PokerStars Blog 2007 World Series Coverage

2007 World Series of Poker Begins–The PokerStars Blog begins its third year of World Series coverage

Multi-Casino-ing With Barry Greenstein–Team PokerStars’ Barry Greenstein plays a WPT event and WSOP event at the same time

Don’t Doubt Greenstein — Barry Greenstein begins Day 2 of $5,000 Mixed Hold’em event with near-average stack after missing the first five hours

Roxy Palace, known for their outstanding monthly newsletter, has announced that they will no longer accept US online casino players starting June 1st of this year.

Florida passed a law that is allowing expanded gambling across Broward county because voters thought the money made would go to public education, however news today said it would go to higher education.

In 2005, I stood with my seat assignment in my hand and looked across what seemed like the back 40 of a rural Missouri farm. Instead of corn, though, I only saw tables and chairs. My spot, Table 2–Seat 1, was far enough away that it could’ve been an ear of corn on the last stalk…on the last row…of the field. It was a new generation of the World Series. Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, and PokerStars had made sure of that in 2003 and 2004. Now, the tournament room was set up to handle 2000 players at one time, enough to seat almost everybody in the 2003 World Series…three times.

At the time, it seemed even tournament organizers were surprised. As Johnny Grooms shouted “Shuffle Up and Deal,” the dealer at Table 2 looked down to find she didn’t have a button. For the next half and hour, we used the lid off a Starbucks cup. It was during that time my pocket aces held up against pocket kings. The caffeine, the sugar from my packet of Sweetarts, the impending Red Bull rush, and the fact that it was my fifth wedding anniversary could barely compare to the feeling of seeing that first pot pushed to me.

What was that? Wedding anniversary? Well, yes, it was. It was five years of wedded bliss, culminating in a messy bust-out of that tournament just before the dinner break. At the time, the PokerStars Blog had no intention of heading back to Las Vegas before the Main Event. Instead, I took my bride in a rented convertible up the California and Oregon Coasts. I was overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Florence Oregon when Dan Goldman, the man who had asked me to blog the Main Event, called.

“You have to get back to Vegas now. There’s just too much going on. The Blog has to be here.”

And, a few days later, I made it so.

That’s how this modest little blog ended up at the WSOP.

That year, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer became a poker folk hero for a couple of weeks. My fingers couldn’t stop typing about the possibility that he just might win two consecutive massive-field Main Events. His 25th place finish that year both buoyed my spirits and broke my heart. All in all, though, it confirmed for me that there is such thick drama in poker–even after so many stories have been written–that writing about it can be almost as intoxicating as playing it.

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The World Series begins today and with it the PokerStars Blog begins its third year covering the world’s biggest poker event. Like every year, drama surrounds both the opening day and what will happen over the next month and a half.

The PokerStars Blog once again is excited to have behind-the-scenes access to all members of Team PokerStars. We’re also looking forward to hooking up with the crew of Supernovas planning to descend on the WSOP. I’d be happy to tell you all that I have planned, but, in truth, I’ve found that the best World Series stories happen outside the bounds of all perfect planning. That means, I have plans, but if history is any indication, those plans will have evaporated in a steam of World Series fervor by Event #5 or 6.

World Series Media Director Nolan Dalla sent me some interesting statistics today and they are awash with Team PokerStars.

All-Time WSOP Money earners

2. Joe Hachem — $7,899,828 in five cashes
5. Greg “FossilMan” Raymer — $5,433,450 in five cashes
20. Chris Moneymaker — #2,528,153 in three cashes

Most WSOP Cashes

5. Humberto Brenes (45)

Most WSOP Final Tables

15. Humberto Brenes (20)
17. Tom McEvoy (19)

With that kind of record for those folks, the rest of Team PokerStars at the tables, and an army of PokerStars’ Supernovas and qualifiers hitting the tables, there’s little question we’ll see some more good numbers put up this year.

So, keep it here for all the news that’s fit to print, and maybe even a little that’s not. The cards go in the air at noon PT today. I’ll be keeping tabs by phone for the weekend, before setting down on the ground on Monday. Why? Well, you’ll recall, this weekend happens to represent my wedding anniversary (seventh this time). So, I’m doing the right thing and heading out first thing Monday morning–unless of course somebody on Team PokerStars decides to final table the first event…in which case, my bags are already packed.

See you all in Vegas.

Tournament qualifiers hit Vienna’s Lifeball in style

Life itself is a celebration for some people.

For three decades, the world has struggled to cope with the worldwide AIDS epidemic. At one time, even a mention of the disease would result in little more than quiet whispers. Today, most people have recognized that the fight against AIDS is not one to be faced with individual shame, but rather in concert with the world.

There have been many efforts to raise money for AIDS research, but none are as lavish and colorful as the Lifeball in Vienna, Austria.

This year, PokerStars sponsored the gala event by donating $100,000 and hosting a series of charity tournaments for its players. The winners of some of those tournaments got free tickets to the biggest AIDS charity ball in the world.

Complete with a extraordinary fashion show, concert, and a celebrity poker tournament, the 2007 Lifeball was more than a sight to behold. It was a visceral experience for the PokerStars winners.

“We had never seen a spectacle such as this before–fantastic colorful costumes, kind and fun people. It was astounding!” said charity tournament qualifier Andrea Wirth.

The multi-colored crowd at the 2007 Lifeball

Poker game at 2007 Lifeball

Justin Green, a 31-year-old one-time accountant, also won his trip in one of the charity tournaments. While carousing around the Lifeball, he met a number of celebrities, including Jenna Jameson, Lance Bass, and Marcel Luske.

Justin Green in a surreal celebrity moment

Celebrity aside, Green was able to look past it all to recognize the importance of the event.

Green said, “At first, I felt that PokerStars involvement with the LifeBall was somewhat of an odd-couple mixture, but the fact that poker has exploded in popularity around the world allows PokerStars to take advantage of that popularity by donating to a very noble cause in the fight for a cure for a disease that can affect virtually anyone, anywhere.”

Concert at Lifeball 2007

Supernova Tom Richter, a 23-year-old poker pro took his wife Sophie with him. He said, “The event was amazing, and we have never seen anything like it. We enjoyed the show and partied till 4 am. The PokerStars lounge had a great atmosphere and was super stylish.

“I think that the Life Ball with its tenure of 15 years has found acceptance with all areas of the community and internationally. This was recognizable in the strong presence of international people during the event. Taking this into consideration, PokerStars has found a strong charity partner to work with.”

Tom Richter in Vienna

Tournament winner Dieter Schroder, a 36-year-old network planner for Versatel, agreed. He said, “Since the subject of AIDS has been pushed back in the recent past it is great that PokerStars have committed themselves to this project.”