The buy-in for the WPT Gardens may be $10,000, but Nicole Schwartz brings a chip stack into Day 2 after qualifying for the event by winning a $100 charity event.

The Gardens hosted a charity poker event on Jan 12 to benefit Breast Cancer Angels, an organization that provides housing assistance, transportation, food, utility payments, social worker services, and more for those going through treatment. The event raised more than $10,000 and awarded a buy-in to the winner with Schwartz coming out on top.

“That was fun to play,” she says of the event. “I feel like because it was only $100 and it went for a good cause, everyone was just happy to be there. It was a fun tournament and everyone was talking.”

Cocktails were served, but Schwartz didn’t imbibe, possibly to her benefit. With some nice play and a nice run of cards, Schwartz was able to parlay only two buy-ins into the title without even an add-on.

“The cards just fell in the right place and I won every toss-up hand,” she says. “I didn’t take the add-on because at that point I was like, ‘I have no chips, this is silly. I’m never going to win this.’”

Instead, just before the break she went all in and lost that hand. She went fired an additional bullet for a total of $200 and that was it. When the tournament restarted, she rallied and took home the WPT Gardens buy-in.

“It was very exciting,” she says. “I never thought I was going to win. I’ve played in events that have $1,000 buy-ins but never $10,000.”

Schwartz and her husband have two children, and she plays poker a couple times a month here at the Gardens recreationally. The $3-$5 No Limit Hold’em game is her usual stakes at the property.

While she plays cash games more, Schwartz is no stranger to poker success and has more than $35,000 in live tournament winnings. The 37-year-old from Wilmington, Delaware, scored her second cash in the World Series of Poker Ladies Championship last summer, finishing 44th out of 718 players for $2,647. She notched the biggest cash of her career in 2016 in the same event for $13,443.

“I would love to play more tournaments, but it’s just time-consuming,” she says.

Schwartz was taught the game by her father and feels like she’s always been playing. Her dad pitched in on Day 1 bringing her food and talking strategy and about hands on breaks.

While she normally doesn’t play tournaments, Schwartz is giving it her best shot. Day 2, began with a bit of a roller coaster. She entered with a stack of about 30,500 but quickly dropped to 8,000. But then just as quickly spun that back up to 30,000 again and by the first break in the day was up to 68,000.

“I’m doing okay,” she said. “These are some really tough players.”

Her Day 1 table serves as an example of that assessment. Schwartz was at the same table as 2018 Main Event winner John Cynn. What was it like playing with the champ?

“He’s actually very nice,” she says and notes that she even won a few pots off of him. “That was very exciting. I don’t normally get to play against players at that level.”

With some sharp play and a little luck, Schwarz is hoping to work her way into Day 3 and continue her tournament heater.

Partypoker is bidding to improve its links with the poker community and become the industries top operator by creating a representative body known as the Player Panel.

Announced on January 11, the new group will feature some of the game’s most respected pros and act as an intermediary between the average player and upper management at Partypoker HQ.

Alongside industry veteran Mike Sexton, the newly formed Player Panel will consist of Isaac Haxton, Fedor Holz, Jason Koon, Patrick Leonard, Sam Trickett and Joao Simao.

Open Ear Policy at Partypoker

In seeking to improve “two-way communication with the poker community,” the panel of players will advise executives on policy changes relating to the operator’s live and online products.

By giving its pros and, in turn, online players a voice, the operator is expanding on an idea first touted by John Duthie. Following his appointment as president of Partypoker Live, the European Poker Tour (EPT) founder vowed to create a less corporate-focused structure and listen to players.

At the time, the move was seen as a response to the backlash from some players regarding changes to PokerStars’ live tournament schedule. Recounting the early days of the EPT, Duthie believes player-friendly dynamics are crucial to any tournament series’ success.

The Englishman has since employed this ethos to the company’s Live series and achieved a number of firsts. As well as bourgeoning offline fields, the 2018 Millions Online became the richest online MTT in history.

Player-Friendly Approach to Remove Road Blocks

This open-ear policy is now being adopted across Partypoker in the hope that it can improve conditions for players and, moreover, capitalize on its recent success.

With PokerStars’ hold over the industry not as strong as it once was, Partypoker has become its main rival. Although not without its faults, the operator has managed to match PokerStars in terms of added value and prizepools in recent months.

As it stands, Partypoker’s seven-day average of 1,900 players is just under five times lower than PokerStars’ 9,600. However, with the introduction of a Player Panel, the operator will be looking to gain new insights into what players want and use that to their advantage in 2019.

When is a single day event not a single day event? When they switch the lights out on the poker room and tell you to come back another day! Not that Sean Winter will mind, having returned two days later to finish his heads-up battle with David Peters and walking off with $495,210

By: Andrew Burnett

The $25,000 buy-in Single-Day High Roller at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure had attracted 75 entries, 50 of them unique and the other third second bullets, with the usual suspects of the highstakes tournament game showing up:

Steve O’Dwyer, Jason Koon, Cary Katz, ‘the Germans’ out in force again – Kempe, Sontheimer, Loeser, Aldemir and Schemion all in the mix – with Justin Bonomo and Alex Foxen in there too. Also ponying up the $25k were former WSOP Main Event champs Joe McKeehen and Joe Cada.

Of all these stellar players, only Kempe, Foxen and O’Dwyer would make the money – 11 spots paid and a good mix of nationalities at the final table to make things interesting. Hong Kong’s Stanley Choi was an unexpected name, and he eventually finished 7th while England’s Jack Salter took an excellent 3rd place and $230,500 for his troubles.

The heads-up finale had to wait a couple of days as mentioned, but when they finally returned it took only 3 hands for Winter to close things out, Peters check-calling all the way with 72 offsuit only to find himself outdone by Winter’s rivered two pair.

Final results

Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce is utilized to listening to a lots of trash talk on the basketball court, however he obtained an unanticipated earful from a widely known poker pro while contending in the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) in the Bahamas this week.

The 2008 NBA champ hung up his sneakers in 2017, as well as playing poker is obviously component of his retirement. Pierce was just one of 1,039 to take part in the $25,000 buy-in event which relocated into the last table phase on Thursday.

Pierce is no more eligible, as well as before getting jumped from the event, he had to hear it from Mustafa Kanit, the Italian high-stakes pro that’s not normally recognized for his flamboyant table talk.

Trash Talking The Truth

Prior to we reveal you the clip, a bit of context– ahead of the hand going down, Pierce was having a little enjoyable with Kanit. The male known as “The Truth” during his having fun days was literally dancing around the table after getting his pocket queens done in against Kanit’s pocket kings and also increasing a queen.

However, Kanit would certainly have the last laugh, bouncing Pierce create the event on this hand a short time later on.

If you missed yesterday's #PSPC cards-up coverage, you missed @Mustacchione's and @paulpierce34's burgeoning bromance…until Kanit busted the NBA star.
Now, it's time for the @phil_hellmuth show, watch Day 2 coverage at: https://t.co/ZarB0RN21O or https://t.co/OsOSTzkdg9 pic.twitter.com/Cf9L3WRdlB

— PokerStars LIVE (@PokerStarsLIVE) January 7, 2019

“Who’s the truth now?” the Italian asks with a friendly laugh after his getting his pocket jacks all in against Pierce’s ace-queen and hitting a jack on the flop.

It was all in enjoyable, however, as Pierce had a good poke fun at Kanit’s trash talk as well as provided him a high 5 before exiting the phase.

“I ain’t heartbroken,” Pierce said to Pokerstars.com. “I had fun.”

Polarized Results

Pierce was one of numerous athletes and also celebs to participate in the tournament, including golfer Sergio Garcia, skateboarder Tony Hawk, and also previous Super Dish champ Richard Seymour.

The former Celtic is not new to poker, although he has yet to make his mark on the game. Pierce took part in the 2014 World Series of Poker (WSOP), but he didn’t cash, and he has no Hendon Mob results to his name.

Kanit, at the same time, is number one on Italy’s all-time money listing with $11.4 million in life time earnings. While he finished 56th for $56,800 in the PSPC Main Event, he took 2nd location in the $10,000 High Roller Event in the Bahamas for a $271,000 pay day.

An illegal gaming suppression is currently in the creating the McLennan Region and the City of Waco. Both city as well as county leaders have signed up with forces to create regulation which is set to impose a stricter governing program on so-called eight-liner game rooms.

McLennan Nation Judge Scott Felton made a commentary on those recreation room operations, which are currently unlawful, stating that local leaders wanted the eight-liners out of the county. The Other Day, Waco Town hall hosted a meeting of the McLennan County/City Intergovernmental Relations Board, at which chosen officials talked about the collaborations that would certainly maintain the controversial operations away.

Much less than a week ago, local commissioners expressed their desire to talk about and take into consideration a proposed item of regulations which would make it feasible for Texas citizens to determine the destiny of eight-liner pc gaming machines. Presently, betting services are illegal under the existing governing structure of the state, so slot-like devices are just allowed to operate in Texas in case that they do not offer cash prizes.

Mr. Deaver further exposed that some measures have been recommended at the conference, consisting of McLennan Area to another team of regions which has currently been enabled to manage eight-liner procedures. He, nonetheless, discussed that video game areas are not simple to manage, which is the factor why they are ready to sign up with various other cities and also counties.

Legislation Is Still in Pre-Filing Stage, City Officials Say

Waco City officials have more revealed that the local regulations remains in the pre-filing stage for the time being. The leaders of the Waco City and also McLennan Region would certainly take the matter to state representatives and would inquire to turn out a proper item of regulation over the upcoming legislative session.

Mayor Deaver said that city officials continue to be enthusiastic that they would get help with the legislature in the spring of 2019.

On the other hand, the Exec Planner for the Waco Mayor’s Workplace that raised House Expense 78 — Ashley Nystrom– prompted both the commissioner’s court and the city council to give them support resolutions at their next conferences. As discussed above, your house Bill 78 would certainly leave regional voters to determine whether to permit eight-liners or not. Ms. Nystrom additionally explained that region and also city officials are not standing versus the suggested piece of regulations but validated that they will be seeking to a various strategy.

One more item of legislation can also be reviewed aside from Home Costs 78– the Home Joint Resolution 12.

Mr. Deaver further revealed that some procedures have been recommended at the conference, consisting of McLennan County to another team of counties which has actually already been allowed to control eight-liner procedures. He, however, described that game areas are not simple to regulate, which is the reason why they are eager to sign up with various other cities and also counties.

Ms. Nystrom better described that area and city authorities are not standing against the proposed item of legislation but validated that they will be looking to a various strategy.

This was the mother of all fires. I’ve been living in Malibu on and off for around 30 years! We live in the epicenter of the hardest hit spot, the Kanan and the Point Dume area. Ground zero for this fire.

I stayed as late as I could in the late morning, watering down the roof when I heard an inferno was coming. My family left in a separate car with our faithful dog an hour earlier. I was to meet up with them in a couple hours or so. Or, when it seemed right at an undetermined location.

It was gridlock on Pacific Coast Highway to get out. To avoid that, we decided to meet at the point a mile away, where an evacuation center was set up at Zuma Beach for those who couldn’t get out.

When we got to the beach, the raging fire with ominous black smoke roared towards us. I prepared myself, my wife, and my son to jump into the ocean in case the flames and smoke were inescapable, which was starting to look very possible.

It was total chaos. There were barking dogs that got off their leashes and started running wildly, then our dog got off her’s, and all hell broke loose! Then a horse was suddenly out of control and running randomly into the smoke and the crowds as well! We quickly got our dog back on her leash and got the heck out of there, to someplace safer!

We drove back closer to our house again, just off the highway and pulled off to the side and watched the area go up in flames.

There was an eerie quietness of it all. Just large black ashes falling down on us like evil snowflakes, behind them fifty-foot walls of flaming fire!

About 10 cars and neighbors waited with us in the same area. With the highway in complete gridlock, none of us knew quite what to do.

I told my wife she better get going in her separate car back to the valley and that I would meet her when I could. They took off.

I stayed a few hours longer surveying and contemplating the situation but finally, Pacific Coast Highway seemed to be getting more of a direct hit and I realize I better get out now or my escape route would be useless. The highway was now emptying out. Apparently, everyone had left.

Then I noticed the black smoke had shifted and started to cross the southbound highway. I quickly pulled on to it and drove through to safety.

It took hours to get to the valley, to my mother’s where she was happily letting us stay. My brothers and other extended family were there as well.

That night we turned on the TV to see Malibu up in flames. To ease the pain we all started drinking. What else were we going to do? Someone suggested we drink “fireballs,” a strong whiskey drink. We ironically did. Deep down, in our hearts, we knew that our house was not going to make it. We watched the local news in shocked acceptance.

One news show actually showed our very house in flames, and the reporter standing in front of it saying “Look at this beautiful house, and no one here to save it.”

It was surreal. I walked out of the room in shock and unable to watch, but then resigned myself to our fate .

When I walked back in, my brother Nels, a great guy, but always blunt, belted out “Vin, your house is burning down!”

I felt like saying “Thank you Captain Obvious, have another fireball!”

My wife, Eileen and I, had a heart to heart talk, and we were at peace now with losing our beloved house. We were not going to fret about it. We were going to move through it and be strong and positive. We were lucky we all got out and we’re safe.

The next day our next door neighbor Paul called us on the phone to tell us the miracle that our house, and his, were still standing! I think it was the greatest phone call in my entire life.

We didn’t get to go back for about 2 1/2 weeks to even look at it, we weren’t allowed to.

When we did, it was a strange feeling to see everything burnt on the outside. The awnings, the landscaping, and part of the outside walls were affected. We had no power and water for a total of four weeks after. But otherwise, our sturdy house was safe.

Over 500 houses were completely destroyed in our five-mile area.

Ironically just a few days after the fire ended we looked at our insurance policy.

We were shocked to see that we were hugely uninsured. We were only to be reimbursed for about 50 percent of our rebuild costs, we obviously dodged a big bullet!

We learned a valuable lesson, one that should be shared. Get fully insured for everything. Otherwise, you might regret it.

People in Malibu have been great and positive and most will rebuild. Our prayers go out to the unfortunate people who have to endure so much. Especially in Northern California, Paradise, who not only lost hundreds of their houses but also their lives. God bless them.

Only a few days back, the Krasnaya Polyana gambling zone in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai Region, saw a new land-based online casino opening. The venue, called Boomerang, is currently working in the Rosa Khutor mountain resort. The grand opening of the venue occurred on January fourth.

The opening of the new gambling enterprise in Krasnaya Polyana was announced by the official driver of the betting area– Domain name LLC. The operator called the Boomerang gambling enterprise “a large job” which is being established in phases. At the time when the announcement was made, it became clear that an eating and a casino site area are to be opened up on the first flooring. The firm’s future plans include a sporting activities bar opening on the very first flooring, along with a bar as well as a la carte dining establishment on the 2nd floor. The second floor of the venue might likewise see an additional VIP area for online casino gamers, in addition to a karaoke.

The total project for the place consists of a mini-hotel complicated, as well.

The gaming zone’s director of advancement, Dmitry Anfinogenov, clarified that the home entertainment facility is set to function as a solitary organism at the time when the firm attains its prepare for the area.

As an outcome of the new casino launch, there are 2 betting places on the territory as much as date. The investment for the new center has been estimated to almost RUB1 billion. The brand-new enhancement to the Krasnaya Polyana gambling zone provides more than 200 one-armed bandit and 20 gambling table, and concerning 400 new work are anticipated to be created as an outcome of the brand-new gambling enterprise opening.

According to main data provided by the betting zone’s driver, Krasnaya Polyana has brought about RUB1.4 billion to state budget given that its opening in August 2016, with greater than 850,000 people both from Russia and also abroad having seen the zone. The data have also been assisted by the truth that 18 large poker collection were organized on the area in the duration 2017/2018.

The Beginning of 2018 Sees Azov-City Gambling Zone Closure

Meanwhile, another gambling zone in Russia– Azov-City– has quit working, after the Prize Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered the area’s closure from January 1st, 2019.

As CasinoGamesPro reported in October 2018, the closure of the Azov-City gaming area was anticipated to permit future advancement of land-based casino location in the Krasnodar Region. Medvedev’s choice came as no surprise, as there have actually been some indications for the zone’s fate. Still, at the time when the announcement was made, specialists commented that the order would bring significant modifications to the region.

The Azov-City gaming area started procedure in 2009 in Shcherbinovsky area, with international capitalists having invested huge loan in the area. Four online casino venues are still functioning yet the choice for the effective removal of Russia’s earliest gambling zone unavoidably elevated some questions connected with the impact of the Prime Minister’s decision on these businesses.

Just a couple of days back, the Krasnaya Polyana betting area in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai Region, saw a new land-based gambling enterprise opening. The opening of the new online casino in Krasnaya Polyana was announced by the authorities operator of the gambling area– Domain name LLC. The brand-new enhancement to the Krasnaya Polyana gambling area provides more than 200 slot machines and 20 gambling table, as well as regarding 400 brand-new tasks are anticipated to be produced as an outcome of the new casino opening.

As CasinoGamesPro reported in October 2018, the closure of the Azov-City gambling zone was anticipated to enable future advancement of land-based gambling enterprise place in the Krasnodar Area.

This legal session will see Missouri legislators to take sports wagering right into factor to consider as a means to bring even more cash to state coffers.

Such a step would certainly make Missouri component of the states that are to talk about the enhancement of the brand-new form of betting, which was provided the nod by the US High Court in May 2018. At the time when regional lawmakers return for the beginning of the 2019 session, discuss legalizing sporting activities betting, accumulating online purchases taxes and also other adjustments are set to be put on the table.

According to sports betting supporters, legalisation of the brand-new type of betting need to help regional authorities take on illegal gambling on professional competitions. The state has actually seen concepts of sanctioned sporting activities wagering before the end of the 2018 session.

The brand-new legislative session, which starts on January 9th, is anticipated to see the matter put for conversations, with the lawmakers readied to decide whether to capitalize on the expanded gambling industry, or otherwise. Far, a number of lawmakers have actually filed steps intended at permitting as well as regulating sports betting in the state of Missouri.

Several Sports Betting Bills Have Been Already Pre-Filed

Senator Dan Hegeman disclosed that he evaluated a sports wagering proposal which basic suggestions are most likely to show up in a number of expenses. According to him, an expense might ultimately get traction in 2019. He additionally noted that a fellow Legislator, Denny Hoskins, has pre-filed a sporting activities betting item of regulation.

Among the pre-filed expenses of Senator Hoskins would certainly okay to sports wagering just on state’s pc gaming boats, both off- as well as online.

An additional proposition would annul the present restriction on sporting activities betting services on Missouri gaming watercrafts. A piece of regulations sponsored by Legislator Expense Eigel would certainly see specific locations of these boats for sports wagering. At the very same time, there could be other locations in which restricted mobile pc gaming systems is to be allowed. Hotels as well as restaurants in Missouri will certainly also be designated to act as wagering websites.

Legislator Hegeman described that a fiscal note of 2018, which was specially planned for the preliminary bill submitted by Senator Hoskins, approximated prospective sports wagering wagers to about $18 million. Of that, $15 million would certainly be redirected to the state to fund different curricula, and an additional $3 million would certainly be redirected to the Missouri Veterans Compensation Resources Improvement Trust Fund.

According to Senator Hegeman, some rate of interests in the state would choose seeing a link developed in between sports wagering and also regional casinos. Apart from that, he noted that the disputes on the anticipated profits from the brand-new form of gambling can promote cases that lawful sporting activities wagering aids legislators deal with illegal gambling procedures.

Senator Dan Hegeman exposed that he reviewed a sporting activities wagering proposition which basic ideas are most likely to show up in a number of bills. An additional proposition would certainly annul the present restriction on sporting activities wagering services on Missouri video gaming boats. An item of legislation sponsored by Senator Bill Eigel would see particular areas of these watercrafts for sporting activities wagering.

Darin Utley, a former boxer from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pertained to Choctaw Gambling establishment in Durant to play money games however ended up asserting his very first WSOP Circuit title. The player, who stopped his day-to-day work concerning a year earlier and also currently plays poker for a living, took down Saturday evening the $400 No-Limit Hold ’em Multi-Flight for a gold ring and also $50,557 in prize money.

The competition drew 766 entries through two starting trips. That produced a prize pool of $252,780. The money was dispersed in payouts for the leading 81 finishers, with min-cashes deserving $419.

The player had an excellent begin as well as rapidly got momentum. He was exceeded by a couple of gamers who signed up with the area via Flight B, however the ultimate champion still had a comfy pile into Day 2 of the event.

Regardless of his good work on Day 1, Utley’s flight on Day 2 was not as very easy as well as effortless as he may have really hoped. The player rapidly started shedding chips till he discovered himself to be among the short heaps. He took care of to navigate his means to the unofficial final table, yet he was still short-stacked when that wrapping up phase of the event began.

Final Table Highlights

Once there were just ten players left at the tables of the host casino, they were moved to a single table to contimue their hunt for the title. Eric Bunch, a player with nearly $200,000 in WSOP earnings, led the ten finalists into the closing stage of the tournament with 2.275 million. Trailing not far behind was Lance Hendricks with 2.22 million.

As for Utley, he was second to last in the temporary leaderboard at the time with a chip stack of 345,000. Commenting on how things went for him on Day 2, the player said that “it felt good coming into Day 2” because he had some chips, but things just did not go his way, or at least not initially.

Over the course of the final table, Utley managed to jab his way back into the race and captured the momentum he gained to eventually take down the tournament. A winning hand of [8d][5d] against Hendricks secured him with his first WSOP Circuit gold ring and his first payout from the series. Hendrick himself scooped his first-ever WSOP Circuit cash. The player collected $31,168 for his deep run into the Multi-Flight event.

Utley revealed that he began playing poker for a living about a year ago. He usually plays cash games and Big O is his preferred poker format. As it can be seen, the player certainy has some Hold’em skills, as well.