WPT Parx Open Poker Classic results in
Another week, another WPT main event although the days of monster prize pools at every stop on the tour seems to be a thing of the past. Reflecting difficult economic times for many as well as legal issues for online poker in numerous countries, $10,000 buy ins have become something of a rarity on the tour these days. Nevertheless, 500 buy ins at £3,300 apiece would still make for a tidy payday for whoever could emerge victorious at the WPT Parx Open Poker Classic in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It was Anthony Gregg who earned the big prize of $416,127 when he beat Stephen Reynolds heads up to take down the first major live tournament of a career that has seen several near misses at prestigious events. Next up for the tour later this month is the $3,500 main event at the famous Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles.
Party Poker introduces FastForward poker
In the online scene Party Poker has become the latest site to jump on the bandwagon and introduce a pooled player poker game similar to that first seen with Full Tilt's Rush poker a couple of years ago. The fact that this type of offering hasn't been a roaring success on every site that has subsequently developed its own version might suggest that they are a little late to the party with their game, which will be called FastForward. However, one feature that FastForward has over for example Zoom Poker on Pokerstars is the option to play heads up games. At present FastForward is only a no limit hold em game but there are plans to introduce pot limit Omaha in the near future.
One in one out at Pokerstars
Elsewhere, Pokerstars has been making some changes to its list of sponsored representatives, adding comedian Gerry Dee to the list of players sporting the red spade. Much more notable though has been the departure from the team of Viktor Blom aka Isildur1. Blom's addition to the Pokerstars team was much heralded when it was announced in early 2011, making this something of a surprise departure just a year and a half later. Little is known as to why he has left other than the official announcement that it was by mutual agreement, but there has been talk that he has left Stars in order to join the new line up of pros at Full Tilt. There has been no word from Full Tilt yet as to who they will have as their new sponsored players, so this all remains rumour mongering at present. However, with less than twelve weeks to go until the grand re-opening of FTP we should find out one way or another fairly soon.