11/26/09

ISILDUR1 - THE LORD OF THE RING GAMES?


Forum posters and the poker media are speculating on the identity and origin of a new and mysterious high stakes player. Epic high stakes battles have recently taken place on the virtual felts of Full Tilt and the catalyst behind them is the player known only as Isildur1. Often playing four to six tables of $500/$1000 No Limit Hold’em and/or Pot Limit Omaha heads-up, Isildur1 has proven he has an uncanny ability to dance with the big boys.

Ivey, Ziigmund, OMGClayAiken and several other high stakes regulars have all lined up to take their shot at this unknown player named from a fictional character in The Lord of the Rings. In Tolkein’s book, Isildur is the warrior who cut the ring from Sauron’s hand and endangered Middle-Earth by refusing to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom. Obviously not the best decision if you’re familiar with the story but watching Isildur1 play will show you sicker calls than that.

Reactions from the pros and more AFTER THE JUMP...

In a forum post, Barry Greenstein confirmed that he knows who Isildur1 is and provided the only clues to the mysterious player’s true identity. “I won't unmask him since that's his decision,” explains Greenstein. “He's not a publically known player at this time, but he has done very well in big head-up games on European sites. He just started playing on American sites. I have a feeling you will start hearing about [Isildur1] in live games and tournaments once he gets a little older, since he likes to play poker all the time.”

Greenstein believes that Isildur1 probably hasn’t come out publicly because of how poker earnings are taxed in Sweden. “Top Scandinavian players will avoid attention until the ridiculous tax laws concerning poker get changed. Notice that Gus and Patrik felt compelled to relocate in Monaco and Peter Eastgate went to England.”

After first appearing at the high stakes tables in November, Isildur1 drove the majority of action. In just one week, Isildur1 smashed the previously held record for biggest online pot twice and was even involved in multiple pots worth more than $1 million each! The first history-making pot was worth $878,958.50 and won by Patrik Antonius. In another heads-up PLO session with Antonius only days later, Isildur1 played the current record-breaking hand worth $1,356,946.50.

Here’s how that historic hand went down—Antonius was sitting on a stack of $1.2 million in the big blind and Isildur1 had $678k. After Isildur1 bet $3k from the button, Patrik put in a raise of $9k and Isildur1 re-raised to $27k. Patrik responded with another three-bet to $81k, which Isildur1 called. The flop came 4s-5c-2h and with $162k in the pot, Antonius led out with a bet of $91k. Isildur1 pushed $435k of his stack into the middle and Antonius re-raised enough to put him all-in. Isildur1 called to show 6d-9s-7d-8h for a wrap straight draw but was drawing behind Patrik’s Ah-3s-Ks-Kh flopped wheel. The 5h on the turn eliminated some outs for Isildur1 and the 9c on the river saw the massive pot shipped to Antonius.

In a session less than 48 hours later, Isildur1 was on the winning side of a $1,127,995 pot where Phil Ivey paid him off on a flopped full house. Even after winning that hand Isildur1 is down $3 million to Ivey and as we go to press Antonius is up about $1.5 million over him as well.

However the young Swede is dominating Team Full Tilt’s newest member, Tom “durrrr” Dwan. Isildur1 was briefly mentioned in the first post on Dwan’s official blog. “I’ve been playing Isuldur1 a lot lately. He’s a very aggressive player, and there have been some huge swings because of both of our aggressive styles.” PokerTableRatings.com shows Isildur1 up more than $4.5 million on Dwan over almost 40k tracked hands.

Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond has taken on the mystery man before but admits to resisting the temptation to play him now. According to a blog post from Galfond, he respects Isildur1 and is extremely jealous to not be involved in such epic sessions.

“lsildur has shown that he can stay on his A game for many hours, across 6 tables, without much sleep. Something I don't think I could do. Yes, running well at nosebleeds will help a lot with your focus. Adrenaline and the thrill of beating the best probably has made it easier for him to stay focused.”

Let’s hope the high stakes don’t destroy Isildur1 like the power of one ring ended his fictional counterpart. If he can control his bankroll, Isildur1 could possibly lord over the big games for years to come.

10/28/09

SPONSORSHIP: SEBOK SIGNED, DWAN WANTED, MERCIER QUITS

Texas Dolly is looking for a few good men to join his stable of pros at DoylesRoom. According to Doyle, the requirements for getting into the Brunson 10 are fairly simple – you have to be a good player and be well mannered and personable. “I’m not ready to pass the torch quite yet, but these guys will be the future of DoylesRoom,” says Brunson.

Amit Makhija, Alec Torelli, Chris Moorman and Zachary Clark were the first four members officially signed to the site. If you think you got what it takes to be considered for the Brunson 10, contact will@dbpn.com.

Over at UltimateBet, Tiffany Michelle renewed her contract and will remain a sponsored player. “I'm happy to be signing on for another year with UltimateBet and I'm eager to get back to playing in live tournaments and exclusively at their online poker tables,” said Tiffany.
Team UB also grew with the addition of professional player and PokerRoad CEO Joe Sebok. Not only did Joe become a UB sponsored pro, but he took a position as media and operations consultant as well. Sebok wrote about how he came to the decision on his official blog.

“I decided that it made more sense for me to join up and help UltimateBet not only strengthen their brand and their commitment to their customers, but also to help ensure that everything is run with honesty and integrity within the company.”

Team PokerStars lost one of their professional players when Isabelle “NoMercy” Mercier ended her relationship with the site to pursue other endeavors in the world of poker. Her official press release did not go into detail about these projects and a PokerStars representative says it was her decision not to renew the sponsorship contract. Mercier reportedly told a poker website she was seeking an English publisher for her autobiography and interested in selling the film rights.

On ESPN’s Inside Deal, Full Tilt Poker Pro Howard Lederer was asked why Tom “Durrrr” Dwan was not a sponsored pro for the site. Lederer’s response indicated that Full Tilt is open to the idea and that something could already be in the works.

“Of this young crop of internet pros, I don’t think there’s any question that Durrrr’s the best player and certainly the most dynamic player,” he said. “I’m sure that Full Tilt Poker would love to have him. I think it’s just a matter of Full Tilt Poker and Durrrr working out a fair price.”

Lederer goes on to say he believes nothing is in the way of that happening other than the parties involved. No official announcement has yet been made.

9/23/09

POKER PRO MAGAZINE HOSTING 2009 POKER CLASSIC


Market-leading poker publication Poker Pro is hitting the big time, and so can you! The magazine's first sponsored tournament, the “Poker Pro Magazine 2009 Poker Classic,” is set for Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal on October 16 and 17.
With a $30,000 guarantee in the main event, you won't want to miss it.

Tournament info and more AFTER THE JUMP...

The Classic kicks off with a warm-up event Friday at 7:15 p.m. Buy-in is $200+$30. The main event blasts off Saturday afternoon at 1:15 with a $500+$60 buy-in. Both events feature a 20,000-chip starting stack. The Friday event has 25-minute rounds, while the main event features 40-minute levels. Single-table satellites will be running 24 hours a day with a $70 buy-in.

To sweeten the deal, there will be a bounty on the head of Poker Pro Magazine editor-in-chief John “Johnny Quads” Wenzel. Knock him out of the main event and you not only get all his chips, but also a free night at the Taj Mahal’s gorgeous new Chairman Tower.

“This is our first event, so we are going to make it a good one,” said Wenzel. “And this is the first of many. Watch for more events from us in coming months.”

By booking your seats online at PTseats.com, you will qualify for a prize drawing (one ticket for each tourney you sign up for). The prize is a gourmet dinner for two and luxury room at the new Chairman Tower of the Taj. Register for the tournament through PTseats.com by October 10 and get a room at the Taj Mahal for just $85+tax.

9/20/09

MAN WINS LADIES TOURNAMENT AT BORGATA POKER OPEN

Most ladies tournaments hosted at casinos only ever have female entrants but due to legal requirements anyone over the age of 21 that wishes to participate must be allowed. In Atlantic City a man played and actually won a Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Tournament at the Borgata Poker Open.

Abraham Korotki (pictured left), 65, of New Jersey was the only male in the $300 buy-in tournament entered by more than 260 women and he was the last player standing at the end.

For winning the tournament Korotki took home $20,982 and the trophy much to the ire of the many female participants and spectators in the room.

The last woman standing, Nicole Rowe received $11,889 for finishing second. During heads-up play, Rowe proposed chopping with Korotki but refused after he told her he wanted the trophy. "I'm a competitor,” Rowe said in an interview. “And I was competing not just for me, but for every woman in the tournament."

Rowe was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and Korotki claims he will donate a portion of his winnings to a charity that supports breast cancer research.

[Images via Borgata Poker Blog]

9/18/09

ANNETTE_15 BETFAIR PROMOTIONAL AD BANNED IN THE UK

Betfair.com recently launched a marketing campaign specifically targeting a younger demographic. The adverts read “Join the New Breed” and feature video-game-style graphics alongside the site’s young poker pros. One of the “New Breed” e-mail promotions caught the attention of the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and was banned.

The ad featured 2007 WSOPE World Champion Annette Obrestad, 20, with the tagline: “Online Experience is Measured in Games, Not Years. Join the New Breed. Annette_15.”

According to the ASA, this implies that the young woman in the ad is 15-years-old and the site is attempting to market gambling services to underage players. According to ASA rules, no person under 25 years of age should be featured in a gambling or marketing communication.

Betfair contends they do not market to those under 18-years-old but still apologized with a statement saying they will no longer use Obrestad in marketing materials directed at UK consumers. On her official Twitter, Obrestad acknowledged the incident but provided no further comment on the subject. “@BetfairPoker And lol @ this!” she tweeted. “I got nothing to say here either… naughty naughty.”

9/11/09

PLANET HOLLYWOOD POKER ROOM SUPERVISORS ARRESTED


Nevada State Gaming Control Board agents stopped an alleged plot to collect phony jackpot money from patrons of a popular casino poker room on the Las Vegas strip. After months of investigation and a tip from a suspicious employee, four men were arrested at Planet Hollywood.

According an officer for the board, "These four were working in concert to generate false documents to embezzle their employer."

The men were reportedly poker room supervisors and allegedly controlled the forms necessary to fulfill the identity requirements for receiving jackpot payouts. These men were also in charge of authorizing the payments and had access to the cash. Over two days, four fictitious names were passed off as “high hand” jackpot winners and $2,201 was collected in the scam.

Below are the arresting photos for (from left to right) Scott Marshall, Jonathan Sanner, Jason Peterson and Thomas R. Kordick. Police reports state the four will be charged with felony crimes including theft, forgery and conspiracy to commit theft. Maybe they can organize the "bad beat" jackpots in prison.