Archive for May 2005
Lucky You and Bay 101
May 31, 2005
At least the movie unions insist that we take weekends off so that I can fly to San Jose to be back at Bay 101 for the weekend tournaments. I have been asked many times why am I still at Bay 101 and the reason is that Bay 101 is home for me. San Jose is where I was born and raised and as long as casino owner Marko Trapani keeps me a part of his family, I will continue to support Bay 101. On the movie set we are closing in on the final weeks and my lines have increased so I need to be sharp and get some sleep, but it has not worked out that way...........so far.
London Open
May 29, 2005
I am working on a new tournament with my partner David Lamb and we are very excited about it. The London Open will take place August 4-6 and carries a $2,000,000 guaranteed prize pool! If you sign up before June 15th you will receive the buy-in for only $9,000 and absolutely no juice. More information to follow.........
The New Shana Hiatt
May 24, 2005
WPT has finally replace the retired Shana Hiatt. Check out the pictures of Courtney Friel!
David Williams Wins Poker Royale - Young Bloods
May 21, 2005
David Williams wins Poker Royale: Young Bloods after see-saw heads-up battle
By Oliver Tse
Special to SavageTournaments.com
HOLLYWOOD -- 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event runner-up David Williams came back from a 5-to-1 chip deficit after relinquishing a 3-to-1 chip lead to win the Poker Royale: Young Bloods No Limit Texas Hold'em poker tournament.
Williams took home $20000 for his victory in the made-for-TV tournament, which was broadcast in its entirety via same-day tape-delay on the GSN television network.
Poker Royale: Young Bloods winner David Williams poses with the trophy.
(SavageTournaments.com photo by Oliver Tse)
In a heads-up battle that lasted 34 hands, Williams was not able to quickly put away his less-experienced opponent, Maxim Magazine staff member Erin Ness.
The New Jersey-born Ness, who was the third highest female finisher (207th place) at the 2004 WSOP Main Event behind Rose Richie of Florida (98th) and Lucy Rokach of England (159th), played cautiously in a straightforward manner as she avoided trouble early in the heads-up match.
Ness laid down A-5 on Hand 21, the first hand of heads-up play, when Williams re-raised with A-K.
Williams was also unable to extract chips from Ness on Hand 27, when Ness missed the flop while holding J-9 against Williams' pocket Aces.
Interviewer Lisa Dergan (holding microphone) prepares to interview the "Young Bloods" after the tournament. From left to right: Tournament Director Rob "Hux" Huxley, David Williams, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Dergan, Erica Schoenberg, Erin Ness, Michael Sandberg, Scott Fischman.
(SavageTournaments.com photo by Oliver Tse.)
Ness took a slight chip lead for the first time on Hand 33. With blinds at 6000-12000, Ness opened for 24000 with Ac Td and Williams called with Ah 8d. On a flop of Ad As Jd. Williams checked, Ness bet 30000, and Williams called. Williams checked and called bets of 30000 by Ness on both the turn card of 7c and the river card of 5c.
"What do you have?" asked Ness.
"I have the winner," answered Williams as he turned over his cards.
"No," said Ness, who flirted with Williams throughout the heads-up match.
Williams, who retook the chip lead from Ness on Hand 36, had two chances to eliminate Ness but was outdrawn twice.
On Hand 42, Williams put Ness all-in with Ac 2h and Ness called with 9s 8h. Ness caught the 9d on the river to survive.
Two hands later on Hand 44, Williams put Ness all-in again with Kd 7d and Ness called with Qc Tc. Williams made a higher pair than Ness on a flop of Ac Kc Qs but Ness made the nut flush on the turn when the 5c hit the board.
Ness took a 5-to-1 chip lead on Hand 48. With blinds at 15000-30000, Williams called with 4-3 and Ness checked with 3-2. On a flop of 5d 5c 2c, Ness checked, Williams moved all-in, and Ness called with hesitation after thinking about a minute. Williams missed his open-ended straight draw on the turn with the Qs and the river with the 5s.
Williams retook a 2-to-1 chip lead on Hand 51. Ness moved all-in with A-T and Williams called with Q-8. Williams outdrew Ness on a flop of Qd Qc 6h. The 2c on the turn clinched the hand for Williams.
"I though I had (the victory)," said Ness to interviewer Lisa Dergan, "but (Williams) pulled those queens out...and that was the beginning of the end for me."
Williams outdrew Ness again on Hand 54 to end the tournament. With blinds at 30000-60000, Williams moved all-in with Q-9 and Ness called with K-6. Williams made top pair on a flop of 9d 7c 6s and improved to two-pair on the turn with the Qc. A harmless 5h fell on the river.
"I was fortunate enough to get lucky at the right time," said Williams to Dergan.
Ness earned $10000 for finishing second.
The "Young Bloods" in action. Seated facing the dealer (wearing orange shirt) from left to right: David Williams, Erin Ness, Michael Sandberg, Erica Schoenberg, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, and Scott Fischman. Tournament Director Rob "Hux" Huxley (standing) watches the action.
(SavageTournaments.com photo by Oliver Tse.)
With each player having 100000 chips and the with blinds at 3000-6000 to start the tournament, the "Young Bloods", each of whom were 27-years-old or younger, were forced to gamble early.
2005 World Poker Tour (WPT) L. A. Poker Classic winner Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi was eliminated on the second hand of the tournament. Mizrachi raised to 13000 "under the gun" with Qh-Td and was called by Williams, Ness, Princeton student Michael Sandberg, and professional blackjack player Erica Schoenberg. On a flop of Tc 5c 5h, Mizrachi bet and Williams called. Mizrachi moved all-in on the turn card of 3d and Williams called instantly as he turned over 6d 5d. The 8s fell on the river to send Mizrachi to the players' lounge.
"I (put Williams) on a flush draw with two overcards," said Mizrachi to Dergan.
Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Scott Fischman was the next to exit on Hand 5. Sandberg opened under-the-gun for 18000 with Ac Qs, Fischman moved 70000 all-in from the button with Ad 4d, and Sandberg called after Ness folded pocked sixes in the big blind. Fischman missed the board of 7c 9c Tc 7s 3d.
"I was...looking for a hand to play...in order to try to catch up to David (Williams), said Fischman to Dergan.
Schoenberg, who had little experience with poker, was eliminated on Hand 12 when she made a critical error. With blinds at 5000-10000, Schoenberg, who had a short stack of 46000, pot-committed herself by raising to 20000 from the small blind with 5d 4d and Williams moved all-in from the big blind with Ad 8h. Schoenberg had to call off her remaining chips knowing that she was behind before the flop. Williams made top pair on a flop of As 9h 5s and improved to two-pair with the 8c on the turn. Schoenberg got no help on the river with the 3c.
Sandberg, who claimed to have earned over $100000 playing online poker from his Princeton University dormitory and was featured in an article on the New York Times in March, was eliminated on Hand 20. Williams called from the button with Jc-9h and Sandberg checked from the big blind with Kd-Ts. Sandberg moved all-in on the flop of Td 9c 8c and Williams called. Williams made a backdoor flush with the Ac on the turn and the Kc on the river.
Fischman, Mizrachi, Sandberg, and Schoenberg each received $5000 for their appearances.
GSN's Young Bloods
May 20, 2005
I was supposed to commentate the GSN Young Bloods event today, but could not as my motion picture debut started today. I did have Oliver Tse report the action. Her is what happened, photos to follow.
David Williams wins Poker Royale: Young Bloods after see-saw heads-up battle
By Oliver Tse
Special to SavageTournaments.com
HOLLYWOOD -- 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event runner-up David Williams came back from a 5-to-1 chip deficit after relinquishing a 3-to-1 chip lead to win the Poker Royale: Young Bloods No Limit Texas Hold'em poker tournament.
Williams took home $20000 for his victory in the made-for-TV tournament, which was broadcast in its entirety via same-day tape-delay on the GSN television network.
Poker Royale: Young Bloods winner David Williams poses with the trophy.
(SavageTournaments.com photo by Oliver Tse)
In a heads-up battle that lasted 34 hands, Williams was not able to quickly put away his less-experienced opponent, Maxim Magazine staff member Erin Ness.
The New Jersey-born Ness, who was the third highest female finisher (207th place) at the 2004 WSOP Main Event behind Rose Richie of Florida (98th) and Lucy Rokach of England (159th), played cautiously in a straightforward manner as she avoided trouble early in the heads-up match.
Ness laid down A-5 on Hand 21, the first hand of heads-up play, when Williams re-raised with A-K.
Williams was also unable to extract chips from Ness on Hand 27, when Ness missed the flop while holding J-9 against Williams' pocket Aces.
Interviewer Lisa Dergan (holding microphone) prepares to interview the "Young Bloods" after the tournament. From left to right: Tournament Director Rob "Hux" Huxley, David Williams, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Dergan, Erica Schoenberg, Erin Ness, Michael Sandberg, Scott Fischman.
(SavageTournaments.com photo by Oliver Tse.)
Ness took a slight chip lead for the first time on Hand 33. With blinds at 6000-12000, Ness opened for 24000 with Ac Td and Williams called with Ah 8d. On a flop of Ad As Jd, Williams checked, Ness bet 30000, and Williams called. Williams checked and called bets of 30000 by Ness on both the turn card of 7c and the river card of 5c.
"What do you have?" asked Ness.
"I have the winner," answered Williams as he turned over his cards.
"No," said Ness, who flirted with Williams throughout the heads-up match.
Williams, who retook the chip lead from Ness on Hand 36, had two chances to eliminate Ness but was outdrawn twice.
On Hand 42, Williams put Ness all-in with Ac 2h and Ness called with 9s 8h. Ness caught the 9d on the river to survive.
Two hands later on Hand 44, Williams put Ness all-in again with Kd 7d and Ness called with Qc Tc. Williams made a higher pair than Ness on a flop of Ac Kc Qs but Ness made the nut flush on the turn when the 5c hit the board.
Ness took a 5-to-1 chip lead on Hand 48. With blinds at 15000-30000, Williams called with 4-3 and Ness checked with 3-2. On a flop of 5d 5c 2c, Ness checked, Williams moved all-in, and Ness called with hesitation after thinking about a minute. Williams missed his open-ended straight draw on the turn with the Qs and the river with the 5s.
Williams retook a 2-to-1 chip lead on Hand 51. Ness moved all-in with A-T and Williams called with Q-8. Williams outdrew Ness on a flop of Qd Qc 6h. The 2c on the turn clinched the hand for Williams.
"I though I had (the victory)," said Ness to interviewer Lisa Dergan, "but (Williams) pulled those queens out … and that was the beginning of the end for me."
Williams outdrew Ness again on Hand 54 to end the tournament. With blinds at 30000-60000, Williams moved all-in with Q-9 and Ness called with K-6. Williams made top pair on a flop of 9d 7c 6s and improved to two-pair on the turn with the Qc. A harmless 5h fell on the river.
"I was fortunate enough to get lucky at the right time," said Williams to Dergan.
Ness earned $10000 for finishing second.
The "Young Bloods" in action. Seated facing the dealer (wearing orange shirt) from left to right: David Williams, Erin Ness, Michael Sandberg, Erica Schoenberg, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, and Scott Fischman. Tournament Director Rob "Hux" Huxley (standing) watches the action.
(SavageTournaments.com photo by Oliver Tse.)
With each player having 100000 chips and the with blinds at 3000-6000 to start the tournament, the "Young Bloods", each of whom were 27-years-old or younger, were forced to gamble early.
2005 World Poker Tour (WPT) L. A. Poker Classic winner Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi was eliminated on the second hand of the tournament. Mizrachi raised to 13000"under the gun" with Qh-Td and was called by Williams, Ness, Princeton student Michael Sandberg, and professional blackjack player Erica Schoenberg. On a flop of Tc 5c 5h, Mizrachi bet and Williams called. Mizrachi moved all-in on the turn card of 3d and Williams called instantly as he turned over 6d 5d. The 8s fell on the river to send Mizrachi to the players' lounge.
"I (put Williams) on a flush draw with two overcards," said Mizrachi to Dergan.
Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Scott Fischman was the next to exit on Hand 5. Sandberg opened under-the-gun for 18000 with Ac Qs, Fischman moved 70000 all-in from the button with Ad 4d, and Sandberg called after Ness folded pocked sixes in the big blind. Fischman missed the board of 7c 9c Tc 7s 3d.
"I was…looking for a hand to play…in order to try to catch up to David (Williams), said Fischman to Dergan.
Schoenberg, who had little experience with poker, was eliminated on Hand 12 when she made a critical error. With blinds at 5000-10000, Schoenberg, who had a short stack of 46000, pot-committed herself by raising to 20000 from the small blind with 5d 4d and Williams moved all-in from the big blind with Ad 8h. Schoenberg had to call off her remaining chips knowing that she was behind before the flop. Williams made top pair on a flop of As 9h 5s and improved to two-pair with the 8c on the turn. Schoenberg got no help on the river with the 3c.
Sandberg, who claimed to have earned over $100000 playing online poker from his Princeton University dormitory and was featured in an article on the New York Times in March, was eliminated on Hand 20. Williams called from the button with Jc-9h and Sandberg checked from the big blind with Kd-Ts. Sandberg moved all-in on the flop of Td 9c 8c and Williams called. Williams made a backdoor flush with the Ac on the turn and the Kc on the river.
Fischman, Mizrachi, Sandberg, and Schoenberg each received $5000 for their appearances.
I GOT THE PART!
May 19, 2005
Today Curtis Hanson pulled me aside and gave me the news I have been hoping for - I have been cast in the movie "Lucky You". I will be playing a part known as Tournament Director. I am extremely excited about the role and think I have a good handle on the position. More to come....
Phil Gordon's DVD Now Available
May 18, 2005
Phil Gordon has put together an amazing video package. Visit his site at Expert Insight and purchase the video online.
Daniel handles win with class!
May 17, 2005
There had been a lot of "talk" prior to the $500,000 match between Daniel Negreanu and Mimi Tran that was recently held at the Wynn Las Vegas and none of it was coming from the Daniel camp. After he won it he did not gloat but instead praised the game of one of the winningest woman players in history. There has also been rumors that Daniel is getting backed by the Wynn casino to play in these heads up matches. Both Daniel and a good source at Wynn confirmed that this is only a rumor.
Daniel has become a better person and better player in the last two years and deserves more credit than he gets.
Congratulatons Daniel!
Busy Day in LA
May 16, 2005
Our days on Monday at the movie start at 6:00am and today I had the time conflict of being involved with two events at once as I was also hosting Game Show Network Poker Royale #4 which features Poker Pro's vs Comedians.
"Lucky You" is a story centered around poker. It is amazing to me to see the talent of these actors like Eric Bana and Robert Duvall and their ability to work under these trying movie set conditions. Both are very personable and fun to work with and Robert has the whole crew laughing at times.