris is fast and convenient.

All six railway stations — Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare du Nord, Gare Montparnasse and Gare St. Lazare — handle passenger traffic to different parts of France and Europe. From London, the Eurostar arrives in Gare du Nord in a lightning-quick two hours; the station is also the final destination of trains coming from Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne.

Where to stay • Hotel California, starting €240 • Hotel Warwick, starting €240 • Royal Hotel, starting €200 • Hotel Napoleon, starting €200 • Hotel Balzac, starting €300 • Hotel Lord Byron, starting €150 • Hotel Mayflower, starting €130 • L’Arc Élysées, starting €160 • Hotel Lancaster, starting €320

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Tournament Diamond Championships

List of Winners 2012

Gold Championship Event

List of Winners 2012

Field: 109 players; Prize pool: e517,750 1st Bruno Lopes €100,000 2nd Aubin Cazals €94,760 3rd Jérôme Naye €90,000

Field: 168 players; Prize pool: e315,840 1st Yann Brosolo €70,000 2nd Samir Choubani €62,500 3rd Charles Harvey €37,900

2011

2011

2010

2010

Field: 188 players; Prize pool: e884,352 1st Natalya Nikitina €243,830 2nd Alexandre Brivot €174,170 3rd Jean-Louis Tepper €113,210

Field: 146 players; Prize pool: e271,888 1st Julien Muel €65,240 2nd Ilan Boujenah €65,240; 3rd Dino Marsani €35,345

Field: 142 players; Prize pool: e667,400 1st Hugo Lemaire €213,570 2nd Eric Qu €113,460 3rd Michel Abecassis €80,090

Field: 141 players; Prize pool: e262,260 1st Eric Haik €66,040 2nd Nicolas Dieu €60,000 3rd Sylvain Madar €30,870

2009

2009

Field: 102 players; Prize pool: e479,400 1st Dave Ulliott €133,880 nd 2 Roger Hairabedian €100,000 3rd Laurent Santos €57,530

€10,000 High Roller Event

List of Winners 2012

Field: 31 players; Prize pool: e297,600 1st Sebastian Winkler €108,450 2nd Juha Helppi €73,950 rd 3 Pierre Calamusa €70,560

2011

Field: 27 players; Prize pool: e256,642 1st Imad Derwiche €125,000 2nd Bouali Saiah €65,000 3rd Firas Nassar €46,000

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Field: 138 players; Prize pool: e256,680 1st Yves Hallague €57,100 nd 2 Xavier Detournel €52,475 3rd Jude Ainsworth €47,000

EFOP 2013 Schedule Jan 8/Tue (2.30 pm & 8.00 pm): • Two €100 Satellites to ACFPoker Tour Paris

Jan 16/Wed (8.00 pm): • €600 Satellite to the EPT Deauville

Jan 9/Wed: • €50 (2.30 pm) & €200 (8.00 pm) Satellites to WPT National Series

Jan 17/Thu (2.30 pm) : • €150 Satellite to Silver Championship

Jan 10/Thu (2.30 pm): • €1,500 WPT National Series Paris Re-entry (Two Day 1; 4-Day Event)

Jan 17/Thu (8.00 pm): • €1,000 Silver Championship (2-Day Event)

Jan 12/Sat (10.00 pm): • €100 Satellite to ACFPoker Tour Paris

Jan 18/Fri: • €100 (2.30 pm) & €250 (8.00 pm) Satellites to Gold Championship

Jan 13/Sun (8.00 pm): • €750 ACFPoker Tour Event (2-Day Event) Jan 15/Tue (2.30 pm): • €50 Satellite to Bronze Championship Jan 15/Tue (8.00 pm): • €500 Bronze Championship (2-Day Event) Jan 16/Wed (2.00 pm): • €150 Satellite to Silver Championship

Jan 19/Sat (2.30 pm): • €2,000 Gold Championship (3-Day Event) Jan 20/Sun (8.00 pm): • €100 Satellite to Omaha Championship Jan 21/Mon (2.30 pm): • €1,000 Omaha Championship Triple Chance (2-Day Event) Jan 21/Mon (8.00 pm):

• € 500 Satellite to Diamond Championship Jan 22/Tue: • €50 Feeder (2.30 pm) & €500 (8.00 pm) Satellites to Diamond Championship Jan 23/Wed: • €50 Feeder (2.30 pm) & €750 (8.00 pm) Satellites to Diamond Championship Jan 24/Thu (2.30 pm): • €5,000 Main Event Diamond Championship (4-Day Event) Jan 25/Fri (8.00 pm): • €150 Feeder Satellite to High Roller Jan 26/Sat (8.00 pm): • €1,000 Satellite to High Roller Jan 27/Sun (2.30 pm): • €10,000 High Roller (2-Day Event) Jan 27/Sun (8.00 pm): • €100 Satellite to ACFPoker Tour Brussels Jan 28/Mon (8.00 pm): • €200 Satellite to WPT National Series Brussels

Victoria Coren

INTERESTING HANDS IN BRISTOL

CHRONICLE VICTORIA COREN

I had a great time at the UKIPT Bristol tournament this weekend. It was just really fun; Bristol is a great city, everyone around was good-tempered and lovely, lots of likable players were in town for the game, and I was involved in some really interesting poker hands.

As I usually do, I tweeted a few updates. But two things were just too big for the small space allowed there: an incredible clash of monster hands with James Dempsey (who’d given me a lift to Bristol in his amazing James Bond car, for which I remain grateful, despite the hand that follows), and my exit from the tournament. Both of those situations defied one-line summary.

Tweeting “I lost with quads” or “I got it all in with a pair of nines” is misleading in its brevity, as there is a lot of other key information that changes the landscape.

I promised the extended version, and here it is. Very extended. If you’re not a poker fan, I do NOT recommend you read on. But if

you play the game, I think you’ll find these coups quite interesting.

1) Quads If you lose a hand with quads, people will just say “Unlucky — no getting away from that.”

Actually, that’s not necessarily true. It’s worth thinking about every losing hand, to see if chips could have been saved, even if only for 30 seconds.

A little while into day one, a young chap raised to 450 (blinds 100-200), James “Flushy” Dempsey called, there was another caller, and I flat called from the big blind with two red jacks.

(No need to make the pot huge out of position, I thought — especially since I’d already made that mistake once with a pair of tens). The flop came K Q J, all clubs. Trips! But hardly unassailable trips, on that kind of board.

I checked, the original raiser checked, Dempsey bet 1200, next guy folded, I called and the original raiser folded. So now I’m heads up with James. Turn: jack of spades. Quads!

OK, now I’m confident. I checked and Dempsey irritatingly checked behind. So, I chucked out a bet in a sort of “Well, if you don’t want it…” kind of way (which obviously goes as an early river bet, since the turn action is complete).

Betting or checking in the dark is nearly always a dumb thing to do, as it gives unnecessary extra information and the situation might change massively — but it’s not easy to get paid with quads, either, especially by a player of Dempsey’s caliber. My hand couldn’t go behind, it was too massive, and what I didn’t want was for him to be chased away by a scare card. So I bet early, making my action just as the river card came over.

River: ten of clubs. Ah yes; of course there was a universe where my hand could go behind, just an extremely unlikely one. And here it was: a possible straight flush.

Flushy now raises to 11,000. Or it might have been 10,000. And I had a long think.

The one or two less experienced players on my table (it was a very tough table) were a bit shocked by this

think, as were others who heard about it. They believe, understandably, that quads can never be folded.

But what could he have? James Dempsey is an excellent poker player, and I think he credits me with a clue myself; he would never raise with a full house here and expect me to call with worse. He really should have a straight flush.

The problem was the dark(ish) river bet. Dempsey knows that I would not make that bet if I had the ace of clubs myself; therefore he can represent it. His hand is absolutely polarized here: he has the straight flush, or he’s bluffing.

But if he’s bluffing, he’s taken a very specific line: had a brave (some would say reckless) go at nicking it off three players on the flop when the original raiser checks in disappointment, then (despite being just heads-up now) given up on the turn — and then seized a late-breaking opportunity to bluff again when the absolute scare card comes on the river. It’s a pretty weird play. Then again, it would rarely be said of Flushy that he never bluffs.

Eventually I called, with this possibility in mind, and of course he had the ace of clubs for the royal flush. I knew even as I called that he has it significantly more than 50% of the time; he’s bluffing more than 0% of the time, but it’s a low percentage. Therefore, as I tweeted: “I just made a bad call with quads — and that’s not something I can say every day.”

2) The rogue element Despite this sick match-up of hands with Flushy on day one, which took me down to 7,000 in chips, I recovered to make day two and got my chips up to a strong 100,000 by mid-afternoon.

What’s interesting (I think) is that I was basically knocked out by a player who didn’t actually get a single one of my chips — nor, I think, did he have any real idea that he was instrumental to my demise. Funny how it can be like that, sometimes; someone can get your chips due to the actions of a third party who affected the action like the beat of a butterfly’s wings altering the universe.

It came down to two key hands. I’d suffered a bad beat against an all-in player and my stack was around 75,000. With blinds at 400-800, I found 88 in the small blind and an Irish guy raised to 1700. The Persian gentleman on my immediate right, who had a stack of about 35,000, called. I was going to be out of position on the hand, but I felt like I liked the situation. I decided to take a flop with them.

It came 2-3-3. This was a good flop for me, and I elected to check-raise. So, I checked and the Irishman bet 3500.

The Persian called. Pretty sure I was in front, I raised to 15,000. Bizarrely, they both called. Okay: I was done with the hand. I had evidently misread the situation; I wasn’t sure what the Irishman had (and, despite his quick call of my raise, I strongly suspected two overcards) but the Persian guy absolutely must have a big pair. There was just no way he could flat call 15,000 out of a 35,000 stack against two opponents without a huge hand.

So, although the turn brought another 3 to give me a full house, I’d lost interest and checked. The Irishman now bet out, around 20,000. To my absolute astonishment, the Persian folded. How was this possible? What on earth could he have, to call for nearly half his stack, against two players, and then fold immediately on a blank turn? We’ll never know.

Unfortunately, I still had to fold myself. When the Irishman made his 20,000 bet, he had the same information I had: that this Persian player waiting behind him had already coldcalled nearly half his chips, indicating a huge hand. It was no longer possible for the Irish kid to have AK or AQ, as it would be just too crazy to bet into the (basically unfoldable) Persian hand with no pair. So he must be the one with the aces or kings. I folded, and the Irish guy triumphantly showed KTo. I must say, I feel that his play was very inadvisable – not because of my action, but because it was absolutely impossible to predict that the Persian would fold for the bet. For a tournament of this kind, it was far too high-octane a bluff. Basically, people never fold in that spot. Nevertheless, it got through. When I folded and the bluff was shown, the Persian snapped at me — something like “I couldn’t call with you behind me” — which makes me think he had no idea that it was his own previous cold-calling that made it impossible for me to continue in the hand. Not because of him, but because of what the Irishman was supposed to think about him.

Not long after, I had a stack of 52,000 when I found a pair of nines on the button. The action passed round to our Persian friend, who (with blinds of 500-1000) made a relatively large raise, to 4200. He only had 20,000 left and I wanted them all; remembering the strange late fold he’d made previously, I figured it was best to just call here and let him bet again on the flop. So I called.

Now the small blind raised up to 13,000. The Persian chap (as I had feared he would if I three-bet myself) folded.

Thing was, I was happy enough with the small blind’s raise because it seemed very likely I had the best hand here. It’s pretty standard to make a squeezy three-bet in this spot anyway, and the small blind had witnessed the previous action — he hadn’t seen my cards in the 88 hand so could chalk me down for a big failed bluff, and he’d seen the Persian character make a massive call-fold. So, he can raise in this spot with an absolutely vast range of hands. Any two cards, really. It would be stupid to pass a pair of nines. So I stuck in the four-bet; can’t remember the amount, but enough to commit my stack (something like 35,000), and when the SB declared all in I had to call. But hello! He had a pair of aces. Must have been nice.

His hand held up and I was out.

So, that was how I was effectively knocked out of the tournament by a player who didn’t actually get any of my chips. All my actions were determined by the Persian maneuvers, despite losing (in both pots) to other opponents entirely.

And the funny thing is, I don’t regret sticking it in with the pair of nines. They happened to be losing, but all factors considered, it would have been a bad fold (and a weak call).

As for the quads… that should have been quite an easy fold.

Just goes to show: when you read a one-line summary of a hand online (“He had this, she had that, this happened”), it can seem very easy to say “Ooh, bad call” or “Wow, unlucky!”

— but there is almost always more to it, a secret narrative that tells a completely different story.

POKER 52 auropa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

71

RANKING

From 1st Jan 2012 to 31th dec 2012 And 2012 winner is... Sam Trickett! The British lad had a tremendous year, once again, especially thanks to his great performances in the super high-roller tournaments as well as the most expensive tournament in the history of poker, the One Drop, during the WSOP in Las Vegas. Germany has three players in a row just behind Trickett: Marvin Rettenmaier, one of the most funny persons on the poker circuit, Ole Schemion and Tobias Reikenmaier. Patrik Antonius and Gus Hansen are still ranked fifth and sixth, thanks to some good high-roller action, despites his absence in most of big live tournaments. ElkY is ranked tenth, despite his big presence on the tournament scene, where as the first woman is french player Lucille Cailly, thanks to her runner-up finish in EPT Monte-Carlo and numerous ITM.

Sam Trickett

Ranking

Ole Schemion

Marvin Rettenmaier

Player

Winnings (USD)

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Sam Trickett

11,166,185

16

Davidi Kitai

1,161,005

2

Marvin Rettenmaier

2,503,016

17

Ilari Sahamies

1,132,326

3

Ole Schemion

2,069,102

18

Ramzi Jelassi

1,122,068

4

Tobias Reinkemeier

2,019,906

19

Philippe Ktorza

1,030,860

5

Patrik Antonius

1,945,242

20

Ludovic Lacay

1,005,714

6

Gus Hansen

1,823,579

21

Dominik Nitsche

952,660

7

Igor Kurganov

1,807,516

22

John Paul Kelly

915,971

8

Philipp Gruissem

1,744,052

23

Karen Sarkisyan

893,665

9

Leonid Bilokur

1,740,990

24

Jannick Wrang

888,446

10

Bertrand Grospellier

1,697,310

25

Sergii Baranov

885,846

11

Andras Koroknai

1,640,902

26

Aubin Cazals

819,365

12

Viktor Blom

1,456,683

27

Paul Guichard

819,225

13

Lucille Cailly

1,450,167

28

Joni Jouhkimainen

817,937

14

Vadim Kursevich

1,383,817

29

Frederik Brink Jensen

760,206

15

Mikalai Pobal

1,274,331

30

Bernard Guigon

738,254

72 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

Ranking

Player

31

Jan Peter Jachtmann

32

Winnings (USD)

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

737,115

66

Danyel Boyaciyan

483,229

Rocco Palumbo

728,969

67

Ognjen Sekularac

479,295

33

Besim Hot

720,448

68

Ruben Visser

469,494

34

Artem Litvinov

696,537

69

Talal Shakerchi

468,567

35

Mikhail Smirnov

688,483

70

Morten Lihn Christensen

462,056

36

Sotirios Koytoypas

666,614

71

Tom Middleton

452,929

37

Tomas Junek

661,022

72

Andrei Stoenescu

450,566

38

Juha Helppi

659,154

73

Luke Schwartz

447,490

39

Mickey Petersen

645,438

74

Jérémy Quehen

444,926

40

Christopher Brammer

641,932

75

Mohamad Kowssarie

435,861

41

Gaëlle Baumann

639,754

76

Vuong Than Trong

431,369

42

Kevin Vandersmissen

611,578

77

Artem Metalidi

429,700

43

Elisabeth Hille

603,785

78

Neil Channing

421,624

44

Jonathan Aguiar

600,232

79

Pierre Neuville

421,468

45

Samad Razavi

598,866

80

Vincent Van Der Fluit

412,922

46

Stéphane Albertini

593,522

81

Govert Metaal

404,638

47

Stephen Chidwick

588,463

82

Pieter De-Korver

384,925

48

Sergio Castelluccio

582,674

83

Fraser MacIntyre

384,322

49

Oleksii Kovalchuk

580,830

84

Paul Berende

383,166

50

Jan Heitmann

577,462

85

Theo Jørgensen

382,764

51

Terje Augdal

559,699

86

Andre Morath

379,125

52

Kristijonas Andrulis

559,212

87

Chris Bjorin

378,030

53

Roger Hairabedian

545,439

88

Simon Ravnsbaek

376,374

54

Fabian Quoss

544,321

89

Paul Vas Nunes

372,913

55

Craig McCorkell

539,348

90

Jason Tompkins

372,886

56

Wilfried Harig

533,728

91

Benjamin Spindler

371,858

57

Bruno Lopes

533,303

92

Anaras Alekberovas

370,746

58

Vladimir Mefodichev

533,138

93

Dominykas Karmazinas

369,928

59

Laurent Polito

531,388

94

Rinat Bogdanov

368,685

60

Yorane Kerignard

527,613

95

Fernando Brito

367,529

61

Michael Gathy

521,397

96

Konstantin Puchkov

359,382

62

Tom Alner

517,528

97

Toby Lewis

348,030

63

Fabrice Soulier

511,738

98

Vyacheslav Zhukov

345,993

64

Éric Sfez

511,301

99

Marcello Marigliano

345,835

65

Marcin Wydrowski

486,209

100

Andreas Eiler

342,466

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

73

RANKING

All time money list - Europe Who can beat Sam Trickett? With more than $17,000,000 total, he is way ahead veterans like Gus Hansen ($11,000,000) or even Main Event’s former champions such as Peter Eastgate or Carlos Mortensen. ElkY is ranked fifth with a little bit more than $10,000,000. As One Drop will not be organized until the 2014 edition of WSOP, Sam Trickett might remain the first European player for quite a while now... But maybe Macau will provide some even more expensive action this year.

No doubt, though, that the British player will be around to play at those tables!

Sam Trickett

Ranking

Country

Gus Hansen

Player

Winnings (USD)

Peter Eastgate

Ranking

Country

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Sam Trickett

17,470,283

16

Juha Helppi

2

Gus Hansen

11,210,073

17

Surinder Sunar

3

Peter Eastgate

11,127,554

18

Yevgeniy Timoshenko

4,505,464

4

Carlos Mortensen

10,811,436

19

Andy Black

4,423,333

5

Bertrand Grospellier

10,343,913

20

Tobias Reinkemeier

4,285,333

6

Pius Heinz

8,971,109

21

Vitaly Lunkin

4,266,161

7

Eugene Katchalov

7,252,032

22

Fabrice Soulier

4,101,540

8

Ivan Demidov

6,777,519

23

Marcel Luske

4,066,820

9

David Benyamine

6,454,548

24

Antoine Saout

3,996,098

10

Dave Ulliott

6,012,424

25

Marty Smyth

3,876,539

11

Martin Staszko

5,626,961

26

Marvin Rettenmaier

3,873,479

12

Chris Bjorin

5,472,434

27

Roger Hairabedian

3,866,083

13

Roland de Wolfe

5,330,556

28

Alexander Kravchenko

3,864,463

14

Patrik Antonius

5,328,713

29

Annette Obrestad

3,780,530

15

Jeff Lisandro

4,974,548

30

Pieter De-Korver

3,670,926

74 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

4,698,200 4,651,115

Available at www.poker52europa.fr

4

David Steicke

6

Alessio Isaia

7

8

9

Spain

10

Dario Minieri Dario Alioto

Sergio Castelluccio Player

3,290,434 2,895,717

2,535,900

1,861,016

Winnings (USD) 10,811,436

3

Juan Maceiras Lapido Jr.

1,082,049

2

5

7

8

9

10

Raul Paez Corral Dragan Kostic

1,666,245 922,347

Raul Mestre

916,089

Jesús Cortes

828,203

Juan Garcia Cid

718,381

Tomeu Gomila Leo Margets

Adria Maria Balaguer

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

Max Lykov

2,803,200

6,777,519

4,266,161

4

Alexander Kostritsyn

6

Igor Kurganov

2,698,294

Andrey Pateychuk

2,188,926

Konstantin Puchkov

1,784,608

8

9

10

Leonid Bilokur

Ranking

Player

1

Chris Bjorin

3

William Thorson

2 4 5

6 7

8

9

10

2,915,269

Winnings (USD) 5,472,434

Christer Johansson

2,161,275

Ramzi Jelassi

Kent Lundmark

Player

Winnings (USD)

2,524,183

9

10

8

9

10

Marty Smyth

3,876,539

Liam Flood

1,145,807

1,142,446

Philipp Gruissem

3,370,892

Sebastian Ruthenberg Moritz Kranich

Andreas Krause

Dominik Nitsche Ole Schemion

Player

3,457,185

2,932,396 2,306,738 2,217,332

2,151,056 Winnings (USD)

Gus Hansen

11,210,073

Theo Jørgensen

3,239,762

Frederik Brink Jensen Jan Sorensen

Søren Kongsgaard Nielsen Lars Bonding Sander Lyloff

Rasmus Nielsen Player

11,127,554

2,302,466 2,205,263 2,170,621

1,988,594 1,852,848 1,712,552

1,418,747 Winnings (USD)

Dag Martin Mikkelsen

1,499,148

9 7

8

10

Jan Olav Sjavik Trond Eidsvig

Andreas Walnum Johnny Lodden

1,623,879 1,197,518

1,175,798

1,092,588

Marcel Bjerkmann

977,333

Kristian Kjondal

Player

1

Bertrand Grospellier

3

Fabrice Soulier

2

3,780,530

1,849,442

Bjorn-Erik Glenne

Ranking

1,201,017

Noel Furlong

3,506,782

1,654,064

1,290,620

Donnacha O'Dea

3,873,479

Benjamin Spindler

Andreas Hoivold

Dermot Blain

1,209,798

8,971,109

4,285,333

3

2

4

John Magill

Winnings (USD)

Annette Obrestad

1,648,908 1,398,668

3,158,830

1

Padraig Parkinson Fintan Gavin

Tobias Reinkemeier

Ranking

5

1,710,791

Eoghan O'Dea

8

7

2,319,355

3

7

6

6

2,754,389

Player

Rehne Pedersen

2,782,110

Erik Marcus Friberg

3,116,769

4 5

3,331,128

3,308,051

James Akenhead

Peter Eastgate

3

4,651,115

3,477,251

3,306,889

Jake Cody

2

Michael Tureniec

4,423,333

5

1

6,012,424

John Gale

Ranking

4

Andy Black

6

10

3,002,166

1

4

9

2,915,982

Tony Bloom

Marvin Guido Rettenmaier

4

Johan Storakers

Martin Jacobson

Neil Channing

3

2

3,419,490 3,372,326

Ram Vaswani

Pius Heinz

7

2,111,599

Surinder Sunar

1

5

2,563,108

Dave Ulliott

Ranking

Martin De Knijff

Ranking 2

10

690,737

3,864,463

Kirill Gerasimov

8

8

Alexander Kravchenko

7

5,330,556

4

770,273

3

5

Roland de Wolfe

6

Ivan Demidov Vitaly Lunkin

3

847,718

1

2

17,470,283

2

9

1,225,238

Winnings (USD)

Sam Trickett

7

1,481,466

Player

1

6

2,055,370

Carlos Mortensen

Ranking

5

2,078,362

1

6

Russia

Luca Pagano

Ranking

4

Sweden

Salvatore Bonavena

3,464,384

England

Max Pescatori

Filippo Candio

4,974,548

Germany

3

2

Winnings (USD)

Denmark

Jeff Lisandro

5

Irland

Player

1

Norway

Ranking

France

Italy

top ten - all time money list

David Benyamine

1,057,150

Winnings (USD) 10,343,913 6,454,548 4,101,540

Antoine Saout

3,996,098

6

Ludovic Lacay

2,970,920

8

Jean-Paul Pasqualini

2,627,865

Alain Roy

2,448,002

5

7

9

10

Roger Hairabedian Bruno Fitoussi

Antony Lellouche

3,866,083 2,673,735 2,551,175

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

75

GPI ranking

GPI Top 100

Despite the overwhelming presence of American players in the GPI 2012 Top 100, (first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth and tenth place!), German player Marvin Rettenmaier leads the European pack, followed by ElkY, Philip Gruissem, Roberto Romanello and Fabrice Soulier. Once again France, UK and Germany are the top European nations: France has three players in the top 10 (ElkY, Soulier and Roger Hairabedian), same for United Kingdom (Romanello, Christopher Brammer, John Paul Kelly) and Germany has Top 1 and Top 3 players!

Marvin Rettenmaier

Rank

Country

Player

Philipp Gruissem

Bertrand Grospellier

Score

1

Marvin Rettenmaier

2 3 4

Roberto Romanello

2211.26

5

Fabrice Soulier

2077.77

6

Roger Hairabedian

2057.64

7

Juha Helppi

2019.66

Rank

Country

Player

Score

2952.72

19

Mihails Morozovs

1734.37

Bertrand Grospellier

2730.56

Philipp Gruissem

2330.88

20

Davidi Kitai

1709.76 1700.88

8

Christopher Brammer

1987.35

9

David Benyamine

1933.44

10

John Paul Kelly

1903.17

11

Tobias Reinkemeier

1863.84

12

Simon Ravnsbaek

1854.34

13

Martin Jacobson

1849.54

14

Toby Lewis

1833.88

15

Andrea Dato

16

Stephen Chidwick

1769.96

17

Philippe Ktorza

1757.99

18

Martin Finger

1741.57

76 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

1770.81

21

Govert Metaal

22

Fabian Quoss

1647.56

23

Aubin Cazals

1633.60

24

Ole Schemion

1595.24

25

Tristan ClÊmençon

1590.55

26

Bruno Lopes

1578.09

27

David Vamplew

1572.95

28

Anton Wigg

1564.36

29

Chris Moorman

30

Paul Berende

1555.41 1530.68

31

Heinz Kamutzki

1526.21

32

Kristijonas Andrulis

1519.64

33

Pierre Neuville

1516.95

34

Dimitar Danchev

1510.64

35

Mickey Petersen

1508.43

36

Sam Trickett

1498.47

The Global Poker Index (“GPI”) is a ranking of the top 300 live tournament poker players in the world as of the day it is published. Players are ranked weekly based on their performance by finishing in cash positions in qualifying tournaments occurring over the previous 36 month period. A cash position is any position where the player receives a portion of the total prize for their performance in an event (all references to buy-in are inclusive of entry fees). Typically the top 10% to 20% of the participants in an event finish in a cash position.

Qualifying tournaments are events with 21 or more players and a buy-in of $1500 USD (or other currency equivalent) or higher that are open to the public, and are not specialty or selected audience events such as charity, seniors, doubles, satellite, women, team, employee, executive and CEO events. Players are ranked according to their finishing scores in qualifying tournaments. Each player’s individual GPI score is an aggregate of scores in events over the previous 36 month period, measured from the day the GPI is calculated. The score for a given event is derived from a combination of their finishing place percentage, buy-in and aging factor. Finishing percentage refers to the percentage of the starting field a player bests in his or her finish. Buy-in refers to the relative amount of the event buy-in to the baseline buy-in of $1500 USD. Aging factor refers to the weighting of results by their recency, where more recent results are weighted more heavily than past results. The GPI limits results to four (4) results per half-year time period for the most recent 18 months and three (3) results per half-year period for the 18 months prior. The GPI aggregates only the top four scores per each half-year period in the most recent year and a half and the top three scores for the year and a half prior for a maximum total of 21 scores per 36 month aggregation period.

Rank

Country

Player

37

Dermot Blain

Score 1477.70

Rank

Country

Player

82

Paul Guichard

Score 1110.81

38

Alain Roy

1472.20

83

Tomeu Gomila

1104.68

39

Danyel Boyaciyan

1458.05

84

Kent Lundmark

1098.57

40

Joni Jouhkimainen

1439.23

85

Max Silver

1098.24

41

Dan Murariu

1429.03

86

Tom Alner

1095.33

42

Fernando Brito

1423.56

87

Bruno Fitoussi

1094.46

43

Mihai Manole

1406.22

88

Martins Adeniya

1091.09

44

Ludovic Lacay

1403.34

89

Alexander Roumeliotis

1090.20 1082.04

45

Jean-Noël Thorel

1369.38

90

Khiem Nguyen

46

Liv Boeree

1339.02

91

Éric Sfez

1065.26

47

Mustapha Kanit

1334.86

92

John Eames

1064.66

48

Craig McCorkell

1333.47

93

Daniel Reijmer

1060.62

49

Sergio Castelluccio

1281.90

94

Wilfried Harig

1057.15

50

Nicolas Cardyn

1280.77

95

Martin Staszko

1048.85

51

Zimnan Ziyard

1275.38

96

Marko Neumann

1047.70

52

David Steicke

1272.55

97

James Akenhead

1041.84 1040.02

53

Marco Leonzio

1263.81

98

Paul Vas Nunes

54

Jeff Lisandro

1261.38

99

Niall Farrell

1037.93

55

Koen De Visscher

1259.03

100

Carla Solinas

1033.46

56

Guillaume Darcourt

1254.22

57

Vojtech Ruzicka

1251.50

58

Rocco Palumbo

1243.99

59

Kenny Hallaert

1228.17

60

Dominykas Karmazinas

1219.23

61

Frederik Brink Jensen

1214.45

62

Dominik Nitsche

1212.93

63

Jan Heitmann

1191.01

64

Chris Bjorin

1188.25

65

Ana Laura Marquez Esteban

1179.05

66

Ismael Bojang

1165.64

67

Paul Tedeschi

1165.56

GPI POY 2012 100 top 20 Rank

Country

Player

Score

1

Dan Smith

2

Marvin Rettenmaier

966.63

3

Kyle Julius

906.02

4

Joseph Cheong

848.91

1098.80

5

Phil Hellmuth

846.83

6

Andrew Lichtenberger

819.75

7

Justin Bonomo

798.34

8

Bertrand Grospellier

797.44

9

David Baker

790.71

10

Mohsin Charania

788.15

11

Daniel Negreanu

768.40

1147.12

12

Jason Mercier

766.72

1143.56

13

Stephen O’Dwyer

760.82

68

Jan Bendik

1158.03

69

Samad Razavi

1155.36

70

Giacomo Fundaro

1154.39

71

Morten Mortensen

1153.68

72

Salvatore Bonavena

1148.82

73

Manuel Bevand

74

Alessandro Longobardi

75

Lucille Cailly

1143.51

14

Jonathan Duhamel

741.24

76

William Thorson

1135.11

15

Michael Watson

739.40

1131.36

16

John Juanda

714.42

17

Phil Ivey

18

Vanessa Selbst

19

Timothy Adams

691.02

20

David Sands

686.32

77

James Dempsey

78

Ramzi Jelassi

1130.04

79

Ben Vinson

1129.38

80

Yorane Kerignard

1125.40

81

Laurent Polito

1114.26

713.44 698.96

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

77

You are the Tournament Director Series 5

C H R O N I c l E hen d on m o b

Chip Slips Out of Hand

After reading your ask the TD section I wanted to gauge some opinions on something that happened to me last weekend. I was playing in a freezeout at The Western Club and was involved in a pot heads up.

I had bet pre and post flop, checked the turn and fired again on the river.

As I went to fire 2500 on the river, one of the 1000 chips slipped out my hand and as a result only 1500 went over the line. The dealer immediately said he would accept the 2500 bet, as there was clear good intention to bet that much.

The other player spent some time thinking and then said, “I should call for a ruling but I’m going to fold” — Thank God for that, as I was holding 99 on a AKQ 7 4 board (he showed a queen).

What I want to know from the TDs is if a ruling had been called, which way would it have gone? Please bear in mind it was obvious to everyone on the table, including my opponent, that I intended to bet the entire 2,500 in my hand.

Jack Effel

David Luzago

Thomas Kremser

Matt Savage

Common sense comes into play here. I would allow the bet to stand at 2,500. It seemed clear to everyone at the table including the dealer how much Bobby was trying to bet.

Very often the player’s intentions are obvious but decisions are based on pure facts. If a player bets 1500 because a 1k chip remains in his hand, then it is a 1500 bet unless he announced 2500.

David Lamb

The bet is 1,500. I would base my decision on the action that did occur, not what our eyes might have us believe was intended to happen. You bet 1500, you can state the amount or put chips into the pot in one motion.

78 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

In this case both the dealer and the other players agree that the act was not done on purpose. If the intention was very clear, an exception can be made to the string bets rule.

This is another reason why I hate betting lines, 2,500 bet IMO.

Thomas Lamatsch

My intention is to decide always in the sense of the game. If a player is taking 2,500 chips in his hand, obvious to raise this amount and during the movement, one or more chips are falling down, I would decide, that all chips are counting!

The truth is that there are always gray areas, and such common sense decisions are being made all the time. We think this is fine so long as players have the right to call for a ruling if they disagree with the dealer’s decision

JP McCann (player)

than the touch of chips to felt (Rule 31 “Making a Bet”: Any chips that are moved in a significant forward motion, whether or not they touch the table, will be deemed a bet.) Nonetheless, it would have been a good idea for the player to announce his bet before making the bet. Many problems at the poker table could be avoided by unambiguous statement of intent!

FIDPA (The International Poker Rules) Ruling (Marcel Luske)

The Mob Verdict

The technical ruling would be that this is a string bet and that only the 1,500 would stand. However, this is a good example of how a common sense ruling should be made in the interest of the game. I would allow the full bet of 2,500 to stand.

Intentions are always good but are not always what gets done, so we must look at the fairness for all. It cannot be left up to a dealer to let players get away with mistakes — even when they are not intended!

Rule 58.2

Chips must be pushed over the “betting line” and/or released into the pot in one motion. If a “betting line” is NOT present on the tournament table, any chips released or pushed in a forward motion, in turn, without a verbal declaration will be considered a binding bet. So the bet is 1,500.

A dealer is there to guide the game and state irregularities, not to do favors to anyone!

David Flusfeder (IFP - International federation of Poker)

I allow the whole 2,500 bet: significant forward motion is the important thing, rather

Whenever our TDs are split down the middle as they are here, you know there is an interesting issue at stake. Jack, Matt and Thomas all take the view that the player’s “clear intent” should trump the technicality. Others see this as inconsistent and prefer to stick to the letter of the law. Marcel Luske makes some interesting points: is it not possible to be fooled by a player’s intentions? And is it the job of the dealer to do anything beyond applying the letter of the law? We understand Marcel’s points, but the truth is that there are always gray areas, and such common sense decisions are being made all the time. We think this is fine so long as players have the right to call for a ruling if they disagree with the dealer’s decision.

If rulings were called for on every occasion it would slow the game down too much and we are in favor of the dealer having the initial say. We wish to encourage an ethos wherein dealers take an intelligent interest in the game and control it, rather than just blindly following orders. Of course this should never signify “doing a favor.” Matt and David both raise the issue of the betting line and we agree that “clear forward motion” is a more reliable indication of intent than the line, although this kind of issue might arise either way. In this particular case we favor letting the bet stand at 2,500.

POKER 52 europa // january-february 2013 // ISSUE 9

79

tournament schedule january 2013 3-6 Jan WPT National - Dublin 4-6 Jan Croisette Hold’Em Series, Casino Cannes Croisette 4-6 Jan Tournoi anniversaire, 18 ans de poker, Aviation Club de France, Paris 8-28 Jan Euro Finals of Poker 2013, Aviation Club de France, Paris 12-13 Jan Deepstack Winter Classico, Casino Cannes Croisette 13-14 Jan ACFPoker Tour, Aviation Club de France, Paris 17-21 Jan UK & Ireland Poker Tour - Edimbourg 21-27 Jan Utrecht Series of Poker, Utrecht 25-27 Jan Betfair Poker Live London 2013, London 26-27 Jan APAT - United Kingdom Team Poker Championship, Luton 30 Jan-2 Feb 2012 France Poker Series - Finale, Casino Barrière Deauville 30 Jan-9 Feb EPT Deauville, Casino Barrière Deauville 31 Jan Fitzwilliam End of Month Event, Dublin February 2013 2-3 Feb Deepstack Winter Classico Casino Cannes Croisette 6-10 Feb Lebanese Poker Tour 2013 - Stage III, Kyrenia 8-12 Feb Tanger poker festival, Tangier Casino 11-18 Feb WPT National Brussels 14-18 Feb UK & Ireland Poker Tour - Cork 16-17 Feb ACF Poker Tour Bruxelles, Casino Viage Brussels

19-24 Feb PartyPoker WPT Vienna 22-24 Feb Croisette Deepstack Casino Cannes Croisette 26 Feb-4 Mar WPT National Series Kyrenia 28 Feb-5 Mar Finale du Winamax Poker Tour, Cercle Clichy march 2013 1-3 Mar Barrière Poker Tour, Casino Barrière de Bordeaux 3-12 Mar WPT Mauritius, Ti Vegas Casino, Mauritius 6-10 Mar UK & Ireland Poker Tour - London 6-16 Mar EPT/UK & Ireland Poker Tour London 7-10 Mar Unibet Open Copenhagen 2013, Copenhagen 9- 10 Mar ACF Poker Tour Mauritius 15 Mar Texapoker Master Series, Casino Phoebus, Gruissan 20-26 Mar FPS Évian, Évian Casino 21-24 Mar Genting Poker Series - Leg 2, Newcastle 21-24 Mar Cannes Deepstack Open Casino Cannes Croisette 22-30 Mar WPT Venice Poker Festival, Venice 26-28 Mar 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour Student Championships, Coventry 28 Mar Fitzwilliam End of Month Event, Dublin 28 Mar-1 Apr Irish Open 2013, Dublin 28 Mar-1 Apr APAT - World Championship Of Amateur Poker, Nottingham 29-31 Mar PKR Live, Aspers Casino

80 ISSUE 9 // january-february 2013 // POKER 52 europa

Apr 2013 1-9 Apr Lebanese Poker Tour 2013 Championship, Kyrenia 4-15 Apr WSOP Melbourne 5-7 Apr BPT Ribeauvillé 5-10 Apr PartyPoker WPT Barcelona 8-14 Apr 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 2, Manchester 11-15 Apr WPT National Cannes, Cannes & ACFPoker Tour 17-27 Apr EPT Berlin 25 Apr Fitzwilliam End of Month Event, Dublin 28 Apr-7 May IPT San Remo May 2013 May Canarias Poker Tour - Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife 3 May Pokus Bigstack - Series Lucky 7, Vienne 3-5 May BPT Nice 5-12 May 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 3, Stockton 6-15 May EPT Grand Final, Monte-Carlo 15-19 May Genting Poker Series - Leg 3, Sheffield 16-20 May WPT National Annecy, Annecy & ACFPoker Tour 26 May-2 June 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 4, Portsmouth 30 May Fitzwilliam End of Month Event, Dublin

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