Not too many moons ago I was having a conversation with one of our poker blogging brethren and I made a prediction that out of our little community would rise some of tomorrow’s poker immortals. Much in the same way as the 2+2 community can lay claim to having given the world Greg Raymer, the poker blogosphere would eventually begin to produce some high-profile poker players of its own.
Last night, the bar just got inched up a bit. Our own Ryan (Absinthe’s Troubles) took down first place at the LA Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino in Event #1 ($300 +$30). First spot was officially recorded at $113,583.
Back in October while describing our Murder’s Row game, in which Ryan is a regular, I described Ryan as:
Probably the only guy who Mrs. Hdouble fears. Ryan is a much better player than his bankroll would indicate. If Daniel Negreanu thinks seven levels deep, Ryan is thinking eight levels deep. One of the few bloggers who has ever pushed me off a better hand in a limit cash game.
I guess the issues with his bankroll have been solved. He might even be able to afford to host his own blog and quit using Blogger :-)
While his win last night stands as the biggest and most recent achievement in our little circle of friends, it shouldn’t diminish the awesome results the poker blogging community has seen.
Franklin’s wife, Facty (I’ve never read a poker book), took down first in the $16K Guarantee at Full Tilt Poker this week.
CJ and Joe Speaker have been on a rampage over the last few months. If my memory serves me correctly (which is always questionable), CJ mentioned that he had cashed for over $12K in tournament winnings in the month or so leading up to the WPBT event in Dec.
When you combine that with all of the smaller wins and those who have been consistently grinding it out successfully at cash games and SnG’s I would say it’s a pretty impressive feat.
So, looking back on my previously mentioned prediction, I am even more confident that the poker blogosphere will produce a poker immortal. My guess is that within the next 3 – 5 years we’ll be able to call a WSOP bracelet winner one our brothers (or sisters). I also predict that not too long from now we’ll watch a poker blogger at the final table of a televised event.
And while I wouldn’t mind fulfilling both of those prophecies myself, I’m just proud to know so many of you talented people.
[tags]LA Poker Classic, WSOP, Tournaments, Poker, Poker Bloggers[/tags]
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Hi, my name is Bill Rini and this is my poker blog. I've been blogging about poker and the poker industry since around 2003-ish. Like most people I started out playing poker as entertainment in home games whenever we wanted to sit around and smoke cigars, drink beer, and eat pizza, and needed a good excuse. I started playing online shortly after the first online card rooms opened and it wasn't long before I was playing 20, 30, or even 40 hours a week or more. One day I received a phone call about a program manager position at Tiltware which was the company that consulted to Full Tilt Poker on software development and marketing. After Tiltware I spent about 2.5 years working at Party Poker where I was the poker room manager.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
*gasp*
Bill Rini I am shocked! SHOCKED! that you would slag me on your blog.
It was The Future Mrs Hanel who has never read a Poker Book!
I will need a retraction, an apology and a gift.
factually,
facty
I’m pretty sure I’ve heard those words leave your mouth. :-)
If I’m wrong, consider this a retraction, an apology, and I owe you a gift :-)
You’re right. Ryan’s win is big, but we’re collectively gonna do better.
Yeah, real watershed moments going on here. And there’s also Twenty-One Outs Twice’s Chris Fargis who took down the Triple Draw WSOP Circuit Event (although Ryan is more “one of us”… no offense meant to Chris).
In one weekend, bloggers were tossing cards at the LA Poker Classic, the World Poker Open WPT Event, the WSOP Circuit Events and the Winter Poker Open WPT Event. That’s crazy!
Wicked cool to know that I run with a great group of poker players… that is, if I am running with them.. either way, I can saym “I remember when……” :)
> One of the few bloggers who has ever pushed me off a better hand in a limit cash game.
But how many times did he try and fail? Just b/c you were pushed off a hand once in a limit game doesn’t mean it was a +EV move.