Winning the first event of the Full Tilt Online Poker Series might take some luck, but there was no magic involved when player Kadabra finished first in the $500,000-guarantee No-Limit Hold'em tournament Wednesday evening.

Kadabra outlasted and outplayed some top poker pros and a field of 4,165 entrants to win the $147,099 first-place prize money.

After all had posted the $200+$16 buy-in, the healthy crowd swelled the prize pool to $833,000 at yesterday's inaugural series event.

Though Kadabra earned the biggest portion of the money, runner-up Jeezy888 saw his Full Tilt account balance jump by $89,047 for his finish. The_Closer3 was hot on his heels but proved he is was no Kyra Sedgwick when it comes to winning tournaments and went out in third for $58,310. Play $500 match poker bonus.

The final results for the FTOPS No-Limit Hold'em Event 1 are as follows:

Place	Player	Prize
1.	Kadabra	$147,099
2.	Jeezy888	$89,047
3.	The_Closer3	$89,047
4.	Mattman14	$45,815
5.	scarr09	$34,402
6.	chipgoon	$25,489
7.	THEnaturalACE	$19,159
8.	FatMoneyBags	$14,994
9.	aerospace22	$11,162
10.	lilfishy897	$7,996

Joining the usual coterie of online poker enthusiasts were several pro players who opted to spend their Wednesday night in front of the computer screen.

Best in-the-money-finish honors went to woman poker champ Karina Jett, who cashed $957.95 for placing 93rd and outlasting her husband, Chip Jett. The patriarch of the Jett clan finished 263rd for $263.50 and the title of lowest-family-income-earner.

Miami John Cernuto placed 194 for $499.80, the same amount awarded to MrSmokey1, 2007 World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner Steve Billirakis, for placing 214th in the tournament. Finnish pro and disturber of chip stacks Thomas Wahlroos finished in 416th to earn $308.21.

No word on the whereabouts of host Phil Gordon in the poker tournament results.

The FTOPS continues until the main event Aug. 19, with a mix of No-Limit, Limit, Omaha, Hold'em and Stud games. Today's tournament is the $200+$16 H.O.R.S.E, which features a $150,000 guarantee and Full Tilt pro David Singer serving as host.

Stay tuned to our poker blog for latest updates.

Poker News Source: Poker Listings

It's like an All-Star poker tournament and an '80s flashback all in one.

In what is sure to confuse a few demographics and decidedly please a few others, Spotlight 29 Casino in California's Coachella Valley has announced plans for its inaugural "All-Star Poker Challenge."

Scheduled for October 13 and 14, the All-Star Poker Challenge will "give everyday players a chance to play with their favorite celebrities."

That is, of course, if your favorite celebrity is one of these scheduled to appear so far:

Football Hall of Fame inductee and bit-part actor Deacon Jones; multi-sport legend and famous "Bo Knows" pitchman from the '90s, Bo Jackson; lightweight boxing champ Jorge Paez, Jr. (known for the most outrageous mullet ever-seen by man and in-ring backflips); and Murray Langston, also known as "the Unknown Comic," who made regular appearances on '80s staple The Gong Show and told jokes with a brown paper bag over his head. Online poker.

Holding down the fort from both the '80s and the modern era: Notable poker host and the one and only Mr. Kotter, from Welcome Back Kotter, Gabe Kaplan.

Also scheduled to appear: Coachella Valley locals DJ Ant Dogg from U-92 FM and Coachella Mayor Eduardo Garcia. Download poker wallpapers.

Set to go October 13, the All-Star Poker Challenge action will be No-Limit style, with 30-minute long rounds beginning at 2 p.m. The final table is then scheduled for 12 p.m. on October 14.

Players will each receive $10,000 in tournament chips, and all players at all levels are welcome to register to play. Women poker players.

Buy-ins for the All-Star Poker Challenge are available now at the Spotlight 29 Casino box office or gift shop, with the cost $560 each; $500 goes to the prize pool, $50 to the house and $10 to dealer gratuity.

Adding to the excitement: the chance of a player winning a new Chevrolet, Cadillac or GMC. If the winning hand at the final table is a Royal Flush, the winner will score the new car.

As an added bonus, Kaplan and Langston will also be performing in the Spotlight Showroom on October 12. All entrants into the tournament receive two free tickets, with individual tickets for the comedy concert available for $35. Play route 66 poker.

A silent auction is also planned to benefit the Native American Land Conservancy, with items in the auction including a wide range of autographed sports memorabilia.

For all the details, you can check out Spotlight29.com.

Poker News Source: Poker Listings

More Than 40 Casinos Are Participating

The time has come to give the woman poker player one single place to find everything poker, including information regarding the whereabouts of ladies only tournaments. That place is right here at CardPlayer.com.

I am excited to announce that Card Player and LIPS have partnered to bring our readers information specifically geared toward woman poker players. Together we have created a portal for women’s poker with a variety of new and exciting programs.

You will notice a new section on the CardPlayer.com home page entitled LIPSTOUR. With just one click, you will be directed to our women’s section, which will include women’s tournaments, profiles, schedules, articles, and more.

Joining in our efforts to provide dynamic poker content will be Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, J.J Liu, Cecelia Reyes, Lisa Wheeler, Lizzy Harrison, Pam Brunson, and many other respected women in the poker industry. This dynamic group will write articles for women, about women, and from a woman’s perspective. I am personally hoping Pam Brunson will be persuaded to write an article about her experience cashing at the main event of the WSOP while outlasting both of the other bracelet-winner Brunsons!

Our new co-branded website will offer great services for all the ladies out there wanting to learn, have fun, improve, network, and participate in ladies-only poker tournaments all around the U.S.

Some of the new programs include a Worldwide Women’s Player Ranking System for women only events, Woman Player of the Year, player profiles, tournament schedules, featured player spotlights, articles, event results, and a ladies forum section on CardPlayer.com’s popular forum.

LIPS was founded in 2004 by Ms. Lupe Soto who has since grown the organization to a group of over 8,000 women around the nation who ask to be included and updated regarding ladies-only tournaments. Download poker wallpapers.

“We can't think of a more natural partnership than this one with Card Player, the brand that is synonymous with poker,” said Lupe Soto, Founder and CEO, Ladies International Poker Series. “Being able to provide women poker players these new services and opportunities is a huge progression in women’s poker. This will help us expand our reach to women who play women’s only events and secure a ranking for them as they play.” Online poker.

LIPS is just coming off its Grand Championship, which took place at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas. That event marked the beginning of the women’s player ranking system. Casinos that host ladies-only poker tournaments or are seeking to host them should contact CEO Lupe Soto to make arrangements to be included in this exciting new program.

Soto states, “We have more women playing poker then ever before. With the LIPS Tour, women have an opportunity to be ranked, win their way into the LIPS Annual Championship, and other exciting events just for women.” Play route 66 poker.

Over 40 casinos are participating in the tour, with more being added all the time. Next stops on the LIPS Tour include the Legends of Poker Ladies Event at Bicycle Casino, the Ladies of the Derby Series at Hollywood Park Casino, the Gulf Coast Poker Championship at the newly resurrected Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, and always a favorite, the California State Ladies Championship at Ocean’s 11 Casino. Any casino wishing to participate in the tour can still be added. For details and how to get involved, click on LIPS at the CardPlayer.com home page. Play $500 match poker bonus.

I invite all you ladies out there to check back often and watch our women’s section grow! If you would like to be involved in our efforts, contact me with your ideas at allyn@CardPlayer.com.

Poker News Source: Card Player

In poker's ultimate test of man-versus-machine who was the final victor? (Photo courtesy AP Images and C-2 Pictures)

First it was Chinook with checkers. Then it was Deep Blue with chess. And now, more recently it's Polaris and poker.

Last week poker pros Phil Laak and Ali Eslami went head-to-head against Polaris, the latest artificial intelligence designed to put humanity in its place. Women poker players.

The competition took place at an artificial intelligence conference in Vancouver starting at noon on Aug. 23 and concluded the following evening. It was broken down into four sessions of 500 hands of $10/$20 Limit Holdem in each session with $50,000 going to the winning team. Play online poker.

Was the machine good enough to beat seasoned veterans Phil Laak and Ali Eslami? Stay tuned to our poker blog for more updates.

Poker News Source: Bodog Poker