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By Rhue R Reis

A total of 192 players entered the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em event in the 2013 Foxwoods Poker Classic with a total prize pool of $433,007 on the line. The final table’s two initial chip leaders maintained their positions to the end, and battled heads up for only a few hands. Ryan Eriquezzo of Danbury, CT realized 2nd place earnings of $69,541 while Justin Schwartz of Milford, CT captured the Trophy, Watch and the $112,582 Top Prize for the 2013 Foxwoods Poker Classic $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em Champion.

As we’ve mentioned about before, Penn National Gaming is putting on a new poker tournament, Hollywood Poker Open (HPO) in Las Vegas this June 28-30 at the M Resort. They are also holding regional and local tournaments at Hollywood Casinos each month. To find list of tournaments, visit www.hollywoodpokeropen.com. In a new promotion on the HPO Facebook and Twitter pages, they are looking for fans to “Think Like a Shark” and submit their best poker tip. The best tips will be featured in national poker magazine ads, and one lucky participant will win a seat in the $500,000 guaranteed Championship Event at the M Resort in Las Vegas, June 28-30. To submit your poker tip and enter for a chance to win, visit their Facebook page at http://a.pgtb.me/z3BL10 or submit your tip on Twitter at http://bit.ly/12H1NwE.
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Music Industry Pro Outlasts Record-Setting 732-Player Field

Baptiste Chavaillaz is accustomed to living life in the fast lane. He works in the music business and travels all over the world with famous bands and recording artists. But he produced a major hit of his own tonight, by winning the latest World Series of Poker Main Event Championship, held at The Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles.

 Chavaillaz pulled off what must be classified as a major surprise, defeating a formidable final day lineup which featured several accomplished rivals, including multiple players with millions in career tournament winnings. But it was Chavaillaz who performed like the consummate pro, beating some of the world’s best players at their own game. Indeed, in Chavaillaz’s parlance, it was the equivalent of an amateur musician taking the stage and out-jamming Eric Clapton, out-singing Alicia Keys, or out-rapping Jay-Z.

[Wyomissing, PA and Las Vegas, NV, Feb. 1, 2013]  -- The Hollywood Poker Open (HPO) regional qualifying tournament at the M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas has concluded and the top two finishers from the Main Event – Las Vegans Visnja Luetic and Romeo Samblero – will be returning to the M Resort later this year to compete in the $500,000 guaranteed HPO Championship on June 28-30.
 
Luetic and Samblero  (in above photo) chopped the pot and earned $12,170 each along with a $2,500 seat at the championship. Results from the three M Resort regional qualifying events follow: 
 
Event 1 -  $10,000 Guaranteed No Limit Hold’em 
Winner:  Charles Ambroghi, Las Vegas, Nevada ($5,445)

Event 2 - $20,000 Guaranteed No Limit Hold’em
Winner: James Cudney, Henderson, Nevada ($10,355)
 
Event 3 - $40,000 Guaranteed No Limit Hold’em
Winners:  Visnja Luetic, Las Vegas, Nevada ($12,170) and Romeo Samblero, Las Vegas, Nevada ($12,170)
 
The next HPO regional qualifying tournament will be held March 21 – April 4 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races (West Virginia) followed by the regional qualifying tournament at Hollywood St. Louis on April 4 – 14.

The January 50K promised a $50,000 prize pool, but the guarantee was soon crushed under the weight of 709 players who sent the prize pool skyrocketing into the six-figure range. After the 5 starting flights had departed from their gates, the prize pool was a staggering $120,530.

By Kevin Castora

Travis Williams of Reading, PA triumphs at the main event of the Delaware Park Winter Poker Classic. The $1,090 buy in event attracted 213 participants and generated a prize pool over $200,000. The tournament field was loaded with professionals from all across the Mid Atlantic, including the 2011 and 2012 Delaware Park main event champions Alexander McQueen and Adam Cook.

By Rhue R. Reis

On Saturday, 217 players started play in an attempt to earn a piece of the $229,434 prize pool. There were forty two who returned at 11am on Sunday to resume play, and six hours later, the Final Table was determined.

 Final Table action continued for just over seven hours, which included three hours of heads-up action. David Stefanski of East Lyme, CT and Tim Reilly of Natick, MA finally got it all in after the KsJd7d flop. Tim showed top pair with the Kd8s. Dave turned over the nut flush draw with the AdQd, and sealed the deal when the 9d hit on the turn. Tim was left with $40,448 for 2nd, while the December 2012 Mega Stack Challenge $1,200 No Limit Hold’em Title, Championship Trophy and $52,359 went to Dave Stefanski.

By Rhue R. Reis

The $600 No Limit Hold’em Mega Stack Challenge had 313 players start play on Saturday vying for a piece of the $160,913 prize pool. Twenty eight returned at noon on Sunday, taking four hours to reach the final table. Play continued for another six hours before the final two reached an agreement that gave Neil Murphy of Leeds, NY 2nd place money of $26,381, while Anton collected the top prize of $34,815. The two finalists continued to play for the trophy, and in the end Anton Rusin of Middle Village, NY secured the Championship Trophy to go along with his Top Prize money.

 Though the tournament isn’t yet over, we have results through the tenth event.

FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO
MEGASTACK CHALLENGE
EVENT 1 12/8/12
NO LIMIT HOLD’EM
MEGASTACK
BUY-IN $530 + $70
PLAYERS 313
PRIZE
POOL $160,913

By Nolan Dalla

 The World Series of  Poker never ceases to provide its share of thrilling  moments, record-smashing  numbers, and even controversies. Following a lackluster opening during the  first week of gold bracelet  events, the WSOP shifted  into overdrive during the  next several tournaments,  as a number of memorable  moments took place.

 Perhaps the biggest  story has been Phil Ivey’s  return to poker prominence. Recall that in 2011,  Ivey chose not to attend,  nor play in any WSOP  events. The eight-time  gold bracelet winner and  high-stakes player many  consider to be the best in  the world returned with a  vengeance to the Rio, making no less than three final  table appearances within a  six-day stretch. While gold  bracelet number nine has  eluded Ivey up to this point  (he’s finished 2nd, 3rd,  and 7th), his overall performance was still strong  enough to lead all other  players in the “WSOP  Player of the Year” point  race at the Event #26 mark  (there are 61 events this  year).

By Patrick Labriola

As casino operators work to attract guests in a still struggling economy, it is critical for them to ensure that customers will arrive at their casino safely. Stakes are higher than ever when transporting customers, as was brought to national attention early last year when a bus returning from an overnight trip to the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut crashed, killing 15 of its 31 passengers.

 The Mohegan Sun accident resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits, and outcomes in similar cases are becoming increasingly common.