In this week’s Calling The Clock Lee Davy brings you up to speed on the results of the opening event at the World Series of Poker, poker’s debut on Netflix and another PokerStars Pro leaving for pastures new.
The wheels of the chariots are greased, weapons sharpened, and enough straw to mop up the blood covers the hallowed ground of the Rio in Las Vegas. The 47th Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) is underway, and the first gold bracelet hangs loosely on the wrist of a sports book writer and cashier who spends his days working at Caesars Palace, and his nights dreaming of winning WSOP bracelets.
Christopher Sand, 45, topped a field of 731 entrants to capture the first prize of $75,157 after defeating Head of Poker at The Hippodrome Casino in London, Kerryjane Craigie, in heads-up action. It was only the third time Sand had played in a WSOP event, and he has now cashed in two of the three after finishing 1,596th place in last year’s Colossus I event.
KidPoker Documentary Released; Liv Boeree to Star in Porn Poker Documentary; Katchalov Leaves
With every conceivable poker player focused on the WSOP it was a prime time for Daniel Negreanu and PokerStars to launch his feature length documentary KidPoker.
And they didn’t mess about.
PokerStars bypassed all your general poker outlets and debuted on Netflix. The reviews have thus far been extremely positive. I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy, which was fortunate as I had just cancelled my Netflix account, and I thought it was outstanding.
For most observers it will be the first time the general public get to see the real Daniel Negreanu. I came away from the viewing completely inspired to get my ass into gear and to achieve my dreams. There was also a tear or two.
Fellow PokerStars Team Pro, Liv Boeree, is also heading into the studio to film a documentary, but it seems the end product is not going to be to the satisfaction of Doyle Brunson.
The Global Poker League (GPL) London Royals Team Manager tweeted the news that she would appear on a forthcoming episode of Pokerography, and Brunson misread the tweet thinking she was about to star in pornography.
“I was about to place my order.” Tweeted Brunson.
From PokerStars Team Pros of the present to ones of the past and Eugene Katchalov has parted ways with the largest online poker room in the world. Although neither side has given a reason, one must assume the Ukrainian’s contract expired, and his job was done promoting the game in that part of the world. Katchalov said he would use his free time to enter the entrepreneurial world where he will try to improve the game of poker from a fresh angle.
Kaverman The Ironman; Kempe The Champ; Moscow The Abused
If Eugene Katchalov can’t learn to live life without a PokerStar salary then perhaps he could get in the Bill Perkins prop bet queue.
“Next.”
Up steps Byron Kaverman, the 2015 Global Poker Index (GPI) Player of the Year (POY) has accepted Perkin’s challenge to undertake an Ironman competition in 13 hours or less. The American has 6-months to find the strength, stamina, and sanity to swim for 2.4 miles, ride a bike for 112-miles, and run a 26.2-mile marathon.
If he is successful, he will receive $50,000.
It’s a little unclear what the penalty will be should he fail. One assumes that’s because he will likely be dead.
888Poker continued to build brand awareness in the United States by partnering with Poker Central and the Super High Roller Bowl. The final table was always going to be special. Phil Hellmuth and Erik Seidel sent out a reminder that Daniel Negreanu is not going mad. However, it was the young wizards from Germany who took the lion share of the cash. Rainer Kempe won the $5m first prize after beating Fedor Holz in heads-up action.
From one televised poker product that everyone likes that taste of, to another that’s making a few people gag. The future of Poker Night in America (PNIA) as both a viable product and trusted one, has been placed under intense scrutiny after cash game player Dr Jaclynn Moskow wrote a blog outing several members of the team as either pig-ignorant, racist or sexist.
Moskow alleges the show’s creator and producer Todd Anderson verbally abused her, the show’s host Chris Hanson subjected her to anti-semitic remarks, and former employee Nolan Dalla sexually abused her.
Talking about Dalla, Moskow wrote in her blog, “He proceeded to thrust his head directly into my chest and cleavage and shake it back and forth.” Dalla has since vehemently denied the claims in a statement posted on 2+2, and Moskow appeared on the Joe Ingram Podcast to produce text message evidence appearing to show a witness apologising to her and mentioning that ‘the actions of Nolan are inexcusable.’
Both Dalla and Hanson has since sought legal representation, and PNIA President Todd Anderson released a statement claiming there was no substantiating evidence to back up Moskow’s claims and that: ‘at PNIA, we have a zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination or intimidation of any kind.’
Anderson signed off: ” We regret that Dr Moskow had a negative experience with PNIA, and we wish her the best in the future.”
If there is one part of the story I don’t believe that is it.
