Playtech’s iPoker network has responded to the accusations of bot usage on its sites by amending its Terms and Conditions. According to PokerUpdate.com, iPlayers are no longer permitted to use any type of assistance programs (defined as any computer software and/or non-software-based databases or profiles) “which is or may be designed to provide you with an unfair advantage.” Also off limits are “artificial intelligence including, without limitation, robots”. iPoker retains the right to “take steps to detect and prevent the use of” such prohibited programs, and any attempts to interfere with iPoker’s ability to uncover your shenanigans will “entitle” them to “suspend” your access to iPoker and – more importantly – to any of your ill-gotten winnings. To sum up: Fuck you, Transformer boy.
PokerStars has welcomed 2011 World Series of Poker main event runner-up Martin Staszko to the Team PokerStars Pro roster. Staszko becomes only the second player from the Czech Republic to join the Team (following Martin Hruby). The former €15k/year factory worker who earned $5.4m for his WSOP finish will take part in the upcoming European Poker Tour Prague event starting Dec. 5, as will overall WSOP champ Pius Heinz.
PokerStars has also announced dates for Season 3 of the Estrellas Poker Tour. Madrid kicks off the season Jan. 23-29, with further stops in Ibiza (May), San Sebastian (July) and Barcelona (August). Closer on the schedule, Dec. 1 will welcome back the World Series of Poker Circuit to Harrah’s in Atlantic City, while Dec. 2 sees the start of the World Poker Tour Regional Winter Poker Open at the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa. On Feb. 21, the second World Series of Poker Africa kicks off at the Emerald Resort and Casino in Johannesburg, although unlike the first visit, winners of all six events will get WSOP rings.
Enough looking forward, let’s count some green. Scott Clements has triumphed at the Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza IV, outlasting 265 players over three days of play at the Venetian in Las Vegas. The $2,500 buy-in created a $607k prize pool, of which Clements claimed $145k, while runner-up Zachary Fahmie earned $89k and Ryan Welch took home $60k.
