As you probably know, the Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure is going on in the Bahamas, on the edge of Nassau. (I’m not yet following hand action on PokerStarsBlog or PokerNews for live reporting … just getting daily recaps from Tao of Poker.) In the two years since PokerStars has taken over this 7-year-old event at Atlantis, it clearly has become one of the big-big events in poker. Back in 2004, January poker was all about Tunica. Now, it’s kinda a joke around Vegas as to who’s not in the Bahamas. (Even Full Tilt and UB pros go.)

Anyhow, for a glimpse at how this non-European-EPT-event-turned-flagship-tourney of the new NAPT is catching on worldwide … here’s the breakdown of nationalities for the main event field (which currently has 405 of 1529 remaining):

Country Players
USA 739
Canada 164
Germany 100
Netherlands 60
UK 56
France 44
Brazil 37
Spain 27
Sweden 27
Argentina 21
Italy 21
Norway 18
Russia 17
Denmark 17
Hungary 15
Belgium 12
Finland 11
Mexico 9
Portugal 9
Romania 9
Australia 8
Austria 8
Switzerland 8
Ireland 6
Poland 5
Slovakia 5
Costa Rica 4
Estonia 4
Greece 4
New Zealand 4
Panama 4
Peru 4
Uruguay 4
Venezuela 4
Czech Republic 3
Israel 3
Lebanon 3
Bulgaria 2
Iceland 2
Malta 1
Ukraine 2
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 2
Belarus 1
Belize 1
Bermuda 1
Chile 1
Croatia 1
Egypt 1
India 1
Korea 1
Latvia 1
Lithuania 3
Monaco 2
Puerto Rico 2
Slovenia 2
Turkey 1
Turks and Caicos Islands 1
unknown 6
1529

I had a good time in Tunica. I came in 8th at the WSOP circuit event and didn’t play the WPT. I had an opportunity to play the WPT because the circuit event had a day off between day 2 and the final table, but I would have had to accumulate a ton of chips in order not to get blinded out on day 2 while I was playing at the final table.

Had I known that I would come in 8th, I definitely would have taken a shot at it. Had I tried to do it and made it through the first day of the WPT, I would have been able to blame my 8th place finish on being distracted, or at least Angry Julie would have reminded me many times.

I like Tunica because of its friendly environment, loads of PLO and the food. The food is pretty good but very fattening. I did happen to lose weight on this trip because I have totally changed my eating habits. I am now eating a very balanced diet with big emphasis on vegetables. I hate them, but I do like the way I’m starting to feel.

Late in December of ‘07 I declared that ‘08 is going to be the year of health. I weighed more than I ever have, and I was starting to feel it. In the past, I have always lost weight by working out hard and always being hungry. I haven’t been hungry once and have lost about 10 pounds since the beginning of the year. I have changed my ways of eating to something I think I can sustain for the rest of my life, at least that’s the plan.

A few comments about Tunica …

More…

So I’m kinda sorta enjoying the webcast of the WSOP Circuit Tunica final table. But I happen to be on a relatively low-bandwidth connection (courtesy of Las Vegas.net). Thus the stream is blipping out for five or ten seconds every 20 or so. Pesky to say the least. Here’s the thing … since the video is hardly exciting anyway (though it is mighty clear) … it would be nice to have an audio-only stream available of the Nick-and-Tom broadcast. I wanna be doing other things, ya know, while listening in the background.

Including an audio stream isn’t hard computer-wise, and it would make following the event more enjoyable for the readers viewers listeners.

There ya have it — take-it-or-leave-it-advice because Pokerati cares the internet happens to be slow today.

Leave it to Tom to turn lemons into lemonade … a $400,000 glass of lemonade to be more specific, but still. He may be out of the WSOP Circuit Tunica main championship event, but if you can’t get enough Tom on, near, or — ahem — beyond the table, he has joined Nick Geber to do the semi-live video webcast of the remaining players.

Click here to listen/watch.

Well shoot … I was hoping we could spend our day watching Tom Schneider take down the $7,500 main event at the WSOP-circuit in Tunica. But while checking my facts, finding some links, and watching the Bluff-mag video coverage at worldseriesofpoker.com … I discovered that Tom has been eliminated — 8th place … paying $39k. Congrats, Tom! Seriously, we know you’re bummed … but remember, you did almost as well as people expected of you!

Here’s the hand that knocked him out, from PokerListings:

Tom Schneider is out eighth after a stellar play by Ryan Young checking a straight twice. The action was a battle of the blinds as Young limped from the small blind and Schneider checked his option.

The flop came and both players checked. The hit on the turn and Young checked, as did Schneider. It turned out the river was a great card for Young as the fell and he checked again. Schneider made it $40k and Young came over the top, putting Tom all-in for his tournament life. He made the call felting for the rivered trips, but was done in by Young’s slyly played for the turned straight.

Schneider cashes $38,928.

Ouch, while typing, I just saw Tom’s elimination. That had to hurt.

You can watch the rest of the semi-live action on internet video here, as six-and-a-half players are still competing for the $428k first prize (on a 1-hour delay).

Or click below to see the semi-ironic post I was working on before Tom got eliminated:

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Just got word over the poker satellite that Gregg Merkow and Jamie Gold are currently engaged in some high stakes action — $50/$100 NLH with a $200 straddle. I can only presume in Tunica, where there’s a WSOP Circuit main event and a big WPT event going right next to each other. Don’t know who’s got what kinda stacks in front of them, but you know who we’re rooting for … 2008 baby, it feels good to run good!

Hope so. January is packed with tournaments spanning the globe. But if you’re not traveling, you can still keep up with the main events via various websites and blogs.

• January 5, Bahamas: Where better for a tournament than a place called Paradise Island? The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) starts and ends with the main event, the final table of which will take place on the 10th. This is an 18-and-over tournament, so look out for the kiddies young, skilled online pros to turn out in force. Otis will be blogging from the event.

• January 5, Australia: A quick 14-hour flight or so away will be the Aussie Millions Poker Championship in Melbourne. This is a series that starts on the 5th with a $1,100 buy-in no-limit hold’em event, continues with a wide range of games and buy-ins (including the $100,000 no-limit event), and wraps up with the main event that begins on the 14th and runs for seven days. A plethora of reporters, including Dr. Pauly and Change100, will be covering it all for PokerNews.

• January 3, Tunica: The World Poker Open has already begun with its preliminary events at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. By the 20th, the main event will be underway and hosted by the World Poker Tour. Aaron Hendrix is there and will be providing daily coverage of all of the events for PokerWorks, and the WPT will be live blogging for the main event with BJ Nemeth at the helm.

• January 15, Atlantic City: The Borgata Winter Poker Open starts its preliminary events on the 15th, and the WPT main event (Borgata Poker Classic) begins on the 27th with a final table on the 31st. It doesn’t seem that any media outlet is covering the prelim events, but surely PokerListings will be there for the main event along with the WPT live bloggers.

LAS VEGAS – I just received word that I don’t need to be here for a potential press release (don’t ask, no hints, more on that later hence the expression…press release). After my brain realized my soul was granted freedom from the media room/The Rio/The WSOP/Las Vegas/Sao Paulo and The Tilted Kilt… my body crashed. In fact, I’m having difficulty holding my eyes open at this point. It has been 47 fun filled days of poker camp in the media room in what could best be described as…sitting in the back of the bus with my new fun brothers. Yes, it was fun but now, like every end of the WSOP, it’s “Time To Say Goodbye.”

The field has dwindled, the celebrities are gone, the halls are quiet and the only line you’ll see here is senior citizens at the buffet at 6pm. A handful of pros are still fighting for gold but the rest are new faces looking to be the new champ. There is still a buzz in the Amazon…all-in players standing on chairs with ten ESPN cameras zooming around, clapping, slapping on backs and the occasional waiter calling water, coffee, red bull? Gary Wise and Lacey Jones are still with camera but Mr. Peanut is gone.

Don’t fret…WSOP Europe will offer three bracelets in London this fall. Hmmm, London or Tunica? Tunica or London? For now, the closest I’ll be to London is flying over Big Ben on the Peter Pan ride as I’m off to Disneyland with my children.

As always…I don’t leave Vegas without getting a bit sappy with this below…

Good morning. I’m not used to being up this early after a full night’s sleep … so let’s get to poker:

They’re down to 18 at the WPT’s WORLD POKER OPEN @ the Goldstrike in TUNICA. “The Catfish” is in the lead, followed by JC TRAN, DANIEL NEGREANU, AMIR VAHEDI and others.

In LONDON, they’re halfway through the INTERNATIONAL CASINO EXHIBITION, where 25,000 poker-bizzer types are contemplating a not-so-American gambling future.

Here’s some good discussion from a British STOCK FORUM about the big dip PARTYGAMING’S stock just took. A lotta mixed reactions. The Motley Fool has more on PRTY.L as well.

Something you may have missed but still worthwhile … the CC Times’ top 10 people of they year. BILL FRIST takes the crown, while other notables include JEFFREY POLLACK, CRISPIN LEYSER, PAMELA ANDERSON, and gaming CEO’s MITCH GARBER and DAVID CARRUTHERS.

Prosecutors in ALABAMA are promising a hardcore crackdown on poker rooms and the like after some recent court rulings. Still waiting word from TUSCALOOSA JOHNNY on whether or not he’s scared.

Speaking of court, WOODY the Pokerati commenter is at trial today, as in right now, in DALLAS for his involvement in the GOOD FELLOW’S raid. He’s pled NOT GUILTY, and the TRAFFIC COURT hearing his case isn’t used to having SWAT TEAMS testify.

Back across the pokery pond, at least one writer has figured out that the new buzz about GAMBLING ADDICTION in the UK has little to do with medicine and more about doctor-types looking to cash in on the “CRAZE.”

And hey, it’s WEDNESDAY, so don’t forget to tune in to Hold’em Radio at 7 pm central tonight for “Beyond the Table,” where we should have a very interesting discussion with BRIAN BALSBAUGH — the Gonz lover most important guy in poker who doesn’t know how to play the game.

Here is the remaining field, to give you an idea of who he’s up against (via Kaelaine):

(Pokerati’s emphasis added)

Gregg Merkow 379,000
Peter Martin 329,500
Dennis Perry 239,000
Andy “the Eliminator” Chang 235,000
Brian Wilson 229,500
Jordan “Ims0Lucky” Morgan 229,000
Michael “the Grinder” Mizrachi 216,500
Dan Schmiech 200,500
Elvin Simpson 133,000
Joe Rivers 125,500
Matt Dean 121,500
Kris Kawohl 112,000
Dave Delaney 102,000
John Spagnuolo 100,500
Lance Allred 95,000
Nam Le 89,000
Jeff Cohen 84,500
Jordan Smith 82,500
Joe Wagner 82,000
Thomas Matthew McGrath 67,500
Vanessa Rousso 67,500
Hilbert Shirey 66,500
Gioi Luong 65,000
Harold “Big Daddy” Mahaffey 57,500
Norm Ketchum 45,000
James Lindsay 35,000
Narinder Singh Khasria 23,500
Keith Lehr 20,500
Tommy Reed 16,000
Larry Vance 13,500

And here are the payouts he’s competing for (via Spaceman):

1st $563,402
2nd $290,792
3rd $145,396
4th $127,222
5th $109,047
6th $90,873
7th $72,698
8th $54,524
9th $36,349
10th-12th $21,809
13th-15th $18,175
16th-18th $14,540
19th-27th $10,905
28th-36th $7,270

UPDATE: Merkow went out in 17th. Boo … yah?

A little Pokerati behind-the-scenes …

My distinguished internet radio colleague, “Wolfman” Karridy, tipping us off to the developing Gregg Merkow-Tunica love story:

________________________________________
From: Karridy Askenasy
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:55 AM
To: danm
Subject: RE: Merkow

Same event he won last year. Tunica’s Main event. Maybe I’m wrong… I really thought you’d know more about this than me. I’d hate to slip, but I think he’s onto something huge.

From: dan michalski
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:43 AM
To: ‘Karridy Askenasy’
Subject: RE: Merkow

Which event? Is this the same event he won last year or something like that, or did he win won last week?

More…

Dallas tourney fave Gregg Merkow is kicking butt in the WSOP Circuit @ The Grand main event in Tunica — he’s second in chips the chip leader with 39 players left … three away from the money.

Gregg Merkow made it 10K from the small blind and Stan Weiss jacked him on up to 35K from the big. Gregg moved all-in and Stan called. Gregg held T9 suited and was trailing Stan’s A7. Board came 9 7 5 9 8 and Gregg made trips to bust Stan. “Boo-yah, Ship It!” said Gregg.

Ahh, the Suckout & Taunt … well-played! Dallas poker at its finest! Eat at Merkow’s!

photo: Jason Kirk / Spaceman

Merkow seems to do pretty well in Tunica. He won a $3,000 event at the Gold Strike World Poker Open one year ago tomorrow … which followed a 1st place across the parking lot in a $500/single-rebuy WSOP Circuit @ The Grand event 10 days earlier. And The Grand, of course, is where his career as a professional began in August 2005, after a half-million dollars payday.

Click here to follow his progress as Kaelaine tracks his chipstacks.

And here … for Spaceman’s coverage of his quest for another Mississippi ring.

Mmm, steak and seafood.

A text message from Tiny B late Saturday night:

Just got knocked out in 37th of the 385 person ¿ 1000 tourney that paid 36. Knocked out by moneymaker on the river when he caught a J with KJagainst my 10s. Poker is awesome.

The Batfaces arrived in Tunica yesterday, and like the amateurs they are, they couldn’t resist buying right into a $500 event fresh off the plane/rental car. Very Freeze-like in a showing up ready to play blackjack kinda way.

Anyhow, no surprise … they got kinda clonked … except for Son of Sue, who is a Batface, Rounder Clubber, and former Lodge Amateur Poker player, who took 11th place out of a field of, I think, like 500 or so. (Anyone else wanna see him duke it out heads-up with deep stacks against Como?) Here’s how Zach didn’t make it to the final table, via Tiny B:

Paid around 1500. Had to make top 6 or so before money got good. Had AA lose to KK and then eliminated when his AK lost to KQ. Both all in pre flop.

Well done, Zach Ballenger! Not a bad start to the Batface year. I can tell you actually think about how you play (and when you play), unlike some of your contemporaries.

For those of you following the $1,500 NLH event in Tunica a few days ago, below is the official WSOP report. The hand Todd went out on really was a bummer — particularly since he is arguably one of the best set-floppers in Dallas. Skipping to the good part:

We were now playing with blinds of 4,000/8,000 and 1,000 antes. Two hands into the new level, Todd “Tiny B” Phillips suffered a heart-breaker. After Williams moved in, Phillips called for his last 48,000 with pocket aces and flopped a set. But the flop also contained two hearts. A third one turned, and Williams, with Ah-2h, broke Phillips’ heart and left him in fifth place, which paid $19,904. Phillips, a 35-year-old real estate broker from Dallas, learned poker in a “great home game” in his city.

Click below to read the full story of how everything shook down …

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Todd’s tourney is over. He got 5th place (out of 225) in the $1,500 NLH event. Still don’t have a payout yet, but estimate is 19k. (Over/under?)

Says he went out via cracked aces. That’s all I know … oh, and that by making a non-second-chance WSOP circuit final table, he’s the first Batface to get CardPlayer P.O.Y. points.

(Congratulations, Todd! Seriously, you were due — have been playing great. Getting big pairs busted never bothers you, either.)

NOTE: Just discovered some quality semi-live coverage over at the BFs. Missed it all day and night … for some reason, the page wouldn’t (and still won’t) update upon refresh in Firefox. No prob with IE, however.

So Todd is apparently playing some damn good poker. From what I understand, he’s never been too much more than an above-average stack … in fact, he’s been mostly low, but a little more than tiny, stackwise that is.

Anyhow, there are five players left, and he’s fourth in chips. Successfully made “the real money”. Here’s the payouts he’s competiting for:

Er … can’t find them anywhere. But when Todd was a “sorta short stack” with seven players left, we learned that 7th place paid out $13k. So my guess is that he’s already guaranteed about $20k, if not more. Will let you know.

They’re down to 17 in the $1,500 NLH event. Todd is sitting with 29k, compared to an average stack of 38k. He says: [emphasis added]

—–Original Message—–
From: Todd Phillips
Sent: Sun Oct 01 03:33:47 2006
Subject: Still Alive-ish

Thanks to Tulsa and TBRs reporting, you know I’m hanging in the tunica tourney. You have to finish in top 8 or so for any real money, so I’ll need to double up early tomorrow. My last double up came when I moved all-in with Q9(the comstock) on the button after it was folded around to me. The big blind made a very good and expensive call with KJ(the Shane). I felt relief as everyone knows that comstock always defeats Shane. So, after a jack flopped, I wasn’t surprised to see runner runner club to make my Q high flush. The qualility of play and the quality of people playing has been spectacular… Something I’m not used to in Dallas. We resume at 2PM tomorrow. I’m going to go to bed now. As always, go batfaces.

Just got a text message from Tiny B:

48 left in 1500. I have 15k in chips, a little above par. Top 27 get paid. I expect coverage.

So there you have it. Go Big Todd!

8400, coloring greens. 100-400-800 now. 34 left. Time to double up.Agoin … go Big Todd. (But how will he handle it if someone makes a “bad” play?

UPDATE: Nearing the bubble …

Doubled up with AQ vs. JJ. 17k now. 33 left

And indeed, looks like he crossed it. Todd texts:

in money, in decent shape.

By the way, I have to go out. Seriously … one of those drinky things that involves a guy who’s involved with the Native American casino interests — hopefully he’ll give me some inside scoop on the legendary Winstar Tribe’s role in Poker’s getting Double-Fristed. Anyhow, if you need Todd updates, you can find them here at my personal watchdog site. Kinda funny, especially looking at Todd’s pre-game posts:

from The Batfaces

1500
I’m at dinner break in the $1500 NL in tunica. 48 players remain of the original 225. The top 27 make the money. I have 15000 in chips, which is a little above par. Darling and Hong Kong played as well, but have not lasted. So unfortunately for some, I’m not offing myself. Winner takes home 101K.
posted by Tiny B at 7:31 PM | 0 comments

Tunica 2
Darling up.
Hong Kong up.
Tiny B… Fuck cards.
posted by Tiny B at 7:04 AM | 0 comments

Friday, September 29, 2006

Tunica live blog 1
Hammered. Go first class!

Honk Kong Sue, Darling and I just landed in Memphis. Aycock is waiting on us at The Grand. You fuckers will be sorry you missed this one. $1500 tomorrow at noon. If I don’t win the last-longer, I’m offing myself.
posted by Tiny B at 7:32 PM | 0 comments

TUNICA RESORTS, MS — Rounder Club regulars Frank Nasufi and Tim Staraveci made the money in WSOP Circuit Event No. 3 ($300+$40) Wednesday. Tim was still going strong with a decent stack and four tables left as of 10 p.m. Frank, who has knocked out the Minnow more than once, came in 42nd. Word has it he played aggressively. First place is worth $51,902. Congrats, gentlemen.

OH YEAH: The Minnow finished in the 160s, out of el dinero. An over the top all-in did not fly.

UPDATE: Tim finished 24th, cashing nearly a G.

TUNICA RESORTS, MS — After nearly going out on the bubble Tuesday night, Angel Word of Bowdon, Ga., came back to win the $500+$40 Event No. 2 Wednesday. The 30-year-old took down the ladies event at the World Poker Open last year and has cashed in three other major tournaments. She split the first- and second-place money to take home $58,005, then played for and won the ring. Nani Dollison, who has three WSOP bracelets, finished fourth. Go, ladies!

TUNICA RESORTS, MS — Eric Crain, the 22-year-old who knocked me out Monday, won the $300+$40 first event Tuesday evening with 6-2. After sustaining repeated all-ins from his opponent, the Murphysboro, IL, online high-limit Omaha pro pushed back and caught a 2 on the river. The second-place finisher (didn’t catch his name) had J-8. The board came 5-5-10-A-2. Eric, who’s been quite the subject of controversy on the poker forums, won $63,105. He also has his own blog. Thanks to Harrah’s Mark Shapiro for details on the heads-up play.

Meanwhile, Event No. 2 ($500+$40) was nearing the payout level at 10 p.m. last night (54 places). The final table or whoever is left at 2 a.m. finishes up Wednesday afternoon.

Yours truly plays in Event No. 3 (another $300+$40) Wednesday after winning my way in in a $45 satellite. That’s what I call a cheap flop.

TUNICA RESORTS, MS (thanks Poker Shrink) — First, let me say the Gold Strike has the nicest looking poker room I’ve seen so far, and the friendliest staff. Now normally I don’t play rebuy tournaments because they draw too many sucking out donks and the real play doesn’t start until after the rebuy period is over. But what the hay, I’m on (poker) vacation. Entry fee, two rebuys and a double add-on later ($120 total), I’m sitting in the big blind (1,000 with 75 ante) with about 5,000 chips (under average) when a guy in late position raises to 3,000. I call with A-7 suited, the flop misses me, I go all-in and the raiser calls me — with A-4 offsuit! He also has hit nothing. Yes, he was priced in but why did he raise in the first place? Because this is a non-deep-stack, quick-blind-structure sitch, like so many poker tournaments all over.

Compounding the problem is the weirdness of the rebuy structure. Let see if I can explain it without writing an encyclopedia. First hour, you can rebuy as many times as you like: $20 for 1,000 chips if you get below the initial 1,000 that cost you $40. Or if you bust out, you can buy 1,000 for $20 or 2,000 for $40. Then at the hour break, you can add on 2,000 chips for $20 or 4,000 for $40. Correct me if I’m wrong but it sounds like the thing to do is not even show up the first hour (or play extremely carefully) and take the value add-on(s) at the break.

Back at the hand: You guessed it. The raiser sucked out, hitting a straight on the river.

NEXT UP: More gambling. No, not poker but a trip to “beautifully restored” downtown Tunica.

ALT HED: mannysbadbeats.com

TUNICA, MS — They’re goofing on my poker playing (again) over at my former employer’s blog. Well, at least the inimitable Mr. Dallas is. When I played in a World Series event in Las Vegas this summer, the site had record traffic due to my entries and the hilarious reactions of my colleagues (aided by DanM’s link from here). Here’s hoping my other friends at the Death Star weigh in at my expense this time too. (Any more pix of a monkey at the table, Anne?)

Full disclosure: Mr. Dallas and I have made a few trips to The Vegas, where we engaged in event dining and witnessed the mating rituals of Baccarat Bar workers.

I think I’m headed to the Gold Strike for an 11 a.m. $40/$20/$20 despite my aversion to rebuy tourneys. Another option: A satellite at the WSOP circuit to line up tomorrow’s $300 tournament. I’ll report later on the final table(s) of the Monday-Tuesday $300, which starts at 4 p.m., and today’s nooner $500.

TUNICA, MS — What an odd place. If not for the nonstop casino billboards along Hwy. 61, you could drive through this part of the world and never realize it’s a gambling haven. Fields of flowers are only occasionally broken up by specs in the distance — Horseshoe, Gold Strike and the rest miles off the main road like spaceships from the planet Prefab.

But that’s not why you called. Like me, you want to know what’s what at the WSOP circuit thingamajig at the Grand Casino, a series of tournaments that starts with a $300+$40 no-limit event tomorrow and ends with the $5,000+$150 main event Oct. 2-4.

Info on small sit-and-go satellites that feed the $300 and $500 tourneys is nonexistent on the Web, so I’ve tracked it down at the source. The cheapest way in is a $35+$10 that pays the winner a $300 tournament voucher and 50 in cash. There is also a $55+$10 ($500 voucher plus $50 to first place) and a $110+$10 (Two $500 vouchers and 100 cash).

Plenty of guys have been lining up for them since this morning, including yours truly who finished fourth in a $35+$10 after my 9-9 was rivered by a stealer with K-Q. Got my chips in with the best hand yada yada. (He raised my $50 BB to $150, I went all in and he called, as did a donk with something like J-8. Lady came on the river.)

I’m headed back for more. Stay tuned.