(And the way the FIDPA 80 work … they leave room for adjustments, so theoretically you could go to a tourney and the TD woulds say, “We’re using FIDPA rules today, except for #47, where we’re going to let you blah blah blah” or “… and we have one extra rule of our own: no coughing.”)

The WPA meanwhile, seems to have moved their rules agenda to the backburner, focusing instead on tournament rake — pushing for more sponsorship/commercial money to be added to major event prize pools, a la the PGA:

It’s a disgrace that tournament poker players for the most part do not share the revenue generated by their participation in events (e.g. television, sponsorship, etc). In most or all events players put in all of the prize money via the buy-in, have 6-10% of their money taken out, and only a small number of participants make a payday. Any revenue generated by sponsors or other means is not shared with you the players.

This is something we must change.

This is the WPA’s principal focus. This is why you joined the WPA. This is why we need your support.

Yeow! I’m not so sure I agree with the not-shared part … those waters they put on the table ain’t free, ya know! But the All In Energy Drink is!

Though I suppose both operations ultimately wanna become the FIFA of poker, it looks like their going about it in two kinda different ways

Hmmm. Where have I heard that before? Oh, never mind…

The IP Rules have been created in cooperation with the Tournament Directors Association, Bob Ciaffone’s Robert’s Rules of Poker, and Jack McClelland and Doug Dalton of Bellagio, among others. There are a total of 80 rules, procedures, and policies that will be announced at a later date.

Note to self: This sounds an awful lot like the World Poker Association (WPA)!

Click the “more” button to see the entire press release:

Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWEB) July 18, 2008 — Professional poker players Marcel Luske, “The Flying Dutchman,” and Michelle Lau introduce The Federation Internationale de Poker Association (FIDPA) and “The International Poker Rules” (IP Rules), for tournament play, to promote poker as a sport and unite the poker industry on a global level.

In collaboration with leading industry professionals, Luske and Lau created the IP Rules to provide uniformity in card rooms and tournaments worldwide. With cooperation from the Poker Tournament Directors Association (TDA), Bob Ciaffone, author of Robert’s Rules of Poker, Jack McClelland and Doug Dalton of Bellagio, and many other leading authorities and resources from around the world, the IP Rules allow the players and the industry to learn, play and operate by a single set of complete tournament rules to provide worldwide consistency.

The IP Rules consists of 80 technical rules, policies and procedures for tournament play, that reference and incorporate the latest version of the TDA’s 40 rules. The IP Rules provide a standardized set of tournament rules that are fully modifiable by a tournament director, tournament organizer or card room management. The IP Rules allow card rooms and tournaments to modify the rules in accordance to House Rules, State, Federal and Country Gaming Commission laws and regulations and/or the Tournament Director’s procedures and policies. All modifications made to the IP Rules will be provided to the players and will take precedence in that venue for the tournament.

The IP Rules serve as the official resource for players, dealers, floor people, tournament directors and the entire poker industry. The IP Rules were written in a player-friendly language and provide basic information for new, novice and professional players to learn and understand the fundamental rules needed for tournament play. The IP Rules also provides the industry with the essential information to train and operate with the necessary consistency.

Luske said, “As poker has exploded, the beauty of having one set of rules that everyone can learn and follow is such a big step for the game and as a sport. New players and professional players finally have a resource from which to learn and play. Poker is a game that requires skill and knowledge and should be played with fairness and integrity.”

FIDPA will promote and implement the IP Rules by endorsing card rooms and poker tournaments worldwide. The FIDPA endorsement recognizes the leaders in the poker industry and acknowledges their commitment to excellence, professionalism and fairness. The FIDPA endorsement also represents their effort to unite and strengthen the poker industry through the use of the IP Rules.

Lau stated, “With the support of Doug Dalton and Jack McClelland at Bellagio, one of the world’s finest card rooms, FIDPA and the IP Rules are off to a great start. We still have a lot of ground to cover but the fact of the matter is that there really is no reason why a card room or tournament should not use the IP Rules as a base. A standardized set of rules are desperately needed, as a professional poker player traveling around the world to play in tournaments, there is absolutely no way to know the different rules in every country or even from venue to venue. By allowing tournament directors to make and disclose any necessary modifications prior to a tournament, we can now know the rules, simply note the changes and be able to ensure the rulings are made are fairly.”

Bellagio is the first FIDPA endorsed card room in the world. FIDPA’s mission to unify and strengthen the industry begins with the education and implementation of a standardized set of rules. Known as the world’s No. 1 poker room, Bellagio has set the benchmark for the entire poker industry. Bellagio has adopted the IP Rules in conjunction with Bellagio Cup IV and the World Poker Tour’s main event which began Friday, July 11.

Jack McClelland, Director of Poker Tournaments at Bellagio, said, “We have a large number of international poker players who compete in our tournaments on a regular basis. We want to make sure they are comfortable with the rules and hope to maintain consistency in rulings worldwide. Bellagio is happy to support both domestic and international tournament efforts which in turn will strengthen our position as the leader in the industry. We look forward to a successful partnership with FIDPA.”

ABOUT FIDPA

In 2002, as the founding father of the International Poker Federation (IPF), Marcel Luske successfully created and developed a governing body for the European poker world, raising standards and bringing awareness to the sport of poker. With the international growth of poker, Marcel Luske decided to restructure this European organization to expand his vision worldwide and the former IPF has reemerged as FIDPA. In 2008, Marcel Luske, Founder and President and Michelle Lau, Co-Founder and CEO, began their mission to broaden and increase participation by ensuring the game is played with fairness and operated with professionalism in player friendly environments.

As an international organization, FIDPA connects the poker industry, organizations, federations, and its players by providing support, information, and communication, to elevate, educate, and connect the poker world on a global level. www.fidpa.com will be launched in late 2008.

Contacts: Michelle Lau, (702) 308-2808

FIDPA, fidpa.com@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Scott Ghertner, (702) 650-7565

MGM MIRAGE Public Relations

As Dan mentioned in the post below, Dario Minieri took down the $2,500 NL Holdem 6-handed event in a final table that lasted almost 200 hands, surprising for a 6 handed final table. Seth Fischer finished in 2nd, putting a brutal beat on Justin Filtz to eliminate him in 3rd when the AK of Fischer ran down Filtz’ AA.

The $5,000 Stud Eight or Better final table was finally set after 7am this morning, and another first almost occurred as both Annie Duke and her brother Howard Lederer were among the final 9. However, Howard was eliminated in 9th, but the final table still has notable names such as Chris Ferguson, Steve Sung and Marcel Luske that will return at 5pm today to determine the winner. Here’s that final table:

Seat 1: Bob Lauria: 44,000
Seat 2: Marcel Luske: 308,000
Seat 3: Steve Sung: 207,000
Seat 4: Annie Duke: 277,000
Seat 5: Alessio Isaia: 398,000
Seat 6: Sebastian Ruthenberg: 663,000
Seat 7: Chris Ferguson: 434,000
Seat 8: Robert Beveridge: 288,000

The other final table today and other action after the thing you click to get to the next page:

The $1,500 NL Holdem final table starts at 2pm today under the glaring ESPN360 camera, which will feature the following:

Seat 1: Dean Bui 211,000
Seat 2: Justin Hoffman 138,000
Seat 3: Jose Luis Velador 1,898,000
Seat 4: Joseph Georges 1,086,000
Seat 5: Utsab Saha 961,000
Seat 6: Jae Chung 716,000
Seat 7: Shane Stacey 640,000 (The first Vermont cash of the Series, thanks to Change100 in the comments)
Seat 8: Osmin Dardon 660,000
Seat 9: Anthony Signore 636,000

So if you’re friends and/or family of this group, tune in!

In tournaments that started yesterday, the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha w/rebuys event is down to 49, and notables remaining include Erik Seidel, Barny Boatman, Clonie Gowen, Scott Clements, and Jared Hamby. All five have all been represented by Full Tilt Poker, but it appears one of them may have recently lost their sponsorship, I wonder who could it be.

The other tournament yesterday was the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event that is down to its final 70 ready to ante up for day 2. Among the well-known: Al “Sugar Bear” Barbieri, Chip Jett, Sam Grizzle, and Chad Brown.

Two more tournaments get underway today, with yet another $1,500 NL donkament starting at noon with the usual 2,000+ entrants (hopefully without the registration issues that came up Tuesday). Last year’s version if this particular $1,500 event was won by Ryan Young in a field of over 2,500.

The 5pm tournament is another $10,000 World Championship, this time it’s for Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or better. The $5,000 version of this event was won by John Guth in a field of 280, expect a slightly higher prize pool with a small field this year.

Things slow down a bit the following three days as there’s only one tournament starting each of those days, but the Pokerati team will plow through it with you with more news during the day…

The $2,500 Pot Limit Holdem/Pot Limit Omaha final table was known shortly after 5:00am today. They get to be under the glare of the ESPN360 cameras today at 3pm with this set of 9:

Seat 1: Max Pescatori 212,000
Seat 2: Jonathan Depa 185,000
Seat 3: Kyle Hegeman 198,000
Seat 4: Kyle Kloeckner 494,000
Seat 5: John Paul Kelly 79,000
Seat 6: Greg Hurst 197,000
Seat 7: Lennart Holtkamp 253,000
Seat 8: Minh Ly 174,000
Seat 9: Allen Cunningham 484,000

The other final table, plus other tournament action after the jump:

Starting around 2pm today, the $2,000 NL Holdem final table will consist of the following:

Seat 1: Andrew Jeffreys 1,051,000
Seat 2: Blair Hinkle 1,030,000 (Trying to join his brother Grant as a bracelet winner this year)
Seat 3: Dominik Kulicki 241,000
Seat 4: Daniel O’Brien 456,000
Seat 5: Mark Brockington 552,000
Seat 6: Chris Bjorin 247,000
Seat 7: Dustin Dirksen 867,000
Seat 8: David Steicke 611,000
Seat 9: Stephane Tayar 323,000

Final table conclusions from yesterday:

Scott Seiver took down the $5,000 NL event leading wire-to-wire at the final table before eliminating Dave Seidman. The $3,000 HORSE event was won by FTP Pro Jens Voertmann, Doug Ganger finished 2nd and Marcel Luske rounded out the top 3.

Tournaments started yesterday:
The $10,000 NL Heads-Up World Championship has gone from its original 256 down to their final 32, here’s the matchups for that round:

Jason Rosenkrantz vs. Brandon Adams
Emil Patel vs. Michael Banducci
Roman Paradiso vs. Sam Farha
Kenny Tran vs. Erick Lindgren
Thomas Lutz vs. John Patgorski
Gavin Griffin vs. Alexander Kostritsyn
Andy Black vs. Michael McNeil
Alex Jacob vs. Jonathan Jaffe
Brian Roberts vs. Alec Torelli
Scott Montgomery vs. Isaac Haxton
Daniel “Ansky” Stern vs. David Williams
Lyle Berman vs. David Podgurski
Jean-Claude Moussa vs. Robert Mizrachi
Jonas Entin vs. Evan Sofer
Cliff Cantor vs. Vanessa Selbst
Matt Giannetti vs. Michael Mizrachi

The $1,500 Razz event drew a field of 453, which leaves 104 to come back to day 2 at 3pm. Barry Greenstein is the day 1 leader, with David Levi, Vanessa Rousso, Mike Wattel and Sam Grizzle notables in the top 10.

Tournaments starting today:

Saturday brings the return of the amateur’s favorite tournament: the $1,500 NL Holdem donkament. Expect a sold-out field for this event . Last year’s winner in this edition of the event was Phil Hellmuth in a field of over 2,600. At 5pm, the professionals in the crowd get another chance in their attempt to buy a bracelet with the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha w/rebuys event. Last year, Burt Boutin took down the title in a field of just 145, with 450 rebuys.

More good stuff from Dan and Jen during the day today. Something from me this afternoon…

The $5,000 NL Holdem event is down to heads-up action as Scott Seiver has a slight chip lead over Dave Seidman. The $3,000 HORSE final table is down to six, with Doug Ganger in the lead. Marcel Luske, Hoyt Corkins and Steve Zolotow are the other notable names at the table.

The $2,000 NL Holdem event is down to 47 as they’re now on their dinner break. Andrew Jeffreys appears to be the chip leader, with Matthew “mlagoo” Lagarde a close 2nd. Other names left include Blair Hinkle (his brother Grant won a bracelet last week), friend of bloggers Maria “Maridu” Mayrinck, and Brock Parker.

The $2,500 PL Holdem/PLO event just hit their money bubble and with 41 left in the field go on their dinner break. David Penly is the current chip leader, other notables include Minh Ly, Max Pescatori, Allen Cunningham and Sorel Mizzi.

The $10,000 NL Holdem Heads-Up World Championship got underway with a full field of 256. Round 2 is over and everyone whose won their first two matches has earned at least $14,000. Round 3 will start at 10pm, then finish for the night.

The $1,500 Razz event got underway at 5pm and a certainly older group of people turned out. It also caused what may be a first, with Tournament Director Jack Effel inquiring on who was interested in having sushi for dinner, because the sushi kitchen would close at 8 (before the dinner break). You can read that update, as well as more normal updating of information here.

The $1,500 PLO Event is down to 14 players, Vanessa Selbst is currently the overwhelming chip leader, with over 450k in chips, which is double what 2nd place has. Eugene Todd Bro and Chris Bjorin are the only other recognizable names left.

The $2,000 Limit Holdem event is down to 61 players, with 45 getting paid. Richard Li is chip leader, Daniel Negreanu’s in the top 10. Other recognizable names include Phil Hellmuth, Matt Matros, Thor Hansen, and ESPN announcer Mike Patrick.

The $5,000 NL Holdem Event drew a field of 731 with just under 400 remaining. Michiel Brummelhuis, who had a final table earlier this week is current chip leader. John Hennigan, Eli Elezra, and Gavin Griffin are among those in the top 10.

The $3,000 HORSE event started at 5pm with a field drew a field of 414. Chau Giang appears as current chip leader, Marcel Luske, David Benyamine and Perry Friedman are notable names in the top 10.

More from me in the AM, great stuff from Dan and Jen throughout the evening.

This song, by Ghostface Killah, is a bit older, but sure to be a classic. It also tells you something about why Marcel Luske’s poker-music career didn’t quite take off.

You can kinda ignore the video — they got a hand wrong and everything — but listen to the lyrics, man, and the beat! Takes me right back to the Amazon (Room).

I’m relaxing in writing from Summerlin with my three two children and husband who bought $100 worth of fireworks. If you see anything on the news regarding wild fires in West Vegas…

The S.H.O.E. event started at 5pm today and in the line up is Marcel Luske, David Levi, Chad Brown, James Van Alstyne and beauties Shannon Elizabeth and Lacey Jones.

Speaking of ladies…Anna Wroblewski has made the final table for event #47 2k NL Holdem.

Just when you thought this post was finished, there’s a bit more…John Duthie, a personal favorite and who coached Daniel Craig in the new James Bond film, is currently chip leader in today’s PLO with over 100k but lady favorite Patrik Antonius (who, according to WCP, should have the massage therapist paying him to rub his body) is close behind.

Oops, Patrik just made the pass (in the race not at a massage therapist).

You can only presume HARRAH’S OFFICIALS are breathing a sigh of relief — after having pimped the tourney as the biggest deal, it makes a much better story to give the title to an immigrant who came to America to save his family from war and turned to poker as a way to make good while AMERICAN IMMIGRATION BUREAUCRACY futzed around with his ability to earn a living.

Had JOHN HANSEN won, the story would’ve been about a relatively unknown bad-ass from the NEW YORK hardcore poker underground. Less savory.

Speaking of LEGALLY QUESTIONABLE poker players, did you know drug kingpin JIMMY CHAGRA — released from prison earlier this year — played in the SENIORS EVENT?

He was on “Talkin’ Trash” with BRIAN WILSON just a couple days ago. [via Gary Wise on 2+2.]

JEFFREY POLLACK did a little semi-live blogging from the HORSE final table. Maddest props to the Commish — not only for letting us know what he heard from the poker-players town hall, but also for providing his first-ever outbound link. Puts him on a short-list of people who just-might qualify for Pokerati posting privileges some day. We’ll be watching as he continues to cut his Wicked blogging chops.

In the meantime, The Jeffster tells us:

1. There is insufficient play in the middle levels of limit games and too much in the beginning.

2. There are some instances where the color-up process isn’t being handled correctly.

3. The tent is not a comfortable place to play.

4. There needs to be more room between the spectators on the ropes and the players.

5. The next day’s breaking order should be posted when an event ends for the night.

6. We need to improve media access to final tables.

7. The sequestered tables are tough to cover for the media and follow for the fans.

8. Tournament clocks should be more visible.

9. The Amazon Room is too cold.

10. We should continue and better publicize escort service to the parking lot late at night.

Yesterday’s “other” bracelet went to a guy named SAIF AHMAD, who won the $2,000 Limit Hold’em event with relative ease.

View from the rooftop of Pokerati’s VEGAS EDGE bureau:

ERIC ROSENBERG poses an interesting question on his new-ish blog — about why official poker “stats” don’t subtract known tournament buy-ins from “winnings.” The WSOP, of course, has records of every bracelet-bound buy-in … so it could be done. Likewise, they bar-code initial seat cards, so it’s theoretically possible to provide PokerNews or whoever with the basic info on every single player whose chips they try to track.

Maybe next year?

Rosie has also spurred further conversation about BACKING-DEAL DISCLOSURE — specifically as it pertained to BILL CHEN’S WSOP-approved chip-dumping agreement. It’s not about gratuitous rabble-rousing so much as it is about decisions that will affect the future of poker, regardless of what they are.

So the $1,000 7-Stud Hi Lo continues today. Pokerati’s own TOM SCHNEIDER sits down with 4,300 chips. We’ll find out if North Texas pokerer DAMON RAMIREZ is still alive. And DOYLE BRUNSON takes his second stab at bracelet #11 with 10,700 chips. Pokerati fantasy man STEVE WONG also ain’t too far behind.

Follow the 7-Stud Hi Lo action today here.

Today’s other tournament action:

Day 1 of $2,000 No Limit Hold’em
Day 2 of the $5,000 World Championship of Short-handed No-Limit Holde’m.

And the final table for $2,000 Omaha Hi Lo gets underway, with at least one familiar professional face, who will see if he can hold on to the chip lead.

Seat 1- Martin Corpuz, Jr. 292,000
Seat 2- Ming Lee 373,000
Seat 3- Mitch Maples 70,000
Seat 4- Thang Luu 238,000
Seat 5- Jess Robinson 255,000
Seat 6- Frankie O’Dell 318,000
Seat 7- Marcel Luske 427,000
Seat 8- Marvin Ryan 104,000
Seat 9- Stuart Paterson 58,000