Poker Blog and Poker Gossip

Who knew that a challenge by an 80+-year-old man could get a healthy and fit 28 year old so bothered? Saturday’s blog post by Patrik Antonius has him seeming quite indignant toward Doyle Brunson’s latest blog, challenging him to a high stakes round of golf. He did, in face, accept the $100,000 per hole challenge, but only after some whining and complaining about how he is a beginning player and Doyle is known to have been a golf hustler for many years. Seems to me that someone’s might be afraid of having his ego bruised a bit!

Whining and complaining aside, what really stood out was the blatant disrespect that Antonius shows to Brunson in the beginning of the post. While it may all have been in jest and good fun, his references to his shock at the ability of someone “around before TV’s and telephones” to write a blog and to stealing away Brunson’s son’s inheritance were quite rude and uncalled for.

In any case, it seems that the match is in the works, as Antonius has reportedly spoken with Brunson prior to their recent Poker After Dark appearance. Let’s hope that the outcome of both the heads-up match and the possible golf showdown do a little something to put a damper on a swollen ego. Wouldn’t it be fun to watch the Legend show the youngster a bit about how things are done. Better get that practice in, Patrik, I think you’re going to need it!

Was checking out the Cardplayer.com live updates and came accross this funny little blurb:

A hilarious moment developed later in the day when one of the few unknown players in the field took a seat at Table 12 and found himself facing a pretty tough lineup. Victor Ramdin, seated next to him, made the introductions, and named everyone at the table along with some of their poker accomplishments.

The player looked at the table in a shocked state of awe, and then quickly realized the bad beat he was dealt on the redraw.

Here are the top 10 players at the end of Day 2 of the WPT Championship at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada:

1. Robert Mizrachi - 523,200
2. Jayde Tran - 406,700
3. Eric Richards - 399,500
4. Bryan Devonshire - 393,400
5. Cory Carroll - 384,700
6. John Celii - 376,800
7. Carlos Mortensen - 371,600
8. Kenny Tran - 367,400
9. Michael Gracz - 364,800
10. Jonathan Kalmar - 333,900

She was only 26, but she quickly rose to becoming one of the most talked about female poker players of all time. With her wonderful looks, and love for attention, Brandi Hawbaker was both loved by many in the poker community.

Sadly, last week, Ms. Hawbaker was found dead. The Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed that her body was found Sunday, April 13, in a residence in the 8700 block of Pershing Drive in Playa Del Rey, California. An autopsy later confirmed that her death was ruled as a suicide.

According to former boyfriend, Brandon Gerson, Hawbaker had been suffering from a “very serious untreatable mental illness”.

I had several communications with Brandi over email and she always seemed like a very intelligent and kind young lady. Brandi, you will be missed, may you rest in peace. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

All the talk, these days, is about politics. Guesses and accusations are made regularly about who will make changes and who won’t change a thing. Everyone has an argument both in favor and against all parties and all of their representatives. Amidst all of the chatter are the politicians, who know what they want to do but can only do so if they are heard and empowered by votes.

This is why PocketFives.com has been, for the past several weeks, welcoming politicians to the PocketFives.com Podcast. Congressman Frank joined the group in early April discussing the legislation he and Ron Paul introduced to the House on the 11^th. And on the 17^th, Congressman Wexler spoke with the PocketFives crew.

Wexler is attempting to pass legislation that would exempt poker, mah jong, chess and similar games from the current Internet gambling laws. It would keep games of skill played man to man rather than player to house from being subject to the strict regulations and bans that are currently infuriating poker players throughout the country. Wexler also favors groups such as the Poker Players Alliance, which fights for the rights of online poker players. He believes that the poker world is one that should not be ignored, and that makes him a man you don’t want to ignore.

To hear the Podcast, check out PocketFives.com. You’ll be glad you did, and come November, you’ll be even more so when you make the wise vote.

From the looks of the latest blog post from Doyle Brunson, the attention that has been given to the possibility of a heads up match between he and Patrik Antonius has him completely exasperated. Everywhere he goes, it seems that someone is asking him when the match is going down. He’s been asked about it in interviews, sent links to comments Patrik has made, and read about it in of CardPlayer magazine, where the match-up has already made the cover, though it hasn’t yet been scheduled. Even one of his long time friends had the gall to ask him if he actually thought he could win.

Well, if that didn’t get ol’ Doyle boiling! He goes on to say that if given the opportunity to choose the time, place, and game, he believes he can beat any one of the under thirty crowd. He even makes threats to retire to the family’s Montana acreage, should he not win. I certainly hope that was an empty promise, as it will be a very sad day when he last walks away from the felt.

He is so worked up by all of the attention that this match-up is getting and from the ego-driven comments of Patrik Antonius, he has decided to throw out his own challenge. Doyle wants to face off on the golf course as well, at $100,000 a hole. If that goes down, it had better be televised as well!

Everyone at Pokerstars is a VIP and will certainly be treated as such through their VIP program. With promotions like tournaments, freerolls, and awesome prizes, each and every player has a chance to feel like they have a huge bankroll. Though there are wonderful incentives for all levels, the more points you earn, the more benefits you will receive.

The multiple level program rewards based on the number of Frequent Player Points (FPP) they earn each month. As your status increases, so does the rate of points you earn per hand or tournament. Those who play less frequently are considered Bronze Stars, giving them access to merchandise and freerolls. Those who move up in the rankings get even more benefits, such as special tournaments, freerolls, and custom, specialty merchandise.

Some of the prizes that you can purchase with your earned points include clothing, poker supplies and books, many of which are within reach of bronze level players. There are electronics prizes, such as plasma televisions, game systems, and digital cameras, as well as gift certificates and tournament seats. Once you reach platinum status, you can elect to exchange your credits for cash. Those who have achieved the highest standing in the VIP club, Supernova Elite, you get special cash bonuses and have access to prizes, such as a Porsche or a heads-up tournament against a Team Pokerstars pro.

Every day there are freerolls for VIPs with a $500 prize, which are available to all levels of VIP. There are weekly VIP tournaments available by status level with prizes that range from $1000 up to $50,000. Every month brings two special VIP tournaments, as well. The $2500 tournament is open to all, while those who want a seat in the $100,000 tournament must be at Silver status.