Archive for category Poker Profiles

The Top 10 Poker Players in the World after the 2010 WSOP Main Event Part II

Dec 10

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

Continuing our look at the top 10 players in the world right now.  And yes, our criteria rewards luckboxes a lot more than other sources but it is afterall just a few weeks after the November Nine the single biggest mainstream poker event in the world.  We don’t want casual fans thinking the Texas Holdem tournament pros that win it don’t have a place in the elite of poker. Consider many pros point to the triple stacks and better structure as reason for so many talented players (known and soon to be known) making it so deep. It’s a real testament to the Johnathan Duhamels and John Raceners of poker to come out of that event on top, poker shouldn’t diminish that accomplishment they should glorify it. Back to the rankings…

5. Tom Dwan aka Durrrr – Is there anybody that has the courage Durrrr has? He plays for stakes that would make most people want to vomit and can win or lose personal fortunes with the click of mouse. Be it Omaha, Hold’em, or whatever his fancy on the day he can play with anybody. He’s currently losing his second challenge but has all but dispatched one of the best players in the world in his first challenge. He’s accepted as great by all the greats that have come before him. He’s also still very, very young. What will be interesting, and as yet unseen, is if he possesses the same self-will that Phil Ivey has, and simply win tournaments when he wants to.

This year, he tried a bracelet bet, and came agonizingly close to pullling it off but didn’t. Then his World Series seemed to get away from him and he even showed some frustration. He’s not Phil Ivey, yet, and he may never be, but he dominates his niche in poker better than anybody else. If his niche was in front of TV cameras instead of computer monitors he’d be number one.

6. Sorel Mizzi – Sorel keeps doing it, and doing it, and doing it well. He just went deep in the 5 Diamond event and has almost 2 million in winnings on the year. Last year’s Bluff player of the year is a machine. He even has a shot at catching Tom Marchese for player of the year awards this year. You can argue with that standard of success. Mizzi, meanwhile courts controversy with every turn, and scandals follow him and his misguiding public postings around the Internet. Doesn’t matter, as a player he is above it all.

7. Vanessa Selbst – She’s won almost $3 million this year in live tournament earnings. She flies under the radar like better than most in poker, yet all she’s done is stay in school, study in school, and stop every once in a while to win millions in tournament poker. When, and if, she dedicates herself to playing the game full time. Look out.

8. John Juanda – He owns the second most active eyes in poker, save only Phil Ivey’s pupils that bounce around a table faster, and with them he has an uncanny ability to put people on hands and determine weakness or strength. The cagey veteran is not to be trifled with and has recovered nicely from a swoon after being on top of the game at the dawn of the poker boom.

9. John Racener – Second place in the Worlds Series of Poker Main Event. Then he’s confirmed his skill by cashing in live and online tournaments. The steely player who likes to pot control can chew bubble gum, kick ass, and take down tournaments with the best of the. Definitely, one to watch in 2011.

10. Acctually, there is no tenth. These rankings are for the past month of November, and Nine is far more appropriate for November than 10.

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The Top 10 Poker Players in the World after the 2010 WSOP Main Event

Dec 9

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

This ranking encompasses tournament poker, online poker, live poker, and just about every form of poker. 

1.  Jason Mercier -  Sorry, ESPN/Bluff/Pokernews can hem and haw about considering to move Phil Ivey down, but that’s silly Mercier is doing things nobody else has.  If this was last year, based on his domination of the World Series, Phil Ivey would still be number one.  This isn’t last year, though, and they commonality it shares with last year is that Mercier continues to go deep in giant Texas Hold em tournament fields.  His success in an aspect of poker that most consider to have the highest variance of the disciplines warrants his number one ranking.  He’s sustained success for over two years in a field that breaks peoples souls who cares how well he can play Omaha poker (which by the way he plays really well). 

Doesn’t matter if Durrrr would destroy him in a Durrrr challenge or if Phil Ivey would own him in just about every other single form of poker not called Texas Hold’em.  Mercier is atop the richest variation of the game, the variation that brings eyes to the TV, and people to online poker sites.  Later, they learn about the crazy cash games Durrrr and Ivey play.  Right now there is nobody better than Mercier and he is easily the highest rated player.

2.  Michael Mizrachi – Again, in most aspects of poker Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan would probably have the Grinder dead to rights and it would just take a long enough session (maybe years) to grind away his bankroll.  That being said Grinder won the elite Players championship at this years World Series of Poker, then he almost won player of the year and the Main Event. 

Arguably, since Frank Kasella bested him in the Player of the Year rankings maybe Kasella should also be on the list (he isn’t but he was in consideration) and perhaps higher than Mizrachi.  Since, Grinder excelled in both Texas Hold ‘Em and mixed games and dominated the TV coverage of this years World Series edge goes to the Florida grinder who had the balls to play himself out debt.  He had a long slump since he was striking fear in every pro that played a 10k WPT event, but the Grinder is back better, and hotter than ever.

3.  Phil Ivey – Okay, we couldnt’ drop him that far.  After all there is a poker culture surrounding the guy populated by people that know the game better than anybody else.  Consider Ivey’s public demeanor does the opposite of court that kind of attention tells you just how great he is.   The players that know, know Ivey is the best. 

He plays every variety of poker well, and as much as he tries to duck being an ambassador for the game, his class on camera and off shines through.  If the reluctant superstar was even the least bit interested in being known as the best player in the world he would be.   Combine his online successes with his live cash success, and when he’s motivated tournament successes and there is nobody better.

4.  Johnathan Duhamel – What?  The youngster from Canada has won but one thing of importance.  Yes, it was the Main Event.  Some would argue when it was three handed he got a gift from the other big stack that all but ended the tournament.  They’d tell you it was more good fortune than skill that was involved in closing out the Main Event and he just happened to receive it.  What’s underrated about Duhamel is the fact he went from chip-leader to also ran back to chip-leader and his play never wavered. 

Also, he had the gumption and nerve to apply pressure and risk his chips to win the tournament while others were backing away.  Since the title John Racener has done more than Duhamel, however the guy won the Main Event.  He may fly off the rankings quicker than anybody else… but for November he has to be there. 

To be continued…

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November 2010′s Poker Power Rankings Part 1

Dec 7

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

ESPN and Bluff Magazine get together with Pokernews to do a top 10 ranking of poker players every month.  In first place, as usual is the king of  Texas Hold’em and the king of all other disciplines, live, online, tournament or cash Mr. Phil Ivey who has had a virtual stranglehold on the position.  Though another player has been playing so well, and according to his opponents, running so well that may be there should be room on top for someone else.  If there is one brain to pick in poker besides Phil Ivey, it may well be Jason Mercier for Texas Holdem poker tips. He’s clearly doing something everyone else is not.

We’ll do our own top ten and we are a little more open than they are to new blood at the top of poker’s hierarchy.  But first in this post we’ll look at their top ten.

1.  Phil Ivey

2.  Jason Mercier

3.  Michael Mizrachi

4.  John Juanda

5.  Tom Dwan

6.  Tom Marchese

7.  Eric Baldwin

8.  Vanessa Selbst

9.  Alexander Kostritsyn

10.  Patrik Antonius

All able players, and you’ll get no argument from us about any of them deserving their ranking. However, maybe there are some players that should be ranked a little higher, and maybe one or two of these guys should be bumped down to a rung or two below. One of those is found in their list of just missing the cut. Sorel Mizzi breeds controversy, so there are few people that will cry for him not being universally recognized. The reigning Bluff player of the year has recently final tabled a WPT event and won an L.A. Poker Open event. He’s won almost 2 million on the year in tournaments alone. You’d be surprised how many big poker names don’t even have that in a lifetime of earnings. So like him or not Sorel Mizzi probably should be in there.

There is a group of players that got shortchanged. They are the November Nine. Yes, this is a power ranking that takes into account the entire year, and the Main Event heater those guys all enjoyed was one tournament but it is the biggest tournament in the world. Johnathan Duhamel, like it or not, won it and vaulted up into the upper crust of poker’s richest tournament players ever.

He’s probably not as good as those other players, but if the list is about the moment, and less about the greatest ever, there should be a shift to reflect the guys reaping the biggest scores of the moment. Duhamel should inch into the top ten on principal alone. Let’s say a rookie golfer wins the Masters he’d be on the top ten power rankings for Golf regardless. Granted there is a little bit of comparing apples to oranges in paralleling the two hobby sports but not much.

Though this moves into December a little bit, Duhamel’s fellow November Niner and one of three Johns at the table, John Racener probably deserves to be ranked as well. He’s getting it done online as well as having some deep live finishes too. Racener was the runner-up in the Main Event and it wouldn’t be the first time the runner-up has eclipsed the winner in terms of a career.

Joe Cheong is not to be overlooked either as he too has made himself noticed online and in live tournament performances. Michael Mizrachi made the list but clearly the November Nine is more the cherry on top of his accomplishments rather then his most recent noteworthy success. Let’s face it, Ivey and Mizrachis runs are why they are elite pros.

To be continued in our very next post…

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Merits of the 2010 Poker Hall of Fame Nominations part V

Sep 20

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

Having profiled the other eight Poker Hall of Fame candidates there are only two left to consider.  So far, Holdem Texas poker superstars Dan Harrington and Erik Seidel have the best case, though we hinted one of today’s two might be in the mix also.  Daniel Negreanu and Phil Ivey were deemed worthy but probably too young.  Barry Greenstein’s cash games make him a difficult candidate but likely will him in someday.  Linda Johnson, also has the credentials of a Hall of Famer, but being the top two of any set of nominees will be hard for her.  Tom McEvoy despite his relative advanced age, likely has some work to do.   Chris Ferguson like Greenstein is on the doorstep it’s just that the Hall of Fame won’t be opening the door for him… this year.

The last two candidates have resumes that are easy to read, though surprisingly give today’s game neither is known to play poker online.  One has results that leap off the page, the other has only the rumors of a strong cash game presence, but not enough tournaments and/or advocates at her dominance to get in.

Jennifer Harman:  One of the best female poker players on the planet.  There is a Hall of Fame just for women and Jennifer deserves to be there.  This is the Poker Hall of Fame and entrance here means having results that are as good as and better than the people in there.  Some historical figures are hard to compare to but of her peers there are plenty of comparisons and unfortunately for Harman she just falls short.

She took to the game at an earlier age than Jesus Ferguson but the 45 year old doesn’t have near the winnings or success.  She has two bracelets;  though among the leaders for women pales in comparison to most of the other nominees.  Her 2.3 million in winnings include 24 cashes at the World Series and two World Poker Tour final tables.

VERDICT:  Harman is almost the sweetheart of poker.  Her cash game skills are so valued by her peers, almost all Hall of Famers, that she was asked to play in the Corporation in high stakes action against billionaire Andy Beal.  The legendary team leaned on her success there.  She also authored a chapter in Super System IIon limit hold’em.  Both clubs are about as exclusive as you can get in poker, even more exclusive than the Hall of Fame.  However, mostly being known as a cash game player from the Big Game makes her candidacy difficult to assess. 

Both her bracelets predated the Moneymaker effect, and if Moneymaker’s WSOP Main Event victory is indeed the line of demarcation of the modern era, she has done little in today’s game in tournaments.  Harman, may be one of the best players of all time, but because she’s failed to shine in the televised tournaments like most of her Big Game, or Corporation buddies she won’t be getting in.

Scotty Nguyen:   Erik Seidel will probably join Dan Harrington in the Poker Hall of Fame.  Scotty Nguyen, may be more worthy and that is very arguable depending on the metrics you emphasize, but Nguyen has one blot on his resume that put a dark cloud over what should have been one of his shining moments.  In contrast, as yet, Seidel has none in his career.  Nguyen is at most times an affable, lovable player, but in winning the 50k H.O.R.S.E. event he drunkenly abused his table-mates and the wait staff.  The aura was broken.

What Nguyen does have, maybe more than anybody, is televised final tables and victories.  His iconic “You call and it’s all over baby” goading of his opponent may be the signature moment in the history of the Main Event.  His World Championship, goes with H.O.R.S.E championship (the only player to win both), and with a World Poker Tour title.  He also made eight TV final tables at the WPT.

VERDICT:  Nguyen has only five World Series of Poker bracelets but is among the leaders in lifetime winnings with over 11.25 million.  If not for his slip-up a couple of years ago, he’d be a surefire pick.  As it stands still tasting grimy in the mouths of some voters, it’s likely Seidel with his less glamorous success will get in.

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Merits of the 2010 Poker Hall of Fame Nominations part IV

Sep 19

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

Getting back to the worthiness of this years batch of Poker Hall of Fame nominations.  We’ve already profiled Dan Harrington (in), Linda Johnson (not this year), Phil Ivey (too young), Daniel Negreanu (also too young), Barry Greenstein (probably out), and Tom McEvoy (maybe not ever).  In McEvoy’s case, the great thing about the Texas Holdem poker game is there is no retirement age, and there is still plenty of time to accomplish more.  Just last year he had a big result, and the next poker tournament and resume building result is always just a  buy-in away.

The remaining four candidates are Chris Ferguson, Erik Seidel, Jennifer Harman, and Scotty Nguyen.  We’ll look at Ferguson and Seidel first.   The two are a solid grouping because along with non-nominee Howard Lederer they formed one of the two big American poker sites. 

Chris Ferguson:  Chris has a back-story that is not unique to him in poker.  Perhaps, when he was drawn to the game it was but since then more people like him have followed him into the game than people like the ones he shyly joined at the table a decade and a half ago.  He was one of the first math nerds of poker, but to disguise himself in tournament poker games he donned a cowboy hat, grew a beard and long hair and took to looking more like Jesus than Doyle Brunson.

The slender swing dance, born the son of a game theory and theoretical probability professor at UCLA took up poker at 10 years old (if not earlier).  He entered his first World Series of Poker in 1995 and within five years was heads up with TJ Cloutier to win the World Series of Poker Main Event (and deny Cloutier the ultimate prize).    Ferguson quickly amassed five bracelets within four years.  However, his last came in 2003 as the Moneymaker Boom was just about to happen. 

Ferguson is nothing if not consistent.  He is third all time to Men “The Master” Nguyen and Phil Hellmuth in total cashes with 63.  His live tournament winnings have him among the best all time having amassed $8,000,000.  Of note, Ferguson has been heads for the National Heads-Up Poker Championship three times.  He lost to Ted Forrest and Phil Hellmuth but beat perennial bridesmaid Andy Bloch.

VERDICT:  Ferguson who turned $0 into 20k on his own poker site, and inspired every single poker blogger every to try and duplicate that feat, also foreshadowed the influx of math geeks to the old game.  Ferguson has won too much, done  too much, and is too much of an icon not to get in…  but not this year.

Erik Seidel:  Like the player’s demeanor there is not much to be said for Seidel because his case is so compelling you don’t have to say much.  With Ferguson, Seidel helped design one of the biggest poker sites on the planet.  Seidel garnered fame for the segment in the movie Rounders where he lost to Johnny Chan heads up in the World Series of Poker Main Event.  Just as Johnny Chan was canonized by non-poker players, Seidel became the goat of goats, however unwarranted that distinction was.  Seidel’s 2nd place in the Main Event that year, leaves him with eight bracelets and one near miss on the biggest stage 

The eight bracelets ties his with Phil Ivey for fifth all time (only Hellmuth, Chan, Brunson, and Johnny Moss) have more.  Had he bested Chan, the two of them would be tied for third all time with Johnny Moss.  His lifetime winnings put him in the highest echelon of players who have more than 10 million.  In comparing Seidel to Ferguson it’s easy to see why Jesus won’t get in until Seidel does.  Seidel has him pipped in bracelets and winnings.  Seidel’s 60 WSOP cashes are three fewer than Ferguson’s but show when he’s cashing, he’s cashing big.

VERDICT:  In.  Okay…  in reality it’s a three horse race between him, Dan Harrington, and one other player (to be featured soon) for two spots.  Likely Harrington gets in over Seidel because of age and the third player bests him because of glamour wins.  Seidel is getting in soon.   If not this year, it’s next year.  Truly, one of the greatest Texas Hold’em players of all time.

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Meet the 2010 November Nine… Michael Mizrachi Part II

Aug 21

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

Last year, Phil Ivey ran his AK into Darvin Moon’s AQ which promptly flopped an Ace to put him out of the tournament. The Grinder is this year’s Phil Ivey and it is likely the Grinder will also only get eliminated after getting it in with the best of it. If Mizrachi does pull off the unlikely, and win the Texas Holdem poker event, he’ll double his just short of 9 million career earnings and leap to first place in live tournament winnings with just under 18 million for his career.

Phil Ivey used multiple prop bets to motivate him to win the event and some observers say he actually came off as passive and tight. It was clear he had only one goal in mind winning the tournament. While it’s clear the Grinder wants to win too, he realizes just making the final table is a huge accomplishment and he’s going to make the best of it. He told Cardplayer that he likes his chances, “Ive been in every situation poossible, in tournaments and I think, I’m more dangerous with a short stack than a big stack.” This may be the world’s most lucrative Sit and go poker tournament but it is still a poker tournament.

Again the parallels to Ivey’s run last year are apparent. Ivey also came in with an under average chip stack and despite his ballyhooed prowess couldn’t overcome the deficit. The Grinder is a very similar seventh in chips, and because of the extended final bubble play it requred to knock out 10th place Brandon Steven the blinds will be nipping at his heels. His short stack “ninja” skills will be tested in the grandest stage possible.

To put the just under 9 million dollar to first place number in perspective, the Grinder’s 8.9 million in earnings is already one of the highest in poker and he’d be doubling that. Phil Ivey is the current leader with 13.4 million and Daniel Negreanu is second with 12.6 million. The Grinder’s epic World Series would go down as maybe the greatest summer of all time at the Rio for any professional poker player ever. He would be tied for Player of the Year, he’d win the main event (something no previous Player of the Year has done), he’d have two bracelets (bookending them in the two biggest events of the Series) and have four final tables.

The other two final tables? They weren’t events to sneeze at either. One was the 10k Seven Card Stud World Championship and the other the 10k Limit Hold’em World Championship. What a range of disciplines for the Grinder to conquer. Even more impressive is the fact that Mizrachi has made many of these deep runs with his brothers having almost as much success. While it’s in dispute if this has been the year of the Grinder, if he goes out first, there is no doubting it’s been the summer of the Mizrachis.

The four Mizrachi brothers all went deep in the Main Event, and Michael shared the 50k Players Championship final table with his brother. His financial misfortune he unfortunately also shared with his family. His brother Robert jointly owned one of two Grinder condos that were facing foreclosure. The Grinder also had a 339k tax lien from the federal government for back taxes.

His totals at the World Series so far? 1.559 million for the Poker Playe’s Championship. Just under 69k for 6th place in the seven Card Stud World Championship. Just under 50k for eight place in the Limit Hold’em World Championship. He had one other cash a 29th place in the Mixed Event 348 for 6k. With 1.68 million and possibly 9 million more to come he could have a 10 million dollar summer. Even if he’s backed and only gets half of that, the Grinder is looking at 5 million to the good. That should keep the tax men away and probably pay off the condos.

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Meet the 2010 World Series of Poker November Nine… Michael Mizrachi Part 1

Aug 19

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

We wanted to save this profile for last, as he is the guy everybody in the poker world is rooting for in many respects.   But why wait.   Just before the World Series started, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi  was at the epicenter of a storm of rumors that he was broke that circulated in every casino. The 29 year-old poker pro from Miami Beach, Florida is now the center of a firestorm of a different sort.

Back then back-taxes, foreclosures, and poorly managed tournament wins among a spiderweb of backing agreements were topics everybody were discussing in regard to Mizrachi.  He seemed in a hole with no way out, he’d almost be better off hitting the slots.  Using the World Series results of the Grinder in the past, most thought that summer would only make things worse.   Sure, the Grinder has had 15 cashes at the World Series but five of the came in his rookie season in 2005.  As for a big score?  He had never won a bracelet and seemed to run as bad or worse than anybody when it mattered most. 

One tournament into the Series, the 50k buy-in Players Championship, turned into his first bracelet, and all those whispered conversations had changed into euphoric loud congratulations.  Even if he was broke surely he had won enough to be at least be back to even.  Well liked on the circuit it was a feel good story, and if that was the conclusion to the tale it was a satisfactory one.

Mizrachi wasn’t done.  With a strong follow up in several other events and more cashes during the World Series, Mizrachi entered the Main Event as one of the few players to be able to win the Player of the Year award.   Granted it was an almost impossible shot to tie Frank Kasella on points, because all Mizrachi had to do was win the entire thing.  With over 7000 runners this year that seemed preposterous, but then again a couple of months ago it seemed like Mizrachi’s financials would drown his poker career and he’d go the way of sob stories TJ Cloutier and Eskimo Clark. 

Mizrachi comes from a family of gamblers and while nobody’s suggested Mizrachi has played craps at the stakes or regularity of Cloutier or Phil Ivey, there were whispers going up and down the Rio’s hallways he was broke.  Now, the only whispers are about whether or no Mizrachi can do what Phil Ivey couldn’t do last year and be the big name pro at the final table that wins the title.

Mizrachi’s success on the WPT, which got a lot of TV time during the Travel Channel’s high day of broadcasting the game, makes him a bit of a household name.  Well, as “household” as a poker player not named Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, or Phil Hellmuth can be.  If he wins this Main Event in November he’ll move into that category.  Again, prior to the World Series or even during it, that type of recognition seemed light years away.

Don’t underestimate the Grinder.  Mizrachi lived up to his nickname on his way to the final table.  His stack got precipitously short on a number of occasions and he just dug in and grinded his way back.  He climbed all the way to the top of the chip-leaders and battled back after losing big pots.  His steady play and steely disposition had to put fear in his opponents when they return.

Certainly, eyes will be on John Duhamel and John Dolan, who are 1-2 in chips but nobody’s going to tangle with the Grinder too much if they can help it.  Dolan showed the nerve to amass chips on the bubble and Duhamel won a couple of critical and huge pots, but the Grinder isn’t going anywhere.

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Meet the 2010 World Series of Poker November Nine… Filippo Candio

Aug 16

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

Filippo Candio returns to the World Series of Poker with 16.4 million in chips. The Cagliari, Itay native is vying to become the first Italian to win the Main Event and one of only a few Europeans to accomplish the feat. While many thought the young prodigy Dario Minieri might the man to do it for Italy, it’s Candio who now is carrying the flag deeper than any Italian has ever been. It’s no shock his breakout is in tournament poker as it is the only form of poker legal in Itay. Winning at Texas Holdem is nothing new for Candio. He has almost a 1/4 million of poker winnings in live tournament play. Candio won the bulk of that in the January 2009 Euro Campionato Italiano main event. He shipped the 2k buy-in to win almost 185k.

He knows how to play poker successfully in Europe and in the United States. In fact, this will not be his first World Series of Poker cash as he finished in the money (157th) for just under 4k at $1500 No Limit Hold ‘Em event this year. He’s also made two five figure scores, both in Europe. At the 2010 EPT Deauville Main Event (he finished 97th) for a little over 11k and at the 2009 Euro No Limit Hold Hold’Em IPT San Remo 4, 500 Euro (buy-in) he went to the cage to collect a touch over 11k for a second place finish. In 2008, he won just under 9k for his 300 Euro (buy-in) at the No Limit Hold’Em Royal Poker Tour, where he also finished second.

Candio played a huge hand against Joseph Cheong that really propelled to the November Nine. On day 8 of the World Series of Poker main event Candio called a 3 bet from Cheong prior to flop. Candio took a risk with 7s5s and stuck to his hand. The flop was six of hearts, five of clubs and six of clubs. Cheong fired again. Candio cagelily raised Cheong’s 1.1 million chip bet to 4.4 million. Action back to Cheong who shoved. After some time in the tank, Candio put his tournament at risk with his two pair.

Cheong flipped over pocket rockets just the kind of a hand that would 3bet preflop. The turn gave Candio new life. Unlike the Italian national soccer team the Azzuri in the World Cup four years ago, Candio had to catch up and catch up fast. A country that stakes it’s national identity on hard-nosed defense had a poker player in desperate need of some instant offense.

The turn was kind to Candioas an 8 fell. He caught his breath as the river was even kinder. A 4 ended Cheong’s hopes of knocking out Candio and Candio’s risky play was rewarded. This type of risk taking with a pair of fives was atypical for Candio. As the bubble for the final table neared Candio did what many before him has done. Perhaps, understanding far more was at stake than just another final table, Candio was going to get there regardless. While others opened up their games and grew their stacks, Candio sat tight and just waited for premium hands.

Surrounded by sharks like Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, John Racener, John Dolan, the sledding will be rough for Candio. His father is an extremely famous lawyer and Candio was supposed to follow in his fathers footsteps. Like a Italian version of the movie Rounders Candio was drawn to poker and not to the legal profession. He studied the classics in college including Greek and Latin but found the drama in the live poker tournaments too tense to resist.

Candio, who is an entrepreneur, has his own poker themed clothing line but would like nothing better than to get into the jewelry business in November.

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Meet the World Series of Poker November Nine… Cuong (Soi) Nguyen

Aug 13

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

Nguyen is pronounced win.  That was true before Scottie Nguyen took down the Main Event, Men “The Master” Nguyen became one of the career leaders in lifetime earnings, Minh Nguyen (which should be Allen Kessler’s Vietnamese name based on pronunciation) won two WSOP bracelets, and any number of Nguyens won a poker tournament.  Brunson may be the first family in poker, but Nguyen is the first name in casino poker.  Therefore it’s no surprise Cuong Nguyen is at the final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event.  The only surprising thing may be that his first name is Cuong and not Scottie or Men.

Cuoung Nguyen unlike the other Nguyen-ers is playing on his fourth live poker tournament.  With the aggression that comes so easy to a rank novice Cuong steamrolled through the World Series of Poker’s Main Event early days as cooly as if he were playing a $5 Sit’n go tournaments.  His pressure with a big stack and his willingness to let it ride took him quickly to the top of the chipleader board.  Unlike many that have come before him he’s stayed there and his aggression hasn’t come back to bite him yet. 

Born in Vietnam, Cuong found poker a little late in life, but like the other November Niners he is delighted he found it.  The 37 year old Medical supplies distributor from California understood a few key principles in live tournament poker but applied them with the heart of a champion.  Aggression wins tournaments, chips win tournaments, and you have to be willing to gamble to win tournaments.  Nguyen didn’t sit on his chips, didn’t avoid confrontations, and applied pressure through-out the event.

He returns in November with the eighth largest chip stack and probably is forced to find a new way to play.  He won’t be able to bully any of the stacks at the table with only 9.65 million in chips.  Though, his aggression early on could certainly flip things back to the way he likes them.  The Santa Ana native will be itching to return to his reign of terror on the Main Event felt.

A hand that typifies his fearlessness was a pot he played to knock out Patrick Eskander.  Eskander shoved preflop, Nguyen called with Pascal LeFrancois also calling.  The board dropped Q910 and Nguyen pushed out a bet.  The frenchman left Nguyen to try and knock out Eskander on his own.  Nguyen turned over KQ for top pair, Eskander had but A7 for Ace high.  The two waited with bated breath as the turn and the river were dealt out.  Nguyen breathed a sigh of relief as a 10 fell on the turn, and exhaled even bigger as a King hit the river gave him two pair.  Eskander headed for the exit, and could only wish in retrospect a Jack was dropped on the turn instead of the 10.

Nguyen held the chip lead in the entire tournament 22 eliminations prior to that.  Nguyen won a huge pot against the chip-leader at the time Theo Jorgensen.  Nguyen didn’t mind mixing it up with one of the few guys that could eliminated him on day 6.   In a hand that typified Nguyen’s play the California check-raised a pot with top pair.

Perhaps, reckless but successful.  The hand had three players see the flop.  Nguyen checked, Theo Jorgensen bet out with the board reading Kc5h9c.  Nguyen looked at KJ in the hole (jack of clubs) and found the commitment to push a bet over the top, raising Jorgensen’s 525k bet to 1.5 million.  Jorgensen  pumped that up to four million.  That was over half of Nguyen’s stack of 7.6 million. 

Nguyen tanked and shoved all-in.  Jorgensen called withh the Ac3C for the nut flush draw.  When the board bricked out for Jorgensen he was crippled and Nguyen took over the leader spot with almost 20 million in chips.

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Meet the World Series of Poker November Nine… Jason Senti

Aug 12

Posted by bill in Poker News, Poker Profiles

This November poker online instructor Jason Senti will seek to show his students how to close out a tournament.  Unfortunately, the educator will come into the final nine of the World Series of Poker Main Event with the least amount of chips.  His stack of only 7.63 million will be just over 15 big blinds when the cameras start rolling.  The small blind of 250,000 and big blind of 500,000 will be the looming obstacles for Senti at first as he seeks to turn mere survival instinct into a victory in the World’s biggest poker tournament.   Rest assured Senti knows how to play poker with any stack size and will be gunning for first.

Unlike some of the November Niners Jason Senti has a home page.  He’s atypical of the mix, but with a first name starting with J he was close to being very similar to 33% of the remaining players. If his parents had named him John instead of Jason he’d be like three other players at the final table; John Dolan, Jonathan Duhamel and John Racener. 

Known online as PBJaxx, Senti started life in Grand Forks, ND. He didn’t travel too far to get his college degree staying in his home state of North Dakota. With a penchant for math he went into engineering and earned a B.S. in electrical engineering at the University of North Dakota. This would be where Norman Chad would say “I believe they are known as the Wrambling Wreck.” Side note: last year it was the Raging Cajuns and the year before it was the Demon Deacons. Talk aboout a joke wearing thin.

For those wondering the University of North Dakota is in the market for a nickname as they are retiring the old nickname of the Fighting Sioux. So oddly, for once they could actually end up being the Wrambling Wreck–though that is very unlikely. Being from the same hometown as UND Senti is probably aware how entrenched his college name is locally. However, even if the good folks of Grand Forks no longer have the Fighting Sioux to root for they do have Senti.

Senti’s career trajectory, like that of chipleader Jonathan Duhamel, and many poker players involved a big decision about life and his occupation. One day in 2007 Senti recognized he was making more money playing poker than he was at his 9 to 5 job. Senti started playing poker at night in 2005, in 2006 he moved from tournaments to cash games, and has been crushing it ever since. He left his job in electrical engineering and devoted himself full time to his new vocation. In 2009, he finished 21st in the World Championship of Heads-Up No Limit poker at the WSOP.

Senti could have been sitting on a bigger stack when he returned had he won a big pot with eventual bubble boy Brandon Steven. Though Senti watched his one time 4th biggest stack dwindle down during the day it was that critical hand that really changed his momentum. With 10 players left Senti almost busted Steven.

Steven got all his chips to the middle preflop when he looked down at the relatively big hand of Ace King straight. Senti felt compelled to call with unsuited King Ten and didn’t like it. He liked it even less when he saw how dominated he was. He would need a 10 or an unlikely straight or flush to catch up and it didn’t come. Steven and Senti stood up to watch the board come.

The flop of Queen, five, Eight didn’t do much or either. The turn punched Senti in the stomach and took all the drama out of the room as an Ace fell. The meaningless river card was a six. Steven had hope for a moment but ended up giving Senti’s chips to somebody else and still finished 10th.

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