Episode #159: A look back

After more than three years, growing a listenership that spans more than 30 countries, recording 159 shows in a row and having one heck of a good time, Chris and I have posted our final Ante Up! episode for the St. Petersburg Times today. Click here to listen to it.

We'd like to thank everyone here at the Times who has helped us accomplish what we have, and who let us keep doing it in the face of these very difficult times for newspaper companies everywhere.

And, of course, we never would have lasted this long without all of our enthusiastic listeners. We can't thank you enough. We hope you follow us as we embark on the next chapter in our poker lives.

- CHRIS & SCOTT

World Series of Poker: Events #40-41

John Phan, a pro from Stockton, Calif., wins his second bracelet of the week by winning the World Series of Poker's Event #40 (Deuce to Seven Triple Draw Lowball).

Event #40, Deuce to Seven Triple Draw Lowball, $2,500 entry, 238 entrants

Ante Up guests
11. Greg Raymer, $9,579

Frank Gary, a 42-year-old retiree from Fort Myers, wins Event #41 (Mixed Hold'em).

Event #41, Mixed Hold'em, $1,500 entry, 731 entrants

No Ante Up Nationals, Ante Up guests or Tampa Bay area players cashed.

 

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 3 cashes, 0 bracelets, $34,013 prize money
Ante Up guests: 44 cashes, 2 bracelets, $2,404,722 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 25 cashes, 0 bracelets, $549,994 prize money

World Series of Poker photos

World Series of Poker: Event #39

David "The Magnificent" Woo, a 30-year-old pro from Atlanta, wins the World Series of Poker's Event #39 (No-Limit Hold'em). And congrats to Ante Upper/Ante Up guest Kenna James on his second cash of the series, and congrats to Barry Greenstein, who is closing in on the top spot in the Player of the Year race.

Event #39, No-Limit Hold'em, $1,500 entry, 2,720 entrants

Ante Up Nationals
143. Kenna James, $3,527

Ante Up guests
108. Barry Greenstein, $4,084
143. Kenna James, $3,527

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 3 cashes, 0 bracelets, $34,013 prize money
Ante Up guests: 43 cashes, 2 bracelets, $2,395,0143 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 25 cashes, 0 bracelets, $549,994 prize money

World Series of Poker photo

World Series of Poker: Events #34-38

Layne Flack, a Las Vegas pro and the original poker crush of Mrs. Long, wins the World Series of Poker's Event #34 (Pot-Limit Omaha w/Rebuys).

Event #34, Pot-Limit Omaha w/Rebuys, $1,500 entry, 320 entrants

Ante Up guests
34. Clonie Gowen, $16,849

Mike Rocco, a 48-year-old Las Vegas pro, wins Event #35 (7-card stud).

Event #35, 7-card stud, $1,500 entry, 381 entrants

Ante Up guests
16. Chad Brown, $4,680
17. Charles Jett, $3,640

Jesper Hougaard, a 24-year-old pro from Copenhagen, Denmark, wins Event #36 (No-Limit Hold'em).

Event #36, No-Limit Hold'em, $1,500 entry, 2,447 entrants

Tampa Bay area players
48. Howard Millian, New Port Richey, $9,018
93. Matthew Smith, Lithia, $4,676

David Benyamine, a well-known 35-year-old pro from Paris and Las Vegas, wins Event #37 (Omaha 8 World Championship).

Event #37, Omaha 8 World Championship, $10,000 entry, 235 entrants

Tampa Bay area players
No Ante Up Nationals, Ante Up guests or Tampa Bay area players cashed in Event #37.

Davidi Kitai, a 28-year-old economic analyst from Brussels, Belgium, wins Event #38 (Pot-Limit Hold'em).

Event #38, Pot-Limit Hold'em, $2,000 entry, 605 entrants

Ante Up guests
18. Eugene Todd, $8,808
34. Clonie Gowen, $5,505

Tampa Bay area players
15. Christopher Dombrowski, Dade City, $11,561
54. Veronica Castellana, Tampa, $4,074

 

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 2 cashes, 0 bracelets, $30,486 prize money
Ante Up guests: 41 cashes, 2 bracelets, $2,387,403 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 25 cashes, 0 bracelets, $549,994 prize money

World Series of Poker photos

Ante Up MeetUp Vegas: July 2

If you're going to be in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 2, Fasso and I would love to meet you and play some cards.

Here are the details:

• When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 2
• Where: Imperial Palace poker room
• What: Still no confirmation from the IP poker room, but we'll ask for a private or semi-private mixed games table, likely with $3/$6 limits.

If you think you can make it, kindly post a comment here.

- SCOTT

World Series of Poker: Events #32-33

Luis Velador, a 44-year-old pro from Lake Elisnore, Calif., wins the World Series of Poker's Event #32 (No-Limit Hold'em).

Event #32, No-Limit Hold'em, $1,500 entry, 2,304 entrants

No Ante Up Nationals, Ante Up guests or Tampa Bay area players cashed.

Sebastian Ruthenberg, a 24-year-old pro from Hamburg, Germany, wins Event #33 (7-Card Stud 8 World Championship.

Event #33, 7-Card Stud 8 World Championship, $10,000 entry, 261 entrants

Ante Up guests
14. Barry Greenstein, $18,400

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 2 cashes, 0 bracelets, $30,486 prize money
Ante Up guests: 36 cashes, 2 bracelets, $2,347,921 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 21 cashes, 0 bracelets, $520,665 prize money

World Series of Poker photos

World Series of Poker: Events #27 & 31

Dario Minieri, a 23-year-old pro from Italy who is fond of scarfs, denied the Tampa Bay area its first bracelet of the year when he outlasted Seth Fischer of Palm Harbor to win the World Series of Poker's Event #31 (Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em). But Manelic Minaya of Tampa cashes for the fifth time this Series, and Christopher Dombrowski of Dade City picks up yet another cash.

Event #31, Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, $2,500 entry, 1,012 entrants

Tampa Bay area players
2. Seth Fischer, Palm Harbor, $330,519
37. Manelic Minaya, Tampa, $8,379
69. Christopher Dombrowski, Dade City, $4,655

Vitaly Lunkin, a 37-year-old businessman from Moscow, Russia, wins Event #27 (No-Limit Hold'em). 

Event #27, No-Limit Hold'em, $1,500 entry, 2,706 entrants

Ante Up guests
37. Jean Robert Bellande, $10,711
78. Mark Seif, $6,279
158. Russell Fox, $3,509

Tampa Bay ares players
126. Joshua Bird, Dade City, $4,063

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 2 cashes, 0 bracelets, $30,486 prize money
Ante Up guests: 35 cashes, 2 bracelets, $2,329,521 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 21 cashes, 0 bracelets, $520,665 prize money

World Series of Poker photo

World Series of Poker: Events #28-30, Lee Childs cashes!

We haven't received results of Event #27 from the World Series of Poker yet (media mixup, we think), but here we go for Events #28-20. Congrats to Lee Childs in Event #29!

Phil Galfond, a 23-year-old pro from Madison, Wis., wins Event #28 (PLO).

Event #28, PLO w/rebuys, $5,000 entry, 152 entrants

Ante Up guests
4. Johnny Chan, $246,874
7. Daniel Negreanu, $123,437

John Phan, a 33-year-old pro from Stockton, Calif., wins Event #29 (No-Limit Hold'em). And, as mentioned, Lee Childs, who last year made the final table of the Main Event, cashes and Don Mullis of St. Pete Beach gets another cash.

Event #29, No-Limit Hold'em, $3,000 entry, 716 entrants

Ante Up Nationals
12. Lee Childs, Alexandria, Va., $24,702

Ante Up guests
12. Lee Childs, Alexandria, Va., $24,702

Tampa Bay area players
16. Dan Mullis, St. Pete Beach, $14,821

Rob Hollink, a 46-year-old pro from Groningen, Netherlands, wins Event #30 (Limit Hold'em World Championship). Andy Bloch continues his nice WSOP run as well.

Event #30, Limit Hold'em World Championship, $10,000 entry, 218 entrants

Ante Up guests
7. Andy Bloch, $81,968

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 2 cashes, 0 bracelets, $30,486 prize money
Ante Up guests: 32 cashes, 2 bracelets, $2,309,022 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 17 cashes, 0 bracelets, $173,049 prize money

World Series of Poker photos

World Series of Poker: Events #21-26

Scott Seiver, a 23-year-old pro from Las Vegas, wins Event #21 (no-limit hold'em) of the World Series of Poker. Manelic Minaya of Tampa cashes in his third event of the Series.

Event #21, No-Limit Hold'em, $5,000 entry, 731 entrants

Tampa Bay area players
42. Manelic Minaya, Tampa, $12,712

Jens Voertmann, a 38-year-old pro from Dortmund, Germany, wins Event #22 (HORSE).

Event #22, HORSE, $3,000 entry, 414 entrants

Ante Up guests
8. Jennifer Harman, $30,851
20. Tom Schneider, $7,998

Blair Hinkle, a 22-year-old pro from Kansas City, Mo., and the brother of the winner of Event #2, wins  Event #23 (no-limit hold'em).

Event #23, No-Limit Hold'em, $2,000 entry, 1,344 entrants

Ante Up guests
46. Barry Greenstein, $7,582

Tampa Bay area players
24. Christopher Dombrowski, Dade City, $13,208

Max Pescatori, a well-known 37-year-old pro from Milan, Italy, wins Event #24 (Pot-Limit Omaha/Pot-Limit Hold'em).

Event #24, Pot-Limit Omaha/Pot-Limit Hold'em, $2,500 entry, 457 entrants

Ante Up guests
No Ante Up Nationals, Ante Up guests or Tampa Bay area players cashed in Event #24.

 

Kenny Tran, a well-known pro from Arcadia, Calif, wins Event #25 (Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em World Championship).

Event #25, Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em World Championship, $10,000 entry, 256 entrants

Ante Up guests
35. Justin Bonomo, $14,438
60. Clonie Gowen, $14,438

Barry Greenstein wins the second bracelet of the year for the Ante Up guests with his victory in Event #26 (Razz). Manelic Minaya of Tampa cashes in his fourth event of the Series.

Event #26, Razz, $1,500 entry, 453 entrants

Ante Up guests
1. Barry Greenstein, $158,659
12. Tom Schneider, $10,202

 

Tampa Bay area players
37. Manelic Minaya, Tampa, $2,473

Toteboard note: Sharkey's right - my apologies. Got so wrapped up in mechanically updating the results that I didn't think to include Kenna James' cash in the Ante Up Nation totals. Sorry, KJ, and congrats again!

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 1 cash, 0 bracelets, $5,784 prize money
Ante Up guests: 28 cashes, 2 bracelets, $1,832,041 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 16 cashes, 0 bracelets, $158,228 prize money

World Series of Poker photo

World Series of Poker: Events #18-20

Michael "The Mouth" Matusow wins Event #18 (No-Limit 2-7 Lowball). The good folks at the WSOP didn't send us a picture of him, but you all know what he looks like. Chad Brown continues his great WSOP '08 run as part of a trifecta of Ante Up guests to cash.

Event #18, No-Limit 2-7 Lowball, $5,000 entry, 85 entrants

Ante Up guests
3. Barry Greenstein, $225,552
5. Tom Schneider, $104,101
11. Chad Brown, $34,700

Vanessa Selbst, a 23-year-old law school student and pro from Brooklyn, N.Y., wins Event #19 (Pot-Limit Omaha). 

Event #19, Pot-Limit Omaha, $1,500 entry, 759 entrants

Ante Up guests
5. Eugene Todd, $59,054

Daniel Negreanu wins the first bracelet for our tally this year, bringing home the bling for Ante Up guests in Event #20 (Limit Hold'em). No photo sent of him, either. We're guessing the WSOP knows we know what the celebrity pros look like, so no need to hog bandwith by sending us snapshots of them. 

Event #20, Limit Hold'em, $2,000 entry, 480 entrants

Ante Up guests
1. Daniel Negreanu, $204,863

 

 

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money
Ante Up guests: 21 cashes, 1 bracelet, $1,587,873 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 13 cashes, 0 bracelets, $129,835 prize money

World Series of Poker photo

Episode #157: Chris in Connecticut

MAIN TOPIC
Chris calls in from the land of pink carpet and princesses (can't make that up if I wanted to) to give us the lowdown on Mohegan Sun's new electronic-only poker room (live poker returns Sept. 1) and his usual ringing endorsement of Foxwoods. Click here to listen to the show.

OTHER TOPICS

World Series of Poker: Kenna James cashes, Jerry Buss busts in time to catch his Lakers, another Man vs. Machine is scheduled and a doctor abandons his stack to help a fallen player.

Mixed games mania: The Imperial Palace in Vegas is dealing a $3/$6 limit mixed game at 7 p.m. on Sundays. Some crazzzzzy games being offered. We love it.

Gas up at the Commerce: Commerce Casino in L.A. is randomly dropping $50 gas cards into poker pots in July.

Sinatra's home game: Who played in it? It was a fun one: Jack Lemmon, Angie Dickinson, Gregory Peck and more.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa bad beat jackpot is hit for $564,912. Glen Upchurch of Clearwater wins $282,452 for his losing quad 6s, while William Lewicke of Winter Haven takes $141,227 (and the pot) with a straight flush. The other eight players at the table won $17,654 each.

One Minute Mystery: We make the call, and take down the pot when our opponent shows K-6 for top pair, weaker kicker.

HAND OF THE WEEK
It's a Crazy Pineapple hand! Dan, a fellow journalist from Greeley, Colo., offers us a home game no-limit high-only hand with loose players who have been hitting the sauce.

He's dealt K-K-7, pops it 5x and gets two callers. The flop is K-8-6, two spades, and Dan bets pot but can't shake either opponent. He dumps the 7, and the turn is an Ace. With just $5 left, he checks (Chris would have pushed, I kinda like the misdirection), but one opponent bets $2 and both players call. The river is a 6, completing the flush but also filling Dan up. He gets it all-in and takes down a nice pot against two smaller boats.

- SCOTT

HSP is BACK!

I just got an email from AJ Benza and he said he just got word that High Stakes Poker will be back for another season!!

I don't have any of the details and since I'm on vacation I won't be digging for any, but the good news is the Ante Up Nation came through for the best show on television! Ante Up . . . ain't it a bitch!

-- Chris

World Series of Poker: Events #15-17

Svetlana Gromenkova of New York wins the World Series of Poker's Event #15 (Ladies World Championship).

Event #15, Ladies World Poker Championship, $1,000 entry, 1,190 entrants

No Ante Up Nationals, Ante Up guests or Tampa Bay area players cashed in this event.

Andrew Brown, a 26-year-old pro from New York, N.Y., wins Event #16 (Omaha 8).

Event #16, Omaha 8, $2,000 entry, 553 entrants

No Ante Up Nationals, Ante Up guests or Tampa Bay area players cashed in this event.

Jason Young, a 26-year-old pro from Suffern, N.Y., wins Event #17 (No-Limit Hold'em shootout). Don Baruch, the Tampa Ante Upper who won the bracelet in this event last year, entered but did not cash, but William Burdick of St. Petersburg picks up his second cash of the Series.

Event #17, No-Limit Hold'em Shootout, $1,500 entry, 1,000 entrants

Tampa Bay area players
52. William Burdick, St. Petersburg, $5,596

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money
Ante Up guests: 16 cashes, 0 bracelets, $959,603 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 13 cashes, 0 bracelets, $129,835 prize money

World Series of Poker photos

World Series of Poker: Events #13 & 14

Duncan "Pumper" Bell, a 32-year-old pro from Vancouver, B.C., wins the World Series of Poker's Event #13 (no-limit hold'em), and the ultimate friend of Ante Up Kenna James gets his first cash of the Series.

Event #13, No-Limit Hold'em, $2,500 entry, 1,395 entrants

Ante up guests
96. Kenna James, $5,784

Eric Brooks, a 48-year-old business owner from Bryn Mawr, Pa., wins Event #14 (7-Card Stud World Championship).

Event #14, 7-Card Stud World Championship, $10,000 entry, 158 entrants

Ante up guests
11. Daniel Negreanu, $33,417

 

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money
Ante Up guests: 16 cashes, 0 bracelets, $959,603 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 12 cashes, 0 bracelets, $124,239 prize money

World Series of Poker photos

World Series of Poker: Events #7-12

Matt Keikoan, a 40-year old pro, won the World Series of Poker's Event #7 (no-limit hold'em), and Manelic Minaya of Tampa picks up his second cash of the Series.

Event #7, No-Limit Hold'em, $2,000 entry, 1,592 entrants
Tampa Bay area players
10. Manelic Minaya, Tampa, $33,321
35. Michael Scott, Tampa, $11,590

Anthony Rivera, a 22-year-old pro from Las Vegas, won the new and highly anticipated Event #8 (World Championship Mixed Event). 

Event #8, World Championship Mixed Event, $10,000 entry, 192 entrants

Ante Up guests

12. Tom Schneider, $36,096

13. Johnny Chan, $27,072

23. Chad Brown, $16,243

Rep Porter, a 37-year-old pro from Woodinville, Wash., won Event #9 (no-limit hold'em six-handed). George Bronstein of Lutz cashed for the second time this year in that event.

Event #9, No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed, $1,500 entry, 1,236 entrants

Tampa Bay area players
47. William Burdick, St. Petersburg, $4,893
94. "Dangerous" Don Mullis, St. Pete Beach, $2,531
103. George Bronstein, Lutz, $2,531

Farzad "Freddy" Rouhani, a 44-year-old pro from Germantown, Md., won Event #10 (Omaha 8/Stud 8 split).

Event #10, Omaha 8/Stud 8 split, $2,500 entry, 388 entrants

 

Tampa Bay area players
6. John Racener, Tampa, $37,481

Phillip Tom, a 55-year-old financial adviser and investor from Las Vegas, wins Event #11 (no-limit hold'em shootout).

Event #11, No-Limit Hold'em Shootout, $5,000 entry, 360 entrants

 

Ante up guests
29. Joe Sebok, $16,920

Jimmy Shultz, a 37-year-old mortgage broker from Columbus, Ohio, wins Event $12 (limit hold'em).

Event #12, Limit Hold'em, $1,500 entry, 883 entrants

 

 

Ante up guests
64. Tom Schneider, $3,243

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money
Ante Up guests: 14 cashes, 0 bracelets, $920,402 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 12 cashes, 0 bracelets, $124,239 prize money

World Series of Poker photos

World Series of Poker: Events #5 & #6

Michael Banducci (first photo), a 23-year-old pro from Traverse City, Mich., wins the World Series of Poker's Event #5 (No-Limit Hold'em w/rebuys), while Thang Luu (second photo), a 33-year-old pro from Las Vegas, wins Event #6 (Omaha 8).

Event #5, No-Limit Hold'em with Rebuys, $1,000 entry, 766 entrants

Ante Up guests
15. Clonie Gowen, $28,940
22. Daniel Negreanu, $16,496
34. Chad Brown, $13,602

Event #6, Omaha 8, $1,500 entry, 833 entrants

No Ante Up Nationals, guests or Tampa Bay area players cashed.

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money
Ante Up guests: 9 cashes, 0 bracelets, $820,828 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 6 cashes, 0 bracelets, $31,892 prize money

World Series of Poker photos

Episode #156: AJ Benza

MAIN TOPIC
AJ Benza calls us all the way from Hollywood as he waits for the unlikely news that GSN will pick up High Stakes Poker, the hugely popular show he co-hosts with Gabe Kaplan, for another season. We talk cards, and he dishes on celebrities, pasta and The Godfather. Click here to listen to the episode.

OTHER TOPICS

World Series: The WSOP has begun. Attendance is breaking records, and pros are faring well. We'll update the blog after each event when the WSOP certifies the results as official.

UB scandal: Many of you asked us to address the latest scandal at Ultimate Bet. We do, but caution again: online poker is the wild, wild West.

PPA ups the ante: The Poker Players Alliance wants to turn its free members into dues-paying members by offering perks for those who do.

Deadbeat dads: If you're a parent who's walked on out child support, shame on you. But if you have no shame, you might want to avoid casinos in Colorado and West Virginia. Those states will look for you there.

Hotline: We have a little fun with Mike from New Jersey, who finds out how hard it is to analyze a hand on the fly.

Tampa Bay Poker Replay: Derby Lane is sending four players to the WSOP. Good luck to them, and all the other bay area players who have or will qualify in local card rooms.

HAND OF THE WEEK
Adam from Dedham, Mass., gives us an excuse to revisit strategy for FullTilt's cheap Knockout tournaments, where you get money for each person you felt. He calls a raise with As-10s, and the flops a royal flush draw. Try to take it down quickly? Or wait to hit your hand, figuring that early in a tournament like this you'll get paid off? He chooses the latter and is put to the test when he doesn't improve on the turn but two players move all-in. He calls, hits and goes on to cash - picking up bounties along the way.

NEXT WEEK'S SHOW
Chris is on the road, and unlike Scott who goes to wild and exotic and different locations on each vacation, he's going back to Connecticut yet again. Let's hope he has time to make it over to Foxwoods and even Mohegan Sun.

- SCOTT

One Minute Mystery: The Case of the Rock and a Hard Place

We're in a six-player-max no-limit hold'em SNG, with three people left (top two cash). We're the chip leader with about 7,500.

The short-stacked button (850) folds, and the small blind (3,330) calls. We check from the big blind with Ad-Kd, trying for a bigger pot than just the blinds.

The flop: 9c-Qc-Ks.

SB bets 160, and we min-raise.

The turn: Jc.

Check, check.

The river: 3h.

SB bets 800 into the 960 pot.

What do we do?

Times file photo

World Series of Poker: Events #3&4

World Series of Poker photos

Events #3 and #4 of the World Series of Poker belonged to the pros. David Singer, left, wins Event #3 (Pot-Limit Hold'em), while Erick Lindgren, above, wins Event #4 (mixed hold'em).

Event #3, Pot-Limit Hold'em, $1,500 entry, 713 entrants

Ante Up guests
32. Eugene Todd, $4,574

Tampa Bay area players
23. Anthony Keshish, Tampa, $5,547
62. George Bronstein, Lutz, $3,017

Event #4, Mixed Hold'em, $5,000 entry, 332 entrants

Ante Up guests
2. Justin Bonomo, $230,159
16. Andy Bloch, $15,604
26. Michael Craig, $12,483
32. Mori Eskandani, $10,922

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money
Ante Up guests: 6 cashes, 0 bracelets, $761,790 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 6 cashes, 0 bracelets, $31,892 prize money

Introducing: Laredo

At last year's WSOP Ante Up Meetup at Binion's, a dealer introduced us to the game of Juarez, which is played like Omaha 8, but with these differences: Each player gets five cards, there are two flops and two turns (as in Double Flop), then a common river for both boards. The best high and best low split the pot, and you must use two of your five cards (you can use different two-card hands to make your high and low). Ever since this was introduced into the home game, I have been calling it Laredo for some reason. Laredo and Juarez are both on the U.S.-Mexico border, but on different sides and 700 miles apart.

So, here's the game of Laredo, just invented, so I can stop calling things by wrong names. It is another Omaha 8 variant. Each player gets three cards. Round of betting. Two flops, round of betting, then all players discard one card. Two turns, betting, then the shared river as in Juarez, and a last round of betting. Best high and low split the pot, but you can use one or both cards to make your hand (but not zero). This is LAREDO. Is it a workable game or just a silly novelty?

MIKE

World Series of Poker: Event #2

Grant Hinkle, a 27-year-old marketing manager from Kansas City, Mo., won the World Series of Poker's Event #2 (No-Limit Hold'em), which was the largest non-Main Event tournament in history with 3,929 entries.

Event #2, No-Limit Hold'em, $1,500 entry, 3,929 entrants

Tampa Bay area players
75. Jon Heneghan, Safety Harbor, $8,044
89. Manelic Minaya, Tampa, $6,972
164. Christopher Elderkin, Apollo Beach, $4,290
202. Michael Elderkin Jr., Apollo Beach, $4,022

Ante Up WSOP totals

Ante Up Nation: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money
Ante Up guests: 1 cash, 0 bracelets, $488,048 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 4 cashes, 0 bracelets, $23,328 prize money

World Series of Poker photo

World Series of Poker: Event #1

The World Series of Poker is off and running in Las Vegas, and just like last year, we'll post the names of Ante Up Nationals, guests and Tampa Bay area players who cash in each event.

Last year, Ante Up Nationals had six cashes, one bracelet and $999,366 prize money, highlighted by Lee Childs' final table appearance in the Main Event. Ante Up guests cashed 29 times, won one bracelet and pocketed $1,079,837 in prize money - Barry Greenstein led the pack with four cashes. And Tampa Bay area players had 42 cashes, one bracelet and brought $868,575 prize money back to the local poker economy. Ante Upper Don Baruch of Tampa won a bracelet in the Shootout event.

Nenad Medic, left, of Niagara Falls, Canada, was the winner of the first bracelet in Event #1 this year:

Event #1, Pot-Limit Hold'em World Championship, $10,000 entry, 352 entrants

Ante Up guests
2. Andy Bloch, $488,048

 Ante Up WSOP totals
Ante Up Nation: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money
Ante Up guests: 1 cash, 0 bracelets, $488,048 prize money
Tampa Bay area players: 0 cashes, 0 bracelets, $0 prize money

World Series of Poker photo