High Stakes Poker Line-up Changes
I’m about to head over the the Golden Nugget (in an hour or so) … so then I’ll have an official count on who’s playing … but there were some last-minute swaps in play.
Yesterday, both Peter Eastgate and Barry Greenstein were hanging around waiting for an open seat. When Sam Simon decided to call it quits, Greenstein took it … seniority?
David Benyamine, Doyle Brunson, Ilari Sahamies, Eastgate, and Greenstein supposedly have their seats for today locked up. Eastgate was playing highest-stakes at the Bellagio on Friday in preparation, and lost $100k to Daniel Alaei and some player named “Brinn”. (My phonetical translation of what I heard from Eastgate’s heavy-accent recount.)
Phil Hellmuth was supposed to play today, but he backed out. Likewise for Phil Ivey. Ivan Demidov considered taking one of the empty seats, but ultimately declined. As of late yesterday, Chino Rheem was a probable, and Alaei was a possible.
UPDATE: Just got word from the set … players are late. Start delayed a half-hour.
CORRECTIONS: Tom Dwan took Sam Simon’s seat. Hellmuth was never officially on the sked. But somebody told me he might play. Perhaps he just felt the games on UB were better for him?
Kevin Mathers says:
December 21st, 2008 at 12:56pm
I’m going to guess that was Bryn Kenney. I’d have thought they’d invite more players to show up in case someone taps out or doesn’t turn up, it doesn’t appear to be the case this year.
pdxrogue says:
December 21st, 2008 at 1:24pm
I’m guessing PH is playing on UB — apparently his 10/2’s are holding up over there –grin.
smokkee says:
December 21st, 2008 at 5:06pm
why would Hellmuth bother playing live when he can scoop pots with worse hands online all day.
Kevin Mathers says:
December 21st, 2008 at 5:41pm
So Durr’s going to play all 3 days?
DanM says:
December 21st, 2008 at 6:08pm
He played yesterday at the end of the day — replacing Sam Simon … so yes, three days. Actualy 2.5 … but assuming he doesn’t go bust in the next few minutes (they are on dinner break right now), he will have played more than anyone else this season.