| |
The Perfect Holiday Gift for a Poker Enthusiast
Published: 2004-12-01
 The Perfect Holiday Gift for a Poker Enthusiast
Market Wire, December, 2004
Poker is in the air and on the airwaves. From ESPN for WSOP or the World Poker Tour (WPT) on the Travel Channel to celebrity poker and interactive poker computer games, poker is gaining recognition across the nation. With the holiday season quickly approaching, friends and spouses of poker players can rest easy with a gift every poker player will certainly use: The Poker Camp's Final Table weekend getaway seminar.
The Final Table seminar, hosted at Jackson Rancheria January 29-30, 2005, focuses on No Limit Texas Hold'em and covers basic and advanced skills and betting strategies. The seminar is a unique two-day weekend getaway that includes lodging, meals, poker workshops, practice, and a tournament with cash prizes. Featured speakers include Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari, $1.5 million winner of World Poker Tour events and Lee Jones, author of "Winning Low Limit Hold'em" to reveal their winning secrets of poker.
Dedicated to the education of poker players, The Poker Camp aims to increase the poker enthusiast's skills and enjoyment of tournament poker through educational seminars while increasing the opportunity to make it to the final table. "It's exciting to be able to work with champions such as Antonio Esfandiari and Lee Jones for our debut seminar," says Dylan Simpson, co-founder of The Poker Camp. "They'll add a level of enrichment to the seminar that will make it exciting to every participant. And since the first seminar is offered in January at the Jackson Rancheria, a weekend getaway combined with poker stars makes the perfect gift idea."
Registration for The Poker Camp's seminar "The Final Table at Jackson Rancheria," January 29-30, 2005, is now open. Packages begin at $1295. Participants or gift givers can register at www.thepokercamp.com or call (209) 830-6556 for more information.
About The Poker Camp
The Poker Camp was founded March 2004, by poker veterans, Dylan Simpson and Anthony Beebe, to promote and advance the education of poker players through a series of educational seminars. By leveraging expert resources within the poker community, The Poker Camp enriches the educational experience while maintaining the entertaining spirit of the game. The Poker Camp seminars are two-day weekend getaways at a resort casino and include lodging, meals, poker workshops, practice, and a tournament with cash prizes. Seminars cover basic and advanced skills, betting strategies and feature a workshop with a major poker professional. The seminars feature some of poker's renowned professionals sharing their skills and stories to help participants achieve their dreams of playing and winning at the final table. For more information, visit www.thepokercamp.com.
Contact: Dylan Simpson (408) 379-3896 dsimpson@thepokercamp.com
| |
The Gaming Club Poker Room Players Win at the World's Most Exclusive Poker Tournament
Published: 2004-12-01
The Gaming Club Poker Room Players Win at the World's Most Exclusive Poker Tournament
Market Wire, December, 2004
The world's most exclusive poker tournament attracted the world's top eighty professional players and satellite winners to luxurious Monte Carlo on the French Riviera. The final table began at 3pm with Phil Ivey in a commanding lead, having nearly double the chips of Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and Vince "Vinny Nap" Napolitano in second and third place. It would seem that at least one American at the first Monte Carlo Millions was intent on taking home the $400,000 first prize. But as all things go in poker, nothing is predictable.
Phil Ivey had dominated the tournament since Day One and was the odds-on favorite among players and spectators alike. Phil kept to his relaxed, yet focused, style as players including Kevin O'Connell, Victor Ramdin and Chris Ferguson were eliminated. Following the dinner break, Daniel Larsson and Krister Hanson of Sweden, playing for Expekt.com, and Vinny Nap would also leave the table, leaving Phil Ivey to battle two Finns, playing for The Gaming Club Poker Room, Juha Helppi and Jani Sointla.
Phil Ivey, who at one point had amassed $1.1 million of the $1.58 million in chips, continued to dominate the final table until the table was down to the final three. In a key hand, Phil made a move on Jani with an Ac6c and Jani raised from the small blind with a pair of 9s. Phil moved all-in over the top and Jani called. The 9's held up and Jani doubled up for nearly $300,000. The next hand brought more action between the two when Jani called on a pre-flop raise by Phil. When J, J, 10 came out on the flop, Phil bet $100,000 and Jani moved all-in for $405,000 more. Phil contemplated his move for more than five minutes before calling with a 10, 6 off-suit. Jani showed an 8c, 9c for a possible open straight. The turn card helps no one and a 7 came on the river, giving Jani the straight. Phil thought he had more chips than Jani but the count came out exactly even and Phil was eliminated.
In the final hand Jani had a 5, 7 off-suit and Juha had Ac, 7. When the flop came down 4, 8, 10 both checked. The turn was a 6, giving Jani the straight and Juha a double gut straight draw and a nut flush draw. Jani bet $50,000 and Juha went all-in for $360,000. Jani called and when an Ah came on the river Jani took the championship and $400,000.
Final standings of the Monte Carlo Millions:
1. Jani Sointula $ 400,000
2. Juha Helppi $ 200,000
3. Phil Ivey $ 100,000
4. Krister Hansson $ 60,000
5. Vincent Napolitano $ 45,000
6. Daniel Larsson $ 35,000
7. Chris Ferguson $ 30,000
8. Victor Ramdin $ 25,000
9. Kevin O'Connell $ 20,000
Jani Sointula and Juha Helppi are long standing poker rivals who often play live games together at the Grand Casino in Helsinki, Finland, and regularly play online at The Gaming Club Poker Room (www.gamingclubpoker.com/mw) on the PrimaPoker network. Jani and Juha are two players that formed part of a team of seven Gaming Club (www.gamingclubpoker.com/mw) players in the Monte Carlo Millions. Jani summed up his experience at the Monte Carlo Millions in this way: "It was an honor to play and win against the best poker players in the world. We Finns attribute our victories to what we call 'SISU' or the 'fighting spirit.' The Monte Carlo Millions was an experience of a lifetime, players were first class on all levels, the play was exceptional and Monte Carlo was amazing. We also got a warm welcome from The Gaming Club staff in Monaco, they were really nice to us, ready to help us anytime anywhere. What more can you hope for? To win of course!"
The Monte Carlo Millions culminated in a glorious champagne cocktail party attended by all players, spectators and invited guests at the Salon Francois Blanc in the Sporting d'Hiver.
The Gaming Club Poker Room gets you into the game -- both online and off! So be a part of the action and sign up at www.gamingclubpoker.com/mw now and get up to $200 free.
| | |
