Friday, July 15, 2005
July 15, 2005
Lodi's Aaron Kanter can almost taste it. So can his father, Mitch, as well as several other friends and family members who are frantically searching for flights to Las Vegas to join the poker stud's growing entourage.
With two days left in the world's largest-ever poker tournament, Kanter is sitting very pretty. With 27 players out of the 5,619 who entered the World Series of Poker's main event still remaining, Kanter is in 11th place with $2.2 million in chips.
He currently trails the ninth-place Daniel Bergsdorf by a mere $300,000 in chips. He has already guaranteed himself $304,600 in winnings, and if he can move up two spots by the end of the night, he will guarantee himself $1 million of the purse and a spot at the final table on Friday.
Kanter began Day 5 in 29th place out of the 58 remaining players, holding $778,000 in chips.
According to pokerlistings.com, Kanter knocked out Terry Burt in 38th place, besting his pocket 6s with pocket 8s, as the community cards didn't improve either players' hand. That gave him a nice pot and some momentum, boosting him back into contention.
Two of the biggest names, Phil Ivey and Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, held the top two spots on the leaderboard after the fifth round finished Wednesday night.
Tim Phan lost his grip on first place after Matusow ripped several players, including making a brave bet with a bottom pair against Farzad Bonyadi. After the flop and turn, Matusow moved all-in. Bonyadi then folded, and Matusow revealed a pair of 2s, one of which he caught on the flop.
After the bold move, Matusow screamed: "Kneel."
Bonyadi, who started Wednesday in third place, busted out along with John Juanda.
Matusow later ran his total to $5.1 million, giving him a tenuous hold on first place. Not far behind was Ivey, with $4.6 million after quietly dominating a table.
Defending champion Greg Raymer, who fell out of the top 30 after leading early Tuesday, charged back into contention, taking the fifth spot.
On one dramatic hand, he doubled through Tiffany Williamson, the lone woman left in the event.
Raymer pushed all-in before the flop and Williamson called unwisely in what was the most intense moment of the night. Raymer, facing elimination, showed pocket kings and Williamson turned over ace-jack. The flop, turn and river didn't help Williamson, and she lost more than $1 million to the unflappable Raymer.
Raymer increased his chip total to $3.8 million in his bid to reach the final table Friday at Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel.
"Tuesday was crazy and lot of things didn't go my way," Raymer said after play ended. "Wednesday, things went my way."
The emerging story after six days of grueling play was the dominance of the pros and their ability to build large stacks and outlast thousands of other gamblers.
"If they play true to form, they will continue to try to avoid confrontations with other big stacks and look for opportunities to attack smaller stacks," said John Vorhaus, author of the "Killer Poker" book series and an analyst with ultimatebet.com.
# by Poker Absolute @ 7:29 AM
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Thursday, July 14, 2005
July 14, 2005
NEW YORK, U.S. poker champion Doyle Brunson confirmed on Wednesday that his $700 million offer to buy gaming entertainment group WPT Enterprises Inc. (WPTE.O: Quote, Profile, Research) has expired, pushing the stock down another 8 percent.
WPT, which owns the popular World Poker Tour television show, said a group of investors led by Brunson submitted the offer last Thursday, asking for a response by Tuesday, with a one-week extension provision.
News of the unsolicited bid, which was nearly double the company's market value, sent WPT's stock price soaring more than 50 percent to an intraday high of $29.50 on Friday before closing at $26.50.
But the bid, coming just days after WPT launched an online gaming service, was short lived.
"The proposal was not accepted by the company nor was an extension of time requested. Accordingly, the proposal expired by its own terms," Brunson said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Brunson declined to give further details.
WPT on Friday said it was trying to obtain additional information about the offer to check its credibility.
The company had no information about the other investors involved in the offer besides Brunson, 71, one of the best known professional poker players in the United States.
West Hollywood, California-based WPT indicated on Monday it would not reply by Tuesday and would not seek an extension.
"We are not expecting anything further from him," said a company spokesman on Wednesday.
Shares of WPT fell 8 percent on Nasdaq on Wednesday to $20.23 after sliding 5.3 percent on Tuesday and 12.5 percent on Monday.
Shares in WPT's largest shareholder, casino operator Lakes Entertainment (LACO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Inc. which holds a 62 percent stake, fell 4.4 percent to $14.83 on Wednesday.
The World Poker Showdown is making another appearance due to last year's great success and this year it's just in time for Christmas. This year the turnout for the Poker Tournament's Caribbean Cruise is expected to double and maybe even triple last years count. So, if you haven't made any Christmas plans yet, stop on by the website, www.worldpokershowdown.com and signup for your Christmas Vacation of a lifetime.
# by Poker Absolute @ 6:42 AM
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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
July 13, 2005
Paul Mannetta is in the money. Maybe even the big money.
The little-known poker player from Pelham beat the odds to make it to the fourth day at the No Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas yesterday.
His chip count at the start of play yesterday was $240,000, which placed him 100th
among the final 185 players still sitting. The tournament started with 5,619 players and continued through the night yesterday.
Defending champion Greg "Fossilman" Raymer led the chip count as the countdown to the $7.5 million first prize continued. Payouts stretch deep, with 140th place, for example, worth $46,500. Every one of the nine players who makes the final table is guaranteed $1 million.
Professional poker player Paul Darden, Jr. of Hamden, Conn., provided Mannetta with the key moment Monday.
Mannetta's pot was down to $70,000 in chips when Darden "bet enough to put my tournament life on the line," he said. He called.
Mannetta was holding an ace and jack of hearts. As the cards played out Mannetta was down to his final chance, "the river," when he got a jack of clubs. His pair of jacks beat Darden's pair of 10s.
"I doubled up to $140,000," Mannetta said.
Mannetta also sidestepped traps professional player John Juanda, of Marina Del Ray, Calif., was setting for him.
Mannetta noticed Juanda, who likes to put up large chips, was baiting him with $3,000 and $4,000 pots.
"It was something different he was doing," he said. "I didn't like it so I got out of there."
Mannetta folded to live another day.
The World Poker Showdown is making another appearance due to last year's great success and this year it's just in time for Christmas. This year the turnout for the Poker Tournament's Caribbean Cruise is expected to double and maybe even triple last years count. So, if you haven't made any Christmas plans yet, stop on by the website, www.worldpokershowdown.com and signup for your Christmas Vacation of a lifetime.
# by Poker Absolute @ 12:25 PM
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Tuesday, July 12, 2005
July 12, 2005
The Fossilman of Connecticut is still standing in this year's World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Patent lawyer Greg "Fossilman" Raymer of Stonington is in second place with about 700,000 dollars in chips. He is last year's winner.
The field has been narrowed to about 270 from the original 5,600.
With the field slashed, all the players left will end up taking home at least $12,500 dollars.
But they are shooting for a spot at the final nine-person table in which the first one out will take home one million dollars. The winning player will collect $7.5 million in first-place money.
Raymer is one of two former champions in the World Series of Poker's main event still standing out of the 15 who started in the tournament.
The World Poker Showdown is making another appearance due to last year's great success and this year it's just in time for Christmas. This year the turnout for the Poker Tournament's Caribbean Cruise is expected to double and maybe even triple last years count. So, if you haven't made any Christmas plans yet, stop on by the website, www.worldpokershowdown.com and signup for your Christmas Vacation of a lifetime.
# by Poker Absolute @ 7:50 AM
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Monday, July 11, 2005
July 11, 2005
Source: Players Network
Mobile Marketing Company Xxtreme Measures to Launch Original 'PLAYERS' Mobile Content Across Multiple Carriers
Deal Further Delivers on Overall Strategy of Utilizing New Distribution Platforms to 'Expand the Brand'
LAS VEGAS, The Players Network, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PNTV - News) and Xxtreme Measures, LLC, announced today that the two companies have reached an agreement to launch Players Network's gaming lifestyle content to the more than 180 million mobile phone users in the U.S. The content is expected to launch today, and includes general gaming statistics, news and information and data related to the company's live programming at the "World Series of Poker(R) Lifestyle Show," currently being broadcast on demand on its new broadband network, (http://www.playersnetwork.com).
Through the agreement, the content will be available to Cingular, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Nextel and AT&T customers, establishing a new revenue stream for Players Network and significantly expanding the brand's distribution. In addition to the initial content, the company is expected to later add contests, pictures, games, trivia and short entertainment pieces.
"Today is a big day for the relationship between technology and the gaming industry. Through our partnership with Players Network and its gaming lifestyle programming, we are helping to further build the future of interactive multimedia content delivery to bring great content to the millions of gaming fans," said Jerald Cavitt, CEO & Founder of Xxtreme Measures.
"Players Network is pleased to add wireless to its strong distribution portfolio, which already includes in-room, home video and the first ever dedicated broadband network for the gaming lifestyle," stated Mark Bradley, Founder & President, Players Network. "We recognize that our customers and the customers of our casino and gaming partner companies increasingly seek information and entertainment on-the-go, and this deal not only provides a new revenue stream for our company, but delivers desirable content to the 21+ year olds who are already deeply engaged in mobile communications and transactions."
To access the content, users instantaneously set up their Players Network account by sending a text message to, (76278) along with the key word, "PLAYERS." Users will be charged 50 cents per message with the charge appearing on the user's phone bill.
About Players Network:
Players Network is the leading gaming industry media company that produces television and video programming on gaming-centric entertainment, information and instruction via hotel casino private networks, home video and DVD distribution and on its broadband network, at (http://www.playersnetwork.com). The company has a 10-year history of providing consumers with gaming content and businesses with strategic partner services in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and the greater US gaming community.
About Xxtreme Measures:
Xxtreme Measures is a leading Los Angeles-based entertainment marketing company, which creates wireless multimedia applications and provides content management and distribution capable of reaching 180 million cellular phone users across the US for high-end technology, celebrity, and entertainment brands. More information on Xxtreme Measures is available at http://www.xxtrememeasures.com.
Forward-looking statements in this report are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to advise readers that actual results may differ substantially from such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to meet our cash and working capital needs, our ability to successfully market our product, and other risks detailed in our periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investor Information: David Kol, Players Network, +1 (702) 895-8884
The World Poker Showdown is making another appearance due to last year's great success and this year just it's just in time for Christmas. This year the turnout for the Poker Tournament's Caribbean Cruise is expected to double and maybe even triple last years count. So, if you haven't made any Christmas plans yet, stop on by the website, www.worldpokershowdown.com and signup for your Christmas Vacation of a lifetime.
# by Poker Absolute @ 7:52 AM
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