Dwan and Ivey’s Vegetarian Prop Bet

Poker has had it’s fair share of crazy prop’ bets down the years. Everything, from racing a racehorse to growing facial hear, has been on the agenda for some of the more fun-loving poker players. The latest prop’ bet is certainly a new one on us here at Poker News Headlines.

The bet in question came up on the latest edition of High Stakes Poker. Tom Dwan suggested to meat loving Phil Ivey that if he didn’t eat any meat (including fish) for the next year then he would pay him $1 million.

Fake Tann! Willie Impersonator Hits Facebook

Poker playing Facebook users were scammed, last week, by a user claiming to be the much loved UK poker pro’ Willie Tann. The user, posing as the WSOP bracelet winner, sent messages to hundreds of poker players in an attempt to scam them out of money transfers.

Friends of the real Willie Tann quickly spotted what was happening and made the community aware of the danger. Poker forums also came alive with stories of the scam and some possible victims.

Facebook has since deleted the fake Willie Tann account from their social network pages. The extent of the scam is yet unknown but it looks likely that many players will be out of pocket to the fraudster.

Eastgate and Helppi Well Stacked after Day 1b – EPT Copenhagen

Day 1a at the EPT Copenhagen may have lacked a little in the ’star name’ department but Day 1b certainly didn’t disappoint. Former WSOP champion Peter Eastgate looks in scintillating form and he currently sits in 3rd place in the chip counts. Hot on his heels is Finnish big hitter Juha Helppi. Not too far behind those two are the likes of Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier, Ramzi Jelassi and Luca Pagano. But, as Day 1b ended, they were all looking up at the current ‘chip daddy’ in the form of Ilkka Koskinen.

Day 2 is just underway out in Norway and we are in for a rare treat as so of the best poker players in Europe cross swords.

Julien Thew Becomes a PokerStars Pro’

One of the most recognisable figures in UK poker has been unveiled as the latest professional to join the ranks at PokerStars. Julien Thew, former pro’ at rival poker room William Hill Poker, has moved stables to become a Team PokerStars Pro member.

Thew has a string of impressive results to his name which include European Poker Tour and GUKPT titles. With over $2.5 million in prize money to his name, Thew certainly has the credentials to join the other big names at ‘Stars although he isn’t very well known for his online results to date.

Bernard Lee Signs with Foxwoods in Unique Deal

The stories of poker players gaining sponsorship with major, and some minor, online poker rooms are common place around the web. Some are sponsored on their playing merits, others have a more promotional role to play when it comes to wearing the company logo at the tables.

Bernard Lee, a man compared to the legend that is Mike Sexton, has landed himself a rather different type of sponsorship though. Lee is to become the first sponsored player by a major casino after being signed up by Foxwoods. The deal could pave the way for similar style sponsorships in future in a market that has been traditionally dominated by online poker companies.

Doyle Brunson Takes a Poker Break after Surgery

Poker legend, Doyle Brunson, is to take a break from all poker activites following lengthy dental surgery it was announced earlier this week.

Brunson spent 6 hours having dental problem corrected and is expected to make a full recovery. ‘Texas Dolly’ is giving himself plenty of time to recover, though, and has withdrawn from the forthcomig PartyPoker Premier League event in Las Vegas.

Brunson said; “I’m supposed to play in the Premier League tournament that is being filmed at the M Casino here in Vegas. It is the most widely watched TV show in Europe, with a $100,000 buy-in.

EPT Deauville: Jake Cody Wins!

In a final jam-packed full of “action” hands, the EPT Deauville concluded last night with Britain’s Jake Cody taking the first tour crown of 2010. Cody had a very solid main event but during the final table he simply could not miss the big hands and he must have been in dreamland when each big hand was paid off.

That’s not to say Cody didn’t play well, of course he did. You need a lot of talent to win an EPT event and Cody clearly has that in abundance. When faced with a former WSOP champion you need a lot of courage as well. Even if Peter Eastgate was short stacked and was the first to be eliminated.

EPT Deauville: Eastgate Finals as Teodor Caraba Leads the Pack

The European Poker Tour (EPT) in Deauville has reached the final stages and later today eight players will take their seats, in France, in the hunt for the first EPT crown of 2010.

One stand out name in the final eight is former WSOP champion Peter Eastgate. Eastgate had a superb Day 3 and 4 and, despite his short stack, must be considered a danger to chip leader, Teodor Caraba, with his vast experience of big money poker tournaments.

One player who will be kicking himself today is final table “bubble boy” Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier. ElkY finished in 9th place after another consistent display of poker. His €51,500 prize will go some way to ease his bubble pains, though.

EPT Deauville: Ludovic Lacay in Charge after Day 1b

Day 1b at the EPT in Deauville ended late last night with Ludovic Lacay topping the chip counts. A host of well known players are hot on Lacay’s heels, though, including former WSOP champion Peter Eastgate, Luca Pagano and serial EPT casher Dario Minieri.

Unless you prefer playing against some of the top names in world poker then Day 1b was a day to avoid in Deauville. The stars came out to play yesterday and a good number of them survived to reach Day 2 (starting at noon local time today). ‘ElkY’ is still in the mix along with Greg Raymer, Rob Hollink and Juha Helppi.