PokerListings founder shot dead

Date: Tue, Aug 11, 2009

A story riddled with rumors surfaced today regarding the death of Andreas Oscarsson.

Oscarsson, who founded the PokerListings online poker site, was found dead at his Trollhattan, Sweden home last week on Aug. 3.

Police report that the 36-year-old was murdered by a gunshot to the head (suicide has been ruled out), but that's as far as they go.

Oscarsson's 2-year-old son was present at the time of the shooting but was unharmed.

Oscarsson lived with his wife, who stayed behind in their SoHo home in New York City.

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November Nine WSOP Prop Bets and Team Bodog WSOP Results

Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2009

photo courtesy bodog.com

Bodog is giving action junkies the chance to get in on the November Nine frenzy with the recent release of their November Nine World Series Of Poker Prop bets now available at Bodog's Online Sportsbook.

The biggest wager revolves around the odds of which player will actually walk away as the 2009 WSOP Main Event champion. The current chip leader - Darvin Moon - is listed as the favorite at 17/10 odds to win the 2009 WSOP Main Event Final Table, followed by Eric Buchman, who is listed at 3/1 odds to win. Right behind them are poker pros Phil Ivey, Steve Begleiter and Jeff Shulman, who are all listed at 4/1 odds to win.

Bodog's oddsmakers have also put Ivey, the most experienced player at the final table, exiting in forth or fifth place at 7/4. Along with these wagers, there are also odds as to whether the winner will be European or American, what suit the final river card on the final hand will be, and many more fun poker prop bets.

Team Bodog had a good run at the 2009 WSOP Main Event with a good number of players making it into Day 3. The Team Bodog professional that went the deepest was Justin Bonomo, who went out in 442nd place. Bonomo managed to make it to the money, but didn't get deep into the big payouts.

Jean-Robert Bellande knocked out David "Chino" Rheem after getting placed at a tough table on Day 1, and David Williams finished in fourth place in the $1,500 Limit Holdem Shootout, narrowly missing winning his second WSOP bracelet. Williams had two other WSOP cashes this year; a 16th-place finish in the $10K PLO World Championship for nearly $35K, and his 597th-place finish in the Main Event for another $21K.

The Team Bodog member that went the deepest was Alper "thunderfx" Sar from Turkey, who qualified for the 2009 WSOP Main Event playing online poker at Bodog by winning a WSOP Semifinal Event. Sar collected $57,991 for an 85th-place finish. At one point his chip stack was as big as 1.9 million, but some bad luck knocked him out before he could reach the big payouts.

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2009 WSOP Champion's Invitational Tonight ON ESPN

Date: Tue, Aug 4, 2009

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Tuesday night means 2009 World Series of Poker on ESPN Sports TV. Grab the snacks and a few brews, settle back for two hours of poker as played by former WSOP Main Event champions. Everyone playing in tonight's offering has at least one WSOP Championship bracelet. This is the crème de la crème of WSOP poker.

What better way to study how the champions play? They are playing for a shiny red no-mileage 1970 Corvette Stingray, the Binion Cup trophy, and a year's worth of bragging rights as the WSOP Champion of Champions so don't miss this special poker event. Tonight you will see episode's #3 & #4 from the 2009 WSOP ESPN coverage beginning at 8 PM ET on the ESPN sports network. Check local listings for exact times in your area.

Many more Flipchip photos featuring former WSOP Main Event Champions playing in the 2009 WSOP Champions Invitational event are waiting after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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Cherokee Nation Casino Morphs Into Hard Rock Casino Today

Date: Mon, Aug 3, 2009

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation's highly successful Casino Resort stands poised to enter the next phase of success when it becomes only the seventh Hard Rock Casino & Hotel and the only Hard Rock in the heartland of America. The grand opening ceremonies begin at 1:00 PM Tulsa Time (CDT) with keynote speeches from the Cherokee Nations Principal Chief Chad Smith and Cherokee Nation Entertainment CEO David Stewart. On-hand will be Hard Rock corporate officials and music superstar Toby Keith will be opening his newest Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill.

Cherokee Nation Entertainment is synonymous with world class entertainment and now moves to the next level with the Hard Rock branding of their casino resort. A new tower adds 200 rooms to the existing hotel bringing the total number of rooms to 350. In the mix are new Hard Rock Suites and the ultra opulent Chief's Suite for those that require the finest in accommodations, impeccable service, and mandatory luxurious amenities.

Five restaurants insures a menu for every taste with the McGill's on 19, a penthouse located fine-dining venue, providing an intimate dining experience of unmatched culinary delights. Five nightclubs offers entertainment options to please everyone. From the Center bar with its 80 foot long frozen bartop to the urban sheik, metro style Friction Lounge.

The resort combines the rich history and unique art of the Cherokee people, the long-established musical heritage of Oklahoma, and the rock n' roll tradition of the Hard Rock to provide an unsurpassed vacation destination in the Mid-South. More than 2,300 modern slots are located in the 125,000 square feet of casino and 70 table games including 36 live-action poker tables are available 24/7.

An award winning 18-hole, par 70, Cherokee Hills Golf Club championship golf course is situated next to the resort on 170 beautifully landscaped acres. A Las Vegas style swimming pool area is set to open this Fall.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is wholly owned and operated by Cherokee Nation Entertainment and offers employment opportunities to more than 3,400 people including 2,380 Native Americans. Oklahoma and surrounding areas are the recipients of more than a billion dollars annually from the revenues produced by Cherokee Nation Entertainment. Casino profits are divided with 70% going into expansion efforts and 30% going directly into the Cherokee community for government services including, but not limited to, schools, medical centers, social services, modern communications, and improved living conditions.

Additional details are available at Cherokee Nation Entertainment and Cherokee Nation.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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Bodog Awards Player With One Of The First Seats To The 2010 WSOP

Date: Thu, Jul 30, 2009

photo courtesy bodog.com

With the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event on hold until the return of the "November Nine," Bodog.com already has its sights set on next year's Main Event in Las Vegas. One of the first events to qualify online poker players for the 2010 Poker World Series, the Bodog Mini Poker Series, awarded a $12,000 prize package this past Sunday to winner John "Getn_Outa_MI" Ormsby.

"The possibility of winning a seat in next year's Main Event was the main reason I was interested in playing in the Bodog Mini Poker Series," explains Ormsby, who has earned the distinction of becoming the first member of Team Bodog at the 2010 Poker World Series. "I've always wanted to go to Vegas to play in the World Series but have never had the chance. The Mini Series provided me with a great opportunity to do so."

Wrapping up the 13-event online poker tournament series that ran alongside the 2009 Poker World Series Main Event, the Bodog Mini Series Final included 82 players, all who had either won their way in by placing in the top ten of the series' Tournament Leader Board, placing in the top 18 of the Semifinal Tournament held on July 21, or playing in all 13 of the Bodog Mini Poker Series events.

While it was the $12,000 Poker World Series package the players were ultimately battling for, it was not the only prize up for grabs in the Bodog Mini Poker Series Final. "Dannenman" and "turningstone," who finished second and third respectively, each won buy-ins to every event in the upcoming Bodog Poker Open IV (T$2,000). "ManHound" and "prophet" each received seats to any Bodog Flight Club Semifinal (T$270) of their choosing for finishing in fourth and fifth. For placing sixth through ninth, "Mattaru," "Jeffrado," "PrinceSheba," and "757Gam" each won entry to one of Bodog's weekly $100,000 Guaranteed Poker Tournaments (T$162), held every Sunday at 4:00 pm EST.

With the Bodog Mini Poker Series now in the books, attention in the Bodog.com Poker room turns to Bodog Flight Club, which awards online poker players prize packages to major poker tournaments all over the world, including the EPT, WPT and LAPT. Right now, qualifiers are running for the WPT Legends of Poker event at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles. Bodog.com players can get started on their way for as little as $1 or 100 Bodog Poker Points.

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2009 WSOP on ESPN Sports TV Every Tuesday 8 PM

Date: Wed, Jul 29, 2009

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Tuesday night is WSOP poker night on ESPN Sports TV. Beginning at 8 PM ET July 28th get set for two hours of 2009 WSOP Poker every week until the November final table. Shows 1 & 2 kick off the action with the final table of the 2009 WSOP 40th Anniversary $40,000 NLHE Championship. The winner, Vitaly Lunkin, received almost $1.9 million in cash and a WSOP Championship Bracelet. Second place went to Isaac Haxton along with $1,168,655 in prize money.

More Flipchip photos featuring former WSOP Main Event Champion playing in the $40K event after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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Volunteers of America Charity Poker Tournament Today

Date: Wed, Jul 22, 2009

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Here's another opportunity to rub shoulders with some of poker's elite while doing a great service for our senior citizens in need of special care. The M Resort Las Vegas is hosting a charity poker tournament today, Thursday, July 23rd at Noon, to benefit Homestead of Boulder City, a Volunteers of America assisted living and memory care facility serving Southern Nevada.

The tournament is a $200+20 Buy-In NLHE event with unlimited $30 Rebuys the first three levels plus one $30 Add-On for double the starting chip stack. Fifty percent of all proceeds will go to the charity while the remaining fifty percent will be paid out to the final table players. The winner will also receive a very nice Rockwell Time sports watch. Complete details are available at greasywheels.com.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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2009 WSOP Main Event Day 8 Photos

Date: Tue, Jul 21, 2009

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Day 8 of the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event welcomed 27 players to do battle commencing at High Noon across the felt for the nine seats of the November Final Table. Those 9 lucky players would leave the Amazon Room at the Rio Resort as members of the nouveau riche, all millionaires after each received $1,263,602 for 9th place.

Considering the amount of money at stake it was again assumed the players would show caution and restraint, playing far into the wee hours of the next day. Some thought we could still be there twenty four hours later recording a slow grind toward poker immortality. No one believed it would be over in time to catch the 11 o'clock news. There was no fear among this crowd of poker warriors. Aggression ruled on the day and "All-in and a Call" was the oft-heard battle cry.

More Flipchip photos from Day 8 after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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2009 WSOP Main Event Day 7 Photos

Date: Tue, Jul 21, 2009

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Day 7 finds 64 players returning to the tables for the semi final round of play. When this day ends we will have the 27 finalist set to play for a seat at the November Final table. The chip stacks are millions huge and a slowing of play is assumed as the play began to smell the fame and fortune awaiting the November Nine. Slow play just never happened this day and the 64 went at each other as if there was no tomorrow and for many there wasn't. This bunch didn't hesitate to push their stack in so eliminations continued at a furious pace.

More Flipchip photos from Day 5 after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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$45k winner of Full Tilt's largest tournament plays $6 SnG

Date: Mon, Jul 20, 2009

So you invest $5 into a 50,000-player tournament on Sunday, win 1st place for $45,000, and what do you do?

Go back to grinding a $10 heads-up sit'n'go.

That's what Chicago-based breo40 did, coming down off Full Tilt's largest tournament in their history, which lasted almost 9 hours (the final table alone was 90 minutes).

That's dedication. We don't know if we'd have that much restraint and discipline not to jump into a higher limit game, you know, to parlay.

But the 30-year-old will continue to play his regular low-limit sit-n-go games, though he conceded he'd go as high as $100... non-turbo.

During the marathon session, he never fell below average stack and his Aces held up. He led the final table with a 3:1 chip lead, and his final hand was A9 vs. 34. A9 held up.

He doesn't yet know what he'll do with his newfound windfall, but for now he's content playing the same games he did before.

And trying to get the money out of his account as fast as possible.

Full Tilt informed breo40 that at least a dozen players attempted to hack into his account after his win. His account is currently being monitored for any fraudulent activity.

Asking the instant online poker celebrity what he did as soon as he won, breo40 said: "bout crapped my pants."

And by the way, he lost the heads-up SnG but jumped into a 6max $6 SnG.

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PokerStars breaks world record with 65,000 players in single tournament

Date: Sun, Jul 19, 2009

The battle of the online poker giants has ended with one victor for the Guinness World Record of most amount of players in a single poker tournament.

Full Tilt achieved their max of 50,000 players, beating Poker Stars' record by 15,000 players. That $5 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed tournament begins today at 12:05 p.m. PT.

Not to be outdone on their own record, moments after Full Tilt announced their intent, Stars whipped up another Guinness-breaker tournament in an effort to retain their title. And it paid off. Originally uncapped, they cut off the tourney at 65,000 players, perhaps with concerns too many players in a single tournament might crash their server. That $1 buy-in, $130,000 guaranteed tournament begins today at 11:10 p.m. PT.

There's still a chance to enter the Stars tourney to be part of history. Because players can unregister, occasionally you'll see the tally drop to 64,999. Have the table open, and as soon as it does, click that Register button as fast as you can.

As for us, we were sucked into registering for both tourneys. Both didn't have any entry fees and have a 100 percent overlay, always a plus. The better overlay is on Full Tilt, as they matched $5 for every $5 buy-in, paying out 7,500 places. That's more than the 6,494 players that entered this year's Main Event at the World Series of Poker. First place in the tournament will receive $45,000.

Not a bad payday for 5 bucks.

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PokerStars also competes for Guinness World Record of most players in single tournament

Date: Sat, Jul 18, 2009

We don't know who came first, but on the same day that Full Tilt seeks to break the world record for most players in a single tournament, PokerStars will also be competing.

Stars claimed the record to begin with, at 35,000 players on Dec. 28, 2008.

Both sites already have more than the record amount of players.

Tilt has capped theirs at 50,000 (currently at 41,884 at this posting). Their tourney is a $5 with a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Stars, however, has uncapped theirs and may possibly beat 50,000 (currently at 46,243 at this posting). Stars' tourney #200900719 has a $1 buy-in with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. It's set for July 19 at 11:10 p.m. Vegas time... 65 minutes before Tilt's tourney begins.

Who wants to set the over/under for when either site crashes?

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Full Tilt attempts to break world record tomorrow

Date: Sat, Jul 18, 2009

If you've had a taste of the WSOP and are craving some of the same action but at little cost, all the while breaking a Guinness World Record, Full Tilt is the place to be.

As part of their 5th anniversary, the online poker site is hoping to break a world record for most players in a single tournament.

At the time of this posting, there are 40,321 players registered at $5 a pop (no entry fee). The tourney is capped at 50,000, and with a $500,000 prize pool, that means Full Tilt is putting up 100 percent of the buy-ins.

The tourney is #99219444 and called The Record Breaker. It takes place beginning 12:05 p.m. (Vegas time) on July 19.

We'll be playing. Where else could we turn $5 into a potential $45,000 first-place win, and if not that, at least break a world record?

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2009 WSOP Main Event Day 6 Photos

Date: Fri, Jul 17, 2009

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Day 6 welcomes the remaining 185 runners from the once huge field of 6,494 players that began the event a couple of weeks ago. Today the group will be reduced to 64 by the time five full 2 hour levels of play are completed a few minutes before 1 AM. Everyone remaining is guaranteed of taking home at least $90,344 in cash for 64th place while 63rd and up will get a minimum of $108,047 or more. Flipchip was there recording the images of poker history in the making and shares some of his Day 6 favorites.

More Flipchip photos from Day 5 after the jump.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

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