Monthly Archives: April 2024

At times I have had as many as 15,000 watching me play poker live, and millions of people on video platforms. Its been quite a journey It has been nearly five years since Jaime Staples joined partypoker. While other ambassadors have come and gone, Jaime and his brother Matt remain the sole ambassadors representing partypoker today.

Originally from Alberta, Canada, Jaime has not only become one of pokers most beloved Twitch streamers but also a prominent voice in the online poker community. His passion for the game and his dedication to fostering community connections have earned him a huge following.

Jaime took time out of his schedule to answer some of our questions about his role at partypoker and share his thoughts on the rooms future. We also delved into topics such as the potential legalization of online poker in his native Alberta, his perspectives on Ontarios segregated player pool model, and addressed speculations surrounding partypokers potential sale.

Its a pleasure, Anuj. I started playing poker in 2010. In October of 2014, I saw a post on this 2+2 forums about streaming on Twitch which is the largest video game streaming website on the web. I had heard my brothers talk about Twitch before so I figured I would try out showcasing my poker there. It ended up becoming something much bigger than I imagined. In the 9 and half years since that day, I have worked with two of the largest poker companies in the world in PokerStars and now partypoker to try and tell the online poker story. At times I have had as many as 15 thousand people watching me play poker live, and millions of people on video platforms. So its been quite a journey that I count myself lucky to experience.

The majority of our job is about showcasing poker to the masses. What it is, how its played. We talk about some of the things people might not know about the game. etcetera. I think we are a guiding hand into understanding the poker world. We do that primarily through playing partypoker tournaments, cash games and Spins Overdrive while sharing our personal journeys along the way. Our secondary duties involve being a voice for players within the company, and a voice for the company to communicate out to players as well. We get to provide feedback on plans and do general consulting on things going on from within. We also produce explainer videos on promotions or tournament series, and provide the social media department with content in which to showcase partypoker on their pages.

Before I joined partypoker, there was very little social or internet media footprint. The focus was primarily on live poker and sponsoring existing large production type stuff. I like those types of productions as well but sometimes I feel as if online poker should do a better job of standing on its own. We arent primarily live poker companies. We are online poker companies. And there are some distinct advantages to a digital game that make it different to live. A good example is progressive knockout tournaments. A very difficult game to run live, that works perfectly online. There are all sorts of interesting formats waiting to be explored that only work digitally. Which gets more views CSGO esports or airsoft gun championships? The digital format is better in this example, and there is no reason why that cant be true of poker too.

I think Canadian regulators should look to the UK and the system they have developed for poker when moving forward with province-by-province legislation. So we have been able to start telling the online story of partypoker. Featuring our daily legend poker tournaments, streaming the story on Twitch. We had a great event called The Big Deal where we got around 50 streamers to come together and all stream 1 poker tournament at the same time. That was pretty cool.

I dont live in Alberta right now but I hope for the best for my home province. At its core, I think its important for poker players to be able to compete with people from around the world. This is the only game in a casino where that actually matters. Because poker is a competition, even when you play for fun, with an expectation of losing. Imagine not being able to play chess against someone outside of your home province. It would stunt the players from using those platforms and push them underground to non regulated options generating no tax revenue, and with no oversight. Im not sure regulators know that about poker specifically, or care. And for the parent companies lobbying to make this regulated market happen, poker revenue is an afterthought in comparison to their total portfolios. So Its a bit of a grim picture when it comes to our chances at shared liquidity which is so important.

I think Canadian regulators should look to the UK and the system they have developed for poker when moving forward with province by province legislation. They strike a great balance between consumer protection, tax revenue, protecting UK business interests while still allowing market forces to ensure the best product for consumers. They let the best operators do what they do, and everyone is happy. The Ontario model is not working for the game. For me, the answer is clear. Regulate poker, tax operators an amount (similar to the UK) where it is not prohibitive to run poker, have strict regulations on consumer protection, game integrity, and anti money laundering standards with periodic reviews, and license existing operators that want to play fair. Its a win for everyone. Adopting this model also respects First Nations, Metis, and Inuit autonomy within Canada which is important.

We have ceased to operate in many countries that do not have a clear road to regulation. Most of our competitors have a different approach. I am totally indifferent to ring fenced casino because it makes no difference to anyone. Just poker needs different treatment because its PvP.

Mystery Bounties are fun arent they! I have been in some discussions about that. I dont have anything to share beyond that but it definitely has been on our radar for quite some time.

We have a lot of fun tournament stuff happening right now. We have The Big Quarter which is a four times a year tournament with a $200K Gtd. Every Sunday there is an $11 flight and they all combine to make one big finale which is cool. We also have a micro series running starting Sunday March 24th featuring buyins from 0$ to a $22 main event. And last, my favorite, Millions Online is coming May 9th-June 4th. There will be $5 Million Gtd across the series and a $500K Main event. So that is my main focus coming up.

Partypoker was the first to pull out of the US after UIGEA, it is the first to pull out of grey markets as well. We do things by the book I dont have anything to share when it comes to live events. It has typically operated fairly separately from the online side of things so its not a part of the company I work with.

The goals of our parent company Entain shifted, and as such so have we. Entain wants to operate in regulated markets. As such we have ceased to operate in many countries that do not have a clear road to regulation. Most of our competitors have a different approach. When I joined partypoker 6 years ago, the focus was very much to compete to become the biggest. The goal now is to be the very best at what we do. Our strength is our name. Partypoker was the first to pull out of the US after UIGEA, it is the first to pull out of grey markets as well. We do things by the book which means we have a safe trusted fair place to play cards. Thats our strength. The people that play with us care about that.

Currently, my understanding, and that of the people I work closely with at partypoker, is that this is all speculation. Although it casts some uncertainty in terms of the long term direction, if anything like that happens I have no doubt whoever ends up guiding the ship in the future will find success.

In a macro sense, I think we will continue to see fragmentation of markets into ring fenced liquidity. And we will continue to see poker players take their action into unregulated environments and underground. From the micro view, we will continue to see passionate poker people at poker companies, innovate, and change the game for the better. I expect lots of security innovation as it is less and less optional to invest significant resources in that area. I have 100% faith in our approach at partypoker in that area as I also do with my former partner PokerStars. Poker will live on forever, but getting new players in seems a stretch in the current legal environment.

I want to do meaningful work in poker and make a difference in poker. Thats my north star at the moment. Meaningful work. So whenever those opportunities arise, I will jump at them. My next project with partypoker is to interview our head of Game Integrity about our approach with security. Another site reached out about doing something like that with them too so I may pursue it as a series where I could survey the whole industry. More stuff like this is what Im excited about.

And of course continuing to stream every week on Twitch, Youtube and Facebook.

Thanks for asking me the questions Anuj. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk about online poker.

Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.

Originally posted here:

Mystery Bounties, Ontario Online Poker and the Sale: Q&A with Partypoker's Jaime Staples - Pokerfuse

Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States all make up the stops where the World Poker Tours in the last six months of the year.

As is often the case, the World Poker Tour schedule has been released in two stages. We brought you the first half of the year schedule at the end of last year and now we have the second half.

We had already brought you news about WPT Macau last month and that will soon be followed up by another Asian stop in Taiwan.

France, the United Kingdom and Liechtenstein make up the European stops on the tour and Australia is also represented. Finally, we have two back-to-back stops in the United States.

We expect you will be able to qualify for all these events via our partner WPT Global.

The first half of Season XXII has been outstanding, said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. Looking ahead to the second half of the season, we think there is plenty for poker players to get excited about as we will host festivals on four different continents with sensational global casino partners.

Will you be trying to qualify? Let us know in the comments:

Barry Carter is the editor of PokerStrategy.com and the co-author of The Mental Game of Poker 1 & 2, Poker Satellite Strategy, PKO Poker Strategy & the new book Endgame Poker Strategy

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News: Second half of 2024 WPT schedule is out - pokerstrategy.com

We at PokerNews are excited to announce that our Home Games Leaderboard is continuing in April and readers can continue to pit themselves against one another in our private PokerNews Home Games group on the PokerStars platform.

PokerNews Home Games has already awarded over $8,000 worth of tickets and with games running daily, there is always time to jump and grab some of that juicy value.

Members can compete on the virtual felt on both mobile and desktop, and PokerNews will add incredible value to the heap of online poker tournaments running throughout the year. Don't worry if you are a new player as everyone is welcome, we have a variety of buy-ins and games that will be running so you too can enjoy battling for bragging rights and big blinds.

These exclusive value-added tournaments are set to start on April 1st at 8:00 pm BST, and run daily. The best way to keep up-to-date with the schedule of games will be in our new and improved Discord channel which you can join below.

Click Here to Join the PokerNews Discord Server

Throughout April, PokerNews will be running daily Added Value MTTs in which the winner shall receive a tournament ticket, of $11, for winning the MTT and this is on top of the prizepool itself. Buyins are an affordable $1.10 and there are also Leaderboard prizes for the top 10 finishers at the end of the month. Any MTT in which registration closes with over 30 players, PokerNews will double the 1st place ticket, so the incentive is there to get all of your poker playing buddies involved and get even more value.

On top of the added value tickets on offer in each of the Home Games MTTs during April, PokerNews is also running a Home Games Leaderboard in which the top ten performing players will win additional tickets.

Any player that joins at least one of the NLHE MTTs during April will qualify. All competing players will earn points based on their finishing position in each event, with the top ten points winning additional PokerStars tickets for their efforts.

After the games are played and the dust has settled, the top five players in the standings will not only have earned huge kudos and bragging rights over the competition but will walk away with the following additional value prizes.

So if you want to grab some extra value for a tiny investment then head over and register for our exclusive PokerNews Home Games on PokerStars and be sure to join the PokerNews Discord to follow the leaderboard standings and get the latest news of all promotions that are running.

Join your fellow PokerNews readers in our Discord server, where you'll find exclusive offers, special freerolls, and all the latest poker-related news and tournament live updates.

It couldn't be simpler to join the Club, all you need to do is go to the Home Games tab in your PokerStars client and click "Join a Club".

If you havent got a PokerStars account already, you need one, so download the software now, set up a new account, and claim a welcome bonus worth up to $600.

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Over $1500 Added Value in our PokerNews Home Games on PokerStars in April - PokerNews.com

Are you aware that WPT Global is the official online poker site of the World Poker Tour? Each day, WPT Global runs some fantastic tournaments that are crammed full of value, and PokerNews is adding a couple of exciting freerolls to the mix this weekend.

The special relationship PokerNews and WPT Global enjoys allows us to bring you eight PokerNews-exclusive freerolls during April. Get involved in them all and you'll be battling it out against your fellow PokerNews readers FOR combined prize pools worth more than $1,000!

Join the best poker Discord servers!

Your first chance to bag yourself some freebies is Saturday April 6th at 7:00 p.m. ET, which is when the inaugural PokerNews WPT Sunday Major Freeroll shuffles up and deals. This completely free-to-play freeroll has $154 worth of WPT Global tickets in its prize pool.

Take down the PokerNews WPT Sunday Major Freeroll and you'll walk away with a $110 Sunday Slam ticket, giving you the chance of capturing a bankroll-boosting prize in one of WPT Global's biggest weekly tournaments. The second, third, fourth, and fifth-place finishers reel in an $11 Mini Sunday Slam ticket for their efforts!

The fun and frolics do not end when the PokerNews Ticket Fiesta champion is crowned because there are follow-up freerolls taking place each Sunday, each with $100 cash as a prize pool. Prize money is distributed like in a traditional tournament, so bring youre A-Game to the tables each Sunday in April and see if you can get your hands on the lion's share of the prize pool.

It should go without saying that you're going to need a WPT Global account to enjoy the PokerNews-exclusive freerolls. If you need an account, you can download WPT Global via PokerNews and enjoy a massive 100% match up to $1,200 welcome bonus plus up to six tournament tickets depending on the size of your initial deposit.

Each of the PokerNews Ticket Fiesta and PokerNews Weekly Freerolls are password-protected to ensure you are only competing against your fellow PokerNews fans and readers. How do you become privy to those all-important freeroll passwords? You join our free, vibrant Discord servers.

Head over to Discord and join thousands of your fellow poker players. Our Discord channel is not only the place to discover freeroll and tournament passwords for WPT Global but all of our other partners, too. You'll also find servers where you can read the latest news and live poker tournament updates, in addition to being able to chill out and talk all things poker (and non-poker) with like-minded individuals. Best of all, it is free, so you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

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PokerNews Freerolls Every Weekend on WPT Global - PokerNews.com

Three years ago, we saw it play out with Mac Jones at center stage. Two years ago, it was Malik Willis. And last year, we watched it unfold with Will Levis.

The NFL drafts age-old quarterback bluff.

If youve followed the leagues annual sifting process long enough, you likely remember your team being attached to one of these storylines. Maybe it was the Houston Texans being pegged to take Johnny Manziel first overall in 2014, or the San Francisco 49ers infamous Aaron Rodgers okey-doke in 2005. Many NFL Drafts have featured tenuous connections between teams and quarterbacks where the overall pecking order of a class is fluid and marked by one player or another heating up or suddenly getting cemented into a specific slot by analysts. Its how we became certain for a sustained period that Jones was going to the 49ers at the third overall pick in 2021, Willis had solidified first-round status in 2022, and that the Indianapolis Colts were locked onto Levis with the No. 4 overall pick last year.

None of those things happened. And all of them underscore how unreliable information can be when it comes to marrying a quarterback to an NFL team weeks or even months in advance.

Thats a reality that should be hitting home right about now, for a quarterback class that has already gone through multiple stages of certainty. First from an oft-predicted hammerlock 1-2 selection of USCs Caleb Williams and UNCs Drake Maye beginning one year ago, then to LSUs Jayden Daniels jumping into the No. 2 slot behind Williams in recent months, and now this week the screaming draft stock of Michigans J.J. McCarthy forcing him into the conversation at No. 2 overall, with betting odds following suit.

All of this despite being an entire month away from the draft, which is still an eternity when it comes to solidifying boards. Private team visits are just now starting for the quarterbacks. Medical information is still being processed. And pro days are just now nearing a conclusion. This is why were on the doorstep of April and zero pre-draft trades have occurred inside the top five picks, despite a clear interest in moving into that territory for quarterbacks. Even the Minnesota Vikings, who have acquired draft capital that puts them into a trade-up position, are taking their time with their next step. Largely because theyre still shaping up evaluations and building up a consensus when it comes to the best course of action. Much like every other NFL team in late March.

Thats something to keep in mind when it comes to McCarthy, who has no shortage of strong (and varying) opinions when it comes to his meteoric rise since the draft process began. One AFC general manager this week labeled talk connecting him to the Washington Commanders and No. 2 overall pick crazy. An NFC general manager took the opposite position, adding that everyone sees things differently. Another longtime NFC evaluator said he cant see it happening, while a second NFC general manager found it completely plausible, noting that McCarthy was part of three straight college football playoff teams and Michigans best modern era run.

So what do evaluators feel is real when it comes to McCarthys rise over the last few months? The list varies, but also contains some intriguing points. His success and charisma oozes in meetings. His teammates respond to him as a leader and even some of his former teammates, like Texas wideout Xavier Worthy, who was briefly at Michigan, have great things to say about him. He operated the offense at Michigan at an extremely high level and precisely as designed which is attractive to many offensive coaches who prioritize quarterbacks who can execute what theyre given exactly as it was given.

He gained weight on his frame after Michigans season concluded, which is suggestive to some teams that hes got a higher physical ceiling that hasnt been reached at 21 years of age. And about those 21 years: Some of the other quarterbacks that McCarthy is being measured against are years older than him, leaving open the projection of how much better McCarthy can be once he reaches 23 and 24 years old. Even his lack of tape was smacked down by some evaluators, including one of the aforementioned NFC general managers, who said McCarthy has enough tape and reps to show what hes capable of doing in a passing offense.

So where is the poker being played here? Interestingly, quite a few evaluators are pointing at McCarthys former coach at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh, who is now with the Los Angeles Chargers and sitting with the fifth overall pick. Nearly every evaluator I spoke to about McCarthy brought up the considerable praise that Harbaugh has been lavishing on his former player, which included calling him the best quarterback in this draft. To say that statement has elicited some eye-rolls would be a vast underestimation of how it was received in many personnel departments.

One longtime evaluator chuckled when I asked about McCarthys projection at No. 2 overall and shot back: Harbaugh didnt say he was the No. 2 quarterback. He said he was the No. 1 quarterback. Another longtime evaluator noted, Jim needs everything but a quarterback. So every quarterback that gets taken before [the fifth pick] is a win for him.

While nobody suggested that Harbaugh is the source of the supposed Commanders interest at No. 2 overall, some evaluators came close.

There definitely could be a little bit of an ulterior motive to get someone pushed to him, for sure. That would be a Harbaugh type move, one evaluator said. Theres a plan there, I would say. Because theyre sitting there like, all right, if top four are QBs, we get our pick of whatever the hell we want. Theyre probably in the best position of any team up there, because now the first four probably are going to be quarterbacks.

Hes definitely been pumping [McCarthy] a lot, another evaluator said of Harbaugh. It seems like hes doing it every time he sits down with anyone. Which Im sure thats what most coaches would say about their guy who wins a national championship and has that [27-1] record as a starter. But its definitely convenient that McCarthy going in those top four picks is really a best-case scenario for the Chargers, too. I do think theres something to that, too.

So whats the consensus on all of this? There seems to be doubt that McCarthy is going to leap all the way to the No. 2 pick. Theres also a consensus that part of the buzz surrounding him ascending to that spot has been generated by things Harbaugh is saying, as well as some typical draft gamesmanship. For now, it falls into the category of a potential bluff, for reasons that can only be guessed at. But also not entirely implausible, either.

As one scout noted, Commanders general manager Adam Peters was with the 49ers when they reached two Super Bowls with two different quarterbacks who had a similar trait: Both Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy operated inside the structure of Kyle Shanahans offense and executed it precisely in the fashion it was drawn up. Something that was very similar to how McCarthy went about his job at Michigan. And in the case of Purdy, it came after busting out on Trey Lance, whose skill set bares some resemblance to the one Daniels brings to the table.

You cant ignore how Peters saw things work out with the quarterbacks when he was with the 49ers, the scout said. McCarthy definitely fits that kind of game manager profile of Brock and Jimmy. Who knows? Everyone has their own set of things they like in a quarterback, so really anything can happen.

If we havent learned that with previous late-March proclamations about where a quarterback is going to land in late April, we likely never will.

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NFL Draft is poker season, and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy might simply be its latest QB bluff - Yahoo Sports

Two poker powerhouses join forces in a collaboration aimed at propelling the poker industry toward new heights of excellence

COMMERCE, Calif., March 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Commerce Casino & Hotel, home to the largest poker room in the world, proudly announces an exciting partnership with the richest, most prestigious, and longest-running poker series the World Series of Poker (WSOP).This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment for the poker community, bringing together two powerhouses to elevate the poker experience for players and fans worldwide.

The Commerce Casino & Hotel's status as the premier destination for poker players is solidified with this strategic alliance. Renowned for its unrivaled selection of poker games and tournaments, exceptional hospitality, and convenient accessibility, The Commerce Casino & Hotel continues to set the standard for excellence in the poker industry.

The partnership with WSOP, synonymous with the highest echelons of poker tournaments globally, introduces a myriad of opportunities for players and fans alike. By leveraging The Commerce Casino & Hotel's extensive facilities and WSOP's unmatched expertise, this collaboration promises to deliver an enhanced and unforgettable poker experience.

"We are ecstatic to merge our strengths with the World Series of Poker," said Spencer Villaseor, Director of Guest Experience at The Commerce Casino & Hotel. "This collaboration marks the convergence of two giants in the poker world and presents endless possibilities. Together, we are committed to pushing boundaries and setting new standards of excellence in the industry."

As part of the partnership, The Commerce Casino & Hotel and WSOP will work collaboratively to develop organized tournaments, host exclusive events, and provide players with unparalleled access to the world of competitive poker.

"Partnering with The Commerce Casino & Hotel is an exciting milestone for the WSOP," said Ty Stewart, Senior Vice President & Executive Director of the WSOP. "Commerce's reputation as the biggest and best year-round poker room aligns perfectly with our desire to expand the brand while also promoting the growth of the summer festival. We look forward to delivering exciting events and experiences that grow interest in our resilient and resurgent game."

Live At The Commerce - (Current): Recognized for its dynamic ambiance and top-tier gaming amenities, The Commerce Casino & Hotel delivers an unmatched live poker experience. Players are invited to immerse themselves in the electrifying atmosphere and competitive fervor that has cemented The Commerce Casino & Hotel's status as a legendary name in the poker industry.

High Limit Poker (Opening in April):Raising the stakes to new heights, The Commerce Casino & Hotel is set to unveil its highly anticipated High Limit Poker room in April. Tailored to meet the refined preferences of seasoned players, this exclusive enclave will offer an elevated gaming experience with state-of-the-art amenities and personalized services.

WSOP Circuit Los Angeles Events:Asatestament to its esteemed status in the world of poker, The Commerce Casino & Hotel is proud to host WSOP Circuit (WSOP-C) Los Angeles events. This partnership underscores The Commerce Casino & Hotel's commitment to excellence featuring the only live event in the United States outside of Las Vegas to award an official WSOP bracelet.

This historic partnership between The Commerce Casino & Hotel and the WSOP is poised to revolutionize the poker landscape, establishing new benchmarks of excellence and innovation for years to come.

About The Commerce Casino & HotelLocated just a few miles from Downtown Los Angeles, The Commerce Casino & Hotel, commonly known as "The Commerce," stands as a world-renowned cardroom with an impressive array of over 320 tables, making it the largest cardroom globally. Established in 1983, The Commerce offers an extensive range of amenities, including a newly-renovated 200-room hotel, multiple dining venues and bars, a luxurious day spa and beauty salon, a pool and sundeck, banquet facilities, and more. Additionally, the casino hosts a wide variety of events, including concerts, poker tournaments, live boxing, MMA, and wrestling matches, and other special events throughout the year. For further information, please visit:www.commercecasino.com

About the World Series of Poker (WSOP)Part of Caesars Entertainment's Caesars Digital operations, the World Series of Poker is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, having awarded more than $4 billion 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 2023, the event attracted 214,641 entrants from more than 114 different countries to the Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas and awarded more than $403 million in prize money. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent of WSOP Europe in 2007, WSOP Asia-Pacific in 2013, WSOP International Circuit Series in 2015 and WSOP Paradise at Atlantis Paradise Island in 2023. All WSOP events are subject to the then-current and applicable WSOP tournament rules. For more information, please visit http://www.wsop.com.

SOURCE The Commerce Casino & Hotel

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The Commerce Casino & Hotel and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Forge Historic Partnership - PR Newswire

In a performance worthy of the stage at the Bolshoi or the Met, Jakub Michalak made quick work of the final table to win the Merit Poker Carmen Series High Roller title.

The Polish pro defeated a field of 145 entries to earn $174,500. And he did it in dominating fashion, controlling nearly 80 percent of the chips in play during three-handed action and quickly vanquishing runner-up Halil Tasyurek in heads-up. It was the type of run that Michalak could only dream of.

I could, but not in this way. I was running so good it was unbelievable, he said after his victory.

Michalak is no stranger to high-roller success. He won a Merit Poker High Roller in Montenegro in February 2022, a run he compares to this one. Yeah, actually I did in a high roller in Montenegro where three-handed I also had like 90 percent of the chips. But its still unbelievable. Literally unbelievable when you run like that. Crazy, he said.

Michalak is a familiar face at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino in North Cyprus. This tournament marked his 32nd cash in a Merit Poker event and 15th final table. He had previously won a $5,000 High Roller in March 2019 for $122,297 and finished third in the Merit Poker Retro Series Main Event in 2022 for $233,050. The idyllic setting by the shores of the Mediterranean feels like a perfect spot for him to chase his poker dreams.

Look at it. The food is amazing. The place is amazing. The atmosphere is amazing. The venue is amazing. Why wouldnt you come here? Its literally my favorite place to play poker in the world, he said.

I just love the game. I love to compete against all these players. It just brings me a lot of joy and fulfillment. I really love this game. So winning a tournament is the best thing I can imagine for me.

Day 3 began with 30 players remaining out of a starting field of 145. Just 17 would make the money, and the likes of Simone Andrian, Razvan Belea, and Florian Guimond all fell early. Maxime Chilaud was eliminated when he ran into Michalaks aces.

Michel Habib busted in a cooler when Tasyurek spiked a set of nines on the turn to crack his tens and send him out two spots off the money. Daniel Kyosev was then eliminated on the bubble after being down to less than one big blind.

Day 1 chip leader Dawid Smolka (17th) and Christophe Panetti (16th) were the first to fall in the money. Dmitrii Kuzin ran his ace-queen into Milos Skrbics ace-king to finish in 15th while Skrbic took the chip lead.

Alessandro Pichierri (14th) and Traian Stanciu (13th) departed next before Jenya Gavrilovich went through a downfall in two hands. First, Bojan Berberovic made a full house to double up and leave Gavrilovich with just 15,000. Forced all in the next hand in the blinds, Roman Stoica finished him off and sent him out in 12th.

Stoica was then eliminated when Renan Bruschi rivered a flush to climb past 3,000,000 and into the chip lead. Bruschi also eliminated Mikhail Zavoloka on the final table bubble by flopping a flush.

Bruschi led at the start of the nine-handed final table with 3,200,000, while Michalak was in second with 2,800,000. Rachid El-Yaacoubi, who was involved in some controversy earlier in the day after being accused of chip dumping and receiving a penalty, had most of his stack in the middle from the big blind on the first hand and Michalak took him out with two pair.

Andrei Spataru doubled up off Skrbic with ace-queen, then Daniel Henriques spiked a three to beat Bruschis ace-jack and double. Then came the hand that began Michalaks march to the title.

Marcin Dziubdziela moved all in for 600,000 in early position. Spataru reshoved for 900,000 in middle position and Michalak snap-called in the big blind with pocket queens. Spartaru had jacks but was down to just one out as Dziubdziela had queen-jack. Michalak busted both players, Dziubdziela taking eighth and Spataru seventh, as he climbed up near 5,000,000.

Tasyurek picked up nines to double off Berberovic, and the start-of-day chip leader was eliminated a few hands later in sixth place when Tasyurek made a full house. Michalak eliminated Bruschi in fifth place with ace-nine against ace-five.

Michalak then raised to 360,000 in the small blind, and Skrbic called to a six-high flop. Michalak led out for 280,000, Skrbic moved all in for 2,300,000, and Michalak called with aces. Skrbic had a pair and straight draw but missed his outs to hit the rail in fourth while Michalak took the massive pot.

Tasyurek won a race with king-queen to nines to bust Henriques in third as Michalak led 11,500,000 to 3,000,000 at the start of heads-up. It took just a few hands before Tasyurek limped in, Michalak jammed, and Tasyurek called for 2,500,000 with ace-five. Michalak had a dominating ace-nine, and Tasyurek found no help on the board and had to settle for a second-place finish.

Just like that, the final table was over in a flash. Michalak had the trophy, the first-place prize money, and the prestige of taking down some of the worlds best players. He always imagined a final-table run like this, and today, his dreams became a reality.

That concludes PokerNews coverage of the Merit Poker Carmen Series High Roller. Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the festival.

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Jakub Michalak Puts on a Grand Performance in the Merit Poker Carmen Series High Roller - PokerNews.com

The only World Series of Poker event in New York state concluded this week with record-breaking numbers of entries, money won and visitors lured to the region.

The 12-day tournament, or circuit event, at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona awarded $6.2 million in total winnings. Thats double the minimum guarantee and more than the $5.4 million awarded last year, according to a news release from the Oneida Indian Nation, which operate the casino.

The 2024 Turning Stone event is sending 18 Gold Ring winning players to the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions main event this summer in Las Vegas. Thats also a record for the Turning Stone event.

The tournament drew more than 16,000 entries from players representing 38 states and four Canadian provinces.

It ended Monday with the crowning of Ethan Bennett of Brooklyn as WSOP Main Event Champion. He won a back and forth finish at the final table against Kathrine Brandt Weir of Ladera Ranch, Calif. and Cindy Spier of Newton, Mass.

Bennett won $298,546 in the Main Event, plus his first-ever Gold Ring, which guarantees a trip to WSOPs $1 million Tournament of Champions. The Turning Stone Main Events total payout was $1.8 million.

Several players from Central and Western New York won money and Gold Ring tickets to the Vegas tournament.

They are: Edward Lupinski of Ilion (who won $17,211), Budwey Salhab of Getzville near Buffalo ($123,316); Leonid Kaplin of East Amherst ($38,712); Travell Thomas of Orchard Park ($33,800); Michael Rellinger of Tonawanda ($30,150) and Shane Friedlander of Kerhonkson, near Rochester ($28,080).

The tournament ran from March 14 to March 25 at Turning Stones Events Center.

This is the third year that Turning Stone has hosted World Series of Poker events. Turning Stone, owned and operated by the Oneida Indian Nation, is the only casino in the Northeast to host a WSOP circuit event and one of fewer than 20 to do so across the country

The World Series of Poker bills itself as the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world. It has awarded more than $3.8 billion in prize money since it debuted in Las Vegas in 1970.

Don Cazentre writes about Upstate NY casinos forNYup.com,syracuse.comand The Post-Standard. Reach him atdcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him atNYup.com, onTwitterorFacebook.

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World Series of Poker at Turning Stone awards record $6.2 million in winnings (See top players) - syracuse.com

With her son well out of diapers and now grade school age, soap actress star and high-stakes poker player Farah Galfond is ready to dive back into the poker world.

Galfond, who starred in daytime dramas Days of Our Lives and One Life to Live and who is married to poker coach Phil Galfond, is on track to play more than she has in years with a new emphasis on tournaments.

Galfond recently appeared on the first episode of PokerNews' new podcast Life Outside Poker, which focuses on poker players with successful lives and careers outside of poker.

Galfond, born Farah Fath and named after renowned actress Farrah Fawcett, described her early childhood in Lexington, Kentucky as "a pretty stereotypical Southern upbringing" that involved beauty pageants, local theater and modeling.

"In ninth grade, I loved drama so much (that) I sort of begged my mom to take me to Hollywood to be an actress," she said. "And thankfully, she was naive enough to think, okay, yeah, we can do that."

Galfond got her first offers from agencies at a Hollywood convention when she was just 8 years old, but her mom "didn't understand that it would be like an actual serious thing" that would require her to move to California. When she went back to that convention the summer after her freshman year and met a manager, her mom was on board this time.

That same summer, Galfond connected with an agent who booked her first audition, which ended up being the only audition she needed.

"I got super lucky. The first audition that they sent me on was for Days of Our Lives, and I actually watched the show already. My babysitter watched it, my grandmother watched it, and I knew all the characters and I actually knew the character I was auditioning for (Mimi Lockhart) because it was a recast."

"So I had already seen this girl. And I think that just really worked to my advantage because I truly understood the storyline. And I had a lot of enthusiasm in my audition. And by enthusiasm, I mean I talked the casting lady's head off because I was fangirling over being there. And in hindsight, I can see how that worked for me because my character was actually like a bit of a blabbermouth."

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After eight years playing Mimi Lockhart on the iconic TV drama between 1999 and 2007, Galfond decided to leave the show to freely pursue other projects, a decision she said was "a lot easier said than done."

"I had booked a few movies over the course of my time on the show and I wasn't approved to do any of them, so I just stopped trying to do stuff on the side and I just thought, well, I want to see what I can do. But then on my last day I walked to my car and I just started bawling and I was just crying in my car and I just was saying to myself, what did I do?"

After three months of auditioning, Galfond landed a role one written specifically for her on another soap opera, One Life to Live, that saw her relocating across the country to New York City. It was here that Galfond was introduced to Texas Hold'em.

"I didn't know anyone but the cast and the crew on One Life, they would get together for home games at people's apartments and like, different people would host it. And I got invited and I knew the hand rankings because my dad taught me five card draw when I was a kid, but I didn't understand the betting. So I had to figure that out on the fly. I was a complete whale. I didn't know what I was doing, but I had so much fun."

Galfond started playing poker more seriously in Atlantic City until One Life to Live was canceled in 2011. She moved back to LA and "started playing more poker because I wasn't working anymore."

"I would play at the Commerce, like super low-stakes cash. And (I) followed Phil on Twitter and sort of the rest is history."

Like most people in the poker world, Farah's first memory of Phil is seeing him play on shows like High Stakes Poker. "I liked his personality. I thought he had a really dry, understated sense of humor that I liked."

As they married in 2015 and had a son, Spencer, in 2018, Farah learned that her husband's positive traits at the poker table translated to fatherhood.

"He's kind of what you would expect him to be (as a dad). He's super cool and a fun dad, but definitely is very aware of emotions and feelings and want Spencer to feel like he is and is always in a safe place to share what he's feeling."

"Phil comes from a great family, so I knew he would be a great father ... It's my favorite thing watching him with Spencer."

Farah also credits Phil, a poker coach whose parents are teachers, with bringing her game to the next level.

"Everything I know is because of him. I think right away when we started dating and we would just be messing around at home with cards and chips ... We don't spend a ton of time studying together and having like these one-on-one lessons. But certainly over the years, just being in his orbit, I am like a sponge."

"I am the player I am today a lot, you know, because I want to be. But it's mostly because of him."

After several years of grinding low and mid-stakes, Galfond climbed up stakes and began playing some of the biggest cash games in Las Vegas.

"I moved up to $5/$10 and then I was beating $5/$10 and $10/$20 when I got the opportunity to play much bigger. And then that's when my high-stakes tenure started. It was probably 2017, and that was for about two years until I had Spencer ... I played as big as $2,000/$4,000 no-limit."

"And then yeah, once I had my baby, it all kind of just stopped ... So I was desperately trying to figure out my place in poker after he was born. And I tried a lot of things that just didn't work. I thought I would pick up where I left off in the high-stakes cash game scene and that proved to be tremendously stressful."

While Galfond found herself feeling guilty about leaving her young child to go play cash games, she found that tournaments didn't trigger the same emotions.

"Cash games just gave me anxiety and I couldn't quite figure out why, because I had that's all I had been doing for the previous four or five years. But it turns out that when you have a little kid and you're playing cash game, you put pressure on yourself to go home because you can get up whenever you want."

"And I was like, All right, so let me figure out how I can play poker regularly without feeling so anxious. And I said, I'm going to try tournaments because in tournaments you're there until you bust. So maybe the pressure of getting up and going home will be lifted from me because I have no choice but to stay until my chips are gone. And it worked out okay. So last year, January of last year, I decided I'm just going to play tournaments this year."

After successfully shifting focus to tournaments in 2023, Galfond said she is on track to play even more poker this year.

"I'm putting as much volume as I can right now, as I possibly can being a mom. And I'm curious to see how this year ends up going. So, far we're down a little bit, but it's still early."

Women of the WSOP: Farah Galfond

Galfond's top priority is still taking care of her young son, and she isn't the only one. Many of her and Phil's closest friends in the high-stakes poker world, like Andrew Robl and Jason Koon, are at a similar stage in life.

"It's a really special time in our lives. We get to all be poker players and have that in common and now we're raising these kids. The next generation, the baby Robl, the baby Koon, the baby Galfond. It's just special. I can't see moving anywhere now that we have this great tight-knit group of friends that (are) all kind of on this journey together."

Reflecting on her acting career and the harrowing Hollywood revelations that emerged during the Me Too movement, Galfond says she wouldn't want her son to follow in her footsteps as a child actor. But if her son grew up to be a poker player? She has no problem with that.

"I would be supportive of that, much more so than him wanting to go be an actor. Only because his parents kind of, like, have a good grasp on things, especially Daddy. We'll help him do it the right way .... but yeah, I would be supportive of that, much more so than him wanting to go be an actor."

Head to YouTube to watch the full interview with Farah Galfond, which was filmed at Todd Brunson's Roma Deli in Las Vegas.

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Life Outside Poker: Farah Galfond on Days of Our Lives, Balancing Poker & Family - PokerNews.com

Joe Giron/WSOP

GGPoker Ontario is offering players in the province a chance to win their seat to the World Series of Poker 2024 Main Event for $20 via their online qualification system, Road to Vegas.

The WSOP 2024 Main Event plays out live in The Horseshoe and Paris Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will run July 3 to 17, rounding out six weeks of live poker action.

As in previous editions, there are four starting flights to the WSOP 2024 Main Event before it merges into two separate Day 2s. It then all combines for Days 3 to 7. Players play down to a final table that will determine the winner.

GGPoker is the International partner of the WSOP and is planning to send 1,000 players to Las Vegas via their online qualifiers and satellites.

A WSOP 2024 Main Event Package from GGPoker Ontario Includes:

Win your way to the WSOP 2024!

If youre in the UK, Canada, South America, or most of Europe, this is the place to get in on WSOP action from the comfort of your own home.

Win your way to the WSOP 2024!

If youre in Ontario, this is the place to get in on WSOP action from the comfort of your own home.

Win your way to the WSOP 2024!

If youre in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey or Nevada, this is the place to get in on WSOP action from the comfort of your own home.

Step-satellites work by feeding winners into the next tournament level up. You can start your journey entering the $20 step-satellites to win entry to the $150 buy-in Step. This then feeds into the final qualifier Main Event Mania. Players can also choose to buy into this final step directly for $1200.

This last step guarantees two WSOP Main Event packages and takes place every Friday and Sunday over the next few months.

Players can also qualify for the $1,200 final step through Express satellites, which are rake-free, making it an affordable way to try to qualify for WSOP events.

Its time to think about the biggest live tournament in the world again, and after last years record-breaking Main Event, Im already super excited for this years WSOP, said Daniel Negreanu, GGPoker Global Ambassador and six-time WSOP bracelet winner via press release. Its the tournament that every single one of us players wants to take down more than any other. Get onto the Road to Vegas and meet me at the tables in Las Vegas this summer; I cant wait for this years WSOP to begin!

Players on the GGPoker Ontario app should look out for:

Win your way to the WSOP 2024!

If youre in the UK, Canada, South America, or most of Europe, this is the place to get in on WSOP action from the comfort of your own home.

Win your way to the WSOP 2024!

If youre in Ontario, this is the place to get in on WSOP action from the comfort of your own home.

Win your way to the WSOP 2024!

If youre in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey or Nevada, this is the place to get in on WSOP action from the comfort of your own home.

GGPoker is the only place for international players to qualify for the WSOP $10K Main Event, added Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker. After 774 players snagged their seats with us last year, we hope to see even more on the Road to Vegas in 2024. Lets see if we can send 1,000 GGPoker players to experience the ultimate poker dream!

The Road to Vegas online qualification path kicked off on March 19 in International markets, including Ontario, and will run to at least June although no end has been set.

For further details on the WSOP 2024 Main Event, full schedule and more, check out our ultimate WSOP 2024 player guide.

Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER.

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Attention, Ontario Poker Players: You Can Win a WSOP 2024 Main Event Seat for Just $20 - Pokerfuse