GCP UPDATE: 

Welcome to our new blogger Matt S from Lafayette.  You may recognize Matt from his many contributions to our facebook page.  Matt's put together an enjoyable blog and brings a fresh perspective of somebody trying to make it in poker.  Similar to a few of us other non pros on here.  Welcome to the site Matt, glad to have you.

WHO'S WHO?  

Finally an update.  Tim Burt, Anthony Bellao, Jonathan Poche, Bobbie Talbot, Ryan Lenaghan, Frank Alpandinar, and more welcome to the site.  By the way, how did we miss that picture of Tim Burt before?  Go to WHO'S WHO to see the changes.

FISH MAKES SPLASH AT SUMMER SPLASH:

Darryll Fish took 4th in the WPT Regional Series Main Event.  The Summer Splash Open gave him another 55k to add to his over half million of lifetime tournament winnings.

That didn't exactly happen yesterday but did happen recently.  However, here's an even older video where Fish talks about betting with Cardplayer we recently found.

BEAU'S GULF COAST POKER CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE:

September 1 Thursday 4PM American Cancer Society Charity Event 1 Add-on $100 + 20

$100+$25 with $100 Re-entry Nightly Tournaments at 7 p.m.

Players may purchase an additional 2,000 in tournament chips for a $10 staff appreciation in all events with and entry fee $300 or lower.

08.21.11

BARNHART PROFILED:

Gulf Coast tournament rounder, Sam Barnhart, the Little Rock, Arkansas native who Bella Donkey put on our radar some time ago gets the Card Player spotlight today.  Sam had a banner year at the World Series and bookended the summer event with a win in the National Championship and a deep run in the Main Event.  Go here to read more on Barhart.

FULL TILT POKER SUED AGAIN:

No, it's not because AK always lost to AQ all-in preflop and players want their money back, it's simply because players want their money back.  This time two Canadians are suing and unlike the Todd Terry suit which claims to represent all American players, this one is for all international players.

AN ONLINE POKER COMPANY DOING THE SUING FOR A CHANGE:

Lock Poker has stated they are going to go after Jose "girah" Macedo for his illegal actions.  They said they wouldn't be releasing the statement unless they fully planned to file suit against Macedo.  Go here for more.

08.17.11

BWYNN?

Wynn Resorts are rumored to be buying the merged (not Merge) bwin.party gaming.  Hmmm....  Clear market place of competition, buy up best remaining player outside the market, then conquer empty market by legalizing game at just the right moment.  It's all going according to plan.

JUNGLEMAN BELIEVES IN JUNGLE ETHICS: 

There are a host of scandals blowing up the forums right now.  Central figures include Jungleman, DogIsHead, and Girah.  Tyler Smith, the local poker prodigy, fell victim to one of the scams.  Jungleman played under Girah's account (the Portuguese Poker Prodigy).  What is most alarming is the number of people attacking Tyler for wanting to be made whole after being cheated on said forums.

 EPIC POKER LEAGUE RHEEM-ED:

Chino Rheem just won 1 milly for taking down the Epic Poker League.  Guy has over 4 milly in career earnings and apparently still owes everybody money.  Last year there was some fear Tom Dwan was going to break the poker economy in half with a bracelet bet, but had he won they could have just transferred over what Chino Rheem owed them and they'd probably break even.  Course Dwan would be holding all of Rheem's debt then.  Also notable, was Jason Mercier finished third, Erik Seidel second, and jovivial Gavin Smith fifth.

BLOGGERS GOING TO BLOG

We'll be adding some, one to the front page, and have backtracked to update all those wonderful blogs we missed.  Hope the lack of a new update didn't stop you from clicking on them to check in...

08.13.11

DAVID DIAZ WINS THE MAIN EVENT: 

Coming off his first WSOP Bracelet last summer...David Diaz goes to his home turf...and snaps off another nice 6 digit score in winning the Main Event of the World Poker Open in Tunica.

The total Prize pool was for $433k...Diaz wins $139k of that...there were 148 people who pony-ed up the $3k buy in...the rest of the top of the field is Below:

1st     David Diaz        Memphis, TN         $139,182
2nd    Dylan Hortin     Tempe, AZ          $78,913
3rd     Donald Norman Marionn, IL        $43,359
4th     Kyle Cartwright   Bartlett, TN      $34,687
5th     Ronnie Sewell      Shelby, NC      $26,015
6th     Don Willis Muscle     Shoals, AL $21,680
7th     Alex Moore        Athens, GA        $17,344
8th     Galen Kester        Tunica, MS     $13,008
9th     Ted Heinig          Knoxville, TN      $8,672
10th    Robert Richardson    Memphis, TN      $6,504
11th    Lacey Coffey      Houston, TX      $6,504
12th    Michael Berra     St. Louis, MO        $6,504
13th    Scott Ryals H       Harvey, LA         $5,637
14th    Chris "The Florist" Trotter     Ringo, GA     $5,637
15th    Colen Beck           Vally, AL          $5,637
16th    Doug Hazer           Gautier, MS        $4,769
17th    Wilson Carnes          Knoxville, TN       $4,769
18th    Chris Thompson       Fayetteville, TN       $4,769

08.07.11

A-ROD "FADES" SUSPENSION FROM BASEBALL OVER POKER: Well...I guess we all know exactly how stupid this whole issue has become as we no have MLB trying to stop their players from playing in a game that is based on strategy...mathematics...game theory...and its proven time and time again to be a game of "skill" and not "luck"...but MLB decides what games its players can...and can't play in their spare time...what's next?...chess...backgammon...billiards?...This story is so insulting we almost choose not to even print anything about it...<sigh>

GULF COAST GETS NEW POKER ROOM AT LE'BERG: From their website..."Rake in winnings 24 hours a day in this exciting 2,100 square-foot Rake in winnings 24 hours a day in this exciting 2,100 square-foot poker room, featuring a main room and a luxurious semi-private high-stakes room with special amenities such as tableside food service and chair massages. Games include Limit Hold ‘Em, No Limit Hold ‘Em, Limit Omaha High/Low and Pot Limit Omaha. Be sure to present your mychoice card to earn comps and special offers.

HUCK SEED ...WELL...JUST RUNS GOOD:  Huckleberry Seed is good at pushing buttons and winning lots of money...but after Black Friday...How does he do it?...stroll on down to the Aria and fire $500 a hand Video Poker ...and scores huge when he hits the progressive Jackpot for close to $670k...He claims to have put $50k in the machine over 6 hours or so...Fest your eyes on what it looks like left ...

CAESARS BUYS THE PALMS:  WELL...sort of...Maloof looks like he worked out some type of deal to get the Casino portion out of Debt...but leaves himself an out to buy most of it back...there is a bunch of investors...Blah...Blah ...Blah...you guys have google if your interested in more. We want to know what does this mean to poker, and are they going to have some bigger tourneys.

07.18.11

DAY SEVEN  OF WSOP MAIN EVENT:   Ryan Lenaghan stayed strong and is in the drivers seat with around 35 people left...just about every player left will cash for at least a quarter of a million ($250k)...I think there are several people that have a piece of Ryan...I am sure the rail is "Live".

Some of these stakers just ...well..."Run Good"...Thats just how they roll!!!!....CONGRATS!!!!!!

CONGRATS and keep it going Ryan!!!!

07.17.11

8 PM UPDATE: All the folks below are still in it and gaining chips...but Ryan Lenaghan has catapulted to the #4 position in chips...Lets go Ryan!!!!!

9:09 PM UPDATE: Ryan is now 3rd in chips with over $6.2 million

4 PM UPDATE: DAY SIX WSOP MAIN EVENT:  Claudia Crawford still sitting with lots of chips and is primed to make a run at the Final Table...Below is what was on Pokernews last night

"Claudia Crawford is the ladies' best shot at making the November Nine, and she can frequently be seen grinding in the card rooms of Mississippi and the Midwest. Crawford finished 63rd in the Ladies' Event at the WSOP last year, and this cash has already doubled her career total. She's got her sights set on the big prizes, though, and her current count of 2.45 million puts her well on her way"

She is sitting right now at 4pm with over 1.8 million
 

Link here: http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2011-world-series-of-poker/event-58-no-limit-hold-em-championship/day5/?page=4

Ben "The Destroyer" Mintz is next in line with a solid 1.04 million

Jacob "Bazeman" Bazeley with over $800 thousand to the left...He was at the featured table on ESPN2 broadcast yesterday sandwiched between Kid Poker and Alan Cunningham

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!!!!

07.16.11

DAY FIVE WSOP:  We have several Gulf Coasters still in the Main Event and chipping up...they are currently on dinner break in day 5 and we are going to highlight a few here...

Tim "TK" Miles is sitting around 1 million...Claudia "The Claw" Crawford...Jacob "Bazeman" Bazely...and Full Tilt Forum poster (The official forum of GCP) David "Comptonmasta" Barter...and James Lenaghan...all are sitting comfortable with some chips...with Comptonmasta as one of the Chip leaders and at the featured table along with Bazeman

MONEY BUBBLE LOOMING:  Know what takes a while?  The money bubble at the Main Event.  70 some odd tables will go hand for hand today, until there are 693 players left.  Harrahs will give the bubble boy or girl Mr. 694 a free buy-in to next year's Main Event in a transparent attempt to engender goodwill meanwhile they will pocket final table money just for running things.  Also, Mr. 695 will be sulking in a corner realizing he's the real bubble boy.  There will also be more delayed live coverage.  Watch it on the Internet this afternoon or your TV this evening. 

MILES TO GO:  T.K. Miles (table 325, Seat 3) is atop the locals list with 687k which is 18th overall with the most compelling part of the tournament to come.  TK has been a good to our site since our very start with friendly criticism when necessary,  and encouragement when needed.  So he's been one of the guys we've been pulling hardest for this year.  Let's hope he can run good 'til November.  Actually, he can run like crap in August, September, and October as long as he makes the final table and runs really good there.

Jacob Bazeley of Ludlow. Kentucky is at 600k.  Bazeley is on table 344 seat 6 today.  Bazeley is a regular on the Gulf Coast tournament scene and another guy we are rooting for, he's also 35th overall. Kai Landry (and congrats to him for jumping into a tournament at Caesars and getting a solid cash) couldn't whack Dong Wang a couple of days ago, and the player from parts unknown is up to 47th. 

Blake Barousse of Lafayette, LA is right in the thick of things.  Double B is 68th overall with almost 500k in chips.  He's on table 301 seat 5.  Sam Barnhart of Little Rock, Arkansas is just behind in 79th place with 469k in chips.  Barnhart is on table 363 seat 2.  Joe Cheong is another player we pull for and it's good to see the former November Niner is at 410.5k and 117th overall.  Cheong is on table 310 seat 5.  Michael Hallen of Tampa, FL has 410.5k, table 309 seat 4.

Claudia Crawford is edging up.  Perhaps she'll have a chance at last lady standing and maybe even last player standing.  With 393.5k it would be a mistake to underestimate the Brookhaven, MS dame (table 345, seat 5). Ben Mintz is at 382.5k.  He's on table 304 seat 1. 

Shannon Shorr, don't know how much longer we can call him blogger Shannon Shorr, but certainly twitterer Shannon Shorr is at 356k on table 334 seat 1.   With the exact same 356k sits Honore Taranto of NOLA (table 308, seat 8).  Erick Lindgren and former chip leader Ben Lamb are also within 1k of those two. 

Auburn, AL native David Lin is at 308k (table 292, seat 6).  Floridians Leif Force (301k Table 336, seat 7) and Vanessa Rousso 298k (table 302 seat 8) sandwich pro David Chiu in the standings.  Charles Ritchie (table 293, seat 1) of Pensacola and James Lenaghan (pictured left) of Mobile have similar stacks with Ritchie's 236k edging Lenaghan (table 336, seat 8) by an ante.

07.14.11

DAY THREE WSOP:  Live streaming on WSOP.com (ESPN3) later today.  Okay, there is a thirty minute delay since they are showing hole cards but it'll feel almost live to you.  Then the same type feed at 7pm on ESPN2 (yes on your TV).

Some seating assignments that might have interest for featured table:  John Racener gets a table that includes Joe Tehan and Noah Boeken.  Former November Niner Darus Suharto joins Bryan Devonshire and Galen Hall.  Who are we kidding the featured table is going to be Phil Hellmuth and whoever's with him (includes big stack Garry Gates).

Two of our rooting interests will be seated right next to each other.  Claudia Crawford is between Jacob Bazeley and a guy named Eli Elezra.  For the record it's not Elezra we are pulling for today.   Will Souther has Doug "Toolbox" Lee at his table, and it's a shame that won't be on TV because it should be.  If you don't know who Doug Lee is, look at the photo below he's the one that is not a WSOP Main Event Champion but does seem to wield some sort of Green Lantern power ring and the ability to photo bomb.  If you really want to know Doug go to 2+2 and read this.

David Diaz drew Steve "Everyman" Danneman, and Diaz is rumored to have completed an ESPN interview for the broadcast--so maybe a featured table tonight?  As for the rest of the Gulf Coasters it seems most if not all have ducked the big names at their table.  If you want to peruse the spreadsheet go here.

HARRAHS NEW ORLEANS ANNOUNCING NEW TUESDAY NIGHT RE-BUY TOURNAMENT:  They have the structures at the poker room.  Tournament begins August 5th.  Great job by Larry, Melvin, and all the poker room to give another option for tournament players during the week.

FEDS RAID CASINO IN MISSISSIPPI:  The Choctaw Pearl River Resort was raided on Tuesday.  They convinced a judge that a federal felony crime was likely being perpetrated and searched the back offices.  They seized hard drives at the Silver Star and Golden Moon hotel-casinos.  We can assume it wasn't because somebody was playing online poker in the back office because Homeland Security wasn't involved.  It may have something to do with a tribal election recently held.  Clarion Ledger has more.   

PARTY POKER AND TITAN POKER REWARDING CONSUMERS:  Must be nice to play online poker and have a couple of businesses fight for your dollar.  Last week PartyPoker eliminated all multi-table tournament fees for the summer.  This week Titan Poker reduced their cash game rake.  Some high stakes games will have no rake at all.  This week you still can't play on either platform.

MILES AHEAD:  T.K. Miles (pictured by Kai Landry in Vegas with fellow big stack and The Hangover enthusiast David Diaz) jumped up in the chip counts all the way to almost 300k.  Ben Mintz finished the day at 280k.  As good a day as it was for them, neither had the day that overall chip leader Ben Lamb had.  Lamb is up to 551k.  Kevin Saul is just below Lamb at 542k and above Ryan D'Angleo who was third on the day with 462k. 

Out of the 2,031 starting players only 822 lasted the full day.  That meant more than 1200 players were blowing up the text messages, cell phones, and social media with bust-out hands.  Joe Hachem and Jaime Gold two former champions were in that horde.  Robert Varkonyi, Carlos Mortensen, Berry Johnston and Huck Seed will join Phil Hellmuth, Joe Cada, and Tom McEvoy as former champions to advance to day three.  In total about 1875 players are still in the field and will be fighting it out to get to just under 700 to make the money.

RIDIN' WIT THE FLO, FLORIDIANS ADVANCING:  Charles Ritchie of Pensacola, had another successful day and advanced with almost 250k in chips.  He'll be joined by near panhandle compatriot Raul Pino Arza who is sitting on 232k in chips.  Last year's runner-up John Racener outlasted Jonathan Duhamel this year and has 182k.  Leif Force of Tallahassee, FL has almost 160k, and fellow Tallahassee-ns(?) Travis Klein has 86.8k and Chris Branch have 79.1k.  Vanessa Ruosso also finished day two with chips taking 41k to day three.

OTHER LOCALS AND NOTABLES:  Claudia Crawford has almost 160k in chips.  Keith Lehr of Bossier City, LA is at almost155k, and AJ Jejelowo, New Orleans circuit champion of Houston, is just behind with an ante or two less.  Other chip counts:  James Lenaghan of Mobile, AL has 135k, Blake Barousse of Lafayette, LA has 125.9k,  GCP blogger Will Souther grinded his way up to 120k, Chris Lovelace of Brandon, MS, is at 117k, Josh Mancuso of Baton Rouge, LA 115.7k,  Clint Schafer (pictured at previous Main Event on right) is at 106k, Patrik Antonius is in the top ten of chips at 361k,

WSOP ALL-STARS:  Pokernews picked a starting nine, or a final table if you will of this year's World Series all starts.  No surprise Ben Lamb, Phil Hellmuth, Brian Rast, and Jason Mercier are there.  For the rest click the link.

CASHING IN ON FULL TILT'S SHUTDOWN:  Pokerstars up over 3k in players, Party Poker up over 1k, and iPoker almost 1k.  Everest Poker traffic up over 40%, Cake 40% and Party 35%.  Poker-King has the details.

PROS v. JOES:  T.K. Miles landed Jaime Gold at his table.  He also has a guy named Moses to keep Gold honest.  Charles Ritchie landed Mike Sexton. Wonder if Charles asked Mike to do play by play of a hand if Mike would comply?  Chris Lovelace of Brandon, MS got Terrance Chan and Mike "the Mouth" Matasow.  Side note, don't think we've mentioned this but Keith Lehr, of Bossier City, has made it to another day two.  Lehr has 68.5k.

DDONG, DONG, DONG!  Kail Landry and Jonathan Little both have dongs to play with.  Landry is uncomfortable because Dong Wang, at his table, has size and position on him*.  Little will have to swordfight Jason Dong to win his chips.

CHUCK NORRIS NOT A FAN OF MONKEY BUSINESS:  Charles Norris, not a Texas Ranger or a walker, but still a Chuck Norris when he wants to be, will be on the Poker Monkey's table.  James Lenaghan will try to inhale David Kronick's chips, Clint Schafer is worried about Boba's brother Bobby Fett, and BJ McBrayer will have to over come RUpom PAL.

*Kai's words not ours.

LOCALS, FRIENDS, AND NOTABLES: Shaun Deeb rocketed up the chip count to 19th with 294.7k.  David Diaz is chugging along at 244.1k in 54th spot.  GCP Blogger Shannon Shorr finished at 110.5k.  Bobbie Talbot of Hernando, MS got up to 111.9k at the end of the day.  Corrie Wunstel (pictured up top) of Baton Rouge finished with a slim chip or two over 100k.  Timothy Basile (pictured left) of Lafayette, LA finished with 149.3k in chips

George Costanza (Jason Alexander) popped up for long enough from his nap bed under the table to acquire 167k in chips.  Honore Taranto, of New Orleans ended with 82k and David Flowers of Clarksdale, MS 41k.  David Lin of Auburn, AL banked 136k in chips.  Paul Pierce, the Boston Celtic, was benched when his pocket deuces ran into a bigger pair.