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WSOP Champ Pius Heinz The "Poker Pope" in Native Germany
2011 World Series of Poker champ Pius Heinz received a heroes welcome of sorts in his native Germany, where he is being hailed as the “Poker Pope”.
Heinz is the first German to win a WSOP main event. The 22-year-old from Cologne is bound to draw plenty of attention having won a whopping $8.7 million and some change.
Afterwards, he celebrated with fellow third place finisher and “Poker Player of the Year” Ben Lamb.
Tatjana Pasalic at the Punta Cana Poker Classic: “I Think It’s Awesome”
Sadly, the three big name Bodog Poker female pros, Tatjana Pasalic, Amanda Leatherman and Evelyn Ng all busted out of the 2011 Punta Cana Poker Classic before making the top 50 in-the-money.
Remaining Punta Cana Poker Classic Players Now in the Money
At approximately 10:45 pm local time Thursday evening, the 51st player was eliminated from this year’s Punta Cana Poker Classic. He goes home with….well….nothing.
50th place through 1st place will all finish in the money.
Among the notables still in: Panamanian pros Bolivar Palacios and Jose Miguel de la Guardia.
Jessica Perez of Cuba Making Waves at Punta Cana Classic: Tears Shed by Some
Cuban player Jessica Perez was among the chip leaders ending play early Thursday morning at this year’s Punta Cana Poker Classic. A total of 415 players ultimately registered. The second annual event required a room three times the size of last year’s event, which featured just over 200 players.
Barry Greenstein and Linda Johnson Inducted into Poker Hall of Fame
Barry Greenstein and Linda Johnson were officially inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame Tuesday.
“Poker’s enabled me to see the world. I’ve gotten to play in 3o countries. Poker’s allowed me to give back,” said Johnson, who is one of the founders of PokerGives.org. “Poker’s made me believe that you’re never too old to learn. These young guys have taught me to three-bet and four-bet with air.”
Scotty Nguyen on Winning the WSOP Main Event: “Baby, Just Relax!” (Must See Video)
World Series of Poker Main Event winner Scotty Nguyen says it’s harder to win now than it was over a decade ago when he took home the bracelet.
“Now you have to deal with more players,” he said. “You know Baby!”
He added: “You cannot count on luck all the time, skill will bring you home.”
As for the final three players coming into Tuesday night, Nguyen predicted a win for Pius Heinz, who ultimately won it all early Wednesday morning.
German Pius Heinz Wins 2011 World Series of Poker
German poker player Pius Heinz has won the World Series of Poker main event.
The 22-year-old walks away with $8.72 million in cash along with the WSOP bracelet.
"Honestly I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the money," Heinz said early Wednesday after winning the main event in a marathon session of Texas Hold 'em. "Probably my family is going to get a couple gifts."
He added: "It's got to be the happiest day of my life," Heinz said. "But I can't believe what happened — it's unreal."
Ben Lamb Out Fast at World Series of Poker Final Three
Ben Lamb was the first to go of the three remaining poker players at this year’s World Series of Poker final. Play resumed Tuesday with three remaining players. Six of the finalists were eliminated on Sunday.
Lamb is widely considered the most likely candidate to receive “Poker Player of the Year” honors. He was already named the “WSOP Player of the Year” for 2011.
Pius Heinz of Germany and Martin Staszko were vying for the $8.72 million grand prize.
World Series of Poker Final Table 2011 Looks to be a Bit of a Yawner
The World Series of Poker Final Table 2011 will commence this coming Tuesday, November 8. It will be broadcast with a 15-minute time delay on ESPN. Yes, Gambling911.com encourages its readers to watch. There should be plenty of excitement. But coming into this year’s Final Table, the personalities are sorely lacking in our view.
High Stakes Poker Player Alan Meltzer Passes Away
Music executive and high stake poker pro Alan Meltzer passed away at his home at the age of 67. The cause of death was sudden and not yet known, according to reports.
Meltzer started New York-based Wind-up Records along with his wife Diane in 1997 after purchasing indie label Grass Records. Creed and Evanescence were two of the big commercial successes signed to Meltzer’s label. He left Wind-up in 2000.
Meltzer appeared on High Stakes Poker in 2009 and was a prominent online player.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
Daniel Negreanu: “Ray Bitar is a Buffoon”
In an interview with PokerStrategy.com this week, outspoken poker pro Daniel Negreanu called out Full Tilt Poker boss Raymond Bitar as a “buffoon”.
Negreanu made the comment when asked how aware he thought other Team Full Tilt Poker pros might have been about what was going on with that company, which has since been charged with money laundering while some of its principals were implicated by the US Government of running a “ponzi scheme”.
Poker Pro Al Krux Arrested for Criminal Drug Possession
68-year-old professional poker player Al Krux was arrested this week and charged with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana outside his Syracuse, New York home. His son Adam was also charged.
Krux’ lifetime earnings playing live poker are just over $1.3 million. He has made the World Series of Poker Main Event final table on three occasions. His biggest earnings came just at the start of the poker boom online when the WSOP prize pool increase resulted in a $600,000 cashout in 6th place.
Robert Chow Wins $393,548 at World Series of Poker Circuit Hammond, Indiana
51-year-old Robert Chow has won $393,548 at the World Series of Poker Circuit in Hammond, Indiana, which is about a 40 minute drive from Chicago. 1,615 entries were recorded for the main event.
"I've been the bridesmaid a couple times," Chow told ESPN.com. "This is the first time I've actually cracked through and made first place. I'm ecstatic. I thought I had a deep run this year at the WSOP Seniors event when I came in 66th."
Though eliminated on Day 1A, he re-entered on Day 1B after winning a satellite.
Phil “takechip” D’Auteuil Wins $401K
In the world of high stakes poker, Phil “takechip” D’Auteuil made waves over the weekend with a big online win.
The $200/$400 NLHE ring games have been brewing for some time but as of yesterday there were no truly big scores to come out of them. That all changed in the early hours of this morning when Phil “takechip”" D'Auteuil went on a rush and took $410k one tabling $200/$400 NLHE.
US Player Elio Fox Wins 2011 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event
Elio Fox of New York has won the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.
Fox beat out a record field of 592 in the €10,000 buy-in main event and cashes in on €1.4 million ($1,927,310).
Fox has had a successful 2010 having previously won the Bellagio Cup VII Main Event and the nearly $670,000 prize. He also won the Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza III back in June, cashing $87,192.
Lock Pokerpro Chris Moorman finished second in the event.
1. Elio Fox – €1,400,000
WSOPE Main Event 2011 Final Table: Lock Poker Pro Chris Moorman Makes the Cut
Lock Poker pros Chris Moorman made the WSOPE Main Event 2011 final table as did online poker phenom Patrik Antonius.
“We are all rooting for Chris,” Lock Poker CEO Jennifer Larson told Gambling911.com late Wednesday.
His appearance among the top 9 finalists is certainly great exposure for one of the fastest growing online poker rooms. Another Lock pro, Michael Drummond, also enjoyed a strong finish at number 16.
Billionaire Banker, High Stakes Poker Player Andy Beal a Ron Paul Supporter
Billionaire banker Andy Beal has contributed $2500 to the US Presidential campaign of Texas Congressman Ron Paul, Gambling911.com has learned. Beal is also a high stakes poker player.
Paul, who is running against the likes of Mitt Romney, Michele Bachman and Rick Perry to win the GOP nomination, has long been a staunch advocate of legalized Internet gambling in the US.
Patrik Antonius: “I Will be Among the Biggest Losers if Full Tilt Poker Goes Down” (Video)
In an interview with poker pro Patrik Antonius, the Finnish former Full Tilt Poker spokesperson says he will likely be among the “Biggest losers” should FTP fold for good. He claims to have a significant amount of money tied up on the site, which was shut down June 29 and has had its license permanently revoked.
Poker Pro Cribs, Wheels Pre-Black Friday: Where Are They Now (Video)
Prior to Black Friday April 15 poker pros had the world at their fingertips. Sponsored pros were able to afford lavish pads and fast cars.
Some of that has changed following the indictments related to Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and UB.com on April 15. Executives from those three companies were charged with money laundering and bank fraud. The three rooms were forced to exit the US market as a result.
Matt Stout, a Lock Poker pro, purchased Paul Wasicka's house in Spanish Trail in Las Vegas just a year prior to Black Friday.
Daniel Negreanu on Annie Duke, Howard Lederer: Throw Them in Hall of Shame!
Poker pro Daniel Negreanu has taken another shot at his long time foe Annie Duke, this time suggesting she should be thrown into the Hall of Shame, as opposed to the Hall of Fame.
Ms. Duke, probably the most popular poker player in the world, is among those nominated to join the prestigious Hall of Fame.
Poker Pro Matt Stout Barfs on 17th Century Antique
The Chateau de Bagnols outside of Lyon France, which served as the stomping grounds for last week’s Lock Poker retreat for its pros, contains dozens of precious antiques. One of these precious 17th century multi-million dollar jewels became the target of poker pro Matt Stout’s vomit.
“I barfed all over this antique in my room,” he confessed after a night of heavy drinking.
At least it wasn’t red wine. Stout admits he has barfed just looking at the stuff.
“I think it (the vomit) gives the antique character,” he said.
Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies Weighty Problem: The See Food and Eat It Diet
Pro Who Dissed Helmuth Hired as Poker Coach (Video)
Poker pro Dusty "Leatherass" Schmidt, who famously wrote a book saying fellow poker pro Phil "Poker Brat" Hellmuth Jr. didn't know anything about playing poker, has been hired as a poker coach for a website that charges a fee to view instructional poker videos!
Schmidt a few months ago wrote a book called "Don't Listen to Phil Hellmuth," which bashed the famed Poker Brat's playing style.
The book drew criticism because of its absurd notion--that Schmidt knows more about poker than Hellmuth.
2011 Poker Hall of Fame Nominees Announced
The 2011 Poker Hall of Fame nominees have been revealed.
Qualifications for the Hall of Fame include the following:
A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
Played for high stakes
Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
Stood the test of time
Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.
Nominees must also be 40 years of age.
And the nominees are:
Leo Margets Poker Player Profile: Lock Poker Elite Member
As Gambling911.com readers may be aware, we will be spending time the first week of October meeting with the power players behind Lock Poker, a proud G911.co sponsor. That includes Elite Pro Member Leo Margets.
Eugene Katchalov Takes Over Top Spot of Bluff Poker Player Power Rankings (Video)
Eugene Katchalov now ranks number one atop the Bluff Magazine Poker Rankings after capturing the number 3 finish at this year’s EPT Barcelona. The new power rankings were available as of October 1, 2011.
Katchalov replaces Jason Mercier, for whom Bluff says some of his older results are no longer relevant.
The Ukraine-born, Brooklyn-raised 30-year-old Katchalov has cashed out at 11 live poker events thus far in 2011 alone and has nearly $7 million in lifetime winnings.
Phil Hellmuth Rides Giant Hotdog in Water
Big name poker pro and record World Series of Poker bracelet holder Phil Hellmuth was recently photographed riding a giant hotdog upon the open seas.
The photo was first revealed on the pages of TwoPlusTwo.com here.
It is unclear exactly what Mr. Hellmuth was doing riding the giant wiener.
One poster commented:
Marvin Rettenmaier Moves Into Top 5 2011 Poker Player of Year Rankings
With no change at the top of the Bluff Magazine Poker Player of the Year Rankings in recent days, Card Player has seen Marvin Rettenmaier move into their top 5. As of Sunday September 25, Rettenmaier was ranked number 3 at Card Player and number 4 at Bluff.
As a result of this move into the top 5, Chris Moorman has fallen out of the Card Player top 5. Gambling911.com will be meeting with Moorman in the coming week.
Rettenmaier comes to us from Germany and has won just under $600,000 with 27 cashes to date.
