Lee Davy spends 26-minutes and 30-seconds bringing you all of last weeks main poker news stories – including a very nasty Danish Trojan horse scandal, more naughty news from the corner of Dan Bilzerian, PokerStars breaking more records and titles galore for Leonid Markin, Jason Mercier, Jennifer Shahade and Mikal Blomlie.
Online poker’s image had its mascara smudged quite heavily this week after the free Danish National newspaper Metroxpress broke news of a very nasty Trojan Horse scandal in the High Stakes online poker community.
Half a million Danish readers were told that a group of Danish High Stakes online poker players had notified the Economic Crime Department in Copenhagen of the name of a Danish poker player who they believed had gained access to their laptops; installed Trojan horse spyware, and then won millions playing online poker against them. The Trojan horse allowed the perpetrator to see his opponent’s hole cards.
Two people were arrested on alleged aiding and abetting charges, and there were even rumors that a member of the Danish police force was also in on the act. The names were not released to the general public, but the detectives at 2+2 seem to have put it all together (head over there if you are the type of person who reads books back to front)
The press stories state that the scandal could have been going on for as long as nine years, and the potential loss could be in the millions.
Dan Bilzerian in the News
From a horse loving man who would prefer his identity was hidden, to a goat loving man who wants everyone in the world to know who he is.
It’s been a tough week for Dan Bilzerian. The man, who attracts trouble like a Nicki Minaj music video attracts erections, allegedly put the boot into the face of a woman, and was then arrested on charges of possessing bomb making equipment.
His first transgression came during his 34th birthday celebrations at the LIV nightspot in Miami. A very dark and grainy video seems to show Bilzerian sticking the boot into the crowd, from a raised platform; after a fracas broke out involving people he was with.
Celeb watch magazine The Dirty – who released the video – also broke the news that the boot struck the face of a woman called Vanessa Castano, who later sued Bilzerian for a cut to the eye, and all the undue stress that it no doubt caused.
On his way home, Bilzerian was then picked up by authorities at LAX Airport, on an arrest warrant issued in Clark County. TMZ reported that he was found carrying ammonium, aluminum powder and ammonium nitrate – key ingredients of that old Wiley Coyote favorite – TNT.
Bilzerian – who has shown a penchant for blowing things up in the past – was later released and allowed home. He would later post a photo of himself lying in his private jet, with two female friends alongside him. It stated: “Jail…Let’s not do that again.”
PokerStars Breaking Records
When you break a record you generally want people to hear about your accomplishment, but there are a few that should remain secret. Take the latest record created by the online poker room giant PokerStars. During their European Poker Tour (EPT) festivities, in Prague, PokerStars announced they had broken a record by managing the event with 228 staff.
Let’s hope that David Baazov’s cost cutting maestros don’t the read the same news that I do, or else he will be all over that cost leak like a rash.
228 tournament staff!
Crikey!
One man who is none too happy is Jason Wheeler. The Mexican based online grinder wants to see money diverted into the correct places on the EPT – namely the tour party. Speaking on Facebook our resident blunt expert had this to say about the EPT Prague party experience.
“Pokerstars now even making cuts on live tour. Back in the days they would get Snoop to perform at the Stars party at a nice club and drinks would flow for hours. EPT Prague is gigantic but Stars party in bar / lounge at Hilton. No one performing and now apparently we get two drink vouchers. I’m just waiting for Amaya to start charging extra if u want a seat to sit down at while playing the main event.”
I don’t know what’s more incredible. The fact they had Snoop perform, or they have 228 staff!
Worthy Winners and Lucky Bleeders
Here are a few tournament victories to catch up on.
The EPT/Eureka Tour Prague has so far dished out three major titles. Russian Leonid Markin has secured the biggest prize after defeating the founder of Ocean Finance, Paul Newey, in heads-up action, to take the €771,360 first prize in the EPT Prague Super High Roller; Balazs Botond became the second Hungarian to capture a Eureka 4 Main Event title after victory in Prague, and Jack Salter’s little brother Louis managed to cut a swathe through an impressive final table to capture the Eureka Prague High Roller title.
Prague was also the home to the first-ever Open Face Chinese World Championships. The brains behind the TonyBet Poker operation took advantage of the influx of OFC crazy Russians to host a €1,100 World Championships event, and a €10,000 High Roller. The former 2012 World Championships of Online Poker (WCOOP) Leader board winner, Mikal Blomlie, took the Main Event title, and the PokerStars Mindsports Ambassador, and Chess Grandmaster, Jennifer Shahade, took the High Roller title.
There was a second PokerStars victory this week, and the first at a World Poker Tour (WPT) event for Jason Mercier. The former Global Poker Index (GPI) No.1 ranked player defeated 15 entrants to take the title and $727,500 in prize money after beating the businesswoman Kathy Lehne in heads-up action. The victory means Mercier has now won silverware at EPT, WPT and WSOP tours – although one doubts a 15-player field is worthy of Triple Crown recognition.
