Poker52 Europa N°14

NEWS

•

TO U R N A M E N T S

•

S T R AT EG Y

EUROPA N ° 14 NOVE MBE R – DECE MBE R 2013

W W W. POKE R52 EUROPA .COM

UPCOMINGS TOURNAMENTS WPT Johannesburg Bellagio Five Diamond CAPT Seefeld Vienna Poker Festival ACF Hold’Em Series WPT National Brussels

EXCLUSIVE RANKINGS

CHRONICLES

Daniel Negreanu Nolan Dalla Kara Scott

EVENT

GPI European Poker Awards come to Deauville

BRAND NEW

NICOLAS LEVI, LUCILLE CAILLY & PEDRO CANALI PRESENT

RANKINGHERO.COM Europa#14_COUV.indd 1

28/10/13 14:50

Europa#14_COUV.indd 2

28/10/13 14:50

PK52EURO_N14.indd 3

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 4

29/10/13 08:13

editorial Dear Readers, Dear Readers,

Thanks to its ever-growing popularity in Europe, poker seems to never stop.ofTen years Fall is almost over and a most the big ago, players could take a long pause after the tournaments have taken place in Europe, just exhausting World Series Of Poker in Las Vegas, before the final table of the WSOP Main Event, but nowadays, the action is always there, in which chance to two European players of to every gives European country, for the delight win theplayers! big one… The end of the year is usually poker the time when all the big guns in the poker This fall is packed with even more crazy industry getaction, ready and for the final for the tournament Paris willrace become the title of of the player theweeks: year. Daniel Negreanu Mecca poker foroffew first, the WSOPE in the suburbs of Paris, at Enghien-les-bains, has already succeeded in one of his goals, and then the the WSOP world-appraised Rendez-vous à winning POY after his impressive Paris series, hosted by the Aviation Club de win at WSOPE High-Roller tournament. On the France, with its WPT Grand Prix de Paris, its GPI European German seem be high-roller, itsside, Omaha eventplayers and, for theto first

Ten yeaRs ago, The enD of Thea playeRs coulD Take yeaR is usually The long pause afTeR The Time When all The exhausTing WoRlD big guns The pokeR seRies ofin pokeR in las inDusTRy ReaDy Vegas, buTgeT noWaDays, foR The final Race foR The acTion is alWays The TiTle of The playeR TheRe, in eVeRy of The yeaR. Daniel foR euRopean counTRy, negReanu has The DelighT ofalReaDy pokeR succeeDeD in one of playeRs! his goals, Winning The Wsop poy afTeR his impRessiVe Win aT Wsope high-RolleR TouRnamenT.

impossible to bean beat, with no Chinese less thanPoker four time in Europe, Open Face tournament, €5,000 buy-in! Since a year players in thewith Topa5! or so, all the big names in the poker world are Two more to go, and there lot focused onmonths this type of poker, and are it isa not rare to see high ahead rollers before playingthe Open Chinese on their iPadwill during of competitions endFace of the year. South Africa hostNo in Limit Hold’Em live tournaments!

This premiere will for sure gather a lot of the beginning of November its favourite World Poker Tour stop, whereas in players at the ACF, on the Champs-Elysées, in late October…

Europe, a lot of action is to be expected on the Austrian and German side of For those of youCAPT who never havePoker enough, a lot of great tournaments will poker, during or Vienna Series.

Most ofpoker the big European pros also becourse played cross this fall: historical Master Classics Of Poker will of thethe ocean to enjoy the thrill of Las Vegas in atAmsterdam, Bellagio for which gathers people from all over the world since 22 years, the CAPT Baden the famous Five Diamond tournament. Poker is alive and well, and it makes and the famous Poker EM tournament, the WPT Five Diamond World Poker all of usinvery happy!

Classic famous Las Vegas’ Bellagio and, for those who like sun, sand and poker, the Carribean Poker Tour or the Tanger Million Maker. Pick the date Bruno Benveniste and have fun !

Bruno Benveniste

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 5

5

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 6

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 7

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 8

29/10/13 08:13

CoNteNtS 12 news

uPcoMInG touRnaMents

22 poker business RanKInGheRo.coM

26 caPt 2014

54 nolan Dalla

26 caPt 2014 30 vIenna PoKeR festIval 34 wPt Doyle BRunson fIve DIaMonD woRlD PoKeR classIc 38 wPt JohannesBuRG eMPeRoRs Palace PoKeR classIc 42 avIatIon cluB De fRance holD’eM seRIes 2013 44 wPt natIonal BRussels fall seRIes 48 GPI euRoPean PoKeR awaRDs

22 poker business nIcolas levI, PeDRo canalI , lucIlle caIlly & BRuno vanRyB RanKInGheRo.coM 160cHronicles 50 DanIel neGReanu 52 you aRe the touRnaMent DIRectoR 54 nolan Dalla 58 KaRa scott 08 rankinGs 60 henDon MoB 64 GPI 66 tournament scHedule

PK52EURO_N14.indd 9

Is PuBlIsheD By GaMe PRoD 14 RUE DE BERRI 75008 PARIS / FRANCE +33 (0)1 53 89 14 00 WWW.POKER52EUROPA.COM DIRECTED BY: BRuno BenvenIste +33 (0)1 53 89 14 08 - BRUNOBENVENISTE@POKER52EUROPA.COM ASSISTED BY: saMantha DelMas - SAMANTHA@POKER52EUROPA.COM CHIEF EDITOR: JÉRÔMe schMIDt - JEROME@POKER52EUROPA.COM WRITERS: JulIen MoRello, antoIne salvI, PhIlIPPe leMaIRe, PhIlIPPe aRonson, steven laKe 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

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 10

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 11

29/10/13 08:13

news

I LIVE I WPT announces 2014 schEduLE

I

n a season already loaded with popular tournaments at incredible venues around the globe, World Poker Tour® will close out its record-setting Season XII with seven Main Tour stops and nine additional WPT® Regional and WPT® National events.

“We are very excited about the depth and breadth of our Season XII schedule,” said WPT President, Adam Pliska.

“We’ve taken great care to ensure all of our players – whether they’re on the Main Tour or in our WPT Regional or WPT National events – enjoy world-class experiences at premier venues around the globe.”

Bookending the remainder of Season XII are two stops at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, which after the recent WPT Borgata Poker Open, is now home to four of the five largest events in World Poker Tour history. The 2014 schedule begins in Atlantic City, New Jersey with the televised WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open before heading to Seminole Casino Coconut Creek for the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open in February.

In March, WPT heads to California for two televised events – the iconic LA Poker Classic and the unique WPT Bay 101 event

Shooting Star – before heading back to Jacksonville, Florida for the WPT bestbet Open. In April, the tour makes its third stop in the Sunshine State when it heads to Hollywood, Florida for the season’s penultimate event – the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown which, like last August’s highly successful Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, will carry a massive $10 million guarantee on the championship event. From Florida, the WPT heads back up the East Coast to Borgata and the season-ending, $15,400 buy-in WPT World Championship sponsored by partypoker.

Players seeking WPT-quality events at more affordable buy-ins will have many options to choose from on the WPT Regional and WPT National tours. In the United States, WPT Regional events will be held in Florida and Mississippi, while the WPT National tour will feature events in England, France, and Belgium.

“The much-anticipated, second half of the WPT schedule was definitely worth the wait,” said WPT Executive Tour Director Matt Savage. “Players can start to book travel knowing that many quality events in great locations are now in place.

venue

Dates

Buy-In

WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa

January 26 – January 31

$3,300 + $200 = $3,500

WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

February 7 – February 12

$3,250 + $175 + $75 = $3,500

WPT LA Poker Classic (TV)

Commerce Casino

March 1 – March 6

$9,600 + $400 = $10,000

WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star (TV)

Bay 101

March 10 – March 14

$7,150 + $350 = $7,500

WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open

bestbet Jacksonville

March 21 – March 25

$3,200 + $240 + $60 = $3,500

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown (TV)

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

April 11 – April 17

$5,000 + $150 + $150 = $5,300

WPT World Championship Sponsored by partypoker (TV)

Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa

TBD

$15,000 + $400 = $15,400

12

PK52EURO_N14.indd 12

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:13

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 13

13

29/10/13 08:13

news

Final Table ResulTs 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

I uK I robin YiTalo Is thE nEw KIng of ePT london

S

wedish pro Robin Ylitalo has won the £5,250 PokerStars.com EPT London Main Event today for a £560,980 first prize. The 27-year-old from Gothenberg, who made the final of EPT8 Campione, beat Greek player Georgios Karakousis heads-up to win his first EPT title and a stunning watch from Official EPT 10 Main Event Watch Sponsor SLYDE. He said: “It’s amazing to win this, the best feeling. I absolutely thought I could do it... I thought I was able, but it didn’t happen. I can’t put words to how great it feels. I have been dreaming of this for a long time.”

Ylitalo’s victory follows success at this summer’s World Series where he made the final table of the $1,500 NL

I onLInE I PKr signs smaLL-staKEs Icon

P

aris-based student Patty Beaumier today becomes the face of PKR.fr, the French arm of UK-based online poker room PKR. com. The 24-year old, who plays online as ‘BabyTes’, has been a regular winner at PKR.fr’s lower stakes Hold’em tables and an ardent supporter of the 3D poker room since she joined in 2011.

As the site’s ambassador, she will represent PKR at a number of live tournaments across Europe, beginning in her home town with the World Series of Poker Europe later this month. In November she will also play PKR’s own $500 buy-in PKR Live main event, held at London’s Aspers supercasino.

Beaumier obtained a Masters in law from the Sorbonne and will now study for a second Masters at the Graduate School of Journalism in Paris, balancing her studies with her live and online responsibilities for the poker room.

CEO Malcolm Graham explained, “Our sponsorship approach has largely been to unearth and support talent from our players’ ranks, and it’s important that those with potential at the lower stakes get the chance to shine. As an intelligent, successful young woman with a passion for poker and PKR, Patty is a fantastic addition to the team.

14

PK52EURO_N14.indd 14

RoBIn ylItalo (sweDen) £560,980 G. KaRaKousIs (GReece) £349,200 leo Mcclean (uK) £249,850 luDovIc GeIlIch (uK) £193,340 Jeff RossIteR (austRalIa) £152,320 stefan vaGneR (slovaKIa) £119,225 Jan olav sJavIK (noRway) £88,175 Kully sIDhu (uK) £60,640

event for a $ 92,550 cash as well as finishing 141st in the WSOP Main Event.

The EPT 10 London Main Event started last Sunday with 604 players. 87 players made the money, claiming their share of a £2,929,400 prize pool.

PokerStars qualifier Georgios Karakousis, who runs a plastics factory in Livadia, took £349,200 for his runner-up finish. The 63-year-old grandfather has already had several cashes in EPT High Roller events including runner-up in Madrid.

Leo McClean, a project manager from Northamptonshire in the UK, who won his seat on PokerStars for just £93, came third for £249,850. He also receives his £5,250 buy-in back for winning the Last Longer contest run by Skrill, the Official Payment Provider sponsor of EPT Season 10.

Other finalists included Glaswegian UKIPT Marbella Ludovic Geilich (4th), GuangDong Asia Millions runner-up Jeff Rossiter (5th) and EPT3 London finalist Jan Olav Sjavik (7th).

We’re delighted that she’ll be representing the brand in France and we wish her the best of luck in her quest for live tournament glory”.

Beaumier becomes the second female player to join Team PKR Pro following the acquisition of Swedish pro Sofia Lövgren, who marks three years as a PKR pro with appearances in the £5,000 EPT London Main Event and £10,000 High Roller next week. Fellow Team PKR Pro’s Vladimir Geshkenbein, Scott Shelley and Simon Hemsworth will also attend the UKIPT & EPT festival.

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 15

29/10/13 08:13

news

I usa I anThonY Zinno Wins borgaTa PoKer oPen, bEatIng VanEssa sELbst hEads-up

T

he World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open looked like it would be Cong Pham’s to win during the penultimate day of the tournament. He was the chip leader during the majority of the playdown stretch of the tournament and Cong also held the chip lead when cards got into the air Friday afternoon in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He had one major challenge in his way though.

Second in chips was Vanessa Selbst, and the leader of the female all-time cash list was also looking to become the first woman champion at an open buy-in WPT event.

But in a surprising turn of events on Friday night it was an East Coast player who no one was really picking to win it all that won the WPT tournament title and $825,099 in prize money. Zinno came into the final table in third chip-position and he put his chips to good use. He was never really in danger until the start of heads-up play, and although he needed to double up once against Selbst to be saved from 16

PK52EURO_N14.indd 16

elimination, he quickly closed out the match once he had the chip lead. Zinno now has $1,313,634 in career earnings and a major tournament title on his poker resume.

Final Table ResulTs 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

anthony ZInno $825,099 vanessa selBst $492,569 conG PhaM $301,225 JeReMy KottleR $251,968 DavID RanDall $208,394 eRIc fIelDs $168,610 november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 17

29/10/13 08:13

news

I worLd sErIEs of poKEr EuropE EnghIEn-LEs-baIns I adrian MaTeos diaZ and daniel negreanu taKE homE thE bIggEst cash prIzEs from october 11-25, the casino barrière in enghien-les-bains welcomed the seventh edition of the World series of poker europe, a high class poker festival providing eight bracelet events which attracted the best players on earth. 375 players entered the €10,450 main event, and after a weeklong struggle for the gold bracelet, nineteen-yearold adrian mateos Diaz from spain bested french pro fabrice soulier heads-up, for a massive €1,000,000 first prize and his first Wsop title. as for canadian superstar Daniel negreanu, he was awarded the player of the year trophy and the €25,600 high Roller event bracelet — his sixth Wsop title — along with a €725,000 cash prize. here are the full results of this intense 2013 series.

18

PK52EURO_N14.indd 18

F

or the first time ever in Europe, the €1,100 Ladies Championship offered a bracelet to the winner and sixty-five players entered the two-day competition.

After the first eight levels, there were only eight contestants left, for seven cash prizes. Australian player Jackie Glazier, the best woman in the 2013 WSOP Main Event (31st, for $229,281), was leading the race, followed by Sherill Lindsey, from America, and six French women, Maryline Valente, Laurie Bismuth, Céline Bastian, Anaïs Lerouge, Nathalie Odet and Gaëlle Baumann, best woman in the 2012 Main Event (tenth, for $590,442). Lerouge finished before the money, busted by Valente with T-T, Baumann left the final table at the seventh position, and Bismuth ended third, for €8,950. Glazier kept control during her heads-up against Valente, besting the French player with J-J vs. 6-6 on the last hand, pocketing the €21,500 first prize and the longdesired bracelet.

Henrik JoHansson controls tHe event #2 Final table

The Event #2, a €1,100 Re-entry tournament, played over three days with two starting flights, collected 659 entries.

Eighty-six players made it to the Day 2, including Chino Rheem, Barry Greenstein, Dominik Nitsche, and Lilian Kramer, chip leader of the survivors. Jake Schwartz (52nd, €2,113), Scott Clements (50th, €2,113), Jeff Madsen (41st, €2,341), Barry Greenstein (35th, €2,619), Quentin Lecomte (31st, €2,961) and Chino Rheem (22nd, €4,599) felt before november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:13

woRlD seRIes of PoKeR euRoPe enGhIen-les-BaIns the end of the session, concluded by Marco Conti’s elimination (10th, €9,755). Henrik Johansson, from Sweden, entered the final table as the chip leader and managed to keep his advantage until his heads-up against French player Adriano Torregrossa. Johansson overcame his last opponent with two pair 9-T, winning the second bracelet and the €129,700 first prize, leaving €80,250 to Torregrossa.

Darko stoJanovic bests Daniel o’brien on event #3

The new €5,300 Mixed Event (Event #3) attracted 140 players, ready to compete during four days. Sixty-seven survived the first flight played full-ring, and they were only sixteen left after the six-handed session, among them chip leader Noah Schwartz, Shannon Shorr, James Dempsey, Phil Ivey and French players Marc Trijaud and Darko Stojanovic. Ivey, Trijaud, Dempsey and November Nine Mark Newhouse busted during the four-handed game (€14,905 each), joined on the rail by Jake Schwartz, Jeremy Joseph and Shannon Shorr on the second half of the day (€30,695 each). The last four players (Stojanovic, Schwartz, Jason Mann and Daniel O’Brien) struggled in heads-up, and the Frenchman earned his ticket to the last game, against US pro O’Brien. The duel was closely fought, but Stojanovic managed to overcome his last opponent thanks to a pair of 7, and he won the first WSOP bracelet of the year for France, along with a €188,160 first prize.

Jeremy ausmus wins tHe Plo event For €70,324

The first half of the series was concluded by the €1,650 Pot Limit Omaha tournament (Event #4), which brought together 184 players. Some of the best specialists of the game were there, including Jan Jachtmann, Jason Mercier, Jeremy Ausmus, Jonathan Little and Fabrice Soulier, who all made it to the Day 2. Soulier busted 17th (€3,532) followed by several French players, such as Yohann Aubé, 8th for €7,933.

Little made the bubble of the six-handed final table (7th, €10,102), seeing Jason Mercier, Michael Schwartz, Martin Kozlov, Jan Jachtmann, Jeremy Ausmus and the chip leader Juha Helppi fight for the bracelet. Schwartz (€13,077) and Kozlov (€17,210) were the first finalists to bust, followed by Mercier (€23,036) and Jachtmann (€43,441). Ausmus took the best over Helppi heads-up thanks to a full house, and he received the fourth bracelet and €70,324 in cash prize.

2nd wsoP bracelet For roger HairabeDian

337 players participated to the €2,200 Event #5, and among the 102 survivors of the Day 1 were Phil Hellmuth, James Dempsey, Jonathan Little, Jonathan Duhamel and Andrei Konopelko, leader of the group. None of them entered the final table, but Phil Hellmuth managed to earn his 100th WSOP cash, finishing at the 29th position, for €4,206. Erik Seidel began the final table as the chip leader, and he made his way to the last duel, against French pro Roger Hairabedian, who won all the big pots and ended the heads-up ahead, with K-K vs. 8-8, becoming the first player to earn two WSOP-E bracelets (after his victory in the Event #3 in 2012) and the first French player to earn two WSOP bracelets (€148,820). november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 19

WSOP-E 2013 ResulTs event #1: €1,100 laDIes 1st J. GlaZIeR (austRalIa) €21,850 2nd MaRylIne valente (fRance) €13,500 3rd lauRIe BIsMuth (fRance) €8,950 event #2: €1,100 nlhe 1st henRIK Johansson (sweDen) €129,700 2nd a. toRReGRossa (fRance) €80,250 3rd yanIv BotBol (fRance) €58,860 event #3: €5,300 MIxeD Max 1st DaRKo stoJanovIc (fRance) €188,160 2nd DanIel o’BRIen (usa) €116,280 3rd Jason Mann & noah schwaRtZ €62,770 event #4: €1,650 Plo 1st JeReMy ausMus (usa) €70,324 2nd Juha helPPI (fInlanD) €43,441 3rd Jan JachtMann (GeRMany) €31,367 event #5: €2,200 nlhe 1st RoGeR haIRaBeDIan (fRance) €148,820 2nd eRIK seIDel (usa) €92,003 3rd KevIn sonG (south KoRea) €67,118 event #6: €3,250 Plo MIxeD Max 1st noah schwaRtZ (usa) €104,580 2nd luDovIc lacay (fRance) €64,600 3rd vItaly lunKIn & JyRI MeRIvIRta €34,500 event #7: €10,450 MaIn event fIelD: 375 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €3,600,000 1st aDRIan Mateos DIaZ (sPaIn) €1,000,000 2nd faBRIce soulIeR (fRance) €610,000 3rd DoMInIK nItsche (GeRMany) €400,000 event #8: €25,600 hIGh RolleR 1st DanIel neGReanu (canaDa) €725,000 2nd nIcolau vIlla-loBos (BRaZIl) €450,000 3rd PhIlIPP GRuIsseM (GeRMany) €250,000

noaH scHwartz Dominates luDovic lacay, For €104,580

The Event #6 (€3,250 PLO Mixed Max) attracted 127 players, generating a prize pool of €373,380. Noah Schartz, Phil Laak, Barry Greenstein, Philipp Gruissem and Bruno Fitoussi 19

29/10/13 08:13

news survived to the Day 1, and there were twenty-nine players left at the start of the second day, for sixteen cash prizes.

Greenstein, Gruissem and Fitoussi exited before the money, while Phil Laak busted in seventh place, for €16,000. Both favorites in their semi-finals, Noah Schwartz and Ludovic Lacay, defeated respectively Viatly Lunkin and Jyri Merivirta and fought for the bracelet and the €104,580 first prize. The American pro managed to dominate the Frenchman, and earned his first WSOP title, leaving €64,600 to his runner-up.

aDrian mateos Diaz is tHe new wsoP-e main event cHamPion

It was then time for the €10,450 Main Event to come to the tables of Enghien-les-Bains, and after two starting flights — which attracted 375 players — and an intense Day 2, Dominik Nitsche, Ludovic Lacay and Benny Spindler were leading the 69-player field. Daniel Negreanu entered the money, but he busted at the end of the third day, 25th for €21,750, and the Day 4 saw the exit of Lacay (24th, €21,750), Jeremy Ausmus (16th, €27,250), Adrien Allain (13th, €34,750), Shannon Shorr (8th, €77,500) and Andrey Konopelko, bubble-boy of the 6-Handed final table (€101,000).

Spanish player Adrian Mateos Diaz entered the final table as the chip leader, against WSOP bracelet holders Fabrice Soulier and Dominik Nitsche, as well as Benny Spindler, Ravi Raghavan and Jérôme Huge. Mateos Diaz busted

20

PK52EURO_N14.indd 20

Raghavan and Spindler sixth and fifth (respectively € 126,000 and €176,000), while Soulier eliminated Huge, his fellow countryman, at fourth place, for €251,000. Nitsche exited in third place, after a hand against Mateos Diaz, who entered the heads-up with a four-to-one chip lead against Soulier. The French pro didn’t succeed in his second WSOP bracelet quest, and the young Spanish player took down the €1,000,000 first prize and the gold bracelet for his first victory in a major event, while Soulier cashed €610,000 for his performance.

Daniel negreanu wins His sixtH bracelet anD earns tHe Poy awarD

The eighth and last event of the series, the €25,600 High Roller Event, saw 80 players enter the field, generating a €1,920,000 prize pool. Only thirteen players were still in the race after the second day, including chip leader Philipp Gruissem, Scott Seiver, Jason Koon, Erik Seidel and Daniel Negreanu, who was vying for a ticket to the final table, synonymous with the Player of the Year award. The Canadian superstar not only made it to the final 6, along with Seiver, Gruissem, David Peters, Timothy Adams and Nicolau Villa-Lobos, but he sneaked into the final heads-up, opposing Brazilian high stakes player Villa-Lobos, and managed to grab his sixth WSOP title, winning €725,000 and the POY trophy for his great performance.

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:13

PK52EURO_N14.indd 21

29/10/13 08:13

PoKeR BusIness

Nicolas levi, Pedro caNali , lucille cailly & BruNo vaNryB

raNkiNghero.com

The poker business world is very active and filled with new ideas which are ready to blossom. a good example of this fact is the imminent launch of a new website, Rankinghero.com. its concept is very easy to grasp: every player deserves to be a poker hero. its ambassadors, pedro canali, nicolas levi and lucille cailly, are some of the top names in contemporary tournament poker, and thanks to investors such as entrepreneur bruno Vanryb, not to mention its iT team, Rankinghero might well become the new social media tool that poker was expecting for years: a tool which will be soon at the core of the international poker community‌ nIcolas levI anD PeDRo canalI 22

PK52EURO_N14.indd 22

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:13

RanKInGheRo.coM How DiD rankingHero come into being? bruno Vanryb : It all comes from poker pro Pedro Canali, whom I met at the poker table during tournaments. I am a recreational player and one of my good friends, Jacques Zaicik (note: friend and mentor of ElkY) advised me to take some poker coaching to enhance my level of play, and Pedro was the right guy; he coached me quite successfully. We became good friends and I loved his project at once. I myself come from the IT industry, having founded Avanquest Software, one of the world biggest software companies in the 1990s. And with ambassadors such as Nicolas Levi, Pedro Canali and Lucille Cailly, we have the best people to represent RankingHero — players who are known for their seriousness and integrity. Moreover, Bruno Fitoussi also got involved as one of our mentors! pedro canali: I had this idea two years ago and its concept has evolved a lot thanks to all the people I have met since. Bruno Vanryb brought his own personal business views, while Nicolas’s brilliant ideas enhanced RankingHero and made it interesting worldwide. We are a very united team and constantly want to create new ways to promote poker. nicolas levi: Pedro and I are very active in making partnerships with casinos, poker rooms and poker clubs.

We are really serious about our role as RankingHero’s ambassadors. I realized a long time ago that poker would become my full-time job: first, as a player — but not for all my life. It is a true passion for me, and I love competition. I wanted to be part of the poker industry and help enhance it. RankingHero is an incredible opportunity, as I am lucky to know about both the professional and amateur side of poker. Also as a family man now, I want to play fewer tournaments, and travel less while remaining very active in the poker industry. This new product has great potential, and I do think it will help make the poker world a better place for everyone in the gambling industry, from players to organizers. wHat Does rankingHero currently oFFer its members? nicolas levi: When I first joined RankingHero, I wanted badly to solve some problems that had no solution in the industry. For example, there is no specific social hub for everyone in poker. With RankingHero, we created a platform with dedicated poker tools which will bring people closer all over the world. pedro canali: I built a team which worked night and day to gather worldwide databases, which is very unique for such a site. Having business “angels” such as Bruno Vanryb allows us to work in the best possible conditions

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 23

and to develop a very good database for the launch of our website, RankingHero.com. We prioritized gathering casino databases and securing numerous collaborations.

We are open to any collaboration with casinos and poker rooms all over the world: do not hesitate to contact us so that we can all work together. We are very pro-active with our partners and always delighted to build new business relationships. bruno Vanryb: Right now, our beta version is already online, and the final version of the product will be ready to be launched by the end of the year. We have created a unique database, which is the core of the social network aspect of RankingHero. I really want to emphasize that our database was created from the scratch, directly with the help of poker rooms or via partnerships with tournament softwares, poker fans, or cross referencing public data on the internet. The result is unique, and we always provide links to external sources for results. We have years of results and rankings and our beta version is already the equivalent of the biggest poker databases which have been online for years, thanks to our very talented IT team. wHo can we FinD in rankingHero’s Database? bruno Vanryb: The world is now living the Big Data era, and it was important to us to open our database to all the players. RankingHero was created by players, for players, with players. The overall idea is that there is no reason why low-stakes players cannot become famous and enjoy their own moment under the sun. We wanted to create something different from the classic rankings,

amaTeuRs, local playeRs, small pokeRRoom heRoes neeD To be acknoWleDgeD online, To shoW ThaT TheiR local celebRiTy is baseD on achieVemenTs. in The final VeRsion of The WebsiTe, TheRe Will be naTional anD local Rankings anD eVen Ranking WiThin fRienDs communiTy! 23

29/10/13 08:13

PoKeR BusIness

Ranking heRo is a unique anD incReDible Toolbox Which connecTs eVeRyone in The pokeR WoRlD. We knoW pRo anD amaTeuR playeRs, because We liVe WiTh Them.

where only the Top 100 are celebrated. Everyone already provides players with it. Amateurs, local players, small poker-room heroes need to be acknowledged online, to show that their local celebrity is based on achievements. In the final version of the website, there will be national and local rankings and even ranking within friends community! Our motto is: Think global, act local.

And local poker-rooms will also be able to make local

offers to their players, with special leaderboards, etc. It is a very unique tool which connects any player to any poker organizer. pedro canali: Journalists, dealers, small stakes players… are often forgotten in poker’s ecosystem. These persons are central to poker and we have to take care of them. Thanks to our knowledge and our experience, we will be able to connect everyone. nicolas levi: This is a brand new and modern database, with a very unique vision, an intuitive site, and information created by the users, like distinctions: positive keywords that you can give or receive from your friends. ranking Hero also creates new links between all tHe various Poker Personalities… nicolas levi: RankingHero will have reached its goal when it becomes part of the daily life of players, casino hosts, card room owners, dealers, online rooms, etc.

nIcolas levI, lauRent GoMeZ, aDRIen BacchI, lucIlle caIlly, Maxence GuIot, BRuno vanRyB anD PeDRo canalI 24

PK52EURO_N14.indd 24

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

RanKInGheRo.coM lucille cailly: Ranking Hero is a unique and incredible toolbox which connects everyone in the poker world. We know pro and amateur players, because we live with them. For years now, I have been in the pro and amateur poker world, and all players — low-stakes or high-stakes — are important. bruno Vanryb: The size of the database is important, but the core of RankingHero is the fact that it is a social hub. It will be an active database: players, dealers, journalists, etc, will have access to their profile and be able to make it their own personal poker page. Profiles will thus evolve and be edited, with notes added to players, etc. This is the network of the poker family worldwide.

We create interaction between all the poker personalities, with brand new tools. lucille cailly: I just cannot wait to use my RankingHero page daily! It is a great honor to represent it, as I think it will only bring positive and good things to poker industry. nicolas levi: For me, Facebook means “share with your f riends;” Tw it ter is “Spread your t houghts;” LinkedIn, “Accomplish your professional goals.” For us, RankingHero is “Show who you are in the poker world” no matter which stakes or where you play. Anyone can be proud of his poker achievements, even if he just won a pizza with his friends! We are the first poker social hub.

Poker sPecialists, rankingHero wants to connect witH you!

RankingHero is a rankings and social networking site for the poker community. Event organizers can make their tournaments known to a huge and qualified audience. And for poker fans, it is the place to be for the latest news and results from their favorite players. Our goal is to provide the largest and most accurate live poker data coupled with intuitive and user-friendly ways to link players, pros and fans in the poker world. Cardrooms and clubs can increase their online footprint and interact with their players using our specialised tools.

Contact Nicolas@rankinghero.com or go to www.rankinghero.com to become a partner.

BRuno vanRyB november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 25

25

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

casInos austrIa poKEr tour 2014

Here comes the seveNth seasoN! in the gorgeous Tyrolean alps, 2014 will start with a flourish! indeed, the great casinos austria poker Tour will be coming back for an intense seventh season, still divided between its €500 Deepstack legs (innsbruck, kitzbühel, linz and salzburg), and its famous €2,000 big four stops (seefeld, bregenz, Velden and baden), all of which attracted hundreds of players during 2013.

The first stop of this austrian big four, from January 31-february 9, will take place in the legendary olympic village of seefeld, known for its fantastic snowy slopes and unspoiled landscapes. a wonderful opportunity to combine winter magic, outdoor sports and an intense poker experience in the beautiful austrian casinos!

By Julien Morello

26

PK52EURO_N14.indd 26

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

i

casInos austRIa PoKeR touR 2014

It’s always a pleasure to join the Casino Austria Poker Tour: this well-established circuit offers great events in beautiful locations around Austria; each year, the organization is perfect, the prize money is huge, and the competition is intense. In 2013, the Austrian circuit set up two different tours, each represented by a particular Main Event: the three-day €500 Deepstack, held in Innsbruck, Salzburg and two new destinations — Linz and Kitzbühel — as well as the four-day €2,000 Big Four, which reached the traditional CAPT stops: Seefeld, Bregenz, Velden and Baden. This decision was a great move, as each stop was a blast, attracting hundreds of players coming from all over Europe. For example, 285 contestants entered the €500 Deepstack in Salzburg, won by Austrian player Alexander Schwarzmann (€30,780), and there were 273 in Velden for the €2,000 Big Four, which crowned a German competitor nicknamed “Elmo”, for €120,600.

Nothing will change in 2014, as Seefeld, starting on January 31, will be the first stop of this new season. It should be one of the highlights of European poker for the coming year, so get ready for ten days of competition in the stunning Casinos Austria Seefeld!

seeFelD For tHe aDventurous anD tHe ePicurious

The location itself is reason enough to join the series, as Seefeld is nested in one of the most beautiful spots in the Alps. It has twice been chosen to host the Winter Olympic Games, for its amazing ski trails, and offers a wide range of activities for the adventurous: skiing, cross-country skiing, Nordic walking, paragliding... But we’re not all into that.

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

from Germany, who pocketed €88,300 after besting Russian player Sharifullin Radif, runner-up for €54,500. This time, will you take your chances in Seefeld? Big money is at stake, and few professional players will get in the game, making it the perfect opportunity to have a first big win in an international event!

how to get there by air: Innsbruck Airport has direct flights from Vienna, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hannover, Cologne/Bonn, Niederrhein-Weeze and Hamburg. Flights departing in the UK are from London, Bristol and Liverpool to Innsbruck. From the airport, the Olympiaregion Seefeld is reached in just 25 minutes by car. by train: There are good daily rail connections from Innsbruck and Munich in Austria, or Mittenwald and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany. Cheap and comfortable, the trains to Seefeld will also offer you great views of the stunning landscape. by car: From Innsbruck, Seefeld is 25km northwest, just off the Germany-bound Hwy 177. The road follows the Inntal until it rises sharply near Zirl. The track starts climbing soon after departing Innsbruck, providing spectacular views across the whole valley.

an exciting scHeDule For a big Four

From January 31—February 9, CAPT Seefeld will welcome players from across Europe with an intense program, and a colossal estimated €900,000 prize pool. The €2,000 Main Event will get all the attention from February 4-8, but the exciting CAPT schedule has many other events on offer, covering different kinds of games, such as a two-day Deepstack Texas Hold’em No Limit from February 7-9, or a two-day Pot Limit Omaha on February 2 and 3, both for a €500 buy-in. Satellites and supersatellites, with buy-ins ranging from €150 to €350, will also be on the menu, providing you with a wide variety of options.

In January 2013, the CAPT Seefeld €2,000 Main Event attracted 169 players, mostly nonprofessionals, and generated a prize pool of €321,000. It was won by Guido Garnies november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 27

27

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

hotels casInohotel KaRwenDelhof ****

Everything you need for a great stay in Seefeld is here, as this gorgeous four-star complex offers the complete package for poker lovers. Conveniently located in Seefeld’s pedestrian zone, it offers beautiful rooms and suites decorated in genuine Alpine style, as well as all the pleasures of the local lifestyle: sauna, steam bath, hot tub, solarium, indoor sports, and of course, a great casino. You can stay in and make the best of the cozy atmosphere; after a great game, you’ll be able to dance at the Nachspiel, the in-house disco, or head out to discover the surroundings as the hotel offers free use of the village shuttle bus. Rooms from €85. address: familie albrecht am kurpark 124 - 6100 seefeld Tel. +43 5212 2655 0 bookings: office@karwendelhof.com

Relax & sPa hotel astoRIa*****

This amazing 5-star spa hotel, located just a stone’s throw from the casino in a stunning 20,000-sq-meter park, is the most luxurious establishment in Seefeld. With a 2,000-sq-meter spa area including connected indoor and outdoor pools, several saunas, a modern fitness room, a Kneipp basin, heated waterbeds, and a relaxation area with a bar and an open fireplace, it’s the ultimate spot to relax in the region. After a thrilling day of poker, indulge! You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of massages, baths and beauty treatments to start afresh the next day. If you prefer sports, you won’t be disappointed: Nordic walking, yoga, Pilates, guided cross-country ski tours, and much more are available. And if you just want to... sleep, the most comfortable king size beds will wait for you in each of the individually decorated rooms. Rooms from €220. address: Relax & spa hotel astoria geigenbühel 185 - 6100 seefeld Tel. +43 5212 2272 Reservations: hotel@astoria-seefeld.com

restau r aNts RestauRant voRsPIel

Don’t look any further, as the restaurant of the casino is one of the best in town! Here, you’ll be able to experience the region’s fantastic cuisine, with delicious roasted veal, lamb or fresh water fish. The ever-changing menu of the Vorspiel is rich and authentic, featuring hearty dishes mixing Italian, German and Austrian influences: from smoked meat to gnocchi and chocolate mousse, the three cultures blend harmoniously.

Add the great local beers and your meal will just be perfect.

Prices are very reasonable: main courses €16-24; four-course 28

PK52EURO_N14.indd 28

set menu €55. address: bahnhofstr. 124 - 6100 seefeld Tel +43/5212/2655-17 Reservations: office@karwendelhof.com

RItteR oswalD stuBe

Right in the center of the village, the Ritter Oswald Stube is a must for food lovers. This spot, praised by the Gault & Millaut guide, is famous for its exquisite cuisine, respecting Italian, Austrian and French traditions with an added dash of audacity.

In the sumptuous historic décor, discover the surprising veal consommé with mushrooms and sesame, try the splendid local salmon served with Pata Negra ham or indulge on the variation of chocolate with rhubarb sorbet... And don’t forget what you came for — as the tables of this restaurant are very much on a par with those of the casino! Main courses €18-34; eightcourse menu €89. address: klosterstrasse 30 - 6100 seefeld Tel +43/5212/2621-0 Reservations: http://www.klosterbraeu.com

caPt seefeld schedule fRI 31 Jan • (5.10 pm): €350 Deepstack Day 1A Re-entry (2-Day Event) sat 1 feB • (2.00 pm): €350 Deepstack Day 1B Re-entry (2-Day Event) sun 2 feB • (2.00 pm): Deepstack Day 2 • (2.00 pm): €400 Texas Hold’em No Limit Re-entry Mon 3 feB • (2.00 pm): €250 Texas Hold’em No Limit Re-entry • (6.00 pm): €350 Satellite CAPT – Main Event tue 4 feB • (2.00 pm): €300 Deepstack Day 1A Re-entry weD 5 feB • (2.00 pm): €500 Pot Limit Omaha Re-entry Day 1 (2 Day Event) • (2.00 pm): €250 Turbo Deepstack thu 6 feB • (2.00 pm): Pot Limit Omaha Day 2 • (2.00 pm): €300 Texas Hold’em No Limit Re-entry • (6.00 pm): €450 Satellite CAPT – Main Event fRI 7 feB • (2.00 pm): €2 000 CAPT Seefeld Main Event Day 1 (3 Day Event) sat 8 feB • (2.00 pm): CAPT Seefeld Main Event Day 2 • (2.00 pm): €450 Texas Hold’em No Limit Re-entry - Knockout Bounty € 100 • (8.00 pm): €10 000 High Roller Event - Unlimited Re-entries till end of Day 1 (2 Day Event) sun 9 feB • (2.00 pm): CAPT Seefeld Main Event Day 3 • (2.00 pm): €200 Deepstack Re-entry • (3.00 pm): High Roller Event Day 2 november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

casInos austRIa PoKeR touR 2014

CAPT 2013 lisT oF WinneRs

CAPT SEEfEld lisT oF WinneRs

€2,000 BIG fouR seefelD fIelD: 169 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €321,000 1st GuIDo GaRnIes (GeRMany) €88,300 2nd shaRIfullIn RaDIf (RussIa) €54,500 3rd MaRtIn BauMGaRtneR (austRIa) €35,400 BReGenZ fIelD: 157 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €288,880 1st anDReas MäDeR (swItZeRlanD) €79,440 2nd unKnown PlayeR €49,100 3rd JosIP sIMunIc (austRIa) €31,780 velDen fIelD: 273 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €502,320 1st elMo (GeRMany) €120,600 2nd faBIo BReItfuss (austRIa) €74,300 3rd the RocK (swItZeRlanD) €50,200 KItZBühel fIelD: 106 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €50,350 1st thoMas hofMann (swItZeRlanD) €15,100 2nd unKnown PlayeR €9,060 3rd Ruslan luKash (uKRaIne) €6,000 salZBuRG fIelD: 285 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €128,250 1st alexanDeR schwaRZMann (austRIa) €30,780 2nd eDGaR leJeune (austRIa) €18,980 3rd thoMas wallneR (austRIa) €12,830 InnsBRucK fIelD: 218 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €98,100 1st MIchael huBeR (austRIa) €26,100 2nd faBIo MontanaRI (Italy) €15,700 3rd haRalD GRüneR (austRIa) €9,810 lInZ fIelD: 190 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €85,500 1st weRneR loRenZonI (austRIa) €22,760 2nd weI wu (chIna) €13,680 3rd MaRKus PühRInGeR (austRIa) €8,550

2013 fIelD: 169 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €321,000 1st GuIDo GaRnIes (GeRMany) €88,300 2nd shaRIfullIn RaDIf (RussIa) €54,500 3rd MaRtIn BauMGaRtneR (austRIa) €35,400 2012 fIelD: 187 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €355,300 1st DoRDe JovanovIc (seRBIa) €94,690 2nd thoMas ButZhaMMeR (GeRMany) €56,850 3rd antonIo tuRRIsI (Italy) €35,540 2011 fIelD: 177 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €336,300 1st anDReas GRIesseR (austRIa) €89,110 2nd Istvan toRo (hunGaRy) €63,220 3rd PeteR MuhlBeK (austRIa) €44,390 2010 fIelD: 192 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €364,800 1st MaRco MelonI (GeRMany) €96,680 2nd RonalD ZaPantIs (austRIa) €68,580 3rd haRRy casaGRanDe (austRIa) €48,150 2009 fIelD: 164 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €311,600 1st BeRnhaRD PeRneR (austRIa) €87,260 2nd vlaDo sevo (austRIa) €62,320 3rd wolfGanG sIMPeRl (austRIa) €43,260

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 29

29

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

VIEnna poKEr fEstIVaL

Welcome to the Biggest austriaN series from november 26-December 8, the concord card casino simmering and the montesino pokertainment centre will host the Vienna poker festival, a series of eleven tournaments and satellites highlighted by the €220 pokerheaven Vienna Deluxe challenge and the long-awaited €550 concord million, and its €1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. here’s what you can expect during this hot poker autumn.

By Steven Lake 30

PK52EURO_N14.indd 30

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

a

vIenna PoKeR festIval

Austria’s capital, a vibrant poker city thanks to its famous poker rooms — the Concord Card Casino and the Montesino Pokertainment Centre — will attract hundreds of European players this Fall during the Vienna Poker Festival, one of the country’s most popular series.

€1,000,000 at stake For tHe €550 concorD million

The main tournament of this two-week competition will be the third edition of the Concord Million, which will feature a new structure. Indeed, if the €550 buy-in and the €1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool remain the same, players will now have four starting days to enter the tournament (on November 27, 28, 29 and 30), with a re-entry option. If they can’t make it to the next step, they will get two more shots on December 4 and 5, with the Concord Million Last Chance, where they will try to get a ticket to the three-Day Concord Final, running from December 6-8. Last year, the competition collected 2,000 entries, and Sinisa Teodorovic, from Bosnia & Herzegovina, bagged the €160,000 first prize after defeating German player Lars Lindenmeier heads-up (€97,920).

€75,000 guaranteeD For tHe vienna Deluxe cHallenge

The seventh edition of this popular tournament will offer a €75,000 guaranteed prize pool and three starting days, on December 6 and 7, for a final table played on December 8. In the last edition, 785 competitors competed for the lion’s share of the €157,000 prize money, and local player Andreas Funkel pocketed €24,450 with his victory, while runner-up Hannes Dufour, from Germany, left Vienna with €16,580.

With two massive events in two of the best Austrian card rooms, the Vienna Poker Festival promises two intense weeks of competition for poker lovers!

Reservation at viennapokerfestival.com.

a Full set oF satellites anD siDe events

The Concord Million’s three satellites, with buy-ins ranging from €26 to €60, will be held on November 26 and 27, and the series will also host several interesting side events, such as a €330 two-day tournament on December 2 and 3, a €115 event on December 3, and a two-day €220 event on December 4 and 5, just before the €220 Vienna Deluxe Challenge, starting December 6.

how to get there by air: Vienna-Schwechat Airport is connected to most European cities by a large number of airlines, including low-cost. The City Airport Train (CAT) will take you to the city center in sixteen minutes. The airport express buses and the S7 express train are also very convenient. by train: There are very frequent trains for all neighboring regions and countries. Night trains and quicker Euro-City trains arrive from virtually every city in Central Europe. High-speed ICE and RailJet trains arrive from places like Munich, Budapest and Zurich. There are frequent (hourly) regional trains to Czech, Slovak and Hungarian border regions.

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 31

31

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

hotels RooMZ vIenna

This good and affordable hotel is by far the most convenient place to stay when playing at the Montesino Casino, as it located a mere fifty meters away. Here the rooms are stylish yet simple; service is good, the bar is perfect for beer and sports lovers, and the restaurant serves fine cuisine. Rooms from €59. address: paragonstrasse 1 1110 Vienna Tel: +43 (1) 7431 777 Reservations: www.roomz-vienna.com

austRIa tRenD hotel DoPPIo

Located a ten-minute drive from The Imperial Crypt, Hofburg Palace and Vienna State Opera, this fourstar hotel features modern and comfortable rooms.

State-of-the-art amenities and exclusive design in all rooms, fitness center, fifty free parking spaces as well as complimentary access and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream await you at the Business Hotel Doppio!

Rooms from €72. address: Rennweg 99 landstrasse, Vienna Tel: +43 (1) 7990 250 Reservations: www.austria-trend.at/hotel-Doppio

vieNNa Poker festival schedule tue 26 nov • (7:00 pm): €60 Satellite to Concord Million (Montesino) • (7:00 pm): €26 Satellite to Concord Million (Rebuy) (CCC Simmering) weD 27 nov • (5:00 pm): €550 Concord Million Day 1A (Montesino) • (7:00 pm) : €60 Satellite to Concord Million (CCC Simmering) thu 28 nov • (5:00 pm): €550 Concord Million Day 1B (CCC Simmering) fRI 29 nov • (5:00 pm): €550 Concord Million Day 1C (CCC Simmering) sat 30 nov • (5:00 pm): €550 Concord Million Day 1D (CCC Simmering) sun 1 Dec • (3:00 pm): Concord Million Day 2 (CCC Simmering) Mon 2 Dec • (5.00 pm): €330 Million Side-Event I Day 1 (CCC Simmering) tue 3 Dec • (5.00 pm): Million Side-Event I Day 2 (CCC Simmering) • (5.00 pm): €115 Million Side-Event II (CCC Simmering) weD 4 Dec • (3:00 pm): €550 Concord Million Last Chance* (Montesino) • (5.00 pm): €220 Million Side-Event III Day 1 (CCC Simmering) thu 5 Dec • (3:00 pm): €550 Concord Million Last Chance* (Montesino) • (5.00 pm): Million Side-Event III Day 2 (CCC Simmering) • (7:00 pm): €40 Pokerheaven Deluxe Satellite (CCC Simmering) fRI 6 Dec • (2:00 pm): Concord Million Final Day 1 (CCC Simmering) • (7:00 pm): €220 Pokerheaven Deluxe 1A (Montesino) sat 7 Dec • (2:00 pm): €220 Pokerheaven Deluxe 1B (Montesino) • (2:00 pm): Concord Million Final Day 2 (CCC Simmering) • (7:00 pm): €220 Pokerheaven Deluxe 1C (CCC Simmering) • (7:00 pm): €60 Montesino Freezeout (Montesino) sun 8 Dec • (2:00 pm): Concord Million Final Day 3 (CCC Simmering) • (2:00 pm): Pokerheaven Deluxe Final (Montesino) • (7.00 pm): €60 Million Side Event IV (Turbo) (CCC Simmering) *Only open to players who entered at least one of the previous starting days (27-30 Nov).

32

PK52EURO_N14.indd 32

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

vIenna PoKeR festIval

ViEnnA dEluxE ChAllEngE lisT oF WinneRs MaRch 2010 fIelD: na PRIZe Pool: €87,600 1st eRIch hofBaueR (GeRMany) €14,030 2nd KuRt KlIfoth (DenMaRK) €15,260 3rd GoRan oBRaDovIc (seRBIa) €12,660 noveMBeR 2010 fIelD anD PRIZe Pool: na 1st BoRIs KotleBa (slovaKIa) €23,520 2nd fRIeDRIch hensleR (austRIa) €13,900 3rd Klaus KRIstensen (DenMaRK) €10,040 May 2011 651 entRIes PRIZe Pool: €112,400 1st tIBoR PolonyI (hunGaRy) €25,420 2nd sahIn elcI (GeRMany) €14,370 3rd GIancaRlo GIlBeRtI (Italy) €9,620 octoBeR 2011 fIelD: 909 entRIes PRIZe Pool: €181,800 1st MattIas Johansson (sweDen) €36,270 2nd chen shI DonG (austRIa) €22,100 3rd seBastIan IstRatI (RoManIa) 14,680 May 2012 fIelD: 496 entRIes PRIZe Pool: €99,200 1st aMIR hawelKa (austRIa) €22,290 2nd BeRnhaRD ReIteR (austRIa) €12,830 3rd fRanZ wunDeRl (austRIa €8 470 noveMBeR 2012 fIelD: 785 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: €157,000 1st anDReas funKel (austRIa) €24,450 2nd hannes DufouR (GeRMany) €16,580 3rd stefan RaschBaueR (austRIa) €15,380 november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 33

COnCOrd MilliOn lisT oF WinneRs aPRIl 2012 fIelD: 1,986 entRIes PRIZe Pool: €1,000,000 1st eRcIn coRc (austRIa) €250,000 2nd KaI Ren (swItZeRlanD) €140,000 3rd Ilhan asIK (tuRKey) €75,000 octoBeR 2012 fIelD: 2,000 entRIes; PRIZe Pool: €1,000,000 1st sInIsa teoDoRovIc (BIh) €160,000 2nd laRs lInDenMeIeR (GeRMany) €97,920 3rd toMas vaJDa (slovaKIa) €71,250

in The lasT eDiTion, 785 compeTiToRs compeTeD foR The lion’s shaRe of The €157,000 pRize money, anD local playeR anDReas funkel pockeTeD €24,450 WiTh his VicToRy, While RunneRup hannes DufouR, fRom geRmany, lefT Vienna WiTh €16,580.

33

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

wpt doyLE brunson fIVE dIamond worLd poKEr cLassIc

BellaGIo’s PoKeR staff Welcomes you to tHe mid-season final next December, the World poker Tour will make the first stop of its twelfth season in the poker mecca with one of its best tournaments, the Doyle brunson five Diamond World poker classic. bellagio will once again thrill players from all around the world for two perfect weeks of intense play, from november 29-December 11, concluding with a fantastic a-Range $10,000 +$300 championship, from December 6-11. This year yet again, throngs of poker celebrities will be vying for a piece of the massive prize pool pie, while enjoying the best poker event in the world. bellagio’s poker staff, leaded by Director of poker operations craig lumpp, is geared up for one of the greatest festivals of the season, in order to give you an unforgettable las Vegas experience.

By Alejandro Civico

34

PK52EURO_N14.indd 34

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

T

wPt Doyle BRunson fIve DIaMonD woRlD PoKeR classIc

The Mojave Desert, the Strip, hundreds of casinos and gamblers playing poker and slot machines, hungry for fun and money: yes, you are in Vegas, the most famous gambling city in the world. Known as the entertainment capital of the planet, Sin City never sleeps, and has for seventy years been providing countless attractions to daydreamers of all stripes.

bellagio: an institution

Some of these attractions, such as the Rio Casino, have become institutions, while others are more recent, such as Bellagio, which opened in 1998 on the Strip. Its majestic architecture and stunning elegance, embellished by an eight-acre lake with fabulous fountains, make this AAA Five Diamond Award winner and its 3,933 rooms and suites a must-visit place in Vegas. You will enjoy the Big Game in the legendary Bobby’s Room, named after Bobby Baldwin, former executive of the casino and eccentric poker player, where VIPs and high-rollers play up to $4,000/$8,000 games, for some amazing sevenfigure pots.

meet tHe bellagio Poker staFF

Bellagio’s experienced staff is the key to its success, and Craig Lumpp, Director of Poker Operations, is working harder than ever to bring more value and opportunities to poker players at the casino. After graduating from Miami of Ohio in 2005 with a BS in Finance, Craig began working at the Bellagio, first as a dealer, then as a floor supervisor and shift manager. In 2011 he became Poker Operations Manager; last summer he was promoted to Director of Poker Operations. His successor as Poker Operations Manager, Sean McCormack — who has dealt at many World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events — joined the Bellagio team in November of 2006. He is now in charge of the Bellagio Poker Room’s forty tables, two high-limit areas and several elite poker tournaments throughout the year.

The Director of Poker Tournament Operations is Jack McClelland, a poker legend who has been involved in the Las Vegas poker industry since 1976. He has thirty years’ experience as Tournament Director, fifteen of which were with the World Series of Poker, and has directed more than fifty televised tournaments at MGM Resorts International Destinations, including Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and the Mirage. In 2011 he was nominated to the Poker Hall of Fame. As for Day Shift Manager Tom Harper, he is a highly experienced poker dealer who began dealing at the Mirage in 1995. He helped open the beautiful Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, when he transferred there as a Day Shift Manager in 1999. In the fall of the same year, Harper transferred to Bellagio.

A veteran poker dealer who moved from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to begin dealing poker in 1986, Poker Room Graveyard Shift Manager David M. Hutton knows the game like few others in Las Vegas. Moving up from a proposition player position, Hutton served as dealer at the Four Queens until 1993. From there, he went on to be a member of the Mirage poker team and helped open Bellagio in October of 1998. Shift Manager Calvin november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 35

Bellagio, a lifetime exPerieNce Some say that you haven’t seen Vegas if you never stayed at Bellagio... This colossal 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 2002 - 2014, for its sumptuous décor, impeccable service and prestigious, extensive facilities, including its Las Vegas spa & salon, which feature a unique choice of international treatments in a luxurious 65,000-square-foot setting, its very exclusive Petrossian and Baccarat bars and prize-winning restaurants such as Picasso, Le Cirque and MICHAEL MINA. Botanical gardens, Mediterranean-themed pools and Jacuzzis, a fine art gallery: Bellagio covers all facets of luxury. Its 3,933 huge 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 make Bellagio more than a hotel: it’s the experience of a lifetime.

Special rates for WPT Five Diamond participants. address: 3600 las Vegas blvd. south las Vegas, nV 89109 Tel: +1 702 693 7111 Web: http://www.bellagio.com Liu was also there in 1998. From Dealer to Floor Supervisor and now, a Shift Manager, Liu’s gaming expertise continues to flourish. A Hong Kong native who moved to Vegas in 1990, Liu also speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese, which makes him a priceless asset for the Bellagio Poker Room’s many Far Eastern clients. Last but not least, Graveyard Shift Manager Peter Fulton has worked in casino gaming for more than twenty years. He has been a Dealer, Supervisor, Relief Shift Manager at the Bellagio Poker Room since 2005 and was promoted to Graveyard Shift Manager in Fall 2012.

This accomplished task force is waiting for you during the WPT Five Diamond, one of Bellagio’s main festivals, where you will be treated like a poker superstar.

Play Doyle brunson’s tournament

Poker stars feel at home at Bellagio, which they call “the Office”, and the list of the WPT Five Diamond finalists proves it perfectly: Antonio Esfandiari (three times!), Gus Hansen, Scotty Nguyen and Daniel Negreanu (each twice!), Patrik Antonius, Phil Laak, John Juanda, Freddy Deeb, Joseph Hachem, David Rheem, Eugene Katchalov, Abe Mosseri, Faraz Jaka, Shawn Buchanan, Andrew Robl, Vanessa Rousso, John Racener and Doyle Brunson, they all made it to the top six!

The WPT even gave Poker Dolly’s name to the Bellagio Five Diamond series the year after the poker legend finished in third place in 2005 for $563.485.

35

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

This accomplisheD Task foRce is WaiTing foR you DuRing The WpT fiVe DiamonD, one of bellagio’s main fesTiVals, WheRe you Will be TReaTeD like a pokeR supeRsTaR. This great experience became more affordable in 2010, when the $15,000 buy-in was reduced to $10,000. It was proven to be a great idea in 2011, as 413 players came to compete for a massive prize pool of $4,006,100. English pro James Dempsey bested his opponents and won both the title and the well-deserved prize of $821,612. Last year, there were even more contestants, as the Main Event collected a total of 503 entries, generating a $4,879,100 prize pool. After a five-day competition, poker superstar Antonio Esfandiari entered the final table for the third year in a row, along with Jeremy Kottler, Andrew Lichtenberger, Thomas Winters, Ravi Raghavan and Shawn Buchanan, but “The Magician” couldn’t reach the title, as he fell to fourth place, for $329,339.

Thomas Winters busted third ($483,031), and Ravi Raghavan got the best of his last opponent, Shawn Buchanan, winning his first major title and the first prize of $1,268,571, as the Canadian pocketed $746,502 for his performance.

JacK McclellanD 36

PK52EURO_N14.indd 36

tHe 2013 Program

This year, the $10,000 + $300 six-day WPT Main Event will start on December 6, and will offer a re-entry option until level 8, on Day 2. The winner of this huge tournament will receive, beside a massive cash prize, a $25,000 + $500 entry into the 2014 WPT Championship at Bellagio. But this year, the televised Main Event won’t be the only one to attract poker superstars, as huge events are expected during this series. Indeed, the gigantic $100,000 High Roller, won last year by US player Jason Mercier for a $709,767 cash prize, will return December 8 for an intense high-stakes struggle that will reach its conclusion on December 10.

For new, amateur players, the festival will also feature a brand-new $10,300 Chinese Poker Championship, played over two days, on December 10 and 11.

As for the other side events, several interesting tournaments will be held during this two-week festival, such as five $1,000 + $80 events (on November 29 and December 1, 2, 3 and 11 – including the Seniors Event on December 2), two $1,500 + $90 tournaments (on November 30 and December 2), four $1,000 + $80 Super Satellites to the Main Event (on December 4 and 5), and a $5,000 + $180 NLHE event on December 4.

The WPT Five Diamonds is always a great poker moment, so if you want to follow in the footsteps of some of the game’s greatest masters while discovering legendary Sin City as well as the far-west of your childhood dreams — which has a lot to offer besides games, such as Lake Mead or Death Valley — pack your bags and jump on the next flight to Las Vegas; the adventure starts now!

thoMas haRPeR

DavID hutton

calvIn lIu

PeteR fulton

cRaIG luMPP

sean MccoRMacK november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

wPt Doyle BRunson fIve DIaMonD woRlD PoKeR classIc

the Best choices amoNg the fiNest restauraNts iN the city Bellagio offers twenty options for fine dining, from the exotic charms of Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge’s innovative dishes, cooked to perfection by award-winning Chef Akira Back and including sushi, sashimi, tempura, and hand rolls, to the AAA Five Diamond award winners Picasso and Le Cirque, both serving fantastic cuisine with a French accent. Picasso has been awarded two Michelin stars; its sophisticated dishes are presented like masterpieces, offering the finest Franco-Spanish delicacies and the most amazing wine cellar. The circus-themed Le Cirque and its Italian and French specialties was also awarded Michelin Guide star; as was Michael Mina’s eponymous restaurant, featuring stunning international cuisine with a mix of influences from France, Japan, South America, Spain, Italy, and Russia.

Reservations are strongly recommended.

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

viBraNt Nightlife at Bellagio

If Las Vegas nightclubs and bars usually compete for attention, none of them can rival the sophistication and allure of Bellagio’s signature spots, whether you prefer a vibrant atmosphere or more intimate setting. From The Bank, Las Vegas’ premier nightlife destination, with its luxurious décor and state-of-the-art sound system, to Hyde Bellagio, one of the city’s hottest hotspots overlooking the Fountains of Bellagio, party lovers will find everything they need to enjoy their stay in Sin City.

Lily Bar & Lounge is the perfect alternative to the pulsating vibe of a jacked-up nightclub, thanks to its lavish atmosphere, along with the sophisticated Petrossian Bar, one of the best hotel bars in America — where connoisseurs can enjoy the finest cocktails in town — and the stylish Baccarat Bar, where Baccarat enthusiasts revel in the game while enjoying classic jazz sounds. november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 37

wPt five diamoNd schedule fRI 29 nov • (12.00 pm): $1,080 NLHE sat 30 nov (12.00 pm): $1,590 NLHE sun 1 Dec (12.00 pm): $1,080 NLHE Mon 2 Dec (10.00 am): $1,590 NLHE (12.00 pm): $1,080 NLHE Seniors tue 3 Dec (12.00 pm): $1,080 NLHE weD 4 Dec (12.00 pm): $1,080 Super Satellite to Main Event (2.00 pm): $5,180 NLHE (5.00 pm): $1,080 Super Satellite to Main Event thu 5 Dec (12.00 pm): $1,080 Super Satellite to Main Event (5.00 pm): $1,080 Super Satellite to Main Event fRI 6 Dec (12.00 pm): $10,300 WPT Main Event Day 1 sat 7 Dec (12.00 pm): Main Event Day 2 sun 8 Dec (12.00 pm): Main Event Day 3 (1.00 pm): $100,000 High Roller Day 1 Mon 9 Dec (12.00 pm): Main Event Day 4 (1.00 pm): High Roller Day 2 tue 10 Dec (12.00 pm): Main Event Day 5 (1.00 pm): $10,300 Chinese Poker (4.00 pm): High Roller Final weD 11 Dec (11.00 am): $1,080 NLHE Turbo (1.00 pm): Chinese Poker Final (4.00 pm): Main Event Final 37

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

worLd poKEr tour JohannEsburg EmpErors paLacE poKEr cLassIc

liVe tHe dream In the veGas of afRIca

after a great premiere in october 2012, when hundreds of poker players thronged to the wondrous emperors palace casino, in Johannesburg, the WpT returns to the southern hemisphere from november 4-11 for the second annual WpT emperors palace poker classic, highlighted by the $3,600 fourday main event, running from november 7 (Day 1b on november 8)-11. side events with buy-ins ranging from $200 to $7,500 will also be on offer during this incredible series, so get ready for a huge poker experience in the aptly named Vegas of africa!

By Philippe Aronson

casiNo iNformatioN Address: 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 11 928 1000 http://www.emperorspalace.co.za

38

PK52EURO_N14.indd 38

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

woRlD PoKeR touR JohannesBuRG eMPeRoRs Palace PoKeR classIc

C

Conveniently situated alongside O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention and Entertainment Resort combines timeless classical elegance and sheer excitement.

With luxurious accommodations in four exceptional hotels, the glorious health and beauty Octavia’s Day Spa, a magnificent casino with unparalleled gaming enjoyment, the finest in dining options, spectacular entertainment, a retail concourse, world-class conference facilities, and impeccable service — Emperors Palace has it all.

a Huge success For tHe First eDition

So it’s no surprise that the WPT board decided to add the beautiful Emperors Palace Casino to its schedule in Season XI. The first edition of the $3,600 WPT Johannesburg Main Event was a blast, attracting 230 entrants including poker superstars Chris Moneymaker, Liv Boeree, Joe Cada, and Melanie Weisner. In the end, German poker pro Dominik Nitsche outlasted the star-studded field for a $206,153 first prize, becoming the tournament’s first winner and etching his name on the prestigious WPT Champions Cup. “Last season’s WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic marked the opening of a very strong new market for World Poker Tour,” said WPT President Adam Pliska. “For a brand-new, untested event, we were very pleased with the turnout at Emperors Palace, and we expect an even stronger field when we return to Johannesburg next month.”

Peermont Gaming Chief Operating Officer, Bob Yearham added, “Emperors Palace marks yet another milestone in the world-wide growth of high-stakes tournament poker by yet again bringing this significant gaming event to its prestigious gaming tables. At the same time the casino is promoting the local poker market and hosting international players, ultimately boosting tourism to South Africa. We are excited to see what this year will bring and look forward to hosting all our gaming VIPs and international poker celebrities.”

a Fantastic 2013 scHeDule

Featuring a $3,600 buy-in with two Day 1s and unlimited re-entry through the first seven levels of play, the WPT Emperors Palace Poker Classic 2013 will surely be one of the year’s poker highlights. The competition will run over four days, with a final table on November 11.

This series will also include a two-day $7,500 High Roller event, on November 5 and 6, a $1,100 6-Max tournament on November 6 and 7, a R65,500 (appx. $6,172) Heads-Up Championship on November 7 and 8 (final table set on November 11), and a $2,200 Last Chance NLH & PLO Mixed Event on November 10, which will attract huge crowds of players, vying for the lion’s share of the massive prize pools.

Other side events, with buy-ins starting as low as $200 will be provided, such as the three-day $200 NLHE Event (+$50 Rebuys +$50 Add-on) on November 4,5 and 6, a two-day $275 Ladies Championship on November 5 and 6, and a $440 Win The Button Turbo, held on November 9. november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 39

A large range of Satellites to the Main Event, the High Roller event and the Heads-Up Championship will run every day until the beginning of the competition, with buy-ins ranging from R1,150 (appx. $117) to R3,300 (appx. $335).

$100,000 alPHa8 on February 14 anD 15

The World Poker Tour and its cameras will return to Emperors Palace again on February 14, 2014 for the recently announced WPT Alpha8 Johannesburg event. Filmed for broadcast on FOX Sports 1 in the U.S., this $100,000 buy-in tournament is expected to attract the game’s highest rolling professional players along with some of the most talented amateur enthusiasts from across the globe.

All players at WPT Alpha8 Johannesburg will receive VIP ground transportation to the resort, one week’s complimentary accommodation at the D’oreale Grande Hotel, a dedicated VIP host, and an invitation to a free, two-night safari where they can enjoy the natural beauty of the South African wilderness.

With high-level poker action in a sumptuous décor, the World Poker Tour Emperors Palace Casino Poker Classic will be one of the best major festivals of this season. So don’t miss this unforgettable event in the Vegas of Africa!

emPerors Palace’s hotels

PeermoNt d’oreale graNde – five-star ProPerty

Discover untold luxury and regal comfort... the five-star Peermont D’oreale Grande Hotel at Emperors Palace features 192 elegant rooms and suites all lavishly furnished in superior style. The opulent surroundings are complimented with state-of-the-art facilities for added ease and comfort. The new Club Floor and Lounge offers corporate and business travelers a new standard in luxury accommodations. Dine at the elegant Aurelia’s restaurant, indulge your senses at Octavia’s Sensorium health and beauty spa or sip a cocktail while watching the African sunset kiss the earth goodnight at Neptune’s Pool Bar. Guests also have access to the resort’s casino, dining and entertainment facilities. The hotel features 115 Classic rooms, twenty-four Deluxe rooms, two Club Deluxe Rooms, ten Superior suites, twenty-five Club Superior Suites, eight Executive suites, two Club Executive Suites, two Premier suites, two Presidential suites and one Special Assistance/ Universal Room and one Club Universal Accessible Room.

• R2,840 (appx. $285.11)/single classic room per night breakfast included (one person) • R3,470 (appx. $348.36)/double classic room per night breakfast included (two people) • R3,120 (appx. $313.22)/single deluxe room per night breakfast included (one person) • R3,470 (appx. $348.36)/double deluxe room per night breakfast included (two people) • R3,395 (appx. $340.83)/single superior room per night breakfast included (one person) • R3,800 (appx. $381.49)/double superior room per night breakfast included (two people) 39

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

emPerors Palace’s hotels PeermoNt moNdior — four-star ProPerty

Enjoy elegance at an attractive price... the four-star Peermont Mondior hotel at Emperors Palace sets an exciting standard in world-class business, conference and leisure accommodations.

The hotel features 150 spacious rooms and suites furnished with contemporary African elegance and fitted with cuttingedge technology. Enjoy breakfast and light meals at the chic Oriana restaurant or a friendly cocktail at The Silver Moon bar. Guests have access to the casino, dining, entertainment, convention and relaxation facilities of Emperors Palace hotel, casino and convention resort. The hotel features 107 Classic rooms, thirty-five Superior rooms, four Executive suites, two Premier suites and two Special assistance/universal rooms.

• R1,905 (appx. $191.25)/single classic room per night breakfast included (one person) • R2,065 (appx. $207.31)/double classic room per night breakfast included (two people) • R2,260 (appx. $226.89)/single superior room per night breakfast included (one person) • R2,455 (appx. $246.46)/double superior room per night breakfast included (two people)

PeermoNt metcourt — three-star ProPerty

Contemporary convenience at its best... the three-star Peermont Metcourt at Emperors Palace offers stylish and comfortable rooms as well as “group-friendly” experiences for corporate, convention and leisure guests. The hotel offers a variety of room configurations and amenities, including LCD flat screen TV, satellite DSTV channels for all languages, tea and coffee stations, secure Internet connections, laptop safe, working desk with business-convenient plug points.

The hotel’s crisp, and modern façade is complemented by a private, sheltered pool terrace, set in a beautifully landscaped garden, providing guests with food and beverage service throughout the day. Amenities include a comfortable, large ground floor reception area with enough space to easily accommodate large tour and convention groups. The hotel features 176 Classic rooms, sixty-nine Superior rooms and three Special assistance rooms.

• R1,225 (appx. $122.98)/single classic room per night breakfast included (one person) • R1,485 (appx. $149.08)/double classic room per night breakfast included (two people)

WPT JOhAnnESburg 2012 lisT oF WinneRs $3,600 MaIn event fIelD: 230 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: $736,000 1st DoMInIK nItsche (GeRMany) $206,153 2nd JeRoMe BRaDPIece (enGlanD) $121,477 3rd Ross wIllIaM (estonIa) $80,985 $10,500 hIGh RolleR fIelD: 46 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: $446,200 1st alan MunItIch (south afRIca) $154,018 2nd ayaZ ManJI (PoRtuGal) $92,626 3rd antonIo alfaIa (PoRtuGal) $62,468 $550 nlhe fIelD: 408 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: $197,000 1st Kenneth KnIPe (south afRIca) $52,157 2nd nIco Kleynhans (south afRIca) $30,671 3rd JustIn lowe (south afRIca) $19,886 $1,100 6-hanDeD fIelD: 133 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: $129;010 1st MelanIe weIsneR (unIteD states) $41,289 2nd lucIen cohen (fRance) $23,866 3rd eDwaRD Pastoll (south afRIca) $15,481 40

PK52EURO_N14.indd 40

$330 laDIes chaMPIonshIP fIelD: $68 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: $19,788 1st antoInette naJJaR (south afRIca) $7,321 2nd naDIRa DooRGaPeRshaD (south afR.) $4,353 3rd MaxIne lanGe (south afRIca) $2,671 $550 Bounty tuRBo fIelD: 125 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: $60,625 1st Johan stRauss (south afRIca) $20,012 2nd JaMes chRIsty (south afRIca) $11,518 3rd RoBeRt le Roux (south afRIca) $7,578 $2,200 Plo fIelD: 25 PlayeRs PRIZe Pool: $48,500 1st nIc Ioannoy (south afRIca) $15,250 2nd InDeResen PaKKIRI (south afRIca) $15,250 3rd lucIen cohen (fRance) $14,000 november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

woRlD PoKeR touR JohannesBuRG eMPeRoRs Palace PoKeR classIc

emPerors Palace restauraNts

The Emperors Palace offers a culinary parade of restaurants from international buffets (Queen of the Nile), to fine dining (Aurelias’s, Oriana), contemporary Asian (Fu Li Hua) to classic Mediterranean (Platia), chic cocktail bars (Neptune, The Silver Moon) to relaxed family eateries (Gold Rush Spur) — even convenient fast-food franchises (Hot Dog Café, Steers, and Hooters): the possibilities are endless. Pizzas and pasta at the Col’Cacchio, seafood at the Ocean Basket, shawarmas and falafels at Anat, AfroPortuguese PeriPeri chicken at Nando’s, Indian cuisine at the Tast of Mumbai, Brazilian dishes at Braza or South African specialties at Tribes, dining at the Emperors Palace is a trip unto itself.

emPerors Palace eNtertaiNmeNt

Experience a variety of dazzling entertainment! The superbly appointed Theatre Of Marcellus hosts worldclass dance extravaganzas, musicals and shows. The Odeon Showbar offers a glittering cabaret revue as the main highlight, while comedy, jazz and major televised sporting events are also regular features. Meet the stylish Marc Antony’s Cigar Lounge where you can savor some of the world’s finest cigars, cognacs and premium whiskies.

Emperors Palace is also the home of South African boxing, hosting many world title fights and quality tournaments featuring local and international boxers.

wPt JohaNNesBurg schedule Mon 4 nov • (7.00 pm): $200 (+$50 Rebuys +$50 Add-on) NLHE (3-Day Event) tue 5 nov • (7.00 pm): $7,500 High Roller (2-Day Event) • (8.00 pm): $275 Ladies Championship (2-Day Event) weD 6 nov • (12.00 pm): $1,100 6-Max (2-Day Event) thu 7 nov • (3.00 pm): R65,500 (appx. $6,712) Heads-Up Championship (2-Day Event) • (7.00 pm): $3,600 WPT Main Event Day 1A (4-Day Event) fRI 8 nov • (7.00 pm): $3,600 WPT Main Event Day 1B (4-Day Event) sat 9 nov • (8.00 pm): $440 Win The Button Turbo (2-Day Event) sun 10 nov • (2.00 pm): $2,200 NLH & PLO Mixed Last Chance Mon 11 nov • (11.30 am): Main Event Final Table • (11.30 am): Heads-Up Final Table november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 41

official satellite schedule Mon 28 oct • (8.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event tue 29 oct • (8.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (9.30 pm 21h30): R1,700 ($173) to High Roller weD 30 oct • (8.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (9.30 pm 21h30): R1,700 ($173) to High Roller thu 31 oct • (8.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (9.30 pm 21h30): R1,700 ($173) to High Roller fRI 1nov • (8.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (9.30 pm 21h30): R1,700 ($173) to High Roller sat 2 nov • (6.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (8.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event sun 3 nov • (1.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (2.30 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (5.00 pm): Freeroll by Invitation to Heads-Up • (8.30): Freeroll by Invitation to High Roller Mon 4 nov • (2.30 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (2.00 pm): R16,500 ($1,677) to Golden Seat tue 5 nov • (1.30 pm): R2,750 ($279) to High Roller weD 6 nov • (6.00 pm): R2,200 ($224) to Main Event • (8.00 pm): R3,300 ($335) to Heads-Up thu 7 nov • (10.30 am): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (1.00 pm): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event fRI 8 nov • (10.30 am): R1,150 ($117) to Main Event • (1.00 pm): R3,300 ($335) to Main Event 41

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

aVIatIon cLub dE francE hoLd’Em sErIEs 2013

Get ready for ten days of poker in tHe leGenDaRy PaRIsIan caRD RooM from november 20-December 1, the legendary aviation club de france will host the tenth edition of its hold’em series, one of the oldest french poker festivals, highlighted this year by a €2,000 three-day main event, a €500 twoday championship and a brand new €200 three-day accumulator tournament, which allows players to collect chips on each of the three starting days and take the total amount into Day 2. This competition will also be the opportunity to enjoy the last days of autumn in the beautiful city of light, filled with art, history and of course, high-end shopping on the fabulous avenue des champsÉlysées. so get ready for an intense and wonderful stay in paris — the tables are calling!

By Julien Morello

a Prestigious club on tHe “most beautiFul street in tHe worlD”

The Aviation Club de France is an institution in the gambling world, and for more than a decade the Champs-Élysées avenue gaming room has offered some of Europe’s greatest poker tournament series. Created more than 100 years ago, 42

PK52EURO_N14.indd 42

and redesigned in 2007 with a modern and sumptuous touch, the venue is a genuine temple of poker, with hundreds of members coming daily, from 2 pm to 6 am, to enjoy a large variety of cash games and tournaments in a magical atmosphere. Extensive facilities, great service, a high-class restaurant — there’s no reason to leave! The ACF gained november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

avIatIon cluB De fRance holD’eM seRIes 2013 its international reputation with the famous Euro Finals of Poker, the Paris Open of Poker, the WPT National Series and of course the WPT Grand Prix de Paris/Rendez-Vous à Paris, the oldest WPT stop in Europe, held since 2003 in the prestigious club. Since 2004, the ACF has also been the home of the Hold’em Series, one of the oldest poker festivals in France, which will come back this year with a new program, more intense than ever!

Here comes tHe tentH eDition

The competition will start in a big way, with the brand new €200 Accumulator, running from November 20. The format gives players a chance to amass a stack on each of the three Day 1 flights (November 20, 21 and 22), and take the total amount into Day 2, on November 23. This structure promises a huge prize pool for a very affordable event, and the fight will be intense on the final table, beginning on November 24. Then, the 2-Day NLHE €500 Re-Entry Championship will attract dozens of players from November 27, after two €100 Freezeout Satellites, held on November 26 and 27. Since 2006, the €500 event has always been a huge success, and last year, French pro Rémy Biechel overcame his 119 opponents to won the title and pocket the €13,950 first prize.

tHe €2,000 main event re-entry

After four years with a €3,000 buy-in, the ACF Hold’em Series Main Event will come back starting November 29 with a lower entry fee, set this year at €2,000. The re-entry tournament will run over three days, and players will vie for the lion’s share of the massive prize pool. In 2008, when the Main Event’s buy-in was still set at €2,000, 178 participants entered the field, and French player Pierre Brochard left the ACF with a €105,950 cash prize. Four Re-Entry Satellites to the Main Event will be featured during the series, including two €150 events on November 25 and 28, a €250 tournament on November 25, and a Sat & Cash satellite on November 28.

Two €200 Deepstack Re-Entry events will complete the schedule — the first held on November 24, the second on December 1, the last day of the festival — along with a €300 Win The Button Re-Entry, on November 26.

hold’em series 2013 schedule weD 20 nov • (8.00 pm): €200 Accumulator Day 1A (4-Day Event, Re-Entry) thu 21 nov • (8.00 pm): €200 Accumulator Day 1B (4-Day Event, Re-Entry) fRI 22 nov • (8.00 pm): €200 Accumulator Day 1C (4-Day Event, Re-Entry) sat 23 nov • (5.00 pm): Accumulator Day 2 sun 24 nov • (2.30 pm): €200 Deepstack (Re-Entry) • (5.00 pm): Accumulator Final Mon 25 nov • (2.30 pm): €150 Satellite to Main Event (Re-Entry) • (8.00 pm): €250 Sat & Cash to Main Event (Re-Entry) tue 26 nov • (2.30 pm): €100 Satellite to NLHE 500 • (8.00 pm): €300 Win The Button (Re-Entry) weD 27 nov • (2.30 pm): €100 Satellite to NLHE 500 • (8.00 pm): €500 NLHE Day 1 (2-Day Event, Re-Entry) thu 28 nov • (2.30 pm): €150 Satellite to Main Event (Re-Entry) • (5.00 pm): NLHE 500 Final • (8.00 pm): €250 Satellite to Main Event (Re-Entry) fRI 29 nov • (4.00 pm): €2,000 Main Event Day 1 (3-Day Event, Re-Entry) sat 30 nov • (4.00 pm): Main Event Day 2 sun 1 Dec • (2.30 pm): €200 Deepstack • (4.00 pm): Main Event Final

For a great series dedicated to pure Hold’em in all its forms, and for all kinds of budgets, Paris will be the place to be in November. And if you don’t make it to the end, relax and look around, there is no way you’ll get bored among the fantastic museums and bridges of the French capital, colored by the sparkling glow of the Eiffel Tower. Enjoy!

aBout aviatioN cluB de fraNce

Address: 104 Avenue des Champs-Élysées 75008 Paris Tel: + 33(0) 1 45 62 26 88 Email: info@aviationclubdefrance.com Website: www.aviationclubdefrance.com

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 43

43

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

worLd poKEr tour natIonaL brussELs faLL sErIEs

the GRanD cIRcuIt coMes BacK in december and marcH! after a fantastic debut in february 2013, when 450 players entered the €1,650 main event and generated a €675,000 prize pool, the WpT national series comes back in the newly remodeled grand casino Viage of brussels from December 4-9, for five days of intense competition. The €750 WpTn main event and the €750 acfpoker Tour will bring to life the tables of the brand new WpT Room, inaugurated in october by mike sexton; this sumptuous décor will also welcome a third edition of the WpTn next year, from march 5-10, with a €1,500 main event and a €3,000 high Roller tournament. get ready for these two meetings, where you’ll be able to play major events in a vast and modern complex in the beating heart of brussels, one of europe’s most vibrant cities!

By Steven Lake

44

PK52EURO_N14.indd 44

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

W

woRlD PoKeR touR natIonal BRussels fall seRIes

With its classic and contemporary museums and stunning architectural monuments, its traditional brasseries and first-class restaurants, a trip to the Belgian capital is always a great moment. And since spring 2012, Brussels is a new great European city for poker, as the new Casino Viage, an authentic gaming temple, is located a few steps from the Grand-Place, the city center’s liveliest spot.

a contemPorary casino…

Opened on April 2012 after three years of construction work, the Viage Casino is a vast complex dedicated entirely to leisure, games and showtime. In its sparkling interior, you will find everything a modern international casino can offer, with its spectacular roof-top restaurant, its themebars, its performing arts showroom, and of course its innovative gaming rooms.

Besides its Brown’s Sports Bar & Grill, with its twelve big TV screens, and its Cinna-Bar with its great choice of cocktails, Viage is home of Saffron, an Asian and traditional Belgian restaurant which stays open till two in the morning. The Theatre provides great shows and events all year long, and the modern gaming rooms feature some of the very latest equipment. What with Mah Jong, Black Jack, Punto Banco, and English Roulette, not to mention Slots, Video Reels, Automatic Roulette and Video Poker Machines, Viage provides all kinds of games to the great delight of gambling lovers.

how to get there

by air: Brussels National Airport is 14km northeast of Brussels. It is connected to all major European cities such as Paris, London, Berlin, Frankfurt or Copenhagen by most of classic and low-cost airlines. by train: Brussels has three main train stations: MidiZuid, to the south of the city center, Central-Centraal, right next to the city center, and Nord-Noord, to the north of the city center (at Place Rogier). High-speed trains stop only at Midi/Zuid, except the ICE, which also stops at Nord/Noord. Thalys connects Brussels with Cologne (one hour and fifty-two minutes), Paris (80 minutes) and Amsterdam (two hours); an hourly Intercity train from Amsterdam (two hours and twenty-eight minutes, via Schiphol Airport, The Hague, Rotterdam, Antwerp), connects to Brussels Midi/ Zuid and Brussels Central. An hourly Intercity train from Luxembourg (three hours and seven minutes, via Arlon, Libramont, Namur) runs to Midi/Zuid, Central, Nord/Noord, Schuman and Luxembourg/ Luxemburg stations. The Eurostar train line links Lille Europe (39 minutes), Ashford (98 minutes) and London St. Pancras (an hour and fifty-one minutes) with Midi/Zuid ; German ICE connects four times a day to Cologne and Frankfurt and TGV connects many French destinations to Midi/Zuid.

…anD a branD new wPt room!

Poker receives all the honors in this new complex, with a great choice of daily cash games, weekly Sit & Go’s and seasonal festivals. The huge poker room is the perfect place to host big events, and the WPT’s board quickly grasped that Brussels had the potential to become one of Europe’s new gaming hotspots. Consequently, the casino recently opened Europe’s first brand-new WPT Room, which was officially inaugurated on October 25 by Mike Sexton, Vince Van Pattern, and the Royal Flush Girl Tugba Ecran. This sumptuous poker room provides NLH 2/2, 2/4, 5/5, 5/10, 10/20 and 25/50, as well as PLO 2/4 and 5/5 tables, and will welcome the next WPTN legs.

tHe wPtn scHeDule

The first edition of the WPT National Series Brussels, held in February 2013, was a huge success, as the €1,650 Main Event had no less than 450 entries, creating a €675,000 prize pool, setting a new WPTNS record. The four-day game was intensely competitive, and after an insane final table, Russian player Yunoz Tuguz dominated Bo Erichsen, from Switzerland, to win the title and the €135,000 first prize. So it’s no surprise that the WPT National Series is coming back so early this year, with a new structure that should bring even more poker players to the Viage Casino.

Indeed, starting on December 6 (Day 1B the following day), the Belgian leg of the international circuit will feature a €675 + €75 Main Event, held over three days, november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 45

which will attract crowds of competitors from Belgium and elsewhere.

This second edition will start with three €115 Super and Turbo Satellites to the Main Event, on December 4, 5 and 6, alongside a €330 Great Max eight-handed event, held on the fourth. A €115 Win the Button tournament will be featured on December 7, and a €250 Experience on December 8, while the other great meeting of the series, the €750 ACFPoker Tour, will run over two days, on December 7 and 8. Last year, 129 players entered the race, and Dutchman Tobias Peters pocketed the €21,800 first prize and the first ACFPT title awarded in Belgium, leaving €15,060 to his runner-up, local player Ram Reter.

45

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent more to come next marcH

But that’s not it, as the Casino Viage and the WPT board have already announced the schedule of the third stop of the international circuit in the Belgian capital next March. Indeed, the Win2day.be WPT National Brussels will offer a five-day festival from March 5-10, highlighted by the four-day €1,500 Main Event, starting on March 6 with two Day 1 flights. The series will include two €220 Super Satellites to the Main Event, a €330 Wanted event, a €170 PLO Turbo eight-handed championship, a €330 Great Max eight-handed tournament and a new leg of the €750 ACFPoker Tour, played on March 8 and 9. And for high stakes lovers, this edition will also feature a new €3,000 High Roller event on March 9 and 10, preceded by a €330 Super Satellite on March 5.

For poker lovers all over Belgium as well as neighboring Holland, France, and Germany, the Casino Viage has become the new poker Eldorado. So don’t miss these two huge festivals, as the best Europeans will rush to Brussels, thus generating solid prize pools!

hotels the DoMInIcan BRussels

In the heart of downtown Brussels, the hotel is built on a former fifteenth-century Dominican abbey. Nestled among the golden gables of the heart of Brussels, it has become a 21st-century luxury hotel, offering a unique combination of historical elegance and modern design. The reduced WPT price for a deluxe room is €140 per night (city tax and breakfast not included) but early bookers will receive a discount of €10 (for all booking before 2013). address: Rue léopold 9 1000 bruxelles Tel: +32 2 203 08 08 Reservation: www.thedominican.be

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

be pleased to offer you an Accor Group Hotels selection with dedicated rates. All these hotels are also a short walk from the Casino.

Royal wInDsoR hotel GRanD Place

Just off the Grand Place, with 267 elegant guest rooms, including sixteen spectacular suites, the Royal Windsor Hotel Grand Place provides an ideal retreat in the heart of downtown Brussels. Stylish décor and cozy atmosphere blend here to satisfy all your needs and make your stay a tremendous hotel experience. And if you choose the exquisite Grand Place Suite, prepare for the most beautiful show of all, as its sixth floor terrace offers a fantastic view of the rooftops of Brussels. Rooms from €199. address: 5 Rue Duquesnoy 1000 brussels Tel: +32 2 505 55 55 Reservations: resa.royalwindsor@warwickhotels.com

the aDaGIo BRussels centRe MonnaIe hotel saInt MIchel The Adagio Brussels Centre Monnaie is located in the Anspach shopping center and each of its 140 apartments is fully equipped with a kitchen. This three-star Aparthotel is located in the heart of the city, one-minute walking distance from the Grand Casino Brussels, and provides free Internet and two fitness rooms. This deluxe location between the Grand Place and the Rue Neuve provides easy access to the city for your tournament.

In case you prefer a hotel, or if the Adagio Brussels Centre Monnaie is fully booked, the establishment will

46

PK52EURO_N14.indd 46

This gorgeous little hotel located directly on the Grand Place is the best-kept secret in town. Tastefully decorated, it has a very intimate atmosphere and amazing views of the Grand Place for very reasonable rates. Be sure to book in advance, as only the earliest of early birds will be able to get one of the fourteen charming rooms! Rooms from €80. address: grand place 15 1000 brussels Tel: +32 2 511 09 56 Reservations: www.hotel-saint-michel.be

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

woRlD PoKeR touR natIonal BRussels fall seRIes

restauraNts

decemBer 2013 schedule

If you love Asian cuisine but also crave real Belgian classics, you’ve found the right place: Saffron can do both, from sake flambéed king prawns to Grilled beef rib steak with French fries. Conveniently located in the Viage Casino, it will literally be the closest option to have a good meal and regain strength before a new game. Main courses €8-€22. address: Viage brussels anspach boulevard 30 1000 brussels Tel : +32 2 300 01 00 Reservations: info@viage.be

weD 4 Dec • (6.00 pm): €115 Super Satellite to WPTN Main Event thu 5 Dec • (5.00 pm): €330 Great Max (8-Handed) • (8.00 pm): €115 Turbo Satellite to WPTN Main Event fRI 6 Dec • (4.00 pm): €750 WPTN Main Event Day 1A • (8.00 pm): €115 Turbo Satellite to WPTN Main Event sat 7 Dec • (2.00 pm): €750 WPTN Main Event Day 1B • (8.00 pm): €115 Win The Button sun 8 Dec • (2.00 pm): WPTN Main Event Day 2 • (6.00 pm): €250 Experience Mon 9 Dec • (2.00 pm): WPTN Main Event Final

saffRon

aux aRMes De BRuxelles

This eighty-year-old restaurant near the Grand Place has some of the freshest mussels in town, complete with French fries and mayonnaise. Go mingle with real Bruxellois and Bruxelloises, and discover famed Belgian friendliness in this authentic establishment! address: 13 rue des bouchers 1000 brussels Tél : +32 2 511 55 98 Reservations: www.auxarmesdebruxelles.com

march 2014 schedule weD 5 MaR • (6.00 pm): €220 Super Satellite to WPTN Main Event • (8.00 pm): €330 Super Satellite to High Roller thu 6 MaR • (2.00 pm): €1,500 WPTN Main Event Day 1A • (8.00 pm): €220 Satellite to WPTN Main Event fRI 7 MaR • (2.00 pm): €1,500 WPTN Main Event Day 1B • (6.00 pm): €330 Wanted sat 8 MaR • (2.00 pm): WPTN Main Event Day 2 • (4.00 pm): €750 ACFPoker Tour • (8.00 pm): €170 Pot Limit Omaha Turbo 8 Handed sun 9 MaR • (2.00 pm): WPTN Main Event Day 3 • (3.00 pm): ACFPoker Tour Final • (5.00 pm): €3,000 High Roller • (7.00 pm): €330 Great Max 8-Handed Mon 10 MaR • (2.00 pm): Main Event Final • (3.00 pm): High Roller Final

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 47

47

29/10/13 08:14

touRnaMent

gpI EuropEan poKEr awards

tHe tHirteentH ceremony Held In DeauvIlle on JanuaRy 29

s

Sponsored by Global Poker Index and Poker52 Europa, and organized in partnership with PokerStars and Hotels & Casinos Barrière, the thirteenth edition of the GPI European Poker Awards ceremony will gather the entire poker scene from Europe in Deauville next January, to congratulate the best players and talents from the poker industry. The gala will be take place in the sumptuous Grande Salle des Ambassadeurs of the Casino Barrière de Deauville will be the scene of the European Poker Tour French leg (Main Event from January 26-February 1), on January 29. Renowned French player Bruno Fitoussi will preside over a jury of professional poker players and European journalists, among them Bruno Benveniste, Poker52 Europa Head of Publishing, and Alexandre Dreyfus, Global Poker Index CEO, whereas the founder of European Poker Awards remains its honorary president.

Last year, 200 guests attended the twelfth edition of the GPI European Poker Awards held at the Aviation Club de France. Poker’s big names were all on hand, and the hostess was the elegant Kara Scott, a very famous and well-loved TV personality and poker player. Before dinner, Kara Scott invited Alexandre Dreyfus onstage to give the GPI Player of the Year prizes to the winners. Then Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier (France), Marvin Rettenmaier (Germany), Roberto 48

PK52EURO_N14.indd 48

Romanello (United Kingdom), Davidi Kitai (Belgium), Dermot Blain (Ireland), Juha Helppi (Finland), Andrea Dato (Italy), Ivo Donev (Austria) and Cesar Garcia (Spain) came onstage.

Earlier in the day, the jury debated about the nominees.

Its nine members spent more than three hours to pick this year’s winners, and voted by secret ballot. Its president, Nic Szeremeta was accompanied by Stefan Gollubits (CAPT director), Juha Helppi, Jérôme Schmidt (Poker52 Europa chief editor), Barry Carter (Card Player journalist), Joe Beevers (HendonMob ranking founder), Alexandre Dreyfus, Michael Michelin (Business Unit Manager for PokerStrategy group) and Jesse May (TV commentator).

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:14

GPI euRoPean PoKeR awaRDs BRuno BenvenIste anD alexanDRe DReyfus

the Prizes awarded for the twelfth editioN of gPi euroPeaN Poker awards : Rookie of the year: Ole Schemion best Tournament performance: Davidi Kitai europe’s leading lady: Lucille Cailly internet player of the year: Jens Kyllönen poker staff person of the year: Simon Trumper Rob gardner memorial: Kara Scott best event of the year: EPT Barcelona (Sylvie Belanger, from Casino Barcelona and Edgar Stuchly, EPT President) player of the year: Marvin Rettenmaier lifetime achievement award: Gus Hansen

MaRvIn RettenMaIeR

KaRa scott

sylvIe BelanGeR anD eDGaR stuchly

DavIDI KItaI, loïc saBatte anD lucIlle caIlly

sIMon tRuMPeR november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 49

49

29/10/13 08:15

chRonIcle

anyThing close, shoulD alWays go To The playeR, pRoViDeD iT Doesn’T compRomise The inTegRiTy of The game.

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT so i was having a really fun time in the early levels of the 10k euro high roller at epT barcelona, despite already spewing off half my stack, leaving me with a still very healthy 22,000 with blinds at 100-200 with a 25 ante.

50

PK52EURO_N14.indd 50

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

DanIel neGReanu

I

stood up from my chair to stretch my legs a little bit, threw in my ante and small blind awaiting the next hand. Obviously since I threw in my chips on my own, I was directly behind my chair. My friend at the table next to me said hello, so I looked over at him and said hello back. I moved maybe 12 inches to the left, still very much in arms reach of my chair. I was actually, in the moment, very conscious of the rule and knew it was important to not walk away from the table as my hand may be killed. When I turn my attention back to the table the dealer scooped in my cards. I at first politely explained that I was standing right at my chair and my hand is live. The dealer argued that it wasn’t. The rule states quite clearly: 32. At Your Seat - A player must be at his or her seat when the dealer delivers the first card off of the deck in order to have a live hand.

Dealers are instructed to muck the hands of players not at their seats immediately after the final card is dealt to the button, or in Stud Games, the final up card is dealt on third street. Players must be at their seats to call time. “At your seat” is defined as being within reach of your chair. In case of doubt, Floor decision is final. Well, this seems pretty self explanatory, but I was the one who threw my ante in, so of course I was in reach of my chair! The dealer claimed I was standing about a foot further back from where I claimed I was standing. Even if I was standing where she said I was standing, my hand should still be live as I could easily reach the chair with my arm.

The floorman wasn’t clear on the application of the rule and what was written, saying something to the effect of, «We are told that it should depend on whether or not the player was paying attention to the table or not.» I knew immediately that this was clearly not true. The floor man asked the dealer if it was close, and she said it wasn’t.

However, she wasn’t asked, «was he in reach of the chair.»

I was sitting in the one seat, and was looking behind me when the cards were dealt. There was zero risk of me seeing an opponents hand, and besides that, I wasn’t breaking any rules. Ultimately the floor went with the dealers take, despite the fact that she didn’t understand what the rule states.

So from here I lose it a little bit and react in anger. I decide I just don’t want to be there anymore so I ship my chips in blind from the button and get called by the small blind.

He has 77, I ended up having a decent hand, the Ah 3h. I lost the pot and stormed off. Now, my reaction is silly and I realize this. I allowed myself to let anger consume me and cause me to make a silly decision. I can live with it, but I’m not at all claiming I handled the situation properly.

The hand I had mucked was irrelevant to me, it was KT off suit, it was just the point. It’s no secret that I, and the VAST majority of players don’t like the first card off the deck rule, but this was the first time it’s implementation actually cost me personally. My rage had to do less with the situation then it did the realization that currently the players are powerless. I’m committed to changing that and making sure that the players are heard before the games rules are tampered with further without player input.

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 51

I realize that some organization and change was necessary for the games growth. Some of the things people could get away with in the 70’s and 80’s needed some cleaning up, but there is such a thing as going too far and I believe we’ve done that by failing to allow tournament directors and dealers to be empowered with common sense in certain situations, and always with the focus of what is the most player friendly, fair, common sense solution. Anything close, should always go to the player, provided it doesn’t compromise the integrity of the game.

Here you have a situation where a player and a dealer are arguing over semantics. Arguing over what essentially amounts to 12 inches. Again, as I mentioned previously, even if she was right in where she claimed I was standing, the ruling was still very much incorrect, but for the sake of argument, lets say it mattered. In situations like these, its in the best interest of everyone involved to give the player the benefit of the doubt. That’s just good policy and good business. Even in baseball, a game of inches, the tie goes to the runner!

So I’m sitting in my room now writing this and cooling off.

My plan is to re-enter the tournament at some point and make a deep run. I’ve already spoken to the tournament director, a very likable guy, about the situation and there are no hard feelings whatsoever. He made a mistake, but the information he got from the dealer didn’t help. End Rant :-) Daniel Negreanu

some of The Things people coulD geT aWay WiTh in The 70’s anD 80’s neeDeD some cleaning up, buT TheRe is such a Thing as going Too faR anD i belieVe We’Ve Done ThaT by failing To alloW TouRnamenT DiRecToRs anD DealeRs To be empoWeReD WiTh common sense in ceRTain siTuaTions, anD alWays WiTh The focus of WhaT is The mosT playeR fRienDly, faiR, common sense soluTion.

51

29/10/13 08:15

chRonIcle

The Rule says ThaT a playeR is noT alloWeD To RemoVe chips fRom a Table anD/ oR puT Them in his pockeT.

REMOVING CHIPS DURING A BREAK you are running a $10,000 main event and during the 1st break you notice a seat is open so you pick up the seat card but the dealer says wait there was a player in that seat and he had more than the starting stack. Just as the break is about over you see a player that you have never seen before sit down and start taking chips out of his pocket and putting them on the table.

What do you do?

Jack eFFel

If the player paid the required entr y fee, I would disqualify him/her for taking chips off the table and concealing them. If the player did not pay the required entry fee, they would be disqualified, 86’d from all Caesars properties; gaming would be notified, and player could face a gaming conviction.

52

PK52EURO_N14.indd 52

tHomas kremser

The rule says that a player is not allowed to remove chips from a table and/or put them in his pocket. I see this situation a bit more liberal as many colleagues. When the player returns I would ask the other players at the table if they recognize the player and if they remember his approximate chip count. If both matches I would give november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

you aRe the touRnaMent DIRectoR the player a warning and let him continue to play. If any fact can’t be verified by the players I would enforce the rule and disqualify the player. From my experience these situation only happens with new and inexperienced players and it is no case of cheating.

DaviD lamb

The player has disqualified himself by removing the chips from the table and placing them out of view. I would notify the remaining players that chips are being removed from play as a result of the players actions.

DaviD luzago

He is disqualified from the tournament and his chips taken away. A player can not carry chips out of the table at any moment, he only will be able to do it by tournament direction request and because of the normal tournament development.

matt savage

Depends on the player and I would investigate further but again fairness has to take precedent and I am probably going to allow 1st time player to remain in the tournament and disqualify a player that knows better.

tHomas lamatscH

Quite a very unpleasant situation! The first thing I have to do is to check identity of the player, trying to get any information, maybe cameras in the room and talking to the other players on the table! Also, because it is in the 1st break I can easily count the chips of the whole table and can calculate the missing chips! In most of my tournaments I am running a chipcount every brake, so I could have an actual chipcount of the tournament and if it is on the 1st break, not moving players to this table, I am having a perfect count! Also in the $10k tournament we should having exactly information about seat drawing, so I can verify the player ID, too. I would give this player a penalty of two button rounds and a heavy warning, to disqualify would be too strong, because many players from the online business are playing the first time live and with good staff on the tables, it shouldn’t happen.

JP mccann

Chip security is essential in order to protect the integrity of the game. Chips must be visable at all times and any player who places chips into his pocket or hides chips will forfeit those chips and may be eliminated from the tournament.

As all of the player’s chips were in his pocket, I would eliminate him in this example.

FiDPa (tHe international Poker rules) ruling (marcel luske) What do you do?

As a dealer ..Inform the management. As a player ..ask the dealer to inform the management As the management... november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 53

The I P Rule would be: 34.1 Non-value chips are used for tournament play and may NOT be removed from the tournament area.

36.1 All chips must be clearly visible at all times during the tournament.

36.2 Players may not hold or transport tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of plain view.

A player, who does so, will forfeit the chips and will face disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play.

3.3 Players are encouraged to familiarize themselves with ‘The International Poker Rules’ and to take notice of any forced changes and/or modifications posted in the tournament area. Lack of knowledge regarding the rules may not be deemed as an excuse by a violator.

An unintentional error should be less serious than a deliberate violation and may be ruled as such.

DaviD FlusFeDer

(IFP - International federation of Poker) IFP Rule #13: TRANSPORTING CHIPS: ‘Players may not hold or transport tournament chips in a manner that takes them out of view. Players who do so will forfeit the hidden chips and may be liable for disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play.’ In this case, there’s a clear ruling that the player is to be disqualified and the chips taken out of play.

mob verDict

Note: This situation was interestingly submitted by Matt Savage as it happened to him at the WSOP when he was TD. JP McCann is quite right is his assertion that ‘Chip security is essential in order to protect the integrity of the game’ and the majority of our TDs take this issue so seriously that they are for enforcing the letter of the law without reference to the circumstances. Whilst it is true that TDs particularly in the USA often make a point of announcing the penalty for this infringement at the start of a tournament we still feel that this inflexible approach may sometimes be too harsh.

As Thomas Kremsner points out, it may well be quite easy to distinguish between inexperience and cheating and as Matt and Thomas Lamatch also note the identity of the player is highly relevant here.

If in the TDs judgement this is an honest mistake by an inexperienced player disqualification for a first offence is far too harsh, provided the TD can be reasonably certain that the right amount of chips have been bought back into play. However, it is a very serious breach of the rules and it is vital that TDs keep control of the location and visibility of the chips. For this reason we do not think a simple warning would normally suffice and we would favour perhaps a one round penalty along the lines of Thomas Lematch’s response. This we feel would be proportionate for a first offence whilst taking into account it’s seriousness.

53

29/10/13 08:15

chRonIcle

anyone Who’s aWaRe of The sTu ungaR sToRy knoWs TheRe’s a gReaT moVie To be maDe abouT his life.

© yann stoFer

DID THE 2007 ACADEMY AWARDS KILL THE STU UNGAR MOVIE? 54

PK52EURO_N14.indd 54

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

nolan Dalla

I

f you don’t know the name Graham King, you most certainly know his movies.

He’s produced many of the most widely acclaimed films of the last decade including — Traffic, Ali, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Blood Diamond, The Young Victoria, The Tourist, Rango, The Rum Diary, Hugo, Argo, World War Z, and more.

That’s a stunning list. In fact, two of those movies won the Academy Award for “Best Picture” – The Departed (2006) and Argo (2012).

When The Departed won Best Picture, it wasn’t Martin Scorsese, the film’s legendary director who accepted the year’s most prestigious Oscar. It was Graham King himself upon the stage alone — the mastermind behind the movie’s creation. He accepted the golden statue and then gave a rousing victory speech.

So, what does this have to do with Stu Ungar?

I’m about tell you the story. *** Anyone who’s aware of the Stu Ungar story knows there’s a great movie to be made about his life.

Yes, I’m biased since I co-wrote Ungar’s biography with Peter Alson titled One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey ‘the Kid’ Ungar.

Actually, there was a movie made about Ungar. It came out a few years before One of a Kind was released. The movie was called High Roller and later changed simply to Stuey in alternate releases. Anthony Vidmer (credited as “A.W. Vidmer”), who I have come to know and greatly respect over the years, was the film’s writer and director.

It’s not the movie I would have made, but to Vidmer’s credit, he managed to actually create something that turned a profit. Budgeted at less than a million dollars — paltry by Hollywood standards — Vidmer gave us a movie worth watching and the first movie biography of a real poker icon.

When One of a Kind came out during the summer of 2005, the movie High Roller was playing by that time on the late night cable networks. Poker was hotter than ever before and it seemed Hollywood was prepared to buy in for the max and shove all in– this time producing a big-budgeted movie with major stars attached to Stuey’s epic story.

We received multiple six-figure offers for the film rights.

Fortunately, my agent at Venture Literary had prepackaged the Ungar story very nicely in a bundle for any major studio wanting to make a movie based on the book.

We hammered out our own deal which included Ungar’s two survivors (his ex-wife and daughter), the two authors (myself included), and the literary agency. Oftentimes, film deals get messy with never ending litigation. This package was signed, sealed, delivered, and ready to go — in advance.

This might sound ridiculous, but it’s the truth. At the time, money was the last thing that mattered to me. What did

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 55

matter was selling the film rights — not to the highest bidder but — to the best possible studio and someone with authority who really wanted to make the movie.

Well, it doesn’t get any bigger than two names — Warner Brothers Studios and Graham King. *** When my agent called and told me there was a six-figure deal on the table, my first question was – who is it?

Film rights, otherwise known as an “option” isn’t all that it seems. Sure, it’s a huge first step towards getting a movie made. For a relatively unknown writer like myself, it’s like stepping up to bat in the major leagues, getting a hit, and reaching first base. How many people can say they sold film rights for their first book?

Trouble is, the odds are still way against a film ever being made, and that’s even if you get a royalty check.

The next step usually involves hiring a screenwriter, and get what’s hoped is a satisfactory adaptation of the material. Then, a producer steps in (or a consortium of producers) who then tries to raise enough money to actually make the film. Once that’s accomplished (no small task), a director is hired. Then, actors are discussed and so forth. Even then with all the dominoes perfectly in place, many movies still never actually go into production. Each step of the process is but an inch closer to the elusive big screen. But the competition for money and talent is so intense, that many otherwise worthy projects get shelved and then finally disappear into oblivion. Then, there are external factors you can’t possibly control, such as market conditions, studio perceptions, and the great unknown of what happens during production. In essence, it takes a perfect storm to break into the movies.

Fortunately, with One of a Kind’s favorable book reviews and commercial success coming at the height of the poker boom, we not only had our perfect storm. We had a potential hurricane on our hands. The venture

eVen Then WiTh all The Dominoes peRfecTly in place, many moVies sTill neVeR acTually go inTo pRoDucTion. each sTep of The pRocess is buT an inch closeR To The elusiVe big scReen.

55

29/10/13 08:15

chRonIcle

foRTunaTely, WiTh one of a kinD’s faVoRable book ReVieWs anD commeRcial success coming aT The heighT of The pokeR boom, We noT only haD ouR peRfecT sToRm. We haD a poTenTial huRRicane on ouR hanDs. The VenTuRe WoulD gain seRious momenTum When We heaRD The six-figuRe offeR on The Table Was fRom bRiTish moVie mogul gRaham king anD The sTuDio inTeResTeD in making ouR moVie Was WaRneR bRoTheRs.

would gain serious momentum when we heard the sixfigure offer on the table was from British movie mogul Graham King and the studio interested in making our movie was Warner Brothers.

Right then, I started thinking about tuxedos and red carpets. *** The deal was inked and the next thing was to find a screenwriter who could create a first draft of the script.

Not just any screenw riter. T his project required special care. It required considerable time and a real commitment.

Un for t u nately, t he t wo most su it able w r iter s i n Hollywood attached to Warner for this project had other things going on at the time. No surprise, since the best writers are constantly in demand. That set off an unforeseen cycle of procrastination over the following year during which time a few actual treatments of the book were submitted, but nothing quite propelled the film worthy of moving into the next phase.

Fortunately, Graham King wasn’t fazed. I was told he considered this project a top priority. I know that’s Hollywood talk. But I wanted to believe it. I had to believe it. He seemed determined to make the movie.

Otherwise, why would be spend six figures for the rights?

56

PK52EURO_N14.indd 56

Talk began circulating about what actor might play Stu Ungar. Tobey Maguire was discussed. Although he might have been a great choice for the box office, I never liked the idea of Maguire in the Ungar role.

Instead, I wanted the far edgier John Leguizamo, the brilliant actor-comedian-writer, who had just the right self-confidence and swagger not to mention a New York attitude to assume what would have been his most challenging role ever. He even looked and acted like Stuey. I once reached out to Leguizamo, telling him he would win the Oscar for Best Actor if he accepted the role as the title star. But Warner wasn’t a all interested (perhaps there were other factors I don’t know about) and I never heard back again from Leguizamo.

I guess it just wasn’t in the cards. *** Time has a way of passing more slowly when you’re waiting for something. It passes slower still when it’s something big.

The wait on the Stu Ungar film project turned from weeks into months, and then into more than a year.

The option had originally been for 18 months, which meant Graham King had a year-and-a-half to go into production, or renew the option for a longer period of time which would have resulted into another nice advance payment.

As the first option term began winding down, it came Oscar time. Being a movie fan, I had seen most of the top movies that year, including a film called The Departed.

Martin Scorsese had been hand-picked by King to direct that movie. This was the third of four collaborations between King as producer and Scorsese as director. I even heard through my agent that Scorsese had been approached about doing One of a Kind. He reportedly declined because it was the same old territory for him, having already done Casino a few years back.

Even though The Departed was nominated for Best Picture, I had no idea Graham King had been the film’s executive producer. In fact, the impact of that evening and the announcement of winners initially had no bearing on me regarding to the Stu Ungar movie. That was, until I actually heard it and saw it, and then let the implications slowly start to sink in.

That year, Scorsese fittingly won his long overdue “Best Director” Oscar — remarkably his first after 35 years of stunning work. That left one final award for the evening.

I remember sit t i ng t here at home watc h i ng t hat moment with my wife Marieta — who had so patient and supportive during the entire process, someone who had weathered the emotional ups and downs of constant hope, punctuated by effervescence of disappointment, that which too often accompanies our dreams.

When The Departed was announced so too was Graham King — a name we knew well. And when The Departed november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

nolan Dalla

stu unGaR

won, it was none other than Graham King who rushed upon the stage, his towering frame not only looming over the amphitheater, but above all of Hollywood. With his characteristic wit and charm, King accepted his coveted honor and then exited the stage, taking along with that golden statue my dreams that he’d go on and eventually make the Stu Ungar movie.

Then and there, I realized that if there had previously been 20 or 30 movie scripts piled high upon his desk, by the following week there would be 200 or 300, and just as many telephone calls, each one clamoring for his blessing. And if the Stu Ungar movie had been number ten perhaps down in that pile, it would in another month or two become umber 110, and in another month be number 210, and finally when the film option finally ran out it would be completely out of his consciousness.

Nothing personal. That’s just the business of Hollywood. november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 57

What’s new and fresh today gets old and discarded tomorrow.

My instincts proved correct. After winning the Oscar, I never heard from Graham King or his production company again.

Another British film company picked up the option some time later. But nothing ever came of it. After that, there were few more phone calls and inquiries. But by the time money started to evaporate for so many new things after the 2008 financial crash and the gradual fizzle of the poker boom. No one was much interested anymore in the story of a gambler who died broke and drug addicted in a cheap motel room, with virtually nothing left to his name.

Like the movie that may have portended an early curtain for One of a Kind, our time had already departed.

Nolan Dalla 57

29/10/13 08:15

chRonIcle

eVeRy seaT aT a pokeR Table Was noT cReaTeD equal. pokeR is a game of incompleTe infoRmaTion.

5 THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T TRAVEL WITHOUT DOING FIRST one of the big perks of being a poker player or working in poker is the travel. poker tournaments are being held in more exotic and fun locations than ever which is giving people a chance to see new cultures and experience things that they wouldn’t in their normal lives. extra Planning

WPT Marrakech just finished and seeing photos from some of my friends who went out into the desert on camels to meet some of the Moroccan people and sleep under the stars just underscores HOW great this lifestyle can be. But like with most great adventures, extra planning is definitely needed to make the most of it and all of the travel can definitely start to wear a person down.

58

PK52EURO_N14.indd 58

So, here are a few tips for you travellers, whether you’re planning your first poker excursion or if you’re a regular on the circuit looking to make the journeys easier.

1. check into your flights as early as you can Check into your flights as early as you can so that you have a wider choice of seats. Especially for long flights, you want to make sure that you’ll have extra legroom november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

KaRa scott if you need it or an aisle seat. Leaving things until the last minute will ensure that you’re stuck in the middle of a row next to a smelly bathroom. I have no tips for avoiding being sat beside that person who is convinced that they have the most interesting life in the world and they want to tell you all about it.

you’re at a disadvantage. You have no idea what they might do. If you play your cards when most of the other players at the table have already acted (late position), you get the benefit of more information. Information is power. Whenever possible, try to play in late position unless you’re holding the best starting hands.

2. bring snacks Sure, you can buy food on the plane but generally it’s all pretty grim. A friend of mine who works in the airline industry told me that in order to keep the food preserved and looking nice (which is debatable), they spray a type of oil over it all. That stuff will kill your stomach and leave you feeling revolting. If you want a nice, fatty snack (and no judgement here from me on that, who doesn’t love a fatty snack) then buy it before you get on the plane.

2) playing every hand When you first start to play poker, all of the cards look exciting. The temptation is there to play every hand, from any position just because you might hit something. This might be fun but it will ultimately lead to you losing your chips. Fold all of the J7, A4, K9 type hands, especially in early position. Remember, information is power. You can play a lot more hands in late position but tighten up (play fewer hands) in early position.

3. avoid jetlag For long journeys, jet lag is the worst. If it’s possible, make sure that you give yourself a day to rest on the other end of the trip before the tournament starts. It’ll cost you an extra night in a hotel but being more alert and focused could mean the difference between making money and busting out early. Believe me, I’ve been there.

3) bluffing too much If you learned poker by watching the pros play on TV, you might think that bluffing happens every other hand. It doesn’t! When poker shows are edited for broadcast, only the most exciting or interesting hands are chosen and often that includes big, bold bluffs. This makes it seem like they happen much more often than they really do.

4. change on board If you are f lying a long distance, bring a little care package for yourself with ear plugs, an eye mask and comfortable clothes to change into on the plane for sleeping. Ignore the other passengers if they’re giving the side-eye to your Star Trek pyjamas. They’re just jealous.

Plus, changing when you’re on board means that you won’t de-plane reeking of that weird, oil covered airplane food. I’m telling you, that smell lingers.

4) limping too much Especially when you’re first starting out in poker, try to remove limping from your options. Remember what I said about information? I’m going to keep saying it because it is so important in poker – information is power.

Your goal is to use all the evidence to figure out what kind of hands your opponents have. Limping doesn’t give you the chance to do that. If you limp, others could easily limp behind you and you’ll be up against a lot of hands that could be ANYTHING. If you raise, you make it more expensive to play and you force your opponents to make a real decision. You’ll likely end up playing the hand against fewer opponents, plus you can assume that they’ve got a better hand than they would have limped with. Information.

5. Do some research!

Make the most of wherever you’re going. Ask around for restaurant and sightseeing recommendations and look on travel websites. If you do end up with a bit of extra time on your hands, at least make sure you come back from your trip with photos and memories as well as the bad beat stories. Especially if you’re jet lagged and annoyed from some poker that didn’t go well, getting out and walking through the local area, listening to some live music or finding the best street food area in the world will help you make the most of things. ***

5 mistakes tHat rookie Poker Players oFten make

1) not recognising the importance of position Every seat at a poker table was NOT created equal. Poker is a game of incomplete information. We know what our cards are but everything else is a mystery that we’re trying to unravel. If you play hands when there are still lots of people left to act behind you (early position) then november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 59

5) playing too big Poker, especially when you’re first starting out, is about having fun. You’re probably playing for entertainment or because you enjoy the sense of competition. Keep that feeling safe by not playing in games that are more expensive than you afford! Figure out how much money you’re willing to spend on poker for whatever time period you choose (6 months, a year) and then set that money aside the same way you would if you were figuring out your budget for dining out or going to the movies. Make sure you only play with 5% of the total amount at any one time and that way, you’ll be able to make it last. Plus, if you get really unlucky and your AA get cracked by KK, all in preflop, you haven’t lost it all!

Kara Scott 59

29/10/13 08:15

From 1 Jan to 28 oct 2013 st

th

bulgarian player Dimitri Danchev is still ahead in the 2013 competition, but the impressive 19-year old spanish player adrian Diaz makes an impressive entrance on second place, thanks to his win at Wsope main event. french pro fabrice soulier saved his year as a runner-up of the same competition, and goes up to tenth place, not far from epT Deauville’s winner, young frenchman Remi castaignon. The race to the title is not over yet, as Diaz seems to be eager to play a lot more tournaments before the end of December...

DIMItaR Danchev

Ranking

toM MIDDleton

Player

winnings (usD)

1

Dimitar Danchev

1,980,854

16

Robert Haigh

747,134

2

Adrian Mateos Diaz

1,516,183

17

Michiel Brummelhuis

733,224

3

Tom Middleton

1,260,801

17

Sylvain Loosli

733,224

4

Daniel-Gai Pidun

1,153,523

19

Dominik Nitsche

731,296

5

Kimmo Matias Kurko

1,089,052

20

Carlos Mortensen

658,074

6

Robin Christoffer Ylitalo

1,063,731

21

Olof Haglund

653,958

7

Rémi Castaignon

1,050,220

22

Patrik Antonius

633,419

8

Ruben Visser

901,925

23

Johnny Lodden

626,235

9

David Vamplew

895,755

24

Mantas Visockis

613,549

10

Fabrice Soulier

869,458

25

Jakub Michalak

590,100

11

Nikolaus Teichert

848,792

26

Kresten Nielsen

589,250

12

Vladimir Troyanovskiy

812,232

27

Barny Boatman

580,376

13

Matt Perrins

798,288

28

Georgios Karakousis

571,310

14

Martin Finger

754,800

29

Samuel Bernabeu Guilabert

563,837

15

Thomas Muehloecker

753,496

30

Andrey Shatilov

559,312

60

PK52EURO_N14.indd 60

country

aDRIan Mateos DIaZ

Ranking

country

Player

winnings (usD)

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

Ranking

country

Player

winnings (usD)

Ranking

country

Player

winnings (usD)

31

Ian Simpson

553,984

66

Gwendoline Janot

315,580

32

Benjamin Pollak

533,065

67

Dinesh Alt

313,929

33

Ole Schemion

526,464

68

Roger Hairabedian

311,112

34

Niall Farrell

518,616

69

Alexandre Chieng

310,988

35

Lasse Frost

512,258

70

Theo Jorgensen

305,835

36

Stephen Chidwick

498,703

71

Enrico Rudelitz

301,632

37

Pete Linton

487,007

72

Joni Jouhkimainen

300,643

38

Ludovic Geilich

485,272

73

Matthew Ashton

300,203

39

Yevgeniy Timoshenko

484,752

74

Alexey Rybin

299,472

40

Sergio Castelluccio

461,570

75

Michael Gathy

296,916

41

Dana Castaneda

455,975

76

Sergio Aido

296,638

42

Ana Laura Marquez Esteban

444,215

77

Dejan Divkovic

292,328

43

Luca Fiorini

438,761

78

Arttu Raekorpi

291,392

44

Jake Cody

428,920

79

Clément Tripodi

286,389

45

Luca Moschitta

408,026

80

Jorn Walthaus

285,408

46

Yngve Steen

405,999

81

Sebastian Gohr

279,981

47

Leo McClean

405,107

82

Vladimir Schemelev

279,094

48

Daniel Cascado

397,336

83

Alexander Helbig

278,812

49

Manuel Mutke

392,385

84

Alexej Lakhov

278,496

50

Alban Juen

380,799

85

Maxi Lehmanski

276,538

51

Manig Loeser

380,298

86

Martin Hanowski

272,813

52

Roberto Romeo

375,078

87

Toby Lewis

272,107

53

Rupert Elder

373,227

88

Mika Paasonen

267,978

54

Norbert Szecsi

372,398

89

Xavier El Fassy

264,932

55

Simeon Naydenov

371,135

90

Chris Moorman

262,408

56

Pasi Sormunen

368,530

91

Christopher Robin Frank

260,951

57

Nichiei Hicks

366,289

92

Benoit Gury

257,648

58

Jan Nakladal

357,655

93

Jan Bendik

257,327

59

Benjamin Spindler

346,927

94

Alan Gold

251,575

60

Pascal Vos

343,584

95

Vladimir Bozinovic

247,588

61

Jonas Lauck

340,205

96

Antonio Buonanno

244,524

62

Jérôme Huge

339,267

97

Jean-Noël Thorel

242,790

63

Anton Morgenstern

336,231

98

Rachid Ben Cherif

242,023

64

Paul Vas Nunes

326,933

99

Nicola Sasso

240,889

65

Davidi Kitai

323,002

100

Jonathan Currle

239,981

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 61

61

29/10/13 08:15

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. contrary to the 2013 rolling ranking, the all Time money list includes any wins in tournaments, including ones with a buy-in superior to $25,000.

saM tRIcKett

Ranking

caRlos MoRtensen

country

Player

winnings (usD)

Gus hansen

Ranking

country

Player

winnings (usD)

1

Sam Trickett

19,877,332

16

Vitaly Lunkin

5,511,814

2

Carlos Mortensen

11,469,510

17

Philipp Gruissem

5,510,052

3

Gus Hansen

11,240,678

18

Roland de Wolfe

5,330,556

4

Peter Eastgate

11,131,450

19

Jeff Lisandro

5,185,762

5

Bertrand Grospellier

10,661,626

20

Juha Helppi

5,010,275

6

Pius Heinz

8,976,480

21

Yevgeniy Timoshenko

4,990,216

7

Eugene Katchalov

7,493,193

22

Fabrice Soulier

4,980,990

8

David Benyamine

7,047,146

23

Niklas Heinecker

4,773,583

9

Tobias Reinkemeier

6,952,560

24

Surinder Sunar

4,667,668

10

Ivan Demidov

6,826,568

25

Marvin Rettenmaier

4,457,429

11

Dave Ulliott

6,193,272

26

Roger Hairabedian

4,432,749

12

Patrik Antonius

6,141,005

27

Andy Black

4,432,368

13

Martin Staszko

5,705,959

28

Marcel Luske

4,238,327

14

Igor Kurganov

5,602,783

29

Antoine Saout

4,059,630

15

Chris Bjorin

5,535,050

30

Benjamin Spindler

4,049,790

AVAILABLE AT www.PoKeR52euRoPa.coM 62

PK52EURO_N14.indd 62

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

Player Jeff Lisandro

5,185,762

2

Filippo Candio

3,483,248

3

Max Pescatori

3,326,734

4

David Steicke

5

Salvatore Bonavena

6

Luca Pagano

7 8

Ranking

Player

winnings (usD)

Sam Trickett

2

Dave Ulliott

6,193,272

3

Roland de Wolfe

5,330,556

2,952,441

4

Surinder Sunar

4,667,668

2,632,270

5

Jake Cody

3,619,156

2,164,579

6

Ram Vaswani

3,477,240

Alessio Isaia

2,078,362

7

Neil Channing

3,385,767

Dario Minieri

1,894,868

8

Tony Bloom

3,308,051

9

Sergio Castelluccio

1,690,584

9

John Gale

3,306,889

10

Dario Alioto

1,531,440

10

Mark Teltscher

3,186,093

Player

winnings (usD)

1

Carlos Mortensen

11,469,510

2

Raul Paez Corral

1,855,567

3

Adrian Mateos Diaz

1,658,552

4

Juan Maceiras Lapido Jr.

1,084,473

Germany

1

Ranking

Ranking

Player

19,877,332

winnings (usD)

1

Pius Heinz

8,976,480

2

Tobias Reinkemeier

6,952,560

3

Philipp Gruissem

5,510,052

4

Niklas Heinecker

4,773,583

Dragan Kostic

961,275

5

Marvin Guido Rettenmaier

4,457,429

Raul Mestre

916,089

6

Benjamin Spindler

4,049,790

7

Ana Laura Marquez Esteban

894,497

7

Martin Finger

3,732,046

8

Tomeu Gomila

880,893

8

Ole Schemion

3,491,874

9

Jesús Cortes

828,203

9

Sebastian Ruthenberg

3,457,185

10

Leo Margets

788,908

10

Fabian Quoss

3,327,522

Player

winnings (usD)

1

Ivan Demidov

6,826,568

2

Igor Kurganov

5,602,783

3

Vitaly Lunkin

5,511,814

4

Alexander Kravchenko

3,982,758

Denmark

5 6

Ranking

Ranking

Player

winnings (usD)

1

Gus Hansen

11,240,678

2

Peter Eastgate

11,131,450

3

Theo Jorgensen

3,545,597

4

Frederik Brink Jensen

2,309,858

Maxim Lykov

3,094,954

5

Rehne Pedersen

2,302,466

Alexander Kostritsyn

2,935,244

6

Jan Sorensen

2,180,586

7

Kirill Gerasimov

2,568,566

7

Søren Kongsgaard Nielsen

1,988,594

8

Alex Bilokur

2,387,730

8

Lars Bonding

1,864,887

9

Andrey Pateychuk

2,363,092

9

Sander Lyloff

1,713,253

10

Konstantin Puchkov

2,102,778

10

Rasmus Nielsen

1,424,028

Player

winnings (usD)

norway

5 6

Ranking

Ranking

Player

winnings (usD)

1

Annette Obrestad

3,910,678

2

Jan Olav Sjavik

2,053,329

3

Johnny Lodden

1,862,853

4

Andreas Hoivold

1,708,024

3,045,545

5

Trond Eidsvig

1,623,879

Michael Tureniec

2,824,582

6

Dag Martin Mikkelsen

1,499,148

7

Erik Marcus Friberg

2,764,371

9

Andreas Walnum

1,197,518

8

Ramzi Jelassi

2,542,477

7

Bjorn-Erik Glenne

1,092,588

9

Christer Johansson

2,161,275

8

Kristian Kjondal

1,057,150

10

Kent Lundmark

1,873,765

10

Marcel Bjerkmann

1

Chris Bjorin

5,535,050

2

Martin Jacobson

4,003,250

3

Martin De Knijff

3,419,490

4

William Thorson

3,372,326

5

Johan Storakers

6

Ranking

Player

winnings (usD)

1

Andy Black

4,432,368

2

Marty Smyth

3,878,676

3

Eoghan O'Dea

4 5 6 7

Ranking

Player

977,333

winnings (usD)

1

Bertrand Grospellier

2

David Benyamine

7,047,146

2,561,384

3

Fabrice Soulier

4,980,990

Padraig Parkinson

1,672,988

4

Roger Hairabedian

4,432,749

Dermot Blain

1,418,430

5

Antoine Saout

4,059,630

Fintan Gavin

1,410,413

6

Ludovic Lacay

3,136,513

John Magill

1,209,798

7

Bruno Fitoussi

2,703,719

10,661,626

8

Donnacha O'Dea

1,204,428

8

Alain Roy

2,676,333

9

Liam Flood

1,148,854

9

Jean-Paul Pasqualini

2,660,096

10

Noel Furlong

1,145,807

10

Antony Lellouche

2,551,175

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 63

winnings (usD)

1

england

Ranking

france

Ireland

sweden

Russia

spain

Italy

toP ten - all time money list

63

29/10/13 08:15

GPI top100

Who can beat german players in the gpi race? ole schemion is still number one, just before his fellow mates marvin Rettenmaier, philip gruissem and martin finger. elky is still in the race, as well as another frenchman, Roger hairabedian, while the brits seem to be beat, with only two players in Top 15. now that the year is almost over, noone seems to be able to make better than german players...

ole scheMIon

Ranking

MaRvIn RettenMaIeR

country

Player

score

PhIlIPP GRuIsseM

Ranking

country

Player

score

1

Ole Schemion

3081.40

16

Ana Laura Marquez Esteban

1952.43

2

Marvin Rettenmaier

3066.43

17

Stephen Chidwick

1887.53

3

Philipp Gruissem

2692.56

18

Juha Helppi

1873.29

4

Martin Finger

2584.69

19

Paul Berende

1851.47

5

Bertrand Grospellier

2573.53

20

Jan Bendik

1828.72

6

Toby Lewis

2419.39

21

Dario Sammartino

1823.05

7

Roger Hairabedian

2320.08

22

Benjamin Pollak

1822.89

8

Davidi Kitai

2313.79

23

Jonathan Aguiar

1820.86

9

Joni Jouhkimainen

2294.85

24

Manig Loeser

1818.69

10

Fabian Quoss

2216.57

25

Matthew Ashton

1798.87

11

David Vamplew

2151.54

26

Tobias Reinkemeier

1746.90

12

Martin Jacobson

2008.90

27

Anaras Alekberovas

1743.06

13

Dimitar Danchev

2004.15

28

Dominik Nitsche

1738.01

14

Ismael Bojang

1970.40

29

Kevin Vandersmissen

1709.19

15

Philippe Ktorza

1969.30

30

Zimnan Ziyard

1683.76

64

PK52EURO_N14.indd 64

november – december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

Ranking

country

Player

score

Ranking

country

Player

score

31

Mihails Morozovs

1680.48

66

Carlos Mortensen

1345.36

32

Chris Moorman

1672.55

67

Sergio Aido

1344.90

33

Niall Farrell

1665.39

68

Guy Goossens

1341.35

34

Maxi Lehmanski

1662.12

69

James Mitchell

1338.65

35

Giacomo Fundaro

1661.41

70

Joao Barbosa

1338.48

36

Thomas Muehloecker

1659.48

71

Andrea Dato

1338.28

37

Dermot Blain

1654.39

72

Kent Lundmark

1337.93

38

Mickey Petersen

1647.34

73

Thomas Butzhammer

1337.18

39

Alessandro Longobardi

1602.16

74

Mihai Manole

1336.54

40

Ramzi Jelassi

1591.95

75

Flavien Guenan

1328.08

41

Rocco Palumbo

1580.90

76

Raul Paez Corral

1318.67

42

David Benyamine

1564.87

77

Robert Haigh

1317.23

43

Robin Christoffer Ylitalo

1548.78

78

George Danzer

1313.77

44

Kenny Hallaert

1532.39

79

Paul Vas Nunes

1312.74

45

Manuel Bevand

1521.05

80

Simon Ravnsbaek

1294.91

46

Jonas Lauck

1519.03

81

Jean-Noël Thorel

1289.37

47

Roberto Romanello

1516.91

82

Massimo Mosele

1284.59

48

Kristijonas Andrulis

1508.86

83

Heinz Kamutzki

1281.98

49

Nikolaus Teichert

1506.71

84

Alain Roy

1280.80

50

Christopher Brammer

1504.66

85

Alexander Roumeliotis

1277.29

51

Matthias De Meulder

1489.89

86

Rasmus Agerskov Larsen

1275.93

52

Craig McCorkell

1481.80

87

Aku Joentausta

1272.81

53

Marcin Wydrowski

1478.30

88

Tamer Kamel

1271.19

54

Rhys Jones

1444.25

89

Sebastian Gohr

1269.69

55

Michel Abécassis

1435.92

90

Fabrice Soulier

1269.60

56

Jake Cody

1429.60

91

John Eames

1268.21

57

Salvatore Bonavena

1421.63

92

Max Silver

1265.59

58

Steve Watts

1397.93

93

Danyel Boyaciyan

1264.14

59

Govert Metaal

1395.26

94

Lauri Pesonen

1263.90

60

Tom Alner

1387.53

95

Sergio Castelluccio

1263.79

61

Vojtech Ruzicka

1384.81

96

Marcel Luske

1262.27

62

Erwann Pecheux

1371.15

97

Martin Staszko

1236.03

63

Paul Tedeschi

1369.65

98

Tobias Peters

1230.40

64

Atanas Gueorguiev

1353.17

99

Benjamin Spindler

1222.37

65

Jan Peter Jachtmann

1351.14

100

Mikolaj Zawadzki

1207.70

november – december 2013

PK52EURO_N14.indd 65

65

29/10/13 08:15

touRnaMent scheDule noveMBeR 2013

1 - 3 Nov 2013 2013 super stack series - leg 23, dublin 1 - 11 Nov 2013 2013 Heartland poker tour - missouri, st. louis 1 - 12 Nov 2013 2013 Wpt merit national event cyprus, Kyrenia 1 - 25 Nov 2013 2013 Heartland poker tour - michigan, mount pleasant 2 - 3 Nov 2013 apat scottish amateur poker championship, Glasgow 2 - 10 Nov 2013 mid-states poker tour - baraboo, baraboo 3 - 9 Nov 2013 pokerfest romania season 3 bucharest, bucharest 3 - 10 Nov 2013 2013 Grosvenor UK poker tour - leg 11, blackpool 4 Nov 2013 Genting poker big Game, london 5 - 10 Nov 2013 Wpt national - china, sanya 6 - 10 Nov 2013 German poker tour - Final, Hamburg 6 - 11 Nov 2013 2013 deepstacks poker tour - veneto poker carnivale, panama city 7 - 10 Nov 2013 bwin Wpt national - Gruissan, Gruissan 7 - 10 Nov 2013 Westernmania iii, london 7 - 11 Nov 2013 Wpt emperors palace poker classic, Johannesburg 7 - 18 Nov 2013 2013 Heartland poker tour - las vegas, las vegas 7 - 18 Nov 2013 [Wsopc] Wsop circuit - louisiana, bossier city 8 - 11 Nov 2013 planet poker deepstack series, spa 8 - 11 Nov 2013 deepstack open - mauritius, Grand bay 8 - 14 Nov 2013 caribbean poker tour - punta cana, punta cana 9 - 10 Nov 2013 apat north american amateur poker championship, las vegas 9 - 10 Nov 2013 social club main event, brisbane 9 - 10 Nov 2013 aps - north sydney bears club, sydney 9 - 16 Nov 2013 master classics of poker 2013, amsterdam 11 Nov 2013 veteran’s day, oceanside 11 - 17 Nov 2013 punta cana poker classic 2013, punta cana 12 - 17 Nov 2013 pokerstars.net Košice open €20.000 Gtd, Kosice 12 - 24 Nov 2013 czech poker Festival 2013, prague 13 Nov 2013 2013 Great blue Heron Freezeout, port perry 13 - 17 Nov 2013 dpt Xviii, rozvadov 13 - 17 Nov 2013 latin america poker tour vi - Uruguay Grand Final, punta del este 13 - 24 Nov 2013 [Wsopc] Wsop circuit - Quebec, Gatineau 66

PK52EURO_N14.indd 66

14 - 17 Nov 2013 athena deepstack, spa 14 - 17 Nov 2013 pokerfirma Hold’em series, innsbruck 15 - 19 Nov 2013 Wpt Jacksonville bestbet Fall poker scramble, Jacksonville 15 - 24 Nov 2013 caribbean poker tour - st. maarten, st. maarten 16 - 23 Nov 2013 France poker series - paris, paris 16 - 24 Nov 2013 anZpt auckland, auckland 16 - 24 Nov 2013 eurasian poker tour - Kazakhstan poker championship, astana 17 Nov 2013 Genting poker series - leg 7 (online), Unknown 17 Nov 2013 super star sunday, bray 17 - 24 Nov 2013 2013 Grosvenor UK poker tour - Grand Final, london 18 - 24 Nov 2013 seneca Fall poker classic, niagara Falls 18 - 25 Nov 2013 deepstacks poker tour - mohegan sun World championship, Uncasville 18 Nov - 6 Dec 2013 Wpt montreal, Kahnawake 20 Nov - 1 Dec 2013 acF Hold’em series, aviation club de France, paris 20 - 24 Nov 2013 cnp - madrid, madrid 22 Nov - 1 Dec 2013 belgian poker challenge, namur 22 Nov - 9 Dec 2013 2013 Heartland poker tour - indiana, Gary 25 Nov - 1 Dec 2013 2013 campeonato espana de poker - barcelona 27 Nov - 4 Dec 2013 2013 bsop - brazilian series of poker, sao paulo 28 Nov 2013 Fitzwilliam end of month event, dublin 28 Nov - 1 Dec 2013 2013 super stack series - leg 25, london 28 Nov - 2 Dec 2013 UK & ireland poker tour - nottingham, nottingham 28 Nov - 2 Dec 2013 ipt Grand Final saint vincent, saint-vincent 29 Nov - 1 Dec 2013 pokerfinnkampen 2013, tallinn 29 Nov - 2 Dec 2013 [Wptr] seminole Hard rock n roll poker, coconut creek 29 Nov - 9 Dec 2013 Wsop circuit - atlantic city, atlantic city 29 Nov - 11 Dec 2013 Wpt doyle brunson Five diamond , las vegas 30 Nov - 8 Dec 2013 mid-states poker tour - shakopee, shakopee

DeceMBeR 2013

1 - 3 Dec 2013 mario Grand poker club, constanta 2 Dec 2013 Genting poker big Game, london 4 - 9 Dec 2013 Wpt national brussels Fall series, brussels

5 - 6 Dec 2013 ecoap #1 european amateur team championship, Unknown 5 - 8 Dec 2013 Unibet open riga 2013, riga 5 - 16 Dec 2013 Wsop circuit - san diego, san diego 6 - 8 Dec 2013 2013 super stack series - leg 26, marbella 7 - 8 Dec 2013 ecoap #2 european amateur poker championship, Unknown 7 - 8 Dec 2013 aps - north sydney bears club, sydney 7 - 15 Dec 2013 mega stack challenge XXiX, mashantucket 8 - 18 Dec 2013 ept/eUreKa - prague, prague 11 Dec 2013 2013 Great blue Heron Freezeout, port perry 11 - 16 Dec 2013 Genting poker series - Grand Final, sheffield 12 - 15 Dec 2013 Wpt regional series - Winter tampa bay, tampa 12 - 16 Dec 2013 peoples poker tour 2013, saint-vincent 13 - 15 Dec 2013 2013 super stack series - leg 27, london 15 - 21 Dec 2013 Wpt prague, prague 16 - 19 Dec 2013 Wpt south Korea, Jeju 16 - 22 Dec 2013 csop Grand prix, Zagreb 17 - 22 Dec 2013 pokerfest romania season 3 brasov, brasov 18 Dec 2013 2013 Great blue Heron King of cards, port perry 18 - 22 Dec 2013 2013 campeonato espana de poker - aranjuez, madrid 19 - 21 Dec 2013 2013 as d’or deepstack, spa

JanuaRy 2014

5 - 13 Jan 2014 pokerstars caribbean adventure, paradise island 9 - 20 Jan 2014 Wsop circuit - durant, durant 10 - 21 Jan 2014 macau poker cup, macau 15 - 19 Jan 2014 2014 ppc tampa downs Winter Fest, tampa bay 15 - 19 Jan 2014 deepstack open - paris, paris 22 - 26 Jan 2014 France poker series - Final, deauville 22 - 27 Jan 2014 stax poker lounge showdown, coconut creek 22 Jan - 1 Feb 2014 ept deauville, deauville 23 Jan - 3 Feb 2014 Wsop circuit - robinsonville, robinsonville 23 Jan - 10 Feb 2014 2014 aussie millions poker championship, melbourne 26 - 31 Jan 2014 Wpt borgata Winter poker open, atlantic city 28 Jan - 2 Feb 2014 2014 mega poker series - vienna, vienna

november –december 2013

29/10/13 08:15

www.poker52europa.com

Europa#14_COUV.indd 3

28/10/13 14:50

Europa#14_COUV.indd 4

28/10/13 14:50