Negreanu issues an open invitation The next heads-up poker challenge we see might be the one we all want. In the past week, both Daniel Negreanu and Antanas “Tony G” Guoga have issued challenges to none other than 15-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth. Negreanu, who, like Hellmuth, is enshrined in the… Read more »
Poker Pros
News about poker pros
Let’s Talk About This Terrence Chan, Mike McDonald Poker Betting Drama
Another heads-up challenge There is something about poker drama that is just so intriguing. It is usually a strange brew of stupidity, bravado, triviality, and actual seriousness that combine into a cool, refreshing drink. Over the past week, one such controversy erupted on social media, turning a bit of a nothingburger into a feud between… Read more »
Phil Galfond Looking for Challengers in the United States
Can’t play on his own site Now that Phil Galfond is done with Chance Kornuth, his latest opponent in the Galfond Challenge, he is looking for some new competition. Thing is, because of pandemic travel restrictions, he is stuck in the United States and therefore cannot play on Run It Once, the online poker that… Read more »
2021 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Final Table Set
The field of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Lucky Hearts Poker Open is down to just seven. The winner will be crowned Tuesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, home of the ridiculously cool-looking guitar-shaped hotel. Everyone remaining from the 69 who began Monday’s action is guaranteed at least $115,630.… Read more »
Phil Galfond Defeats Chance Kornuth to Remain Perfect in the Galfond Challenge
Kornuth waved the white flag There was much uncertainty from both Phil Galfond and the poker community as a whole when Galfond embarked on his “Galfond Challenge” a year ago. Once one of the best poker players in the world, Galfond had effectively retired from competitive poker to launch his very own online poker room,… Read more »
Daniel Negreanu Opts to Resume Challenge Against Doug Polk
The grudge match continues. On Monday, Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk resumed their heads-up poker challenge after a New Year’s break. And it was Negreanu who came out on top in the first showdown of 2021, netting about $27,000 over 500 hands. Remember from our last report on the “no love lost” heads-up challenge that… Read more »
Huck Seed Elected to Poker Hall Fame
Voting wasn’t even close Huck Seed has always loomed large in a poker room. At 6 feet, 7 inches tall, he is almost always the tallest person at the table. And now, at age 51, he has reached new heights, named the newest member of the Poker Hall of Fame. Seed had been one of… Read more »
Doug Polk Up $770k on Daniel Negreanu Halfway Through Heads-Up Challenge
Polk dominating The celebrated heads-up “grudge match” between Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk has reached its halfway point and Polk is light years ahead. With 12,500 in the rearview, Polk has a jaw-dropping $770,254.08 lead on the Poker Hall of Famer. It is now up to Negreanu to ponder what happens next. According to the… Read more »
Norman Chad Isn’t Happy About Isai Scheinberg’s Poker Hall of Fame Nomination
The annual release of the Poker Hall of Fame finalist list is always good fodder for discussion. Thing is, that debate is normally reserved for poker fans and media. The nominees themselves don’t normally engage in a public back-and-forth. This week, though, long-time World Series of Poker on-air commentator Norman Chad had something to say… Read more »
2020 Poker Hall of Fame Nomination Process Open
Make your voice heard The World Series of Poker has opened the public nomination process for the 2020 Poker Hall of Fame class. It is only open until December 11, so submit your nominations quickly if you want a say in one of the few good moments of this trash heap of a year. As… Read more »
Bellagio’s Bobby’s Room Renamed to Legends Room
It’s missing something For decades, the very best high rollers in the world of live poker have played in the famed “Bobby’s Room” at the Bellagio. It’s the type of place where a single big blind would destroy me, where the gravity of the star power is enough to pull moons into its orbit. But… Read more »
New Hybrid World Series of Poker Main Event Ruffling Feathers
It’s right there in black and white Late last week, the World Series of Poker made the surprise announcement of a new $10,000 hybrid online/live WSOP Main Event. It has drawn mixed reviews, as do most things in the poker world, but the poker community really started rumbling when Stoyan Madanzhiev, champion of this summer’s… Read more »
Canada Chasing $1.2 Million in Back Taxes from Jonathan Duhamel
Going back a decade The Canadian taxman is going after 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Jonathan Duhamel. According to a report from The Canadian, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is seeking $1.2 million (USD $907,000) in unpaid taxes from Duhamel, spanning 2010-2012. To make matters worse for the champ, if the CRA… Read more »
Poker Streamer Kevin Martin Had No Idea He Folded the Nuts
I am not the greatest poker player this world has ever produced. I’m ok. I haven’t played in a long time – the landscape here in Georgia is barren and I don’t particularly feel like finding underground games – but when I did play, I was a decent low stakes player. I’m ok, if I… Read more »
Poker Pro Sam Grizzle Passes Away
Veteran poker pro Sam Grizzle passed away Tuesday after suffering a massive stroke. According to reports from friends close to the situation, the stroke was so bad that Grizzle fell into a coma with no hopes of recovering. His family made the decision to end life support. My introduction to Sam Grizzle was the same… Read more »
Dan Bilzerian, Bill Perkins Accuse Jean-Robert Bellande of Cheating in Home Game
In the category of “Dumb Poker Drama to Which Almost Nobody in the World Can Relate,” Dan Bilzerian and, to a lesser extent, Bill Perkins, apparently accused Jean-Robert Bellande of cheating in a high stakes home game. Bellande hosts what are known as some of the biggest games in Las Vegas, but it sounds like… Read more »
Doug Polk, Daniel Negreanu Confirm Heads-Up Battle
Finally, the drama and the sniping are over between Doug Polk and Daniel Negreanu. Ok, I will admit that’s wishful thinking, but the retired poker player and the Poker Hall of Famer have finally nailed down the rules for the heads-up online poker match they have been discussing on Twitter for a few months. As… Read more »
Park MGM to Reopen September 30, Become First Smoke-Free Vegas Strip Casino
Confirming rumors from two months ago, Park MGM announced Monday that when it reopens, it will be the first-ever smoke-free casino on the Las Vegas Strip. It has scheduled its reopening for September 30; Park MGM is the only MGM property still closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The last six months have presented extraordinary… Read more »
Connon Drinan Wins $100,000 Bracelet Prop Bet Against Daniel Negreanu
Before the 2020 World Series of Poker Online began, Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu offered up a couple bracelet prop bets, as he often does. One for which he got a couple takers was an even money heads-up bet on who would win a bracelet. Ali Imsirovic and Connor Drinan took him up on… Read more »
Woman Arrested in $1 Million Robbery of Antonio Esfandiari
The crime I always enjoy a good “stupid criminal” story as long as nobody got hurt. Now, in this case, I do feel bad because the victim, while not harmed physically, was certainly harmed financially, but solely from an entertainment perspective, this is just a face-palmer. Recently, an Arizona woman was arrested for allegedly stealing… Read more »
Poker Pro Kevin McPhee Has GGPoker Money Stolen in Account Hack
Money vanished while McPhee was playing Late last week, poker pro Kevin McPhee revealed via Twitter that his GGPoker account had allegedly been hacked, his bankroll syphoned off. Though the poker room did reimburse him, McPhee is still largely in the dark as to how his account was compromised. In a series of posts, McPhee… Read more »
Erik Seidel Blinds Off Absent Opponent in WSOP Online, Twitter Arguments Ensue
Last night, I wrote that Norman Chad is just about the last person in the poker world you would want to see get COVID-19 (I don’t want anyone to, but that’s not the point), but unfortunately, he did. Using a little parallel article structure for a moment, the last person in the poker world I… Read more »
WSOP Television Commentator Norman Chad Diagnosed With COVID-19
Not that I would want anyone to contract the novel coronavirus, but of all the people in the poker world, one of the last people I would want to see get sick is the legendary Norman Chad. Well, sure enough, Mr. Chad has caught the virus and as one might expect, he is not feeling… Read more »
Man Arrested, Charged With Murder of Poker Player Susie Zhao
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the gruesome, tragic death of professional poker player Susie Zhao. 60-year old Jeffery Morris of Pontiac, Michigan was arraigned from his hospital room, charged with first-degree, premeditated murder of the 33-year old Zhao. Police found Zhao’s burned body at the Pontiac State Recreation Area on July 15.… Read more »
Daniel Negreanu, Doug Polk to Engage in Heads-Up Match
It started with Negreanu’s tirade Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu and retired poker pro Doug Polk appear to be on their way to a heads-up grudge match. The two have been going back and forth on Twitter for a couple days, egged on by Joey Ingram, and seem to be close to an agreement… Read more »