The ultimate family vacation just got better with the World Poker Tour. The Cruise Authority and Royal Caribbean International present WPT Cruise™, the poker vacation of a lifetime. This brand new partnership offers poker players and fans the chance to experience the high seas like never before — with the World Poker Tour. Find out more at WPTCruise.com.

While aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, WPT Cruise attendees will be able to meet World Poker Tour cast members like Mike Sexton, Vince Van Patten and the beautiful WPT® Royal Flush Girls*. The expansive poker room will feature cash games for any limit, sit-n-go tournaments, ladies-only events and freeroll tournaments every day for amazing WPT prizes. Whether you are new to the game or an experienced player, WPT Cruise presents the extraordinary chance to play poker in paradise.

The initial voyage runs from September 30 – October 7, 2012, and features port stops in popular Caribbean destinations including Mexico, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Royal Caribbean’s private beach in Haiti. All WPT Cruise passengers will receive a special welcome package containing WPT apparel and merchandise, poker lessons and a free three-month subscription to ClubWPT.com. ClubWPT.com is WPT’s online membership site and sweepstakes-based poker club which offers members inside access to the World Poker Tour and the chance to win a share of more than $100,000 in cash and prizes each month playing unlimited online poker.** For more information visit ClubWPT.com.

WPT Cruise offers a vacation the whole family can enjoy. Children of all ages will be entertained by Royal Caribbean’s many kid-friendly attractions including the H2O Zone waterpark complete with interactive sculpture fountains, ground geysers and a cascading waterfall; an enormous rock-climbing wall with eleven routes and a central spire for swinging; the first-ever onboard surf park; a mini-golf course and so much more.

When adults are ready to take a break from the poker action, they can relax at the world-class Vitality Spa, soak in the cantilevered whirlpools that extend 12 feet beyond the sides of the ship or work out at the state-of-the-art fitness center with yoga and Tai chi classes. Among the largest ships at sea, Freedom of the Seas is a 160,000 ton technical marvel replete with the most spectacular, innovative onboard features in the industry featuring extensive WiFi capabilities, cell phone connectivity and flat-screen TVs in every stateroom. A WPT Cruise is sure to be the experience of a lifetime.

*Attendance by each WPT cast member is subject to his/her availability.
**No purchase is necessary for the ClubWPT sweepstakes and the service is void in states where prohibited. See terms and conditions at ClubWPT.com.

One is known as “The Robin Hood of Poker.” The other is “The First Lady of Poker.” Come November 8, 2011, both can add “Poker Hall of Fame” to their illustrious resumes.

Barry Greenstein and Linda Johnson will become the 41st and 42nd individuals to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. The two newest members were initially nominated by the general public and then voted in by a 35-person panel made up of existing Poker Hall of Famers and members of the media.

Johnson becomes just the second female to be bestowed the honor, joining Barbara Enright who was inducted in 2007.

Both Greenstein and Johnson were among the finalists for the honour in 2010. This year, both players successfully garnered enough votes to become the game’s newest members.

Greenstein and Johnson will be officially inducted on Tuesday, November 8 at the Rio All-Suite® Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas just prior to the start of the final playing session of the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event Championship.

The special induction ceremony and celebration will take place at 4:30 PM inside the Penn & Teller Theater and will immediately precede the three-handed finale.

It is fitting that these two exemplary individuals will be enshrined together. Both possess impressive tournament and cash game success, over many years. But it is perhaps their tireless efforts away from the green felt that have more profoundly impacted the game of poker, fostered the image of the game, and contributed to its growth and good sportsmanship.

“I am extremely proud and humbled to be voted into the Poker Hall of Fame,” said Johnson. “I feel lucky to have been involved in many facets of poker over the past 35 years. Being recognised by the industry is a tremendous honour.”

“I’m happy to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside my friend Linda Johnson who has been the most fervent ambassador for poker for as long as I can remember,” Greenstein said.

The Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council would sincerely like to congratulate the other 2011 finalists — all whom remain eligible for future induction: Annie Duke, Jennifer Harman-Traniello, John Juanda, Marcel Luske, Jack McClelland, Tom McEvoy, Scotty Nguyen and Huck Seed.

Greenstein has amassed more than $7.5 million in worldwide poker tournament winnings and for nine consecutive years has won at least six figures on the tournament circuit. Greenstein possesses three World Series of Poker bracelets, two WPT titles, and also plays in many of the highest stakes cash games in the world.

The 56-year-old Greenstein was born in Chicago, Illinois and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also studied for his PhD in Mathematics, but never defended his completed dissertation. He learned poker and other card games from his parents while growing up in the Scottsdale neighborhood of Chicago.

Barry went to work for a start-up company named Symantec in the 1980’s in Silicon Valley, California and was part of the team that developed its first product called Q&A. The system provided both a word processer and a database and was cited as a significant step in making computers more user-friendly and less intimidating. Greenstein is credited with developing the word processing component of Q&A. He left Symantec in 1991 at age 36 to play poker full-time.

It was 1992 when Barry entered his first poker tournament, the World Series of Poker Main Event, where he finished in 22nd place.

Barry is also the author of the widely-acclaimed poker book Ace on the River, and as is his personal trademark, Greenstein autographs a copy of the book for players in tournaments that eliminate him.

Greenstein is a father of six, including four stepchildren, and has made a career of donating to child-focused charities. He has donated more than $3 million to various charities through his poker winnings, earning him his nickname “The Robin Hood of Poker”.

He currently resides in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and can be found in California and Las Vegas card rooms and the world’s largest poker tournaments.

This year’s other inductee – Linda Johnson is a 58-year-old poker player originally from Long Island, New York, now living in Las Vegas who captured her WSOP gold bracelet in 1997 in a Seven-Card Razz event. Johnson is one of only 15 females to capture a WSOP open event championship, and she has seven WSOP final table appearances on her poker resume.

Nicknamed “The First Lady of Poker” by fellow Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton, Johnson has been a leading force in the poker world for much of her life. She began playing poker in the 1970s after buying some poker books and teaching herself how to play.

Linda was immediately enthralled with poker and had a special ability for the game. She entered the World Series of Poker Ladies seven-card stud tournament in 1980, deciding in advance that if she performed well, she would quit her high-level job at the United States Post Office and move to Las Vegas to become a professional poker player. As fate would have it, Linda finished fifth in the tournament and promptly gave her two-week notice. She moved to Las Vegas and played poker full time from 1980-1993, one of just a handful of women who played the game professionally during those years.

These days, Linda enjoys teaching WPT Boot Camp and regularly hosts poker seminars and tournaments at many cardrooms around the country. She is a partner in Card Player Cruises and has hosted more than 90 poker cruises to destinations around the world.

But Johnson really made her mark and blazed a trail for other poker players by parlaying her poker acumen into ventures off the felt.

In 1993, Linda purchased Card Player magazine. Over the next eight years, the magazine grew from a 68-page, black and white newsprint publication into a 132-page, full-color, glossy magazine. As publisher, Linda became an ambassador for the poker world, traveling to more than 200 cardrooms around the world, always personifying class and professionalism and consistently setting new standards of excellence.

She has co-written three poker books and was instrumental in helping to establish many influential poker projects — including the World Poker Industry Conference, the World Poker Players Conference, and the Tournament Directors Association. Her next project was helping to establish the World Poker Tour for which she had the role of studio announcer during its first six seasons. Her involvement in promoting poker led to being chosen as the original chairperson for the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), a leading lobbying group in Washington, DC.

Linda is currently on the Board of Directors for the PPA and the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS).
Already a member of the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame (inducted in 2008), Johnson co-founded PokerGives.org as a way to assist poker players to donate to worthwhile charitable causes using the game of poker as the platform.

The Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council is delighted with these two fine choices and congratulates both Barry Greenstein and Linda Johnson on their well-deserved selection and induction.

The Poker Hall of Fame, established in 1979, was acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment (now Caesars) along with the World Series of Poker, in 2004. Though the Hall of Fame is virtual in nature, its membership includes poker’s most influential players and other important contributors to the game. There are now 20 living members.
The main criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame are as follows:
• A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
• Be a minimum of 40 years old at time of nomination [to be known as the “Chip Reese” rule, adopted in 2011, 20 years after Reese’s induction at age 40]
• Played for high stakes
• Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
• Stood the test of time
• Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

The entire list of 42 Poker Hall of Fame members includes (alphabetical with year of induction in parenthesis):

o Tom Abdo (1982)
o Crandell Addington (2005)
o Bobby Baldwin (2003)
o Billy Baxter (2006)
o Lyle Berman (2002)
o Joe Bernstein (1983)
o Benny Binion (1990)
o Jack Binion (2005)
o Bill Boyd (1981)
o Doyle Brunson (1988)
o Johnny Chan (2002)
o T.J. Cloutier (2006)
o Nick Dandolos (1979)
o Barbara Enright (2007)
o Fred “Sarge” Ferris (1989)
o T “Blondie” Forbes (1980)
o Henry Green (1986)
o Barry Greenstein (2011)
o Dan Harrington (2010)
o Murph Harrold (1984)
o Phil Hellmuth (2007)
o James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok (1979)
o Red Hodges (1985)
o Edmond Hoyle (1979)
o Linda Johnson (2011)
o Berry Johnston (2004)
o Jack Keller (1993)
o Felton McCorquodale (1979)
o Roger Moore (1997)
o Johnny Moss (1979)
o Henry Orenstein (2008)
o Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson (1987)
o Julius Oral Popwell (1996)
o Thomas Austin “Amarillo Slim” Preston (1992)
o David “Chip” Reese (1991)
o Erik Seidel (2010)
o Mike Sexton (2009)
o Jack “Treetop” Straus (1988)
o Duane “Dewey” Tomko (2008)
o Stu “The Kid” Ungar (2001)
o Red Winn (1979)
o Sid Wyman (1979)

For more information on the Poker Hall of Fame, visit www.WSOP.com

ABOUT THE POKER HALL OF FAME
The Poker Hall of Fame, established in 1979, was acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment along with the World Series of Poker in 2004. Though the Hall of Fame is virtual in nature, its membership includes poker’s most influential players and other important contributors to the game. There are now 20 living members, and 42 members have been bestowed the honor of Poker Hall of Famer. The Poker Hall of Fame traditionally elects one or two members annually. The enshrinement ceremony is now held in concert with the final table of the Main Event of the WSOP, held each November in Las Vegas.

By WSOP

The WPT Slovenia Main Event attracted 141 of Europe’s finest poker players but one man, Miha Travnik, has outlasted them all to become a World Poker Tour Champion.

The fourth and final day started with an unofficial final table of nine players but they were reduced to eight early on when Manuel Blaschke pushed his pocket jacks into the queens of Travnik. Thirty minutes later and the two short stacks, Patrik Hirvonen (8th place) and Hugh Cohen (7th) were eliminated.

This left the official final table of six and any one of them could have walked away with the prestigious title of WPT Champion. Italian Marcello Marigliano was the first to bust out, his A♣ Theart failing to improve against Johannes Korsar’s J♣J♥. Half hour later and five became four as Gaetano Fortugno’s A♥J♣ ran into Travnik’s A♦K♣.

Ferdi Ciordbai finished third, the Romanian failing to get anything going all day long and when he did finally find a big hand, pocket tens, and he moved all in with them for his last eight big blinds and found a caller in the shape of the very vocal Vincenzo Natale holding just queen-eight offsuit . Just as a much need double up was on the cards for the Romanian the flop came down queen-eight-queen.

Three handed play became the Johannes Korsar and Natale show, with the pair clashing in several pots before the latter won a huge pot that crippled the popular Swede. On a board reading 4♥4♣2♦Q♦3♥ Natale moved all in and was snap-called by Korsar, the Italian showing 4♦3♦ for a full house, much better than the straight made with 6♦5♥ of Korsar. He never really recovered from that and was eliminated  an hour later, his pocket fours being out-flopped by the suited king-jack of his nemesis, Natale.

This sent the tournament to the heads-up stage, Natale leading local hero Travnik by 3,105,000 to 1,204,000 chips and over the next two hours this chip lead swung violently one way and then the other several times. The turning point came right near the end when Travnik had been getting under his opponents skin by winning lots of smaller pots and he managed to get the Italian to four bet all in with just 9♦8♦. The Slovenian called with J♥J♦ and when the board ran out 2♠2♣6♠3♥8♥ Travik held a massive 3,950,000 to 350,000.

With the Natale quite visibly on tilt, it was only a matter of time before his constant all in bets were called. And called one was, as Natale moved his stack forward once again, this time with K♣8♦ and was called by A♣J♦. The board ran out 7♦J♣5♦2♦10♦ and with that Natale was eliminated in second place and Travnik announced as the champion!

The next stop on the World Poker Tour is the Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino in California, with the next European edition being the WPT Grand Prix de Paris on September 5-10.

Source: World Poker Tour

World Poker Tour® is making a grand entrance for this year’s WPT Grand Prix de Paris, kicking off the week with a jaw-dropping spectacular.

On Sunday, September 4, WPT and PartyPoker.fr will host media at a press conference in Paris featuring WPT CEO Steve Heller, WPT President Adam Pliska, WPT on-air announcers Mike Sexton, Vince Van Patten, Kimberly Lansing and Tony Dunst, as well as the Royal Flush Girls as they discuss huge changes, new innovations and significant enhancements to the current tour season and numerous upgrades to the WPT’s record-breaking Season 9 television show that will begin airing in Europe in late 2011.

Then, after a post-press conference cocktail reception, the Royal Flush Girls will join the legendary Crazy Horse dancers for a special performance of Desirs. The show features classically trained dancers integrated into sensuous choreography, with textured lighting and stunningly rich colours to deliver an overwhelming visual experience.

888poker has announced www.888poker.com as an online satellite partner for World Poker Tour in Dublin, Ireland with two ways to win a package worth $6,500. Qualifying is easy, join daily satellite tournaments with buy-ins starting at just $1.35 or skip straight to the $220 Qualifier every Saturday night.

888poker’s $6,500 package to the new WPT Ireland (Jan 4th to Jan 8th, 2012), includes:
•€2,500 entry to the WPT Ireland Main Event
•$1,400 for travel/spending (paid into 888poker account)
•6 nights accommodation at City West Hotel, Dublin, including breakfast and buffet dinner (check-in Jan 3rd, check-out Jan 9th)
•888poker Live Event Merchandise Kit
•Invitation to 888poker special event (invitation direct to winners only)

To find out more information about the WPT Ireland satellite series and all of 888poker Live Event satellites, please go to 888poker Live Events.

World Poker Tour® has announced a new event for its historic 10th season as the Tour heads to the Casino at Portomaso for WPT Malta, with the €3,000 + €300 Main Event taking place from the 20th-24th September 2011.

Hot off the heels of a month of poker action in France, WPT Tour Director Matt Savage will be tournament director for this inaugural event. With the world’s best players expected in Europe across September and October, WPT Malta is another date for the calendar. Top Europeans like triple crown winner Jake Cody and WSOP bracelet winner Matt Perrins are heading to Malta and see the importance of strong performances in September and October and aim to ensure the US players don’t come and take all the money back to the States like they did at the WSOP this year. “I think we showed the strength of UK poker in Vegas this year and with many Europeans doing well, we want to make sure the big titles keep on coming,” said Cody.

The Casino forms an integral part of the unique marina development of Portomaso, situated in the fashionable and nightlife district of St. Julian`s on Malta’s north-eastern coast. Portomaso is very accessible and can easily be reached by car, taxi, public transport and naturally by yacht! The island’s capital, Valletta, is a mere 20 minutes drive away, with Malta International Airport 10 km to the south, an approximate 25 minutes transfer. The Casino is situated amongst Malta`s elite and luxurious hotels. Located adjacent to the Casino is the stunning 5 star Hilton Hotel with other 5 star and 4 star hotels in the vicinity.

Adam Pliska, President of the World Poker Tour said: “Portomaso in Malta is normally the home of super yachts but for four days in late September it will be home to WPT Malta. This Mediterranean hotspot already has poker in its veins so we hope that by introducing a World Poker Tour stop we will satisfy the desires of locals and the international contingent looking for some late summer sun.”

As a main Tour stop the winner of WPT Malta will be awarded a $25,500 seat for the WPT World Championship at Bellagio in 2012. Pre-register for this and other World Poker Tour events at https://www.wptregistrations.com/

The news that there will be a WPT Malta comes hot on the heels of announcing the €2,500 buy-in PKR.com WPT Ireland at the legendary City West Hotel in Dublin from Thursday 5th January – Sunday 8th January 2012.

By Warren Lush