FTP MADE PRIVATE LOANS TO HIGHSTAKES PROS
Private loans,funded directly from FTP coffers, were made to a group of high-stakes pros, including Phil Ivey, Erick Lindgren, Layne Flack, David Benyamine, Mike Matusow and PokerStars-sponsored Barry Greenstein. They collectively owe nearly $20 million. Greenstein quickly acknowledged a debt of less than $400,000 and explained the circumstances, while the others remained silent on the matter.
FULL TILT RICO ACTION DISMISSED
A federal judge dismissed most aspects of a civil RICO suit brought by four prominent former Full Tilt players, Todd Terry, Robin Hougdahl, Nick Hammer and Steve Segal. Actions against 13 individual defendants including owners Ray Bitar, Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson were dismissed over contentions as to whether it was Full Tilt’s own actions or the US Department of Justice’s “Black Friday” indictments that led to the plaintiffs’ frozen and unrefunded player balances. Presiding judge Leonard B. Sand continued the case against three corporate Full Tilt entities and allowed room for the plaintiffs to file an amended complaint.
SPEIDEL TAKES AUSSIE MILLIONS CROWN
Local Melbourne pro Oliver Speidel rode pocket aces home in the tourney’s final hand to an AUD $1,600,000 triumph, eliminating Kenneth Wong in second for $1,000,000. Third and $610,000 went to Mile Krstanoski after a bad beat delivered by Speidel, while Mohamad Kowssarie, the biggest star in the final, finished fourth for $416,937.
IVEY WINS AUSSIE MILLIONS $250,000 SUPER HIGH ROLLERS EVENT
Sixteen of poker’s most famous pros entered the Aussie Millions’ Super High Roller event, with Phil Ivey outlasting Patrik Antonius to win the tourney’s $2,130,200 winner’s share. Antonius’second-place finish was worth $1,278,120. Gus Hansen claimed third-place and $852,080.
CALENZO CLAIMS WSOPC CAESARS RING
New York native Kevin Calenzo topped a 662-player field to win the World Series of Poker Circuit Caesars Palace main event. Calenzo’s final foe was another New Yorker, Ian Mack, who lost a virtual race to exit as the runner-up with $122,183. Calenzo’s victory brought $197,451 and a WSOPC national championship buy-in.
NOVEMBER NINE DROPPED... TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
World Series of Poker officials have released the complete schedule for this summer’s 61-event 2012 WSOP in Las Vegas, following hints that the November Nine was dropped. That was true in a way—the final nine in the main event will return October 28-30, 2012 to settle the matter.
AUTHORITIES RECOVER HALF OF STOLEN DUHAMEL LOOT
Montreal authorities have revealed the recovery of about $80,000 in cash believed to part of the property stolen from 2010 WSOP main event champ Jonathan Duhamel in a December home-invasion robbery. Four people face charges in connection with the robbery, including Duhamel’s one-time girlfriend, Bianca Rojas-Latraverse. Additional cash and valuables remain missing, including the champion’s bracelet Duhamel received for winning the WSOP.
NORMAN CHAD ‘COURTS’ TROUBLE IN TWITTER EPISODE
ESPN’s WSOP color commentator, Norman Chad, ran afoul of court regulations recently after deciding to send tongue-in-cheek comments of a day on jury duty out to his fans via Twitter. Samples included, “And, in an extremely unfortunate coincidence for the defendant, he bears a striking resemblance to Phil Hellmuth.” Presiding Judge Laura Foland Priver was not amused. Chad was tossed from the jury and ordered to return to court the following day to face a possible contempt-of-court misdemeanor, though the judge let Chad go with a warning about court misbehavior.
Veteran poker-industry writer/editor Haley Hintze is the author of an upcoming book on the Absolute Poker and UltimateBet.
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