May 23, 2013

Poker: WSOP – Down to three for $8.53M

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(AP) — Two poker professionals and a college student have begun their final run at the World Series of Poker toward poker’s richest prize — an $8.53 million crown in Las Vegas. Arizona State senior Jake Balsiger and card pros Greg Merson of Laurel, Md., and Jesse Sylvia of Las Vegas began play Tuesday night [...]

Poker: Student, two pros comprise WSOP main event final three

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two poker professionals and a college student have topped nearly 6,600 competitors at the World Series of Poker and are one card session away from poker’s richest prize — an $8.53 million crown. Arizona State senior Jake Balsiger eliminated Russell Thomas in fourth place early Tuesday in Las Vegas with an [...]

Poker: Poker player takes $18 million pot

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(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — When you’re nickname is “The Magician” you expect to pull out some rabbits. Antonio Esfandiari won the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop Texas Hold’em event at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. His reward: $18,346,673. Esfandiari defeated Sam Trickett on the 85th hand [...]

World Series of Poker opens in Las Vegas

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LAS VEGAS (AP) – The World Series of Poker opened in Las Vegas Monday with its first gold bracelet event. More than 2,000 players entered the $1,500 buy-in, three-day tournament at the Rio hotel and casino off the Las Vegas Strip. The World Series of Poker draws tens of thousands of poker fans to Las [...]

WSOP champ talks about home-invasion robbery

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MONTREAL (AP) – World poker champion Jonathan Duhamel says he was tied up, beaten in the face and head and told he was going to be killed. A day after a brutal home invasion, Duhamel has posted a statement on his website saying he feels lucky to be alive. “Two men broke into my house [...]

Pius Heinz wins $8.72M in World Series of Poker main event

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LAS VEGAS (AP) – Earlier this year, Pius Heinz was deciding whether to play cards full-time. Now that the 22-year-old German has won the $8.72 million prize at the World Series of Poker, he can steer his life in pretty much whatever direction he wants. “Honestly I’m not sure what I’m going to do with [...]

Deep on chips, Lenaghan looks to final table at World Series of Poker

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — A 26-year-old New Orleans man nursed a chip lead at the World Series of Poker main event on Monday, then found others with big stacks at his table after a Brazilian professional quickly picked up big pots but shipped away his chips over the course of a few big hands. Ryan [...]

ESPN offering new angle on the World Series of Poker

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(PhatzRadio/ USA Today) – When it comes to the World Series of Poker, what happens in Las Vegas won’t stay in Las Vegas. Not after 30 minutes. Poker players hide their cards and intentions. But ESPN will be tipping hands for TV viewers — on a half-hour delay so players still can conceal aces and [...]

Defending champion Duhamel eliminated at WSOP main event

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Defending champion Jonathan Duhamel was eliminated from the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas on Monday, losing his last chips with an ace high. Duhamel lost roughly half his chips over the first 4 hours of play and didn’t last long after his next 20-minute break. The Canadian [...]

Poker: WSOP top prize to be above $8M

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LAS VEGAS (AP) The winner at the World Series of Poker main event this year will get $8.71 million, slightly less than last year but more than many players and industry followers expected given recent legal problems for online cardrooms. Series officials said Sunday night that 6,865 players — 6.2 percent fewer than last year [...]