The Nightly Turbo: Tony G's Olympic Experience, Bad Beat Jackpot Record in AC, and More
Tony G has been absent from poker for a few months while managing the Lithuanian basketball team. How has he been enjoying his time at the Olympic Games? We'll bring you that story, plus a massive Bad Beat Jackpot in Atlantic City, in this edition of the Nightly Turbo.
In Case You Missed It
What were some of the major turning points in Ronnie Bardah's poker career? Find out that and more in the latest Seat Open.
Browsing poker forums can be a daunting and time-consuming task. To help you out, Rich Ryan takes a look at some of the top threads on the Internet in his This is How We Troll piece.
David Allan won the 2012 PokerStars.net Australia New Zealand Poker Tour Queenstown Snowfest Main Event over the weekend. Read about his road to victory in our ANZPT final table recap.
How did the Sunday Majors play out on PokerStars? Who took down the biggest score? Find out in the Sunday Briefing.
Did you miss Sunday's World Poker Tour coverage on FSN? Read our WPT recap to get caught up.
Praying for a Bad Beat
On Monday, Caesars Entertainment announced a record-setting Bad Beat Jackpot still up for grabs at its collective properties in Atlantic City. As of Monday morning the jackpot was sitting at $702,182, pooled from the Caesars Atlantic City, Bally’s Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, and Showboat Atlantic City properties. The previous record was $672,115.
“This record Atlantic City Bad Beat Jackpot has generated a buzz like nothing else in our Caesars Entertainment poker rooms,” said Don Marrandino, eastern division president for Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City. “Players are lining up each and every day for a chance at this life changing amount.”
The Bad Beat Jackpot in Caesars' Atlantic City properties has gone untouched since March 1, 2012, when a winning table shared $281,000. When the jackpot is won, it will be split among everyone playing in all four card rooms, with the loser of the hand getting 30 percent and the winner receiving 20 percent.
For more on the Bad Beat Jackpot, visit Harrahs.com.
Greetings From London
As we reported in our Olympics piece last week, Tony G is in London with the Lithuanian basketball team for the 2012 Olympic Games. Tony was even spotted on television during the Opening Ceremony on Friday night.
On Monday, he blogged about his experience living in the Olympic Village and the looming battle his club faces against the NBA superstars from the U.S. But, despite losing their first game, Tony believes the Lithuanians have the heart and commitment to compete with anyone in their path.
"I say I genuinely believe there could be a massive upset (against the U.S.," Tony wrote. "The Lithuanians are not scared – I can see us avenging our defeat against Argentina in the semi-finals – we beat them before in a sudden death game in Turkey earlier this year."
Tony also detailed his experience living inside the Olympic Village. He enjoyed a breakfast with 15-year-old Lithuanian swimming sensation Ruta Meilutyte, and has even been playing some poker against members of Team USA and Team Greece.
Read his full report at the PartyPoker Blog.
Ladbrokes Fires Exec
Ladbrokes' poor online performance has resulted in the firing of one of the company's executives.
Richard Ames, who ran the company's online division, "has ceased to perform his executive duties with immediate effect," the company said in a statement on Monday. Ames was appointed to the position last July and will now remain a director until a further announcement regarding his exit.
Ladbrokes, which pulled out of talks to buy online gambling businesses 888 Holdings Plc and Sportingbet Plc last year, has been struggling to compete with competitor William Hill of late. Ladbrokes warned last month that profits from its digital division would fall more than expected in the first half because of a delay in technology upgrades and a declining sportsbook margin.
William Hill, meanwhile, recently boasted an impressive first half of 2012, with net revenue up 30 percent and operating profit up 23 percent.
Reuters has more.
Frankenberger Hits The Mainstream
Before turning to poker full-time, Andy Frankenberger was an equity derivatives trader for JP Morgan and BNP Paribas on Wall Street. The two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner and former World Poker Tour Player of the Year recently sat down with Fox Business to talk about the similarities and differences between the two industries.
Bubble Strategy
What are the best ways to approach the money bubble in a poker tournament? PokerNews' Nicki Pickering asked some poker pros during the ANZPT Queenstown Main Event.
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Andre Akkari Finds New Agent
Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari has signed a new deal with9ine, a communications agency owned by former Brazilian soccer superstar Ronaldo.
Akkari is the first poker player to be signed by the new sports agency. His new reps will be responsible for managing his image, brand planning, fundraising, sponsorship, digital presence and public relations.
"I'm proud to be a part of the 9ine team," Akkari said in a press release. "I am in the hands of a competent team that really understands not only sports, but communication and business."
Akkari is second on Brazil's all-time money list with more than $970,000 in live tournament cashes. His biggest score came at the 2011 World Series of Poker where he won his first bracelet in a $1,500 no-limit hold'em event, securing a payday of $675,117.
Read more at Maquina Do Esporte. (Google Translate is your friend)
