Official World Series Of Poker® (WSOP) Launch Party Saturday, May 30

Lacey Jones To Host Official World Series Of Poker® (WSOP) Launch Party at ND's The Club, Saturday, May 30 at 10:30 PM inside the RIO

LAS VEGAS, NV – With the 40th Annual World Series of Poker, the world’s largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event, set to kickoff at the end of May at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, there’s no better way to celebrate the milestone event by throwing a party at one of the hottest new spots in the city. Everyone 21 and older is welcome to attend the celebration on Saturday, May 30th at ND’s the Club inside the Rio. Festivities begin with a VIP cocktail mixer at 9:00 PM “invite only” and the event officially kicks off at 10:30 PM. “We’re excited that the World Series of Poker chose ND’s The Club as the official launch party venue,” said ND, owner of ND’s The Club. “We welcome all the poker players, poker fans, tourists and locals to this much anticipated event.”

Professional poker player and model, Lacey Jones, is hosting the party, and special guest DJ Digital Boy will provide the music. Do It Right Productions, a full service marketing and PR firm will serve as the event organizer. Event is open to the public, all poker players, pokers fans, tourists and locals are welcome to attend this event. Capacity is limited.

UPDATE:

• Video: Lacey Jones hosts WSOP Kick-Off Party (PokerListings YouTube Channel)

About the World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world awarding millions of dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2008, the event attracted 58,720 entrants from 124 different countries to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and awarded over $180 million in prize money. The creation of the new delayed Main Event final table more than doubled ratings on ESPN year over year. The WSOP in December, 2008 was named the 7th most admired sports brand in North America by the Turnkey Sports Survey, trailing only the older and more established NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and PGA Tour among sports properties. In addition, the WSOP has experienced groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent in 2007 of the World Series of Poker EuropeSM. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit our website at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.
* World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with, This and That or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

About ND’s The Club
ND's The Club debuts a multi-faceted club experience at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Combining the elements of an interactive production with live performances, ND's introduces an exciting and unique evolution of nightlife to Las Vegas. This nightclub provides a total sensory experience with state-of-the-art technology and integrated performances by talented dancers and singers backed by live music. Interludes with surreal characters, elaborate costumes, and high-tech digital imaging make "ND's The Club" a premier nightlife destination. For further inquires please visit www.ndstheclub.com

http:blog.billbruce.info

World Series Of Poker EUROPE is off and running

BIGGEST NAMES, BRACELETS, BROAD TV EXPOSURE
AND THE CHANCE TO DETHRONE THE QUEEN. WORLD SERIES OF POKER EUROPE PRESENTED BY BETFAIR IS OFF AND RUNNING AT THE CASINO AT THE EMPIRE IN LONDON

LONDON, U.K., September 19, 2008 – The 2nd annual World Series of Poker Europe Presented by Betfair has arrived, and so have the biggest names in poker from all across the world.

With ESPN set to televise this year’s WSOPE Main Event in the U.S. and across Europe, the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe will become the most broadly televised poker tournament ever – and the first European poker tournament to receive TV coverage in the United States.

“We had tremendous success at the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe, but are convinced the changes to this year will result in an even better tournament,” said WSOP Director of Marketing Ty Stewart. “Registration is tracking ahead of last year and the lineup of names and the addition of another bracelet event have brought an electric buzz to start off this tournament.”

This television exposure and the chance to win the most prestigious prize in all of poker – a WSOP gold bracelet – is drawing the biggest names in poker.

“Betfair are delighted with the launch of the WSOPE. The player feedback has been tremendously positive and we look forward to this being the largest and most successful tournament in Europe this year,” said Ben Fried, head of poker for Betfair.

Among the players registered to participate in the 2008 WSOPE include the following professionals: 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, 10-time WSOP champion Doyle Brunson, 10-time WSOP champion Johnny Chan, Defending WSOPE Main Event Champion Annette Obrestad, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Allen Cunningham, Layne Flack, Patrik Antonius, Gus Hansen, Josh Arieh, Howard Lederer, Robert Williamson III, Barry Greenstein, Chris Ferguson, Mike Matusow, Max Pescatori, Vanessa Rousso, David Williams, Eric Seidel, Michael Mizrachi, Robert Mizrachi, Nenad Medic, David Benyamine, Tuan Le, Eli Elezra, Steve Zolotow, Ted Lawson and November Nine finalists Craig Marquis, Ivan Demidov, Peter Eastgate & Kelly Kim.

Last year, 18-year-old Norwegian Annette Obrestad bested a star-studded field to win the inaugural WSOPE Main Event and take home the largest prize ever for a female in any sporting contest, £1 million. Obrestad, who celebrated her 20th birthday yesterday, returns to defend her crown, against what promises to be another tough field of the game’s best poker players.

The 2008 WSOPE features four gold bracelet events, a £1500 No-Limit Hold’em that opens the tournament today and tomorrow (two start days), plus a £2500 H.O.R.S.E. event (9/22), a £5000 Pot Limit Omaha (9/24) and the Main Event (9/26), a £10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship.

http:blog.billbruce.info

World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Tunica

TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI, January 9, 2008 – I am in Tunica, Mississippi this month for the WSOP Circuit Event, which is being held at the Grand Casino Tunica. It has been a great tournament so far. The Tournament Director is Jimmy Sommerfeld and the Tournament Coordinator is Robert McGovern who is also the Regional Poker Room Manager for this area. Noted poker writer/humorist Max Shapiro is also on hand reporting writing the daily tournament summaries.

We're doing many player friendly extras such as dinner at LB's Steakhouse for final table players and generous comps for all entrants. Starting chip stacks for all events have been increased to 10,000 for extended "deep stack" play. This Main Event will be televised and there is also a $100,000 Best All-Around Player award. Additionally, when booking a room, mention that you are playing in the poker tournament and you will receive a $49 room rate. Come on down, were having a great time.

UPDATES:

January 11, 2008 – Today we had 1,000 entrants for the $300 buy-in No Limit Hold'em tournament. This was the largest turnout in the history of the Grand Casino Tunica. You can read the final Tournament Report for Event #11 tommorrow to see who comes out on top.

January 19, 2008 - Main Event (Day 1) - The Main Event drew 180 players with 1st place receiving $428,210, each started with a deep-stack of 20,000 in chips. Many recognizable pros were in the field like Michael Mizrachi (6th in this event last year), Tom Schneider, Kathy Liebert, Josh Arieh, Gavin Smith, Bill Elder, David Ulliott, John Phan, Chad Brown, Vanessa Rousso, Gavin Griffin, Chris Reslock, Alex Jacob, Shannon Shorr, Lee Markholt and Darrell Dicken to name a few. Day One played down to 29 players with Mark Garner of Little Rock, AR ending the day as the chipleader with 263,500 in chips.

January 20, 2008 - Main Event (Day 2) - On Day Two we made it into the money and played down to the final nine players. Eighteen places got paid, 10th-18th were as follows:

10th: Jesse Maupin (Rockwall, TX)
11th: Tom Franklin (Gulfport, MS)
12th: Jeremiah Vinsant (Murfeesboro, TN)
13th: Dustin Bailey (Center, TX)
14th: Charles Horvath (St. Clair Shores, MS)
15th: Charles Dwayne Cardin (Madisonville, TN)
16th: Tim Frostad (Regina, SK, Canada)
17th: Josh Arieh (Atlanta, GA)
18th: Jesse Dean (Bonita, CA)

The final nine will return on Tuesday for the final table. Here are thier names and chip count:

John Devia (West Palm, FL) 929,500
Ryan Young (Torrance, CA) 521,000
Giovanni Marcacci (Brooksville, FL) 465,000
Tom Schneider (Scottsdale, AZ) 422,000
Ben Sabrin (Atlanta, GA) 417,000
Donald Nicholson (Oak Ridge, TN) 325,000
Mark Garner (Little Rock, AR) 213,500
Bart Tichelman (Atlanta, GA) 164,000
Jordan Rich (Portland, OR) 147,000

January 22, 2008 - Main Event (Final Table, Day 3)

1st: Bart Tichelman (Atlanta, GA) $428,210
2nd: Donald Nicholson (Oak Ridge, TN) $236,163
3rd: Giovanni Marcacci (Brooksville, FL) $129,760
4th: John Devia (West Palm, FL) $103,808
5th: Ben Sabrin (Atlanta, GA) $77,856
6th: Mark Garner (Little Rock, AR) $64,880
7th: Ryan Young (Torrance, CA) $51,904
8th: Tom Schneider (Scottsdale, AZ) $38,928
9th: Jordan Rich (Portland, OR) $25,952

For additional articles and information regarding the Main Event check out the following links to sites that have live blogging:

• WSOP Circuit Grand Tunica (Martin Derbyshire, PokerListings)
• World Series of Poker Circuit 2008 (Kaelaine Minton, PokerPages)
• WSOP Circuit Tunica Main Event (Logan Leatham, PokerNews)

Links:

• Complete Results with Summarries for all events (Max Shapiro, PokerPages.com)


• Results WSOP Circuit Events - Grand Casino Tunica (WorldSeriesOfPoker.com)


• Hotel Reservations - Grand Casino Resort Tunica

Related Articles:

• Open Letter to Poker Players (from Jimmy Sommerfeld)


• WSOP-C Tunica, Day 2: Devia Heads Final, Schneider Fourth (John 'Falstaff' Hartness, PokerNews)


• Donkey Bomber Makes WSOP Circuit Final Table in Tunica (Jennifer Newell, Pokerati)


• WSOP-C Tunica, Day 1: Garner Leads; Arieh, Schneider, Rousso Chase (Haley Hintze, PokerNews)


• WSOPC finds familiar faces on road to championship (Earl Burton, PokerListings)


• Achey, Castoire take titles at WSOPC Tunica (Earl Burton, PokerListings)


• Wild weekend of action at WSOPC Tunica (Earl Burton, PokerListings)


• WSOPC Tunica crowns three more champions (Earl Burton, PokerListings)


• Reslock, Golin take WSOPC titles in Tunica (Earl Burton, PokerListings)


• WSOPC Tunica sees new structures, three champions (Earl Burton, PokerListings)

http://blog.billbruce.info

UFC 71 Liddell vs. Jackson

Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at the MGM Grand Garden Arena

LAS VEGAS, May 26, 2007 – I am glad that my schedule allowed me to be in Las Vegas for this fight. I met Chuck Liddell for the first time last March, in Costa Rica, when we worked on Calvin Ayre Wildcard Poker together. Chuck is a very likeable guy as well as possibly being one of the baddest men on the planet. Chuck has won seven straight fights in the UFC. His last lost was in 2003 to Jackson. I know Chuck has been waiting for this fight for a long time and he is pumped to finally get a chance to avenge his previous loss.

Links:

• IcemanMMA.com
• UFC Official Website

Related Articles:

• Preview: UFC 71 (theClevelandFan.com)
• UFC 71 - Hype vs. Reality (Sprawl 'N Brawl)
• The Iceman cometh (SI.com)

UPDATE:

Jackson hit Liddell with a right hook, in the first round, that knocked Chuck to the mat. After several more strikes on the ground, the match was stopped by ref John McCarthy.

• Anything's possible (Yahoo Sports)
• Jackson KOs the champ for title (Press Telegram - Long Beach, CA