Boxing Action in the Poker Scene
Sounds unlikely? Maybe. But people can always break the rules, right? And the major players in the poker world can do whatever they want to create attractions. They are out to prove that they can make history.
Now come July 1st, a one of a kind boxing action will take place in the Wanderlei Silva gym near the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas where the 40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) is happening. The event titled “Rumble in Rio” is organized by three poker sites – PokerNews.com, PokerBattle and UltimateBet.
And take note, the boxing match is not between two male professional boxing players but between two women. The match is between UltimateBet spokesplayer Liv Boeree and video hostess of PokerNews Melissa Castello. Both ladies play poker.
Olivia or Liv Boeree, for some of you who don’t know yet, is a professional poker player and TV presenter from the United Kingdom. She won the European Ladies Championship in 2008, placed 49th at the Aruba Poker Classic in October 2008 and won in two events during the World Series of Poker in the same year. This woman also has a regular column in several poker related magazines. Melissa Castello, meanwhile, is a broadcast journalist in the U.S. now working for PokerNews.
The event between the two light flyweights will only have three rounds timed at three minutes each. “Rumble in Rio” will be done all for charity. From the proceeds of the match, $1,000 will be donated to charity selected by the winner while $500 will go to a philanthropic project to be selected by the runner-up.
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Posted on June 24, 2009 by socrates | Filed Under Poker
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New Poker Movie Now Showing
Poker fans should not miss this new “All In: The Poker Movie.” This may not be the usual movie with a plot that you’re used to watching but it’s actually a documentary that will most probably help you get a better understanding of the poker industry.
Directed by Douglas Tirola, the docu film premiered last June 11 at the Palms Casino Resort’s Brenden Palms Theater as part of the CineVegas film festival. The premiere also timed with the ongoing World Series of Poker at the nearby Rio Hotel.
The movie features commentaries from numerous well known poker players and celebrities such as Hollywood actor Matt Damon and boxing champ Evander Holyfield as well as collections of poker archive footage and references from film and TV. Although it has its own flaws, many poker experts believe the movie succeeded in its goal of providing balanced and detailed information on the industry and how poker has become a favorite past time of Americans.
The film is two hours long but worth watching especially by people interested in learning about poker. It shows how the popular card game began and how the playing cards now used in the game were invented. You will see then the early beginnings of the game and the triumphs of the early gamblers. Film and television references of the game make up a major part of the movie but online poker gets its share of the limelight as well.
Overall, the movie proves one thing – that poker is part of the American society and it does not discriminate between the less known and the more famous players.
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Posted on June 16, 2009 by socrates | Filed Under Culture, Movies, Poker
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Tennis Champ in Poker Challenge
For many years, the famous poker game has attracted numerous people of varied background. Apart from celebrities, the popular casino card game has also encouraged athletes to try their hands in playing poker.
The latest sports star to join the poker world is a tennis legend. This guy is from Germany with a name you’ve heard many times in the past as he aced his way to the top rankings of the world of tennis after defeating his opponents in various international tournaments such as the Wimbledon. He’s none other than former World No. 1 Boris Becker.
So what’s Becker doing in the poker world? The tennis champ is the man to beat in a heads-up challenge match sponsored by Poker Stars. The person who gets past the series of qualifying games will face the German legend in a poker battleship game that will give away $5,000. Several lucky qualifiers will also get two tickets for the opening day of the 2009 Wimbledon tournament scheduled in London.
Every day until June 15, Poker Stars run several free qualifiers at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. U.K. time. In addition, $1 and $5 multi table qualifiers are held daily at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. respectively. Those who in the daily events will advance to the weekly final and winners of each weekly final will get the rare chance of playing with Boris Becker on June 21 in London.
On a positive note, Becker is getting married on June 12 this year in St. Moritz, Switzerlnd to a Dutch model Sharlely Kerssenberg.
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Posted on June 9, 2009 by socrates | Filed Under Poker
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