World Series of Poker Quickie: 6/23/08

Borgata and Caesars Set Attendance Records During the WSOP

Both Caesars and the Borgata drew record numbers of runners in recent deepstack tournaments despite competing against the world’s biggest tournament series in the WSOP. According to Pokernews.com’s Tina Bergstrom, 710 players showed up at Caesars to play in a $330 + $10 tournament last Friday’s tournament, giving the poker room its largest field ever and Borgata experienced record-breaking numbers with its $5,000 Summer Poker Open championship event. The Atlantic City casino drew 345 runners on Sunday, topping last year’s figure of 337 and generated a $1.7 million prize pool and a $500,200 first-place prize.

 

Although many speculate that the poker industry may be weakening due to the economy, it seems that there are still plenty of players willing to put up hard-earned cash to take their shot at a title and the first-place cash that comes with it.

 

Get In Me Belly

I first met David Benyamine after I got done interviewing his fiancé Erica Schoenberg. I wasn’t exactly sure what to make of the guy as he was very soft-spoken and seemed kind of shy. I had heard about his reputation as a player and just figured that he was one of those brilliant guys that just didn’t do all that well socially.

 

After the meeting with him, I began checking into his background for an article I wanted to do for CardPlayer. I had heard the legend of David’s exploits at Bellagio’s big game and I was dying to see what made him tick. Unfortunately, I didn’t get assigned to the article which frustrated the shit out of me because I really wanted to get a chance to go one on one with David and find out what really goes on in his head.

 

You’re probably asking why I’m telling you this. It is because Benyamine just took down first-place in the WSOP $10,000 Omaha High-Low Split World Championship. Benyamine’s win further cemented the Frenchman’s legacy as one of the game’s top players and adds to his already impressive 2008 WSOP stats. He is finally off of the dreaded, “best player to never win a bracelet list.” The fact that Benyamine won a bracelet should surprise no one. The guy just won $1.5 million in a month’s time playing cash games on Full Tilt Poker and he’s always been considered on of the game’s better tournament players.

 

Is MGM Gambling on a New Future?

According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, the MGM Mirage recently announced a deal that has it developing and operating a gambling-free luxury-hotel complex in Tianjin, China. It appears that MGM Mirage is looking to follow in the foot steps of several major hotel chains that license their brands to various luxury-hotels. An  example of this new tact from MGM comes from the recent opening of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut currently has a deal where it pays MGM Mirage a licensing and consulting fee for use of the MGM Grand name.

Ministry of Sound Starts United States Division

One dance music’s leading labels is finally setting up shop here in the States. Super label Ministry of Sound (M.O.S.) recently established a U.S. company, headed by Global Underground’s Andy Horsfield.

 

According to Horsfield, the company’s goal is to continue with its global strategy. “Our mission here in the States is just to put great music out,” said Horfield in a recent interview with About.com dance music guide DJ Ron Slomowicz.

 

In addition to pursuing a United States M.O.S. label, the U.S. version of the brand will release CDs featuring M.O.S. music as well as versions of its popular sub-label Hed Kandi. “In terms of how we’re going to market stuff here, we’re just going to use the amazing repertoire that we have access to from Europe and that’s going to be the primary focus. We’re very much going to be a music-driven label. It’s not just about names or whatever, it’s got to be about putting great music out.”

 

As a fan of Ministry and the music it has put out, I think this another big win for the U.S. music scene. They have done so much to spread dance music and its culture as a whole, it only seems appropriate that they try to help shape the U.S. marketplace. This is one European invasion that I am looking forward to.

Wesley Snipes vs The Feds

By now, you have probably heard about Wesley Snipes tax issues with the Federal government. In case you missed it, the Feds took Snipes to court for millions of dollars worth of tax evasion and Snipes lost, receiving a 36-month sentence. The Blade star has been free on bail since his decision to appeal the judge’s decision which found Snipes guilty of three misdemeanor charges. Sentenced the maximum allowable time for each offense, the actor immediately filed an appeal which was granted by a U.S. District judge on May 22, 2008.

 

As reported by the Star-Banner, the U.S. Attorney’s office is dissatisfied with the outcome of the case and they have become irritated by Snipes’ continued arrogance outside of the courtroom. The legal side of the Feds decided to take action against the Demolition Man star and filed a motion last Thursday asking for the revocation of Snipes’ current freedom. “We want him in custody. He’s been convicted by a jury. He has been sentenced to three years and he should be in custody,” said Steve Cole, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office.

 

Snipes is living on borrowed time right now. He had better stop thumbing his nose at the Feds or he’s going to get screwed even worse than he already is.

 

Borgata Summer Poker Open: 6/23/08

I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Borgata one again surpassed early expectations and drew its biggest Summer Poker Open championship field to date. Topping last year’s number of 337, this year’s field of 345 generated a $1.7 million prize pool. That’s pretty sick for a $5K buy-in.

 

With many pros in Las Vegas for the WSOP, this tournament is up for grabs. In what may be the softest field I have ever seen at Borgata (for the $5Ks), I am confident that a relative unknown will walk away with the first-place prize of $500, 200. In my opinion, there is no other tournament that gives you better value for your buy-in dollar, especially since you start the day with $50,000 in chips.

 

Don’t get me wrong, there are some excellent players that started play on Sunday’s Day One, but the odds are stacked against them taking it down do to the sheer number of no-name runners in the field. Several top-flight players made the trip back to play in this event including Matt Brady, Will “The Thrill” Failla, Matt “Allinat420” Stout, Joey “JOEYTHEB” Brooks, and recent WSOP bracelet winner Jason Young.

 

Other notable seeing action were James Woods, Tony Salerno, Eric Siegel, Boris “The Blade” Kravets, David Fox, Fritz Stoner, Robert “Action Bob” Huang, and Charlie Minton.  

 

Monday we play down to 18. It will be a long day and anything can happen.  

 

Will it be a local grinder that takes home the half-million first-place prize or will one of the notable pros survive a field of landmines to take down the big bucks and the Borgata Poker Open champion’s bracelet? Make sure to check the Borgata poker blog to keep up with what’s happening with the tournament.

Sup?

Welcome back boys and girls, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I’m still in New Jersey and I’ll be here until Wednesday. Then it’s back to Las Vegas to fry like bacon in the heat. To be honest, I don’t mind the heat. Having grown up on the East Coast, I’m a big fan of low humidity and that’s one thing we have in spades in Las Vegas. Plus, I can’t wait to see my wife and my two cats. When I think about them, I truly realize how lucky I really am.

 

One last thing, I would like to thank everyone that has been coming to my site. I nearly broke 100 hundred viewers on Sunday and I am honored that you folks would spend your time reading my blog. When I hit 100, I’m going to drop a special CD on my readers, so make sure to tell your friends to check out the site.

 

Again, thanks for the love people. I’ll make sure I do my best to keep giving you what you want. Namaste.