This shoulda gone up about two-and-a-half months ago … but hey, we were busy with the November Nine and Tiger Woods was busy banging every chick in Vegas who ever said “call me!” … not to mention posing for photoshopped covers of Golf Digest with advice for Barack Obama. No wonder he didn’t have time to be smoking pot with Michael Phelps …

Still, before golf officially decided to go the degen route — or perhaps in preparation for it? — Golf Magazine ran a feature in their November issue about Phil Hellmuth, Layne Flack, Erick Lindgren, and Gavin Smith hitting the Las Vegas links, apparently foreshadowing the concept of risking big-big bucks on every hole:

Golf Magazine feature on High Stakes Poker Players Golfing

Nicole Rowe, fighting cancer and rallying poker players for a good cause with rebuys.

Pokerati loves charity poker and, of course, healthy breasts … which is why it’s our pleasure to contribute to the grab-bag of prizes for the upcoming Bad Beat on Cancer Poker Challenge, to be held Nov. 12 on PokerStars.

It’s a simple concept — a $10 tourney with rebuys where all the money minus shipping and handling goes to Bad Beat on Cancer … all on behalf of Nicole Rowe and her own fight against the disease. The donated prizes range from a lifetime subscription to DeucesCracked (the 2 Months 2 Million guys’ poker school) to all sorts of other coaching, boot camp, and lifestyle experiences (like drinking with Gavin Smith and Joe Sebok) to signed books to Skullcandy headphones to … for those oh-so-lucky 44th-49th place finishers … Pokerati T-shirts. The top 50 all get something, and that’s what should make this low-stakes fundraiser pretty fun.

Rowe, if you don’t remember, is the player who finished 2nd in a Borgata Ladies event in September, losing to Abraham Korotki, not a lady, who also turned down a chop offer when the two were heads-up and virtually even in chips. “You bastard!” screamed the poker masses, though Rowe herself insists she holds no animosity for her worthy, breastless opponent.

Rowe says she plays poker to escape from her daily battle with cancer, but is also using her winnings to help pay for uncovered expenses related to multiple surgeries and treatments.

Mark your calendars, and click here for a complete list of prizes and other tournament details.

Not only did you, the everyday Joe pokerer, get to have your say on who gets considered for the Poker Hall of Fame, but now, coming up soon, via Wicked Chops, you can weigh in with Jason Alexander and Brad Garrett on the historically most significant WSOP railbirds:

Watch Girls on the Rail Hall of Fame with Jason Alexander, Brad Garrett and Gavin Smith on RawVegas.tv

I’m not sure what to make of this. Does it feel like 2005 again? The game is called Excitebots: Trick Racing, for the Nintendo Wii … and there’s a poker mode where kids can learn how to make good poker hands and focus on their cards amid distraction. Mmm, tastes good with some Jack’s Links Beef Jerky. Now if only there were a way you could play online for money …

Starring Daniel Negreanu, Evelyn Ng, Gavin Smith, and Erick Lindgren; hosted by Dave Farrah (from RawVegas).

Recapping some of the events of today at the the Rio:

JP wins bracelet at WSOP

John-Paul Kelly took down the $1,500 Pot-Limit Holdem event a few minutes ago besting Marc Tschirch in headsup play to win his first career bracelet, and over $190,000. Erik Seidel, who announced that he would donate his entire winnings in this event to charity, finished 7th for $24,919.

HORSE Drags its Way to Final Table

The official final table of the $3,000 HORSE event comes back from its one-hour dinner break with eight players remaining at the final table. After Gavin Smith was eliminated in 10th, the remaining players played for nearly three hours to eliminate one player. Here’s how the final table will be seated when played resumed:

Seat 1: Gabriel Nassif
Seat 2: Timothy Finne
Seat 3: Chris Amaral
Seat 4: James Van Alstyne
Seat 5: Michele Limongi
Seat 6: Martin Eikeng
Seat 7: Matt Hawrilenko
Seat 8: Zac Fellows

Shootout Still Ongoing at the Rio

What started with 100 players is now down to about 40, spread out over 10 tables in the $1,500 NL Shootout. Play ends for the evening after the 10 tables each have one winner, returning tomorrow afternoon to appear on the ESPN broadband service, subject to change of course.

NL 2-7 Still Drawing

24 players remain in the $10,000 NL 2-7 Lowball Single Draw World Championship, playing down to a seven player final table before the clock strikes 3am. Vince Musso is the current chip leader at 270,000 followed by Roland de Wolfe (200,000), Jean-Robert Bellande (188,000), Ville Wahlbeck (160,000) and David Benyamine (142,000) among the notables remaining. Wahlbeck’s looking to cash in his 4th 10k event of this Series, one of the more impressive feats of any WSOP.

Return of the Donkament

A field of 2,506 started the latest version of the $1,500 NL Holdem event, with less than 800 remaining. It appears that Anthony Yeh, who works for PokerNews, is the unofficial chip leader with over 70,000 in chips. Play continues for another four levels tonight, the morning update will have the chip leader and other notables of the remainder of the field.

OHL and SHL, Two Split Games that Go Together

A field of 376 took to the felt in the $2,500 Omaha 8/Stud 8 event at 5pm. Check out the WSOP website for more details from this evening’s remaining events throughout the evening.

Recapping the action from Wednesday night:

Brock to Brock

Brock Parker extended the streak of double braclet winners at the WSOP to 10 years, as he bested Joseph Serock in the $2,500 NL Holdem 6-max event. Both bracelets came in shorthanded events as he beat Daniel Negreanu heads-up in the $2,500 Limit Holdem 6-max event earlier this week.

Seidel Looking for Bracelet #9, #9, #9…

The $1,500 Pot-Limit Holdem final table was reached earlier this morning, and this is how they’ll be seated when play resumes at 2pm at www.bluffmagazine.com/live:

Seat 1: Marc Tschirch – 268000
Seat 2: Erik Seidel – 337000
Seat 3: Jason Dewitt – 476000
Seat 4: Kyle Carlston – 320000
Seat 5: Andrew Radel – 250000
Seat 6: John-Paul Kelly – 627000
Seat 7: Ravi Raghavan – 145000
Seat 8: Kirk Steward – 231000
Seat 9: Aaron Virchis – 191000

HORSE in the Homestretch

The $3,000 HORSEevent reaches its conclusion today with 21 players remaining when play resumes at 1pm. Zac Fellows will start the day with the chip lead at 471,000. James Van Alstyne (455,000), Ylon Schwartz (186,000), Chau Giang (149,000), Bill Blanda (144,000), and Gavin Smith (121,000) are some of the notables coming back as well.

Shootout at the Rio, Day 2

Day 2 of the $1,500 NL Holdem Shootout has 100 players, sitting at 10 tables, remaining when play resumes at 2pm today. Each player will start with 45,000 in chips and play down to a winner, returning on Friday afternoon with 450,000 in chips along with the other table winners to determine the winner.

Drawing Without Limits

Day 2 of the $10,000 NL 2-7 Lowball Single Draw World Championship started with 96 entrants yesterday afternoon. 57 players return at 2pm today, 43 of which will get nothing for their efforts. Roland de Wolfe starts the day with 180,300 in chips. Notables also returning include John Juanda (111,800), David Benyamine (69,500), Kenny Tran (64,800), Phil Ivey (56,000), Daniel Alaei (51,000) and Freddy Deeb (49,600). Unfortunately for Dan, Tom Schneider will not be able to wear the Pokerati patch proudly, as he was eliminated.

Thursday’s Tournaments and Projections

Two tournaments start the action today, starting with another edition of the $1,500 NL Holdem event, with another field of over 2,000 players expected. Last year, Luis Velador took down this event in a field of 2,304 for $574,734. The 5pm event is another event for specialists, $2,500 Omaha 8 or Better/Stud 8 or Better won last year by Farzad Rouhani in a field of 388.

The WSOP Staff Guide projected that 2,400 players would start the $1,500 NL holdem event (take the over – 2,541), while the $2,500 OHL/SHL event would draw a field of 419 (take the under, 371). Action abounds at the WSOP today, so head to the WSOP website and Pokerati throughout the day for the latest in the online poker payment processor situation and other stuff during the day.

PokerRoad did an amazing tribute show to Justin Shronk, featuring Joe Sebok, Gavin Smith, Ali Nejad, Court Harrington, Scott Huff, and special guest BJ Nemeth.

If you knew Shronk, this is well worth the time. If you didn’t, it gives some insight into a life lost too early but a life well-lived and filled with friendship, respect, and love. Click here to listen to the heartfelt tribute.

On a personal note, thanks to the guys for putting together this show. Almost as difficult as feeling the loss of Shronk was hearing the heartbreak and sadness in your voices, but it is deeply appreciated.

Rest in peace, Shronk.

I guess the bad beats finally caught up to me … I was near the top of the leaderboard all day, but in the last quadrant got smacked … as did Gavin Smith, via bad beat, who was my pick to win it all. Phil Hellmuth also advanced by suckout to my detriment.

Here are tomorrow’s match-ups:

Don Cheadle vs. Paul Wasicka
Phil Ivey vs. Vanessa Rousso
Scotty Nguyen vs. Ted Forrest
Daniel Negreanu vs. Dario Minieri

Gabe Kaplan vs. John Juanda
Zigmund vs. Elky
Jeffrey Ishbia vs. Phil Hellmuth
Tom Dwan vs. Barry Greenstein

Eli Elezra vs. Erick Lindgren
David Williams vs. Scott Fischman
John Phan vs. Jerry Yang
Sammy Farha vs. Peter Eastgate

Kenny Tran vs. Jennifer Harman
Phil Laak vs. Layne Flack David Oppenheim
Gus Hansen vs. Huck Seed
Glen Chorny vs. Brad Garrett

Click here to see the complete PokerRoad/Pokerati bracket standings after Day 1.

(Mathers is 10th, I’m 26th, TBR is 46th. And even though both Shronk and “Stapes” are both tied for 53rd, overall the PRR forumers are kicking Pokeratizen ass.)

I attended the grand opening/premiere/LV poker mixer for The Real Deal at the Venetian on Tuesday. I’m still processing what I witnessed — but I am pretty sure it was the official jumping of the shark for poker, as some 500 poker fans (including Tim Conway, Robert Wagner, Bob Newhart, multiple poker agents, WSOP officials, and the owner of the Venetian and president of the Sands, who walked out after 25 minutes) witnessed painfully how getting lots of airtime on ESPN, GSN, and Fox Sports comes nowhere close to making you a Vegas entertainer worthy of a $100 ticket twice a night, let alone twice a lifetime.*

*Exceptions: Lacey Jones and Vinnie Favorito were great.

Wicked Chops and RawVegas were there, too. And they took advantage of the red carpet to poll a few well known poker players on who they’re backing in the presidential election:

The breakdown:

Daniel Negreanu — Obama
Scotty Nguyen — McCain
Doyle Brunson — Diplomatic: likes McCain but “Obama is better for poker” (?)
Todd Brunson — McCain
Lacey Jones — Undecided: Worked in previous McCain campaigns, but “on the fence”
Eli Elezra — Filibuster: Obama “right guy for poker … but I’m a businessman also”
Gavin Smith — Obama
Dennis Phillips — Diplomatic Filibuster: House and Senate elections matter more

Gavin Smith turns 40 today. It only seems appropriate that we all drink one on his behalf.

Click, and enjoy.â„¢

From the always clickworthy good folks at RawVegas.TV

The poker shark just can’t seem to be jumped. While I don’t expect to see All In: The Musical on broadway any time soon, apparently some people believe that poker players actually go see shows, or at least that they are more likely to if the show is about poker. The Real Deal is gonna be part poker theatre, part poker tourney, part poker game show, with audience members interacting with various pros on stage via wi-fi at The Venetian. Poker thespians will include Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Antonio Esfandiari, Gavin Smith, Eli Elezra, Jennifer Harman, Phil Laak, Scotty Nguyen, and Todd Brunson — guess they’ve got nothing better to do with High Stakes Poker gone — and surely it is only a matter of time before Hellmuth wins a Tony and/or The Producers will be brought to you by FullTiltPoker.net. No word on whether or not they plan to add hypnosis to the mix (“I will find inner peace and fold these pocket 10s”), but just to let the poker entertainmentpreneurs out there know, poker still has yet to be translated into any of the following:

Poker: the Topless Revue
Poker: the Pool
Poker: the Mechanical Bull Ride
Poker: the Buffet
Poker: the Surgery

Who says there still isn’t room for growth in this industry? Click below to read the full press release, and for more info about a show that will be sure to dazzle us in frightening ways before the end of the year:

More…

RawVegasTV is celebrating its 1-year anniversary … a not-so-shocking milestone for an operation built on the concept of Joe Sebok eating four taquitos to Gavin Smith’s 2.5 and Google searches for “denise pernula naked”.

With a staff of 12, they’ve put up more than 1,100 videos, generating more than 35 million views. [via Robin Leach]

Congrats, dudes! Pretty impressive for a web-something that “has nothing to do with Wicked Chops,” according to RVTV president Steven “Chops” Preiss … it’s amazing how many eyeballs you can capture by putting up high-quality vids (I mean resolution-wise, mixed quality content-wise) in players that always work and are easily link/embeddable. Having a sassy lass who isn’t afraid to grab her own boobs while doing the news probably also helps, as does Barrett Applegate:

The video of Shannon Shorr’s drunken shenanigans last summer in Las Vegas that almost led to his becoming the Christopher Reeve of Poker has been posted on YouTube. 22-year-old kids with lots of money are so funny in how they almost die … though I have to say, it is kinda refreshing to see the youthful purity of engaging in such prop-bettable pursuits for nothing but the glory. Gavin Smith wouldn’t do this for less than $12,000, I am sure.

Via Wicked Chops:

So it was fun making picks … but not so fun to watch the results trickle in. Everyone’s talking about their brackets around Caesar’s Palace — lots of money being unofficially wagered as heads-up fans excitedly bemoan the upsets and sometimes gloat over the mental errors of others.

Gavin Smith: “How can you pick Howard to win a heads-up tournament?!? Pshaw!”

Um, I dunno, just a hunch? Thought he had worked through his game and had incentive to win? I was betting on uniforms. Below are the standings after the first round in the impromptu Pokerati bracket fun. Cali Jen, TBR, and I aren’t exactly representin’:

I think you still might be able to get in on the bracket action, fyi.

Rank Predictor Score Predicted Final Winner Completed
1 don essinger – 13 Allen Cunningham 2/29/2008 1:05pm
2 Scott – 13 Daniel Negreanu 2/29/2008 1:20pm
3 Taylor Larkin – 13 Huck Seed 2/29/2008 2:20pm
4 Kevin Mathers – 11 Daniel Negreanu 2/29/2008 12:32pm
5 champsampson – 11 Ted Forrest 2/29/2008 1:39pm
6 dan michalski – 9 Howard Lederer 2/29/2008 3:41am
7 California Jen – 9 Scott Clements 2/29/2008 9:43am
8 Randy Brown – 8 Phil Hellmuth 2/29/2008 12:12pm

Here’s where I’ll be continuing to follow the games tomorrow — even when I’m there, sitting a few seats away from CP‘s reporters in the rafters.

Yikes, of my final four, only one remains. Go Freddy Deeb!