Breakfast Club Poker

Win a seat to the 2008 WSOP from Bodog

Are you a poker savvy blogger with an eye on the World Series of Poker this year? Bodog's got your back!

POKER BLOGGERS: Qualify by entering the Bodog Blogger Tournament Series on Tuesday nights. Secure your spot now here: Bodog Poker Blogger Tournament Series.

NOT A POKER BLOGGER? Anybody can qualify to win a WSOP 2008 seat here. There are multiple ways to qualify: work your way up and build Tournament Credits for other qualifiers, blast through a Turbo Quarterfinal or two... Or just buy right into the Semifinal for $250. Low on cash? No worries. Bodog offers a cheap seat route to the WSOP tournaments for $1.50.

WHEN:Bodog is guaranteeing at least three other $12,000 Main Event prize packages weekly through its "Main Event Semifinal" tournaments. Qualifiers are running daily and all lead to the three weekly Main Event Semifinal tournaments held on Tuesdays (7:15 p.m. EST), Thursdays (9:15 p.m. EST) and Saturdays (3:15 p.m. EST). Players can also buy-in directly to the Main Event Semifinals for $250 + $20. Each Main Event Semifinal will award at least one $12,000 Main Event prize package, which includes the $10,000 buy-in to the WSOP main event, and $2,000 for travel expenses.

Good Luck!

Mortensen's Big Stack

Carlos Mortensen became the first player ever to win both a WPT Championship and a WSOP Main Event when he prevailed at the Bellagio on Friday.  Mortensen didn't disappoint his fans who have come to rely on, not only his fabulous play, but his ability to construct architectural wonders with his stack.  For his prowess, Mortensen received $3.97 million - making him the first player to top the $5 million mark for Bellagio cashes.

Mortensen faced Kirk Morrison in a death defying heads-up session.  Morrison, also a WSOP bracelet winner (1998 WSOP Stud), was just coming off his win at Jennifer Harman's NSPCA Charity Event at Caesars.  The heads-up battle lasted just over three hours with the lead changing many times.  And while I'm sure Morrison was disappointed, $2 million sure makes for a swell consolation prize. 

Click here for more information about Nevada's no kill SPCA shelter.

Or were you just looking for poker?

The "Other" JC

If you've missed the fact that JC Tran has been hitting on all cylinders this year, you haven't been paying attention.  He finished 5th in the World Poker Open WPT Championship event in January, scored a 2nd place finish in the LA Poker Classic WPT Championship event a week later - and capped off March by taking down the WSOP Circuit event in Reno.  Can you say hot?

But there's another JC that people are just starting to notice out there; JC Alvarado (pictured).  Juan Carlos "JC" Alvarado has grossed over half a mill in the last couple of months.  His run started with a second place finish in the LA Poker Classic's $2500 NLHE event.  He made it down to the last two tables of the LA Poker Classic's Championship event with a 15th place finish.  And he finished just behind JC Tran in Reno to take 2nd place.  Alvarado also made the final table of the Bellagio's $2500 NLHE event this week, scoring a 6th place finish.

The kid's got game - and a great smile

Looking for a little online poker?

Gazes Boots NOT Made for Walking

If you saw them, you'd know that Kristy Gazes' stunning Jimmy Choo boots weren't made for walking.  Some opine that they are responsible for keeping Gazes in her seat deep into the money.  Somehow we think that skill may just have a little more to do with it.  But either way, there's no denying that Kristy has been hot, hot, hot, this year.

In well under three months, Kristy Gazes has added another five cashes to her tournament track record and another $300K to her bankroll.  Specifically noteworthy was her 7th place finish in the Aussie Millions Championship - but also of interest has been Gazes' performance in heads-up play.  It seems playing Gazes heads-up may be as dangerous as going toe-to-toe with those stiletto boots. Gazes was a force at both the Poker NetCast and NBC Heads-Up Championships this year.  Not only did she score two heads-up cashes, but she also won yet another pair of Jimmy Choos in a side bet with one of her heads-up opponents, Clonie Gowen.

We are big Kristy fans and only hope that the remainder of the year yields her even more bankroll and Choos.    

   

Quick Chick Update...

Well it's been a great past few weeks for the gals.  Author and poker player Victoria Coren took down first place at the EPT Main Event in London.  Vanessa Rousso took down the $5K No Limit Hold'em Event at the Borgata Open earlier this month.  Mary Jones, 2006 WSOP Ladies champ won the $500 No Limit Hold'em event at the US Poker Championship.  And Angel Word (pictured) won the $500 No Limit Hold'em Event at the WSOP Circuit tournament at the Grand Casino yesterday.

I also noticed that there are still two women left in the Aruba Classic.  They have made the money and have about 30 players left.  JJ Liu and Beverly Cheney are both still in the hunt.  Good luck, gals.   

JJ Liu Wins WPT Ladies Night

JJ Liu took top honors at this year's WPT Ladies Night IV.  In the talented field, JJ was the obvious veteran, with 45 major tournament money finishes in her ten year career.  Kelli Griggs was the designated "newbie" and the only amateur at the table.  When the event reached heads-up, it was Liu vs. Griggs vying for the $25,000 seat into the WPT Championship event and the WPT Championship ring.

It was an aggressive and fast affair, reaching its conclusion in just under three and a half hours.  Griggs set the tone early that as the acknowledged amateur, she wasn't going to be pushed around.  She won her first pot of the night with a monster bluff which she proudly displayed.  Griggs went on to bust defending champ Jennifer Tilly and Vanessa Rousso in quick succession.   While I'm sure Tilly wasn't happy about being the first one to depart, she already had locked up seat by winning the Paul Hannum Charity Tournament earlier this week. 

JJ Liu turned up the heat and took out Erica Schoenberg and Anahit Galajian to take the chip lead.  The final heads-up hand was a battle of kickers when JJ and Kelli both paired sevens on the flop.  JJ's king kicker held on against Kelli's queen.

On some level, I envy JJ and all the great opportunities that this will open up for her.  But I know in her case, recognition is well deserved and was hard fought and won over her ten year career.  It's really her hat collection I most envy.  She has the best hats in all of poker!!

Paul Hannum Charity Tournament

For those of us that worked in the poker tournament media, one of our bright spots was getting to work with the WPT's cameraman and photographer, Paul Hannum.  And with his unexpected death earlier this month, we are left with a void once filled by one of the most genuine, talented professionals in the business.  But our void is small compared to the one his fiancee and, as yet, unborn daughter must contend with.

Tomorrow, August 29th, Gavin Smith is hosting a $1000 buy-in charity tournament event at the Bike, where all the proceeds will go to Paul's fiancee Sarah and baby Hannum.  If you do got, be sure to say hi to Jen who will be taking up the cause on the felt.  If you're not able to make it to the Bike and would like to do something for Sarah and the baby, check out this site.

A number of great prizes have been put up for the event, including a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship Event and

• ANY 10K WPT televised Poker Event Sponsored by Full Tilt Poker
• WPT POKERSTARS CARRIBBEAN ADVENTURE
  * WPT Buy-In $7,800+200
  * 7 night accommodation Atlantis, Bahamas (valued $3,000)
• PARADISE POKER CONQUEST PRIZE PACKAGE
  May 12-18th, 2007 Atlantis Resort, Bahamas
  * $5,200 Buy In to the Conquest of Paradise Island Main event
  * 6 nights accommodation Atlantis, Bahamas (valued $2,000)
• WPT CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL SEAT

   

Kelli Griggs Wins Seat for WPT Ladies Night IV

Kelli Griggs battled her way through the 419 player field to win the Bicycle Casino's Legends of Poker Ladies Event, dubbed the Ladies Poker Party.  Along with first place honors, Griggs also gets the last remaining seat at the table for the WPT's Ladies Night IV which will take place August 31st.  This was Griggs' second cash in a major tournament.  She recently cashed in this year's WSOP Ladies Event, finishing 59th in the record field of 1128 players.  You can read more about Kelli here.

Congrats Kelli! 

I saw that Teresa Chang finished 6th at the Bike''s Ladies Poker Party.  I remember watching Chang finish 6th in the 2005 WSOP Ladies Event.  With six players left at the final table, she was second in chips behind Jennifer Tilly.  It looked like Chang had a shot at the chip lead when she got her pocket queens all-in against Tilly's pocket sevens.  The board came A-8-5-6-4, giving Tilly the straight and Chang the rail.  I almost wondered if Chang played the event at the Bike this week to see if she could get another shot at Tilly:)

I noticed that Marsha Waggoner and Lacey Jones also made the money at the Bike this week, finishing 18th and 22nd respectively.  Congrats gals.   

Commerce and LIPS Dream Up Great Event

Well California continues to be the hotbed of women's poker.  This weekend is the Ladies Event at the Bike, where players will be vying for the last seat at the final table for WPT Ladies Night IV.  And next weekend the Commerce is pulling out all the stops for us gals.

On August 26th and 27th, the Commerce, in conjunction with the LIPS Tour, is hosting The Ladies Poker Dream Weekend.  Saturday kicks off with wine tasting, a buffet lunch, and of course...a poker tournament.  Sunday includes yet another buffet, a seminar by Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher, and then another poker tournament to test your newly acquired skills.  The tournaments will be affordable $125 and $225 buy-ins, respectively.  And because this is a stop on the LIPS Tour, there is a seat into the LIPS Grand Championship up for grabs.  The eventual winner of the The LIPS Grand Championship will receive a seat into the 2007 Ladies WSOP event, the LIPS/WPT event and 5 entries into LIPS events throughout the next season.       

   

WPT Ladies Night: Seat Open

The WPT has announced its line up for Ladies Night and it looks like a great one. 

Of course Jennifer Tilly will be back to defend her title.  With Tilly's growing poker track record, I almost hate to preface Tilly's name with "actress", because I feel she's earned the right to be called a player.  Tilly will be joined by a particularly tough line-up, featuring JJ Liu, Vanessa Rousso, Erica Schoenberg, Anahit Galajian, and possibly you.

When the final table is set to film on August 31st, these five talented women will be joined by the winner of the Bicycle Casino’s Legends of Poker Ladies Event, which is being held on August 19-20 in Bell Gardens, Calif.  So you've got a couple of days to get out to the Bike and take your shot.  The Legends Ladies Event looks like it will be a fun time, kicking off with a cocktail party and an appetizer buffet - and of course ending with a slot on WPT's Ladies Night.

WPT Ladies Night is scheduled to air on October 28th.  It's no coincidence that it will air during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  In what has become a tradition, both the Bike and the WPT will again be supporting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation with this event.      

Gold Wins Bracelet and Customary Virtual Hazing

In case you were out of the poker universe this month, Jamie Gold won the 2006 WSOP Championship Event.  And is customary, along with the bracelet and the first place prize pool ($12 million this year), Jamie will also receive a diss'ing in the blogs and forums.

Trashing the champion has become almost a tradition; as reliable as the Swallows of Capistrano or Xmas decorations in retail stores after Halloween. As the field of "unknowns" has swelled in the past years, the "who was he to win this thing" theme generally runs its course.  Many people who have allegedly played with past champions have offered up the "I've played with him before and he sucks" threads.  Every word uttered and perceived behavior displayed during the event by the eventual winner is dissected for a potential backlash.

Jamie's hazing has taken a bit of a Hollywood spin - or the accusations of Hollywood spin as the case might be.  It was rumored early in the event that the ethically challenged character and agent Ari Gold in the hit HBO series Entourage was indeed modeled after Jamie.  But one blog claims that Jamie was more Llyod (Ari's slave assistant) than agent.          

Pictures from the Final Table

When I took these pictures the mood in the tournament room was lively. People cheering, chanting,  Matusow losing $7500 in the stands playing Chinese Poker. Other pros seen playing from their leather chairs were Juanda, and Phil Hellmuth. Phil Gordon had his ESPN stage in the corner of the room behind the bleachers of the final table. Pros got their make up done before taking the mic with him and finishing off with $100 Roshambo. Bracelet winners were announced throughout the night as well as the retirement of one of Harrah's longtime employees. As you've probably heard, Jamie Gold dominated the table and the evening and some questioned whether or not he made a deal with the devil. Others, myself included, discussed leaving after Allen went home fourth for $3,628,513. It was no surprise that he didn't want to take the bust out interview in the media room. Jamie Who? How about Jamie who cares. The hand everyone continues to talk about is Richard Lee's bust out Jacks. Why, Richard, why? He did take his interview, and what a class act. He has a new fan in me. Ok, how about some pics?