Thursday, August 26, 2004
Website Offers Online Poker CoachingNORTH HAVEN, Connecticut – (PRESS RELEASE) -- PokerCoaching.com today announces the availability of the first-ever professional coaching service, for aspiring poker champions worldwide.
"Serious players who want to win tournament poker now have a powerful new weapon in their arsenal," explained Dan Mezick, Executive Director of PokerCoaching LLC. "What we do is simple to describe: through poker coaching, we enable tournament champions."
PokerCoaching's coaching service to players is personal and tailored to the player's unique experience, talent, and understanding of the game. "A minute to learn and a lifetime to master, that's how Mike Sexton explains it on the World Poker Tour," says Mezick. 'We agree one hundred percent. Our long-term goal is to produce poker champions. We will do that by coaching our students in the techniques, tools and training needed to beat the best tournament players in the world.'
PokerCoaching.com has retained the services of several world class poker professionals. Coaches Jim Bucci, and Bill Seymour, each a well known professional in the poker community, have over 24 years of combined tournament experience. Each has won numerous tournament events. Each brings deep knowledge of tournament poker to the process of coaching aspiring tournament champions.
-- Coach Jim Bucci has achieved thirty-two final tables and has seven tournament wins. Jim is a 23-year veteran of professional poker. One of Jim Bucci's students won over $189 THOUSAND DOLLARS (finishing 3rd) in the $2500 buy-in 2004 World Championship of Online Poker No Limit Texas HoldEm event sponsored by PokerStars.com. This makes one of Coach Jim"s students one of the best online players in the world, as measured by actual tournament results.
-- Coach Bill Seymour has achieved over 75 final tables in tournaments, and has achieved 17 tournament WINS. His most recent win was the 7-stud event held at the WPT WORLD POKER FINALS held at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in November of 2004. Coach Bill has also won literally hundreds of poker tournament "satellites". He is considered by many to be one of the best players in the world. Champion and CardPlayer author Daniel Negreanu has referred to Coach Bill in writing as "a veteran tournament player."
Poker professionals coaching for PokerCoaching.com must have an impressive tournament record and a clearly demonstrated ability to effectively teach players. Seasoned tournament professionals interested in coaching opportunities may visit http://www.PokerCoaching.com to learn more.
For players, PokerCoaching's methodology involves playing poker online while simultaneously discussing hands with the coach-as he watches, on the telephone. 'This method allows our students to discuss specific hands with their coaches, while the coaches themselves gain an understanding of the student's skill level and style of play,' Mezick explained.
Students also get further coaching at World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker events in which the coaches participate.
'Make no mistake about it: tournament poker is now a legitimate sport,' Mezick explains. 'Our intent is to help validate that fact by bringing our innovative, first-ever formal coaching service to the sport. Our coaching service will help elevate poker in the eyes of the public, create winning players, and help advance the rapid evolution of the game.
"With the poker teaching talent our coaches possess, and the popularity of the sport, it is just a matter of time before one of our students makes a final table at a major event.'
"Serious players who want to win tournament poker now have a powerful new weapon in their arsenal," explained Dan Mezick, Executive Director of PokerCoaching LLC. "What we do is simple to describe: through poker coaching, we enable tournament champions."
PokerCoaching's coaching service to players is personal and tailored to the player's unique experience, talent, and understanding of the game. "A minute to learn and a lifetime to master, that's how Mike Sexton explains it on the World Poker Tour," says Mezick. 'We agree one hundred percent. Our long-term goal is to produce poker champions. We will do that by coaching our students in the techniques, tools and training needed to beat the best tournament players in the world.'
PokerCoaching.com has retained the services of several world class poker professionals. Coaches Jim Bucci, and Bill Seymour, each a well known professional in the poker community, have over 24 years of combined tournament experience. Each has won numerous tournament events. Each brings deep knowledge of tournament poker to the process of coaching aspiring tournament champions.
-- Coach Jim Bucci has achieved thirty-two final tables and has seven tournament wins. Jim is a 23-year veteran of professional poker. One of Jim Bucci's students won over $189 THOUSAND DOLLARS (finishing 3rd) in the $2500 buy-in 2004 World Championship of Online Poker No Limit Texas HoldEm event sponsored by PokerStars.com. This makes one of Coach Jim"s students one of the best online players in the world, as measured by actual tournament results.
-- Coach Bill Seymour has achieved over 75 final tables in tournaments, and has achieved 17 tournament WINS. His most recent win was the 7-stud event held at the WPT WORLD POKER FINALS held at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in November of 2004. Coach Bill has also won literally hundreds of poker tournament "satellites". He is considered by many to be one of the best players in the world. Champion and CardPlayer author Daniel Negreanu has referred to Coach Bill in writing as "a veteran tournament player."
Poker professionals coaching for PokerCoaching.com must have an impressive tournament record and a clearly demonstrated ability to effectively teach players. Seasoned tournament professionals interested in coaching opportunities may visit http://www.PokerCoaching.com to learn more.
For players, PokerCoaching's methodology involves playing poker online while simultaneously discussing hands with the coach-as he watches, on the telephone. 'This method allows our students to discuss specific hands with their coaches, while the coaches themselves gain an understanding of the student's skill level and style of play,' Mezick explained.
Students also get further coaching at World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker events in which the coaches participate.
'Make no mistake about it: tournament poker is now a legitimate sport,' Mezick explains. 'Our intent is to help validate that fact by bringing our innovative, first-ever formal coaching service to the sport. Our coaching service will help elevate poker in the eyes of the public, create winning players, and help advance the rapid evolution of the game.
"With the poker teaching talent our coaches possess, and the popularity of the sport, it is just a matter of time before one of our students makes a final table at a major event.'
Telegraph | Money | Hilton lifted by bonanza in bettingHilton, the hotels and Ladbrokes betting group, yesterday admitted it was seeing the first signs of a slowdown from fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) as it posted a chunky set of first-half profits.
Profits leapt from £74.5m to £157m pre-tax and were up 72pc to £190m before tax, goodwill and exceptionals - ahead of analysts' expectations. House broker Deutsche Bank raised full-year forecasts from £350m to £380m, though the shares slipped .25 to 259p.
While the results benefited from the ongoing recovery at the hotels, the main reason for the profits jump was a betting bonanza at Ladbrokes.
Ladbrokes' profits leapt 51pc to £154m, boosted by the roll-out of FOBTs, losing horseracing favourites at Cheltenham and Aintree and upsets at the Euro 2004 football tournament. Ladbrokes' gross win - the amount the punter leaves behind - jumped 26pc to £455m.
Some 59pc of the growth in gross win at the shops was due to the craze for FOBTs, the machines which enable punters to play virtual roulette and other games.
Ladbrokes has now installed 5,864 FOBTs in its 1,900 betting shops, but admitted profits growth had slipped in the first three months since the introduction of a new Code of Conduct, designed to prevent problem gambling.
The code, which restricts stakes, winnings and speed of play has led to a 16pc fall in average weekly gross win.
Brian Wallace, deputy chief executive, said: "At some stage, growth will get to the end - I don't disagree with that - but the rest of the business seems to be doing pretty well."
The gross win from telephone betting rose 95pc to £26m, while e-gaming was up 45pc to £45m, boosted by the growth of online poker.
Hotel profits rose almost 20pc to £67.1m, led by a strong recovery in London where revenue per available room rose 17.2pc, including a 9.4pc increase in room rates.
David Michels, chief executive, said: "It is encouraging to report that hotels across most of our portfolio are now experiencing improvements in both business and leisure traffic, although it will not be before 2005 that rate reacts accordingly."
Some hotel markets remain difficult, notably Paris and Scandinavia, where the £600m Scandic acquisition failed to live up to expectations. Mr Wallace admitted: "We might have picked our timing better, instead of buying it before September 11."
The dividend rose 6pc to 3.6p.
Profits leapt from £74.5m to £157m pre-tax and were up 72pc to £190m before tax, goodwill and exceptionals - ahead of analysts' expectations. House broker Deutsche Bank raised full-year forecasts from £350m to £380m, though the shares slipped .25 to 259p.
While the results benefited from the ongoing recovery at the hotels, the main reason for the profits jump was a betting bonanza at Ladbrokes.
Ladbrokes' profits leapt 51pc to £154m, boosted by the roll-out of FOBTs, losing horseracing favourites at Cheltenham and Aintree and upsets at the Euro 2004 football tournament. Ladbrokes' gross win - the amount the punter leaves behind - jumped 26pc to £455m.
Some 59pc of the growth in gross win at the shops was due to the craze for FOBTs, the machines which enable punters to play virtual roulette and other games.
Ladbrokes has now installed 5,864 FOBTs in its 1,900 betting shops, but admitted profits growth had slipped in the first three months since the introduction of a new Code of Conduct, designed to prevent problem gambling.
The code, which restricts stakes, winnings and speed of play has led to a 16pc fall in average weekly gross win.
Brian Wallace, deputy chief executive, said: "At some stage, growth will get to the end - I don't disagree with that - but the rest of the business seems to be doing pretty well."
The gross win from telephone betting rose 95pc to £26m, while e-gaming was up 45pc to £45m, boosted by the growth of online poker.
Hotel profits rose almost 20pc to £67.1m, led by a strong recovery in London where revenue per available room rose 17.2pc, including a 9.4pc increase in room rates.
David Michels, chief executive, said: "It is encouraging to report that hotels across most of our portfolio are now experiencing improvements in both business and leisure traffic, although it will not be before 2005 that rate reacts accordingly."
Some hotel markets remain difficult, notably Paris and Scandinavia, where the £600m Scandic acquisition failed to live up to expectations. Mr Wallace admitted: "We might have picked our timing better, instead of buying it before September 11."
The dividend rose 6pc to 3.6p.
Las Vegas SUN: License for unused Vegas high-roller gambling salon renewedBy BRENDAN RILEY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - A license for a private salon for high-rolling gambler at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was renewed Thursday despite concerns by a Nevada regulator that it's never been used as intended.
The state Gaming Commission voted unanimously for the renewal, with the chairman, Pete Bernhard, saying he wasn't going to second-guess the MGM's judgment in maintaining the private salon, the first in the state when licensed in 2002 and now one of only three in Nevada casinos.
Bob Moon, marketing chairman for MGM Mirage, said in response to questions that business might improve if regulators would ease a requirement that the salons be open only for players with $500,000 to spend and willing to bet $500 minimums.
Commission member Art Marshall said he had seen a similar salon at an Indian gambling casino in California where a gambler from Nevada lost $10 million - money that could have stayed in this state.
Marshall added he had some initial concerns about high-rollers from foreign countries but now his advice to the MGM Grand is, "Just bring customers."
Moon said that with post-Sept. 11 security upgrades, it's tougher for some foreign gamblers to get visas so they can come to Las Vegas. He also said that despite the lack of use of the salon as intended it's still "a definite tool to attract new business to this state."
The renewal had been endorsed at an Aug. 11 state Gaming Control Board on a 2-1 vote, with board member Bobby Siller voting "no." Siller said he hadn't heard a credible explanation for the non-use of the salon by heavy-spending gamblers.
Siller also said a lot of work went into creating the regulation that allowed such salons - the first step away from a requirement dating to 1931, when Nevada legalized gambling, that the games be conducted in public areas.
In the early days of Nevada gambling, the public area rule guarded against backroom cheating, regulators said. But with the use of cameras and other security devices, that's no longer an issue.
Lawmakers approved the law allowing private salons in 2001, at the urging of resort operators who said Nevada needed to compete with other gambling locales where private wagering is allowed, especially in Europe and Asia.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - A license for a private salon for high-rolling gambler at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was renewed Thursday despite concerns by a Nevada regulator that it's never been used as intended.
The state Gaming Commission voted unanimously for the renewal, with the chairman, Pete Bernhard, saying he wasn't going to second-guess the MGM's judgment in maintaining the private salon, the first in the state when licensed in 2002 and now one of only three in Nevada casinos.
Bob Moon, marketing chairman for MGM Mirage, said in response to questions that business might improve if regulators would ease a requirement that the salons be open only for players with $500,000 to spend and willing to bet $500 minimums.
Commission member Art Marshall said he had seen a similar salon at an Indian gambling casino in California where a gambler from Nevada lost $10 million - money that could have stayed in this state.
Marshall added he had some initial concerns about high-rollers from foreign countries but now his advice to the MGM Grand is, "Just bring customers."
Moon said that with post-Sept. 11 security upgrades, it's tougher for some foreign gamblers to get visas so they can come to Las Vegas. He also said that despite the lack of use of the salon as intended it's still "a definite tool to attract new business to this state."
The renewal had been endorsed at an Aug. 11 state Gaming Control Board on a 2-1 vote, with board member Bobby Siller voting "no." Siller said he hadn't heard a credible explanation for the non-use of the salon by heavy-spending gamblers.
Siller also said a lot of work went into creating the regulation that allowed such salons - the first step away from a requirement dating to 1931, when Nevada legalized gambling, that the games be conducted in public areas.
In the early days of Nevada gambling, the public area rule guarded against backroom cheating, regulators said. But with the use of cameras and other security devices, that's no longer an issue.
Lawmakers approved the law allowing private salons in 2001, at the urging of resort operators who said Nevada needed to compete with other gambling locales where private wagering is allowed, especially in Europe and Asia.
Couture Imposes Will on Belfort, Reclaims UFC Light-Heavyweight TitleAugust 22, 2004
by Josh Gross (joshg@sherdog.com)
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 21 -- It's the age-old story, and Saturday night 41-year-old Randy Couture reminded us that steady beats fast ... steady beats flash ... steady, simply, wins. In front of 12,157 people inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Couture methodically grinded away at UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort's face, forcing the physician at ringside to call a halt to the contest between the third and fourth periods, despite Belfort's protests that he could continue
Couture, who came into the fight a slight -170 favorite in the MGM sportsbook, looked calm as he made his way into the Octagon. The pro-Couture crowd roared as he entered the arena, while Belfort, despite his status as champion, heard a smattering of boos as he, and his large entourage, walked through the nearly-sold-out building.
The opening seconds were a carbon copy of Couture-Belfort II, which saw the American lunge towards his much younger opponent. But instead of Couture reaching for an injured left eye, Couture forced Belfort into the fence, encircling the short-lived champion in his arms.
Belfort, who looked softer in his midsection than at any time in recent memory, tried to compete with Couture in the clinch, exchanging knees to the thighs and chopping punches to the body and head.
It was nearly three minutes before Couture, a one-time world-class Greco Roman wrestler, secured the underhooks he so diligently worked for, planting Belfort on the canvas for the first time. There, the former heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion peppered Belfort with shots from side control.
Between periods, Belfort sat knees-to-chest with his back against the cage fencing, looking as if he was resigned to the fact that unless he did something drastic in the first minute of period two -- like catching Couture with a cut-inducing blow -- he'd be in for a long night.
The next five minutes was all Couture. After another quick clinch, he put Belfort to the mat, propping him back-first against the cage. An assortment of strikes followed, including an elbow that appeared to open a gash on the right side of Belfort's face.
At the post-fight press conference, Belfort claimed it was a headbutt that propagated a stream of blood that would pour down his face for the next round and a half. Yet, said Belfort, he didn't "want to take anything from Randy. Randy looked great tonight."
When asked if it was an elbow or clash of heads that opened the cut, Couture said he was fairly certain it was one of the many elbows he landed in round two. "I didn't notice a headbutt," he said after the fight. "He caught me a couple of times coming in. I hit him with a whole bunch of elbows. I felt like it was an elbow that cut his eye."
The cut was bad enough to prompt referee John McCarthy to call a timeout and bring Belfort over to the ringside physician. After it was cleaned up, the fighters resumed in the same position from which they were pulled, with Couture inside Belfort's open guard as the Brazilian sat against the fence.
Belfort's only offense came seconds later, when the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt almost snagged Couture's right arm. But the veteran fighter freed himself, closing out the period by punishing Belfort to the head.
The third -- and what turned out to be the final -- period saw much of the same. Couture clinched, put Belfort to the mat, pounded away with elbows and short punches while the Brazilian did little but absorb the shots as blood covered the right side of his body -- and much of Couture's shorts.
"When he gets you down on the ground," said UFC president Dana White afterwards, "you're done. There's nothing anyone can do when you're on the ground with Randy."
McCarthy asked the doctor to check the cut, and for a moment it seemed like the bout would continue. But as the referee prepared to re-start action, the doctor waived off the remainder of the bout. Belfort, 12-4-0, protested, but had the fight continued there was probably little he could have done to stem the tide.
Couture, 13-6-0, and his corner celebrated the fourth championship of his UFC career. Still in the ring, the re-crowned light heavyweight king called out PRIDE champion Vanderlei Silva, who answered by joining Couture in the ring.
"The Natural" issued a challenge to Silva, and the PRIDE king gladly excepted.
There has never been an intra-promotional bout between champions; Couture seems intent on changing that. White echoed Couture's sentiments at the post-fight press conference, calling out PRIDE officials who accompanied Silva to Las Vegas.
"I honestly believe I have four guys that can beat Vanderlei Silva -- two of them already did," said White.
Of Couture, said White: "He's a thinking fighter. He picks guys apart. He looks at how they fight. He looks at tapes and comes in with the perfect gameplan and shuts them down, stops whatever weapons they have and totally destroys them."
by Josh Gross (joshg@sherdog.com)
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 21 -- It's the age-old story, and Saturday night 41-year-old Randy Couture reminded us that steady beats fast ... steady beats flash ... steady, simply, wins. In front of 12,157 people inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Couture methodically grinded away at UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort's face, forcing the physician at ringside to call a halt to the contest between the third and fourth periods, despite Belfort's protests that he could continue
Couture, who came into the fight a slight -170 favorite in the MGM sportsbook, looked calm as he made his way into the Octagon. The pro-Couture crowd roared as he entered the arena, while Belfort, despite his status as champion, heard a smattering of boos as he, and his large entourage, walked through the nearly-sold-out building.
The opening seconds were a carbon copy of Couture-Belfort II, which saw the American lunge towards his much younger opponent. But instead of Couture reaching for an injured left eye, Couture forced Belfort into the fence, encircling the short-lived champion in his arms.
Belfort, who looked softer in his midsection than at any time in recent memory, tried to compete with Couture in the clinch, exchanging knees to the thighs and chopping punches to the body and head.
It was nearly three minutes before Couture, a one-time world-class Greco Roman wrestler, secured the underhooks he so diligently worked for, planting Belfort on the canvas for the first time. There, the former heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion peppered Belfort with shots from side control.
Between periods, Belfort sat knees-to-chest with his back against the cage fencing, looking as if he was resigned to the fact that unless he did something drastic in the first minute of period two -- like catching Couture with a cut-inducing blow -- he'd be in for a long night.
The next five minutes was all Couture. After another quick clinch, he put Belfort to the mat, propping him back-first against the cage. An assortment of strikes followed, including an elbow that appeared to open a gash on the right side of Belfort's face.
At the post-fight press conference, Belfort claimed it was a headbutt that propagated a stream of blood that would pour down his face for the next round and a half. Yet, said Belfort, he didn't "want to take anything from Randy. Randy looked great tonight."
When asked if it was an elbow or clash of heads that opened the cut, Couture said he was fairly certain it was one of the many elbows he landed in round two. "I didn't notice a headbutt," he said after the fight. "He caught me a couple of times coming in. I hit him with a whole bunch of elbows. I felt like it was an elbow that cut his eye."
The cut was bad enough to prompt referee John McCarthy to call a timeout and bring Belfort over to the ringside physician. After it was cleaned up, the fighters resumed in the same position from which they were pulled, with Couture inside Belfort's open guard as the Brazilian sat against the fence.
Belfort's only offense came seconds later, when the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt almost snagged Couture's right arm. But the veteran fighter freed himself, closing out the period by punishing Belfort to the head.
The third -- and what turned out to be the final -- period saw much of the same. Couture clinched, put Belfort to the mat, pounded away with elbows and short punches while the Brazilian did little but absorb the shots as blood covered the right side of his body -- and much of Couture's shorts.
"When he gets you down on the ground," said UFC president Dana White afterwards, "you're done. There's nothing anyone can do when you're on the ground with Randy."
McCarthy asked the doctor to check the cut, and for a moment it seemed like the bout would continue. But as the referee prepared to re-start action, the doctor waived off the remainder of the bout. Belfort, 12-4-0, protested, but had the fight continued there was probably little he could have done to stem the tide.
Couture, 13-6-0, and his corner celebrated the fourth championship of his UFC career. Still in the ring, the re-crowned light heavyweight king called out PRIDE champion Vanderlei Silva, who answered by joining Couture in the ring.
"The Natural" issued a challenge to Silva, and the PRIDE king gladly excepted.
There has never been an intra-promotional bout between champions; Couture seems intent on changing that. White echoed Couture's sentiments at the post-fight press conference, calling out PRIDE officials who accompanied Silva to Las Vegas.
"I honestly believe I have four guys that can beat Vanderlei Silva -- two of them already did," said White.
Of Couture, said White: "He's a thinking fighter. He picks guys apart. He looks at how they fight. He looks at tapes and comes in with the perfect gameplan and shuts them down, stops whatever weapons they have and totally destroys them."
