My name is Kim Shannon, and I’m all up in everyone’s bidness… which is why Pokerati invited me to share with you the poker gossip and celebrity “news”. My initial response was “I’d rather drink a thumbtack-and-jalapeno smoothie”, but then Dan reminded me that I still owe him a beej from a prop bet I lost… so here I am.

Let’s skip the gristle and get right to the bone, shall we, with what’s buzzing in poker … or wait, is that coming from my purse?

Clock Blocked

Word from the felt is that Daniel Negreanu and Andrew Robl have kissed and made up in the wake of a spat over last week’s episode of “The Big Game”, in which Negreanu & Tony G were poster children for fucked up poker etiquette. Poker bitching about implied collusion aside, I hadn’t seen so much high-fiving and snickering since I last got “Eiffel Towered” in a drunken MFM.

After the broadcast, Tony G redeemed himself by posting a quasi-apology, but Daniel kept the drama going with a post of his own expounding on Robl’s nittiness. I was in the middle of reading Robl’s rebuttal when I realized that I had been punching myself in the face the whole time over the pettiness of it all. However, I do feel the need to give Daniel a special award for managing to refrain from calling Robl a “cunt”.  Then, just as I was about to start placing bets on who would blow a gasket and sprain their vagina first, Negreanu ruined my fun by saying he has since called Robl and smoothed things over.

A-Rod’s Poker

Alex Rodriguez was in the Ivey Room at Aria with Jean-Robert Bellande last week — supposedly playing 50-100 NL with a couple non-pro Aria regulars. Tweeting from Haze Nightclub, @BrokeLivingJRB reported that A-Rod “won 3k” in the game, which sounds to me more like 5-10 without steroids — hardly enough for new pair of Yankee-caliber starter tits. Dealers say A-Rod tipped adequately, btw, tossing “like $36 in gravel” before leaving the game. Not one to hit-and-run, he was back at the tables a couple days later, playing 10-20 NL at Bellagio. John Kim snapped a pic. Orel Hersheiser (great first name, terrible last) also joined the action somewhere along the way.

Put Your Mouth Where Your Money Is?

And speaking of blowjobs… Huh? Oh, we weren’t? Oopsies. Well, we’re all definitely on the subject NOW; rumor has it that Phil Ivey was promising fellatio in lieu of a Wynn boycott. The buzz at 2+2 is that Ivey flipped out over a ruling on a craps roll and publicly promised to suck a little floor-cock, and maybe the croupier, too, if he ever returns to their tables.

Ivey went a little less homo at Bellagio, where he was drinking cognac and whiskey while shooting dice with 25-year-old pro golfer Andrew Kim. Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke reports that Kim got so rowdy management had to step in and request he stop screaming “fuck!” and “hard six!” at the top of his lungs … because hookers could get offended and verbal is binding?

Elsewhere in the Game …

Marco Traniello and Jennifer Harman got remarried a couple weeks ago by an Elvis impersonator for their 10th anniversary. At least some people have enough decency to muster up fake happiness in front of a fake celebrity with a fake 11-inch peen in his jumpsuit.

Johnny Chan is hoping to land a spot on the new season of “Survivor”. Never thought Chan would try to follow in the footsteps of Annie Duke and Tiffany Michelle. Over/Under on getting tossed off the island more quickly than Jean-Robert Bellande?

Royal Flush Girl Melanie Iglesias was chosen as a Top 10 finalist for Maxim Magazine’s Hometown Hottie contest. Congrats. But Maxim? Yawn. Impress me when you get a full spread in Hustler’s Beaver Hunt.

Justin Smith knows what I’m talking about. The online pro better known as Boosted J attended a wrap party in LA for the movie “Detention”, where he went heads-up with Ron Jeremy, better known as the Phil Ivey of overweight hairy middle-aged porn stars.

10k HORSE down to final 9

The $10,000 HORSE World Championship is down to an unofficial final table of 9, full of big name players. Here’s how they’re currently seated:

Seat 1: Richard Ashby – 300,000
Seat 2: Nick Schulman – 385,000
Seat 3: Matt Glantz – 1,400,000
Seat 4: Eugene Katchalov – 870,000
Seat 5: Carlos Mortensen – 780,000
Seat 6: Marco Johnson – 1,680,000
Seat 7: Marco Traniello – 90,000
Seat 8: Scott Fischman – 515,000
Seat 9: Ian Gordon – 1,050,000

Follow the action as they play down to a winner at PokerNews.

$1,500 NL down to 12

The final day of the $1,500 No-Limit Holdem has just 12 players remaining as they return from dinner break. The chip leader is Niccolo Caramatti with 2,365,000. He’s followed by Aaron Gustavson (1,475,000), Dean Hamrick (1,450,000), and UFC fighter Mike Swick (405,000). More updates and chip counts during the evening at wsop.com.

Finne fine during day 2 of mixed holdem

27 players remain in the $2,500 Mixed Holdem event, as they play down to a final table this evening. Timothy Finne holds the chip lead with 316,000, followed by 2010 bracelet winner Steven Kelly (250,000), Dwyte Pilgrim (175,000), another 2010 bracelet winner Valdemar Kwaysser (170,000), Gavin Smith (108,000) and Randy “nanonoko” Lew (90,000). Updates and more at PokerNews.

$1,500 NL Day 1

A field of over 3,000 took part in Friday’s $1,500 No-Limit Holdem event, with less than half remaining as they take return shortly from their dinner break. The early chip leader is Alex Outhred with 63,000, followed by notables such as Alex Bolotin (48,000), Chino Rheem (32,000), Adam Junglen (21,000) and Dan Heimiller (10,300). More updates during the last four hours of play at PokerNews.

$5,000 PLO 8

A field of over 280 started the evening’s tournament, $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better, almost 90 more than last year. Players start with 3,000 in chips, then receive three more “rebuy” chips, each good for 4,000 chips. The early chip leader is Robert Mizrachi with 33,000, followed by Robin Keston (30,000), recent bracelet winner Steve Jelinek (13,500) and David Benyamine (11,000). The tournament just entered its third hour, so find more split-pot action during the evening at wsop.com.

Jason Dewitt performs magic against Trickett

After a lengthy heads-up battle, Jason Dewitt outlasted Sam Trickett to take down the $5,000 No-Limit Holdem bracelet, earning $818,959. Trickett picks up $505,725 for the runner-up finish, with Jeff Williams third, good for $328,762. The full list of results can be found at wsop.com.

Bakes leads packed final ten in 10k NL 2-7 Lowball

Ten remain when the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball World Championship resumes Friday afternoon with David “Bakes” Baker leading with 526,000 in chips. The rest of the field is full of big names, including Erik Seidel (280,000), John Monnette (238,000), John Juanda (225,000), Daniel Negreanu (223,000) and Andy Bloch (146,000). To follow the action and get chip count information, check out PokerNews.

Buchman, Matros at Limit Holdem FT

The final table of the $2,000 Limit Holdem final table features 2009 November Niner Eric Buchman is chip leader, which also has 2010 limit holdem bracelet winner Matt Matros as part of the 10-player final table. Here’s how they’ll be situated when play resumes at 2:30 this afternoon:

Seat 1: Matt Matros – 224,000
Seat 2: William Jensen – 326,000
Seat 3: Gary Bogdanski – 115,000
Seat 4: Eric Buchman – 453,000
Seat 5: Hansu Chu – 447,000
Seat 6: Flavio Ferrari – 373,000
Seat 7: Brent Courson – 240,000
Seat 8: Daniel Quach – 55,000
Seat 9: Steven Hustoft – 383,000
Seat 10: Matt Grapenthien – 254,000

Little looms large in PLO

Day 2 of the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha resumes at 2:30pm with Jonathan Little leading the 95 day 1 survivors holding the chip lead with 129,600. Some familiar names returning include Christian Harder (116,100), Nenad Medic (104,400), Peter Costa (70,400) and Scott Montgomery (57,000). The full list is available at PokerNews.

Seiver super in Seven Card Stud

After eight levels of play during day 1 of the $1,500 Seven Card Stud, Scott Seiver is the overwhelming chip leader (63,800) with 114 players returning at 3pm. The closest competitor is James Kadlec (40,500), with Carlos Mortensen (32,500), Chip Jett (27,000), Cory Zeidman (21,000) and Marco Traniello (19,000) some familiar foes also returning. The full list of chip counts will be online at PokerNews.

Friday’s Tournaments

Starting at noon today is the $1,000 Ladies’ No-Limit Holdem Championship. Last year, Lisa Hamilton defeated a field of 1,060 earning over $195,000 for the win. This event always leads to discussion about ladies’ events, from those who feel it helps get more women into poker, helping to grow the poker community. Those against the events feel it’s patronizing towards women and that it doesn’t really help grow the game, some prefer ladies’ only events instead of having to deal with the attitude some men have against female players. With the recent trend of men playing and winning ladies’ only events, as noted here and here, the question is if any men will try to enter this year’s event and be successful.

The $2,500 Limit Holdem 6-max, gets underway at 5pm. Last year’s winner was Brock Parker, who topped a field of 367, picking up $223,697.

Believe it or not, there are some hot boys in poker who, with just a glance across the table, can make us drop our, ummm, chips. It is true that many of them, while looking good with their rock-hard abs and chiseled upper arms, do have poker “performance issues” (most of my hot boy picks didn’t exactly show positive results at the WSOP), but sometimes poker is hard! Even without final tables or gold bracelets, they still to stand out from the masses – at least 6 to 8 inches, I assume. Here are a few:

Chad Brown
Now that is what the gym is for. Not only is he in shape but he shows it off with his tight-fitting shirts. And he’s well-spoken and intelligent. Go on witcha bad self. Turn-ons: playing poker and traveling the world with wife Vanessa Rousso, donating to various charities, and working out.

Erick Lindgren
Not sure if he has rock-hard abs because his shirts aren’t tight enough, but he is athletic and good-looking. Best of all, he’s got a fantastic dry sense of humor. Turn-ons: playing poker tournaments, engaging in a little one-on-one on his home (basketball) court, and remembering reporters’ names (hi, Erick!).

Patrik Antonius
A list of hot boys would not be complete without Patrik, who likely was just born looking so amazing. His model good looks make everyone’s heads turn when he enters a room. Turn-ons: playing the highest stakes poker games in the world, living in Monte Carlo with wife Maya, and being a hot dad to his baby.

Luca Pagano & Marco Traniello
This one is a tie of the Italian kind. Luca knows how to dress like he’s straight out of a Euro fashion magazine, and Marco has more muscle, not to mention an adorable family, but the two are equally Italian and deserve a spot on this list. Turn-ons: playing poker in far-off lands, speaking English with a heavy Italian accent, and enjoying soccer games.

Nelly
Like this one is a surprise? He raps, dances, works out, and knows how to rock a concert and rock those diamond earrings. And he’s from my hometown of St. Louis. E.I., E.I. – uh-oh! Turn-ons: learning to play poker, reppin’ his hometown, and wearing a wifebeater like nobody’s business.

Honorable mentions: Paul Wasicka, Phil Ivey, Nenad Medic, Brian Townsend, Gus Hansen, Joe Sebok, David Singer, Scott Clements, and most men who know how to use their, er, thick wallets. No matter what men like to think, the size of the roll really does matter; am I right ladies?

(This post was more fun to write than I thought! I’m starting to see why my adorably beastly male colleagues spend so much time championing the lowest common denominator.)

The $10,000 NL Holdem Heads-Up World Championship has 8 players remaining who return at 2pm Monday to determine the winner. Here’s the matchups for the quarterfinals, which will also air on ESPN360 and wsop.pkr.com for those outside the US:

Leo Wolpert v Dustin Woolf
Jamin Stokes v Johnny Chan

Nathan Doudney v Bryan Pellegrino
John Duthie v Stephen O’Dwyer

Simmons Looking to be the Poker Guy

Joe Simmons starts day 3 of the $1,500 NL Holdem event as the chip leader (1,100,000) with 27 players playing down to a winner. You can take a look at who else is left at this link.

Tran Riding the PLO Train

J.C. Tran (176,900) is the chip leader at the start of Day 2 of the $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event, with 61 players remaining, only 45 get paid. Chad Layne (106,000), John Juanda (85,300), Ross Boatman (75,000) and Phil Ivey (56,600) are among the notables who return at 2pm today.

Sebastien Rings the Belle for Day 2 HORSE

Sabic Sebastien leads the field of 220 who return at 2pm today of the $1,500 HORSE event with 72,700 in chips. Marco Traniello (55,000) Andy Black (54,300), Jean Gaspard, (40,300), Ming Lee (32,500) Fabrice Soulier (32,200), and Vanessa Rousso (30,900) make up some of the notables returning to the baize.

Monday’s Tournaments and Projections

The noon tournament today is the $2,000 NL Holdem event which was won last year by Blair Hinkle in a field of 1,344 for just over $500,000. The 5pm tournament is another World Championship event, this time it’s $10,000 Limit Holdem, which was won last year by Rob Hollink in a field of 218 for almost $500,000.

The WSOP Staff Guide projects 1,344 for the $2,000 NL event (take the under for 1,275), while the $10,000 Limit Holdem event is projected for 229 (take the slightly under for 210).

Check back at Pokerati frequently for more updates during the day.

It seems that the swimming legend does things on his own terms. Phelps recently traveled to Las Vegas with some friends as guests of the Palms, and one of his wishes was to meet Doyle and Todd Brunson and Hoyt Corkins.

Photo courtesy of DoylesRoom.com

According to the most recent post on Doyle’s blog, he received a call and brought his son and Corkins, along with Jennifer Harman and Marco Traniello, to meet Phelps for a dinner at Nine Steakhouse at the Palms. “What a nice kid!” Doyle wrote. “Phelps and some of his friends wanted books so I took Super System 1 and 2 to them and they asked all kinds of poker questions. Michael said all he wanted to do in life, was to eat, swim and play poker.”

Oh yeah… I can already see Phelps with a Doyle’s Room cowboy hat at the WSOP in 2009. Obviously, no deals have been signed at this point and Phelps has not accepted any invitations to play in tournaments thus far, but I can see an NBC National Heads-Up Championship and World Series in the kid’s future. Just a personal prediction…

The leader at the dinner break appears to be Michael Martin, who is just under 100,000 in chips. More familiar names near the top: Jeff Madsen, Chris Moneymaker, Mike Matusow, TJ Cloutier, and the lovely and talented Liz Lieu, Clonie Gowen, Evelyn Ng, Kara Scott, and Isabelle Mercier. More updates can be found at the WSOP update site here.

The returning horde of about 1,500 will return shortly to play two more two-hour levels, with those survivors returning to play on Wednesday, July 9.

More updates during the evening…

The $1,000 NL Holdem with rebuys event has a winner, Canadian Max Greenwood took down the bracelet, making a remarkable comeback from being shortstacked 3-handed to take down the bracelet and almost $700,000. Rene Mouritsen of Aarhus, Denmark finished in 2nd (for the 3rd time at a WSOP event the past two years) to win just over $445,000. Fellow Aarhus resident Albert Iversen finished in 3rd. Greenwood was down to just over 400,000 when he went allin with a pair of 5′s against Mouritsen’s AJ. Another ace hit the flop, and a brick on the turn meant that Greenwood was down to two outs. Miraculously, Max hit that 5, doubling up twice more off Mouritsen to take the chip lead before Mouritsen would take it back when Iversen’s set of 5′s was run down by Mouritsen’s turned flush. After just over 30 hands of head-up play (and boisterous rooting from both player’s friends), all the money went in on a Jack high flop with Max’s AJ ahead of Mouritsen’s KJ. No help came and Greenwood completes the remarkable comeback.

The only tournament to start today, the $2,000 NL Holdem event, drew a field of 2,317, with just under 400 remaining with a couple more levels remaining in the day. Notable names at the top of the leaderboard: Erik Cajelais, Marco Johnson, Erica Schoenberg, Blair Rodman (who won this tournament last year), David Pham and Chau Giang.

Other tournament action today on the next page:

The $50,000 HORSE event is currently on level 15 with 40 players remaining as they attempt to finish at the end of level 17 or with 24 players remaining, whichever comes first. Michael DeMichelle is the current chip leader, but Barry Greenstein, Huck Seed, Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson and Erick Lindgren are some of the big names making their move.

The $5,000 NL Holdem 6-handed event is down to their final 30, as they’ll get down to 6 before play ends for the day. Currently the leader is Samuel Trickett, more familiar names: Bracelet winner Davidi Katai, Keith “The Camel” Hawkins, JJ Liu, Alex Jacob and Shannon Shorr. Nikolay Evdakov cashed in this event, tying the Series record with 8 cashes.

The $1,500 Stud Eight or Better event is down to its final 4 tables, they’ll be attempting to get down to 8 for tomorrow, but that doesn’t appear likely. Names you’ve heard of near the top: Chris Bjorin, David Sklansky, Men Nguyen, Vince Burgio, Marco Traniello and Phil Hellmuth (adding another cash to his WSOP career cashes record, now at 66). John Phan squeaked into the money to move into a tie for 2nd in the Milwaukee’s Best WSOP Player of the Year standings.

More updates during the late night from Team Pokerati…

Craziness.

First of all, the entire casino was packed, as was the Strip on the way over there. After plowing through the tourists and slot machines, I arrived at the poker room, which was just overflowing with players. At least 20-30 people were milling about near the front of the poker room, the majority of whom were waiting for seats to open up. Among them were David Pham and Padraig Parkinson. And Davood Merhmand was looking for a love connection was enjoying a glass of wine.

As I shuffled past and made my way into the upper level/back room, there wasn’t much room to move around, but I immediately saw Antonio Esfandiari, along with many unrecognizable faces. I was told that those tables were playing $600-$1200 and higher, but I didn’t see anyone I knew well enough to ask for specifics. The intensity of the players was obvious in their faces, though; these were some serious games at relatively high stakes.

And on to the Big Game in Bobby’s Room. There was a small crowd gathered around the door and windows to the room to catch a glimpse of some of poker’s biggest names. Sammy Farha and Minh Ly were at one table with several young internet-ish-looking players, and Sammy looked happy to have the fresh meat. The other table included such names as Eli Elezra, Jennifer Harman, Marco Traniello, David Oppenheim, and Johnny Chan. I was told they were playing $3000-$6000 mixed games. (What better way to prepare for the upcoming $50K H.O.R.S.E. event at the Bellagio in two days?)

According to one source who is a regular in the Bellagio $400-$800 mixed games, it has been a tough road this year. Since coming to Vegas for the WSOP, he has noticed a marked change in the caliber of player in all of the higher limit mixed games. The fields are very tough, much tougher than last year, as if the high stakes players made a concerted effort of late to step up their games. He said there are very few soft spots, and every game is a struggle. When asked about taking the limits down a notch to $200-$400 or lower, he said with certainty that it wouldn’t make a difference. He has friends at those levels, and it is the same story; there isn’t as much money to be made in cash games this year. Standard no-limit hold’em and other games might be different, but the mixed game players have brought, played, and mastered their A-games.

Nevertheless, those who crave the high-limit action go to Bellagio, despite the difficulty of the tables or the wait to get on one. There is no other casino in Vegas that spreads such a wide range of games at such a variety of limits, and Bellagio has a reputation for running one of the best poker rooms around. No matter the hard economic times or bad runs at the WSOP, the Bellagio poker room is bumpin’.