World Series of Poker Quickie: 6/23/08
Posted by djocean on June 23, 2008
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.
