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 Event 5 Champion Becomes First Female WSOP Circuit Winner Ever at Harrah’s Rincon

 Donna Delfin finally managed to do what no other female poker player has done in the nine-season history of WSOP Circuit events at Harrah’s Rincon. Despite more than 100 gold ring events played since 2005, no female had ever won a gold ring up to this point. Delfin, fresh off two previous final table appearances which took place last month at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, arrived at this finale with even more determination. She overcame a formidable lineup en route to what was not just a personal triumph as a poker player, but a historic achievement as well.

By Stanley R. Sludikoff

We first met Lou in Costa Rica. We had both been invited down by Casino Europa to a large tournament they had scheduled. During a break in play, while most of the players opted for jungle tours, Lou asked to join in on a San Jose city tour, led by a marketing department executive. We became great friends by the time the tour was over. Later, I invited Lou to become Editor of Poker Player newspaper, where he served for many years. We had communicated with him often when we heard of his illness. I had scheduled Lou for a Senior Editor position in our new electronic publishing venture, but his reluctance to make a commitment set off dire warnings to me. I knew all was not well, although Lou was very positive right to the end. My family and I, Poker Player newspaper, our staff, and, I am sure, our thousands of readers will miss his wisdom and advice. This issue contains the last column written by Lou. Below you will find just a few of the brief comments from some of our key writers and close friends of Lou.

by Barbara Rogers

Penn National Gaming has been busy making sure every player across the country has a place and a chance to win a seat, along with traveling expenses provided, to their first ever inaugural Hollywood Poker Open, scheduled to play out in June 2013. This big event will guarantee one half-million dollars to be given out with a buy-in in of $2500, if you don't happen to win a seat. Hosted by the four star M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas, the entire event from start to finish has been handled with class comparable to that of the the beautiful M Resort. I In all its splendor, the M Resort offers an award-winning buffet, and plenty of other amenities, fit for those who are looking to indulge. 

The tournament dates are June 28th to the 30th.

Breaking News in South Carolina
Fighting Intolerable Insult to Poker Players

By Wendeen H. Eolis

Poker players WILL appeal for rehearing in South Carolina's Supreme Court guilty ruling against a low stakes un-raked home game in Mount Pleasant v. Chimento.

So you thought that online poker players had it tough when Full Tilt Poker bellied up! What do you think about risking your liberty if you play in a home game?

Even if poker is predominantly a game of skill.

Even if the law is determined to be unconstitutionally vague by sitting justices in a case.

Even if there is no rake taken.

By: Shari Geller
 
When Lou was my editor here at Poker Player Newspaper, I frequently apologized to him for my inability to come up with pithy or eye-catching titles for my articles. Of course Lou, being the most supportive and encouraging of editors, told me not to worry and he'd often come in with a good fix that would save the day.  But I can't count on his help today.
 
Yesterday, Lou passed away unexpectedly.  Yes, he was diagnosed this past summer with esophageal cancer and so, intellectually, I was aware that he might die.  But Lou was such a force of life, so full of enthusiasm and passion and, yes, fight, that it never seemed possible he would actually succumb to this horrible disease.  He would battle until he won and we talked of the great party that we'd have once he was cancer-free.
 

The Main Event of the World Series of Poker tournament began back in July with over 6,500 players. Now, 24 year-old Greg Merson, pokerpro from Maryland is the 2012 WSOP Champion claiming the top prize of $8.53 million.

by Wendeen H. Eolis

Until Howard Lederer, former president and member of the Board of Directors of Full Tilt Poker (FTP) took interviews at Pokernews.com and twoplustwo.com, earlier this month, and then backed out of a third one planned with poker writer diamond flush, he avoided penetrating scrutiny by the media.

Woe is him! After hours upon hours of interviews,  Lederer has provided a heyday for poker media and possibly expanded peril for himself in his dealings with the Government, say several gaming lawyers.

Reporters are now more able than ever to dissect his every word and make mincemeat of his various contradictions, omissions, and vague recollections in these interviews.  And Lederer’s claim of approval by FTP counsel of each of the public statements produced by Full Tilt after April 7th, 21st and/or later,  has various lawyers  around the country raising their eyebrows and predicting that this statement will come back to haunt him.

By Wendeen H. Eolis

[Update: Deal is now complete and official. (PokerStars Blog)]
 

At the end of last week, Poker Player Newspaper ("PPN") released breaking news that thundered across the online poker globe, announcing in very careful language that the die had been cast, effectively, for a completed deal between PokerStars and the United States Department of Justice to acquire the Full Tilt Poker ("FTP") brand.

 One business day later, the poker natives are at peak restlessness, fuming over the delay in a concrete announcement by any of the parties that would confirm or bury the PPN bulletin.

By Wendeen H. Eolis

The publication of my bulletin, “Full Tilt Poker Stars Negotiations in the Can,” Friday July 27th has been linked by more than one hundred thirty websites, and PPN (Poker Player Newspaper) has counted more than 10,000 visits in the past forty eight hours. But, to answer one cynical poker forum poster’s question over the weekend, driving traffic to the website did not figure in my decision to submit the item for publication.  

by Wendeen H. Eolis

 Breaking News: The ups and downs and glitches in negotiations between PokerStars and the United States Department of Justice with respect to Full Tilt Poker have come to an end. 

 Without giving away the identity of a consistently impeccable resource, it is now safe to say announcements for public dissemination are in the works.  At this point I am ready to go out on a limb; FTP customers will see their monies well in time for Christmas shopping.