In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting news and gossip from our favourite poker people.
Icon Doyle Brunson to make an appearance in this year’s WSOP
After a supposed retirement from the World Series of Poker tournament field in 2018, poker legend Doyle Brunson surprised the entire poker community when he announced his plans on joining this year’s festivities in Las Vegas. While the pro missed 2019’s events, his last appearance garnered him a sixth place finish in 2018’s $10,000 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship event for $43,963.
I’m planning on playing a few select tournaments in the WSOP this year. https://t.co/9um2zalbIR
— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) June 15, 2021
Currently, Brunson is tied with Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan at a total of 10 bracelets, five under Phil Hellmuth’s top spot of an impressive record of 15 bracelets. While Ivey holds almost double in cash earnings vs Brunson’s, a single bracelet win in this year’s 88-bracelet event schedule can automatically push the iconic 87-year old up the ladder. Nonetheless win or lose, his awaited appearance is already a treat in itself with thousands of fans sharing their excitement on possibly meeting the “Godfather of Poker” himself.
Landon Tice holds six-figure lead in HU challenge against Bill Perkins
The interesting heads-up challenge between 22-year old pro Landon Tice and high roller Bill Perkins has so far played through a total of nine sessions across 3,728 hands out of the agreed 20,000-hand duration. While Tice continues to hold the lead of $112,238 following the latest session, Perkins’ handicap as the underdog has the young pro a little behind on his win rate to win the challenge.
Day 9: +$16,349.74
Hands Played: 584
Total: +$112.238.92
Total Hands: 3728
BB/100: 7.53
I won an all in pre today. With the worst of it. What a feeling.
— Landon (@LandonTice) June 20, 2021
Noting the previously agreed terms, Tice is required to pay back nine big blinds per 100 hands at the end which is valued at about $720,000. Having just landed his sixth winning session so far, Tice needs to pick up the pace for the rest of the challenge if he wants to beat his amateur opponent. His most recent and biggest recorded win of $16,349 across 584 hands regardless, puts him once again in a six-figure lead.
Mike Postle loses another $27k judgment, this time against Veronica Brill
It was just last month that alleged poker cheat Mike Postle lost a $26,982 judgment granted to Todd Witteles for damages in a parallel anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion. This time around, whistleblower Veronica Brill has won a $27,745 judgment for her incurred legal costs in defending her case. The total amount owed was announced last Tuesday in a minute order as issued by presiding judge, Shama H. Mesiwala. As Postle failed to appear for the final hearing the next day, the ruling stands to be enforceable and in immediate effect.
While Brill’s team originally filed for $78,600 in charges, Judge Mesiwala ruled the amount to be excessive, bringing it down to less than half of the claim as seen similarly with Witteles’ judgment. Combining the two motions, Postle will have to compensate over $54k in damages after having filed to dismiss his frivolous claims. This follows the events of last October when Postle filed a $330 million defamation case against the twelve defendants, only to voluntarily drop the case six months later.
Heads up pro Doug Polk eliminates Tom Dwan in first round of WPT HU Poker Championship
The premium $25,000 World Poker Tour Heads-Up Poker Championship on the Poker King app went underway last Friday, June 18 and has since concluded its first round of matches. The 32-player field is geared to battle it out for a guaranteed prize pool of $800,000 with the final match set to run on June 22nd.
Poker fans all over the globe initially tuned in to the most exciting match between heads-up pro Doug Polk and Full Tilt superstar Tom “durrrr” Dwan. Consisting of a best-of-three format, Dwan scored the first match of the round but lost the succeeding two to his worthy opponent. While a cooler in the second match sent the win to Polk, Dwan’s deuces in the final hand of the third match left him in big trouble as Polk scooped up the rest of his chips with his pocket sixes. Polk will now advance to the second round of the tournament and face Finnish pro Patrik Antonius who likewise, defeated Japanese star Gakuto “GACKT” Oshiro.
Second Round Matches:
• Doug Polk vs. Gakuto “GACKT” Oshiro
• Anthony Zinno vs. Phil Ivey
• Darren Elias vs. Stephen Chidwick
• Alexandra Botez vs. Sam Greenwood
• Stefan “Stefan11222” Burakov vs. Daniel Dvoress
• Olivier Busquet vs. Christopher Kruk
• Tuukka “ButtonClickr” Sevanen vs. Wiktor “Limitless” Mainowski
• Dan Smith vs. Jean-Robert Bellande
