The Rundown: Poker News for Week Ending Jan. 21
by Bodog Poker | Jan 21 2011
Miss the news on The Bodog Beat? Want to catch some updates? The Rundown lets you get up-to-the-minute information on the big (and small) events that shape the game.
Las Vegas
The big, big news in the poker scene this week was Annie Duke's announcement that she's going to become the commissioner of the new Pro Poker League, a gaming organization aimed at the top 200 players in the game. She's partnered with Jeffrey Pollack, former commissioner of the World Series of Poker to create what they've already said will be an analogue to the PGA, but for poker.
"I've long believed that the top players create enormous value for the industry and are skilled in a way that is worthy of star treatment. Our new league will celebrate poker professionals like never before and provide a tournament experience at the Palms that is first class at every turn," Pollack said in a statement.
In an interview with an online poker website, Duke spoke about the need for the PPL and how it will interact with the World Series of Poker and the like: "We expect to coexist peacefully with them. There is absolutely a place for both. The world where 8,000 people plunk down $10,000 to play an event and everyone has a chance at a huge prize pool, I think is a valuable piece of the poker world. I love it, I support it, and I'll continue to play in it, our pros are going to continue to play in it, and I think it's an amazing spectacle that fans love. But I think that fans also really love to see the players that they know, the players that have become stars and are the top talents in the game, competing against each other. I believe there is absolutely room for both to coexist."
Sweden
The other big news of the week? The famed online player Isildur1, known for playing in high-stakes cash games and big money tournaments finally revealed his face to the world after signing a deal with an online poker room. Viktor Blom (who was suspected by many to be the man behind the moniker) came out and may have regretted the decision immediately, as Sweden's government would like to talk to him about the money he's earned playing online poker. Oops!
Oklahoma
The World Series of Poker Circuit event going down at the Choctaw Resort and Casino rewarded several rings this week. 53-year-old Texas accountant Royce Prude earned his first big-money real-world win early in the week after spending the last few years playing in local home games and learning to compete in both cash games and tournaments. He got over $28,000 (and a ring fit for display or wearing if you are Dolemite) for winning the $345 No-Limit Hold ‘Em tournament.
Other ring winners included Tommy Coker from Norman, Oklahoma joins the "newish to the game but still earned a ring" club and got $55,060 in the $555 No-Limit Hold ‘Em Tournament. He was joined by Bruce Hoyt, from Gilbert, AZ. Bruce has been playing since 1968 and has four cashes to his name in the WSOPC over his career, three of which happened in this year's schedule. He got $11,477 and a circuit ring for his first-place finish in a $345 HORSE event.
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