 Poker players from around the world will soon descend on Las Vegas for the chance to strike it rich at the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, and there to improve their odds will be the World Series of Poker Academy, which is hosting its Main Event Primer this June 29th through July 1st at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.
Designed specifically to prepare players for the enormous fields in major tournaments like the WSOP Main Event, the WSOP Academy's Main Event Primer features the most advanced curriculum on No-Limit Hold'em tournament strategy taught by a dream team roster of poker pros, including past WSOP Main Event champions Phil Hellmuth and Greg Raymer, WSOP bracelet winners Annie Duke and Mark Seif, WPT title winner Phil Gordon, poker tells expert Joe Navarro, noted poker pro and instructor Alex Outhred and many, many more.
"Like the WSOP Main Event itself, our Main Event Primer only comes around once a year and is unrivaled in its level of instruction as well as the interaction participants have with the biggest names in poker," said Brandon Rosen of Post Oak Productions, the company that produces the WSOP Academy. "It truly is a unique opportunity to learn optimal strategy from the pros who have won it all."
During the Main Event Primer, instructors will lead participants through three days of advanced seminars with questions and answers, video analysis of WSOP tournament footage, live hand demonstrations and private multi-table tournaments. The focus of the curriculum will be on advance concepts of No-Limit Texas Hold 'em tournament strategy, including the advanced math of poker, advanced tournament stage strategy, pre-flop and post-flop strategy, table dynamics, intimidation and control of your opponents and heads-up strategy. Instructors will also talk specifically about tournament preparation for the Main Event and tips on qualifying via satellites.
Additionally, noted author and lecturer Joe Navarro will present an advanced poker tells seminar on decoding poker tells. After 25 years with the FBI working in the areas of counterintelligence and counterterrorism, Navarro has become one of the foremost authorities on reading the nonverbal communications that people exhibit when they are lying.
Beyond just delivering the best in poker instruction, the WSOP Academy Main Event Primer will also offer a total-immersion poker experience that gives participants the opportunity to hang out and play poker with many of the biggest names in the game and compete in two private poker tournaments. The winner of each will go on to compete for a World Series Of Poker Main Event seat at the WSOP Academy Tournament of Champions, held on the evening of July 1.
The WSOP Academy Main Event Primer is one of a number of groundbreaking instructional programs presented by the WSOP Academy throughout the year that feature instruction from the best players in the game, including Greg Raymer, Mark Seif and Annie Duke. From sessions that focus on No-Limit Texas Hold'em to special editions like the WSOP Academy's Ladies Only Event and Cash Game Academy, the WSOP Academy offers amateur poker players of all skill levels the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from the champions of the game and become champions themselves.
The cost of the WSOP Academy Main Event Primer is $2,499. Space is limited, and the event is expected sell out. Additional details for the Main Event Primer and all other Academy events are available at http://www.wsopacademy.com/. ____________________by Brian Cooley
 It is with profound sadness to report the passing of Mr. Lee Munzer, from Las Vegas, Nevada. Lee graced our world from May 3, 1943 until his death on June 26, 2009.
Lee was best known to all of us within the poker community through his more than 150 published columns and feature stories in several popular magazines. Lee also wrote for several well-known sporting and business publications and websites. He was highly-respected by his peers and loved by his readers for his sardonic wit, unique style of expression, and brutal honesty. He was even more adored by his family and hundreds of friends and colleagues.
Those who were fortunate enough to know and remember Lee will forever be indebted to him for the benchmark of excellence he established within his profession and for the warm, gentle, and compassionate person he was to all who knew him.
Please take a few moments to remember Lee, and reflect upon what he represented as a writer and as a man. Many of Lee's best writings remain available for viewing online. His many messages and opinions have a true evergreen quality which is sure to make any reader smile, laugh, and most importantly, contemplate the more questions and issues of our existence.
Lee Munzer's survivors kindly ask in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in his memory to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Further information can be found at: www.livestrong.org
On July 3rd, a memorial service for Lee will be held at Palm Mortuary in West Las Vegas. The service takes place at 3 pm.
The measure of each of us are the deeds we do and what we leave for those around us after we depart. Lee Munzer leaves us all infinitely richer and wiser for being touched and moved by the man who graced us on this earth for far too short a time.
-- Nolan Dalla
 The World Series of Poker $2,500 Razz Event (Event 44) returned for the 3rd and final day with eight players looking to add a WSOP bracelet to their resume. All eyes were on Jeffrey Lisandro as he already won bracelets in Seven-card Stud and Seven-card Stud Eight or better this series. Lisandro dominated the final table and completed his trifecta of Seven-card events when he won the $2,500 Razz event.
The first elimination came when Allen Bari could not beat Ryan Fisler door cards. Fisler led the betting and his 9-6-5-4-3 low beat Bari's Q-8-6-4-A low. Bari's day was done and collected a 8th place finish.
Steve Diano called the completion from Warwick Mirzikinian and followed his betting until 4th street when all of Diano's chips were in the pot. Mirzikinian made a 8-7-5-4-A which eliminated Diano in 7th place holding J-7-6-5-4.
After doubling up off of Lisandro, Kenna James had all his chips in the middle on 4th street against Michael Craig. Craig tabled a 7-6-5-3-2 and James showed 8-7-6-4-A which ended James' day and bumped Craig's stack to the 400,000 mark._________________________
Complete article at ESPN >>>
 Stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Garrett, Mekhi Phifer, and top poker professional Phil Hellmuth have joined the growing list of celebrities who plan to play in the Ante Up For Africa charity tournament July 2 at the 40th annual World Series of Poker.
Some of Hollywood's biggest stars are expected to go all in for the 3rd Ante Up For Africa (AUFA) Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament.
Annually, the largest celebrity poker tournament in Las Vegas, the event is accessible for the public to play with their favorite stars or watch as spectators. A full house of celebrities will join Academy Award Nominee, Don Cheadle and "Celebrity Apprentice Star" and WSOP Bracelet winner Annie Duke at the event taking place during the 2009 WORLD SERIES OF POKER at the Rio in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 2nd at 2 PM.
This No-Limit Hold'em poker tournament has an entry fee of $5,000 and provides entrants the opportunity to walk away with a six-figure payday. The event allows players to rub elbows with top Hollywood stars, athletes and poker professionals while contributing to a great cause.
Celebrities and athletes will join poker's most notable players to raise public awareness and funds to support the victims of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.
Among those confirmed to participate, subject to availability, are Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brad Garrett, Cedric The Entertainer, Charles Barkley, Danny Masterson, Hank Azaria, Herschel Walker, Jason Alexander, Kenny Smith, Marlon Wayans, Montel Williams, Reggie Miller, Tia Carrere, Sarah Silverman, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Cheryl Hines, Mekhi Phifer, Rob Schneider; Poker Professionals Howard Lederer, Andy Bloch, Tiffany Michelle, Erik Seidel and Phil Hellmuth with more to be confirmed.
The tournament will feature a fast-paced structure designed to complete the competition within five hours. Seating for the tournament is open to anyone age 21 or older. Players can register in person at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, or online through June 18, 2009 at http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/ under the registration tab.
This event, as is every World Series of Poker tournament, is open to the public for viewing and admission is free. The event will take place in the famed Amazon Ballroom in the Rio Convention Center, just one day prior to the start of the WSOP Main Event, the game's most prestigious poker event.
Cheadle, an accomplished poker player, and Duke, who has more than $4 million in tournament winnings, are committed to raising both public awareness about the tragedy in Darfur and funds to aid its victims. As the world's richest sporting event, the WSOP awarded more than $180 million in 2008 and attracted participants from a record 124 nations.
In the previous events, many of the in the money finishers volunteered to donate half of their winnings to the charity. Proceeds from the event will go to the ENOUGH Project and Refugees International, organizations whose goals include raising public awareness and providing aid to the survivors of Darfur.
More information about the tournament is available at http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/. If you would like more information regarding the organization, please log onto http://www.anteupforafrica.org/ and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/anteupforafrica.
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by Seth G. Palansky
 This year's Seniors World Series of Poker Championship has set an all-time attendance record. This year's tournament attracted a whopping 2,707 entries, the most ever for any seniors' competition in poker history.
The previous high mark was set at last year's World Series of Poker, when there were 2,218 entries. These figures represent a 22 percent increase year-over-year. A record $2,463,700 prize pool was set for this event as well, with first place paying a record $437,358.
The first Seniors World Series of Poker Championship was played at the 1993 World Series of Poker. Since then, the WSOP has hosted a special tournament for seniors that is open to any player aged 50 or higher on the day the tournament begins.
"We are very honored and humbled by the overwhelming turnout today," said Jeffrey Pollack, President and Commissioner of the WSOP. "The WSOP attracts players of all ages, from their early 20s to players in their 90s. The Seniors Championship is truly special and this year's winner will hopefully be enjoying retirement with a nice 437-times return on their $1,000 entry."
Since Harrah's took ownership of the WSOP in 2004, the Seniors Championship has seen attendance skyrocket from 519 entrants to this year's 2,707, a more than five-fold increase. The accompanying table shows the last six years of entrants for the Seniors Event at the WSOP.
This is but one of several records which have been shattered at the 2009 World Series of Poker. Several events have attracted the largest fields in their history. Many events also generated the largest prize pools in history. The bottom line is that despite concerns about the global economy, the World Series of Poker continues to be a popular destination and ambition for poker players of all ages, all around the world.
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by Seth G. Palansky
 The 2009 World Series of Poker $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em champion is Mike Eise, from Troy, MO.
He's known as "the Force" since a group of poker friends gave him the nickname because he is one of the toughest players in local poker games.
Eise came to this year's WSOP with a group of friends who are members of a St. Louis-area poker club called the "Wanna Be Poker Series." Membership in the club requires regular dues to be paid. Every year, the club holds a few small tournaments to determine which members get to fly to Las Vegas and play in the WSOP. Four members of the club entered this tournament, one of them being Mike Eise.
He's won numerous daily poker tournaments held at casinos located in the St. Louis area. He plays poker mostly at Ameristar Casino and Harrah's. His regular poker game is $1-3 blind No-Limit Hold'em and some $5-10 blind No-Limit Hold'em.
Understandably he has not had time to consider the full impact of his victory and $639,331 in winnings. However, he stated that he plans to continue working and remain very much as he was before the victory.
Winner Quotes (Mike "the Force" Eise) --
* On how it feels to win a WSOP gold bracelet: "It's surreal. It’s something I always wanted to win."
* On how he got into this tournament: "I always wanted to come to Las Vegas and play in the World Series. I had one chance to get into this event, and here I am. I won the bracelet."
* On how his goals changed as he went deeper in the tournament: "I had benchmarks. I just wanted to reach benchmarks (last the first day, making the money, etc.) and as I reached them I made a new benchmark and then I reached it again. With 2,600 people (who entered) you can't expect first. But you hope for it."
* On his poker club in St. Louis: "Its called the "Wanna Be Poker Series." I guess it's the "To Be Poker Series" now, since I'm not a wanna be anymore."
* On what his plans and goals were before his WSOP victory: "This is the only event I played. This is the only event I wanted to play. I wanted to concentrate on this. So, I didn't play any other ones. I figure 'one event = one win' really means something."
* On what he plans to do with the money: "I have a wife and kids to take care of, and health insurance, and I plan to keep going at what I'm doing. But my three little girls are going to be excited because I'm going to take them to Disneyland."
* On if the win and $639,331 in prize money is life changing: "Definitely."
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by Nolan Dalla
 The World Series of Poker (WSOP) today announced poker enthusiasts around the globe will be able to watch the final table action of two dozen bracelet events at the 40th annual WSOP live via the Internet. Bluffmagazine.com and ESPN360.com will stream a combined total of 24 final tables live online.
"We are proud to provide the culminating action of so many prominent events to a worldwide audience in real time," said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "This online initiative will complement our spectacular television package on ESPN and deliver even more of this year's milestone WSOP to fans who want the most immediate coverage possible."
The schedule of events whose final tables will be streamed live is as follows:
Event - Event Name - Air Date - Outlet
4 - $1,000 No-limit Hold'em - June 2 - ESPN360.com
5 - $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha - June 3 - Bluffmagazine.com
7 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - June 4 - Bluffmagazine.com
10 - $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha/Pot-Limit Hold'em - June 5 - Bluffmagazine.com
11 - $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em - June 6 - ESPN360.com
15 - $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-handed - June 8 - ESPN360.com
17 - $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em - June 9 - Bluffmagazine.com
19 - $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em 6-handed - June 10 - ESPN360.com
20 - $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em - June 11 - Bluffmagazine.com
22 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout - June 12 - ESPN360.com
24 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - June 13 - Bluffmagazine.com
29 - $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Heads Up - June 15 - ESPN360.com
30 - $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha - June 16 - Bluffmagazine.com
33 - $10,000 Limit Hold'em - June 17 - ESPN360.com
34 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - June 18 - Bluffmagazine.com
35 - $5,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em - June 19 - ESPN360.com
36 - $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em - June 20 - Bluffmagazine.com
40 - $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha - June 22 - ESPN360.com
41 - $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout - June 23 - ESPN360.com
45 - $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em - June 25 - Bluffmagazine.com
47 - $2,500 Mixed Hold'em - June 26 - ESPN360.com
49 - $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. - June 30 - ESPN360.com
51 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - June 29 - Bluffmagazine.com
54 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - July 1 - Bluffmagazine.com
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by Seth G. Palansky
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