World Series of Poker

[JasonEvans]

So, the Series started this week, but the big news is that Phil Ivey says he will not play at all in the series to protest Full Tilt Poker not returning funds to poker players following the FBI crackdown on poker sites.

Ivey has filed suit against Full Tilt. He says his reputation has been damaged because he is so closely associated with the site.

--Jason "as if I didn't already admire and respect Ivey enough!" Evans

[toughbuff1]

I follow a lot of the poker pros on twitter, and not everyone is happy about this. Here is a blog that thinks Ivey is only serving his own self interests, and that by filing the lawsuit against Full Tilt he is actually going to devalue the company and make payouts take longer.

http://jgarywise.com/2011/06/initial...eys-statement/

Obviously the Full Tilt pros are not too popular right now. Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson have been nowhere to be found, and most of the Full Tilt Pros aren't wearing their patches. John Juanda showed up at day one of the $25000 heads up event (wearing a patch), and got verbally accosted by James Bord, who called him a disgrace, a fake, and a thieving *&@*! and then threatened to kick his behind in the parking lot. Should be an interesting World Series!

[JasonEvans]

Ok, did ya'll see this news...

The World Series of Poker plans to stage a card tournament next year at levels never reached before by even the world's biggest high rollers, costing entrants $1 million to buy in.

Series officials said 15 players already have confirmed plans to play, including Treasure Island hotel-casino owner Phil Ruffin, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, MGM Resorts International executive Bobby Baldwin and poker professionals Johnny Chan, Tom Dwan and Patrik Antonius.

ESPN plans to televise the tournament.

Daniel Negreanu says he is going to buy in, so long as he does not go bust between now and then. I am sure Phil Ivey will buy in, he likes higher stakes games.

Negreanu said that with so many non-professionals putting up cash, sharks will likely pool their bankrolls to try to get in, or sell pieces of themselves to raise an entry fee.

"If you're a professional player, it's a good spot to be in," he said.

I think it will be very interesting. It would be cool if they could get as many as 75 or 100 players in the tournament. Can you imagine what the money bubble will be like -- bust now and get nothing, last one more player and you get $2+ million dollars. WOW!

-Jason "meanwhile, Gus Hansen is among the final 4 at the big $25k head's up championship" Evans

[toughbuff1]

Congrats to Duke grad Andy Frankenberger, who won event #28 this weekend ($1500 no-limit hold 'em) and a cool $600k. Way to go!!!

[DevilWearsPrada]

Congrats to Duke grad Andy Frankenberger, who won event #28 this weekend ($1500 no-limit hold 'em) and a cool $600k. Way to go!!!

Congrats to Andy! Do you think he can give us Private Poker lessons? I would like to sign up!