I know. Amidst the WSOP main event, the Tiffany Michelle hubbub, and the Russ Hamilton-UB connect-the-dots game, you’ve really been wondering, What ever happened to the awesomely exciting Pokerati Bowling Series?

We did have one final session, smack dab in the middle of the main event on July 11. One night, we just couldn’t take the Amazon Room for one more moment and headed over to the bowling alley at the Gold Coast. Prop bets ran amuck, and might I say that it became a bit (understatement) competitive. Team Pokerati member Whit Blanton came in a bit (understatement) tipsy from celebrating his WSOP main event cash and ESPN feature table appearance, Tuscaloosa Johnny smoked his Pokerati writing mates, and Team Pokerati player Jerry Randack took a ton of betting action from the sidelines. Short-stacked Shamus came up just a little short of his goals, but I can see a possible name change to Striker Shamus (or something more creative) if his last frame was any indication, and Haley fell short of her expectations and experienced a (understatement) bit of prop betting/bowling tilt. Harris just hustled us all.

PBS – Event 5 – Game 2A

PBS – Event 5 – Game 2B

All in all, for most of us, it was a great way to end the PBS for the summer. And while many in the poker biz await the trip to Vegas for the “November Nine” at the WSOP final table, some of us may be secretly honing our bowling skills for the 2008 PBS, Part Deux. Bring it!

The other night was a get-together for drinks as an early celebration for Change100‘s birthday, and since we were enjoying the cheap drinks and laid back atmosphere of the Gold Coast, it was only natural to head up the escalator after midnight and take advantage of the graveyard $1 bowling. Little did we know that approximately 20 people would be interested in participating, and it was a blast!

The blog-happy crew with so much action spread across three lanes of fun included: Pauly, Change, Spaceman (and Mrs. Spaceman), Shamus (and Mrs. Shamus), Tuscaloosa Johnny, Haley, F-train, Dawn from I Had Outs, Benjo, CK, “Homer” and Stephane and “Roscoe” from PokerListings, and Las Vegas Pokeratizens 85Nutz and TBonezz.

It’s difficult to gauge who won. Sure, we could look at the scores, but let’s just say that there were no winners or losers, prop bets excluded, and that scores were meaningless in comparison to the bonding experience. (Work with me here, people!)

For the record, I will not be joining any pro bowling tour. That ship was never in the harbor has sailed. And Dan may be required to enroll in an anger management course to deal with his bowling emotions.

As you might remember from earlier in the week, the Pokerati Bowling Series (PBS) gained a little momentum. The interest of several people the masses prompted another installment last night.

The Gold Coast was the place, and players included Dan, Karridy, SNG Steve, Short-Stacked Shamus, Ryan, and Cali Jen. Mean Gene came to sweat the second game after he finished covering a tournament at the WSOP. Since it happened to be a Saturday night, we played in the disco-lighting and surround-sound of the rock-n-bowl sort of environment, and while the music was entertaining, the bowlers around us were not so educated in the etiquette of the game – bowling out of turn and using our specially-chosen balls. (Comment as you will…) Still and all, it was a fun night!

SitNGo Steve rocked the first game with a 137, and Dan, Shamus, and I lagged behind.

The boredom of watching us massacre the first game allure of being part of the PBS prompted Karridy and Ryan to join by the second game. Steve kicked our asses again, but Karridy was a close second in the end. Shamus stepped it up with three spares and hit the 101 mark; he may subsequently be missing some days at the WSOP in order to feed his new addiction.

Next event may occur sooner than you think. This is becoming somewhat of an obsession.

What’s happened tonight while preferring to watch the Pokerati Bowling Series over PBS every time:

The $3,000 NL Holdem event is down to headsup play with John Phan and Johnny Neckar. There’s been some controversy over where the action has taken place. First, David Singer had an issue with the lighting in the area and requested to be moved to another location. The table they were moved to was in the center of the tournament floor, and the crowd of players in other tournaments, fans, and media were too much for the players. The floor staff would eventually rope off the area to give the combatants some breathing room. Singer eventually finished in 5th place, chip leader Matthew Vengrin would be eliminated in 3rd.

More after the leap:

More…

Nearly three weeks after the start of the Pokerati Bowling Series (PBS), the second event went down last night at the Gold Coast bowling alley.

Though we are making our own schedules here at the WSOP in Vegas, the workload is pretty chaotic at times and doesn’t allow all of us to get together as we’d like. So, last night, when Dan and I were trying to fit in an impromptu Pokerati weekly meeting, a hankerin’ for some bowlin’ took over. We combined business and bowling at the Gold Coast at 1:30am-ish. Bonus: Mondays-Fridays after midnight, $1 per game. Sweet!

Still unsure how the betting on these games will work, we bet $10 and the cost of the next PBS event on the first game. Dan cheated won the first game 139-132. Bowling is so rigged.

PBS – Event 2 – Game 1

Double or nothing, the second game went down, and Cali Jen got her groove back. In all fairness, we were both super tired, as it was probably 3am at that point, but it all came down to who was able to shine under pressure. *wink* Anyway, I cheated won the game 157-107. My goal is to break 200 by the end of the PBS this summer, then consider options on the pro bowler tour.

PBS – Event 2 – Game 2

Obviously, the next event in the series is unscheduled, but we hope to arrange it in the coming days – on the spur of the moment, most likely – with Pauly, Change100, Benjo, Shamus, Jason, and other suckers invited parties. Bring it!

With Pokerati contributors descending upon Vegas for the 2008 WSOP, it only makes sense that hijinks ensue. Thus, we present the 2008 PBS – Pokerati Bowling Series.

The inaugural and somewhat impromptu and unofficial match-up took place last night at the Gold Coast bowling alley. What started off as a friendly game morphed into a bet on the second and last game of the evening; loser between Dan and I pays for the next match-up. One unnamed part of the duo was so sure that he was bowling a superb game that the final score was that much more special. Final score: Jen 128, Dan 127.

Short-Stacked Shamus was on hand, and for not having bowled in quite some time, he showed he’s got game. Whether his WSOP schedule will permit regular bowling outings remains to be seen…

The 2008 PBS still has to work out the terms of the series, as little details like stakes and list of participants has yet to be determined. Minor snag.

Side note: Drinks at the Gold Coast bowling alley bar are cheap! Two bottles of beer and a mixed drink were $9.50, and the bar was spacious with wallpaper that looked eerily like the new Pokerati site’s wallpaper. And it’s just across the street from the Rio. Enough said.