Calling the Clock: Somerville Smashes Twitch Record; Antonius and Dreyfus Say no to HUDS, and Much More

Calling The Clock: Sexism, Guns and Oil Paintings

Lee Davy sits quietly in the noisiest library in the world bringing you a round-up of the weekly poker news including: Jason Somerville smashing Twitch records, the voice of Heads Up Display dissention, and much more.

The pilgrimage to bring a regulated online poker industry to the United States suffered a setback this week, after it was revealed that promoters and pushers in California had given up the ghost for 2015.

Calling the Clock: Somerville Smashes Twitch Record; Antonius and Dreyfus Say no to HUDS, and Much MoreThe 2015 legislative session came and went: tribes, online gambling companies and racetracks failed to agree that salt was salt; the California Gambling Control Commission fell apart at the seams, and bills were left to gather dust.

The news will be a blow for PokerStars who sent their wisest angels on a tour of Californian card rooms spreading the gospel. The saints and sages songs will no doubt be forgotten by the time Californian lawmakers take another look at this thing.

But it’s not all bad news.

The world’s most magnificent payment processor PayPal has decided to return to the world of stateside online gambling. PayPal once got very rich off the back of American online gamblers before turning their back on them in 2003. A new pilot scheme that encompasses WSOP.com in both Nevada and New Jersey looks to bring the payment processor out of exile.

PokerStars may not be setting up camp in California, but they might make an appearance in New Jersey by the end of the month. That’s the claim made by SVP Equity Analyst Chad Benyon, who was quoted in OnlinePokerReport.com as saying: “A NJ license would be a major catalyst” for the company “in the next 20 days.”

Can you imagine what a fully regulated online poker industry, in the USA, would do for the numbers at the World Championships of Online Poker (WCOOP)?

Oh, the sweet smell of nostalgia.

The largest and most prestigious online poker tournament series in the world is currently taking frenetic grinders into the dead of the night. The lads and lasses from the UK have started in fine fettle. Former PocketFives world number one Patrick “pads1161” Leonard is currently the pick of the bunch winning his first title; Russian player Ti0373 has picked up his third.

The biggest WCOOP news story has been the success of Team PokerStars Pro Jason Somerville. The RunItUp! captain has made two final tables, each attracting record viewers, catapulting online poker onto a worldly stage.

Somerville has cultivated a purple patch of twitter land for online poker players. On Sep 7, when he made his first final table, he attracted 37,434 viewers making it the most watched show on Twitch – not bad considering it’s the third most watched streaming service behind Netflix and Hulu. Somerville currently has 125,000 followers and has streamed for 484 hours between March 1 and May 11 of this year.

You may notice that Somerville plays online poker without a Heads Up Display (HUD); a good thing according to both Patrik Antonius and Alexandre Dreyfus.

Antonius is one of the most successful high stakes online cash game players on the planet, but that success is withering. Speaking to PokerListings during his time at European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona, Antonius, told reporters that he was out of the game because the use of HUDs were giving his opponent’s an unfair advantage. At least Antonius can make a living modeling Calvin Klein underwear.

Alex Dreyfus also came out fighting this week.

The man dedicating his life to Sportify poker spoke out about professional players using HUDs whilst streaming on Twitch. The fabulous Frenchman believes the HUD will confuse and bewilder potential new online poker prospects with a maze of digits and code. I have to agree with the man. Ban them all. Burn them all.

Perhaps, we can get Dreyfus a job modeling Calvin Ayre underwear?

As per usual, this little cynic will end his weekly round up with news from the world of live tournament poker.

Amaya Gaming has once again slung on their cape and flown to poker’s rescue. This time the super hero comes in the guise of Global Poker Tours Ltd, and the Norwegian live tournament scene is the life being saved.

Changes in Norwegian law has allowed Global Poker Tours to fly in and set up the Norwegian Poker Championships, on home soil, for the first time ever. In the past, Norwegians have been forced to man their ships and raid in the lands of England, Ireland and Latvia. All that changes in October when a series of Regional Championships will culminate with a Norwegian Championships in the capital city of Oslo: Nov 18-24, 2015.

The Global Poker Tours also announced plans to dissolve the Australia & New Zealand Poker Tour (ANZPT) after finishing their seventh season later this year. The Australian legs of the tour will be added to the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT). There has been no word on what will happen with the New Zealand legs.

Four live tournament victories to bring you up to speed on.

The aforementioned artistic APPT has just ended the Macau Poker Cup 23: Yue Feng Pan won the Main Event for $272,000, and James Chen picked up the High Roller title for $220,000; Pia Jeppesen continued her excellent record of Top 3 ITM finishes (50%+) by winning the Genting Poker Series (GPS) Main Event in Stoke for £30,660; Matteo Mutti won €60,000 as the winner of the Italian Poker Tour (IPT) Nova Gorica Main Event, and Matthew Shepsky banked $227,864 as the victor in the Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) Main Event, Black Hawk, Colorado.

Time Ladies & Gentlemen.

Someone has just called the clock.