The Nightly Turbo: $1 Million WSOP Tournament Returns, WPT National Barcelona, and More
There will be a new world champion when the World Series of Poker Main Event comes to a close Tuesday night. But that isn't the only big news from the WSOP this week. We'll bring you more on that story, plus the results from the WOrld Poker Tour National stop in Barcelona, in this edition of the Nightly Turbo.
In Case You Missed It
The World Series of Poker Main Event is down to just three players. Find out who is still in contention for the $8.5 million top prize in our WSOP final table recap.
The PokerNews Podcast crew is in Las Vegas for the Main Event final table. On Monday, they spoke with WSOP tournament director Jack Effel live from the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
Unable to catch any of the action from the final table Monday night? Photographer Joe Giron was there to capture all of the exciting and heartbreaking moments.
How does the International Stadiums Poker Tour (ISPT) plan to revolutionize the world of poker? Take a look at the ISPT's unique tournament format for the first event at Wembley Stadium next spring.
Another Big One
On Monday night, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte announced on ESPN that his $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop will be returning in 2014. The biggest buy-in event ever formed, the Big One created quite a stir at the 2012 World Series of Poker as Antonio Esfandiari bested a 48-player field to collect $18.3 million and a platinum WSOP bracelet.
“By working with the showman, Guy Laliberté, we have learned there was only one choice. An encore," said Caesars Interactive Entertainment CEO Mitch Garber. "We look forward to collaborating with Guy and One Drop to continue to find fun and exciting ways to make a positive and lasting contribution through the vehicle that is the great game of poker.”
In addition to that exciting news, the WSOP announced that it will host the Little One for One Drop, a $1,111 buy-in bracelet event featuring unlimited re-entries over two starting days, during the 2013 WSOP. The Little One for One Drop will be an official gold bracelet event and is expected to draw one of the biggest fields of the 2013 WSOP.
"With the Little One” and the Big One on the horizon, we can continue to greatly impact the lives of those in need, while at the same time raising awareness of the impact water has on our planet,” said Laliberte, who finished fifth in this year's Big One for more than $1.8 million.
For more on the return of the Big One for One Drop, read the article here at PokerNews.com.
Aido Wins WPT National Barcelona
The World Series of Poker Main Event final table wasn't the only one taking on Monday. The World Poker Tour National Series Barcelona came to a close, and after five days of play Sergio Aido emerged as the winner to claim an €80,000 top prize.
Aido entered the eight-handed final table as the chip leader and, after a flurry of eliminations in the first two hours, he found himself heads-up with Mikolaj Zawadzki. The final two players agreed to an even chop for €70,000 with €10,000 going to the winner. Aido began with a 4-to-1 chip advantage over Zawadzki and put his opponent away when his A♥10♥ held up against A♠2♥ after all the chips went in preflop. With the victory, Aido collected his first WPT National title and the biggest score of his life.
Here are the results from the World Poker Tour National Series Barcelona final table:
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sergio Aido | €80,000 |
| 2 | Mikolaj Zawadzki | €70,000 |
| 3 | Patrick Azzouzi | €40,000 |
| 4 | David Susigan | €29,500 |
| 5 | Redmond Toth | €22,180 |
| 6 | Igor Izmailov | €17,740 |
| 6 | Marc Gonzalez | €14,740 |
| 6 | Jurijs Binklfrs | €11,910 |
For a closer look at the World Poker Tour National Series Barcelona Main Event, visit PokerNews Spain.
Photo courtesy of the PartyPoker Spain Twitter page.
Ceasars Takes an Optimal Line
Online poker in Nevada is making headway as Optimal Payments, a London payment provider, has signed a deal with Caesars Interactive Entertainment (CIE). Under the agreement, Optimal Payments will supply CIE with services related to payment processing, fraud management and related services once CIE goes live with online poker in Nevada.
"This is a ground breaking deal for Optimal Payments and demonstrates our ability to provide real value to globally renowned, land-based gaming operators and their leading brands, as the first step in our strategy to capitalize on the regulated U.S. market" said Joel Leonoff, President & CEO of Optimal Payments.
Caesars Interactive Entertainment has already applied for an interactive online gaming operating license in Nevada and is waiting to meet with gaming regulators for approval. The license would allow Caesars to offer online poker to Nevada residents as an operator of online gaming. The Gaming Control Board anticipates online poker to be active in early 2013.
Earlier this year, CIE partnered with 888.com in a deal that will see 888 provide its gaming platform to CIE. "Utilizing 888's state of the art poker platform, the agreement will allow the launch of a real money offering immediately as either federal or state based regulation is finalized and upon licensing by gaming authorities," 888 said in a statement.
For more, read the press release at SacBee.com.
Mike Colbert Terminated
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Michael Colbert has been fired from his post as vice president and sports book director for Cantor Gaming following his arrest in Las Vegas last week. Cantor Gaming officials on Monday said the company has been working closely with Nevada gaming regulators after Colbert was indicted for his involvement in an illegal online sports betting ring.
As we reported last week, Colbert was one of eight people arrested in Nevada in a group of 25 indicted nationwide after generating more than $50 million in sports wagers over a seven-month period. Colbert is charged with enterprise corruptions, conspiracy to operate and illegal gaming enterprise and three counts of money laundering.
Colbert, who acted as money collector/agent with the company, made his first appearance in court for a brief hearing and will return to trial Nov. 8. Colbert will be represented by Michael Cristalli, a Las Vegas-based attorney who has declined to comment on the charges made. Colbert is free on $50,000 bail.
Cantor Gaming, which operates seven sports books in Nevada, said that the company “found nothing to indicate Colbert was using our systems or accounts for wrongdoing.”
“Needless to say, we are shocked and extremely disappointed that one of our employees was arrested and charged with criminal activities, but in no way does this hinder our business or our ability to provide the kind of service we give daily to our valued customers,” said Lee Amaitis, President and CEO of Cantor Gaming.
After a 15-month investigation, the Nevada Gaming Control Board claims it found an extensive bookmaking operation with ties to organized crime working both in the U.S. and offshore.
In a statement released by Cantor Gaming, its sports wagering systems registers single wager and tracks all deposits and withdrawals. Amatis continued, “We prize our privileged license and the way Cantor Gaming does business.”
For more, read the story at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Biggest Rail
According to our PokerNews staffers located at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Monday night, Jesse Sylvia had the largest and loudest rail during the WSOP Main Event final table. Sarah Grant spoke with Sylvia and some of his railbirds about his enormous support system.
Our Live Reporting team will be providing hand-for-hand updates of the Main Event again on Tuesday night, so be sure to keep it locked in to PokerNews.com for the duration. And, if you'd like to converse with members of Team PokerNews during ESPN's delayed coverage of the final table, visit our live chat page.
Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.
