Poker in Twitter: Jean-Robert Bellande Battles the Legends and Matt Savage Sails Through Surgery

One of the hot topics over the past few days was the victory on Tuesday by Bryan “badbeatninja” Devonshire at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Championship at Harrah’s Rincon in San Diego. After battling over 4½ hours against former WSOP bracelet winners Howard “Tahoe” Andrew and Dan Schreiber, Devonshire took down a monumental victory in his poker career. As soon as the last card fell, the Tweets bounced across the internet congratulating the 28 year-old online and live professional.

Devonshire started the barrage of Tweets when he chirped, “I did it! Monkey finally off my back, I win no deal! 115k.” While not the largest payday of his career, it was his first significant championship on any of the major tours. His teammates at UB.com seemed to be just as thrilled about his victory as he was.

“Congrats, Devo! Go Team UB!,” Tweeted “Hollywood” Dave Stann moments after Devonshire won, while fellow UB.com pro Tiffany Michelle took Devonshire’s win as a sign: “Geeze team @ultimate_bet is on fire & puttin the pressure on! @devopoker wins WSOP Rincon, think I gotta take down the NAPT Mohegan Sun now!.”

Keeping it in perspective was Devonshire’s PokerRoad B-Team co-host Court Harrington, who Tweeted, “Congrats on the win @devopoker. I just wish there was another digit in the payout.” Finally, fellow young gun Matt “All In At 420” Stout finished off the congratulatory Tweets as he wrote, “congrats to Bryan @devopoker Devonshire on shipping WSOP-C Rincon $115k! finally broke his bridesmaid streak in majors, finally a bride!”

While the tournament in San Diego was wrapping up, other professionals were stepping to the cash game tables with stacks that many couldn’t imagine. Jean-Robert Bellande decided to take on several legends of the poker world in a mixed game session at the Bellagio. With Doyle Brunson, Billy Baxter, and other tough players in the mix, it seemed as though Bellande might be in over his head. “Taking a 20 min break because I’m feeling unusually nervous. @TexDolly makes my stomach turn. He is even better than I thought. 77k,” Tweeted Bellande as others tried to steer him away from the Big Game in Bobby’s Room.

Bellande seemed to run badly from the start as he Tweeted the action throughout Tuesday evening. “2-7nl. Reraised Baxter w 2457x. He called and drew 1. My blind card was a Jack. I turned it in for a Ten. No good. 56k,” Bellande reported from the table, which was followed moments later by another hand against Baxter: “Just made a 7543 badugi vs Baxters pat hand. No good! 43k.” Bellande was able to stay around that level before stopping for the night and coming back the next evening.

On Wednesday night prior to getting down to business, Brunson tweeted to Bellande, “You play poker bad sometimes, but your taste in women is great!” Bellande jokingly Tweeted in response, “Well if you guys get me for this last 43k today, I won’t be sporting any beautiful girlfriends for a while.” What isn’t apparent is how it all ended for Bellande, as he Tweeted late Wednesday evening, “Don’t want to talk about it.”

On a more serious note, Commerce Casino Tournament Director Matt Savage went under the knife on Wednesday for the gallbladder condition he Tweeted about a couple of weeks ago. Savage seemed to be in good spirits prior to the surgery, as he joked, “Yesterday was National Doctor’s Day, I am hoping my surgeon was not out partying too late last night?” Many in the poker community wished him well prior to the procedure, with Gavin Smith Tweeting, “Well wishes to @savagepoker, thinking of you man, don’t hustle the surgeon for more strokes, sometimes you just have to take the worst of it.” The surgery was successful, as his wife Maryann Tweeted after it was finished, “Matt’s fine. Dr says his gallbladder was rotten & for his benefit that it’s out now. Thanx for all the support, I love you all.”

Finally, ESPN poker announcer Norm Chad seems to be challenging Brunson for some of the funnier Tweets of the week. First up for Chad was a comment about poker power couple Chad Brown and Vanessa Rousso: “Chad is married to poker pro @VanessaRousso. If either one of them had met me first, things might been different.” Norm seemed to be warming up for his 2010 WSOP poker duties when he followed up with another gem about the game of poker: “He has cards even the Salvation Army would reject.”

A tremendous amount of activity goes on in the world of poker, whether on the tables or in everyday life. Poker News Daily continues to monitor the lives of poker’s elite and adds to the Twitterverse with information of our own. Be sure to keep up-to-date by adding @pokernewsdaily to follow more about the world of poker in Twitter.

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Casino poker language:

PAY OFF - Calling a bet with little expectation of winning, unless the opponent is bluffing.
PROP - Also PROPOSITION PLAYER. An employee of the gaming establishment whose primary purpose is to keep enough players at a table to prevent breaking up the game for lack of players. Unlike SHILLs "props" make a small hourly wage but play with their own money, winning or losing based on their skill.
MANIAC - A player who bets, raises and reraises without regard to the quality of his hand. Most often found in flop games.
BARN - A FULL HOUSE, three of a kind and a pair.
UNDERDOG - Before all the cards are dealt, a hand that does not figure to be the winner. Ant: FAVORITE.
GUT SHOT - A draw to an inside straight, as in 2-3-4-6.

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