Daily Archives: August 4, 2021

August 03, 2021Jonathan Little

I've written a lot of articles on poker hands, and I can tell you that when it comes to the high roller live tournaments you do not often see a minimum three-bet. It certainly caught my attention and inspired me to cover it in this week's PokerNews strategy column.

This hand took place during a $25,500 Super High Roller poker tournament from the partypoker Millions at Dusk Til Dawn in the UK. Mikita Badziakouski took on Adrian Mateos with many interesting decision points from both players across all of the streets. After committing over 80 percent of his stack on the river can Badziakouski find the crazy hero fold?

With the blinds at 30,000/60,000/60,000, Badziakouski (1.25 million) raised to 125,000 from the button with the and Mateos (1.5 million) defended his big blind holding the . Perfectly fine and standard so far.

The flop saw Mateos check trip sevens and Badziakouski, who flopped two pair jacks and sevens, bet just 75,000 into the pot of 340,000. On boards that you will bet infrequently, you usually want to use a larger bet size. When you lack the nut advantage you typically want to use a smaller sizing.

What a lot of players would do here in Mateos shoes is move all in, but thats a mistake as he would lose a lot of value if he shoved and Badziakouski did not have a strong hand. Basically, Badziakouski would have an easy fold in the instance where he doesnt have much of a hand,

Instead, he will want to check-raise with a decent among of his range including jacks and better, premium draws that are happy to get it in, and junky draws that can check-raise and fold to a shove. Indeed, Mateos did check-raise to 210,000, which gave Badziakouski amazing pot odds to call if he were on a draw.

Not to be outdone, Badziakouski clicked it back with a three-bet to just 345,000, which was a min-raise. He did this to try and induce Mateos to shove. Remember, Badziakouski effectively had a nut hand. While he does lose to a seven, he beats all other hacks and all the draws.

For Mateos, his decision should be based on what he specifically thinks about Badziakouskis range of hands that would min-three-bet him. If it contains a lot of nonsense like the , he should just call to give Mateos every opportunity to continue bluffing. On the flip side, if he believes Badziakouskis range to be premium he should shove.

Mateos elected to just call, presumably to keep Badziakouski in with any weak hands. On the turn, Mateos improved to a full house. This was definitely a spot to check for Mateos as he had the effective nuts and with such a small stack-to-pot ratio it was likely he could get the money in on the river.

Mateos checked and action was on Badziakouski. The king on the turn was a bad card for him and Badziakouski checked it back to bring about the on the river. Mateos was first to act but what should he do? Slow play and check? Bet 250,000? Or move all in for 770,000 and put Badziakouski all in?

"You also want to have hands in your checking range that makes it difficult for your opponent to call if you do decide to bet."

This is a spot where you want to have some checks in your range you know are never folding. You also want to have hands in your checking range that makes it difficult for your opponent to call if you do decide to bet. However, when you block a lot of the value cards that your opponent would call with as Mateos does here with both a seven and king, then you want to give your opponent every opportunity to bluff.

Make sure you protect your checking range by mixing in some nutted hands so that your opponents cannot exploit you. Balancing your ranges leaves your opponents guessing the strength of your hand.

Mateos coyly checked and Badziakouski had to decide what to do. Whenever weird things happen in a poker hand you should aim to be more cautious, and the min-raising that took place on the flop in this hand was certainly weird. Despite that, Badziakouski bet 590,000 and left himself just 180,000 behind.

Mateos should shove here as he will be losing value from hands that Badziakouski would call with having already invested 82 percent of his stack. Thats exactly what Mateos does and Badziakouski is sick. He knows Mateos would never check-jam without a strong hand, but nonetheless, he had too much committed and only three big blinds behind. He called off and that was all she wrote for Badziakouski

For more on this hand, check out my breakdown in the following video with footage courtesy of partypoker:

Jonathan Little is a professional poker player and author with over $7,000,000 in live tournament earnings. He writes a weekly educational blog and hosts a podcast at JonathanLittlePoker.com. Sign up to learn poker from Jonathan for free at PokerCoaching.com. You can follow him on Twitter @JonathanLittle.

Read more:

How Did this Super Bizarre Min-Three-Bet Poker Hand Between Two Top Pros Happen? - PokerNews.com

August 4, 2021Law & Politics

Online poker and rummy in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu have been given a reprieve by the Madras High Court, a year after both games were outlawed.

A hearing on Tuesday sought to clarify whether or not amendments to the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act was unconstitutional. Changes to the act were made last year and banned all forms of online poker and rummy for real money within the state.

Following a hearing at the Madras High Court on Tuesday, the ban has been reversed.

Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy ruled that one part of the amendment broke the constitution. Specifically, Part II of the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act discriminates against poker as a profession.

[The act] has fallen foul of Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution that allows people the right to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business, said the judges.

In short, the state of Tamil Nadu cant outlaw businesses through which people make their livings. Whats more, the judges cited Indias Supreme Court ruling on the status of rummy. Since 1968, the Supreme Court has made it clear that rummy is a game of skill and not a game of chances. Therefore, online rummy cannot be banned, the judges concluded.

This is relevant to poker by virtue of the luck vs. skill debate. Betting on rummy is legal on a federal level in India because its a game of skill. Therefore, if a state classes poker as a game of skill, its legal. In contrast, games of luck, such as blackjack and roulette, are illegal.

The luck vs. skill debate is one thats dogged Indias poker industry for the past decade. Certain states, such as Nagaland, class poker as a game of skill worthy of regulation. Other states havent taken a position, while others, such as Gujarat, have classified poker as a game of luck alongside blackjack and roulette.

Lawmakers in Tamil Nadu have taken a similar stance to their counterparts in Gujarat. However, the courts ruled that the way in which they outlawed online poker and rummy isnt constitutional.

The latest ruling is a win for poker players in Tamil Nadu, but its not the end of the road. The judges said that the government can pass new legislation banning poker and rummy as long as it doesnt violate the constitution.

It didnt take long for Law Minister Sevugan Regupathy to act on that ruling; he issued a statement today confirming that he will create a new law banning online rummy without delay. This, as noted, would also include poker.

By the order of the Honorable Chief Minister, I would like to inform you that the law banning games like online rummy in Tamil Nadu will be brought soon, reads Regupathys statement.

So, while this week has given poker players in the state of Tamil Nadu some hope, the battle for the right to play isnt over yet.

Written by

Daniel Smyth

Dan Smyth is a poker media journeyman who politely reminds CardsChat readers that poker is played all around the world, not just America.

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Highs and Lows for Online Poker in India and Tamil Nadu - CardsChat.com

Casinos are always an exciting topic to explore in movies. From secret agents to daring heists, a prestigious casino always provides a thrilling story. Its a creative way to turn an ordinary situation into a high-stakes one. Read on to discover the best poker casino movies.

While physical casinos have already cemented their status in mainstream media, they can still feel unfamiliar to many people. The rise of online gambling has allowed almost everyone to play iconic games like poker from the comfort of their homes. Expert Nina Olsendburg believes that casino movies have risen in popularity as many more people can now understand and enjoy what is happening on screen.

This is especially true in Norway, where physical casinos are illegal. Online gambling is the only option available. There are many https://xn--casinopnett-38a.eu/ that let Norwegian players enjoy casino games. Now you can enjoy all the games you see in casino movies virtually. Youll also be able to appreciate these films more for a better experience.

21 is one of few casino movies that explores the art of card counting in-depth. A group of students decide to use their math skills to increase their chances of winning casino games like blackjack. With a talented cast including Kevin Spacey and an engaging story, its a fantastic way to learn the basics of card counting. If youre looking for a deeper look into how card games work, this film is the one to watch.

Of course, a list of best casino movies wouldnt be complete without a thrilling spy film. The plot revolves around an intense poker game where Bond aims to bankrupt a terrorist financier. The film captures the feeling of high-stakes poker, with massive bets and exciting psychological mind games. And once its over, you can still enjoy the action-packed set-pieces the series is known for.

While a recent release, Uncut Gems quickly caught the attention of casino movie fans. This adrenaline-fueled story decides to focus on the gambler instead of the actual casino. Adam Sandler gives one of his best performances here as a desperate gambler stuck in debt. The twists and turns never stop, providing an intense look into the mind of a man addicted to gambling.

The Hustler is another film that explores the more human aspects of gambling. Paul Newman gives his breakout performance as Eddie Felson, a pool hustler looking to make it big. It takes a deep look at the themes of winning and losing, which can be applied to all regular casino games. This classic drama is a must-watch for any gambling fans.

Even if youre not into the details of casino games, everyone can enjoy this action-filled heist story with a casino backdrop. The focus on Oceans Eleven is instead on the prestige and awe of casinos. Its an excellent showcase of the draws of modern casinos, from the stunning setting to the stylish players.

This unique take on gambling addiction takes a look at its self-destructive nature. The Gambler follows Axel Freeds downward spiral as he constantly gambles himself into danger. Even when he has the cash he needs to pay off his debts, he cant stop himself from gambling it all away. Its a captivating exploration of the thrill-seeking obsession that some people cant escape.

While not entirely about casinos, Rain Man dedicates a lot of its runtime to games of blackjack. This emotional tale follows two brothers, played by Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, on a road trip across America. Hoffmans character Raymond is an autistic savant who uses his extraordinary memory to count cards in Las Vegas when the duo is desperate for cash. Both actors deliver incredible performances for an intriguing look at two estranged brothers bonding over blackjack.

Lastly, we have one of the most famous casino movies from legendary director Martin Scorsese. This 1995 classic follows Robert De Niro as casino boss Ace as he deals with the brutal day-to-day trials of a mob-run casino over seven years. The film expertly showcases the evolution of gambling from a seedy enterprise into a prestigious industry.

From classic films to recent blockbusters, casinos have been the subject of many fantastic films. The topics in casino movies vary wildly from fun and exciting stories to deeper explorations of gambling addiction. Theres something here for everyone to enjoy. No matter the context, adding the risk associated with gambling to a movie always elevates the enjoyment.

Read more from the original source:

The Most Famous and Best Poker and Casino Movies - Net Newsledger

August 04, 2021Will Shillibier

Anyone heading to Las Vegas later this year for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) will have one goal in mind - walking away with a coveted WSOP gold bracelet. However, before you can even start thinking about getting your hands on the one thing every poker player wants, you have to make the money.

So before you get blindsided by the glory, be sure to knuckle down and brush up on some poker strategy tips when it comes to playing the bubble at the WSOP.

Don't worry, there's plenty more strategy articles here on PokerNews to help you get ready for what might be the biggest Series ever!

The WSOP has confirmed an 88-bracelet schedule for 2021. Click here to check it out!

When it comes to the bubble of tournaments at the WSOP, you don't necessarily need to be an ICM whizz-kid. That's why we're going to boil down things to just three key tips that will help even the most beginner of poker players. We'll then offer some more advice for advanced players.

The three tips are:

We'll now go into more detail on these three pieces of advice:

The bubble of a poker tournament isn't just the moment one player leaves with nothing, and the rest of the field lock up a min-cash. It can cover the entire period leading up to that moment, the so-called pre-bubble. Depending on how big the tournament is, this can be anything from 5-50 players away from the money.

If you've got a big stack, then you should be putting it to work. Shorter stacks won't want to take risks with the bubble looming, and the chance to secure a cash, therefore push them around with steals, resteals and traps.

If you've got a medium stack, then you should still be looking to isolate short stacks, playing position poker to avoid being trapped by the big stacks. Be sure to keep an eye out for any big stacks failing to put it to good use. Use this as an opportunity to grow your chip stack further.

If you've got a short stack, you should be keeping your options open. If you're in the 6-8 big blind danger zone, then you'll only have one move - all-in. When the moment comes, make it count. Which brings us onto our second piece of advice.

What Would You Do? Pocket Tens on WSOP Main Event Final Table Bubble

When you enter a pot approaching the bubble, or even on the bubble itself, you want to be the first player entering the pot. This is relevant whether you are the table big stack or a short stack looking for a double.

This is not the time for passive play, so you should be opening good starters, and continuation betting more, especially if opponents are looking to play fit-or-fold poker postflop to ensure they remain in the tournament.

Another thing to be aware of, is that you shouldn't force things. If you are card dead on the bubble, keep to your strategy and don't try to win pots you have no chance of winning. Or trying to win pots you shouldn't have entered in the first place!

Related: Poker Terms Explained - Bet in the Dark? Bubble? Paint Cards?

As explained above, it's important to be active on the bubble, taking advantage of players who are slowing down, tightening up and wanting to ensure they cash above all else. You meanwhile are looking ahead to after the bubble, and increasing your chip stack all the while.

However, one poorly-timed call or bet can be your downfall, therefore it's imperative to avoid risks. The fundamentals of poker still apply, even if you're on the verge of cashing in the WSOP Main Event for example. Pay attention to things like position, pot odds and obvious strength from opponents such as check-raises or all-in shoves.

This is not the time to be a hero. Play a strong range and play it well. If you do have to call someone's shove, make sure you're doing it because you think you're going to win, and not just to get one player closer to the bubble.

Read More: Three Great Live Reported Hands - A Bubble, a Tat, and Negreanu's Read

Obviously, bubble strategy can be far more complex than just three simple tips. One key piece of advice that applies to entire tournaments, not just the bubble, is to recognize how each of the opponents at your table plays.

If they are loose and aggressive, see if that continues into the bubble. Or will tighter players tighten up even further. One curious thing that could happen is that tighter players may feel that they need to open up a little bit more on the button. With them out of their comfort zone, this might be an opportunity for you to capitalize on.

As in all poker, your strategy is going to be dictated to you by two different things:

Read More: PokerNews Strategy - The Importance of Stack Sizes

Your stack size will decide what approach you will take to the bubble. That could be you looking to enter as many pots as possible to increase your stack further, looking for opportunities by picking off short stacks desperate to survive, or you being one of those shorter stacks wanting to survive yourself.

Your opponents' stack size will also dictate what role you're going to play as the bubble approaches. Are there lots of short stacks at your table? Even if you haven't got mountains of chips, these will represent opportunities that you will be able to capitalize on. Is everyone at your table sitting fairly comfortable? Then perhaps the pace at the table will slow as people await the bubble bursting, allowing for you to enter some pots and accumulate chips.

You can check out more great bubble strategy content here on PokerNews:

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WSOP 2021: How to Play the Bubble at the WSOP - PokerNews.com

Poker pro Andy Bloch, who has been extensively studying COVID-19 data and sharing that information on his website LabVegas.com, told CardsChat News that hes confident the 2021 WSOP will take place in Las Vegas. Even so, the MIT grad is less certain the series will run as planned due to coronavirus concerns.

The fall WSOP is set to offer 88 live bracelet events between Sept. 30 to Nov. 23, all taking place at the Rio, and Bloch has some suggestions on how to make sure the series runs as smoothly and safely as possible, even during the ongoing pandemic.

Last week, Nevada reinstated its mask mandate due to the continuing spread of the delta variant, a highly contagious and potentially more deadly form of COVID-19. With masks required again in public in Las Vegas, and rumors of further restrictions on the horizon, many poker players are concerned that the 2021 WSOP could be in jeopardy. But Bloch, who is taking the pandemic seriously, has a more positive outlook.

Theyll make it work, Bloch said in a phone interview with CardsChat before explaining that the WSOP staff may have the alter their plans to host the series. Its a good thing the Main Event is later in the series when, hopefully, cases are down.

The $10,000 Main Event is scheduled to begin Nov. 4 with the first of four, Day 1 flights. Bloch appears optimistic that coronavirus cases could be on the decline by then, but hes less sure about the early weeks of the upcoming poker extravaganza. As such, hes offered up a solution to make the series a success, despite the continued spread of COVID-19.

They could do a hybrid version like they did last year with the Main Event, Bloch suggests.

Last years Main Event began online at GGPoker and on WSOP.com, and then concluded with the final table live at the Rio in December. Damian Salas, who earned his spot at the final table on GGPoker, defeated Joseph Hebert heads-up to become the 51st poker world champion.

Bloch favors utilizing the WSOP.com platform for Day 1 and, possibly, Day 2 play, and then once a bracelet event is in the money or in the late stages, the remaining players head over to the Rio to finish off the tournament in person. The former Team Full Tilt member argues that doing so would limit the amount of time players spend inside the casino during a pandemic.

As a father, Bloch also sees the benefit of not being away from home for such long periods of time, which a hybrid WSOP would provide.

Bloch is a past bracelet winner (2012 $1,500 Seven Card Stud for $126,363) and has 60 cashes in bracelet events. He said he hasnt played live poker since the pandemic began, but has enjoyed playing in some of the online bracelet events from his Las Vegas home on WSOP.com. As for Blochs 2021 WSOP plans, he still isnt sure which events hell play, but said hed likely play some of the later events such as the Main Event, assuming COVID-19 cases are on the decline by then.

Bloch, who holds two electrical engineering degrees from MIT and was part of the famous MIT blackjack team, has been following COVID-19 data in Clark County, Nevada, and has seen a disturbing upward trajectory in coronavirus cases over the past couple of weeks. He strongly encourages those who havent done so yet to get vaccinated to help eliminate the threat of the delta variant. And, he argues, those who refuse to get vaccinated arent just harming themselves.

They can infect other people, Bloch said of the anti-vaxxers. A lot of people cant get vaccinated, especially kids under 12 or those with an autoimmune disorder. Those people feel trapped and dont want to go out, theyre worried about (catching COVID-19).

Nevadas seven-day average for new cases is over 1,000 per day more than double the daily cases from just one month ago and officials in the Silver State are struggling to convince its unvaccinated population to get the jab. As of Aug. 1, 44.5% of adults in the state were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but thats barely more than the number of residents who were vaccinated on June 18, when Nevada reached a 40% vaccination rate.

Even so, Bloch seems optimistic many of those who are hesitant to get vaccinated will eventually come around. One thing that seems to be convincing people is the virus itself with delta especially more people are getting sick. Thats convincing people that they are at risk, he said.

Despite the hesitancy expressed by more than half of all Republicans in the US and members of some other constituencies, the evidence on the vaccines effectiveness and safety is undeniable. More than 90% of all COVID-19-related deaths over the past month involved patients who were unvaccinated. And, although numerous vaccinated individuals have caught and spread the virus especially the delta variant studies have shown their symptoms, if any, are far less severe than those suffered by people who are unvaccinated.

Over the last two weeks, 88% of the hospitalizations in Clark County were unvaccinated, Bloch said. But if you look at under 50, over 95% were unvaccinated seven vaccinated out of 148 in that age group. Across all age groups, the vaccine showed 94% to 96% against hospitalization.

Bloch encourages everyone to get vaccinated for their own health and for the overall safety of society. He also wants poker players to understand the risks theyre taking by refusing to get the jab. For poker players, there are cognitive effects in the long run from catching COVID-19, Bloch argues.

For those players who believe winning money is more important than their own health or the health of their friends and family Bloch says this argument could be persuasive, as research shows that COVID-19 could drain their long-term cognitive abilities, which would ultimately be a detriment to their poker skills.

Written by

Jon Sofen

Semi-pro poker player with 17 years experience on the felt and more than five years working as professional poker media.

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Andy Bloch on World Series of Poker: 'They'll Make it Work' - CardsChat.com

August 01, 2021Chad Holloway

PokerNews is known throughout the world for our industry-leading live updates for both live and online events. In fact, right now we're offering various updates right here.

Over the years, weve captured memorable hands, many of which have become a part of poker history. In this new column, we will bring you some of the biggest hands of the week as reported in the PokerNews Live Updates.

Remember, if youre playing an event PokerNews is covering, you can get in the updates via the MyStack App. You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.

Click here to download the My Stack app for iPhone, or click here to download the My Stack app for Android.

Here's a look at some highlights of big and interesting hands caught in the PokerNews live updates.

In the 2021 WSOP.com Online Event #24: $400 NLH Monster Stack it was Level 9 (250/500/50) when Poker Hall of Famer Jack "Borgia92" McClelland (pictured in lead image) opened under the gun for 1,600 and found two callers, bringing action three-ways to the flop.

Action was checked to "matador1" who fired out 3,840 on the button and McClelland check-jammed for 30,799. Action folded back to "matador1" who called off their 21,029 stack.

"matador1": Jack "Borgia92" McClelland:

"matador1" was ahead after pairing their ace on the flop but the turn gave McClelland the flush and the river improved his hand to a Royal Flush!

In the same tournament, it was Level 26 (10,000/20,000/2,000) when action folded to bracelet winner Carlos "CarlosWelch" Welch who raised to 40,000 on the button, Kristen "krissyb24" Bicknell defended her big blind and saw a flop appear.

Bicknell check-raised to 87,411 after Welch continued for 32,000 and Welch called bringing the turn.

Bicknell led out for 84,225 and Welch called to see the complete the board on the river. Bicknell continued with her aggression and moved all-in for 259,652 and once again Welch called.

Bicknell rolled over for a missed gutshot while Welch Showed ending her tournament in 98th place for $677.

In the 2021 WSOP.com Online Event #32: $1,000 NLH Championship, it was on the money bubble in Level 22 (3,000/6,000/600) when Kyle "JackintheB0x" Miholich raised and then called the 51,478 three-bet jam Jose "suganills" Montes made from the cutoff.

Jose "suganills" Montes: Kyle "JackintheB0x" Miholich:

Miholich was way ahead with his pocket queens and took a monster lead after the flop gave him top-set.

The turn kept Montes alive drawing to the case nine but the river ended his tournament on the money bubble.

Click here to see who won the WSOP bracelet in this event!

In the live realm, the MSPT Riverside $1,100 Main Event proved to be a big one as the 2021 Iowa State Poker Championship attracted 928 entrants to Riverside Casino. With 18 players remaining in Level 25 (25,000/50,000/5,000), Darin Utley opened to 125,000 in early position and was flat-called by Jalen Heald one seat over.

Action folded around to the big blind, where Jim Erickson three-bet to a covering amount of 2 million. Utley called all in for 800,000 and Heald immediately called behind for 960,000 to put more than 2.5 million up for grabs between the three players.

Darin Utley: Jalen Heald: Jim Erickson:

Heald's aces were way out in front and pulled even further ahead on the flop . The turn and river completed the runout and both pots were sent his way, eliminating Utley in 18th place for $8.896 in the process.

Not long after with 13 players left in Level 26 (30,000/60,000/10,000), Mike Estes was under the gun and open-jammed for 460,000. Jeremy Calverley re-jammed for 900,000 on the button and Peyton Smith immediately called both shoves from the small blind thereafter.

Mike Estes: Jeremy Calverley: Peyton Smith:

Calverley found himself in an absolute cooler of a situation and was unable to find Broadway on a runout of to bring his elimination as Estes tripled and Smith took the side pot, roughly breaking even on the hand in the process. Calverley was eliminated in 13th place for $10,783.

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Hands of the Week: Poker Hall of Famer Rivers Royal Flush; Bicknell Bluffs It Off - PokerNews.com

The off-the-pitch lives of football players are often scrutinised, as is the case for many public figures. Stories are combed for clearer indications of their character, for tips on how translatable success is to the audiences life, for simply something to know. Its comforting to read other peoples lives and gain some insight or information because the audience can deem these necessary or unnecessary to their own lives. They can conclude something.

One particular point of interest is how footballers can have other hobbies, other things to devote attention too. Here are a few examples of what Spurs players, present and past, have given serious time to beyond football.

Sherringhams Poker

Poker is a popular pastime for many athletes, some while theyre playing and some after. Its an instance of the jolt of shock when an audience sees a famous person outside of their usual context but, also, doing something kind of normal. Poker is an accessible sport for many. Its done casually, in a different way to five-a-side at the local park. Especially since online poker rooms have become commonplace and new customers are attracted regularly by exclusive promotions like the GGPoker Welcome Bonus. People often lose sights of their abilities in any and most activities and industries when talking about professionals, thinking they stand a chance at successfully competing, but poker is one of those sports which, by the luck of the cards, could favour an amateur in certain scenarios. Thats why when a famous person at a poker event inspires a like-me feeling.

Spanning from 2005 to 2012, Teddy Sherringham played in numerous poker events, including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. His best finish on a circuit event was 5th, at EPT Vilamoura in August 2010. His career earnings come in close to $330k, which is probably what hed earn in two weeks if he had a football career now.

Allis Esports

Dele Alli is a gamer. Hes had experience discussing, playing, and indeed streaming video game titles before. In 2018, he teamed up with notable streamer CouRage to promote the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 on Twitch. They had some technical issues playing together on either side of the Atlantic which made the event less successful than it otherwise would have been. More recently, hes signed on to be a global ambassador for EXCEL ESPORTS, one of the biggest British esports organisations. Bringing some psychological lessons and tips to the EXCEL rosters is one reason he was approached, as he has extensive experience as a top-level athlete. He will also further normalise the relationship between esports and traditional sports. The FIFA game series is already working hard to do this, with many current and ex-pros involved in their marketing campaigns and events Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward, streams FIFA to a few thousand viewers as regularly as he can but Alli has shown interests outside of this football domain, looking at esports as an industry.

Gareth Bales Golf

Gareth Bale left Spurs in 2013 to join Real Madrid where he won everything possible. Due to injuries and the internal politics and relationships at the Spanish giants, Bale found himself out of favour. During that period, while he was recovering and recovered, he turned to golf as anyone would, sat on many hundreds of thousands a week in sunny Spain. When his return on loan to Spurs was announced, many questioned his interest in playing football at all, whether his love for the game had gone and he was more interested in this post-football lifestyle he began cultivating. At his home in Wales, he has a three-hole course, based on famous course holes from around the world, all par-3. Spurs even went so far as to put short holes in at their training ground, supposedly for Bale himself. He has since started scoring and these fears have begun to dissipate.

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Sherringham's Poker, Bale's Golf, and Alli's Esports: What Are Current and Ex-Spurs Players Off-the-Pitch Interests? - Net Newsledger

August 04 2021Matthew Pitt

The first Main Event of the 2021 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) season was won by a player who, with all due respect, PokerNews had not heard of before. Euan McNicholas came out on top of a 591-strong crowd to bank the 165,800 top prize.

Before this incredible victory, McNicholas had three live poker tournament cashes on his Hendon Mob page, totalling 985. PokerNews was intrigued about this mystery man, so we reached out to the GUKPT London champion to find out more.

"I am Euan McNicholas, originally from Swindon, but now living in London. I play poker full time, mainly playing online cash games."

That goes part way to explaining the lack of live tournament results!

McNicholas discovered poker when he was a university student. He and his friend Alex watched various Twitch streams together. He played poker on and off for a while before turning his attention to becoming a full-time professional poker player when the COVID-19 related lockdowns hit.

"I started playing full time at the start of the pandemic due to my job finishing because of lockdown. I used to be a kids outdoor activity instructor, climbing, kayaking, etc."

Euan McNicholas Wins GUKPT Main Event For 165,800

Busy with work and the online cash game grind meant McNicholas did not have much time for live tournaments and had never played in a live tournament series outside of student events.

"This was my first ever live tournament series. I had only played student poker events before this. Grosvenor is running a promotion called The National Poker League, where they are giving out lots of prize money. These events started online during lockdown, but now restrictions have been lifted, they are moving live. At the start of the GUKPT London series, I was third in the league, so it made sense to play all the events and try chase down the leaderboard."

McNicholas got his live poker grind on and played in all the events on the GUKPT London schedule, including a 560 buy-in Midi Main Event, won by Michael Zhang, and a 2,200 High Roller. Unfortunately for him, McNicholas did not cash in any of them.

Determined not to leave the casino without some National League leaderboard points, McNicholas bought into the 1,350 Main Event on Day 1A. It turned out to be a fantastic decision because he ended his flight with 121,200 chips, enough for sixth-place.

Day 2 saw McNicholas boost his stack to 646,000, meaning he made the final day with a stack large enough for seven out of the 20 surviving players.

"I thought I played very well on both Day 1 and Day 2, but as is the case with tournament poker, there is always a certain element of run-good.

"Day 3 was a rocky ride. I was down to 150,000 (7.5 big blinds) with 16 players left, having done nothing wrong. I then won a few all-ins, and before I knew it, it was the final table. On the final table, I ran well in all-in pots, one being with ace-nine against Jack Hardcastle's pocket jacks, which was huge because I would have been out if I lost, and it also crippled Jack, who is a great player."

Full Seven-Leg 2021 GUKPT Schedule Released

McNicholas was confident throughout the tournament despite finding himself short-stacked at one stage. He was that confident of securing the victory that the thought of striking a deal never came into his mind, despite the difference between first and second-place prize money being more than 50,000.

"I always knew I could win if I just played well and kept focus. At no point did I want to deal. It's not often you get the chance to p[lay for this much money, so I wanted to make the most of the opportunity."

The GUKPT London champion has no immediate plans for his newfound wealth; instead, he is concentrating on winning the National League. he stands an excellent chance of doing so because he currently tops the leaderboard with 559.02 points, which puts him narrowly ahead of Ben Teague on 555.56 points, and with a bit of a cushion between himself and third-placed Christopher Johnson on 523.88.

Before McNicholas headed by to his favoured online cash games, he gave a shout-out to his poker friends who helped make his victory possible.

"I would like to add a massive thank you to my friends in poker. I owe them a lot, and without them, this wouldn't have happened. it was awesome to be able to share the experience with them on the rail."

With a 20,000 sponsorship package awaiting the winner of the National Poker League and events up to September awarding points, we will likely see McNicholas at the upcoming GUKPT Manchester festival at Bury New Road from August 5-15.

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McNicholas On Chasing Down the GUKPT National League - PokerNews.com

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New online poker giant GGPoker has confirmed to PRO that they plan to launch in regulated Dutch market, which is slated to open in October.

If granted a license, GGPoker could well be among the first online poker rooms to be fully licensed and operate legally in the country.

GGPoker can confirm that we have plans to become fully licensed in the Netherlands, Paul Burke, Head of PR at GGPoker, told Poker Industry PRO, and without prejudicing any application we also want to make sure well be in a good position to roll out Dutch marketing campaigns should GGPoker be awarded a full license to operate in that market.

GGPoker is excited about any opportunity to extend access to our great games and software to new markets and player communities! Burke added.

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GGPoker Could be Among the First Online Poker Rooms to Launch in the Dutch Regulated Market - Pokerfuse