2006 August 06 Poker News, Events and Happenings

LAS VEGAS Not all the people who busted out of the World Series of Poker out of the money this week went home with nothing.

BIG NEWS: Humberto Brenes remained one of the last big-name pros still in the running to win the World Series of Poker with 480,000 in chips. Brenes was playing cautiously, even folding a pair of jacks when an opponent bet an amount that would put him all-in. “I have time. I’ll come back,” he said.

It used to be that day three at the main event of the World Series of Poker was considered ‘moving day’ – that is the day that players either rise to the top for the stretch run…

A former Hollywood talent agent who was part of a celebrity team of players was battling for the lead in the World Series of Poker on Sunday with 3.2 million in chips. Jamie Gold, the 36-year-old former agent to The Sopranos star James Gandolfini and Desperate Housewives actress Felicity Huffman, amassed a terrifying stack that helped him command his table.

The scheduled play is from 300 players down to 150 on Day Five of the 37th annual World Series of Poker Main Event. Proportionally few professionals remain in the hunt for the $12 million first prize, or at least landing in the top 12 positions, each of which pays a minimum of $1 million this year. Compare that to last year’s top nine positions paying $1 million and a final price of $7.5 million, and you can see the exponential growth that is occurring in the World Series of Poker…

Playing at the online poker room Titan Poker, player Mark Walgora has won the Rio Sit and Go tournament, claiming $35,000. The jackpot prize was won by winning six straight Sit and Go tournaments in a row, spending $23.50 on each of them and as a result taking down $35,000 to call his own. Walgora, a Titan Poker VIP member, credits his win to a balanced aggressive play, stealing blinds and antes but not scaring off his opponent when he had good cards…

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Defending champion Joseph Hachem was knocked out of the World Series of Poker on Saturday night and finished in 238th place. Hachem, who won $7.5 million US last year, went all-in with a pair of aces, but lost to his opponents three of a kind.