Men “The Master’ Nguyen
Photo: WhoJedi / LAPC

Today’s Boxscore

Men Nguyen $21,255 – 2013 LAPC $125 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy
Jon Seaman $10,080 – 2013 LAPC 2-7 Triple Draw/No Limit SD
Ryan Wince $29,010 – 2013 LAPC NLHE Doublestack

The big news over the last few days, unless you are Jean-Paul Pasqualini or Cedric Rossi, was the World Series of Poker finally releasing their summer schedule. Some players were getting ansy, now they are all settled down and able to make their plans to invade Las Vegas for the 2013 WSOP, whether they are a small ball newbie or an “every event” grinder.

The series will feature 62 bracelet events along with the standard non-stop non-bracelet side tournaments and their crazy draw. The WSOP always likes to throw something new at their customers (2009 Stimulus Event anyone?) and this year around is The Millionaire Maker on the opening weekend. This tournament will be a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em with two starting flights on the same day and players can re-enter 1B if eliminated in 1A. The big twist is the guaranteed 1st place prize money of $1,000,000 to the winner. Guarantee should be in quotes since the payout structure will be adjusted to make this work, not money added to the standard structure.

Last year’s Big One for One Drop was so successful they will have two smaller versions this summer. The $111,111 One Drop High Roller and $1,111 Little One for One Drop which will feature unlimited re-entries through 4 levels. There is also some pretty decent buzz around for an event which won’t even award a bracelet. The WSOP will run a trial $5,000 Open Face Chinese poker tournament during the Main Event. This is the newest, latest, greatest big thing for the youngns.

Perhaps the biggest change this year is to the Ladies Championship, where now it’s technically a $10,000 event but women will receive a hugely discounted price of $1,000. It’s probably the best way to severely discourage men from entering the tournament as their EV is ridiculous. Poker legend Linda Johnson expects that any man in the event would need to make the final table just to have a positive ROI.

I am interested to see how they handle any issues which arise with post- or pre-operative transgender players trying to enter the tournament. If they’ve made a comment about it, I haven’t seen it.

Back later this week with a more detailed 2013 WSOP schedule rundown later.

Tweet of the Day – Uber Limit guro Matt Matros with his take on the 2013 WSOP schedule.

I’m a very sad poker player tonight. Three Limit HE events (counting Mixed as Limit) taken off the schedule for 2013. #wsop

— Matt Matros (@Matt_Matros) February 15, 2013

Don’t get cheated on the Open-Face Chinese app – Huge news for those playing on the popular Open-Face Chinese Poker app and wagering on the side (as opposed to through the app itself, for now). There is obviously a HUGE security hole, so buyer beware. I’m surprised this hasn’t made a bigger splash but maybe most people already know who they’re playing against and trust them. Barry Greenstein is not one of those people.

Global Poker Index “suspends” two players from the system – GPI savior and guru Alex Dreyfus announced last week they were “suspending” Jean-Paul Pasqualini and Cedric Rossi after some very shady behavior at the 2009 Partouche Poker Tour final table. Seemingly well earned but does this restart the “Standards and Conduct Committee” discussion? Please say no.

Newsjacking and Poker Marketing – Speaking of the GPI, Barry Carter with a look at the trend of “newsjacking” to market a poker product. Not that uncommon or remotely new.

Tech Industry Sets Its Sights on Gambling – Another mainstream media article, this time by the NY Times discussing how online gaming companies are positioning themselves for onling gambling.

Two new bracelet winners were determined Wednesday night, two more bracelet events get underway this afternoon, so here’s a brief recap:

Phillips Wins $1,500 NL 6-Max

Carter Phillips became the 7th-youngest WSOP bracelet winner when he took down the $1,500 No-Limit Holdem 6-max event last night, defeating Samuel Gerber of Switzerland in heads-up play to earn $482,744. Phillips, who won an EPT event last year in Barcelona, has now earned over $1,800,000 in his 18-month tournament career. The full results, along with the tournament report from Nolan Dalla is online at wsop.com.

Gee, I just won a bracelet!

Steve Gee of Sacremento, CA defeated Matt Vance to take down the $1,000 No-Limit Holdem bracelet, along with $472,479. The full results and Dalla’s tournament report is now up at wsop.com.

DeWitt DeBest for Day 3 of 5k NL

Jason Dewitt (1,873,000) leads going into day three of the $5,000 No-Limit Holdem bracelet event, resuming at 2:30pm with the field of 18 playing down to a winner. Among the day 3 survivors: Jeff Williams (1,323,000), Antonio Esfandiari (883,000), Perry Friedman (361,000) and David Benefield (326,000). Chip counts and updates can be found all afternoon over at PokerNews.

$2,000 Limit Holdem

After ten levels of play on day one, Joshua Honegger leads the field with 87,000 in chips at the $2,000 Limit Holdem tournament. Others in contention for a bracelet include Matt Matros (53,700), Matt Glantz (50,700), Eric Buchman (39,400), Joe Serock (38,000) and Joe Serock (33,400). The field of 109 returns at 2:30pm with 45 making the money, with $203,607 going to the winner. The full list of chip counts is now online at PokerNews.

10k 2-7 NL Draw Day 1

Day 2 of the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball World Championship resumes at 3pm with 72 of the 101 starters returning. Homan Houshiar will start the day as chip leader, with 116,100 in chips. Following close behind include David “Bakes” Baker (104,000), Tom Dwan (64,100), John Juanda (54,050), Daniel Negreanu (46,800), Yan Chen (33,200) and Team Pokerati’s Tom Schneider (18,700). 14 players will make the money, with the winner pocketing $294,314. Chip counts are now available at PokerNews.

Thursday’s Tournaments

Starting at noon is the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event, last year won by Jason Mercier for over $237,000 over a field of 809. Players will start with 1,500 in chips, along with three “rebuy” chips, each good for 1,000 additional chips used during the first four hours. The 5pm tournament today is the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event, won last year by Jeff Lisandro for almost $125,000, besting a field of 359. While waiting for the tournaments to start, check some of the links along the right hand side for more WSOP content than you ever thought was possible.

A review of this afternoon’s WSOP action:

Phillips builds chip lead in youngster $1,500 NL 6-max

The $1,500 No-Limit Holdem 6-max final table was reached this afternoon, and thanks to the research of Jess Welman and F-Train, the six who made up the final table was the youngest (or second-youngest) in WSOP history*, with an average age of 22.8.

Carter Phillips 3,175,000
Craig Bergeron 1,214,000
Russell Thomas 1,075,000
Samuel Gerber 1,057,000
David Diaz 490,000
Hugo Perez 485,000

Perez ($124,690) Thomas ($84,256) and Diaz ($58,483) were the first to leave the final table, while the remaining three playing down to a winner. Phillips (3,615,000) has maintained his chip lead, followed by Bergeron (2,200,000) and Gerber (1,700,000). Find out which young gun takes the tournament down at PokerNews.

Gee vs Vance for 1k NL bracelet

The final table of the $1,000 No-Limit Holdem final table is down to two players, with Steven Gee (7,450,000) holding a chip lead over Matt Vance (1,550,000) battling for over $470,000 and the prized WSOP bracelet. David Baker, the leader at the start of the final table, finished in 3rd, good for $206,813. Updates and the rest of the final table results are at wsop.com.

Williams leads 5k NL

Day 2 of the $5,000 No-Limit Holdem returns from their dinner break with under 85 players remaining, 72 making the money. The current chip leader is Jeff Williams with 367,000 in chips. Other notables remaining: Peter Jetten (350,000), Day 1 leader Steven Goosen (295,000), Antonio Esfandiari (250,000) and Vivek Rajkumar (170,000). The field will play six more levels or to the final table, whichever comes first. See who makes the money, who’s the unfortunate bubble boy, and who breaks out of the pack at PokerNews.

Matts 1-2 in Limit Holdem

The $2,000 Limit Holdem event got underway at noon today to eventually draw a field of 476 entrants. After six levels of play, the field is already under 300, with Matt Glantz (24,500) and Matt Matros (22,800) reported as the top two in chips. Other notables: Sorel Mizzi (18,000), Maria Ho (17,000), John Phan (13,000) and defending champion Marc Naalden (10,000). Follow the raise, 3-bet and 4-bet action over at wsop.com.

NL 2-7 Lowball Underway

A field of 101 started at 5pm for the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball World Championship and only Dario Minieri has been eliminated in the first three hours. Among the dozens of notables in the field: Tom Dwan, Barry Greenstein, Phil Ivey, Tom Schneider, Yan Chen, Archie Karas and Doyle Brunson. Follow the pat wheels, drawing two, and breaking of good hands over at PokerNews.

* The 2009 $5,000 No-Limit Holdem Shootout final table had an average age of 22.2. However, that was a five-handed final table, and after consultation with BJ Nemeth, that was considered to not be a standard final table.

Recapping the rest of the Sunday night WSOP action, besides Durrrr finishing 2nd to Simon Watt in the $1,500 NL Holdem event:

Matros Wins Limit Holdem Bracelet

Matt Matros won the $1,500 Limit Holdem for $189,870, defeating Ahmad Abghari in heads-up play. The full results and Nolan Dalla’s tournament report is available at wsop.com.

Binger Highest at Lowball Final Table

The final table of the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball, Single Draw final table resumes at 3pm with this lineup, you can follow all the tournament action over at PokerNews:

Seat 1: James Bord – 83,800
Seat 2: Alexander Kravchenko – 144,500
Seat 3: Mike Wattel – 146,000
Seat 4: Yan Chen – 182,500
Seat 5: Derric Haynie – 189,000
Seat 6: Nick Binger – 309,500
Seat 7: Todd Bui – 68,500

1k NL field combines for Day 2

Day 2 of the $1,000 No-Limit Holdem event drew a total field of 3,042 players, with 445 players remaining for a 2:30pm start. Andy Black is the current chip leader with 90,275 in chips. 324 players will make the money, with the winner pocketing $472,479. A full list of chip counts can be found at wsop.com.

Stud 8 World Championship

Marco Johnson will start day 2 of the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo World Championship as the chip leader (121,500) when play resumes at 3pm. Phil Ivey is currently in third place (109,800) with Jennifer Harman (93,500) and Barry Greenstein (88,700) towards the top of the leaderboard. The tournament drew a field of 170 entrants, with 112 remaining. 16 players make the money with a first place prize of $447,446. A full list of the remaining field is up at wsop.com.

First 6-max at this year’s WSOP

Monday’s only tournament is the $1,500 NL Holdem 6-Max event starting at noon. Last year’s winner was Ken “Teach” Aldridge, who defeated a field of 1,459 good for $428,259.