Poker Review

Tony G. Mention of his name alone will make you tune in, and if you’re at his table the name will make you sweat.

John Tabatabai is one of those guys. One of those guys who when you walk into a poker room and see him upright in his chair with a half-smile across his lips, you know that he’s either just stopped talking or is about to start.

Only Phil Hellmuth would stand between two world leaders and monopolize the conversation.

It’s still the biggest game ever played. Against a multi-billionaire named Andy Beal. He was only a billionaire then, so presumably the many millions he put up to play at least meant a little something to him.

Jesse May sat down with Phil Hellmuth at the WSOP 2010 and talked to him about Phil Ivey, WSOP bracelets and all poker things between. Here is the full and unedited 25 minute video:

It’s certainly the biggest call I’ve ever seen made. There were only two players left at the live final table of the Poker Million IX and they were very nearly even in chips.

I won’t lie. Up until recently I thought of Joe Sebok as Barry Greenstein’s son. And I mean, he is. But that’s so not the story here. Joe Sebok, the man, the poker player, is a media mogul empire king. As Liv Boree said, “He’s like the President!” And he has built the biggest empire in poker that isn’t primarily based on poker site sponsorship or affiliate rakeback. All of which means he probably hasn’t made very much money at all.

David Benyamine is complaining about his luck. He’s got a big smile on his face and a towering stack of 5k Moroccan Dirham chips, but he’s still complaining.

It’s always the best poker day of the year. The final table of the WSOP main event, where first prize is a shot at immortality. Oh, and about nine million dollars. And this year, fans were actually able to watch the final table stream live on the Internet. I’m a fan, and it was awesome.

There was a ruckus at the bar. It was late night in the casino at the WPT Amneville and I had ambled over to get some drinks, but a young Brit was having a problem getting beer in the quantity he wanted. Which was all of it.