The Nightly Turbo: PokerStars Smashes More Records, Poker Site Signs Rap Star, and More
PokerStars rewrote the online poker record books again this week. We'll bring you that story, plus a French rap star joining an impressive roster of online poker pros, in this edition of the Nightly Turbo.
In Case You Missed It
Jeff Gross and Gavin Smith headlined a talented final table at the inaugural World Poker Tour Montreal Main Event. Find out how they got there in our WPT recap.
Poker wasn't the only activity taking place at the WPT over the weekend. Antonio Esfandiari squared off against Phil Laak in the WPT Montreal Playground Poker Hockey Challenge.
Poker players are working on a petition to ban Howard Lederer from playing at the Aria in Las Vegas. But according to PokerNews' Rich Ryan, this petition is insane. Ryan touches on that topic and more in his latest Five Thoughts piece.
Need to improve at six-handed no-limit hold'em cash games? Check out the free training video by Cardrunners instructor Matthew Dorand.
PokerStars One-ups Itself
The third edition of the PokerStars MicroMillions tournament series wrapped up Sunday after 11 days of 100 micro-stakes events. The series boasted a total of 1,308,994 entries, becoming the largest online poker festival in history. The combined prize pool of MicroMillions III events was $8,276,083, which crushed the advertised $5 million guarantee.
The previous record for largest online poker series was July's MicroMillions II, which had 1,288,221 entries.
Two players completed their own historic achievements during the MicroMillions III series. "Alfons777999" and "ADP1985" each won their second MicroMillions titles, becoming the first two players to do so. "Alfons777999" bested 6,886 players in a $2.20 turbo rebuy for $7,371.32, and "ADP1985" won the $3.30+R No Limit Hold'em event for $14,096.
The big story, though, was Team PokerStars Pro Marcin "Goral" Horecki, who won his second MicroMillions leaderboard. Horecki played in all 100 events, cashed in 34, and even scooped a victory in the $4.40+R PLO 6-Max event along the way. For the accomplishment, Horecki received the MMIII trophy and a $16,000 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure package.
I did it again! Micro Millions III TLB Winner! Thanks to all my opponents for an exciting fight!
— Marcin Horecki (@MarcinHorecki)
For more information, including all MicroMillions III tournament results and historical statistics, visit PokerStars.com.
Kool Shen Joins Winamax
French rap star and accomplished poker player Bruno "Kool Shen" Lopes is the latest to join Team Winamax as a sponsored pro for the French online poker room.
Lopes, best known for his talents behind a mic, has terrorized the European poker circuit in 2012. In January, he won the Euro Finals of Poker Diamond Championship for $127,514. He followed that up with a victory at the World Poker Tour National Cannes Main Event in June for €100,500. He also took fourth place at the European Poker Tour Madrid Main Event for €140,000 in March.
"Winamax is proud that Bruno has become part of our representatives on the major international tournament circuit," said Winamax Director Frichet Canel in a statement. "His record in tournaments speaks for itself. Bruno is not only a media personality, but he is also a very good player. We truly believe that he will be full of surprises and will emerge as a major player on the professional circuit."
Lopes joins Gaelle Baumann, Davidi Kitai, Ludovic Lacay, Nicolas Levi, Patrick Bruel, and others on Team Winamax.
Check out the announcement at team-winamax.com.
Mohegan Sun Chooses Ongame
On Tuesday, Mohegan Sun Casino announced it has selected an online poker provider to power its play-for-free online poker set to debut in 2013. Mohegan partnered up with Amaya Gaming subsidiary Ongame Network, which will provide the platform for Mohegan Sun ahead of real-money Internet poker regulation.
"We have been looking for the best possible fit for a poker partner for over six months," said Mitchell Etess, CEO of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. "Mohegan Sun needs a provider who has outstanding regulatory experience and flexibility to offer intrastate play-for-free poker at first, and the technology to enable real money online poker when it is legalized. We are proud to announce that this partner is Ongame."
Amaya Gaming purchased Ongame from bwin.party earlier this month for an initial payment of €15 million. If regulated online gaming returns to the United States in the next five years, Amaya Gaming is also subject to additional payments of up to €10 million.
Mohegan officials said in a press release that the Mohegan Tribe's recent movement is the first by an East Coast casino operation into the world of online gaming and poker. "This will enable Mohegan Sun to be at the head of the line when legalized real money poker is available to American customers," a statement from the company read.
Yahoo.com has more.
GUKPT Reveals 2013 Schedule
The Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) will return in 2013 with a new structure and prize pool guarantees totaling £1,750,000. Twelve GUKPT no-limit hold’em Main Events will be hosted in Grosvenor G Casinos around the U.K., featuring a variety of £1,070 buy-ins (£200,000 guaranteed) and £530 buy-ins (£50,000 guaranteed).
Champions of the events and winners of the side events with buy-ins over £101 will be awarded free entry into the £400,000 guaranteed Grand Final event in London in December. Those who win side events of buy-ins up to £100 (excluding satellites) will be awarded with £500 in GUKPT vouchers which can be used toward any event in the 2013 series.
Also set to return in August is the £100 + £20 GUKPT Goliath mega-tournament with a guarantee of £200,000.
To qualify for the GUKPT Main Events in 2013, you can win a seat with a smaller buy-in at grosvenorpoker.com or in live satellites during each event week.
Here's a look at the 2013 GUKPT schedule:
| Leg | Date | Venue | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb. 24-Mar. 3 | London | GUKPT Main Tour | £1,000 +£70 | £200,000 |
| 2 | Apr. 8-Apr. 14 | Manchester Bury New Road | GUKPT Main Tour | £1,000 +£70 | £200,000 |
| 3 | May 5-May 12 | Stockton | GUKPT Deepstack Series | £500 +£50 | £50,000 |
| 4 | May 26-June 2 | Portsmouth Gunwharf | GUKPT Deepstack Series | £500 +£50 | £50,000 |
| 5 | June 16-June 23 | Reading | GUKPT Deepstack Series | £500 +£50 | £50,000 |
| 6 | July 7-July 14 | Walsall | GUKPT Deepstack Series | £500 +£50 | £50,000 |
| 7 | July 21-July 28 | Brighton | GUKPT Deepstack Series | £500 +£50 | £50,000 |
| 8 | Aug. 4-Aug. 11 | Bolton | GUKPT Deepstack Series | £500 +£50 | £50,000 |
| 9 | Sept. 15-Sept. 22 | Manchester Didsbury | GUKPT Deepstack Series | £500 +£50 | £50,000 |
| 10 | Oct. 13-Oct. 20 | Luton | GUKPT Main Tour | £1,000 +£70 | £200,000 |
| 11 | Nov. 3-Nov. 10 | Blackpool | GUKPT Main Tour | £1,000 +£70 | £200,000 |
| 12 | Nov. 24-Dec. 1 | London | GUKPT Grand Final | £2,000 +£125 | £400,000 |
Visit GUKPT.com for more information.
Calling The Clock
The ANZPT wrapped up its Season 5 stop in Auckland over the weekend. Before the festivites came to a close, Lynn Gilmartin caught up with former ANZPT champ Paul "KingPaulie" Hockin for the latest edition of Calling the Clock.
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