Marti Roca De Torres wins WSOP Europe

Spaniard wins WSOP Europe
WORLD SERIES OF POKER

The renowned Spanish player Marti Roca De Torres became the last man in WSOP Europe's main event and was rewarded with just over € 1.1 million in prize money.

It became Spanish Marti Roca De Torres who took home the main event this year's edition of the World Series of Poker. He was awarded the honor, a winning bracelet and € 1 115 207 in prize money. Torres had qualified via a € 200 satellite, and his total recorded prize money before this tournament amounted to $ 30,000.

Maria Ho led the tournament before the final day but left first of the six remaining players. She and Niall Farrell fought in a spectacular three-way allin where HO had AJ, Farell KK and Torres AA.

1 - Marti Roca de Torres - € 1 115 207
2 - Gianluca Speranza - € 689 246
3 - Mathijs Jonkers - € 476 585
4 - Robert Bickley - € 335 089
5 - Niall Farrell - € 239 639
6 - Maria Ho - € 174 365

Sammy Farha tipped dealer $25,000...by mistake

The insane mistake took place at Bobby's Room on Bellagio in Las Vegas, where the biggest high stakes cash games are said to take place. According to a source from acemag.dk Sammy Farha had just won an massive pot and as common curtsey for many players he tipped the female dealer with a chip. The female dealer who noticed that the chip was not just A chip, but a $25,000 US dollar chip, was quick to tuck it into her pocket and safety.

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One of the players at the table who had noticed the massive tip asked Farah if it was intended to tip the female dealer that big. Farha who then realised the fatal error he had made let the dealer know that it was by mistake and asked for the chip back. The dealer who was not very keen on giving the chip back to Farah refused.
However, as one of the players around the table was the owner of Bellagio himself she was advised that she would not be able to exchange the chip in any Casino in the whole world, neither would she be keeping her job. Obviously this was not a very pleasant situation for the girl and she returned the chip to Farha.

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What the hell - I'm feeling lucky!

Playing Poker for Charity

If you’re into the cult phenomena known as Texas Hold‘em, chances are you’ve already played in a charity tournament. Local newspapers are loaded with advertisements for weekend tournaments to raise money for charities. And there are many advantages to participating in these events.

The biggest advantage is helping a worthy charity raise money and the possibility of winning a large payout yourself. Inexperienced players can get in on the action to learn the game in a relatively friendly atmosphere. The buy-in for charity tournaments range from $25 to $50. These events will often offer door prizes, 50/50 drawings, and raffles. For a little extra, you can also buy-in to the bad beat or high hand jackpots. In addition, side games are set up for players who have been knocked out of the main tournament with yet another chance to win money. Being the first player knocked out also has its advantages. This is generally in the form of a consolation prize.

If you sign-up on the mailing list, you’ll receive notices of future tournaments and events. Other players are also good resources to find more tournaments. They provide feedback on the location, dates, times, organization, payouts, and other pertinent information for the event. You will see many of the same faces every weekend at charity tournaments. These regulars set the tone of the game, which is usually fun and laid back.

The charity will usually take a 30-40% rake of the buy-in, the remainder is used for payout. Depending on the number of entrants, thousands of dollars can be raised in a single night. Some charities will also take a rake from the side tables to increase the funds raised.

Of course, there are also disadvantages to the players at these types of tournaments. The payout amounts and number of places paid are generally low. But perhaps the biggest problem is that the majority of charity tournaments are poorly organized. At times, the players have more knowledge of the game than the persons in charge. Resolving conflicts can be a challenge. Typed rules can be found at some games, but these are usually general and will not cover issues such as misdeals, dead button versus moving button or verbal discrepancies with chip stacks.

As a rule, dedicated dealers are not used, so the players pass the deal. This allows more opportunity for misdeals. Long, rectangular folding tables provide yet another obstacle to overcome when dealing. This type of playing surface also makes it difficult for players to protect their hands due to the cramped set-up.

Cheap cards that are usually donated will get bent and marked easily. The light-weight plastic chips have a tendency to scatter easily. Trying to remember the denomination of the chips is sometimes a chore because of the inconsistency or lack of attention to detail. Blinds are not always raised in a timely manner or tables balanced properly. Also, time limits may be imposed to end the game with a chip count deciding the winner. The caliber of your opponents may also be an obstacle to overcome.

Overall, the advantages to charity tournaments outweigh the disadvantages. If you’re passionate about Texas Hold ‘Em, buy in to a local charity tournament. You’ll raise money for a worthwhile cause doing something you love – it’s a win-win situation.

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I have attended several of these charity tournaments and I feel it's a great way to enjoy yourself and also do a good deed for a good cause. Sure, it can be a little bit messy but over all I've had a great experience and no one basically plays for the money so you see some really fun stuff at the tables. Great entertainment and very nice atmosphere!


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Resources:

www.hollywoodpoker.com/../playing-for-charity.html