Big Poker Blog

Gavin Smith and Nenad Medic on Rounders

World Poker Tour champion and tournament specialist Gavin Smith joined the guys in studio this week. Gavin came out of anonymity in 2005. He topped off his break out year with his win at the $10,000 WPT No Limit Hold’em Championship on May 23rd at the Mirage Poker Showdown in Las Vegas and took home $1,128,278. 

The featured guest was Niagara Falls native Nenad Medic. Who recently won the WPT World Poker Finals held at Foxwoods Resort Casino and took home over $1.7 million. Adding to the growing list of Canadians to win World Poker Tour events. Derrick Law, runner-up at this years B.C. Poker Championship was also interview on the program.

Listen to the November 26th episode of Rounders

Screw the Ten Count...Nicole Can Have All the Time She Needs

I know I haven’t posted much in the blogs lately but I’m working on a trip report for the Ultimate Poker Schoool and the Johnny Chan tournament that went on last weekend. It has turned out to be quite the project. In the meantime, I’m sure you’ll enjoy feasting your eyes on the latest Bodog girl. The're in the midst of promoting the Bodog mixed martial event so, they went with a boxing theme this month. Works for me! “Let’s get ready to rumble! Nicole is ready to throw down…” She could throw me down any day. For Nicole’s full photo shoot click here. 

Nothing to do with Poker…But Still Funny!

I just had to post this video when I saw it.  It’s security camera footage of an obviously gifted criminal on one of his off days. Enjoy!

Mike Johnson and Adam Schwartz Hosting the Ultimate Poker School

Mike and Adam have been signed on to host the Ultimate Poker School taking place at the River Rock Casino on Saturday November 18th, 2006 at 10 am.  Come out and meet the hosts of Rounders at this rare opportunity to delve into the mind of some of the best poker players in the world   Learn to play Poker like the Pros at this exclusive one day seminar featuring Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth and many other well respected poker pros.  Don't miss this rare opportunity to take your game to the next level. Seminar VIP package tickets cost $495 + applicable taxes and service charges.  A fundamentals package costing $99 + applicable taxes and service charges has been added which just includes admission, Course Guide, Meet & Greet autograph/Photo Opportunity.  For ticket details and pricing  check out http://www.greatcanadiancasinos.com/riverrock/UltimatePokerSchool/index.php.

Poker Players Take to the Streets of Washington in Protest

Onlinegamblingrights.com, is organizing a peaceful protest march through the streets of Washignton on November 3rd and 4th. The gathering is a planned attempt to demonstrate the collective outrage of the estimated 50 million poker players in the United States created by the UIGEA. Most of the outrage coming from online players having to put on pants to play at local casinos.  The person in charge of the protest drive, Debbie Richardson, reports that, at this time, 250 people have stated they will attend the protest and that several of those people have stated they will be bringing a group of people to expand the march. "We think we have enough people who have confirmed they are showing up for the event that we could fill up the square behind the White House," and that the more marchers there are, the more the protest will get noticed by the press. Several press outlets, such as MSNBC, Fox News and CNN have expressed interest in the drive.

The march will start at 9AM (although I think attendance might be better at 1 or 2 in the afternoon) each morning on the 3rd and the 4th and will meet at one of the great symbols of freedom in the Nation's Capital, the Washington Monument. From there, the marchers will move towards the White House and settle in across from the White House in the park on Pennsylvania Avenue. Poker (albeit for chips only) will be played as a form of protest during the demonstration, but there are far more significant statements being made by the march that go beyond the game.

It is with great hope that thousands of people come out for this march and demonstrate the collective impact of the American poker player and the power that they have in the upcoming elections in November. For more information on the march, to join in on it or to provide further support, be sure to visit onlinegamblingrights.com for more information.

Soren Turkewitsch Wins 2006 North American Poker Championship

Sometimes in poker, you get lucky. Sometimes, you even get lucky twice. But for Soren Turkewitsch, lightning seemed to strike again and again. No mater how big of an underdog he was. Every time he was behind after moving all in before the flop, he made the miracle comeback. In the end, the Canadian thrilled his large throng of family and friends as he beat Jason Sagle to win the North American Poker Championship.

This was the WPT’s first trip to Niagara Falls and hopefully it will become a regular stop on the tour. It was mostly amateurs making the final table with Brad " Yukon" Booth, Allen Cunningham, Farzad Bonyati, Kyle Bowker, Mark Newhouse, Nam Le, and John D'Agostino, as well as the few broads who were remaining, all falling just shot of the final six.  The only recongnizable name was John Juanda who started the final day ultra short-stacked but managed to skweak his way into 5th place.

Final table payouts: 1) Soren Turkewitsch - $1,352,224, 2) Jason Sagle - $676,107, 3) John Lam - $352,541, 4) James Worth - $289,760, 5) John Juanda - $217,320, 6) Marc Karam - $169,027.

Ultimate Poker School at the River Rock Casino

Rare opportunity to delve into the mind of two of the best poker players in the world Johnny Chan and Phil Hellmuth, 10 time WSOP bracelet winners, helping to better your game and to apply advance theories and techniques, Live Hand Analysis, "Ask the Experts" Panel, Additional Guest Speakers including "Yukon" Brad Booth - Cash Game Specialist. Joe Tehan – 2006 World Poker Tour Mandalay Bay Champion and Tom Gallagher – professional poker instructor.

 The seminar will take place at the River Rock Casino Resort on Saturday November 18th.  Satellites are taking place at the river rock where the first place winner receives tickets to this limited engagement. There is also a tournament taking place the following day featuring all the guest speakers with an entry fee of $250+$25.  Tickets are available through Ticket Master.