We are happy to report that one of our feature writers, FoiledCoup, has accepted a position with another website. The really great news is he will continue to entertain you right here with his often dry wit take on everything poker and more. We congratulate him and wish the very best in his new endeavors. Anyone wanting to get a job offer should consider writing for the Poker Prof, seems we produce marketable talent...Editor

I am pleased to announce publicly that I have agreed to work for Poker Pages, the Gibralter based poker website. Don't worry, you won't see Mike Paulle dumpster diving downtown as he will continue to watch over the final tables. I will be doing a similar task that I had been working on for the Hendon Mob, only with the backing of a larger, more financially secure company.

I intend to continue to write here. Probably the kooky tournaments that pokerpages are not interested in. How about one for the homeless with the winner receiving a free room for a month? We could ask Dick Gatewood if Sams Town would host.

I offered to write under the name 'fcuk;' but, that name has already been taken.

As the WSOP approaches I expect more bloggers to be contracted by poker.com companies. It is a specialised job and blogs are the shop window for aspiring writers. Already, Otis has been to the Bahamas and Sweden courtesy of his job with PokerStars.

I have a room waiting for me at Harrah's Rincon Valley, which looks a nice enough venue before the Vegas scene finally comes to life in March with the Heads Up tournament at the Golden Nugget(see flipchipros Monday blog) and the WSOP tour stop at the Rio from March 12th - 22nd.

If my new bosses are reading then I will be working a seven day week during these tournaments.

I don't know when Flipchipro is planning on buying his Christmas gifts; but, our run in to Christmas has been shortened by the addition of the Young Guns of Poker at the Bellagio Sunday and a Battle of the Sexes being filmed at the Plaza Tuesday and Wednesday. The latter will feature my favourites, Karina Jett and Evelyn Ng, as well as Jennifer Harman, who agreed last week to join our stable. This means we will follow Jen's progress in any tournament she plays; plus, she gets to have her photo taken with me! Clonie Gowan is the fourth women who will take on four male players.

Daniel Negreanu didn't slip on any Costa Rican banana skins on his way to victory in the main event at the Bellagio on Saturday. Daniel’s mother brought him some vegetarian sandwiches in case the young Canadian felt hungry; but, the game did not last until the dinner break. Devilfish told her, "You'll be able to afford to put some meat in his sandwich now," after Daniel picked up a table full of cash, $1.7 million.

Steve Rassi was crippled by Jennifer Harman. His only way of playing was to go all in. Jennifer called him with A,Q; Steve looked confident as he showed Q,Q. However, Jen flopped an ace. Daniel came in for the kill the next hand. Steve took home $217K plus a TV appearance in the spring.

Daniel, the Vegetarian Matador, called Vinny Landrum’s all-in bet blind and made a straight! Daniel then went in against a tougher bull in the shape of Humberto Brenes. The Costa Rican did not see the red flag as he called Daniel who had quad fives.
The Bull scraped a little off Daniel when Daniel folded a Queen on a flop of Q,2,2. Humberto showed AK. A little regrouping, then Daniel finally finished off Humberto with K,7 against 7,8. The board was 4,3,7,6,3.

Lots of photo opportunities later. Daniel took his Mother and friend, Evelyn Ng, to dinner. I expect his Mother will get a nice Christmas present from Daniel and that’s no bull.

Imagine this scenario. You are drawn seat 3 in a tournament. You arrive at the table to find Gus Hansen (seat 4), Antonio Esfandiari (seat 5), Evelyn Ng (seat 6-A double bad beat as you cannot see her!), Scotty Nguyen (seat 7), Hemp Seed (seat 9) and Ted Forrest ahead of you in seat 1. This is what happened to our reader with the highest IQ, Richard "Lion Tales" Brodie, at the $15K buy-in WPT event at the Bellagio on Tuesday.
I asked Richard mid afternoon if they were allowing him multiple rebuys. He replied, "I own this table."

Sure enough, Richard ended the day with $86,375 chips which was $86,375 more than Gus and Antonio had. So, no lunch date with Shortstacks but also no bad beat story over dinner. Richard and Evelyn have been at the same table often at this tournament making my railbirding easier. My other horses; Max Pescatori, Karina Jett and Ruth Graham decided not to play the main event. Max covered his rent at the Bloggers tournament on Saturday!

I have a new assignment. I am trying to have a copy of Ron Rose's "Poker Aces, The Stars of Tournament Poker" book signed by the featured players so we can offer one as a prize to you, our readers. So far no one has refused. Howard Lederer wrote "Flop em dead" above his signature. I stopped him as he was entering the temporary poker room at Bellagio to play his heads up semi final which he won. He was sweated by his sister's, Annie Duke and Katy Lederer, the author of my favourite book of the year "Poker Face." Katy looks a bit like singer Natalie Merchant.

Wendeen Aoerta was introduced to me. She was wearing a full length fur coat given to her by Perry Green from Alaska. It gave me an idea. I could send PETA naked photos of Evelyn NG,Karina Jett and Ruth Graham for a poker girl edition of "I'd rather go naked than wear fur." Of course, I do not have naked photos of them; but, I know Flipchipro would be a willing assistant.

Karina had just flown in from St Martaan and was stressing that the Bellagio was out of copies of "Card Player;" where she debuts her "Ask Chip and Karina" column. Karina,"You're so vain, I bet you think this blog is about you, don't you?"

Evelyn was relaxing after picking up over $7k on Saturday. She did not think losing a couple of hours sleep to attend the Blogger's breakfast handicapped her.

Tobey Maguire was playing again. I like him. He dresses very casual and does not have a trophy girlfriend or ask for special treatment.

I would like to thank Max Pescatori for spending the entire day with the bloggers at Sam's Town yesterday. Max,in EU bandana, also cajoled Evelyn Ng into attending just to listen to Charlie Shoten's presentation and Max allowed Felicia Lee to return home to Arizona with a cowboy hat!

Marcel Luske and young Russian Kirill Girasimov also saw the Vegas eastern block from the back of a limo.

The tournament was tough. As Max said, "This is more intense than a million dollar tournament." The final four featured two Euro males and two young females. I received a jacket specially made by Check n Raise Poker for my fourth place plus a unique t shirt from All In apparel which should have said, "I didn't dominate the table."
After I said farewell to my new blogger friends, I was driven by Max, in his Mini Cooper, to the Bellagio where I was pleased to see both Evelyn and Kirill finish in the money in the $3000 buy in NLHE tournament. That's good Karma.

I also watched John Juanda heads up against Howard Lederer. That was nearly as intense as the bloggers tournament. Tobey Maquire was in a large cash game with WSOP champ Greg Raymer and Erick Lindgren.

Dick Gatewood provided us with a great breakfast and a good tournament structure. Thanks to Ron Rose for donating copies of his excellent coffee table poker book, "Poker Aces."

Lets do it again, soon. Any blogger who did not attend, you missed a memorable day. Thanks also to the Pokerprof and Flipchipro for providing the tournament with some dead money.

I met up with two fellow, albeit superior, bloggers at the Bellagio yesterday. Both have animal names so I photographed them in the green surroundings of the Bellagio’s tournament room sign in desk.

The Camel is England’s Keith Hawkins. He blogs for the Hendon Mob. Keith has a face that would be any comedians dream. It cracks me up anyway. He can play a bit, too. He cashed twice at the WSOP 04, in the $2000 NLHE and the $1000 PLHE.

The Lion is Richard Brodie, the thinking mans blogger, "Lion Tales." Richard invented the internet, as Al Gore claimed, then actually wrote a book or two and has now moved on to tournament poker. He actually reads my blog and has wisely informed his friend the Bloch (Andy) to do likewise. He hopes to receive a Full Tilt jacket off Andy for Christmas.

A short note concerning the Holiday Blogger's Tournament at Sam's Town this Saturday at 1:00 pm. Everything appears to be on track and we are anticipating a great time beginning with the complimentary breakfast for all entrants. We are already planning the second stop on the Blogger's Tournament Tour for sometime in the first quarter of 2005.