The Nightly Turbo: Justin Shronk Charity Tournament, Bodog Poker Network Sold, and More
The weekend is here! What better way to get it kicked off than by reading Friday's poker news stories. In this edition of the Nightly Turbo, we're covering the Justin Shronk Charity Tournament, the sale of the Bodog Poker Network, and more.
In Case You Missed It
Brian Hastings won his first World Series of Poker bracelet on Thursday. We break down that story and more in the Day 12 WSOP recap.
Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth made the final day of WSOP Event #15. We take a look at that story in Friday's WSOP What to Watch For.
How was the high-stakes action at the PokerStars tables this week? Read the Online Railbird Report to find out the week's biggest winners and losers.
Looking for a fun, behind-the-scenes perspective of life at the WSOP? The Muck is providing several daily stories from inside the Rio, so check it out!
Remembering Shronk
The Justin Shronk Memorial Scholarship Fund Charity Tournament is set to return in 2012, and tournament organizers have worked diligently to ensure that this year's event is the biggest yet.
The event will take place at the new Revel Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., on Aug. 18, 2012. It will be a $215 buy-in with $200 rebuys for the first three levels. Half the pool will go toward the Justin Shronk Memorial Scholarship Fund; the other half will go toward the prize pool.
The Justin Shronk Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2009 at the Temple University School of Communications and Theater to honor Justin's life and passion for his career in communications. The scholarship provides support for students majoring in broadcasting, telecommunications, and mass media.
Shronk, a beloved member of the poker community, passed away in 2009 at age 27. He was a major fixture in poker's "new media" transformation, working with outlets like PokerRoad, Bluff, CardPlayer, and right here at PokerNews.com.
More on the Justin Shronk Memorial Scholarship Fund can be found at Temple.edu.
Bodog's Shift in Strategy
BodogBrand.com announced this week that the Bodog Poker Network has been sold to the brand's Asia-facing arm, Bodog88. The company is seeking to benefit from the gaming industry's massive growth in Asia.
The company said in a press release at the completion of its business-to-business software and the online poker industry’s acceptance of a recreational poker model will allow Bodog88 to take the business to the next level in the Eastern Hemisphere. Bodog Poker Network CEO Patrick Selin will step down from his post, and Bodog88’s managing director, Robert Gustafsson, will take the reins going forward.
“It is obvious that the best fit for the Network is a company that understands the power of the brand – especially in a growth area such as Asia," said Selin. "I also know Bodog88’s Managing Director Robert Gustafsson well and he understands the importance of the recreational poker model which, again, is particularly strong for Asia, where trust is a much more important factor than concepts like rakeback that hold no meaning in the region.”
“I will stand down as CEO of the Network to allow Robert and his team in Manila to carry on the progress made by the recreational poker model. From a personal perspective it also makes sense to withdraw from the brand as a whole and therefore I’ll be looking to pass on the reigns of the BodogUK business over the coming months.”
Read more at CalvinAyre.com.
Project Poker
Online television network SFN has announced a new poker documentary set to premiere Thursday, July 5. Project Poker is a nine-episode reality series following the life of an amateur poker player in Las Vegas trying to play the World Series of Poker.
Despite the fact that his his life is falling apart around him, the amateur player seeks to turn his passion for poker into a full-time career. The series also focuses on his wife, a business owner whose bakery is struggling in the economic climate as she also deals with her mother going through chemotherapy.
Project Poker will also feature interviews with poker pros Men "The Master" Nguyen, Vanessa Selbst and Maria Ho.
"Poker is a sport," said SFN co-founder and President Stewart St. John. "The guys who are playing in these events are athletes — focused, determined and skilled ... and hoping to win the biggest payout of any sport in the country."
Watch the sneak preview at SFNTV.com.
Secrets of Stud-8
Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better isn't the easiest game for new players to pick up. Lynn Gilmartin caught up with Jason Mercier and Phil Hellmuth to get some advice for starting players.
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