Craig Varnell has come a long way from four years ago when he left his job at a car wash to start playing poker for a living. His efforts were rewarded last night when the player remained the last man standing from the hefty field of the 2018 WSOP $565 Pot-Limit Omaha to win what many consider the most coveted non-monetary prize in poker – a gold bracelet from the series.

Moments after his career’s biggest win, the player said that it was a great feeling to get “the highest accomplishment” in a game he has been playing for a living. Varnell further dwelt that poker meant so much more to him than just a profession as it helped him escape some really dark places in the past.

Back to the $565 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament, Varnell was part of a field of 2,419 entries. The event kicked off June 8 and played through Sunday, June 10. The final day began with an unofficial final table of ten players. Maxime Heroux led the final ten with 2.43 million in chips and a comfortable advantage over his remaining opponents. Varnell was among the top stacks at the time and felt just as comfortable to proceed and execute his strategy.

The game was off to a slow start as players played cautiously, trying to secure a spot among the final nine and then further into the day without getting into much trouble. Unlike his opponents, Varnell was not afraid to put some pressure and initiate action at the table. In most of the cases hands were not even played with his tablemates folding pre-flop and him ending up with the chips. This helped the player accumulate over a million in chips.

Varnell said that he had a “feeling for the game” and oftentimes relied on that feeling instead of doing math in his head before making a move at the table.

The start-of-the-day chip leader, Heroux, remained the hardest nut to crack at the table up until four-handed play when he busted eventually. From that point on, Varnell navigated quite easily to eventually scoop the title and the first-place prize.

Final Hands of Play

Varnell played heads-up against Seth Zimmerman. The eventual champion had a 6-1 chip advantage at that point, but saw some resistance from his final opponent. Zimmerman managed to double a couple of times and even take the lead for a very short while.

After relinquishing the chip lead, Varnell quickly regained momentum to bring down his opponent. On what turned out to be the final hand in play, Zimmerman had 1.6 million in chips to Varnell’s 10.5 million. The eventual runner-up finisher went all-in pre-flop with [Ad][Kh][Qd][4h] to Varnell’s [Kd][Jc][9s][5s].

Despite Zimmerman’s pre-flop advantage, the board eventually ran out [Qs][Jh][3d][6s][9d] to give Varnell two pair and the title. Zimmerman collected a consolation prize of $112,347 from the payout desk, while Varnell was posing with his shiny gold bracelet, knowing that he had just added $181,790 to his poker bankroll.

In Fresno County, California the federally recognized Table Mountain Rancheria has decided that their 31-year-old casino is due for an update. Nearly doubling the existing space, the tribe’s proposed project includes a 110,000 square foot gaming floor and a 14 story hotel.

Located in Friant, a census-designated place (CDP) about 17 miles from Fresno, according to an environmental report the Table Mountain Rancheria are considering relocating their existing casino to a different location on their tribal trust lands just north of Millerton Road.

Described in detail within the Environmental Evaluation, in addition to the larger casino floor, the tribe would add a 151-room hotel and include a top-floor restaurant, spa and salon, fitness center, a kids activity center with child care and a conference center with six meeting rooms. Additional resort-like amenities include a new 1,500-seat special event center to be utilized for private events, monthly concerts and banquets.

Construction would begin west of the existing casino by spring 2019, and feature a state-of-the-art ventilation system, have more of an open concept and be energy efficient. Completion of the new, larger casino is expected by 2021. Upon completion of the new facility, the old casino will be utilized for tribal offices.

Attorney and spokesman for the tribe, Dan Cass, communicated that although the existing casino was a popular gambling destination, the venue’s 8-foot ceilings and smoke from cigarettes were a source of complaints. According to Cass, the project’s environmental review has taken several years to be completed.

Cass said, “We wanted to build something that will be able to sustain the tribal community for future generations.” He added that the tribe also “want to stay within the confines of our promise to keep this on our own land,” The Fresno Bee reports.

The increased size of the new casino will result in more jobs, with the project adding 454 employment positions for 1,454 total workers. Comments from the public regarding the environmental review are reportedly being accepted until June 28. On that day from 6pm to 9pm, a public meeting will take place at the Ramada Inn in Fresno at 3224 E. Shaw Ave.

The newspaper reports that the amount of traffic from vehicles could be a concern for residents who live nearby. At present, Saturday is the casino’s busiest day, seeing some 3,795 cars daily. It is estimated that the proposed project will grow that number by nearly double to 7,755 vehicles daily.

Currently, Table Mountain Casino features more than 2,000 slots, 40 table games, 10 smoke-free poker tables, a 700-seat bingo hall, three dining establishments, including a buffet. Located just across the street is the 140-acre Eagle Springs Golf & Country Club, which features a pro shop and café.

Andrey Zhigalov dreamed about what happened on Saturday afternoon since he was in high school.

The Russian mixed games specialist won his first World Series of Poker bracelet in the $1,500 HORSE. He came back to an unscheduled fourth day to finish his heads-up match against Timothy Frazin. He made quick work of the Dallas native, finishing off a field of 731 entries and earning $202,787.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was 16,” said Zhigalov after his win. “I thought when I would have $10,000 I could play the main event. Then, when I had $10,000, I realized I needed to pay for the plane ride and the hotel. So, I needed more money.”

Zhigalov may have dreamed of playing the main event, but he’s turned into one of the fixtures in the limit mixed games tournaments every summer at the Rio. This is the 15^th time the Russian cashed at the WSOP and all of them were in limit games.

“It’s boring for me,” said Zhigalov about why he doesn’t play as much no-limit hold’em as limit mixed games. “When I get only two cards, I think ‘Where are the others?’”

Draw games, stud games, flop games, split pot games, scoop games. Outside of no-limit hold’em, if you can name the poker variant, Zhigalov probably cashed in it. It’s his love of these games that brings him to Las Vegas every summer.

Outside of the World Series, the games that he enjoys grinding aren’t spread in the casinos closer to his home.

“I play poker only in June because there are more limit games,” said Zhigalov. “I play EPT, but there are no limit games. Only no-limit hold’em. So, I skipped those last year and I will skip those this year, too. I’m just playing live here, and I played online tournaments in May and September.”

The 29-year-old Russian has been making treks across the Pacific Ocean every summer for the last five years. He plays a fairly intense schedule and stays for at least a month. But he’s not a professional poker player.

Unlike most players that grind as many poker tournaments at the WSOP, Zhigalov works in the accounting department of a software company.

“Maybe I’m a pro, but I already have a job,” joked Zhigalov.

His record shows that he is at the very least, competent in all of the games. During his heads-up match with Frazin, however, there was one game he was actively trying to stay away from.

“I think razz might be my best game,” said Zhigalov. “I felt that I played better in razz, o8, stud8 and limit hold’em, but I think I played bad in stud hi. I lost a lot of pots to him in this game, and I tried to compensate in other games.”

The third and what was scheduled as the final day of the event started at noon on Friday with 24 players remaining. The eliminations came at a frantic pace and in just over four hours, the field had been trimmed to its final eight. There was a redraw with nine players remaining to the unofficial final table, but Ismael Bojang’s ninth place finish gave a final table appearance to the final eight players.

After they reached an official final table, JW Smith was the first to go. He was eliminated in eighth-place when he made a seven-low in razz, but Matt Woodward made a wheel.

They went a whole level before another player hit the rail, and when they did, it was the most accomplished player at the table that was departing. Two-time bracelet winner was eliminated in arguably his best game in the mix.

In Omaha hi-lo, Clements was all in with a middle pair and a low draw against Zhigalov’s top pair and a worse low draw. Clements turned two pair, but Zhigalov rivered trips and eliminated Clements in seventh.

Later in the same level, Sandeep Vasudevan was eliminated by Nicholas Derke. In seven-card stud, Vasudevan was all in on sixth street with a pair of kings and a flush draw against Derke’s trip jacks. Neither player improved on the river and Vasudevan earned his best finish at the WSOP with a sixth-place finish.

The final five players went on a 60-minute dinner break with Frazin leading the pack. When they returned, Derke was eliminated at the hands of Bradley Smith. In one of the first few hands back from break, they played a big Omaha hi-lo hand.

Derke flopped two pair but ran into Smith’s flopped trips with a flush draw. They got all in on the turn and Smith further improved to a full house on the river.

Four-handed play lasted for about an hour and then the table lost Woodward in fourth place. Over the course of four-handed play, Woodward was worn down and became the short stack. He got all in on third street with queen-jack-10 against Zhigalov and Smith.

By the river, it Zhigalov folded and Smith showed two pair. Woodward could only muster up a pair of eights and was eliminated in fourth place.

Smith picked up chips from eliminating Woodward, but they didn’t last very long. Over the course of about a level Smith became the short stack and busted in to Zhigalov in stud hi-lo. They got all in on third street with Smith showing a pair of sixes and Zhigalov tabling buried 10s with an ace up.

They both improved to two pair, but Zhigalov’s was better and eliminated Smith in third place, leaving him heads-up with Frazin.

Frazin started with the chip lead and slowly extended it with Zhigalov falling below 10 big bets. Being on the short stack was nothing new to Zhigalov.

“I’ve survived all of the tournament,” he said. “I had like 10,000 chips when we have like 49 players and I started the final table as the shortest one. I just survived and survived. Then, in some pots I felt that I could get some benefit and I played maybe a little bit wide.”

The tides steadily began to turn, however, and as the limits increased, Zhigalov began winning more pots. After several hours of heads-up play, the roles were reversed, and it was Zhigalov with a massive chip lead.

The two played for several hours and they, but they hit the hard stop and bagged up for the night.

“We played like 15 hours and I was exhausted at the end of it,” said Zhigalov about the Day 3 schedule. “We came back today, and it was very good for me because I slept well, and I felt much better.”

Coming off a good night’s rest, Zhigalov came out swinging. He made a full house in Omaha hi-lo to scoop a pot and then pulled further away with a win in razz, leaving Frazin with just a couple bets.

Zhigalov finished him off in the same game. They got all in on third street with Zhigalov tabling 9-4-A against Frazin’s 7-6-2.

Zhigalov ended up with a 9-8 low by the river and Frazin was left with a king-low. Zhigalov won the pot, the tournament and his first bracelet.

“It was a long time. I feel amazing,” said Zhigalov shortly after the last card fell. “I was excited when I made Day 2 of a WSOP event and I was excited when I made Day 3 and then I was here on Day 4. It’s amazing.”

Final Table Results:

1st: Andrey Zhigalov – $202,787
2nd: Timothy Frazin – $125,336
3rd: Bradley Smith – $87,769
4th: Matt Woodward – $62,379
5th: Nicholas Derke – $45,006
6th: Sandeep Vasudevan – $32,971
7th: Scott Clements – $24,531
8th: JW Smith – $18,541

Three casinos in Delaware began taking a wide range of legal sports bets on Tuesday, opening a new era of regulated sports betting in the United States.

The first bets were taken at 1:30 pm Tuesday afternoon, with Delaware Governor John Carney taking the honor of placing the first bet in the state.

Sports Betting Experience

Technically, sports betting isn’t brand new in Delaware. The state was one of the few that could offer a limited selection of bets under the Professional and Amateur Sports Act of 1992 (PASPA), as the state lottery had previously tried offering some parlay betting. That’s why the state was able to once again reintroduce NFL parlay betting in 2009.

But the Supreme Court decision that repealed PASPA opened the door for states to regulate sports betting as each sees fit. Delaware had already passed regulations that would allow their three casinos to offer a wider range of bets if federal law changed, and had been preparing for months for the possibility of a favorable SCOTUS ruling.

And that’s how the state was able to get their sportsbooks up and running in a matter of a few weeks, allowing Carney to place a $10 bet on the Philadelphia Phillies to beat the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

Carney turned out to be a winner, as Philadelphia was victorious over Chicago. But the real winner could be the state of Delaware, which Carney hopes will bring in more revenue both directly through sports betting and by attracting attention with what is – for the moment – a unique offering on the East Coast.

“This is really about bringing visitors to our state, giving them things to do when they’re here,” Carney told reporters on Tuesday.

Show Delaware the Money

According to a report by ESPN, single-game and futures wagers were immediately available on MLB, NBA, and NFL games, as well as the upcoming World Cup, with other sports soon to follow. Gamblers were allowed to wager up to $1,000 on any individual bet, with highest bets available if they were approved by William Hill, the administrating company for Delaware’s sports betting industry.

That same ESPN report also quoted Delaware Lottery director Vernon Kirk as saying that mobile and internet betting were likely to come, though the state wanted to focus on getting the physical sportsbooks up and running first.

Those brick-and-mortar operations got off to a steady start on Tuesday. According to USA TODAY, the three casinos in the state – Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway – took about $170,000 in betting in their first three hours of operation.

But it’s unclear how well Delaware will do once other states start offering sports betting as well. It’s even possible that their total take could go down compared to the pre-PASPA days, though Richard Geisenberger, the state’s secretary of finance, isn’t sure that will happen.

“I am pretty confident the handle will go up,” Geisenberger told USA Today. “The question is whether the state’s take and the casino’s take shrink or grow because the margins is much lower. I think there’s a chance that could it be lower. Our goal is to maintain what we have.”

Several other states could soon join Delaware in offering legal sports betting. New Jersey is hoping to pass regulatory legislation as early as Thursday, while Mississippi hopes to have casinos taking bets in July. West Virginia and Pennsylvania have also already passed laws to legalize sports betting, and could start taking bets in the next few months.

Pay off your poker debts, folks, or risk public shame. Nick Palma learned that the hard way after fellow pro Tim Reilly put him on blast on Twitter for allegedly refusing to pay back money owed from a backing agreement.

It’s sort of becoming a broken record. Investor sends a poker player with a questionable track record of bankroll management to enter tournaments, months later claims to have been scammed.

Makeup Misunderstanding

Reilly, a Massachusetts native with more than $1.7 million in lifetime live tournament winnings, shared a lengthy story on Twitter about his backing relationship with Palma, also a seven-figure tournament winner.

In his post, Reilly said he’s been backing Palma “for the better part” of the past year. He says he was “hesitant” at first to provide financial assistance but wanted to help a fellow poker pro who “needed help.”

Over a six-month period, Reilly claims Palma had racked up a “five-figure” makeup, meaning he owed his backer a significant amount of money from previous tournament losses. Many poker investors require a “makeup” payment as part of the backing deal. What this means is if, say, the arrangement is a “50/50 makeup deal,” and the player is given $5,000 for each of 5 tournaments ($25,000 total) but doesn’t cash in any event, the player owes the backer $25,000 out of future tournament profits.

So, let’s say Player A has a $25,000 makeup debt and then makes $50,000 in his next tournament, half of that money should be shipped to his backer. In Palma’s case, according to Reilly, the makeup wasn’t refunded.

Reilly didn’t say exactly how much money is owed.

Follow the Money

Reilly claims Palma agreed to meet him in Montreal, site of the Partypoker Millions Live event, to settle his debt, but upon meeting was given an excuse that Palma didn’t want to travel with that much cash, so he would deposit to his bank account the next day.

According to Reilly, Palma fired four bullets at a $5,000 event during that trip with “80 percent of his own money.” Upon returning from Montreal, he paid back his investor $5,000 but still owes “a lot more” money.

Reilly also claims he’s spoken to other poker players who have been “scammed” by Palma. Alex Foxen, a Super High Roller winner in Macau earlier this year, claimed to be another “victim” of Palma.

“I still like to think that Nicky P was never malicious in his actions but may be naïve,” Foxen wrote on Twitter.