The unresolved debt of $16.5 million is not something the Group is willing to take on, Tapie says, especially since the overall financial situation at Full Tilt is "worse than expected."

Still, Tapie says they have reached out to all of the pros and some have even signed repayment contracts already. Some have yet to respond.

Tapie also specifically said Full Tilt players will only be refunded if GBT completes the takeover, which will require "the bulk" of that money returned.

If it isn't repaid, Tapie says it is true it could block the deal.

Said Tapie, roughly translated:

"The poker community, and particularly that made up of former Full Tilt players waiting to recover their funds, deserves to know the reality of the behaviour of some major poker figures who say they are ‘sorry for the situation of Full Tilt players and want to do everything they can to help them get their funds back, blaming the old management, but also refrain from saying how much they have borrowed from Full Tilt, and lost, playing on the site.

"However these losses represent some of the funds owed to the players who are waiting to be reimbursed. When you are a poker player, a great player at that, recognised and admired, the basic rule, it seems to me, is to honour your gambling debts.

"Fortunately, among the 19 players we have attempted to contact, some have immediately called back and worked with us on a repayment plan to clear their debts, and we are already finalising contracts to that effect."

Read the rest of Tapie's comments at iGamingFrance.

The interview with Poker Player UK, written by Alun Bowden and entitled “What’s Wrong With You?” for its January issue, covered a wide range of subjects including the current state of the poker world, improving his online game and the ongoing Full Tilt Poker debacle. True to his nature, Negreanu didn’t pull any punches as, in the first few paragraphs, Bowden states that Negreanu believes that the game of poker is in “big trouble.”

In discussing the current state of the game, Negreanu is quoted as saying, “I think we’re heading in the wrong direction. The WSOP was much more serious and boring this year. It was much more fun with guys in chicken suits being jerks.”

“When poker became popular you had people like Devilfish, Sammy Farha, Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey,” Negreanu continues. “Today the story is: ‘I dropped out of college and I grinded 20 tables to build my bankroll.’ The story isn’t sexy…they don’t want to hear, ‘Well, he’s raising UTG+1 and polarizing his range with a 31BB effective stack.’”

Daniel allegedly addresses how to fix the current state of the game during the interview, stating, “Televised poker needs to address it. If you want to create the best show you need to create poker personalities. Audiences like Phil Laak and Antonio (Esfandiari)? Then okay you invite them. Daniel Cates? Okay you’re a great player, but nobody gives a s**t. You may be a better player, but who cares?”

Poker Player UK also touches on the subject of Full Tilt Poker, where Negreanu unleashed a few more barbs. Bowden asks the Team PokerStars Pro member his impressions of the ongoing saga and Negreanu doesn’t hold back, stating, “They were running the company like buffoons.” When asked if he had been in touch with any of the former Full Tilt pros, including his good friend Phil Ivey, Negreanu allegedly responds, “I’ve spoken to all of them. They are embarrassed and have disdain for their leaders. They trusted Howard (Lederer)…I didn’t. I don’t trust that family. It’s a family of scoundrels.”

When pressed by Bowdon as to his impressions of Lederer, Negreanu is quoted as saying, “I don’t think he’s evil, but he’s arrogant. He talks to people like they are stupid. I don’t think he set out to defraud people, it’s just negligence, arrogance and incompetence.”

Finally, Negreanu discusses the improvements in his online game, giving credit to his improvement through his usage of poker software and strategy discussions with other players. Perhaps most interesting during this discussion, however, was when Bowden asked Negreanu about his deal with PokerStars.

“If I hadn’t signed with PokerStars I would be a much better player today,” Negreanu reportedly said. “I would be infinitely better. It sounds really bad, and I really enjoy working for PokerStars, but look at the paths me and Ivey took. We were on a similar level and he just played poker non-stop and I started doing a lot more media work. It’s no coincidence that he became the best player in the world and I fell off the map a little. I still think I am one of the best, but I need to work a lot harder on my game.”

Naturally, Negreanu’s alleged statements during the interview were like chum in the water for sharks when it comes to the message boards. Negreanu seemed to have started it himself when he Tweeted on Wednesday, “Just read my article in Poker Player mag and it set a new record for the number of misquotes. Pretty impressive! They twisted everything.”

On the Two Plus Two message boards, the discussion escalated between not only the posters on the site but also Negreanu and Bowden. “Let’s nip this one in the bud,” poster ‘InsidePoker’ (apparently Bowden) wrote yesterday. “There is nothing in that article that is misquoted. It’s all on an audio file if he has any specific points he would like to address.” In the thread, Bowden also apparently releases the audio file after several requests by posters.

Negreanu and Bowden discuss their issues through the 2+2 thread and reach a form of détente, with Negreanu contributing an article to the online arm of PPUK where he clarifies the interview, while the discussion continues to rage on the message board.

Saying he's been inundated with calls from poker media, Greenstein said it would be easier if he responded in a public place and made a statement concerning his debt on 2+2:

Statement below:

"I borrowed $400,000 to play on Full Tilt a few years ago, before PokerStars had high stakes games. I didn’t pay it back, hoping that some people who owed me and had money on Full Tilt would pay me there so I could use that against the debt. (I'm only owed about $150,000 now).

"I have assumed when this case is resolved, the DOJ will allow methods for dealing with debt to FTP.

"Tapie Group contacted me last week and asked if I would pay them directly. Their attorney offered me the opportunity to pay in installments so I could have a chance to use money owed to me. He even offered me the opportunity to discount my debt if the US players don’t get paid in full"

"I told him that I have never paid less than I owe on any debt and I would rather wait until the DOJ establishes a fund for the US players. I don't believe my debt has any impact on the sale to the Tapie group as they have alleged.

"I was concerned about taking money due to US players and giving it to the Tapie Group because it is understood that the Tapie Group won't be the one paying the US players.

"On the other hand, I realize that the total debt counting other players is substantial, especially because I would include in that tally any money taken from FTP once it had become insolvent."

See the full post along with an excerpt from the letter Greenstein sent to FTP's attorney here.

Greenstein also suggested everyone who owes money to Full Tilt discusses it openly for "a better chance that they will make good on their debts" and so "money will end up in the pockets of players with balances on FTP."

Today in the 3-Bet we find Daniel Negreanu bristling at an interview misinterpretation, Norman Chad pissing off an LA superior court judge and French rap pioneer Kool Shen crushing the EFOP.

1) Negreanu Bristles at "Twisted" Interview

In January, Poker Player UK magazine ran an exclusive interview with Daniel Negreanu.

Didn't say that at all.

 

Titled “What’s Wrong With You,” Negreanu was characterized as suggesting he “conquered” online poker, thought poker was in “big trouble” and that there's “something wrong” with young kids in poker.

Only problem, Negreanu says, is he didn't say any of those things.

Tweeting “Just read my article in Poker Player mag and it set a new record for the number of misquotes. Pretty impressive! They twisted everything,” a back-and-forth with the writer quickly ensued on the 2+2 forums.

The result was a quick reconciliation and a rebuttal from Negreanu posted on pokerplayer.co.uk that clarifies what he really said.

An excerpt:

“I don't think poker is in “big trouble” as was implied in the article, and I certainly don't think there is something inherently wrong with the younger generation of player.

“As I was correctly quoted in the article stating that players like DevilFish, Sammy Farha, Doyle Brunson, and Phil Ivey became fan favourites not only because of their skill set, but because of their interesting, and unique backgrounds and storyline.

“My fear is that the current story line for many of the younger generation lacks sexiness.”

Read the rest here.

2) Chad Scolded for Tweet Frenzy During Burglary Trial

A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge seems to have less patience for the off-color comedy stylings of Norman Chad than ESPN's WSOP viewers.

Can't stop won't stop.

 

Chad was given a good scolding and a contempt of court warning by judge Laura Foland Priver yesterday for tweeting while serving on the jury for a burglary trial.

"He made a mockery of our system," Priver said to Chad's attorney, according to the LA Times

"I'm disturbed by this behavior. Once the information is out there, it's out there forever. The public who sees these tweets is going to think this behavior is OK."

Among the poker-themed tweets Chad desparately needed to get out to his 18,000 followers:

"I love my jury seat: Front row, on the far aisle. Great view, with all the aggressive jurors to my left."

"And, in an extremely unfortunate coincidence for the defendant, he bears a striking resemblance to Phil Hellmuth."

"I'm sitting right behind the court reporter - I get instant replay on all testimony INSTANTANEOUSLY! It's better than seeing the hole cards.

"Memo to WSOP: Jury seats in LA courthouse are far more comfortable than chairs in Rio Amazon Room. I'm going to bring you one to show you."

Not one to miss a set-up, Chad's ESPN co-host Lon McEachern tweeted, duty-free:

If any of you 18,000 @NormanChad followers feel let down by his recent courtroom actions I will gladly take you in.

If things go REAL bad for @NormanChad with the Los Angeles DA we can always do the WSOP shows during visiting hours.

3) Kool Shen Krushes European Finals Championship

We've written about the poker prowess of French rap pioneer Bruno 'Kool Shen" Lopes before, and he proved it yet again in the recent EFOP in Paris.

Lopes took down the €5k European Finals of Poker Diamond Championship last weekend, beating out 108 runners for a €100,000 ($127,514) first-place prize.

It wasn't just a field of amateur patsies either as David Benyamine, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Jonathan Duhamel, Ludovic Lacay, and Basil “Basou” Yaiche all bought in.

Lopes boosted his career earnings to over $300,000 with the win, although he says his main field of concern is still hip-hop.

Rightly so, as you can see in the video below (h/t to Booksa-P.com):

Today in the 3-Bet we find Daniel Negreanu bristling at an interview misinterpretation, Norman Chad pissing off an LA superior court judge and French rap pioneer Kool Shen crushing the EFOP.

1) Negreanu Bristles at "Twisted" Interview

In January, Poker Player UK magazine ran an exclusive interview with Daniel Negreanu.

Didn't say that at all.

 

Titled “What’s Wrong With You,” Negreanu was characterized as suggesting he “conquered” online poker, thought poker was in “big trouble” and that there's “something wrong” with young kids in poker.

Only problem, Negreanu says, is he didn't say any of those things.

Tweeting “Just read my article in Poker Player mag and it set a new record for the number of misquotes. Pretty impressive! They twisted everything,” a back-and-forth with the writer quickly ensued on the 2+2 forums.

The result was a quick reconciliation and a rebuttal from Negreanu posted on pokerplayer.co.uk that clarifies what he really said.

An excerpt:

“I don't think poker is in “big trouble” as was implied in the article, and I certainly don't think there is something inherently wrong with the younger generation of player.

“As I was correctly quoted in the article stating that players like DevilFish, Sammy Farha, Doyle Brunson, and Phil Ivey became fan favourites not only because of their skill set, but because of their interesting, and unique backgrounds and storyline.

“My fear is that the current story line for many of the younger generation lacks sexiness.”

Read the rest here.

2) Chad Scolded for Tweet Frenzy During Burglary Trial

A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge seems to have less patience for the off-color comedy stylings of Norman Chad than ESPN's WSOP viewers.

Can't stop won't stop.

 

Chad was given a good scolding and a contempt of court warning by judge Laura Foland Priver yesterday for tweeting while serving on the jury for a burglary trial.

"He made a mockery of our system," Priver said to Chad's attorney, according to the LA Times

"I'm disturbed by this behavior. Once the information is out there, it's out there forever. The public who sees these tweets is going to think this behavior is OK."

Among the poker-themed tweets Chad desparately needed to get out to his 18,000 followers:

"I love my jury seat: Front row, on the far aisle. Great view, with all the aggressive jurors to my left."

"And, in an extremely unfortunate coincidence for the defendant, he bears a striking resemblance to Phil Hellmuth."

"I'm sitting right behind the court reporter - I get instant replay on all testimony INSTANTANEOUSLY! It's better than seeing the hole cards.

"Memo to WSOP: Jury seats in LA courthouse are far more comfortable than chairs in Rio Amazon Room. I'm going to bring you one to show you."

Not one to miss a set-up, Chad's ESPN co-host Lon McEachern tweeted, duty-free:

If any of you 18,000 @NormanChad followers feel let down by his recent courtroom actions I will gladly take you in.

If things go REAL bad for @NormanChad with the Los Angeles DA we can always do the WSOP shows during visiting hours.

3) Kool Shen Krushes European Finals Championship

We've written about the poker prowess of French rap pioneer Bruno 'Kool Shen" Lopes before, and he proved it yet again in the recent EFOP in Paris.

Lopes took down the €5k European Finals of Poker Diamond Championship last weekend, beating out 108 runners for a €100,000 ($127,514) first-place prize.

It wasn't just a field of amateur patsies either as David Benyamine, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Jonathan Duhamel, Ludovic Lacay, and Basil “Basou” Yaiche all bought in.

Lopes boosted his career earnings to over $300,000 with the win, although he says his main field of concern is still hip-hop.

Rightly so, as you can see in the video below (h/t to Booksa-P.com):

Olivier Speidel

 

Olivier Speidel begon de finale tafel met de tweede grootste chipstack en wist uiteindelijk eigenhandig vijf van zijn zes tegenstanders uit te schakelen. De heads up tegen Kenneth Wong sloot hij in stijl af door met pocket azen de laatste chips die in het spel waren toe te eigenen. Speidel verdiende AUD 1,6 miljoen, terwijl Wong genoegen moest nemen met AUD 1 miljoen.De uitbetaling van de finale tafel van het Aussie Millions Main Event:1. Oliver Speidel – AUD 1,600,000 2. Kenneth Wong – AUD 1,000,000 3. Mile Krstanoski – AUD 610,000 4. Mohamad Kowssarie – AUD 405,000 5. Patrick Healy – AUD 300,0006. Bjorn Li – AUD 230,0007. Yann Dion – AUD 170,000 Aussie Millions High Roller EventAlhoewel zijn beslissing om te shoven met A-Q in het Main Event misschien discutabel was, bleek deze beslissing achteraf wel plus EV. Door zijn uitschakeling in het Main Event kon hij namelijk direct aanschuiven bij het High Roller Event met in totaal 16 deelnemers die bereid waren om de buy-in van AUD 250k te betalen. Naast de bekende poker pro's namen ook vier Chinese zakenmannen deel, maar zij wisten geen potten te breken.Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu had de pech om als bubble boy op de vierde plaats te eindigen toen zijn A-8 niet genoeg bleek tegen de J-J van Patrik Antonius. Gus Hansen eindigde wel ITM, maar moest genoegen nemen met de derde plaats toen zijn top pair niet genoeg bleek tegen de two pair van Phil Ivey. De heads up ging tussen de twee voormalige Full Tilt Pro's Patrik Antonius en Phil Ivey. De heads up duurde iets meer dan een uur toen Antonius all-in ging met K-3 en Ivey de call maakte met A-Q. Antonius kreeg geen hulp van het board, waardoor hij genoegen moest nemen met AUD 1,2 miljoen, terwijl Phil Ivey maar liefst AUD 2 miljoen wist te winnen.De uitbetaling van het Aussie Millions 250k High Roller Event:1. Phil Ivey AUD 2,000,000 2. Patrik Antonius AUD 1,200,000 3. Gus Hansen AUD 800,000

When the seven man final table reported for work on Sunday afternoon in the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia, Bjorn Li held a 1.3 million chip lead over Speidel, but the chip counts of all the players were close enough together that any slight miscalculation would drop the leaders to the bottom of the pack. This is what happened in the early going to bring new blood to the top of the leaderboard.

After about an hour of play, Li raised the pot and both Kenneth Wong and Mohamad Kowassarie decided to come along for the ride. After a monochrome K-Q-7 all heart flop, Kowassarie and Wong would both call a 200K bet from Li to see a turn Ace. The fireworks went off with that card, with Kowassarie checking and Li betting 435K, inducing a fold from Wong. Surprising many in the Crown, Kowassarie check raised all in for nearly two million in chips and drew a call from Li.

After the cards were turned up, it was easy to see how each player believed he had the best hand (or at least a redraw to the best). Li’s pocket sevens had caught on the flop for a set, but Kowassarie had struck on the turn with his J-10 for the Broadway straight. After dodging the board pairing on the river, Kowassarie assumed the chip lead and Li sunk to the middle of the pack.

Soon after this battle, Speidel began his assault on the leaderboard that would bring him the championship. He knocked out Yann Dion in seventh place while Kowassarie and Li locked up again, with Li being eliminated in sixth place when his A-Q couldn’t catch Kowassarie’s pocket threes. With play five handed, Speidel held a nearly three million chip lead over Mile Krstanoski and he wouldn’t look back on his way to the title.

Over the final two hours of the tournament, Speidel would eliminate every one of his four remaining opponents. By the time heads up play was reached, Speidel would hold a commanding 3.5/1 lead over his opponent, Wong. In a brisk twenty minutes, Speidel would maintain control of the final table. On the last hand, Speidel and Wong entered into a raising battle which saw Wong’s stack hit the center of the felt. He was in bad shape, however, as Speidel tabled pocket Aces against Wong’s pocket nines. Once no nine came on the board, Oliver Speidel was crowned the champion of the Aussie Millions Main Event.

1. Oliver Speidel, $1,600,000
2. Kenneth Wong, $1,000,000
3. Mile Krstanoski, $610,000
4. Mohamad Kowassarie, $405,000
5. Patrick Healy, $300,000
6. Bjorn Li, $230,000
7. Yann Dion, $170,000

For those that may think Speidel could be a one hit wonder, think again. Along with winning the Main Event at this year’s Aussie Millions, Speidel also finished second in the $1000 Shootout event and sixth in the Bounty tournament. He also won the Manny Pacquiao World Poker Event championship in December of 2011.

While Speidel was dominating on his way to the Aussie Millions championship, sixteen men would put up the massive buy in to take part in the $250,000 Super High Roller championship. With such a small field, only three players would take down some cash from the tournament, but they would be some of the biggest names in the poker world.

The four men who would determine the champion read like a Who’s Who of the game of poker. Daniel Negreanu, Gus Hansen, Patrik Antonius and Phil Ivey battled it out, with Negreanu eventually falling as the unfortunate “bubble boy.” After Hansen was dumped in third, Antonius and Ivey would slug it out over the span of an hour before a champion was determined.

On the final hand, Antonius pushed his stack to the center and was immediately called by Ivey, who tabled A-Q against Antonius’ K-3. Although a three came on the flop, a Queen came on the turn to switch the tables back to Ivey. Once a blank hit on the river, Phil Ivey emerged as the champion of the Super High Rollers.

1. Phil Ivey, $2,000,000
2. Patrik Antonius, $1,200,000
3. Gus Hansen, $800,000

Congratulations to Phil Ivey on his return to his championship form and further congratulations to the latest champion of the Aussie Millions, Oliver Speidel!

Speidel finished the tournament in style picking up pocket aces in the final hand to bust heads-up opponent Ken Wong.

The Melbourne local started playing poker five years ago and the Crown Casino is the first place he ever played live poker.

Speidel has been on quite a run at the Aussie Millions as he made two final tables in the preliminary events. 

“I had a great week,” said Speidel. “To win this is just ridiculous. I’m really happy.”

The 26-year-old entered the seven-player final table second in chips and from the first hand seemed destined to win the event.

He busted five of his six opponents at a rapid-fire final table that took less than six hours of play to find a winner.

Hong Kong-native Bjorn Li entered the final table as the chip leader and one of the favorites considering his significant experience in online poker.

Instead Li never really got anything going and ended up crashing out in sixth place when he lost a coin flip against Mohamad Kowssarie.

Kowssarie, who used to play online as Fast_Freddie and TerrorOfSweden, entered the final table as the short stack but was one of the more dangerous players at the final table eventually finishing in fourth place with A-3 to Speidel’s pocket kings.

The other well-known online player Yann Dion, who plays online as yadio, was actually the first player to bust when he shoved with pocket sevens and got called down by Speidel with pocket queens.

The dynamic of the 2012 Aussie Millions changed dramatically yesterday when world-renowned poker player Phil Ivey busted in 10th place.

When one of the world’s best poker players busts, most players are relieved but Speidel admitted he was slightly disappointed by the professional’s absence.

“It would have been cool to have him at the final table,” he said. “He’s an amazing poker player and it was great to play against him. I was a bit relieved though, because he is really damn good.”

Speidel is the fourth consecutive player from Australia to win the Aussie Millions and will be keeping the trophy in Melbourne.

Here’s a complete look at the final table payouts:

1. Oliver Speidel – $1,600,000 2. Kenneth Wong – $1,000,000 3. Mile Krstanoski – $610,000 4. Mohamad Kowssarie – $405,000 5. Patrick Healy – $300,000 6. Bjorn Li – $230,000 7. Yann Dion – $170,000

This is Poker's In and Out List.

Poker’s In List: January 23-29, 2012

Kirby Burnett for Flexing on Jeopardy: IN

Minnesota poker dealer Kirby Burnett snatches a spot on this week’s In List thanks to racking up almost $60k in winnings over two days on the television show Jeopardy.

Winning roughly $30k on both shows, Burnett described the win as, “Not life-changing but a nice shot in the arm.”

Burnett, 57, deals poker at the Canterbury Park in Shakopee. He’s even got a few Hendon Mob results, the biggest of which being an $11,000 second-place score in a $500 event at his home casino.

Click here for more from the Star Tribune.

Phil Ivey is alive with 12 left at the 2012 Aussie Millions.

 

Phil Ivey: IN

Maybe it would be easier to just reserve a spot on the In List for Phil Ivey, since he qualifies simply by definition of being Phil Ivey.

This week we have a legitimate reason to include him, however, as he narrowly missed the final table of the Aussie Millions main event in Melbourne.

It's funny how finishing 12th out of 659 players and winning $100k barely qualified as an accomplishment for Ivey.

Regardless, Ivey's incredible journey in Australia wasn't over as he quickly signed up for the $250,000 Challenge and promptly won the contest for $2 million - more than he would have recieved for first in the Main Event.

The lesson is to never, ever, count Phil Ivey out.

Dave Ferrara for Exploring Low-Limit Vegas Tourneys: IN

Dave Ferrara over at Pokerati.com is blogging a week of Las Vegas’s most affordable poker tournaments, earning himself the third spot on this week’s In List.

Take it from us, there’s nothing better than schooling the kind of fish that play $40 daytime tournaments in Vegas. It’s truly one of the most satisfying feelings in poker.

Ferrara will be reporting on structure, playing conditions, difficulty, basically everything you need to know to navigate your way around the plethora of poor-man’s tournament poker in Sin City.

Check the post here.

Poker’s Out List: January 23-29, 2012

Phil Galfond for Admitting He Sometimes Loses: OUT

Things went about as bad as they could have for Phil Galfond this week thanks to a big downswing playing $100/$200 on PokerStars. Galfond lost over $700,000 and admitted in the video blog below that, just like regular poker players, he sometimes loses.

In our opinion if you’re playing for that kind of money you can’t even give the word lose a spot in your vocabulary.

Galfond has dropped down in stakes and vowed not to sit in the big game until he’s built his PokerStars account back to $250k. Until then he’s out.

In the meantime check out his latest blog for a very honest look at big poker downswings.

Hawaii for Not Already Hosting Poker Events: OUT

We’ve been covering poker tournaments for a long time and we’ve always lamented the fact that Hawaii doesn’t allow gambling.

One of just two states that has still managed to keep casinos out, Hawaii has long been screwing over the poker media by not giving us professional access to their sandy beaches and clear ocean waters.

On the bright side they’ve just enacted a bill that could see Hawaii introduce gambling, at least on the Internet.

One step at a time but seriously Hawaii, we expect more progress on hosting some sort of major poker tournament.