The bracelet events get kicked off in a different way this year.In the past they have started with a casino employees event followed by a $1500 no limit holdemopen event. Last year was a major clusterfuck. Registration for the first two tournament didnt open until just hours before the events. People waited 7 and 8 hours just to get into a poker tournament. Trust me I was ther eand was pissed. I refused top wait in the line and had to sit out the first event. This year they have changed to have the pot limit holden championship with a10k buy in be the first event. Then the casino employees event and then the first $1500 buy in. Additionally preregistration is available online and they are opening up on site registration days in advance. Just thinking about it I'm get jacked up. Poker is a fun game, but the WSOP is a whole new level. Sure most of the free swag is gone and a lot of the buzz. But to an extent its better. We are somewhat back to the hardcore poker players. Due to the poker boom the family is much bigger, but this year there will at lot less casual players around. I personally am not scheduled to be in Vegas until June 22nd. Which is right in the middle of the 6 week marathon. I will not be playing the Main Event this year due to some personal obligations. I guess I'll just have to grab a bracelet in a prelim. (As if) Here is my list of Atlantic City Poker Players I expect to make noise at the 2008 WSOP. I will be keeping track of their progress on this site. Also shoot me a comment if there are some players you want me to watch out for: Matt Stout - obv Joey Brooks - TheB will do something Kenny Weinstein - KennyRap is poised to do something big in live play. Nick Frangos - Always holding it down for AC Chris Reslock - Best cab driving poker playing mofo around. Check out my WSOP updates. They will be coming fast and furious once play starts. Krusty

Gus Hansen the great Dane, almost cemented himself as a legend of poker. Gus is the all time leader in wins on the World Poker Tour. he just missed his fourth win at the Bellagio last week losing heads up to fellow Full Tilt Poker pro David Chiu. Gus won the Aussie millions in 2007, which was the start of his turn around. He went very deep in the 07 WSOP main event. It was hard not to find yourself rooting for Gus.

The EPT in Monte Carlo is over with some dude winning. He's like from Canada and you know about that guy. Im not your guy friend. Anyhow. Antonio Esfandiari made the final table along with Iassac WestMenlo Baron aslo made the final table. Time to get your asses to Vegas friends. I'll be there on Sunday. Im not playing "obv" because action starts on Saturday. I will be attending the Champions presentation. WPT has decided to give past WPT winners Titanium and Diamond bracelets. SHould be an interesting event. If everyone attends it will be a varitable whos who of poker. Here is a short list of people who will receive the WPT bracelets: Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Howard Lederer, Daniel Negraneu, Carlos Mortenson, Eric Seidel, Barry Greenstein, Erick Lindgren, Ted Forrest and more. Dont you think its odd that the WPT is putting out bracelets. Its an obvious copy off the WSOP. But it could it be a precursor to Harrahs buying the WPT. The stock is so damn cheap, if Harrahs forks over the 30 million the company is worth they would bascially own poker in the US. Which also brings the question up, why doesnt MGM Mirage buy the WPT. Fuck it. Die in a fire. AJ

The EPT stop in San Remo Italy is over. An American , Jason Mercier, ended up winning the near 1 million pound prize. The bigger story was that hometown hero Dario Minieri lost a big race three handed to bust with a quarter million pound win. Most people remember Dario from his deep run in last years World Series of Poker Main Event. He has a penchant to wear scarves at the table. Uh Ok. Well it was a great tournament and the European Poker Tour keeps on chugging. Also Shannon Shorr missed a good opportunity to take down a nice win in the prelims of WPT championship. In the 2k buy in Shannon went in third and busted in 7th for only 8500ish. Keep your head up kid. Thayer Rasmussen, Jon Kalmar and Peter Neff was also at this final table with Eric"Basebaldy" Baldwin taking home almost $150k. Sweet.