Poker52 Europa N°11

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europa n ° 11 m ay – june 2013

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upcomings tournaments

Bellagio Five Star World Poker Classic Aria Poker Room WPT Merit Cyprus Marrakech Poker Open XXI Unibet Open Troia CAPT Velden & Innsbruck DSO Lloret del Mar Million Poker Race XIV 44th WSOP

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THE BEST IN LAS VEGAS

WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS THE MECCA OF POKER WPT Championship at Bellagio • Aria Poker Room • WSOP

FROM

OCTOBER 21sT

WPT Grand Prix de Paris Rendez-vous à Paris

TO

NOVEMBER 3RD

Monday October 21st

Tuesday October 22nd

Wednesday October 23rd

Thursday October 24th

Friday October 25th

2:30pm Feeder WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite 1000

NLH

€ 150

Freezeout

8pm

NLH

€ 1,000

Re-entry

2:30pm Feeder WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite 1000

NLH

€ 150

Freezeout

8pm

NLH

€ 1,000

Re-entry

2:30pm Feeder High Roller Satellite 1000

NLH

€ 150

Freezeout

4pm

Open Face Chinese

OFC

€ 5,000

Freezeout

8pm

High Roller Satellite

NLH

€ 1,000

Re-entry

2:30pm Feeder WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite 1000

NLH

€ 150

Freezeout

4pm

High Roller Day 1 (2-day event)

NLH

€ 15,000 1 Re-entry

8pm

WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite

NLH

€ 1,000

Re-entry

2:30pm WPT Grand Prix de Paris Day 1A (5-day event) Televised

NLH

€ 7,500

Re-entry into Day 1B

NLH

€ 7,500

4pm Saturday October 26th

WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite

WPT Grand Prix de Paris Satellite

High Roller Day 2 / Final

WPT Grand Prix de Paris 2:30pm Day 1B (5-day event) Televised

Sunday October 27 th

2:30pm

WPT Grand Prix de Paris Day 2 - Televised

Monday October 28th

2:30pm

WPT Grand Prix de Paris Day 3 - Televised

Tuesday October 29th

2:30pm WPT Grand Prix de Paris Day 4 - Televised

Wednesday October 30th

8pm

Omaha Cup Satellite

4pm

WPT Grand Prix de Paris Day 5 / Final

6pm

Omaha Cup Triple Chance Day 1 (2-day event)

4pm

Omaha Cup Triple Chance Day 2 / Final

8pm

Late registrations at the start of Day 2

PLO

€ 500

Re-entry TV

PLO

€ 5,000

Re-entry

ACFPoker Tour Final Satellite

NLH

€ 200

Freezeout

2:30pm ACFPoker Tour Final Satellite

NLH

€ 100

Rebuys 1 h + 1 Addon

8pm

ACFPoker Tour Final Day 1 (3-day event)

NLH

€ 1,500

Saturday November 2nd

6pm

ACFPoker Tour Final Day 2

Sunday November 3rd

4pm

ACFPoker Tour Final Day 3 / Final

Thursday October 31st

Friday November 1st

Freezeout

Reach for the moon and

in Paris

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editorial Dear Readers,

It has no equivalent anywhere in the world, and there is no greater thrill than being on a plane to Sin City and looking down at Death Valley through the window, desperately seeking the lights of Las Vegas.

It is now that most important time of the year, when poker lovers fly to Las Vegas for the WPT Championship — not to mention this year’s 44th edition of the World Series Of Poker.

Players from all over Europe will gather there for a few days, or a few weeks — some won’t leave for months on end! Vegas is the Mecca of poker. It has no equivalent anywhere in the world, and there is no greater thrill than being on a plane to Sin City and looking down at Death Valley through the window, desperately seeking the lights of Las Vegas. A glittery, neon island lost in the desert — a dream that keeps coming true, over and over! Vegas not only features the world’s finest poker-rooms (especially Bellagio’s and Aria’s), it is literally packed with great restaurants and nightclubs.

But Europe need not blush in comparison to Las Vegas, because it still has and always will have fabulous tournaments all year round. For example, sunny seaside Cyprus, whose wonderful Merit Casino hosts a WPT stop, and the CAPT stops in Germany and Austria, with their wonderful views of the Alps and their magnificent organizations geared to please all poker lovers... And let us not forget North Africa, and Morocco, where Tangiers and Marrakech always have something great on offer: sand, beach, great action at the tables. What else could you ask for?

We all wish you a wonderful summer at the poker tables, and great success in the tournaments!

Bruno Benveniste

maY – june 2013

7

contents 9 news

upcoming tournaments

18 pedro canali future sight

26

22 poker business oriane teysseire

26 Bellagio Five Star World Poker Classic 30 CAPT Velden & Innsbruck 36 Aria Poker Room 40 WPT Merit Cyprus 46 44th WSOP 50 DSO Lloret del Mar 54 Unibet Open Troia 58 Marrakech Poker Open XXI 62 Million Poker Race XIV

160 chronicles 20 doyle brunson 66 n olan dalla 80 You are the Tournament Director Series 5 08 rankings 74 hendon mob 78 gpi 82 tournament schedule

is published by Game Prod 11 rue de Berri 75008 PARIS / France +33 (0)1 53 89 14 00 www.poker52europa.com Directed by: Bruno Benveniste +33 (0)1 53 89 14 08 - brunobenveniste@poker52europa.com Assisted by: Samantha Delmas - samantha@poker52europa.com Chief editor: Jérôme Schmidt - jerome@poker52europa.com Writers: Julien Morello, Antoine Salvi, Philippe Lemaire, Philippe Aronson Cover picture: Jules Pochy Inside pictures: Jules Pochy, Neil Stoddart, XDR Re-writing and translation: Alexander JE Bradley Advertisement: Martin Garagnon +33 (0)1 53 89 14 04 - martin@poker52europa.com Founder: Bruno Fitoussi Artistic Director: Frédéric Hallier Layout: Jennifer Bouvard Print: Imprimerie du Canal

news

I World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific I New bracelets for Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu In April, the prestigious World Series of Poker traveled for the first time ever to the Crown Casino of Melbourne, Australia, offering a series of seven events, with five bracelets at stake. The best pros in the world were there to play and gave us the most exciting games, with Phil Ivey winning his ninth WSOP bracelet while Daniel Negreanu secured his fifth in the $10,000 Main Event, pocketing $1,038,825.

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or their first edition ever, the WSOP Asia-Pacific has been an amazing success. Poker superstars such as Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu traveled all the way to Melbourne to win its seven events, five of which had a bracelet at stake.

The $1,100 Event saw WSOP 2010 champion Jonathan Duhamel make it to the final table, where he was later busted in fourth position ($71,870) while Bryan Piccioli secured the title against Australian Jonathan Karamilikis, winning $211,575. American James Collopy won the $1,650 Pot Limit Omaha Event #2 after a great heads-up against Australian player Ming Nguyen, earning a well-deserved bracelet as well as the $69,662 first prize.

The $2,200 Mixed Event #3 crowned Phil Ivey who beat Brandon Wong and consequently pocketed $51,840 and his ninth WSOP bracelet — he had been it chasing for three years. He now is the fourth biggest WSOP winner, behind Phil Hellmuth (13 bracelets), Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson (10 bracelets each). The $5,000 6-Handed Event #4 saw Australian Aaron Lim dominate a table full of local players and win $233,800 after besting his countryman Hun Lee in heads-up.

The long-awaited $10,000 Main Event had 405 players competing for the prize, with Sam Trickett, Barry Greenstein, Erik Seidel, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey and Antonio Esfandiari among them. Negreanu did not leave a chance to his opponents: Daniel Marton had to submit and “Kid Poker” won the $1,038,825 first prize, and the fifth bracelet he was chasing since 2008.

Among the non-bracelet events, German player Philipp Gruissem took the $50,000 High Roller title, and the $825,000 first prize, after besting Joseph Cheong heads-up, and the European Team, led by Sam Trickett, won the

10

$

Caesar’s Cup against Joe Hachem’s Asia-Pacific Team and Phil Ivey’s Team America.

After this amazing first season for the WSOP-APAC, the most famous poker circuit in the world is on its way for the 44th edition of the WSOP that will be held in Las Vegas from May 29-July 15, before reaching Enghien-les-Bains from October 11-24 for the WSOP Europe.

330,000

WSOP-APAC List of winners Event #1 Event #2 Event #3 Event #4 Event #5 Event #6

Bryan Piccioli $211,575 James Collopy $69,662 Phil Ivey $51,840 Aaron Lim $233,800 Daniel Negreanu $1,038,825 Philipp Gruissem $825,000

That’s the figure won by Patrik Antonius in 15 min. time on Full Tilt new high-stakes tables! maY – june 2013

news

I World Poker Tour Barcelona I Canadian Chanracy Khun wins the Catalan prize

M

ost huge poker stars were on the other side of the planet during the Catalan event, playing the WSOP in Australia, but the WPT Barcelona still managed to attract some great players, and its €3,500 Main Event featured 249 contestants. Steve O’Dwyer, Daniel Cates, Kevin MacPhee and Marcin Wydrowski were part of the qualified participants for Day 1A, and they all made it to the next stage. The 59 remaining players were then led by Manuel Bevand, and Davidi Kitai; Philippe Ktorza and Guillaume Darcourt got busted.

143 more players started on Day 1B, including Alain Roy, Francisco Da Costa and Clément Beauvois, all eliminated before the end of the day. 89 players managed to stay on track, including Davidi Kitai, using his re-entry option but running low in chips, far behind Spanish chip leader Sergio Fernandez.

On Day 2, the 148 qualified players had a rough time; Matt Salsberg, Ana Marquez, Leo Margets, Lauri Pesonen, Kevin MacPhee, Rebecca Gérin, Ilan Boujenah, Davidi Kitai and Jean-Philippe Rohr got busted. On Day 3, 27 players entered the money, including Lukas Berglund (19th), Manuel Bevand (17th), and Yannick Bouget (16th).

Day 4 went pretty fast, as the field went from 13 to 6 players in a very short time, and Frenchman Benjamin Pollak, Canadian Chanracy Khun, Portuguese Antonio Alfaia, Morrocan Najib Hassani and Spanish players Bruno Cotelo and Sergio Bernal entered the final table. Khun managed to remain chip leader all along, busting his two Spanish

I Million Poker Race XIII I Fadhil Farag wins title at Grand Casino La Mamounia

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rand Casino La Mamounia, in Marrakech, Morocco, held its thirteenth Million Poker Race on March 30 and 31, with a €1,000 Main Event which attracted a total of 61 players. Festival regulars such as Mohamed Laarif, Mounir Khoddar, Patrick Sacrispeyre, Martial Blangenwitsch, Cédric Weinberg, defending champion Sébastien Compte, and Mohamed Ali Houssam — the one and only WPT Champion from Morocco — were all on hand for this fantastic tournament, hosted by series ambassador Marion Nedellec.

Mohamed Laarif led the group of the 35 survivors at the end of Day 1, and eight players finished in the money. After the elimination of Michel Pons, in sixth position, the five last players decided to conclude a deal, and Egyptian player Fadhil Farag took the first prize of 120,000 Drh, leaving 95,000 Drh to each of his four last opponents.

The next edition of this great series, the Million Poker Race XIV, will run from June 17-23, with French player Emeline Her as the new ambassador.

List of winners 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Chanracy Khun €181,400* Benjamin Pollak €126,000 Antonio Alfaia €83,000 Najib Hassani €62,000 Bruno Cotelo €46,000 Sergio Bernal €37,000

*

+ one €25,000 ticket to the WPT World Championships

opponents first, then Hassani, and finally Alfaia. Benjamin Pollak was alone against the ruthless Canadian player. After a beautiful heads-up, Khun claimed his first WPT title.

List of winners 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

Fadhil Farag Drh 120,000 Jawad Bentahila Drh 95,000 Patrick Azoulay Drh 95,000 Norbert Levigne Drh 95,000 Nabil Bestam Drh 95,000 Michel Pons Drh 42,500 Jawad Berrada Drh 30,500 Najib Bennis Drh 20,000

f. farag j. bentahila n. levigne 12

n. bestam may – june 2013

news

I International Stadiums Poker Tour I

Do you WemPlay?

After 6 online starting flights, the International Stadiums Poker Tour will reach the Wembley Stadium from May 31 to June 5, for one of the biggest events ever organized. Here is what you can expect for this grand premiere in London.

F

ounded by Bernard Tapie, Laurent Tapie and Prosper Masquelier, the ISPT assumes the ambition of building the biggest poker event ever organized, with an innovative structure, mixing Day 1s played online and Day 2 to Day 6 played live, in the mythical Wembley Stadium. And after the ISPT announced the names of its ambassadors - the “Wemplayers” David Benyamine, Michael Mizrachi, Sam Trickett, Liz Lieu and Francisco Y Costa, and the four members of the Hendon Mob (Barny and Ross Boatman, Ram Vaswani and Joe Beevers) – the Tour concluded a deal with UK poker club Dusk Till Dawn, owned by Rob Young, as the official casino partner for ISPT Wembley, and picked up Simon Trumper as the Tournament Director of the series.

€1,000,000 guaranteed for the winner

Last Longer Promotion The ISPT launched a new innovative concept, opened to every player in live events: the last longer player to wear the ISPT logo (get free from ISPT hostesses) wins a package to ISPT (Buy-in + Travel + Hotel).

The 2 last packages for grabs will be distributed during IPT San Remo (2-6 May), and EPT Gran Final (6-12 May).

60-minute levels on Day 2 and 3; 75-minute levels on Day 4 and 5; and 90-minute rounds on Day 6.

Dusk Till Dawn is guaranteeing a minimum of €1,000,000 to the winner of this amazing event, regardless of the number of runners, with a maximum of 20% taken out of the prize pool for the first place, leaving 80% to the remaining places.

The side events schedule is still pending, but the ISPT and the Amateur Poker Association & Tour confirmed that the APAT Poker Masters 2013 will take place at Wembley as part of the inaugural ISPT event, with a 2-Day £200 + £20 tournament, opened to all poker players, both amateurs and professionals.

“If Wembley is a success, I believe ISPT could be replicated in other iconic venues across the world generating huge prize pools and giving poker fantastic mainstream exposure”, said DTD’s owner Rob Young.

For more information about the ISPT, check out www.ispt.com, or call at +33(0) 1 70 15 18 89.

The online phase started last February with the first three Day 1s, and the actual chip leader after the first three starting flights is French pro Nicolas Cardyn, with a stack of 136,593 chips. The three other Day 1s are scheduled on May 5, 12 and 19 (check out call-out box).

Live phase will start on Day 2 (Day 2A on May 31 and Day 2B on June 1) with a €2,700 + €300 direct buy-in for 50,000 starting chips and 100/200 starting blinds. The structure is worthy of the greatest tournaments of the world, with

ISPT Schedule Online Day 1s (€300 buy-in; 5,000 chips) France: Partouche Poker; Italy: NetBet Poker; Spain, Germany and Europe: Poker 770; USA: Lockpoker • Day 1D: Sun, May 5 • Day 1E: Sun, May 12 • Day 1F: Sun, May 19 Live (Direct €2,700 + €300 buy-in to Day 2; 50,000 chips) • Fri, May 31 (12:00 pm.): Day 2A (Re-Entry on Day 2B) • Sat, Jun 1 (12:00 pm.): Day 2B • Wed, Jun 5 (12:00 pm.): Day 6 (Final Table) 14

maY – june 2013

hotels Ramada Encore Hotel

This 3-star hotel near Wembley, ideally located with great connections to Central London in under 20 minutes, has 150 stylish ensuite bedrooms.

From £100 instead of £120 (Breakfast included).

4 Portal Way Gypsy Corner/A40 London W3 6RT

Premier Inn London Wembley

This 3-star hotel has everything you’d ask for: incredibly comfy beds in every room, an integrated restaurant serving a mix of traditional and contemporary dishes, and a lively outside bar. From £95 instead of £140. 151 Wembley Park Drive, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 8HQ

Hilton Wembley

Overlooking the Wembley Stadium, this 4-star hotel is the perfect place to stay for events at the stadium or Wembley Arena. It offers bright and airy guest rooms, executive rooms and suites, from £179 instead of £348 (Breakfast included).

Lakeside Way Wembley, Middlesex HA9 0BU

Holiday Inn

news

I Montenegro Open I

Dragan Banicevic wins the first edition in Budva

T

he first edition of the Montenegro Open, organized by Frenchmen Roger Hairabedian and Pierrick Torasso, was held from April 9-14 at the Maestral Casino & Resort in Budva, by the Adriatic Sea. 15 events were scheduled, such as a €560 Deepstack and a €1,000 Main Event, with 30% of the field getting the chance to enter the money.

Held over two days, the €1,000 Main Event gathered 60 players, for a prize pool of €50,711. The final table was mostly French, Serbian and Montenegrin players. Vlado Banicevic got busted in third position (€7,986), leaving Frédéric Popot and local player Dragan Banicevic competing for the title.

Banicevic finally won after a very tight heads-up, pocketing €13,057. For its part, the €560 deepstack, a three-day competition, attracted 102 players, and Frenchman Anthony Hairabedian won the title after dominating local player Bogdan Kovacevic heads-up, for €11,000.

French pro Roger Hairabedian was quite proud of this first edition of the Montenegro Open in Budva and declared that he is ready to do it again as soon as possible.

Just a 2-minute walk from Wembley Arena, this stylish 4-star hotel features an international restaurant, a modern fitness centre, and full equipped rooms. From £175 instead of £220 (Breakfast included). Empire Way Wembley, HA9 8DS

Ibis Hotel London Wembley

Less than 500 meters from Wembley Stadium and a 10-minute walk from Wembley Arena, this 2-star hotel offers modern rooms with a traditional restaurant. From £90 instead of £100 (Breakfast included). South Way Wembley, HA9 6BA

Radisson Blu Portman Hotel

Situated in the heart of London’s West End, a 9-minute trip by train from Wembley Stadium, this 4-star hotel offers different room types, and free Wi-Fi in all rooms. From £195 instead of £270 (Breakfast included). 22 Portman Square, London, W1H 7BG For booking and information, you can contact ISPT partner travel agency, Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm GMT : Tel: +33(0)1 47 20 61 62 E-Mail: travel@ispt.com maY – june 2013

€1,000 Main Event Final table results 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th

Dragan Banicevic €13,057 Frédéric Popot €9,635 Vlado Banicevic €7,986 Marko Mikovic €6,592 Roger Hairabedian €5,451 François Creignon €4,437 Grégory Hairabedian €3,550 15

news

I Hollywood Poker Open Championship at the M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas I

$500,000 Guaranteed for the $2,500 Main Event

T

he first annual Hollywood Poker Open, launched at the end of 2012 by Penn National Gaming — owner and operator of twenty-nine gaming and racing facilities all over the United States — will reach its conclusion from June 28-30, with a big HPO Championship held at the M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas.

The highlight of this weekend-long festival will be the $2,500 Main Event, with a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool at stake. This three-day tournament will offer a re-entry option, 30,000 starting chips and 60-minute levels, for an intense and perfectly formatted competition, as exciting as the biggest events held in Sin City. Hundreds of players are expected at this HPO Championship; among them 16

the players who qualified live via the numerous regional tournaments provided in Hollywood Casinos throughout America during the inaugural tour.

The HPO also features two interesting side events, a $200 + $25 NLH Double Stack on June 29 and a $200 + $25 Black Chip Bounty on June 30, both with a re-entry option, 20,000 starting chips, and 20-minute levels. $85 + $15 Qualifiers to these side events will be held the day before, and one in every three players will win a $225 ticket.

To learn more and reserve seats for the HPO Championship Event, please visit www.hollywoodpokeropen.com. maY – june 2013

news

HPO Championship Las Vegas Schedule Fri, Jun 28 • (11:15 am.): $2,500 Hollywood Poker Open Championship Day 1 ($500,000 Gtd, Re-Entry) • (06:00 pm.): $85 + $15 Qualifier to NLH Double Stack (Re-Entry; 1 in every 3 players win a $225 entry) Sat, Jun 29 • ( 12:15 pm.): HPO Championship Day 2 • ( 2:00 pm.): $200 + $25 NLH Double Stack (Re-Entry) • (06:00 pm.): $85 + $15 Qualifier to NLH Black Chip Bounty (Re-Entry; 1 in every 3 players win a $225 entry) Sun, Jun 30 • ( 1:15 pm.): HPO Championship Final • ( 2:00 pm.): $200 + $25 NLH Black Chip Bounty (Re-Entry)

I ACFPoker Tour at ARIA I on June 30 and July 1

W

hile ARIA Resort & Casino will host its 2013 ARIA Classic Tournament, from June 17-July 1, the ACFPoker Tour will make its first stop in America from June 30-July 1.

The French poker circuit will feature a $1,080 Championship in the sumptuous setting of the ARIA Poker Room and will be hosted by French pro Bruno Fitoussi, runner-up of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship of the 2007 WSOP.

I WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown I Kevin Eyster takes the title, and $660,395

542

players entered the $5,000 World Poker Tour’s leg held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, from April 11-16, generating a $2,547,400 prize pool shared by the 54 best players. After the first five days of competition (including two starting flights) the field was reduced to six players, and American pro and Seminole regular Kevin Eyster entered the final table as chip leaders, in front of Jeff Madsen and Zohair Karim.

Jeff Madsen busted 6th and Zohair Karim 3rd, both after a confrontation against Eyster, and his last opponent, Ben Tarzia, began the heads-up with a 4:1 handicap. On the last hand, Tarzia moved all-in with 7-7, called by Eyster with As-10, and the board dealt As-5-2-5-10, giving the victory to Eyster.

He earned $660,395 for his performance, including a $25,500 entry into the season-ending WPT World Championship. The American champion also received a WPT Champions Trophy, a customized electric guitar from the Seminole Hard Rock, and he got his name inscribed on the one-and-only WPT Champions Cup. maY – june 2013

Final table results 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Kevin Eyster $660,395* Ben Tarzia $389,750 Zohair Karim $252,190 Paul Dlugozima $171,950 Daniel Letts $122,275 Jeff Madsen $100,000

*

including a $25,500 to the WPT World Championships

17

chronicle

where one has to see the bright sight of the future, to get even more money.

Future sight

pedro canali

A

t poker, it’s very important to be able to calculate the immediate EV of a hand, but one has also to know the consequences of our actions in long-term, and their implications. In cash-game versus a regular or in MTT if your table is not about to be broken, a certain kind of history is created, and you will have to take it into account for the upcoming hands. It’s also possible to take a decision because what you will want later. For example, if you bluff a missed draw on the river at the first level of a MTT, even if it’s EV-, it can be a very good move: if the bluff is not caught, you win some useful chips right away and if the bluff misses, you will have a bluffer image for just few chips (blinds, at those level, are low) and your river value bets will be called easier after, when pots are bigger…

There are even more precise and more complex examples, where one has to see the bright sight of the future, to get even more money. Last month, when I won the DSO in Cannes (France), I played one of my best hands in my career. My decision, at the river, did not make me win a ton of chips right away, but its consequences helped me a lot on the path to victory. Let’s explain this…

We are at the final table and, as usual, I only have one goal: to win! Most of the money in MTTs are for the first top three, and especially for the winner, which is equivalent to 80 buy-ins. And moreoever, a victory would allow me to get the “national” triple crown, after my titles during the EFOP as well as the BPT circuit.

Despite being a chipleader, I am in a delicate spot, because I have three very aggressive players on my left, good players too, with stacks around 20-35 BB; it’s perfect to three-bet me all the time… In this precise situation, I usually play a lot tighter in late positions (so that I can call a 3-bet all-in from the shorter stacks and to be able to 4-bet all-in the 3-bets from the deep stacks), and I open a lot looser in early position. But this day, it could not work because three seats on my right, the second biggest stacks is a crazy player, very aggressive but intelligent, totally degenerate, who I played against during Day 2. When I was UTG, he was on the button, when I was UTG+1, he was on the SB, and when I was UTG+2, he was on the BB. Nothing really to worry about, though, because of the very deep structure of the final table and of my stack.

The following hand is the third of the finale table. I discover 3-3 in UTG+2, and I decide to open to 2 BB because I know the three young players on my left respect more my early position raises and that after I can call a 3-bet from the degen and do some set-mining… Everybody folds until the BB who, astonishingly, just calls. Flop is 1O-6-2, rainbow. A very dry f lop, and I can C-bet, thinking of folding if I get raised. BB calls quickly. On the turn, another 6, and he checks again. I decide to check back because I do not have enough showdown value (he might have called me with Ace high on flop)

and I cannot be called by a lower hand. The river is a third 6, and he checks right away. I analyze this check as some showdown value but that he does not have enough to value-bet. His range is : Ace high, a 2, a pair of 3, 4 or 5. With 77 or better, or a 10, he would have value bet the river or at least, would have thought about it. I think that if I value bet thin this river, it’s really not very EV+ and it has a lot of disadvantages. For example, he can check-raise me and I’d be forced to fold (sometimes with the best hand). Check back is the safest solution.

But suddenly, I realize that there is another parameter: if he calls me with better hand or if he folds, my situation at the table does not change drastically. But, if he calls me with a worst hand, he could feel ashamed to call and muck and would defend less often my raises in early position, which is exactly what I want and would allow me to virtually spare a lot of chips in the near future. I then decide to polarize my hand and I bet 80% of the pot, he snap-calls as expected, and I show my pair of 3 with confidence, and he mucks right away, angry of being beat post-flop. Until he 6-bets all-in with 10-5 pref lop and busts versus KK few hours later (he was a true degen, right?), I raised my UTG+1 and UTG+2 without any resistance OOP. One has to broaden his view and sights, as it can help to take the best decision for future investments!

Pedro Canali

Last month, when I won the DSO in Cannes (France), I played one of my best hands in my career. My decision, at the river, did not make me win a ton of chips right away, but its consequences helped me a lot on the path to victory.

chronicle

Still debating if I want to make a run at the WSOP this year and try to win a bracelet.

No is one of the few words that

can never be misunderstood 20

maY – june 2013

doyle brunson

E

very time I come back from my home state of Texas, I can’t believe the economy there. Everything is booming, new homes are going up as fast as they can be built. It seems every cafe and every shop is being overrun with customers. I tried to get a hotel or motel room in a hundred miles of Odessa and couldn’t find one. Every one was sold out and some were booked months in advance.

The reason for all this is a new oil discovery called the Cline Shell where millions of barrels of oil are. The oil companies are desperate to find housing for all their workers. I have the mineral rights to 400 acres right in the heart of it so I’m pulling for a big strike. It would be something if I got “oil rich” off a place that was so poor that I worked hard to get out of. If I hadn’t got athletic scholarships to college I could possibly still be on the farm praying for rain. Funny how life works!

On the plane coming and going I read Johnny Hughes’s book Famous Gamblers, Poker History, and Texas Stories.

It’s a good read and I can speak from experience: it has a lot of truth in it. Brings back old memories of some great times and many old friends that have passed on. I’m not sure that I remember Johnny but it is very obvious he was on the scene around Texas and Vegas.

I’m on a 2-3 week break from poker and I’ve got the itch to get back playing. The trouble is there are so many of the Vegas players that are traveling to the tournaments it’s difficult to get games started. The few players that are around are reluctant to start games. I’ve never understood why players don’t help getting the game going, if everybody was like that there would be no games. In the “old days” Pug Pearson, Chip Reese and myself would start with just us three. The games always filled up and ran for days without stopping. My age has really taken away the biggest advantage I ever had which was being able to play for many, many hours and not lose concentration. Oh well, Father Time waits on no man!

I get a big kick about all the commotion that is being stirred up over the poker players that went to “life school.” Why does every one think it is a cult. I always thought a cult had a religious connotation and after talking to one of the guys that went, he told me there was no high pressure salesmanship and religion was never mentioned. It is more like a Tony Robbins motivational school. Whatever, it’s those guys’ choice to do what they want.

Still debating if I want to make a run at the WSOP this year and try to win a bracelet. I think there is plenty of gas in my tank to put in lots of the hours that are required to give yourself a chance. Trouble is that’s when the cash games are going around the clock and I’m afraid after a few hours in a tournament I’ll wonder what the heck I’m doing. When that happens you are losing your money and your time.

Still missing Casper.

May the flop be with you.

Doyle Brunson

maY – june 2013

I’m on a 2-3 week break from poker and I’ve got the itch to get back playing. The trouble is there are so many of the Vegas players that are traveling to the tournaments it’s difficult to get games started. The few players that are around are reluctant to start games. I’ve never understood why players don’t help getting the game going, if everybody was like that there would be no games.

In the “old days” Pug Pearson, Chip Reese and myself would start with just us three. The games always filled up and ran for days without stopping. My age has really taken away the biggest advantage I ever had which was being able to play for many, many hours and not lose concentration. Oh well, Father Time waits on no man!

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poker business

Global Gaming Consulting The perfect solution for your casino Oriane Teysseire has seen it all in the gaming and gambling business: after a MBA, she has quickly moved up the ladder in the gaming world and became a manager at VIP Gaming, an agency well-renowned for its expertise at the highest level. After having moved to Panama City for a Canadian international leader in the field of casino gaming technology, she has traveled the world to sell jackpot systems for table games, joined PartyGaming and came back to her hometown, Paris, to run one of the finest Parisian Gaming clubs, le Cercle Gaillon, near the famous avenue Champs Elysées. With her brand new project, Global Gaming Consulting (www.globalgamingconsulting.co.uk), she will now provide exclusive solutions for brick-and-mortar or online casinos, to help launching new gaming venues or secure already existing casinos.

By Philippe Aronson What is the concept behind Global Gaming Consulting?

The concept behind Global Gaming Consulting is to treat our customer’s business almost like a person — taking into consideration its culture, environment and strength.

We cater to all the customer’s specific needs to showcase its business (whether land-based or online) in the best possible way. We really like to work hand in hand with our clients to help them meet the challenges they are facing.

What has been your career path in the gaming industry?

In 1999, I got my first managerial position at VIP Gaming, a gaming consulting agency renowned for its expertise at the highest levels, giving me the opportunity to work with prestigious hotel casinos such as The Venitian and Atlantis.

In 2002, I moved to Panama City where I worked as international sales manager at Dek International, a Canadian international leader in the field of casino gaming technology, which today is a subsidiary of Sabia Corporation. For four years I traveled around the world selling new jackpot systems for table games.

Then I returned to Europe and joined Party Gaming, where I took care of VIP players’ follow up (the development of customer acquisition strategies, and reactivation of 22

“dormant” players). I finally came back to my hometown, Paris, where I became the manager of one of the finest Parisian gaming clubs — the Cercle Gaillon.

In 2011, I graduated from the “Strategic Leadership for the gaming industry” program at the University of Reno, Nevada. Today, I am very excited to launch my own company Global Gaming Consulting.

What lessons have you learned after all these experiences in the casino business?

When I was working with Dek International, I had the opportunity to visit and do business with many casinos all around the world, including unexpected places such as the six huge casinos in Katmandu, Nepal, the casino Princess in Paramaribo, Suriname; and the amazing Naga World Casino in Cambodia. This gave me a global perspective on the gambling industry.

Throughout my many experiences, I came to realize that at the end of the day, challenges in the gambling world are very similar to those of other industries (cutting costs, becoming more efficient, growing revenue, surviving recession and corporate debt).

For me, the most important thing is to always remember that the main reason people go to casinos is to have fun. Many newcomers may feel intimidated, so it is maY – june 2013

Oriane Teysseire

crucial to have impeccable service and to make them feel welcome.

What type of solutions and expertise do you offer your clients?

Our approach relies on four key concepts that make our customers save time and money: — Creating: For those who want to start from scratch, we give them all the necessary tools to determine the feasibility of their project.

— Optimizing: we identify the challenges the customer is facing and provide training and performance feedback to improve efficiency.

— Relating: Our vast gaming industry portfolio allows us to put our customers in touch with the profiles they need to reach their goal.

— Evolving: Our creative team provides exciting marketing solutions. We use innovative tools to attract new players and make existing ones even more loyal. maY – june 2013

For me, the most important thing is to always remember that the main reason people go to casinos is to have fun. Many newcomers may feel intimidated, so it is crucial to have impeccable service and to make them feel welcome.

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poker business What kind of clients should be eager to work with Global Gaming Consulting?

Anyone who expects efficient and specific solutions to their questions: what documentation is necessary to acquire a gaming license in a given country? Should I make a trial test of a new game such as Ultimate Poker? How can I increase both the revenue share and the unit share with mini baccarat?

The economic situation is really difficult at the time being, and a lot of our clients are asking us how they can improve their numbers the last fifteen days of the month. Our team of consultants will be happy to help them with the right tools that will thrill customers and motivate the staff.

What equilibrium between slot machines and table games must be found? Why? Depending on where you are in the world when you enter a casino, the ratio between slot machines and table games will be completely different — there is no international standard and there should not be. Each casino needs to be adapted to the local gaming culture. In Singapore and Macau for instance, there is an average of one table for every 2.6 slot machines, while in Europe the average is 1 for every 15.

In 2013, in Macau there are 5485 gaming tables for 14050 slot machines, while in Las Vegas there is a total number of 197144 slots and only 2665 table games (1 for 74) How do you analyze the casino business in Europe?

The market in Europe is diverse both in terms of numbers (196 casinos in France and only four in Italy), basic ownership and organization (public in Holland and Austria, private in France and the UK, and a hybrid of public and private in Italy and Switzerland). Each country has its own set of regulations that can be hard to grasp. Competition is so fierce in certain European countries that we have more and more work trying to make a difference for casinos situated in the same geographical area.

And in other countries?

In North America, the market is much more mature because it exists in a political environment that is highly conducive to growth and evolution (reasonable tax rates and a stable business environment). In my opinion, Asia is the most exciting market at the moment because it is being liberalized (Japan, Thailand and Taiwan are edging closer to legalization), so there are a lot of business opportunities and a great deal of player enthusiasm.

Overall, the gambling business is very rewarding because it is one of the only industries in the world that has remained profitable throughout the recession and continues to flourish (with a expect annual growth rate of 12,5% in 2013, up to $162 billion of Global Gaming revenues).

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las vegas poker scene

Bellagio Five Star World Poker Classic

Three weeks of Vegas madness and the final stop of the WPT The legendary Bellagio Five Star World Poker Classic is back for an eleventh season from May 7-24! Get ready for an amazing series: there is no doubt it will once again bring to Sin City crowds of international players vying for a title in one of this poker festival’s 16 events. With large numbers of satellites and side events and buy-ins ranging from $1,000 + $80 to the popular $100,000 WPT Super High Roller from May 21-23, you are sure to spend three unforgettable weeks in the very heart of Vegas, with action, bluffs and thrills — Americanstyle. And of course, this fantastic competition will finish with a flourish as the $25,000 + $500 World Poker Tour World Championship, beginning on May 18 will close the WPT season and the Five Star WPC simultaneously, on May 24.

Here’s what you can expect if you can make it to Vegas for this exciting series.

By Antoine Salvi

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may maY – JUNE june 2013

Bellagio Five Star World Poker Classic

B

Bellagio is surely one of the most impressive casinos in the world. Opened in 1998 and located on the Las Vegas Strip, this 36-floor hotel and casino is surrounded by an eight-acre lake which houses the Fountains of Bellagio, a stunning dancing water fountain and music show that you have surely seen on screen, in movies such as Rush Hour 2, Ocean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Thirteen, and 2012. The complex contains 3,993 rooms and suites, 20 restaurants and coffee shops, as well as many attraction and entertainment centers, including the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, the Conservatory and the Botanical Gardens, and the Cirque du Soleil®’s aquatic show, “O™”.

High-stakes action at Bellagio

However, it goes without saying that the most impressive part of the Bellagio is its 100,000-square-foot casino (including 2,400 slot machines), and its 6,500-square-foot poker room, with 40 tables offering all kinds of games and limits. Bellagio also hosts the world’s most famous high-stakes room, “Bobby’s Room,” named after 1978 World Series of Poker champion Bobby Baldwin. And Bellagio’s history is associated with the World Poker Tour, as the casino has welcomed 30 WPT tournaments series so far, including the World Poker Tour World Championship.

This series (also called “Championship” or “Annual Five Star World Poker Classic”) is not like the other WPT regular season legs, including the three other stops held at the Bellagio: the Bellagio Cup, the Festa al Lago, and the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Born with the World Poker Tour itself, it’s longer and tougher than any other series of the international circuit, and it looks like a big final festival, ending each season since 2003 with a wonderful $25,000 + $500 Main Event. This year, it will be held from May 18-24. The traditional WPT Super High Roller $100,000 Event will also return from May 21-23, offering thrills to its lucky participants and their audience at the Bellagio or in front of their screens, as it will be broadcast on TV.

buy-ins starting as low as $1,000 + $80. Besides the sevenday $25,000 + $500 Main Event and the three-day $100,000 Super High Roller, which will attract crowds of poker superstars starting May 18, Bellagio will also host two $2,500 + $120 Super Satellites to the Main Event on May 16 and 17, three $1,500 + $90 tournaments on May 8, 10 and 14, as well as numerous $1,000 + $80 side events, including a Seniors tournament on May 13. This tenth anniversary schedule also includes a $2,500 + $120 side event on May 11, and three $5,000 + $180 tournaments on May 13, 15 and 20, which will bring their share of action into the Bellagio Poker Room.

With its perfectly shaped program, combining middle budget tournaments and high roller events, the Bellagio Five Star World Poker Classic will be the series to participate in if you get a chance to visit Las Vegas this spring, just a few days before the 44th WSOP.

A long and intense series

This super tournament has seen some of the best poker players at its final table, such as Phil Ivey (twice, in 2003 and 2005), Doyle Brunson, Hasan Habib (twice in a row, in 2004 and 2005!), Martin De Knijff, Roland de Wolfe, Men Nguyen, Carlos Mortensen, Gus Hansen, Scotty Nguyen, Bertrand Grospellier, David Benyamine, Shawn Buchanan, Eric Baldwin, David Williams, Justin Young, Galen Hall and Scott Seiver. Since 2003, first prize is always over $1,000,000, with a peak in 2007, when Mortensen overcame 638 opponents for a huge $3,970,415 cash prize; and last year German prodigy Marvin Rettenmaier earned $1,196,000 and the first of his two WPT titles, after besting head’s up French pro Philippe Ktorza.

This year, the legendary series’ tenth edition will be just as long as intense. Indeed, from May 7-24, no less than 16 tournaments will be provided to poker lovers of all stripes, with maY – june may JUNE 2013

the Fountains of Bellagio, a stunning dancing water fountain and music show that you have surely seen on screen, in movies such as Rush Hour 2, Ocean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Thirteen.

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las vegas poker scene

WPT Five Star World Poker Classic Schedule

Tue 7 May • (12.00 pm): $1,000 + $80 NLHE Wed 8 May • (12.00 pm): $1,500 + $90 NLHE Thu 9 May • (12.00 pm): $100 + $80 NLHE • (12.00 pm): $1,000 + $80 Fri 10 May • (2.00 pm): $1,500 + $90 NLHE Sat 11 May • (12.00 pm): $2,500 + $120 NLHE Sun 12 May • (12.00 pm): $1,000 + $80 NLHE Mon 13 May • (12.00 pm): $ 1,000 + $80 NLHE • (2.00 pm) : $ 5,000 + $180 NLHE Tue 14 May • (12.00 pm): $ 1,500 + $90 NLHE

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Wed 15 May • ( 2.00 pm): $ 5,000 + $180 NLHE Thu 16 May • ( 12.00 pm): $ 2,500 + $120 Super Satellite to Main Event Fri 17 May • ( 12.00 pm): $ 2,500 + $120 Super Satellite to Main Event Sat 18 - Fri 24 May • (12.00 pm): $ 25,000 + $500 NLHE - WPT World Championship (7-Day Tournament; Re-Entry) Mon 20 May • ( 2.00 pm): $ 5,000 + $180 NLHE Tue 21 - Thu 23 May • ( 2.00 pm): $ 100,000 NLHE - Super High Roller (3-Day Tournament) Fri 24 May • ( 4.00 pm): WPT World Championship Final Table

may maY – JUNE june 2013

Bellagio Five Star World Poker Classic dishes are dressed like masterpieces, offering the finest Franco-Spanish delicacies and wine from a most amazing cellar. The circus-themed Le Cirque and its French specialties was awarded one star by the Michelin Guide; as was Michael Mina’s eponymous restaurant, which provides a stunning international cuisine, a mix of influences from France, Japan, South America, Spain, Italy, Russia...

Reservations are strongly recommended.

Tel: +1 866 259 7111 or +1 702 693 8865

Vibrant nightlife at Bellagio Bellagio, the experience of a lifetime Some say that you haven’t seen Vegas if you’ve never stayed at Bellagio. This elegant Italian-style landmark is one of the most amazing hotels in the world; it has won the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award thirteen times in a row, from 2000 to 2013, for its sumptuous décor, impeccable service, and prestigious and extensive facilities — including its spa & salon, offering a unique assortment of international treatments in a luxurious 65,000-square-foot setting, along with its very exclusive Petrossian and Baccarat bars and award-winning restaurants such as Picasso, Le Cirque and Michael Mina.

Botanical gardens, Mediterranean-themed pools and Jacuzzi, a fine art gallery — Bellagio covers all the bases of absolute luxury. Its 3,993 rooms and suites have the most stunning views of the city and the complex and offer more than you could ever imagine. Perfect comfort, extraordinary class and attention to detail makes Bellagio more than a hotel: it’s the experience of a lifetime.

Special rates for Five Star World Poker Classic participants.

Address: 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: +1 702 693 7111 Web: http://www.bellagio.com

The finest restaurants in the city

Bellagio offers 20 dining options. From the exotic charms of Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge’s innovative dishes, made to perfection by award-winning Chef Akira Back including sushi, sashimi, tempura, and hand rolls, to the Five Diamond award-winners Picasso and Le Cirque, both serving fantastic fare with a French accent. Picasso has been awarded two Michelin stars; its sophisticated maY – june may JUNE 2013

Las Vegas nightclubs and bars are used to competing for attention, though none of them can rival the sophistication and allure of Bellagio’s signature spots, whether you’re looking for a lively atmosphere, or a more intimate experience. From The Bank, Las Vegas’ premier nightlife destination, with its elegant décor and stateof-the-art sound system, to Hyde Bellagio, one of the city’s hottest hotspots overlooking the Fountains of the Bellagio, party-lovers will find everything they need to enjoy their stay in Sin City.

With its lavish atmosphere, Lily Bar & Lounge is the perfect alternative to the pulsating vibe of an animated nightclub, as is the sophisticated Petrossian Bar, one of the best hotel bars in America, where epicureans enjoy the finest cocktails in town; and the stylish Baccarat Bar, where Baccarat enthusiasts revel in their game, while comfortably listening to classic jazz.

The Bellagio Cup IX, from July 5-15 From July 5-15, while the 44th WSOP Main Event enters its last week of action, Bellagio will host the ninth edition of its own summer series, the Bellagio Cup. Since 2005, this popular poker festival has attracted huge fields of players on the fringe of the WSOP Main Event with a set of competitions highlighted by the weeklong $10,000 + $30 Main Event.

In 2010, for the sixth edition, German player Moritz Kranich bested Justin Smith and Phil Ivey on the final table and took home $875,150, while American pro Elio Fox, the 2011 winner, beat his countryman Hafiz Khan heads-up for $669,692. Last year, American player Jess Yawitz managed to win the title and the $291,505 first prize after a deal with his last opponent Kristinojas Andrulis, from Lithuania, who pocketed $290,185 for his performance.

Besides the $10,000 + $300 Main Event, the Bellagio Cup IX will host several side events starting on July 5, including satellites to the Main Event. The full schedule is still pending; we will have more information for you in our next edition.

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Casino Austria Poker Tour Velden Big Four and Innsbruck Deepstack

€1.2 million estimated prize money for two amazing poker series Are you ready for two huge poker festivals this summer in Austria? From May 27-June 1, the Casino Austria Poker Tour will stop at Innsbruck, in the heart of the Alps, for an amazing week of affordable events for players from all over Europe. And for the sixth and antepenultimate leg of its 2013 season, the CAPT will make a weeklong stop in Velden Wörthersee, from July 12-21, for a wonderful Big Four series in Southern Austria. Close to Italy and Slovenia, and their Mediterranean atmosphere, Austria features some of Europe’s most entertaining casinos; and this year again they will provide exciting events: at Innsbruck, the total prize money is estimated at €200,000, while in Velden, it will surely reach €1,000,000. Here is an introduction to what you can expect from these two great summer series.

By Adam Stalzman

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maY – june 2013

capt velden & Innsbruck Deepstack

L

Launched in 2008, the CAPT is the biggest Austrian Poker Tour, with yearly offers of high-level tournaments to European players in the wonderful settings of the country’s most beautiful casinos. This year, after Kitzbühel, Seefeld, Bregenz and Salzburg, the tour will stop at Innsbruck from May 27-June 1, and in the southern city of Velden, located on the Alpine lake of Wörthersee, from July 12-21. The Innsbruck Deepstack will be great practice for seasoned players and a fantastic opportunity to win big for beginners, as its €500 Main Event is quite affordable. It will also provide a great selection of satellites and side events, with buy-ins as low as €100, even if the prize pool is expected to reach €200,000. Down south in Velden, the Big Four and its €2,000 Main Event is expected to bring crowds of poker pros, as the total prize pool of the series is expected to reach €1,000,000! Innsbruck and Velden are two very different cities, with each having a lot to offer poker players both in spring and summer.

Two very different cities...

Innsbruck is the pearl of the Tyrol: located in the Inn Valley, between high mountains, it is famous for having hosted several Winter Olympics, and for its beautiful Old City full of historical buildings, museums, and welcoming parks and gardens. It is also home to a gorgeous casino, one of the largest in Austria: Casino Innsbruck was opened in 1992 and is rightly considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Its favorable location in the Tyrolean Mountains and its impressive architecture, the spacious rooms’ tasteful interiors and the warmth of its employees offer its guests an extraordinary experience in an elegant atmosphere. Sumptuous yet cozy, it makes you feel at home and in perfect condition to play your A-Game during the DeepStack event or on the cash games tables (every day, from 4:00 pm.-4:00 am.).

Velden, for its part, lies amid a breathtaking backdrop on the banks of Lake Wörthersee, making it a summer health resort; its beautiful bay is one of the nicest places to play poker in the summertime. The fresh air and the magnificent landscape are great, but what could be more tempting

than a bit of excitement at the poker tables? You’re in luck, as its fantastic casino, known for its breathtaking lake terrace, offers a 27,000-square-foot gaming space featuring 237 gaming machines and twenty poker tables (daily cash games from 3:00 pm.-5:00 am.). Each year it becomes a CAPT hotspot, bringing international players to Velden to compete for a huge prize pool.

... And two very different schedules

Providing a mix of low buy-ins coupled with highly-coveted prize money, the CAPT Innsbruck, from May 27-June 1 will once again attract large numbers of European poker players to the heart of the Alps. The crown jewel of this festival will undoubtedly be the three-day €500 Deepstack Main Event (Day 1A on May 29, Day 1B on May 30), with 30,000 starting stakes and a re-entry option, for a final table set on June 1. Two freeroll satellites to the Main Event will be held on May 28 and 29 (details available on the schedule), and four very interesting side events will also be coming to Innsbruck’s poker tables, such as the two-day

how to get there Innsbruck Kranebitten Airport, the largest in the Tyrol, offers flights to European cities such as Vien na, L ondon, Düsseldor f, Fra n k f u r t, A msterdam, Brussels, Hamburg, Zürich and Dublin. It is approximately four kilometers from the city, and connected to the city center and to Innsbruck Central Station by city bus F, which runs every 15 minutes (18-minute trip).

Velden is connected to several European cities via Klagenfurt Airport (20 minutes, 25 km) and the Salzburg W. A. Mozart Airport, the second largest in Austria, where you can take a train to Velden (1 hour and a half). maY – june 2013

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tournament

Innsbruck is the pearl of the Tyrol: located in the Inn Valley, between high mountains, it is famous for having hosted several Winter Olympics. It is also home to a gorgeous casino, one of the largest in Austria.

€300 Deepstack event (on May 27 and 28), the two-day €200 PLO tournament (with 1 Rebuy and 1 Addon), or the €250 Turbo Deepstack Bounty, which will close the festival on June 1.

Part of the CAPT “Big Four”, the four most impressive poker tournaments in Austria (along with Seefeld, Bregenz and Baden), the CAPT Velden will run from July 12-21 with a brand-new structure. Indeed, the €2,000 Main Event will be played over four days from July 17-20 (50,000 starting stakes and re-entry options), and the series will welcome for the first time a huge €10,000 High Roller event, on July 19 and 20, with comfortable 100,000 starting stakes and 60-minute levels. Side events will also be intense, as the series will start with the 2-day €500 re-entry “Showdown Am Wörthersee” event (Day 1A on July 12, Day 1B on July 13), followed by two amazing tournaments: the two-day €1,000 Seven Card Stud on July 14 and 15, and the two-

day €1,000 Pot Limit Omaha on July 15 and 16. Other side events are planned, with buy-ins starting as low as €200, including a very promising two-day €300 Deepstack re-entry tournament, with Day 1A on July 19 and Day 1B on July 20.

This summer, whether you’re looking for low-budget tournaments or high-roller action, Innsbruck and Velden will be the perfect destinations for all poker lovers. You can register for the tournaments online at www.poker.casinos.at, by phone, 43 (0) 50 777 50, or in one of the 12 Casinos Austria.

Where to stay in Innsbruck

Renowned touristic destination Innsbruck has a large selection of hotels to offer, for all kinds of budgets. From five-star establishments to simple but comfortable accommodations, here are the CAPT’s partner hotels (please state the booking code “CAPT Casino Innsbruck” on your reservation):

Grand Hotel Europa*****

Since its establishment in 1869, the Grand Hotel Europa has characterized the life of the provincial capital Innsbruck. Three-minute walk from the Casino.

Südtiroler Platz 2, 6020 Innsbruck Tel: +43 (0) 512 5931 0 info@grandhoteleuropa.at www.grandhoteleuropa.at Single room from €135; Double room from €165

Hilton Innsbruck****

Located next to Casino Innsbruck, the Hilton Innsbruck received the 2012 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award, thanks to its outstanding traveler reviews.

Salurnerstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck Tel: +43 (0) 512 5935 2211 innsbruck.events@hilton.com www.innsbruck.hilton.com Single room from €115; Double room from €135

Ibis Innsbruck***

Located only three minutes walking distance from the Casino, next to Innsbruck train station, the Ibis Innsbruck features 75 affordable rooms.

Sterzingerstraße 1, 6020 Innsbruck Tel: +43 (0) 512 570300 h5174-re@accor.com www.ibishotel.com Single room from €72; Double room from €90 32

maY – june 2013

capt velden & Innsbruck Deepstack

Where to stay in velden

A very up-market summer resort, Velden has plenty of accommodations on offer. Here are our picks among its large choice of luxury hotels. All are located in the city center, and feature comfortable rooms and suites.

CasinoHotel Velden ****

With its ample rooms and apartments, its modern wellness-area and private beach, the CasinoHotel is one of the best options in town.

Am Corso 10, 9220 Velden Tel: +43 (0)4274 51233 E-Mail and Website: rezeption@casino-hotel.at www.casino-hotel.at Double room from €109 per person; Apartment from €145 per person; Special rates for CAPT participants

Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden *****

Situated on Lake Wörthersse, this luxurious palace hotel offers magnificent stately rooms, excellent cuisine, a new SPA world and perfect service.

Schlosspark 1, 9220 Velden Tel: +43 (0)4274 52000 5200 E-Mail &Website: reservation.schlossvelden@falkensteiner www.falkensteiner.com Double room from €240; Suite from €355

maY – june 2013

Seehotel Hubertushof ****

Wellness, design, gourmet cooking. On the lake, the Seehotel Hubertushof is a “modern hotel with a proud tradition.”

Europaplatz 1, 9220 Velden Tel: +43 (0)4274 26760 E-Mail & Website: hotel@hubertus-hof.info www.seehotelhubertushof.com Single room from €168; Double room from €215

Hotel Carinthia ****

Located only a few meters from the Kupark, the lake, the casino and the Velden Castle, Hotel Carinthia is a jewel of local architecture.

Karawankenplatz 3, 9220 Velden Tel: +43 (0)4274 2171 E-Mail & Website: hotel.carinthia@aon.at www.carinthia-hotel.at Single room from €92; Double room from €158

Room Reservations

Tourist agencies will be pleased to assist you with your room reservations: Wörthersee Tourismus Tel: +43 (0) 4274 38288 E-Mail & Website: office@woerthersee.com www.woerthersee.com Velden Tourismus Tel: +43 (0) 4274 2103 E-Mail & Website: info@velden.at www.velden.at

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tournament

CAPT Velden €2,000 Main Event List of Winners 2008 field: 186 players Prize pool: 353,400 1st Stefan Rapp (Austria) €95,420 2nd Andras Karkus (Hungary) €67,150 3rd Andreas Eiler (Germany) €49,480 2009 field: 220 players Prize pool: €418,000 1st Peyman Luth (Germany) €110,760 2nd Eric Friedmann (Switzerland) €78,580 3rd Harry Casagrande (Austria) €55,180 2010 field: 213 players Prize pool: €404,700 1st Peter Muhlbek (Austria) €107,250 2nd A. Rettenbacher (Austria) €76,080 3rd Simon Mertlitsch (Austria) €53,420 2011 field: 195 players Prize pool: €370,000 1st Balazs Somodi (Hungary) €98,180 2nd Johann Fest (Germany) €69,650 3rd Erich Kollmann (Austria) €48,910 2012 field: 237 players Prize pool: €450,300 1st Christian Sallinger (Austria) €108,070 2nd Andre Mayr (Switzerland) €66,690 3rd Josef Friedl (Germany) €45,030

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CAPT Innsbruck €2,000 Main Event List of Winners 2008 field: 101 players Prize pool: €191,900 1st Mihai Manole (Romania) €55,650 2nd Johann Fest (Germany) €40,300 3rd C. Von-Rohr (Switzerland) €28,790 2009 field: 116 players Prize pool: €220,400 1st Cyrill Ziegler (Switzerland) €61,710 2nd Bernhard Perner (Austria) €44,080 3rd Peter Falbesoner (Austria) €30,870 2010 field: 99 players Prize pool: €188,100 1st Will Fuhrer (Austria) €54,550 2nd Jacques Mauron (Switzerland) €39,500 3rd Stefan Hofmann (Switzerland) €28,210 2011 field: 79 players Prize pool: €150,100 1st Will Fuhrer (Austria): €45,030 2nd L. Tsoukernik (Czech Republic) €33,020 3rd Omer Kaya (Turkey) €24,020 2012 field: 59 players Prize pool: €112,100 1st J. P. Jachtmann (Germany) €39,790 2nd Heinz Kamutzki (Germany) €25,780 3rd Florian Schleps (Austria) €17,930 maY – june 2013

capt velden & Innsbruck Deepstack

the CAPT “Big Four”, the four most impressive poker tournaments in Austria (along with Seefeld, Bregenz and Baden), the CAPT Velden will run from July 12-21 with a brand-new structure.

CAPT Velden Schedule Fri July 12 • (3:00 pm.): €500 Showdown Am Wörthersee Day 1A (2-Day Tournament, Re-Entry on Day 1B) Sat July 13 • (3:00 pm.): €500 Showdown Am Wörthersee Day 1B (2-Day Tournament) Sun July 14 • (4:00 pm.): €1,000 Seven Card Stud Day 1 (2-Day Tournament) Mon July 15 • (3:00 pm.): €1,000 Pot Limit Omaha Day 1 (2-Day Tournament, Re-Entry) • (5:00 pm.): €300 NLHE Turbo Deepstack Tue July 16 • (5:00 pm.): €200 Satellite to Main Event (1 Rebuy or 1 Add-on) Wed July 17 • (3:00 pm.): €2,000 CAPT Velden Main Event Day 1 (4-Day Tournament, Re-Entry) Thu July 18 • (5:00 pm.): €400 NLHE Bounty €100 (Re-Entry) Fri July 19 • (3:00 pm.): €300 NLHE Deepstack Day 1A (2-Day Tournament, Re-Entry on Day 1B) • (8:00 pm.): €10,000 High Roller Day 1 (2-Day Tournament) Sat July 20 • (3:00 pm.): €300 NLHE Deepstack Day 1B (2-Day Tournament) Sun July 21 • (3:15 pm.): €200 NLHE Turbo Deepstack

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CAPT Innsbruck Schedule Mon May 27 • (6:30 pm.): €300 NLHE Deepstack Day 1 (2-Day Tournament, Second Chance 4 Level) Tue May 28 • (5:15 pm.): Freeroll – 10 Tickets for Main Event Day 1A (All participants in €300 Deepstack Event are qualified) • (8:00 pm.): €200 Pot Limit Omaha Day 1 (2-Day Tournament, 1 Rebuy & 1 €200 Add-on until the end of Level 4) Wed May 29 • (6:30 pm.): €500 CAPT Innsbruck Main Event Day 1A (3-Day Tournament, Re-Entry on Day 1B; Second Chance 6 Level) Thu May 30 • (5:15 pm.): Freeroll – 5 Tickets for Main Event Day 1B (All participants on Main Event Day 1A are qualified) • (6:30 pm.): €500 CAPT Innsbruck Main Event Day 1B (3-Day Tournament, Re-Entry & Second Chance 6 Level) Fri May 31 • (6:30 pm.): €100 NLHE Win the Button Sat June 1 • (5:15 pm.): €250 NLHE Turbo Deepstack KO-Bounty €50 (Second Chance 6 Level)

Providing a mix of low buyins coupled with highly-coveted prize money, the CAPT Innsbruck, from May 27-June 1 will once again attract large numbers of European poker players to the heart of the Alps.

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las vegas poker scene

ARIA Resort & Casino

Discover, play and stay!

Opened in December 2009, ARIA Resort & Casino has already become a major landmark in Las Vegas, as well as a reference in terms of luxury. But most of all, it’s a paradise for players as it has some of the world’s best poker on offer. With unbelievable ARIA Sky Suites, amazing chefs serving the best of French, Japanese or Italian cuisine, the newest Cirque du Soleil® show, the legendary ARIA Poker Room and much more, this huge complex is a whole world of possibilities. Shopping, relaxing, gambling — you can do it all in ARIA Resort & Casino, while the impeccable staff caters to your every wish.

More than a place to have a short stay, it’s a paradise to discover and explore while playing your way into the small circle of poker masters in Sin City. With special poker offers this summer, and long-term rentals now available at the elegant Vdara Hotel & Spa, it’s time to plan a real stay in Vegas, and truly live the dream!

By Philip Aronson

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may maY – JUNE june 2013

Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas

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New Twitter Giveaway Series

Las Vegas has always been the best place to play poker, as it offers the most luxurious hotels and casinos and attracts players from all over the world. There is no other city that holds so much potential in learning, indulging and winning big. But it can be hard not to get lost in this multitude of lights and opportunities. Don’t worry, there’s a place that perfectly combines everything you’re looking for: the new Aria Resort & Casino, an astonishing complex completed in 2009 and featuring a AAA Five Diamond, 150,000 square feet of gaming space, a fantastic spa, a huge convention center and a theater featuring internationally acclaimed shows such as the Cirque du Soleil. Aria is simply the best for everything, but it has something very special that makes it stand out even more: its customer service. In the stunning poker room, considered by many to be the best in the world — player Jean-Robert Bellande calls it “the Ferrari of poker rooms” — the friendly staff will meet your every need, so you can concentrate on your game.

music, wake-up calls etc. And when you step outside, the magic continues, with a 20,000,000 square-foot pool area, including hot tubs, a lively swimming pool lounge and a therapy pool to relax in complete serenity. The remarkable ARIA Sky Suites are the real jewel of this luxurious establishment: if having an AAA Five Diamond Award was not enough, it just received the prestigious Forbes Five-Star Award, proving its excellence once again.

Five Diamonds and Five Stars for a stunning hotel

Fantastic cuisine on offer, from Japan to Mexico

There is only one hotel at ARIA Resort & Casino, but what a hotel! This AAA Five Diamond palace offers 4,004 rooms, including 568 suites with fantastic views of the city, making it the ninth largest hotel in the world. In your room, every single detail has been thought out to satisfy all of your needs and wishes. First off, you’ll have space: rooms begin at 520 square feet, to 2,000 square feet for the biggest suite and 7,000 square feet for the biggest villa. While you’re relaxing on the most advanced-generation mattress, your touch screen remote will give you complete control of room features such as lighting, temperature, television,

maY – june may JUNE 2013

The first three weeks of the month, ARIA Poker will be giving away small prizes and souvenirs. The last week of the month, it will give away room stays or tournament entries! Don’t miss these incredible opportunities and follow ARIA on Twitter @ARIAPoker.

ARIA Resort & Casino has an incredible variety of restaurants. Whether you like American steak, sushi, Chinese food, Spanish tapas or French macarons, you’ll be thrilled.

16 restaurants in all styles will make your senses travel from Europe to Asia and America, each offering a specific type of cuisine prepared by the most inspired international chefs.

For the most eclectic food experience ever, try the amazing Buffet, featuring every country from Italy to Mexico and India, with its own tandoor oven for freshly baked naan breads and tandoori meats. Don’t miss its carvery corner, with freshly grilled, smoked and slow-roasted BBQ items,

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las vegas poker scene

If you only live for poker, don’t worry: you won’t get bored either. Within its three distinct areas, the ARIA Poker Room contains a total of 24 tables, all equipped with automatic shufflers and Genesis Gaming Bravo tableside management systems, and offers a great variety of games in a wide range of limits.

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or its renowned seafood station with all the crab legs and shrimp you can eat!

The newest additions to this amazing offer are Tetsu, a gourmet Japanese restaurant featuring the sublime teppan grill creations of Forbes and Michelin-decorated Chef Masa Takayama, and Javier’s, bringing authentic Mexican cuisine to the Strip, along with hand-shaken margaritas! Baja California at its best, with seafood, beef, pork, chicken and vegetarian dishes to die for, and dozens of the world’s finest tequilas available. And this summer, another great new restaurant will open at ARIA Resort & Casino: Five50, where Shawn McClain, voted “Best Chef in the Midwest” by the James Beard Foundation, will bring the best pizzas to Vegas.

The newest Cirque du Soleil show and the best shopping ever

As far as entertainment goes, ARIA is well known for its poker, but it has a lot more options. If you want to leave the tables for a day or two, you won’t get bored: you might have a look at the newest Cirque du Soleil show everyone’s talking about, Zarkana™, and its spectacular acrobats flying through a fantasy universe. And to go back to Earth after that, what could be better than a little bit of shopping? Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Bulgari, all the high-end brands we all love are in The Shops at Crystals, an extraordinary shop-

may maY – JUNE june 2013

Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas ping center dedicated to luxury and taste, just steps away from ARIA, offering the very best of international fashion in a real marvel of architecture. Just look up and admire the crystalline, glass-and-steel canopy — you’re at Crystals!

A very special Poker offer

If you only live for poker, don’t worry: you won’t get bored either. Within its three distinct areas (the main floor, the elevated top section and the world-famous high-stakes room), the ARIA Poker Room contains a total of 24 tables, all equipped with automatic shufflers and Genesis Gaming Bravo tableside management systems, and offers a great variety of games in a wide range of limits, as well as daily poker tournaments. ARIA’s cash games offer includes No Limit and Limit Hold-em (starting $1/$3 and $2/$4 blinds), Pot Limit Omaha (starting $1/$3 blinds), Omaha 8 or Better (starting $4/$8 with ½ Kill), as well as Mixed Games and Draw Games (starting $4/$8). The most popular games spread at the Aria’s tables are $1/$3, $2/$5 and $5/$10 No Limit Hold-em, $12/$24 Mix Games, $1/$3 and $2/$5 Pot Limit Omaha, as well as $4/$8 Limit Hold-em, and the room also spreads high and very high limit poker most nights. For tournament lovers, Aria holds every day two $100 + $25 tournaments, at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., with one re-entry option, 10,000 starting chips and 30-minute

levels. This summer will definitely be the time to give it a try as ARIA’s special poker rates will be offered from May 27-August 4: $99 from Sunday to Thursday and $139 on Friday & Saturday! This is subject to qualifying hours played in the ARIA Poker Room.

Incredible amenities, high standards services and fully devoted staff, everything is set at the ARIA Resort & Casino to make your stay in the Mecca of poker the best experience ever!

If more information is needed about any of ARIA’s amenities, please go to www.arialasvegas.com or www.ariaskysuites.com.

Vdara’s long-term rental program

To get a great deal on your stay, you can benefit from special poker rates from ARIA or choose a longterm rental at neighboring boutique hotel Vdara.

The huge, elegant and stylish suites and penthouses equipped with the finest and most modern comfort offer stunning views and the perfect package, such as a sublime spa, a golf course and a sightseeing service to discover the Grand Canyon... The dream is surprisingly affordable: to live like James Bond in a gorgeous suite in the very heart of Vegas, a few steps away from the ARIA Poker Room, long stays start at $3,250 monthly for Deluxe Suite, for a minimum stay of 30 days. Vdara Suites start at $5,000 monthly, Panoramic Suites start at $6,250 monthly, and Penthouses are available from $7,5000 monthly (room tax of 12% will be charged for the first 30 days). The long-term rental program includes a weekly housekeeping service, daily fitness center access, access to pool, in-room and wireless Internet, as well as washer and dryer services in Vdara Suites and above. For more information, and to book your long-term reservations, please call Vdara at +1 702 590 2405 or look at www.vdara.com. maY – june may JUNE 2013

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tournament

Merit World Poker Cup Final & WPT Merit Cyprus Classic

A great summer of poker in lovely Cyprus Pack your swimsuits and sunglasses, and get prepared for a fantastic summer of poker in the Mediterranean! Cyprus is definitely the place to be this summer, with two great poker festivals gathering huge crowds of international players on the warm and beautiful island. From July 18-29, the Merit World Poker Cup Final will make its debut, and this first edition is expected to be great practice for good players, from affordable buy-ins up to $10,000 events. And if you feel confident enough to face the best pros in Europe, such as last year’s winner, the implacable Marvin Rettenmaier, the show will go on from August 14-26 with the World Poker Tour Merit Cyprus Classic, in the exact same luxurious surroundings of the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino. Following the incredible 2012 season, Cyprus is now considered one of the WPT’s trickier spots, so will you be brave enough to take on Cyprus? Here’s your chance.

By Steven Lake

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Merit WPC Final & WPT Merit Cyprus Classic

Cyprus is a fantastic place to spend the summer: it’s warm, but never too hot, thanks to the legendary and refreshing westerly wind; it has beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, mountains and cedar trees — it is truly gorgeous. And for poker players, it has something more that makes it a true paradise. Indeed, the northern part of the island is poker crazy, and has a fantastic five-star hotel and casino, the Merit Crystal Cove, which offers great poker tournaments all year long.

A high-class establishment

The five-star Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino is the perfect setting for amazing poker events, as it has everything you would expect from such a classy establishment, combined with a very Eastern approach to comfort — fantastic sofas, Turkish baths, and the great Nargile Cafe, where you can sit poolside and smoke a traditional water pipe between 12.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. Indulge in a fantastic retreat at the Crystal Spa and discover the benefits of a real Oriental massage, or enjoy other great options such as the Ice Cave, the saunas, the steam rooms, the relaxing pool with Jacuzzi... Unless you’re up for sports, in which case you can head to the beach and try jet skiing, canoeing, or volleyball. When you have had your share of sunlight, go to the casino, where 164 slot machines and 37 tables offering all kinds of games will be awaiting you!

Next summer will be the perfect opportunity to discover it as two major events will take place there in July and August: first the Merit World Poker Cup Final, and second, the World Poker Tour Merit Cyprus Classic. These will be two totally different kinds of tournaments, as the MWPCF will be an excellent training for good players, with chances to bet big and win big in some events, whereas the WPT is expected to be a ruthless, A-class competition for the brave who want to play against some of the world’s best pros.

Cash games

Tables are open 24/7. Cash games offer includes No Limit Hold-em and Pot Limit Omaha, starting 5$/10$, 10$/25$, 25$/50$ and 50$/100$. Cash game tables will be open 24 hours a day during the whole poker festival.

thing they expect with the $500 + $50 Re-Entry NL Event on July 22, the $500 + $60 NL 6 Max Hyper Turbo on July 24 and the $600 + $60 NL Deepstack 6 Max tournament, which will close this intense series on July 29.

The WPT Merit Cyprus Classic

One huge festival is not enough for the Cypriot casino!

Indeed, only two weeks after the end of the Merit World Poker Cup, the island will be hosting a leg of the World Poker Tour, the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic, from August 14-26, with 24 perfectly shaped tournaments. Right at the start of the three-day $800 + $80 WPT Warm-Up event (from August 14, with three Day 1), high stakes lovers will get an opportunity to win big, with the $10,000 WPT Super High Roller players, on August 16 and 17 (several $950 + $50 and $200 + $25 Satellites on August 14, 15 and 16).

The Merit World Poker Cup Final

The Merit World Poker Cup Final will feature no less than 23 events, starting on July 18 with the three-day $600 + $60 Warm-Up tournament. The highlight of this series will be the three-day $3,000 + $300 Main Event (Day 1A on July 26, Day 1B on the 17th), offering 30,000 starting stakes, for 60-minute levels, and three $200 + $25 satellites to this huge event will be held on July 22, 23 and 25. The two-day $10,000 Super High Roller (on July 20 and 21) will also be one of the biggest moments of this Cypriot series, as two $950 + $50 Mega Satellites and three $200 + $25 Turbo Satellites will distribute tickets to this tournament on July 18, 19 and 20.

Among the numerous scheduled side events, players will get the chance to play a $1,000 + $100 PLO 6 Max tournament on July 22 (with Re-Entry), a $1,000 + $100 NL K.O. Bounty event on July 23, a $1,380 + $120 High Roller Heads-Up championships on July 24, as well as a $1,000 + $100 NL Deepstack Turbo on July 25 (with Re-Entry). The buy-ins of the side events start as low as $100 + $15, and players willing to enter middle budget tournaments will find everymaY – june 2013

how to get there The Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino is located in northern Cyprus, 10 km from downtown Kyrenia, and 45 km from Ercan Airport. Most Turkish airlines have flights to the airport, including low-cost companies such as Freebird Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines; they offer daily flights from Istanbul, Ankara, Brussels, London Stansted, Hamburg, Berlin, and Munich... You can also arrive at Cyprus Larnaca Airport (about 1h30 from the Merit Crystal Cove). To get to the Merit Crystal Cove, you can get a cab at the airport or arrange a transfer from the airport to the hotel with the Merit staff (+90 392 650 02 00).

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tournament Very interesting side events will also be occurring at this WPT festival, such as the $1,000 + $100 PLO 6 Max and the $1,000 + $100 NL (both with Re-Entry) on August 18, the $1,500 + $100 NL K.O. Bounty on August 19, the $1,380 + $120 Heads-Up Championships on August 20, as well as the $1,000 + $100 NL 6 Max Deepstack on August 22.

For its part, the $4,000 + $400 WPT Main Event will start with two Day 1 (on August 21 and 22), and will run for five days, for a final TV table set on August 26. Last year, while the WPT came back to Cyprus after a three-year break, 329 players participated in the event, generating a $1,316,000 prize pool. Players from all over the world made the trip to the Mediterranean island (such as Dominik Nitsche and Robert Mizrachi), and German prodigy Marvin Rettenmaier earned his second WPT title after besting Russian player Artur Voskanyan heads-up, for a massive first prize of $287,784. This year again, you’ll be sure to find some of the best poker players at this incredible event.

With natural settings, a warm and hospitable atmosphere and a luxurious venue for two major poker events, Cyprus will definitely be the most enchanting place to gamble this summer. Whether you choose to join the Merit World Poker Cup Final in July or prefer to face the best pros in the world during the World Poker Tour Merit Cyprus Classic in August, you’ll definitely have a great time. And who knows, maybe the title will be yours?

hotel Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino

Nestled in one of the most beautiful bays of Cyprus, the five-star Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino faces the sea, offering a fantastic view to its guests. It has a great selection of accommodations with two king suites, 24 junior suites, and a total of 307 deluxe rooms. Besides its perfect location and great comfort and luxury, the Merit Crystal Cove has another great asset: activities and service for all kinds of players, whether you wish to relax on the tennis court, or go jet skiing, or diving in the Mediterranean... or just get an Oriental massage, for those less interested in sports. Enjoy the sauna, the wellness center, the swimming pool, the great restaurants serving local cuisine or simply the beach — but don’t forget, the poker tables are waiting for you!

Special rates for MWPCF and WPT participants.

Address: Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino Alsancak Mevkii Kyrenia, Cyprus Bookings: +90 392 650 02 00

restaurant WPT Merit Cyprus Classic List of Winners 2012 ($4,000 + $400 Event) Field: 329 players; Prize pool: $1,316,000 1st Marvin Rettenmaier $287,784 2nd Artur Voskanyan $184,020 3rd Ran Azor $118,360 2009 ($10,000 + $30 Event) Field: 181 players; Prize pool: $1,755,700 1st Thomas Bichon $579,165 2nd Uri Keidar $380,645 3rd Steven Fung $216,275 42

The Merit Crystal Cove has a great all-inclusive service with a sumptuous buffet bursting with Mediterranean and international flavors, but you may choose to discover the delicacies of Cyprus in the great Hasır Ocakbaşı (Fireside) Restaurant, with fragrant lamb kebab, fantastic stuffed eggplant and delicious flat bread. For even more exotic pleasures, the Panorama Chinese Restaurant features authentic dishes from the Far East, live music and an amazing panoramic view of the bay. Lastly, the Ottoman Kebab House is the place to really feast on all the amazing tastes of Turkey.

Bar

All kinds of atmospheres are found in the Merit Crystal Cove, depending on how you like your drink.

The Lobby Aquarium Bar is a place to drink your coffee or any local or international drink throughout the day; the Pool Bar and the Beach bar are great spots to relax from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and the Sunset Bar is open from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. For the rest of the night, head to the casino! maY – june 2013

JULY 19th  29th

MERIT WORLD POKER CUP’13 Over

$ 1.700,000 Guaranteed Cash

Contact Us for more ınfo|Merıt Crystal Cove Hotel www.meritpoker.com|+90 (392) 650 32 00|+90 (533) 873 89 71

Facebook.com/merıtpoker

twitter.com/merıtpoker

youtube.com/merıtpoker

tournament

WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Schedule Wed 14 Aug • (1:00 pm.): $800 + $80 WPT Warm-Up Day 1A (3-Day Event) • (6:00 pm.): $950 + $50 Mega Satellite to WPT Super High Roller (Re-Entry) • (9:00 pm.): $200 + $25 Satellite Turbo to WPT Super High Roller (Rebuy & Addon) Thu 15 Aug • (1:00 pm.): $800 + $80 WPT Warm-Up Day 1B (3-Day Event) • (6:00 pm.): $950 + $50 Mega Satellite to WPT Super High Roller (Re-Entry) • (9:00 pm.): $200 + $25 Satellite Turbo to WPT Super High Roller (Rebuy & Addon) Fri 16 Aug • (1:00 pm.): $800 + $80 WPT Warm-Up Day 1C (3-Day Event) • (4:00 pm.): $200 + $25 Satellite Turbo to WPT Super High Roller (Rebuy & Addon) • (9:00 pm.): $10,000 WPT Super High Roller Day 1 (2-Day Event) Sat 17 Aug • (4:00 pm.): $100 + $20 NL Event (Rebuy & Addon) • (10:00 pm.): $200 + $25 Turbo Satellite to WPT Main Event Sun 18 Aug • (2:00 pm.): $1,000 + $100 NL Re-Entry • (7:00 pm.): $1,000 + $100 PLO 6 Max (Re-Entry)

• (10:00 pm.): $200 + $25 Turbo Satellite to WPT Main Event Mon 19 Aug • (4:00 pm.): $200 + $25 Turbo Satellite to WPT Main Event • (8:00 pm.): $1,500 + $100 NL K.O. Bounty ($750) Tue 20 Aug • (2:00 pm.): $1,380 + $120 Heads-Up Event • (6:00 pm.): $500 + $50 NL 6 Max Hyper Turbo (Re-Entry) • (8:00 pm.): $200 + $25 Satellite to WPT Main Event Wed 21 Aug • ( 1:00 pm.): $4,000 + $400 WPT Main Event Day 1A (5-Day Event) • (4:00 pm.): $200 + $25 Satellite to WPT Main Event Thu 22 Aug • ( 1:00 pm.): $4,000 + $400 WPT Main Event Day 1B Re-Entry (5-Day Event) • (2:00 pm.): $1,000 + $100 NL 6 Max Deepstack (Re-Entry) Fri 23 Aug • (8:00 pm.): $300 + $40 NL Event (Re- Buy & Addon) Sat 24 Aug • (6:00 pm.): $1,000 NL Event (1 Re-Buy & 1 Addon) Sun 25 Aug • (6:00 pm.): $100 + $20 NL Event (Re- Buy & Addon) Mon 26 Aug • (4:00 pm.): $600 + $60 NL Deepstack 6 Max

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las vegas poker scene

44th World Series of Poker Las Vegas

Become a legend

The most exciting series in the whole wide world of poker is back! Once again this year, from May 29-July 15, the iconic Rio Casino will set the stage for the longest-running competition ever, featuring all kinds of games for a real poker feast: No Limit Hold-em of course, but also Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., Seven Card Stud or 2-7 Draw Lowball among others. Welcome to Vegas!

Here you’ll find everything you could ever want, and more. No less than 62 bracelet events are scheduled during this seven-week series, with masses of hall of fame players taking part. Huge crowds of poker lovers will come to take their chances against all the best international pros, trying to win a share of the insane cash prizes. For the thrill of your life, come join them and experience the most challenging competition ever — it might be your turn to become a legend!

By Julien Morello

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44th World Series of Poker Las Vegas

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Since 1970, this small Las Vegas event has grown to become the reference in poker series worldwide, becoming more and more popular each year, with more and more players, more and more events, and more and more money. This year will be the 44th and biggest edition ever, with no less than 62 gold bracelets — one more than last year — waiting to be claimed by the best players in the world. Nothing’s too big for Vegas, it would seem, as this poker extravaganza will last 48 days and feature more options than ever for players from around the globe.

“Dreams are dealt each year at the World Series of Poker,” said Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the WSOP. “From the opening weekend, where we will make yet another millionaire, to the Main Event, which awards the largest single prize in the world, the WSOP is an annual affirmation of the strength and global appeal of the game.” A record 480 poker tables should be spread throughout the Rio Convention Center’s three largest areas — the Pavilion, Brasilia and Amazon ballrooms — allowing for non-stop tournament, satellite, daily deepstack and cash game action. “Bring your bankroll, whatever it is, and come have the time of your life,” said WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel, who will oversee the tournament for the eighth consecutive year. “We think this is the most diverse schedule we’ve ever had and we’ll be ready for an all-time turn-out at the 44th annual WSOP.”

Get ready for the $10,000 Main Event

The new Main Event structure launched last year was a great success, and it will remain the same for the 44th edition.

Event #62 — the greatest show in gaming — features three starting flights. Participants begin their journey to fame and fortune on Saturday, July 6, Sunday, July 7 or Monday, July 8 at noon. Day 2 of the structure is Tuesday, July 9 for all participants who played on Days 1A (Saturday) or 1B (Sunday).

Survivors who start playing on Day 1C (Monday) and still have chips will play their Day 2 on Wednesday, July 10. All fields will combine to form Day 3 on Thursday, July 11. Like last year, there is no simultaneous off day for Main Event players. In all, those playing Day 1A can reach the final table in, at most, 10 calendar days, and players choosing to start on Day 1C can reach the final table in just eight days.

The event will play five full (two-hour) levels each day. The world’s best tournament structure remains the same, with 30,000 in starting chips, and Level 1 starting at 50-100 blinds with no ante. As it is now customary with the $10,000 No-Limit Hold-em Championship, the delayed final table, aka “the November Nine” returns and is to be contested live on ESPN and ESPN2 (aired in 84 countries on five continents in over 300 million households) during a twonight extravaganza on November 4 and 5.

62 events with buy-ins from $500 to $111,111

Aside from the Main Event, 61 other bracelet events will be featured, with buy-ins ranging from $500 to $111,111, but the Rio will also host 24-hour cash games, single-table satellites, mega-satellites, turbo-mega-satellites and three daily maY – june 2013

Deepstack tournaments. All of these side events and satellites will be held in the Pavilion Ballroom. Each weekend in June will feature large-field NLHE bracelet events: each Saturday there will be a $1,500 NLHE tournament and each Sunday a $1,000 NLHE event, each affording huge ROI potential against the modest buy-in. In 2012, similar Saturday events averaged 2,762 entrants, and Sunday events 2,921 participants.

Among the highlights of the 2013 schedule: a brand new “Millionaire Maker” event (Event #6), a 2-Day (with two starting flights on Saturday, June 1) $1,500 Single Re-Entry NLHE tournament where the winner is guaranteed $1,000,000!

For its part, Event #34 will be the WSOP’s first Turbo format, with a $1,000 buy-in NLHE Turbo tournament, played out in two days from Wednesday, June 19 (the first four levels are 30 minutes in length; levels then move to 40 minutes for Levels 5-17, and standard 60-minute levels after that to conclusion).

Three events first introduced at the 2012 WSOP will remain on the schedule: the $3,000 Mixed Max NLHE (Event #27, starting on Friday, June 14), the $2,500 NLHE Four Handed (Event #38, starting on Friday, June 21), and the $1,500 Ante Only NLHE (Event #45, starting on Tuesday, June 25). The $1,000 Senior-Only NLHE Championship (Event #26) will kick off on Friday, June 14 and it will be exclusively reserved to all poker enthusiasts 50 years of age and older. The LadiesOnly NLHE Championship (Event #51) will start on Friday, Jun 28, providing a $10,000 buy-in for the gentlemen, while ladies will enjoy a special discounted buy-in of $1,000.

43th season was big, 44th will be huge

But that’s not it, since some of the world’s biggest poker tournaments will rock Rio’s tables during this 44th WSOP. Indeed, Event #55 will see the return of the Poker Players Championship, in which the world’s greatest players will get together for this $50,000 eight-game mixed event starting Sunday, June 30, to determine the game’s best all-around player, who will collect the WSOP gold bracelet and add his or her name to the prestigious Chip Reese Trophy. Event #52 will also be a big moment, with a $25,000 Six Handed NLHE event starting Friday, June 28, in which the world’s best short-handed specialists will seek a big payday and a bracelet in this very popular variant.

This year, Event #47 will feature the $111,111 ONE DROP High Roller on Wednesday, June 26, with Guy Laliberté and 47

las vegas poker scene

WSOP Schedule

Wed, May 29 • (12:00 pm.): Event #1: $500 Casino Employees NLHE (2-Day Event) • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #2: $5,000 NLHE / Eight Handed (4-Day Event) Thu, May 30 • (11:00 am.): Event #3A: $1,000 NLHE (3-Day Event; Re-Entry on #3B) • (5:00 pm.): Event #3B: $1,000 NLHE (3-Day Event) Fri, May 31 • (12:00 pm.): Event #4: $1,500 NLHE / Six Handed (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #5: $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low 8-or Better (3-Day Event) Sat, Jun 1 • (11:00 am.): Event #6A: $1,500 “Millionaire Maker” NLHE (3-Day Event; Re-Entry on #6B) • (5:00 pm.): Event #6B: $1,500 “Millionaire Maker” NLHE (3-Day Event; $1,000,000 GTD 1st Place) Sun, Jun 2 • (12:00 pm.): Event #7: $1,000 NLHE (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #8: $2,500 Eight-Game Mix (3-Day Event) Mon, Jun 3 • (12:00 pm.): Event #9: $3,000 NLHE Shootout (3-Day Event; 2,000 players max)

several other noted non-professionals who participated in last year’s Big One for ONE DROP expected to play. The 3% house fees for this tournament will be donated by the Rio to the ONE DROP organization, with the hope that players who cash will add a percentage of their winnings to the charity as well. This massive charity event will be followed by the Little One for ONE DROP (Event #58), a $1,111 NLHE tournament (where $111 of each buy-in will be donated to ONE DROP) with two start days and unlimited re-entry through the first four levels. Starting flights are Wednesday, July 3, and Thursday, July 4.And for the first time ever, they will offer a $5,000 Open Face Chinese tournament (non-bracelet event), on Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14.

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• (5:00 pm.): Event #10: $1,500 Limit Hold’em (3-Day Event) Tue, Jun 4 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #11: $2,500 NLHE / Six Handed (3-Day Event) Wed, Jun 5 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #12: $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em (3-Day Event) • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #13: $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Thu, Jun 6 • (12:00 pm.): Event #14: $1,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) Fri, Jun 7 • (12:00 pm.): Event #15: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. (3-Day Event) • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #16: $10,000 Heads-Up NLHE (3-Day Event; 512 players max) Sat, Jun 8 • (12:00 pm.): Event #17: $1,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) Sun, Jun 9 • (12:00 pm.): Event #18: $1,000 NLHE (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #19: $5,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em (3-Day Event) Mon, Jun 10 • (12:00 pm.): Event #20: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3-Day Event)

This 44th edition should be the biggest ever — even bigger than last year, which was already huge. In all, 74,766 players from 101 different countries attended the legendary 2012 series, and WSOP organizers are confident that the 2013 edition will set a record. American player Greg Merson will be on hand to defend the Main Event Champion title he won last year, besting a colossal field of 6,598 participants, and pocketing a gigantic $8,531,853 first prize, out of the insane $222,035,192 of total prize money awarded during the festival. No doubt all the greatest pros in the world will take part in this legendary series, with new talents emerging out of nowhere. maY – june 2013

44th World Series of Poker Las Vegas Tue, Jun 11 • (12:00 pm.): Event #21: $3,000 NLHE / 6 Handed (3-Day Event) Wed, Jun 12 • (12:00 pm.): Event #22: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #23: $2,500 Seven Card Stud (3-Day Event) Thu, Jun 13 • (12:00 pm.): Event #24: $1,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #25: $5,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3-Day Event) Fri, Jun 14 • (10:00 am.): Event #26: $1,000 Seniors NLHE Championship (3-Day Event; 50 years of age or older) • (5:00 pm.): Event #27: $3,000 Mixed Max NLHE (3-Day Event; Day 1 9-Handed; Day 2 6-Handed; Day 3 Heads-Up) Sat, Jun 15 • (12:00 pm.): Event #28: $1,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #29: $5,000 H.O.R.S.E. (3-Day Event) Sun, Jun 16 • (12:00 pm.): Event #30: $1,000 NLHE (3-Day Event) Mon, Jun 17 • (12:00 pm.): Event #31: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3-Day Event) Tue, Jun 18 • (12:00 pm.): Event #32: $5,000 NLHE / Six Handed (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #33: $2,500 Seven Card Razz (3-Day Event) Wed, Jun 19 • (12:00 pm.): Event #34: $1,000 Turbo NLHE (2-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #35: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (3-Day Event) Thu, Jun 20 • (12:00 pm.): Event #36: $1,500 NLHE Shootout (3-Day Event; 2,000 players max) • (5:00 pm): Event #37: $5,000 Limit Hold’em (3-Day Event) Fri, Jun 21 • (12:00 pm.): Event #38: $2,500 NLHE / Four Handed (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #39: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better (3-Day Event) Sat, Jun 22 • (12:00 pm.): Event #40: $1,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm): Event #41: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha / Six Handed (3-Day Event) Sun, Jun 23 • (12:00 pm.): Event #42: $1,000 NLHE (3-Day Event) • (5:00 pm.): Event #43: $10,000 2-7 Draw Lowball No-Limit (3-Day Event) Mon, Jun 24 • (12:00 pm.): Event #44: $3,000 NLHE (3-Day Event)

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Tue, Jun 25 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #45: $1,500 Ante Only NLHE (3-Day Event) • ( 5:00 pm): Event #46: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (3-Day Event) Wed, Jun 26 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #47: $111,111 On Drop High Rollers NLHE (3-Day Event) • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #48: $2,500 Limit Hold’em / Six Handed (3-Day Event) Thu, Jun 27 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #49: $1,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #50: $2,500 10-GameMix / Six Handed (3-Day Event) Fri, Jun 28 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #51: $10,000 Ladies NLHE Championship (3-Day Event; Ladies get discount to $1,000 price) • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #52: $25,000 NLHE / Six Handed (3-Day Event) Sat, Jun 29 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #53: $1,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) Sun, Jun 30 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #54: $1,000 NLHE • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #55: $50,000 The Poker Players Championship (5-Day Event) Mon, Jul 1 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #56: $2,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) Tue, Jul 2 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #57: $5,000 NLHE (4-Day Event) Wed, Jul 3 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #58A: $1,111 The Little One for One Drop NLHE (4-Day Event; unlimited Re-Entry first 4 levels; players who bust #58A can enter #58B) • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #59: $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball Limit (3-Day Event) Thu, Jul 4 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #58B: $1,111 The Little One for One Drop NLHE (4-Day Event; unlimited Re-Entry first 4 levels) Fri, Jul 5 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #60: $1,500 NLHE (3-Day Event) • ( 5:00 pm.): Event #61: $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha (3-Day Event) Sat, Jul 6 • ( 12:00 pm.): Event #58B: $1,111 The Little One for One Drop NLHE (4-Day Event; unlimited Re-Entry first 4 levels) Day 1A: July 6; Day 1B: July 7; Day 1C; July 8; Day 2A: July 9; Day 2B: July 9; Day 2C: July 10; Day 3: July 11; Day 4: July 12; Day 5: July 13; Day 6: July 14; Day 7: July 15 (down to Final 9) Sat, Jul 13 • ( 5:00 pm.): $5,000 Open Face Chinese (2-Day Event; non-bracelet)

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Chilipoker DeepStack Open Lloret de Mar

The great poker event of the Costa Brava

After Cannes and Tangier, it’s Lloret de Mar’s turn to hold a DSO event, from June 26-30. The great resort town of Costa Brava in Spain will once again attract crowds of players as it has everything to guarantee a nice stay for poker lovers and party animals: there are plenty of discotheques in the area; and the beach in front of the Gran Casino is thronged with young Europeans who just want to have fun. Lloret de Mar has a wild atmosphere, somehow reminiscent of Spring Break in America, and it’s a must for poker players.

After the first edition in this fantastic venue in 2011, which attracted 481 players, this new season is expected to be huge success. Affordable buy-ins — the Main Event is only €500 + €50 — the sea, the sun, and loud music: fun is on the menu at Lloret de Mar!

By Alejandro Civico

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Chilipoker DeepStack Open Lloret de Mar

If you like to play poker as much as you like to party, Lloret de Mar is the place for you. From June 26-30, the wild Spanish resort town will be all about the Chilipoker DeepStack Open held in the Gran Casino Costa Brava. For five days you’ll be able to enjoy the exciting atmosphere of this warm strip of sand by the Mediterranean sea, just under the French border, and have a taste of a famous international series without the unaffordable buy-ins. So, unless you have something against sunbathing, tapas and bikinis, Lloret de Mar is the place to play poker in late June!

16,000 square feet of poker

The Gran Casino Costa Brava is one of Spain’s best casinos.

It offers high-quality gaming, including the most popular multi-line, video wheels, multi game and multi-player slots, and video machines of all sorts. Its state-of-the-art Players Club Card offers cashless gaming to keep your winnings safe, secure, and hands-free. If you prefer hitting the tables, you’ll have to choose between electronic roulette, Blackjack, Mini Punto Banco, American Roulette, French Roulettes and Caribbean Poker... Or go to the 16,000-square-foot room dedicated to poker only, which can hold 500 people, and where cash games abound.

Hundreds of players expected for the DSO Main Event

The DeepStack Open Lloret de Mar will kick off with a €65 Satellite to the Main Event, held on June 26. Then, the €550 Main Event will attract all attention, with its comfortable

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structure of 50,000 starting chips, for 50-minute levels till level 30, and 60-minute levels to conclusion. Two starting flights will be proposed, with Day 1A on June 27, and Day 1B on June 28, for a final table set on June 30.

This huge tournament is sure to draw a large crowd of players, as the first edition in 2011 attracted 481 participants, generating a €240,500 prize pool. Robbert Miltenburg, from the Netherlands, bested all his opponents, and won €20,000 after a six-way deal.

Two amazing side events will also be on offer during this Spanish festival, with a €1,000 Big Event on June 29, and a €200 NLHE closing tournament, on June 30.

For more information or for a reservation, please contact Mr. Basile Chantzis: 0033 6 80 96 08 51, or check out at www.deepstackopen.com/en.

how to get there Gerona/Costa Brava airport is served by Ryanair and other low cost airlines, offering daily flights from Manchester, Dublin, London Gat wick / Stansted, Bristol, Birmingham... Buses to Lloret from the airport cost €10. A little more expensive, at just over €10, is the shared ShuttleDirect which will drop you off and pick you up.

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hotels Hotel Monterrey

The Hotel Monterrey is the perfect place to relax after a crazy day (or night — or both) at the poker tables, on the beach or at the nightclub. This five-star establishment, located in front of the casino, is quiet but close to the city center, and offers stylish rooms and suites, all recently renovated and having great views on the sea and the garden. In its wellness and Spa center, you’ll find a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a Turkish bath, a sequential shower and a pool to shake off the tension of the game.

Unless you’ve already done that on the dance floor!

Address: Avda Vila de Tossa 27 17310 - Lloret de Mar Tel: 34 (972) 34 60 54 Web: www.guitarthotels.com

restaurants Freu Restaurant

Double room €101,20/ night Single room €70,40/night

The restaurant of the Hotel Monterrey is a great place to enjoy classic Spanish and international recipes as well as sophisticated dishes. The Freu Gourmet menu offers seasonal products cooked to perfection, with an approximate price of €50 per person. Lobster ceviche, gazpacho and beef tartare are some of the delicacies you can enjoy.

This Gourmet menu is complemented with special wine pairings starting at €20 per person.

Address: Avda Vila de Tossa 27 17310 - Lloret de Mar Tel: (+34) 972 369 326 Reservations: info@freurestaurant.com

Hotel Rigat Park & Spa *****

El Trull

DeepStack Open also negotiated special rates just for the DSO players, in the hotels located nearby the casino:

Hotel Hawai ***

Double room €68,20/night Single room €54,80/night

Hotel Augusta ****

Double room (sea view) €288/night Single room €260/night

Well-run by the married couple that owns it, it features a rustic-style dining room where local dishes are served: seasonal Mediterranean cuisine has been in continuous supply here since 1968. The sumptuous local fish is a must. Menus start at €20.

Address: Cala Canyelles 17310 Lloret de Mar Tel: (+34) 972 364 928 Reservations: info@eltrull.com

Can Bolet

In a cozy atmosphere, this pleasant restaurant offers an extensive selection of regional delicacies at bargain prices. Lunch starts at €11, night menus at €18, and the sublime seafood menu, featuring cream of crab, lobster and other delicious specialties is available for only €35.

Address: Sant Mateu 6 17310 Lloret de Mar Phone: (+34) 972 371 237 Reservations: restaurantcanbolet@yahoo.es

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Chilipoker DeepStack Open Lloret de Mar

ChiliPoker DeepSatck Open Lloret de Mar Schedule Wed, Jun 26 • (1:00 pm.): €65 Satellite to Main Event Thu, Jun 27 • (1:00 pm.): €550 Main Event Day 1A (3-Day Event) Fri, Jun 28 • (1:00 pm.): €550 Main Event Day 1B (3-Day Event)

night life Lloret de Mar is without a doubt the nightlife capital of Costa Brava, which makes it hard to pick just a few clubs. Popular discos in Lloret de Mar include the St Trop’ Disco, Revolution, Disco Salero, Disco Londoner where admission is €12 includes two free drinks, Nidara S.I., Constur S.I., Tropics with two floors and five bars, Bumper’s Disco, Hollywood Dance Club where admission is €12 to €15, Moby’s, Gerry’s Bar for sixties and seventies music, and La Siesta for the flamenco nights.

The Russian club Gala Lloret de Mar has male and female dancers. You can also try the Beach Party experience that takes place on a boat cruising along the coastline.

Sat, Jun 29 • ( 6:00 pm.): €1,000 Big Event Sun, Jun 30 • ( 3:00 pm.): €200 NLHE

DSO Lloret de Mar List of Winners 2011 Field: 481 players Prize pool: €240,500 1st Robbert Miltenburg (Netherlands) €20,000 2nd Sebastian Didelot (France) €20,000 3rd Pablo Vazquez (Spain) €16,000

DSO 2013 List of Winners cannes Field: 505 players Prize pool: €252,500 1st Pierre Canali (France) €40,000 2nd Adams Dieng (France) €24,000 3rd Anthony Micheau (France) €16,200

DeepStack Open 2013 next legs DSO Gujan Mestras (France) from August 28th to September 1st DSO Gruissan (France) from October 30th to November 3rd DSO Paris Grand Final (Cercle Cadet) from January 15th to January 19th, 2014 maY – june 2013

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Unibet Open Tróia

First stop in Portugal for the hottest poker series After an amazing five-year anniversary Main Event in the Bahamas last year, the great international circuit is back for Season 6! On the heels of an initial great stop in Copenhagen in March, the competition will head south to the beautiful beach location of Tróia, in Portugal, near Lisbon, from June 5-9. The €1,500 + €150 Main Event should gather crowds of players in this resort town known for its wild parties. So if you fancy trying to follow in the footsteps of Paul Valkenburg, Paul Vas Nunes, Joao Barbosa and twotime winner Dan Murariu, pack your bathing-suit and head on down to Casino Tróia — Season 6 of the Unibet Open is upon us!

By João Dante

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Unibet Open Tróia

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The Unibet Open is known for its yearly change of venue; in the summer its destinations are always superlative, as the competition is also party-oriented. After a crazy fifth anniversary last year in the Bahamas, the great series returned in 2013 with a first snowy stop in Copenhagen in March, where Swedish player Kassem Yassine prevailed — pocketing €107,378 — and now it’s time to celebrate the warm season by joining the tables of the stunning Tróia Casino, just a few kilometers south of Lisbon! This new beachside location is a must, as it will gather players from all over Europe to for an intense and sunny four-day competition, complemented at night by wild parties in the gorgeous settings of Southern Portugal. That is what you can expect from the Unibet Open in Tróia.

Casino Tróia, a dream venue

Tróia is a true southern European gem: perfect weather, miles of virgin coastline, great nightlife, a sumptuous seaside casino — in a word, it’s the perfect place to hold a great poker event. Knowing this, Unibet poker decided to plan the hottest Unibet Open yet there. Between the 18 kilometers of pristine white sand, the great summer parties and the four-day competition’s crazy schedule, you will have a very busy stay in Portugal. An opportunity not to be missed!

Unibet Open Tróia, June 5-9

Besides the parties and the sunbathing, this Unibet Open Tróia will be a true poker festival, with a total of 8 intense events and satellites, running from June 5-9. The high point of the series will be the €1,500 + €150 Main Event, with two starting flights, on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7, with its traditional structure of 20,000 starting chips and 60-minute levels, for a three-day competition and a final table set on Sunday, June 9. Two €150 + €15 Satellites to the Main Event will be held on June 5 and 6; the first one played freezeout, while the second will offer a €150 Rebuy option.

Five side events will also be provided during this Portuguese fest, featuring a €200 + €20 Freezeout and a €200 + €20 Pot Limit Omaha on the 7th, a €300 + €30 NLHE tournament on the 8th, and two final events on the very last day of the series, with a €150 + €15 NLHE and a €100 + €100 + €20 Bounty event. And for those who are looking for even more poker action, cash games will also be available every day during the Unibet Open, from 6:30 pm to 04:00 am.

Who will be crowned “o rei” of Portuguese poker at the Unibet Open in Tróia this summer? Qualify on unibet.com, and it could be you!

This venue is a dream: inaugurated on January 1, 2011, Tróia Casino is a glamorous, sophisticated, innovative and versatile seaside space. Its 45,000 square feet are distinguished by bold contemporary architecture and an ambitious and unique interior decor. The gambling area has 226 slot machines and 16 gaming tables on offer. Thanks to a technological knowhow otherwise unheard of in Portugal, Amorim Turismo was able to adapt — in real time — to its clients preferences. Furthermore, this unique space features innovative integrated multimedia, with a giant 2,000-square-foot screen and three media spheres, each over ten feet in diameter.

The Aqualuz Hotel

Situated next to the casino, the Aqualuz Hotel is your own private slice of heaven: its 365 apartments feature modern design, neutral tones, and total comfort for a good, peaceful rest. It also offers a Wellness Center with indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath, spa services and a fitness room. Beaches, swimming pools, tennis, biking, walking, dolphin-watching, golf, water sports, visiting Roman ruins — the hotel has much to offer those wishing to take a break from the poker tables.

Qualifiers are still running on Unibet.com. Full packages include a €1,500+150 buy-in to the Main Event; four nights for you and a guest at the Aqualuz Hotel; €300 for travel expenses; breakfast and dinner daily during the tournament — and, naturally, invitations to Unibet parties. The Welcome Drinks will be held at the Aqualuz Hotel’s Pool deck on Thursday, June 6 from 10 p.m. till midnight, while the Players Party will attract participants to the Casino’s dance floor on Saturday, June 8 from 10:30 pm.-04:00 am. maY – june 2013

how to get there To get to Tróia, you will have to go through Setubal, south of Lisbon, first.

Bus: Buses run between Setúbal and Lisbon’s Praça de Espanha (€3,40; 45 to 60 minutes, at least hourly) — or from Cacilhas (€3,10; 50 minutes, every 15 minutes Monday through Friday, at least every two hours Saturday and Sunday), a quick ferry hop from Cais de Alfândega.

Train: From Lisbon’s Terreiro do Paço terminal you can take the ferry to Barreiro station, which has hourly suburbano (suburban) trains to Setúbal (€1,75; 45 minutes, at least hourly).

Boat: Car and passenger ferries to Tróia depart daily every half hour or hour (car and driver €5.50; passenger €1,10). Note that car ferries, cruises and passenger ferries all have different departure points.

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hotel Aqualuz Hotel

With great package offers for Unibet Open participants, the Aqualuz Hotel is the place to stay in Tróia. Located on Tróia Peninsula, this four-star hotel offers fantastic views on the unspoiled coastline and the ocean, with all top-of-the-line leisure activities equipment: indoor and outdoor pools are available, as well as a complete fitness room. Private balconies are standard in all Aqualuz Tróia rooms. Each has a fully equipped kitchenette and cable TV. Tróia Golf is 2 km away.

Address: Aqualuz Suite Hotel Tróia – Carvalhal GDL 7570-789 Portugal Tel: +351 265 499 000 Website: www.aqualuztroia.com

night life

The central bar — Estratosphera — is the entertainment epicenter of the casino. Both bar and performance space, it features weekly multimedia performances

by DJs and VJs that really shake things up. The Tróia Casino Entertainment Centre was designed by architects specialized in sound and light, and is equipped with the latest and most sophisticated technology.

A multipurpose space capable of hosting all kinds of events, it also functions as a theatre, auditorium, and dining hall.

restaurants On floor 0 of the Aqualuz Suite Hotel Troiamar, Azimute restaurant is open for business, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring a pizzeria and grill. For light meals or bar service, you can go to the restaurant-bar Peninsula (open only in summer, located on floor 0 of the Aqualuz Tróia Lagoa Suite Hotel) or to the Atrium Bar, where the snacks and beverages are conducive to relaxing in the lobby of the Aqualuz Suite Hotel.

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Unibet Open Tróia

Unibet Open Tróia Schedule

Wed, Jun 5 • (8:30 pm.): €150 + €15 Super Satellite to Main Event Thu, Jun 6 (12:30 pm.): €1,500 + €150 Main Event Day 1A (3-Day Event) • (8:30 pm.): €150 + €15 Super Satellite to Main Event (1 Rebuy) Fri, Jun 7 • (12:30 pm.): €1,500 + €150 Main Event Day 1B (3-Day Event) • (7:30 pm.): €200 + €20 Side Event 1 Freezeout • (9:30 pm.): €200 + €20 Side Event 2 Turbo Pot Limit Omaha Sat, Jun 8 • (5:30 pm.): €300 + €30 Side Event 3 NLHE Sun, Jun 9 • (2:30 pm.) €150 + €15 Side Event 3 Hyper Turbo NLHE • (4:30 pm.): €100 + €100 + €20 Side Event 5 Bounty NLHE Cash Games available from 6:30 pm. to 04:00 am. Wednesday till Sunday

Unibet Open 2013 List of Winners Copenhagen (March7-10, 2013) Field: 336 players; Prize pool: €480,000 1st Kassem Yassine (Sweden) €107,378 2nd Johnny Ostbjerg (Denmark) €76,448 3rd Jimmy Gillot (France)

unibet open next legs Cannes (Casino Barrière Le Croisette) from September 19 to 22 Riga (Royal Casino) from December 5-8 maY – june 2013

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Marrakech Poker Open XXI

A heavenly summer atmosphere

at Es-Saadi Gardens and Resort From June 12-16 the Casino de Marrakech, located in the heart of the Moroccan “Red City”, will host the 29th edition of the Marrakech Poker Open: the perfect opportunity to discover the jewels of Morocco and enjoy the luxury of the Es-Saadi Gardens and Resort, 90 million square feet of paradise.

By Alejandro Civico

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Marrakech Poker Open XXI

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Some places know how to combine poker action and refinement, and poker players who get the chance to take part in an interesting series held in a very special oasis located on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea, never forget it. The Es-Saadi Gardens and Resort, home of the Casino de Marrakech, is one of those rare paradises, where poker becomes more than a game. In the heart of the busy and cosmopolitan city, a few steps from the biggest souk and one of the busiest squares in Africa, the Djemaa el Fna Square, the complex faces the Atlas Mountains. It offers a sumptuous park, a hotel, a palace, villas, restaurants, swimming pools, spas, an extravagant casino and the best night club in Morocco, the TheatrO.

An international casino in a very special oasis

This is the perfect place to live the dream of 1001 Nights, luxury and refinement coupled with traditional Moroccan hospitality. Established in 1952, the Casino has a 26,000-square-foot gaming space featuring 100 gaming machines and 24 tables in an astonishing atmosphere, and has since 2009 been hosting the World Poker Tour, where local players compete with international poker pros for massive prize pool.

Casino de Marrakech is also known as the home of the Marrakech Poker Open, the oldest and the most dependable poker series of the continent, attracting experienced players from Africa and Europe three times a year. French players always feel at home in Marrakech, as the last champion, Olivier Estripeau, proved in March 2013, winning the 28th edition against 287 opponents, for €63,722.

An intense schedule for the Marrakech Poker Open XXIX

This 29th edition, running from June 12-16, will benefit from some improvements, and will be bigger than its predecessors, with no less than 17 events. First of all, the €910 Main Event with a €180,000 guaranteed prize pool will be held over three days, from June 14-17, and will once again feature a re-entry option. Five €90 Satellites to the Main Event will be held on June 12, 13 and 14 — the last two including a Double Rebuy & Addon option — offering the chance to grab a ticket for a tenth of the price.

The side events will feature a two-day €500 Deepstack tournament on June 12 and 13 with a €90,000 guaranteed prize pool, as well as a €500 NLHE event on June 15.

Several €135 tournaments will also be held at the Moroccan Casino, as well as the €1,360 High Roller event and its reentry option, which will surely see intense action at the table on June 16. And as usual, cash games will run 24/7.

Numerous packages are provided by Casino de Marrakech, ranging from €420 to €1,820 (see call-out box).

Wonderful settings and facilities, experienced players and perfect organization, this 29th Marrakech Poker Open will be the perfect opportunity to combine lazy holidays and intense poker action. maY – june 2013

how to get there Marrakech-Menara Airport is served by many European airlines, such as Easyjet, Ryanair, Thomson Airways, Norwegian, Iberia and TAP Portugal, which provide direct flights from the continent’s biggest cities, such as London, Manchester, Madrid, Lyon, Lisbon, Frankfurt, Alicante, Girona, Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. From outside Europe, you’ll have to connect at Casablanca Airport. There are Royal Air Morocco flights from all the biggest cities inside the country. 24/7 taxi service from Menara Airport to the city center (15 minutes).

For booking and information: Phone: +212 5 2433 8811 E-Mail: casino@essaadi.com Websites: www.essaadi.com/EN www.poker-marrakech.com

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Marrakech Poker Open XXIX Schedule Wed, Jun 12 • (2:00 pm.): €45 Turbo Satellite to Deepstack Event (1 Rebuy & 1 Addon) • (5:00 pm.): €500 Deepstack Day 1 (2-Day Event; Re-Entry; 1 Million Dh Gtd) • (10:00 pm.): €90 Turbo Satellite to Main Event Thu, Jun 13 • (2:00 pm.): €90 Satellite to Main Event • (5:00 pm.): €90 Turbo Satellite to Main Event • (6:00 pm.): €135 Win The Button • (9:00 pm.): €90 Turbo Satellite to Main Event (Dble Rebuy & Addon) Fri, Jun 14 • (2:00 pm.): €90 Turbo Satellite to Main Event (Dble Rebuy & Addon) • (2:00 pm.): €910 Main Event Day 1 (3-Day Event; Re-Entry; 2 Million Dh Gtd) • (9:00 pm.): €45 Turbo Satellite to €500 Event (1 Rebuy & 1 Addon) Sat, Jun 15 • (2:00 pm.): €500 NLH Freeze out • (6:00 pm.): €135 Bounty • (9:00 pm.): €135 Turbo Satellite to High Roller (Dble Rebuy & Addon) Sun, Jun 16 • (2:00 pm.): €1,360 High Roller (Re-Entry) • (2:00 pm.): €225 Short Handed • (6:00 pm.): €135 Run It Twice • (9:00 pm.): €135 Ante Only Cash Games 24/24h every day

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Marrakech Poker Open XXI

MPO Last 3 Editions List of Winners

Package Offer Casino Es-Saadi improves its package offer at each edition, and now provides four different packages, for every kind of desire and/or budget.

€420 Satellite Package

1 ticket for the €45 Satellite; 2 tickets for the €90 Satellites; dinners and soft drinks at the Casino; free entrance at the ThéâtrO night-club; three nights in a Bed & Breakfast single room at a four- or five-star hotel from June 11-14 only. Extra night: €60 B&B single room. Double room supplement: €40/ night. The Es Saadi Hotel is not available for this package.

€1,180 Week-end Package

One ticket for the €910 MPO Main Event; dinners and soft drinks at the Casino; free entrance at the ThéâtrO nightclub; four nights of Bed & Breakfast in a single room in a four- or fives-star hotel from June 13-17 only. Extra night: €60 B&B single room. Extra night in Es Saadi Hotel at €90 B&B single room. Double room supplement: €40/night.

€780 Deepstack Package

One ticket for the €500 Deepstack; A ticket for a €90 Satellite; dinners and soft drinks at the Casino; free entrance at the ThéâtrO night-club; three nights of Bed & Breakfast in a single room in a four- or five-star hotel from June 11-14 only. Extra night: €60 B&B single room. Extra night in Es Saadi Hotel at €90 B&B single room. Double room supplement: €40/night.

XXVIII (March 2013) €1,350 Main Event: Field: 288 players Prize pool: €341,673 1st Olivier Estripeau (France) €63,722 2nd Sébastien Compte (France) €43,118 3rd Hicham Hilmi (France) €28,700 €1,800 High Roller: Field: 57 players Prize pool: €91,745 1st Rachid Chaouki (France) €23,643 2nd Alain Manquant (France) €18,200 3rd Abdelilah Menjra (Morocco) €13,643 XXVII (October 2012) €1,350 Main Event: Field: 324 players Prize pool: €384,382 1st Brian Benhamou (France) €91,900 2nd Mike Said (France) €61,500 3rd Rachid Arbaoui (Belgium) €39,400 €2,700 Main Event: Field: 18 players Prize pool: €42,709 1st S.Kamal (Morocco) €18,791 2nd Alain Roy (France) €11,105 3rd Roger Hairabedian (France) €7,686 XXVI (May 2012) €1,350 Main Event: Field: 201 players Prize pool: €232,128 1st Pierre Picherit (France) €46,138 2nd Alexandre Reard (France) €36,886 3rd Marie Sequela (France) €27,612

€1,820 Pro Package

One ticket for the €910 MPO Main Event; one ticket for the €500 Deepstack; dinners and soft drinks at the Casino; free entrance at the ThéâtrO night-club; six nights in a Bed & Breakfast single room in a five-star hotel from June 11-14 only. Extra night: €60 B&B single room. Extra night in Es Saadi Hotel in €90 B&B single room. Double room supplement: €40/night.

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Million Poker Race XIV

Welcome to the Grand Casino La Mamounia Are you ready for a week of poker in one of Morocco’s most amazing casinos?

Situated in the vibrant heart of Marrakech, the luxurious Grand Casino La Mamounia will be hosting the next edition of this exceptional series, the Million Poker Race XIV and its €1,000 Main Event, from June 17-23.

By Alejandro Civico 62

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Million Poker Race XIV

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tournament

Nestled at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and the entrance of the desert, Marrakech is a city of contrasts, with red, blue, and green horizons. It has a lot to offer: colorful souks, lively squares, sublime mosques, and a place worthy of its international reputation: the Grand Casino of La Mamounia. In the tradition of legendary Hotel La Mamounia, the Grand Casino La Mamounia delivers a transcendental experience in a refined setting, where tradition and modernity harmoniously commingle. Luxury, elegance, sophistication, fine cuisine and professionalism are the hallmarks of this magical place.

The perfect combination of tradition and modernity

This beautiful game room offers 20 traditional table games: English Roulette, Blackjack, Poker Bonus Hold’em, Stud Poker, and Three Card Poker. The 180 ultramodern slot machines are spread out over several rooms: Poker, electronic Roulette, Video Slots… and many progressive jackpots: a superb room dedicated to Live Poker features a dozen tables, for cash games and tournaments. Indeed, the Grand Casino La Mamounia is a celebrated place for poker lovers, offering high-standard service in a wonderful setting perfectly combining tradition and modernity. Since 2010, players have been coming to Marrakech four times a year from North Africa and Europe to enjoy one of the most prestigious Moroccan series, the Million Poker Race. And for its 14th edition, the Grand Casino La Mamounia will be pulling out all the stops, with eleven tournaments running for a week, featuring buy-ins ranging between €9 and €1,000.

Million Poker Race XIV Schedule Mon, Jun 17 • (6:00 pm.): €23 Satellite to Side Event 3 (1h20 Rebuy + Addon) Tue, Jun 18 • (4:00 pm.): €100 Satellite to Main Event (1h20 Re-Entry) • (9:00 pm.): €45 Trophée Dewar’s Side Event 1 (2h Rebuy + Addon) €4,500 GTD Wed, Jun 19 • (4:00 pm.): €100 Satellite to Main Event (1h20 Re-Entry) • (9:00 pm.): €272 Side Event 2 (1h20 Re-Entry) Thu, Jun 20 • (3:00 pm.): €45 Satellite to Side Event 3 (1h20 Re-Entry) • (9:00 pm.): €500 Side Event 3 Fri, Jun 21 • (3:00 pm.): €9 Step 1 Satellite to Step 2 (1h20 Rebuy + Addon) • (6:00 pm.): €100 Step 2 Satellite to Main Event (1h20 Re-Entry) Sat, Jun 22 • (4:00 pm.): €1,000 Main Event Day 1 (Re-Entry, 2-Day Event) Sun, Jun 23 • (6:00 pm.): €91 PLO Side Event 4 (1h20 Rebuy + Addon)

The Million Poker Race XIV, June 17-23

The two-day Main Event will highlight this Moroccan series, on June 22 and 23, with a lowered buy-in set at €1,000. This great event is a deepstack re-entry tournament, with 30,000 starting chips, starting blinds 25/50 and 40-minute levels, for a comfortable first day of play.

Three €100 Satellites to the Main Event will be held on June 18, 19 and 21, with a re-entry option during the first 80 minutes, and a €9 Step 1 Satellite will run on June 21. Four Side Events will enliven the tables of the Million Poker Race, with a €45 Trophée Dewar’s, (2-hour Rebuy + Addon, €4,500 guaranteed) on June 18, a €272 tournament on the 19th (80-minute re-entry), a promising €500 Freezeout event on the 20th, and a nice €91 Omaha event on the 23rd (80-minute Rebuy + Addon). The new ambassador of this Million Poker Race XIV will be French player Emeline Her, and bounties will be offered to players who bust her during the series’ different events.

During this festival, the Grand Casino La Mamounia will offer different kinds of packages, all very affordable, for all kinds of budgets and desires, from €830 to €1,795, in three Marrakech hotels (double rooms in B&B, all packages include Diners Poker and Soft Drink). Everything is optimized to bring you the best poker experience in marvelous Morocco this spring!

More information at www.grandcasinomamounia.com.

Reservation: +212 524 44 45 70

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Million Poker Race XIV

Million Poker Race - Last 3 Editions List of Winners MPO XIII (March 2013) $1,150 Main Event: Field: 61 players Prize pool: $70,300 1st Fadhil Faraj (Egypt) $20,407 2nd Javad Bentahila (Morocco) $14,758 3rd Patrick Azoulay (France) $10,492 MPO XII (December 2012) $1,750 Main Event: Field: 31 players Prize pool: $53,739 1st Sébastien Compte (France) $23,697 2nd Ihsane Skouri (Morocco) $15,059 3rd Jamel Tahtah (Morocco) $9,572 MPO XI (November 2012) €980 Main Event: Field: 57 players Prize pool: €55,445 1st Rachid Rajraji (Morocco) €16,363 2nd Abdou Zizi (Morocco) €12,045 3rd Jawad Berrada (Morocco) €8,818

Package Offer “Package Plaisir”

A: Side Events 2 & 3 + 4 nights at Suites Hotel (2 pax): €830 B: Side Events 2 & 3 + 4 nights at Hotel Hivernage 5* (2 pax):€925

“Package Détente”

Hivernage (2 pax): €1,580 B: Main Event + Side Events 3 & 4 + 4 nights at Hotel Sofitel (2 pax standard): €1,795 Special Rates for Double Room in B&B (€1 = 12 dhs)

A: Main Event + 3 nights at Suites Hotel (2 pax): €1,010 B: Main Event + 3 nights at Hotel Hivernage 5* (2 pax): €1,080 C: Main Event + 3 nights at Hotel Sofitel 5* (2 pax standard): €1,170

Novotel Suites Hotel

“Package Pro”

1,000 instead of 1,957 dhs

300 dhs instead of 660 dhs

Hotel Hivernage and Spa 650 dhs instead of 1,257 dhs

Sofitel

A: Main Event + Side Event 3 & 4 + 4 nights at Hotel

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chronicle

Peter Falcone. That’s a name I’ll never forget. And it’s a name you should commit to memory.

I suspect this slime might be planning his next con out there somewhere.

How Peter Falcone Conned Me Out of $37,000 I. Peter Falcone. That’s a name I’ll never forget. And it’s a name you should commit to memory. I suspect this slime might be planning his next con out there somewhere – and his next victim could be you.

It’s said you can’t con an honest man, which I suppose is partially true. Greed is tasty bait at the end of a very sharp hook.

And just when it seems you’re nibbling on a sure thing, the con man suddenly snaps this line and fishhooks a fresh catch.

In the summer of 2006, I became the fresh catch. Nolan Dalla – Catch of the Day. II. I was the perfect target.

Trusting? Check. Distracted? Check. Cash on hand? Check.

Stupid? Check-mate.

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Just days before the 2006 World Series of Poker was to begin, a six-week marathon I’d be working from start to finish, often 12 to 16 hours a day with no breaks, I was approached by my “friend” Peter Falcone. We met at a local coffee shop. Falcone announced he wanted to “talk business.”

Before getting into the details of that conversation, allow me to provide some background about Falcone and our friendship.

I initially met him and his wealthy girlfriend through some very trusted friends. At the time, Falcone was dating an eccentric older woman named Betsy Superfon (yes – that’s really her name). Betsy lived in a multi-million dollar mansion in the Malibu hills, which is one of the richest areas of the country. She had made tens of millions of dollars as the purported queen of “1-900” phone sex lines back maY – june 2013

nolan dalla during the 1990’s. In fact, she even knew Ruth Parasol, the woman who made her initial millions the same way (phone sex) and who later created PartyPoker.com (who became one of the world’s richest women). Given her well-known connections to the phone sex business, Betsy Superfon was often jokingly called “Superphone.”

No doubt, Betsy was the real deal. Nice, sincere, always fun to be around – she was a welcome addition to any social gathering. And for several months she always showed up in the same circles where I hung out – casinos, cardrooms, parties, fancy restaurants in both Las Vegas and Los Angeles – with a somewhat younger man introduced to everyone as Peter Falcone.

III. I learned Falcone was originally from New York City. He had quite a story, about what one would expect from someone with the last name “Falcone.” One remarkable thing about con artists is – they’re instantly likeable. After all, no one freely gives his money away to someone they didn’t trust and like. Falcone was a natural charmer and his personal credibility was boosted immensely by hanging out with Betsy and her wealthy circle of friends.

Over the course of several months, Falcone and I became even closer as friends. We frequently discussed sports betting. An avid sports bettor, I was interested in his insights into games. Falcone didn’t work a job, but always appeared loaded with plenty of cash. He was always evasive about exactly what he did for a living, opting to leave things to the imagination. I surmised that Falcone had some business connections back in New York, perhaps partook in various investments, and gambled heavily on sports with extra cash.

Either that, or he had inherited a large sum of money and was now living life in the fast lane.

All the pieces seemed to fit. Perfectly.

IV. Three days before the 2006 WSOP began, Falcone sat across from me at the coffee shop. The conversation pretty much went like this.

“I’ve got a big thing I’m working on right now,” Falcone said.

“There’s a guy I know back in New York’s diamond district.

He owns several of the jewelry shops. He’s an action junkie.”

So, what does this have to do with me, I wondered.

“He’s an old Jewish guy. Orthodox. Thing is, he doesn’t trust the New York bookies. He’s been burned by them a few times. So, he gets down through me. I make a lot of bets for him here in Las Vegas. That’s why I see you a lot around sportsbooks.”

The story sounded plausible.

“Right now, he wants to get down as much as he can on baseball. He wants to go five dimes a game if he can. But no one takes that kind of action.”

Again, this all seemed legit. And remember – there was nothing to suggest that Falcone wasn’t trustworthy at the time. How else was he living this jet-set lifestyle, hanging maY – june 2013

out at casinos all the time, with no apparent source of income?

“You bet on sports,” said Falcone stating the obvious. “How much can you get down on a single game?”

At the time, I had three or perhaps four offshore accounts plus access to the betting windows in Las Vegas, so “getting down” a high figure wasn’t a problem.

“Probably $3,000 a game,” I answered. Since I’d bet that round figure many times before, this was a number I was comfortable with.

“Tell you what. How about if I give you a few of his plays and you bet them,” Falcone suggested. “That way I don’t have to run all over town every morning. Besides, I’m in Los Angeles half the time. You can just take all the action yourself when I’m not around.”

“So, what’s my end,” I asked.

“He pays me $1,000 a week in cash – win or lose,” Falcone said. “Then, when he has a winning week, I get ten percent of the take.”

“Does the guy always pay up when he loses?” I asked.

“Of course, he does. The man owns half of 47th Street.”

But how in the hell can the guy hope to ever make a profit doing that?” I asked. “There’s no way this guy can win in the long run.”

“He doesn’t care,” Falcone said. “The man just wants to be in action. He probably loses a quarter million a year.”

So, based on some quick calculations Falcone was pulling in an easy $100,000 a year. And now, I was being offered a piece of his action.

“Do you want to handle the bets and take some of my end?”

Falcone asked. “I have enough things going on right now and can’t be in Las Vegas all the time. Since you’re betting baseball anyway, why not just add in his bets to your account and we can work it all out later?”

The lunch ended with me “agreeing to think about the proposition.”

I learned Falcone was originally from New York City. He had quite a story, about what one would expect from someone with the last name “Falcone.” One remarkable thing about con artists is – they’re instantly likeable.

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Falcone often insinuated that he “knew people.” He used to joke that he’d never sit with his back to the front door in a restaurant, which is an old Sicilian code of selfpreservation. In Falcone’s case, it really was common practice.

V. If greed was infectious, I had caught the bug.

But first, I was determined to erase any lingering doubts about exactly who I was dealing with.

During the course of our conversation at the coffee shop, Falcone informed that he was staying at Caesars Palace. He also mentioned he’d bought a new Jaguar, which he said he’d leave in Las Vegas when he flew back to Los Angeles.

Falcone asked if he could park the Jaguar at my home when he while he was back in Malibu staying with Betsy. He even encouraged me to drive the luxury car whenever I wanted.

The following day, I phoned Caesars Palace just to make sure his story was straight. When I asked for “Peter Falcone’s” room, I was informed he had just checked out of the hotel that morning. But at least his story matched.

Sure enough, that same afternoon, Falcone pulled up in the parking lot in a brand new maroon-colored Jag. No job. Always loaded with cash and insisting on paying for everything. Ridiculously wealthy girlfriend. New York connections. Stories that were verified. Fancy luxury car.

And now, I was being offered what seemed like a ridiculously easy way to make tens of thousands of dollars by doing essentially nothing at all.

What else was there to think about?

VI. In sports gambling, we have a common expression, which is “to post.”

Unless the gambler has an established track record and is trusted, the bettor must post cash in order to make wagers.

With offshore sports betting, which was rampant at the time, many agents (bookies) allowed betters to float their wagers and then settle up when a certain figure (win or loss) was reached. I had around $60,000 in assorted offshore credit, which means I could wager virtually any amount on any game as long as I didn’t exceed my “credit line” – which was $10,000 at a few sites and $20,000 others. So, 68

getting down a bunch of $3,000 wagers wasn’t a problem.

We met again at the same coffee shop.

“When can your friend post the cash?” I asked. “I’m not floating someone that I don’t know that kind of credit. I mean, what if he loses – or worse, he goes to jail, or dies?”

“We’re settling up next week,” Falcone assured me. “I’ll tell him about you and ask him to send some advance money.

That way, you can get started and there’s absolutely no risk.”

Sounded good.

Over the next half hour, Falcone told me stories that the New York jeweler was “on fire.”

“Why don’t we just start out betting slowly,” Falcone said.

“You can accept whatever wagers you want. Or, you can turn them all down. If they conflict with your own plays, just don’t bet them. I just need to know for certain so I make sure he knows which games he’s betting on and how much he’s betting. I’ll call you tomorrow at 7:30 am. He usually phones his plays to me every morning. I’ll give you a call and you can decide if you want to do this.”

The hook was set.

Deep.

There’s no suspense here. You know how this is going to end. Badly.

Before continuing with the next chapter in the Peter Falcone caper, let me introduce yet another dubious character to the story. The plot is about to thicken.

VII. Meet Louis Jones – a pudgy piece of puke from Houston.

Louis Jones is an ex-floorman. He mostly worked the southern poker tournament circuit, primarily in Mississippi (Tunica, Biloxi, Gulfport). Over the years, Louis Jones and I worked several major poker events together. About eight years ago, we discovered a mutual interest in sports betting and – as you might guess – a special “friendship” began.

About a year later, Louis Jones ended up stiffing me for $20,000.

Although they both fucked me over royally, Louis Jones and Peter Falcone are completely different animals. Louis Jones is a lying deadbeat. Peter Falcone is a psychopathic con man.

Basically, Louis Jones skipped out on $20,000 worth of sports wagers with me (no, I didn’t book his gambling action – which would have been illegal). One thing about owing money. I don’t mind someone owing me money, just so long as the borrower acknowledges the debt on occasion, and then makes some effort to pay it over time. I’ve had people who owed money pay me $50 a week. At least an effort was made. How can you argue with someone who’s making a genuine effort? That’s everything to me. In fact, if I see someone who doesn’t have any money making an earnest effort to pay off a gambling debt, in a strange sense that shows even more character.

But while a character, Louis Jones has no character. He fucked me in the ass with a telephone pole. He lied to me over and over again, and then was never man enough to maY – june 2013

nolan dalla simply approach me and say, “I fucked up, Nolan. I’m really sorry.” Louis Jones never said those words to me. I’m told that he eventually wormed his way back to Houston, and was last reported working as a used car salesman – a most fitting job for the cocksucker.

VIII. The world is a big place. But the gambling world is a small place. Word gets around. News travels. Everyone’s dirty laundry eventually gets hung out to dry.

Peter Falcone and I were dining at Delmonico, which is the uber-fancy steakhouse at The Venetian. Out of nowhere, I brought up Louis Jones as an illustration of why I was mistrustful (but not mistrustful enough, in retrospect!) of partnering up with people in sports betting.

Falcone always loved to play up the Italian thing with me. Those who know me will understand this soft spot. I have no illusions about the underworld, and largely think of “wiseguys” as two-bit punks. There’s nothing cool or romantic about them. Most of them are shit, and I’m sorry to say I’ve known a few (their names won’t be used here, for obvious reasons – I don’t want my car exploding next time I stick the key into the ignition).

That said, Falcone often insinuated that he “knew people.”

He used to joke that he’d never sit with his back to the front door in a restaurant, which is an old Sicilian code of self-preservation. In Falcone’s case, it really was common practice. Anytime I was around Falcone, he was constantly fidgeting, gazing around the room as if he was fearful of something. He always seemed to have one eye on the front door, and more specifically the people who were entering.

At first, I thought he was just quirky. Sort of like a facial tic. We’ve all got idiosyncrasies. But once all the pieces of the puzzle fit together and finally became more clear, I later concluded Falcone really was fearful. He was indeed on the lookout For victims he’d previously ripped off. For people who could potentially expose him as a fraud. For new potential marks. For anyone in the restaurant who might bolster his credibility. As I said, the gambling world is a small place.

As we sat and discussed the proposition of me handling the New York jeweler’s high-stakes betting action, I told him story of Louis Jones fucking me over a year earlier, which explained my reluctance to trust people.

Upon hearing the details of the Louis Jones matter, Falcone feigned moral outrage. As an actor, John Calzone’s got nothing on this guy.

“That’s such fucking bullshit!” Falcone said. “I can’t believe a friend would ever do something like that to another friend.”

I know. Irony of all ironies. Crocodile tears.

Falcone was fascinated by the story I told. He pontificated about so-called honor codes, insisting that “where (he) comes from, no one would get dare away with that and still be alive!”

Falcone wanted to hear more details about deadbeat Louis Jones. maY – june 2013

Again, it’s important to remind readers that at this stage there was nothing at all fishy about Falcone. Everything he had done and said up to this point was entirely credible.

Not only that, but Falcone dressed well. He always had plenty of cash. Yet he never drank. He didn’t do drugs. And perhaps most laudable of all, he always spoke glowingly of his girlfriend Betsy. He never once gazed at other women nor engaged in any kind of chauvinistic banter.

I finally confided in Falcone that I had fresh intelligence on Louis Jones. I even knew where he worked. My dinner companion became quite excited.

“Tell me where he works!” Falcone insisted. “I’ll make one phone call and someone will pay him a visit.”

I certainly knew what that meant. But the last thing I needed was some “visit” to spin terribly out of control and then I’d end up being charged as an accomplice to murder. $20,000 is a lot of money. But I’m not interested in rolling the dice for $20,000 if the downside is life in Leavenworth.

I told Falcone that I wasn’t interested.

Much of the remainder of our dinner consisted of Falcone reading me the riot act for letting Louis Jones get away with stiffing me. He assured me no physical harm would come to Louis Jones (tempting as that might have been to snap his fibula like a twig). But he also insisted that someone would indeed pay him a visit and I’d get my money one way or another.

How could I resist such a generous offer?

And so, the name of the used car lot where Louis Jones worked was told to a psychopath.

IX. The 2006 World Series of Poker began.

Over the next six weeks, my existence consisted of the cocoon that was the Rio in Las Vegas. Arrival at work each day at noon. Departure long after the final tournament of the night concluded and the official news story was written – usually as late at 4 am or 5 am. That was a “normal” day – 14 or 15 hours with no days off for six straight weeks.

The worst days were when I departed the Rio after the sun had risen the following morning, and I had to be back at work fresh for a new day some 4-5 hours later. I relay my work schedule not for any iron man nomination or sympathy because I do this with pride, but to emphasize how my metal judgement waned as the days passed. By week five of the series, I’m a fucking vegetable. An eggplant. It’s why I simply walk away rudely if any motherfucker dares to bore me with a bad beat story when I’m working.

Sorry, I digress.

I didn’t see Falcone for the next few weeks. He texted me that he’d returned to Malibu to be with Betsy. Meanwhile I was at the Rio doing what I do.

One afternoon, my cell phone rang. It was Falcone. He was back in town. He explained that we had to meet.

I managed to get away to meet my pal. But for me – this wasn’t a time of strength or clarity. Recent tournaments had run ridiculously long and I was operating with no sleep.

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chronicle It’s one thing to be tired. But try concentrating or (worse) WRITING when you’re completely drained. The blank white page feels like a fucking sandstorm. I’ve sat in front of computer monitors screaming, at times.

Timing is everything. I have absolutely no idea if Falcone planned it out this way, but he caught me not just when my guard was down. Hell, by this time in the WSOP, I didn’t have a guard.

Our discussion began as follows.

“I have some news about Louis Jones,” Falcone said.

“News? What news?”

“It’s all taken care of. Someone I know paid him a visit.”

Visions of poor Louis Jones buried in a cornfield somewhere with his prick cut off and stuffed into his mouth flashed into my mind.

“What???”

“You’re going to get your money, Nolan. There are people that do this sort of thing. See, that’s their thing. They enjoy it,” Falcone said. “They found the guy and scared the shit out of him. He’s going to start sending you some money.

But it’s going to take some more time to get it.”

Wow. What do you say after hearing that? I felt as if Falcone had just walked up and handed me a briefcase with $20,00o in cash inside.

“Well, what should I pay you or the people, Peter?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about it. When I told these people about the guy, they were glad to do it.” Fuck.

X. Remember my earlier analogy to fishing?

Well, if the hook was set earlier by Falcone’s seemingly impeccable credibility and personal charm, his handling of the Louis Jones affair put him into the clouds. And Falcone knew it.

He was about to start reeling in the big fish.

“I wasn’t able to get down much action during the last two weeks for my jeweler friend,” Falcone confided. “I think he’s going to cut me off. The trouble is – I can’t be here in Las Vegas all the time to put in his wagers. Are you sure you don’t want to handle it? I mean, the guy will pay you $1,000 a week, plus ten percent on his winning weeks. I don’t know how much easier it can get to make money.”

Falcone was right. I would be a fool to pass up this deal.

Especially since I was already betting baseball every day myself. Whether I bet $500 a game on my own or $3,500 a game with his action added in, it’s the exact same work.

Why not skim a free grand a week? Cream off the top.

Maybe the New York jeweler might even get hot a few weeks and I can rake in a few extra thousand as a bonus.

I couldn’t lose.

XI. Admit it. Con artists are intriguing. Swindlers fascinate us.

Witnessing a crime where the tools of the trade consist of pure intellect and brass balls is infinitely more entertaining than watching a petty stick up. Alas, if the pen is mightier than the sword, then shrewdness is mightier still.

70

My phone rang Wednesday morning at 7:30 am. An ungodly hour.

“I’ve got his baseball plays,” the voice on the other end said. It was Peter Falcone. “He’s got seven plays today. How many can you take?”

A weary-eyed shuffle over to the computer ensued. I could easily get down $3,000 a game. Even better, since Pinnacle was one of my offshore betting sites, I could save Falcone’s jeweler contact a hundred or two a game on losses, due to their reduced vig. Most middlemen would have dicked the unsuspecting sap on the betting end. But that’s no way to do business – especially with an effortless upside guaranteed already.

“Oh wow, he’s going to love you for that! He’s going to be very excited when he hears the prices he’s getting is better than he’s expecting and are in his favor!”

A short tutorial on sports betting is needed here. Most baseball books deal what’s called a 20-cent line. That means two opposing teams which are listed at “pick ‘em” are lined at the price of $11o to win $100. If you add the difference between the two numbers, that’s 20 cents, thus the term “20 cent line.” However, a game that might have Cleveland -140 / Kansas City +120 elsewhere would be lined at Pinnacle at a discounted vig price – perhaps at Cleveland -136 / Kansas City +129.

Well, with Pinnacle, I was sometimes getting close to a 10-cent line. That meant the jeweler was getting the best price on the planet. A few cents a game might not seem like a big deal. But it is. Multiply a hundred losses by an extra $150 in vig on each game, and that’s fifteen grand over the course of a baseball season.

“He’s going to love you!” Falcone shouted.

The plays were posted. Without much of a forethought, I’d fired about $21,000 worth of betting action. I hung up the phone and went back to bed totally oblivious to the fact that my sports betting ship had just blasted into an iceberg. And here I was, dozing away inside the cabin totally unaware I’d soon be in need of a lifeboat. No one could possibly foresee the disaster about to come.

Later that night, I logged into my Pinnacle account. I was delighted to see I was ahead something like $11,800 on the day. The New York jeweler had gone 5-2, and made a quick 12 dimes. Talk about easy money. If only I continued what I was doing and the man broke even from this point forward until Sunday, I’d collect my share which was $1,000 – plus ten percent of the profit. Theoretically, I was up $2,180 which was my cut alone. And I hadn’t done a fucking thing.

Goddamn, this was sweet.

I was tempted to ask Falcone if he knew of any more New York jewelers.

XII. The fall came quickly, far sooner than anyone could have expected.

Most sports bettors linger around the break-even point. A gambler who wins about half the bets is a sportsbook and maY – june 2013

nolan dalla bookie’s dream. It keeps the bettor continually interested in wagering, and all the while – the house takes it’s vig on the losses. In fact, it’s a myth that bookies want their bettors to lose all the time. If that happened, everyone would either quit or go broke. No. Bookies want bettors to break even. It’s the difference between shearing a sheep versus roasting lamb chops.

What happened with the purported New York jeweler the previous day was an aberration. He had rattled off a quick 12-grand in profit in a single day, achieved by picking a couple of huge underdogs that won. When you’re wagering $3,000 a game, all it takes is a couple of big dogs to come through, and you’re looking at a huge profit.

The next morning my phone rang at 7:30 am sharp.

“He’s got eight plays today,” Falcone said.

Booked!

This was a Thursday. But unlike the day before, this time the “jeweler” suffered a miserable day. He lost back most of the $11,800 that had been won the day before. He was basically back to even after two days of action.

Things were about to get much worse. Friday was just as bad. The “jeweler dropped about $10,000 that day. By Sunday night, following a long weekend with multiple games and even a few doubleheaders, the jeweler was stuck nearly $25,000. But what made this most alarming was, his losses were plastered all over my offshore accounts – especially Pinnacle – which were all seriously in the red.

Late that Sunday afternoon, my cell phone rang. It was Falcone.

“Can you talk for a few minutes? It’s important,” the frantic voice said. “Can you meet me at the usual place?”

“Yeah, sure.”

I don’t believe in a sixth sense. But my sixth sense told me something was wrong. Very wrong, indeed.

When I walked into the coffee shop, my very worse fears were confirmed.

Peter Falcone appeared. This was a changed man. He looked like no other time I’d ever seen him. Instead of the well-dressed, confident, clean shaven, smiling gentleman I was accustomed to seeing the past few months, this was someone that looked like a derelict.

Falcone was dressed in a soiled white t-shirt. He was sweating. Even though we were indoors, he wore a pair of silver Ray Ban sunglasses, the kind wth the mirrored shades. He looked like a total mess. The closest description I can give was, he looked like Stu Ungar during the terrible period when he was plagued by his worst troubles.

“I’ve been betting all the jeweler’s plays,” Falcone said. “I’m busted. I’m completely broke.”

I knew that Falcone had a gambling leak. He was certainly capable of laying every dime in his pocket on a single ball game if he thought it was the right side. Yu can get away with recklessness, so long as there’s a steady source of income and more funds are forthcoming. This was not the case with Falcone.

“Can I borrow $1,000?” he asked.

I gave it to him on the spot. No questions asked. maY – june 2013

XIII. Seeing Falcone as such a mess was a jolt.

I began fearing the worst.

If the New York jeweler ended up losing 20 or 30 dimes, was I going to get my money? What if the jeweler sent the money to Falcone? Might he blow it at the sportsbooks before it reached my hands? It didn’t even occur to me there might not be an actual New York jeweler.

By the way, just to be clear. At the time, I kept around $30,000 to $40,000 in cash as my liquid bankroll. If that was gone, I’d be completely wiped out. People ask me why I get emotional when watching ball games. It’s genuinely because a win or a loss means/meant the difference between going out to dinner at a nice restaurant or eating fucking Hamburger Helper. That’s not a joke. It’s for real.

My worst fears were realized on Monday morning. Already stuck about $25,000, the phone rang.

“He wants to play the horses today. Can you get down on horses?” Falcone asked.

Horses?

“Yeah. he’s fed up with baseball and wants to try something else. Can you get down on horses?”

Horses?

“We have to let him ride this out and get it back. You can’t cut him off now. That would be disrespectful to him.”

Oh shit. What have I gotten myself into?

Suddenly, I realized that I was stuck in a no-win situation.

If I cut the jeweler off now, and demanded that he pay me my $25,000 – I might risk alienating him forever since I would be throwing down the gauntlet on what might be a relatively small figure (for him). On the other hand, if I let him continue to play, and he lost even more, and then he didn’t come up with the stew by the end of the week, this was going to be a Caligula-sized fuck of the ages.

“No horses. I’m not getting into that,” I said.

“What about baseball parlays?” Falcone said.

Baseball parlays? Oh my God. This was the sure sign of a loser. Any joker who bets parlays is a fucking idiot. I have zero respect for parlay bettors. They should all have to wear some kind of designation, like a giant “S” on their foreheads for SUCKER. I repeat – anyone who bets (uncorrelated) parlays should be kicked in the groin and laughed at. Parlay bettors deserve ZERO respect.

i repeat – anyone who bets (uncorrelated) parlays should be kicked in the groin and laughed at. Parlay bettors deserve ZERO respect.

71

chronicle XIV. My outrage directed towards betting parlays shocked Falcone. He took personal umbrage.

“What do you mean you don’t bet parlays?” he asked. “These aren’t your plays. They’re his plays. Why do you care? Let him do what he wants.”

No. Falcone was pissed as all fuck. But at this point with the numbers getting dangerous, I didn’t care.

In retrospect, the only way for “the New York jeweler” to get out of the hole was to bet longshots. Horses going off at 10-1. Or three-team parlays. You simply can’t make up 25-grand in a single day, so this was a desperate bettor’s Hail Mary.

We’d be betting straight wagers and totals and that was it. No horses. And no fucking parlays. Talk about a double shit sandwich.

On what was to be the final day of the betting week, Falcone fired another 7 or 8 plays – making desperate wagers (like betting heavy underdogs). Unfortunately, the losses continued to stack up. By the week’s close of business on Monday, the “jeweler” had lost the grand sum of $36,000 and change. I’d be responsible for paying the entirety of the debt – in cash – just a few days later, since my so-called “settlement figure” was essentially obliterated.

XV. The excuse was already loaded in the chamber ready to fire.

My phone rang again the following morning, just like an alarm clock.

“The jeweler sure had a bad week,” Falcone said stating the obvious. “But he told me he’s sending out the money today. He’s said he’s got some business over in Antwerp, but he’s wiring the money to me in Malibu. So, it’s on the way.

Thing is, I have to go get it there so it will take a few days.”

I had no idea what to believe anymore. But trouble with being conned is – the only escape from the mess is actually believing the lie and hoping it’s actually true. Throwing down the gauntlet and saying – FUCK YOU! THERE’S NO JEWELER! YOU’RE A FRAUD! I WANT MY $36,000! That’s financial suicide. Hence, con men enjoy what is an extraordinary advantage of the only “out” being the unwavering trust of the victim.

Still, I feared the worst. I made a series of frantic phone calls to some other sports bettors here in Las Vegas. I asked for their advice. Unanimously, they all agreed that I had to stop accepting wagers immediately until the good faith of a payment was made.

And so, that’s what I did. I told Falcone, there would be no more wagering until the $36,000 figure was settled.

In what I can only describe as a masterful control of emotion and extraordinary focus, Falcone accepted this and then calmly assured me the 36-grand would be in my hands in just a matter of days.

I didn’t trust him. But, I had to trust him. What other choice did I have?

72

XVI. It was Friday. A busy day. This was “payday.” I anticipated the sum of $36,000 in my hands a few hours later. Once received, that cash would be transported to my contacts who were texting me with legitimate concerns about the highest loss figure I’d ever run up. I’d run up $15,000 losses in a week on my own before. But nothing of this magnitude.

“You’ll get your money in a few days,” I assured them.

At 2 pm, my cell phone rang.

The incoming phone ID flashed “PETER FALCONE.” Good sign.

For me, this was essentially a $36,000 phone call – maybe even a $38,000 phone call when considering my service fee was a grand, plus Falcone owing me another grand.

If ever there was an incoming call not to be missed, it was this one.

“This is Nolan,” I snapped.

“I’m going to be coming by in about five minutes,” Falcone said. “I’ve got the money.”

What a huge sigh of relief those comforting words were.

Even though I stood relatively little to gain ($1,000) from this mess, I felt as though I was “winning $36,000.” Plus – meeting this financial obligation also demonstrated this was legitimate and the source could be trusted from this point forward.

“I’ll give you a call when I get there.” Click.

About five minutes later, my cell rang again.

ID….”PETER FALCONE.” This is great. I’m going to get my money. All is right with the world.

“Hello, this is Nolan.”

Silence.

“Hello, this is Nolan.”

Silence, but some sound of ambient noise and perhaps static.

“Hello, this is Nolan – can you hear me?”

Phone indicates call was dropped.

Fair enough. Anyone who uses the AT&T plan gets this bullshit all the time. I waited 30 seconds.

Cell phone rings again.

“Hello, this is Nolan.”

Silence.

“Hello?”

Silence.

What the fuck was going on?

I closed the phone call and texted Falcone. Message sent.

No response.

With each passing minute, my heart sank a little deeper.

Additional texts went unanswered.

By 8 pm that night, I was frantic. No more incoming phone calls. Messages left unanswered. Texts ignored.

I was fucked. I tried to eat trout almondine for dinner that night, but threw it up in the bathroom.

XVII. The following day, more phone calls were made. More texts were sent. No response. maY – june 2013

nolan dalla I eventually managed to reach Betsy in Malibu. Talk about a fucking lifeline. She then made a stunning revelation.

“I have no idea where Peter is,” Betsy said. “But he owes me a lot of money.”

What!!!

Hearing this news, I didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry.

A few days later, Betsy and I met in Las Vegas and I finally learned the frightening truth about Peter Falcone. Originally from New York, he had conned his way through life, running one scam after another. He’d even served time in prison. Falcone’s methods were so dubious, he even screwed his parents out of their savings. He even skipped bail once and the family lost all equity in their home.

This guy wasn’t a snake. He was a fucking dragon.

I couldn’t believe Betsy would get involved with a character like this. And so I had to ask her. Why would she not only subject herself to such a huge risk but also ever want to be with such an awful person? Her explanation will not be revealed here, as I’m not going to get into Betsy’s private life any more than I have to. She’s not the perpetrator.

Peter Falcone is.

But what about the new Jaguar? Had Betsy bought that fancy car for him? I saw it with my own eyes.

Sure enough, Betsy told me that Falcone was apparently pulling a scam on someone in Santa Monica. Falcone asked to borrow the victim’s Jaguar and was now driving it all over Las Vegas. The owner of the car was pissed but had not yet reported it to the police. So, that explained the bit about the new Jaguar Falcone was driving.

I departed my meeting with Betsy poorer but wiser. Over the next few days, I replayed conversations and scenes in my head. Flashbacks of our previous dinners and meetings all made it so clear now. All the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly. What I finally came to see – far too late – was the portrait of a psychopath. A man with absolutely no conscious whatsoever. A man who gets off on the thrill of the con.

XVIII. It took me six months. But all of my offshore betting accounts were eventually paid. When I ponder the labor I had to perform over that duration to settle up debts and keep my good name intact, it’s nauseating. But there’s never regret with doing the right thing.

Oddly enough, when bits and pieces of this story leaked out to various bookies and agents all over Las Vegas, I had more offers than ever for my business. I’m not sure if this was a good character thing, or targeting a customer that was so stupid he’d fall for such a scam – or both. I also heard from a few of his other victims I even had a phone call from someone who wanted to go after Falcone.

I wish I could say it’s over now. But it’s not.

Falcone went on to scam more victims. He even pulled off successful cons against some well-known poker players. Here’s an interesting link at POKER FRAUD ALERT which reveals more about Peter Falcone, his aliases, and his methods. maY – june 2013

XIX. It’s a different version of the same old story.

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

The lessons are plentiful here. And obvious.

There’s also a postscript. Amazingly, I would hear from Peter Falcone one last time.

Three years later, I logged on to my emails and opened a note from a sender I didn’t recognize.

Dear Nolan: I know you must hate me and think the worst of me. I feel terrible for what I did to you. I have had a lot of time to think since then and I realize how bad it was to do that to a friend.

I am planning to pay you back. I promise. I will make payments to you. There are some things I am working on right now and if I can get it settled I want to do right by you.

I know this is a strange letter and you are surprised to get it.

I will let you know when I can get you money for what I owe.

How much was the figure again?

Peter Against my better judgment I replied to the e-mail. I told Falcone that eventually these crimes would catch up to him, that he’d double-cross the wrong person and end up paying the ultimate price. He couldn’t possibly keep on doing his scams without one of his victims going ballistic and going after him. It was just a matter of time before the odds caught up with him.

I also conveyed to Falcone that it was shameful that his “talents” were not funneled into something more positive.

He clearly had brains and talent. Regretfully, he was using his natural abilities to hurt others (and himself) rather than do something he could be proud of.

That was my final contact with Falcone.

XX. Last summer in 2012, Peter Falcone was arrested in Los Angeles.

This time, the charges against him were serious. His bail was reported to be more than $400,000.

But slime is difficult to hold onto. It slips through the hands.

It manages to escape confinement. Somehow Falcone either beat the rap or outlasted a minor sentence. I’m told he’s free and is now out there again. Somewhere.

Indeed, he’s out there. Wandering around. Probably hanging out inside sportsbooks. At casinos. Inside fancy restaurants.

Hunting for his next victim.

Peter Falcone is out there. Watching. Waiting. Lurking.

Preparing to pull off a new con.

Las Vegas is a playground full of fools. And Peter Falcone is holding the ball.

Nolan Dalla

73

Rolling Ranking until th April 28 2013

Sam Trickett is back and even mightier than ever! He leads the pack of the year by large distance, with four times more money than the German player Marvin Rettenmaier and his fellow citizens, Ole Schemion (third) or Tobias Reikenmeier (fourth). The English player is way ahead of everyone and very few players can now compete with him... But the Big One for One Drop will soon be away and the rolling ranking since one year will be totally upside down thanks to the EPT Grande FInale in Monte-Carlo, the WPT Championship at Bellagio and the WSOP!

Sam Trickett

Ranking

74

Country

Marvin Rettenmaier

Player

1

Sam Trickett

2

Winnings (USD)

Ole Schemion

Ranking

Country

Player

Winnings (USD)

11,166,185

16

Davidi Kitai

1,161,005

Marvin Rettenmaier

2,503,016

17

Ramzi Jelassi

1,138,434

3

Ole Schemion

2,070,614

18

Ilari Sahamies

1,132,326

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

maY – june 2013

Ranking

Country

Player

Winnings (USD)

Ranking

Country

Player

Winnings (USD)

Danyel Boyaciyan

483,229

Ognjen Sekularac

479,295

31

Jan Peter Jachtmann

737,115

66

32

Rocco Palumbo

728,969

67

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

463,633

36

Sotirios Koutoupas

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

Samad Razavi

617,621

77

Artem Metalidi

429,700

43

Kevin Vandersmissen

611,578

78

Neil Channing

421,624

44

Elisabeth Hille

603,785

79

Pierre Neuville

421,468

45

Jonathan Aguiar

600,232

80

Alessandro Longobardi

413,883

46

Stéphane Albertini

593,522

81

Vincent Van Der Fluit

412,922

47

Stephen Chidwick

588,463

82

Govert Metaal

404,638

48

Sergio Castelluccio

582,674

83

Paul Berende

403,136

49

Oleksii Kovalchuk

580,830

84

Pieter De-Korver

384,925

50

Jan Heitmann

577,462

85

Fraser MacIntyre

384,322

51

Terje Augdal

559,699

86

Theo Jørgensen

382,764

52

Kristijonas Andrulis

559,212

87

Andre Morath

379,125

53

Roger Hairabedian

545,439

88

Chris Bjorin

378,030

54

Fabian Quoss

544,321

89

Simon Ravnsbaek

376,374

55

Craig McCorkell

539,348

90

Paul Vas Nunes

372,913

56

Wilfried Harig

533,728

91

Jason Tompkins

372,886

57

Bruno Lopes

533,303

92

Benjamin Spindler

371,858

58

Vladimir Mefodichev

533,138

93

Toby Lewis

371,495

59

Laurent Polito

531,388

94

Anaras Alekberovas

370,746

60

Yorane Kérignard

527,613

95

Dominykas Karmazinas

369,928

61

Michael Gathy

521,397

96

Rinat Bogdanov

368,685

62

Tom Alner

517,528

97

Fernando Brito

367,529

63

Fabrice Soulier

511,738

98

Konstantin Puchkov

359,382

64

Éric Sfez

511,301

99

Angelo Recchia

358,439

65

Marcin Wydrowski

486,209

100

Vyacheslav Zhukov

345,993

maY – june 2013

★ ★★

75

All time money list – europe

Who can outplay british player Sam Trickett? With his recents super high Roller wins, the former soccer pro seems unbeatable, despite focusing mostly on high-stakes cash-games in london or Macau... Only Gus Hansen (second) or Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier seem to be able to win some more money to try to approach the brit score, as peter eastgate and Carlos Mortensen are mostly absent from the tournament circuit. The WSOP may change it all very soon...

sam trickett

Ranking

gus hansen

Country

Player

Winnings (USD)

peter eastgate

Ranking

Country

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Sam Trickett

19,835,680

16

Jeff Lisandro

5,045,087

2

Gus Hansen

11,210,073

17

Philipp Gruissem

4,848,947

3

Peter Eastgate

11,127,554

18

Juha Helppi

4,816,419

4

Carlos Mortensen

10,896,306

19

Surinder Sunar

4,667,668

5

Bertrand Grospellier

10,391,062

20

Yevgeniy Timoshenko

4,550,464

6

Pius Heinz

8,971,109

21

Andy Black

4,432,368

7

Eugene Katchalov

7,356,556

22

Vitaly Lunkin

4,270,758

8

Ivan Demidov

6,777,519

23

Igor Kurganov

4,202,696

9

David Benyamine

6,454,548

24

Fabrice Soulier

4,141,311

10

Dave Ulliott

6,012,424

25

Marcel Luske

4,099,130

11

Patrik Antonius

5,962,132

26

Antoine Saout

4,043,662

12

Tobias Reinkemeier

5,896,896

27

Marvin Rettenmaier

4,002,080

13

Martin Staszko

5,650,566

28

Roger Hairabedian

3,905,872

14

Chris Bjorin

5,482,757

29

Marty Smyth

3,878,676

15

Roland de Wolfe

5,330,556

30

Alexander Kravchenko

3,864,463

Available at www.poker52europa.com 76

maY – june 2013

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Jeff Lisandro

5,045,087

2

Filippo Candio

3,467,846

3

Max Pescatori

3,298,307

4

David Steicke

5

Salvatore Bonavena

6

England

Ranking

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

Sam Trickett

2

Dave Ulliott

6,012,424

3

Roland de Wolfe

5,330,556

2,923,868

4

Surinder Sunar

4,667,668

2,575,387

5

Ram Vaswani

3,477,251

Alessio Isaia

2,078,362

6

Neil Channing

3,364,911

7

Luca Pagano

2,055,370

7

Tony Bloom

3,308,051

8

Dario Minieri

1,861,016

8

John Gale

3,306,889

9

Dario Alioto

1,481,466

9

Jake Cody

3,220,628

10

Sergio Castelluccio

1,231,174

10

James Akenhead

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Carlos Mortensen

10,896,306

2

Raul Paez Corral

1,676,888

3

Juan Maceiras Lapido Jr.

1,082,049

4

Dragan Kostic

Germany

1

932,595

Ranking

Player

19,835,680

3,116,769

Winnings (USD)

1

Pius Heinz

8,971,109

2

Tobias Reinkemeier

5,896,896

3

Philipp Gruissem

4,848,947

4

Marvin Guido Rettenmaier

4,002,080 3,764,608

Raul Mestre

916,089

5

Benjamin Spindler

Tomeu Gomila

880,893

6

Sebastian Ruthenberg

3,457,185

7

Jesús Cortes

828,203

7

Fabian Quoss

3,068,501

8

Leo Margets

782,312

8

Moritz Kranich

2,932,396

9

Juan Garcia Cid

718,381

9

Ole Schemion

2,837,075

10

Adria Maria Balaguer

711,737

10

Dominik Nitsche

2,329,505

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Ivan Demidov

6,777,519

2

Vitaly Lunkin

4,270,758

3

Igor Kurganov

4,202,696

4

Alexander Kravchenko

3,864,463

Denmark

5 6

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Gus Hansen

11,210,073

2

Peter Eastgate

11,127,554

3

Theo Jørgensen

3,515,145

4

Rehne Pedersen

2,302,466

Alexander Kostritsyn

2,915,269

5

Frederik Brink Jensen

2,205,263

Max Lykov

2,803,200

6

Jan Sorensen

2,180,586

7

Kirill Gerasimov

2,563,108

7

Søren Kongsgaard Nielsen

1,988,594

8

Andrey Pateychuk

2,229,435

8

Lars Bonding

1,864,887

9

Leonid Bilokur

2,111,599

9

Sander Lyloff

1,712,552

10

Konstantin Puchkov

1,842,253

10

Rasmus Nielsen

1,418,747

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Chris Bjorin

5,482,757

2

Martin De Knijff

3,419,490

3

William Thorson

3,372,326

4

Martin Jacobson

3,060,201

Norway

5 6

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Annette Obrestad

3,806,864

2

Jan Olav Sjavik

1,884,057

3

Andreas Hoivold

1,655,163

4

Trond Eidsvig

1,623,879

5

Johan Storakers

3,006,611

5

Dag Martin Mikkelsen

1,499,148

6

Michael Tureniec

2,821,785

6

Johnny Lodden

1,250,498

7

Erik Marcus Friberg

2,764,371

9

Andreas Walnum

1,197,518

8

Ramzi Jelassi

2,371,001

7

Bjorn-Erik Glenne

1,092,588

9

Christer Johansson

2,161,275

8

Kristian Kjondal

1,057,150

10

Kent Lundmark

1,843,635

10

Marcel Bjerkmann

Ranking

Player

Winnings (USD)

1

Andy Black

4,432,368

2

Marty Smyth

3,878,676

3

Eoghan O'Dea

4

Padraig Parkinson

France

Ireland

Sweden

Russia

Spain

Italy

top ten – all time money list

Ranking

Player

977,333

Winnings (USD)

1

Bertrand Grospellier

10,391,062

2

David Benyamine

6,454,548

2,543,392

3

Fabrice Soulier

4,141,311

1,648,908

4

Antoine Saout

4,043,662

5

Fintan Gavin

1,410,413

5

Roger Hairabedian

3,905,872

6

Dermot Blain

1,333,005

6

Ludovic Lacay

2,982,213

7

John Magill

1,209,798

7

Bruno Fitoussi

2,673,735

8

Donnacha O'Dea

1,201,017

8

Jean-Paul Pasqualini

2,660,096

9

Liam Flood

1,148,854

9

Antony Lellouche

2,551,175

10

Noel Furlong

1,145,807

10

Alain Roy

2,456,699

maY – june 2013

77

GPI top100

GPI is still Germany’s country: Marvin Rettenmaier (first), Philipp Gruissem (second) and Ole Schemion (fourth) as well Fabian Quoss (sixth) or Martin finger (tenth)... Germany is by far the best GPI european country... only France seems to be able to compete with them, thanks to Bertrand Grospellier (third), Roger hairabedian (ninth) or Philippe Ktorza (seventeenth).The former 2012 GPI champion Marvin Rettenmaier is indeed the leading force in europe, and he seems to be on a good path to remain the best GPI player again...

marvin rettenmaier

Ranking

78

philipp gruissem

Country

Player

Score

bertrand “elky” grospellier

Ranking

Country

Player

Score

1

Marvin Rettenmaier

3173.85

16

Ana Laura Marquez Esteban

1955.69

2

Philipp Gruissem

2958.22

17

Philippe Ktorza

1878.58

3

Bertrand Grospellier

2934.96

18

Anton Wigg

1861.56

4

Ole Schemion

2692.58

19

Kristijonas Andrulis

1846.25

5

Toby Lewis

2440.30

20

Dominik Nitsche

1814.35

6

Fabian Quoss

2189.10

21

Joni Jouhkimainen

1805.57

7

Roberto Romanello

2179.51

22

Tobias Reinkemeier

1801.06

8

Dimitar Danchev

2163.88

23

Fabrice Soulier

1785.56

9

Roger Hairabedian

2147.96

24

Zimnan Ziyard

1780.52

10

Martin Finger

2122.90

25

Jan Bendik

1767.33

11

Juha Helppi

2117.55

26

Danyel Boyaciyan

1734.64

12

Paul Berende

2060.29

27

Mihai Manole

1722.36

13

Martin Jacobson

1981.32

28

Aubin Cazals

1721.60

14

Christopher Brammer

1977.91

29

David Vamplew

1717.08

15

Davidi Kitai

1972.70

30

Manig Loeser

1706.50

★ ★★

maY – june 2013

Ranking

Country

Player

Score

Ranking

Country

Player

Score

31

Rocco Palumbo

1702.23

66

Matthias De Meulder

1273.80

32

Giacomo Fundaro

1643.32

67

Anaras Alekberovas

1273.24

33

Ismael Bojang

1629.63

68

Casey Kastle

1272.72

34

Chris Moorman

1628.28

69

David Benyamine

1256.47

35

Jonathan Aguiar

1621.92

70

Cesar Garcia

1240.31

36

Pierre Neuville

1618.09

71

Manuel Bevand

1229.89

37

Salvatore Bonavena

1602.68

72

Paul Vas Nunes

1221.34

38

Mickey Petersen

1575.42

73

Fernando Brito

1217.43

39

Jeff Lisandro

1565.37

74

Paul Testud

1214.00

40

Mihails Morozovs

1561.84

75

Max Silver

1200.90

41

Vojtech Ruzicka

1552.91

76

Martin Staszko

1193.86

42

Samad Razavi

1537.01

77

Michel Abécassis

1191.08

43

Kent Lundmark

1531.83

78

Jean-Noël Thorel

1184.05

44

Heinz Kamutzki

1492.95

79

Mustapha Kanit

1168.34

45

John Paul Kelly

1490.31

80

Tristan Clémençon

1166.83

46

Chris Bjorin

1472.79

81

Tomeu Gomila

1154.19

47

Craig McCorkell

1465.32

82

Bruno Lopes

1145.18

48

Andrea Dato

1454.30

83

Tom Alner

1136.01

49

Dermot Blain

1439.23

84

Atanas Gueorguiev

1123.65

50

Simon Ravnsbaek

1411.08

85

Max Lehmanski

1120.34

51

Govert Metaal

1408.61

86

Talal Shakerchi

1113.77

52

Alessandro Longobardi

1393.92

87

Nicolas Lévi

1110.62

53

Stephen Chidwick

1369.86

88

Grzegorz Derkowski

1109.03

54

Marco Leonzio

1331.56

89

Rhys Jones

1104.90

55

Ramzi Jelassi

1326.02

90

Gilbert Diaz

1102.93

56

Liv Boeree

1313.33

91

Ludovic Lacay

1100.76

57

Carlos Mortensen

1306.70

92

Guillaume Darcourt

1096.38

58

Alain Roy

1303.44

93

Jake Cody

1094.56

59

Ruben Visser

1302.12

94

Tobias Peters

1092.40

60

Kenny Hallaert

1295.10

95

Khiem Nguyen

1090.54

61

Benjamin Spindler

1287.48

96

Dario Alioto

1085.04

62

Niall Farrell

1285.55

97

Rumen Nanev

1080.47

63

John Eames

1279.96

98

Ben Vinson

1080.33

64

Éric Sfez

1277.66

99

Bernard Guigon

1073.30

65

Dan Murariu

1275.66

100

Daniele Mazzia

1072.95

maY – june 2013

★ ★★

79

chronicle

Players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner.

All-in On Flop Declared but Preflop OK so it’s a £1/£2 NLHE cash game last night. Some drunk Chinese businessman sits down and starts raising everything preflop and basically wanting to gamble like it’s roulette (the rest of the table think Christmas has come early ldo).

A few hands in I limp from seat 9 with A9s. Seat 10 makes it £10, seat 1 bumps it up to £40 and the Chinese guy on the button in seat 3 raises to £100. Folded round to me and while I’m tanking (not really tanking but just giving it a couple of seconds before I fold) the Chinese guy says ‘I’m all in anyway’ (presumably meaning on the flop but I don’t think he was that specific). The guy in seat 10 immediately calls for a ruling and the floor manager rules that the all in is binding on the flop, regardless of the fact the PF action is yet to be completed and the guy spoke out of turn. I fold, seat 10 eventually folds, seat 1 flats and an ace high flop comes down. The Chinese guy is clearly reluctant to put his chips in (he’s still got about £500 left and the other guy has him covered) but does so and seat 1 insta-calls with KK (Chinese guy had J9s). Me and one other guy at the table thought the ruling was pretty terrible but the rest of the table seemed perfectly happy with it. Any thoughts from the YATTD panel?

80

maY – june 2013

You are the Tournament Director Series 5 Jack Effel

The guy in seat 3 who so called “spoke out of turn” had already acted on his hand that round by raising to £100; therefore, he is only guilty of committing an ethics violation. In my mind, seat 3 was only trying to psyche out his opponents. I would not have made him put all of his chips in on the flop, but would have warned him that future ethical violations would result in penalties. Since this was a cash game, penalties might mean asking him to leave for the night. What makes this an easy decision is the fact that seat 10 called for a ruling as soon as seat 3 made the statement. However, if seat 3 had made that statement before acting on his hand and the action didn’t change before it got back around to him, I would have ruled that his all-in stood and all of seat 3’s chips would go into the pot.

Thomas Kremser

To say “I’m all-in anyway” is not specific enough to force the player. It is clearly out of turn and it is a multi way pot. This is table trash talk and not a binding action. I admit that the TD’s decision has a lot of educational potential but still think that it is over the top.

David Lamb

I believe the declaration of all-in on the flop is out of turn action.

I would hold him to the verbalization as long as the action does not change to him on the flop. If all of the remaining players check to Chinese guy, his all-in stands. If any of the intervening players elects to bet, the action has changed and all options are restored to Chinese guy.

David Luzago

In this situation, ignoring the exact Dublin card room rules code I would just make it a verbal warning to the Chinese player and advise him to not do it or say it again. I believe he probably meant that he was going to call any raise PF if that happened but I’m not completely sure. We need to be very careful with players with different mother tongues and strange accents that can lead to many different interpretations of their comments.

Matt Savage

In a tournament with the new TDA rule conditional statements may be binding and this would be a TD’s decision. His statement appears to be a little too unclear to make him go all-in in this situation.

Thomas Lamatsch

First we have to make a difference between cashgame and tournaments. In cashgames there are more flexible rules, also belonging to trashtalk and showing cards!

Also the interest in the game is a different one for the casinos. And when a table having fun like this evening, I don’t want to destroy this atmosphere! Apparently trashtalk on cash tables is more tolerated than at tournaments. And when a player announced, “I’m allin anyway” and this before preflop action is finished, I would not force him to do this on the flop! maY – june 2013

JP McCann

I disagree with the ruling that was made. The Chinese player has already acted pre-f lop so doesn’t have to right to act again unless it is re-raised back into him.

FIDPA (The International Poker Rules) Ruling (Marcel Luske) So the TD made it clear before all players that were still in the hand, that after the Flop is out,... he would hold the out of turn acting player to his announcement to play all in after the flop! That was his ruling ! That was very much in favor of all other players who now knew upfront what to expect to get in the pot after the flop as well. Still, according to 7.1 Poker Etiquette the following actions are considered improper and unsportsmanlike behavior. Acting out of turn, intentionally and/or repeatedly. Making unfair statements and/or promoting action that could influence any player’s decision. 3.4 The sport of poker relies on the integrity of an individual to play in a fair manner and to abide by the policies, procedures, and rules of the tournament. Players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating sportsmanlike behavior at all times. 52.4 A player intentionally acting out of turn will receive a penalty. A “declaration of action” IN TURN will be binding; the player will be forced to take the declared action.

A “declaration of action” OUT OF TURN will only be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call, or fold is not considered action changing. A player intentionally acting out of turn will receive a penalty. The poker game should never be out of control or dictated by the players! Rules should be fair and consistent, no matter who wins or loses! The Chinese guy should be told to play by the rules and so (with a friendly warning) by the management/TD to act in turn.

Mob Verdict

Ask yourself this: If pre-flop, a player said “I’ll call any bet on the river,” would that constitute a binding action? Of course not. He may not even make it to the river. There has to be a limit to how far into a subsequent street out of turn action can go.

We think David Luzago is onto something when he interprets the player’s comment as meaning that he will not pass preflop. The TD would have been on slightly more solid ground in deeming the statement to be a pre-flop action out of turn.

However, unless there is another raise it is not possible for such an action to stand as he will have no option to raise again, and if there is another raise the action changes and the out of turn bet doesn’t stand anyway. The truth is that the statement is meaningless as an enforceable action and we agree with those TDs who classify it more as trash talk.

Judging by the way we are told he was playing it was in all probability a redundant statement of the obvious: that he was prepared, pre-flop, to get it all in with his hand.

We agree with all those TDs who do not like this ruling, and the very most we would do is issue a warning not to make ambiguous statements or to give information intended to affect the action.

81

tournament schedule May 2013

2 - 12 May 2013 2013 World Poker Showdown Spring Poker Tournament, St. Maarten 3 May 2013 Pokus Bigstack-Series Lucky 7, Vienna 3 - 5 May 2013 Barrière Poker Tour 2013, Nice 3 - 5 May 2013 Poker at The Hippodrome Spring Classic, London 4 - 5 May 2013 2013 Super Stack Series - Leg 8, Dublin 4 - 6 May 2013 The Irish Pub Poker Championship, Dublin 5 - 12 May 2013 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 3, Stockton 6 May 2013 Genting Poker Big Game, London 6 - 12 May 2013 Pokerfest Romania Season 3 Bucharest 6 - 15 May 2013 EPT Grand Final, Monte Carlo 7 - 24 May 2013 WPT World Championship, Las Vegas 8 - 12 May 2013 Chilipoker Deepstack Open - Tanger 8 - 12 May 2013 CNP - Malaga 9 - 12 May 2013 Valkenburg Series of Poker, Valkenburg 9 - 18 May 2013 Seminole Hard Rock Deep Stack Poker Series, Hollywood 9 - 20 May 2013 WSOP Circuit - New Orleans 10 - 12 May 2013 Black Belt East End Live II, London 14 - 19 May 2013 Genting Poker Series - Leg 3, Sheffield 15 - 20 May 2013 WPT National Annecy 15 - 21 May 2013 GPT VIII, Rozvadov 15 - 21 May 2013 Danube Poker Masters, Belgrade 17 - 19 May 2013 2013 Super Stack Series - Leg 10, Tallinn 18 - 25 May 2013 Spa Open VI, SPA 20 May - 3 Jun 2013 ANZPT Repechage, Melbourne 22 - 27 May 2013 GCOP III Vol. 2/6, Rozvadov 82

23 - 26 May 2013 2013 Hamburg Poker Masters, Hamburg 23 - 26 May 2013 Irisheyesbet.com Legends Poker Cup 2013, Dublin 24 - 26 May 2013 Westernmania 2, London 24 - 26 May 2013 2013 Super Stack Series - Leg 11, Valencia 24 May - 14 Jul 2013 Caesars Palace Mega Stack Series 2013, Las Vegas 26 May - 2 Jun 2013 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 4, Portsmouth 27 May - 1 Jun 2013 CAPT Innsbruck - Alps Poker Tour, Innsbruck 29 May - 15 Jul 2013 44th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2013, Las Vegas 30 May 2013 Fitzwilliam End of Month Event, Dublin 30 May - 2 Jun 2013 2013 Super Stack Series - Leg 12, London 31 May - 5 Jun 2013 ISPT, London

june 2013

3 Jun 2013 Genting Poker Big Game, London 3 - 9 Jun 2013 Garden of England Summer Poker Festival, Thanet 5 - 9 Jun 2013 CNP - Tanger 5 - 9 Jun 2013 Latin America Poker Tour VI - Colombia National Poker Championship, Medellin 6 - 9 Jun 2013 Unibet Open Troia 2013, Troia 6 - 9 Jun 2013 WPT Regional Series - Summer Tampa Bay, Tampa 7 - 9 Jun 2013 Casino Barrière de Toulouse, Nice 12 Jun 2013 2013 Great Blue Heron Freezeout, Port Perry 12 - 16 Jun 2013 Estrellas Poker Tour Marbella 12 - 16 Jun 2013 Marrakech Poker Open, Marrakech 14 - 17 Jun 2013 WPPT - North Sydney

16 - 23 Jun 2013 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 5, Reading 17 - 23 Jun 2013 Pokerfest Romania Season 3 Mamaia 17 Jun - 1 Jul 2013 2013 Aria Classic, Las Vegas 18 - 23 Jun 2013 Million Poker Race 14, Marrakech 26 - 30 Jun 2013 Chilipoker Deepstack Open - Lloret de Mar 27 Jun 2013 Fitzwilliam End of Month Event, Dublin 28 - 30 Jun 2013 UKIPT Series 2 - London 29 - 30 Jun 2013 2013 Super Stack Series - Leg 13, Sheffield 30 June - 1 July ACFPoker Tour Aria Casino, Las Vegas

july 2013

1 Jul 2013 Genting Poker Big Game, London 3 - 7 Jul 2013 CNP - La Toja 5 - 7 Jul 2013 2013 Super Stack Series - Leg 14, Madrid 7 - 14 Jul 2013 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 6, Walsall 12 - 20 Jul 2013 CAPT Velden - Alps Poker Tour, Velden 18 - 29 Jul 2013 Merit World Cup of Poker, Kyrenia 18 Jul - 5 Aug 2013 Gold Strike World Poker Open, Tunica 19 - 21 Jul 2013 Barrière Poker Tour 2013, Enghien 21 - 28 Jul 2013 2013 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour - Leg 7, Brighton 24 - 28 Jul 2013 Eureka Bulgaria, Varna 25 Jul 2013 Fitzwilliam End of Month Event, Dublin 25 - 28 Jul 2013 2013 Super Stack Series - Leg 15, London 30 Jul - 4 Aug 2013 APPT ANZPT Queenstown Snowfest, Queenstown 31 Jul - 4 Aug 2013 Latin America Poker Tour VI - Peru, Lima maY – june 2013

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