Full Tilt Shut Down Worldwide

Today Full Tilt was instructed by the Alderney Gaming Control Commission in Britian's Channel Islands to shutdown it's entire operation.  Players around the world trying to log on to the Full Tilt gaming software were unable to not only play, but to withdraw any funds that are currently on the site.


Here is the statement from the regulator in its entirety:

“In the matters of:-VANTAGE LIMITED OXALIC LIMITED FILCO LIMITED And ORINIC LIMITED
Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has today issued Hearing Notices under Regulation 46 of the Alderney eGambling Regulations, 2009 to the above named companies who collectively trade as FULL TILT POKER.

In addition, AGCC has issued Suspension Notices under Regulation 47 of the Alderney eGambling Regulations, 2009 to the above named companies requiring them to immediately suspend operations.

The above named companies must, until the Suspension Notices are cancelled or the Commissioners of AGCC have reached a determination at the conclusion of the hearing convened in accordance with Regulation 46 of the Alderney eGambling Regulations, 2009 cease to exercise their eGambling licenses, which means that these licensees must from today cease to:-

Register new customers;
Accept deposits from existing customers;
Allow existing customers to withdraw funds that are held in their accounts; and
Permit customers to participate in any form of poker game play or gambling
transaction.

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission will hear the matters contained in the Hearing Notices at a Regulatory Hearing which will commence at 10.00am on Tuesday 26th July, 2011 at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel, 239 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1EQ. In the event that there is a change to these details this notice will be amended.

André Wilsenach (Executive Director) Alderney Gambling Control Commission Alderney, Channel Islands"

This action in large part due to the indictments laid against some members of the company this past April by the U.S. Justice Department. Added to this was the concern the Alderney Gaming Control expressed about Full Tilt's failure to pay the $150 million owed to American poker players.  This echoes the concerns that Phil Ivey brought forward in his lawsuit against Full Tilt in May.  You can read more about Ivey's lawsuits here - Phil Ivey Pulls Out of the 2011 WSOP and here - Ivey-Tiltware Complaint 060111.

Full Tilt will have it's license suspended at least until July 26, 2011 when there will be a hearing about the matter.

For now Full Tilt is looking for backers so that it can make good on the money it owes it's players.  One name that might have already expressed interest according to the Wall Street Journal On-Line is Jack Binion, a well known poker personality.

Here is the link to the Wall Street Journal story - Regulator Closes Full Tilt Poker Website

Jack Binion - Possible backer?

Poker in Books; Ace on the River

Ace on the River by Barry Greenstein is a poker book like no other.  It covers more aspects of being a poker player than simply coaching for actual play.  This book is the result of a request from Doyle Brunson to contribute a chapter to his book Super/System 2 in 2004.  Barry set out to write the requested 20 pages on how to make money at poker, which he felt would tie in well with the technical information in the rest of the book.  Those 20 pages turned into this 316 page must read / must own "advanced poker guide".

Pass The Dip Review

Barry Greenstein is one of the great all time poker minds.  He is one of the most respected players on the pro circuit today for his knowledge, integrity and charitable nature.  He has been called "The Robin Hood" of poker because of his pledge to donate his tournament winnings to charity.

The book itself has 3 main sections before the Addenda.  Part 1 - The Poker World covers Barry's career and then talks about superstition, poker society and how to behave in poker society.  Part 2 - Philosophy is an interesting read covers a great deal of topics including psychology of gambling, brain chemistry, integrity, holding on to money, protecting yourself, poker and your family, poker and your sexuality and poker and productive society.  Part 3 - Advanced play finally moves on to the mathematics of poker, game theory, chaos, poker on the internet and some play lessons.

This book is very hard to put down once you crack the spine.  It's production value is phenomenal and includes beautiful high gloss pictures on every page of famous poker players and poker venues.  Barry's style is one that is easy to read and he is at home teaching and writing about poker.  His stories are entertaining and back up the points he is making.  Barry processes the poker life differently than most, or maybe he just can put concepts into words better than others.  He seems to think about topics that others don't, but when you read his instruction, you can't believe that others aren't giving these subjects much weight.

As good friend to Barry Greenstein, Phil Ivey says "Other players don't think about poker like Barry does".

2011 WSOP Event 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 & 38 Winners

Event #32:  No Limit Hold'em

Kirk Caldwell - Event #32 winner

Buy-in: $1 500
Prizepool:  $3 817 800
Entries:  2 828

First place money:  $668 292

Canadian Kirk Caldwell from Orangeville won Canada yet another bracelet at the 2011 WSOP.  Actually, Canadians were able to take home the lion's share of the total prize pool thanks to 1st, 3rd and 4th place finishes.

Event #33:  Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship

Eric Rodawig - Event #33 winner

Buy-in: $10 000
Prizepool:  $1 579 200
Entries:  168

First place money:  $442 183

Eric Rodawig took down an impressive final table to win his first WSOP bracelet.  The masses certainly has someone to sweat as the "Poker Brat" Phil Hellmuth came second in this event after failing to overcome an enormous chip advantage when play got heads up.  November Niner John Racener, Ted Forrest and David Benyamine finished in 3rd, 4th and 5th, while Erik Seidel had his third and highest cash of the series with a 13th place finish.  Phil Hellmuth is now atop the WSOP player of the year leaderboard.

Event #34:  No Limit Hold'em

Mark Schmid - Event #34 winner

Buy-in: $1 000
Prizepool:  $2 829 600
Entries:  3 144

First place money:  $488 283

Bring on another donkament!  The $1 000 buy in is the lowest open event in the WSOP and Mark Schmid walks away with not only a bracelet but a breathtaking profit on his lowly buy in.

Event #35:  Pot Limit Omaha / Six Handed

Jason Mercier - Event #35 winner

Buy-in: $5 000
Prizepool:  $2 382 900
Entries:  507

First place money:  $919 575

In the first 6 handed PLO tournament ever held at the WSOP, Jason Mercier took the top prize, adding the bracelet to the PLO bracelet he won at the 2009 WSOP.  Some of the notable finishers were "who'd you like to most punch in the face candidate" David "Devilfish" Ulliott (13th), Tom Dwan (15th), Erick Lindgren (17th) and Vanessa Selbst (18th).  Mercier also wins "my favourite winner's photo to date" award.

Event #36:  No Limit Hold'em

Mikhail Lakhitov - Event #36 winner

Buy-in: $2 500
Prizepool:  $3 944 850
Entries:  1 734

First place money:  $749 610

To get to the final day of play, Mikhail Lakhitov outlasted 1729 others and loud drunken Brits downing "Shoe bombs".  After a sleep break, he outlasted the remaining 4 other players to take home his first coveted WSOP bracelet.

Event #37:  H.O.R.S.E. Championship

Fabrice Soulier - Event #37 winner

Buy-in: $10 000
Prizepool:  $2 256 000
Entries:  240

First place money:  $609 130

Tom Dwan had the world watching as he climbed through the field until he held the big stack at the final table.  After he went out in 5th, Fabrice Soulier was the class of the field and bested Canadian Shawn Buchanan heads up to win the prestigious H.O.R.S.E. gold bracelet.

Event #38:  No Limit Hold'em

Arkadiy Tsinis - Event #38 winner

Buy-in: $1 500
Prizepool:  $2 959 200
Entries:  2 192

First place money:  $540 136

Not only is Arkadiy Tsinis the third Ukrainian to win a bracelet in this years WSOP (bringing Ukraine's WSOP lifetime bracelet haul up to a total of 3), he is also a chess pro and a top 20 world backgammon player.  I'll bet strategy had something to do with this win...

2011 WSOP Event 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31 Winners

Event #25:  Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better

Chris Viox - Event #24 winner

Buy-in: $1 500
Prizepool:  $818 100
Entries:  606

First place money:  $213 431

This event was supposed to take only 3 days but once it went heads up between poker announcer and crowd favourite, Mike Sexton and Chris Viox, a winner could not be determined in the allotted time.  This was the first time play has been suspended with only 2 players left since the november nine.  Once day 4 came, Viox made short work of the short stacked Sexton in less than an hour.

Event #26:  No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed

Oleksii Kovalchuk, Event #26 winner

Buy-in: $2 500
Prizepool:  $3 134 950
Entries:  1 378

First place money:  $689 739

A scan down the money list for this event, looks like it was put on by the united nations rather than the WSOP.  Oleskii Kovalchuk from the Ukraine took this one down for a fist-full of money; $689 739 to be exact.  That is what Ilya Kovalchuk of the New Jersey Devils makes in 8 1/2 games.

Event #27:  Limit Hold'em Championship

Daniel Idema - Event #27 winner

Buy-in: $10 000
Prizepool:  $1 428 800
Entries:  152

First place money:  $378 642

Canada has taken down another event at this year's WSOP.  Daniel Idema conquered a final table that included big names such as Barry Greenstein (3rd), Justin "Boosted J" Smith (6th), Isaac Haxton (7th), and Nick Shulman (9th) to win this championship event.

Event #28:  No Limit Hold'em

Andy Frankenberger - Event #28 winner

Buy-in: $1 500
Prizepool:  $3 375 000
Entries:  2 500

First place money:  $599 153

The World Poker Tour's player of the year for 2010, Andy Frankenberger has another piece of hardware for his mantle.  He just took down a 2 500 player field in what was reported to be fast and brutal tournament that saw plenty of coolers.  Owen Crowe from Halifax was the top Canadian in 4th place - his 4th final table in 4 years.

Event #29:  10-Game Mix / Six Handed

Chris Lee - Event #29 winner

Buy-in: $2 500
Prizepool:  $980 525
Entries:  431

First place money:  $254 955

Chris Lee won the three day event in day 4 - a trend at this year's WSOP.  Shaun Deeb, the 4th place finisher was reported to be in almost every pot in every game and yo-yo'd his chip stack to the last elimination on day 3.

Event #30:  Seniors No-Limit Championship

James Hess - Event #30 winner

Buy-in: $1 000
Prizepool:  $3 376 800
Entries:  3 752

First place money:  $557 435

The 3 752 players that played in this event set a record for an opening day field.  James Hess took down his first WSOP bracelet with pure aggression throughout day #3.  I scanned the money list, but Sheldonkey did not appear to place.

Event #31:  Pot Limit Omaha

Sam Stein - Event #31 winner

Buy-in: $3 000
Prizepool:  $1 870 050
Entries:  685

First place money:  $420 802

Sam Stein has his 3rd cash of this year's WSOP and his first bracelet.  His other cashes were in Event #13 (No-Limit Shootout) where he finished 74th and Event #7 (Pot Limit Hold'em Championship) where he finished 3rd for $264 651.  What have you done this summer?