Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Chris Tryba
Kalidou Sow Wins Again; Claims Winamax Poker Tour Paris High Roller
Some poker players may go their entire careers without experiencing the exhilarating feeling of winning a major live poker tournament. Kalidou Sow is not just one of them. Sow’s previous two cashes were outright victories, and he kept up this incredible record by winning the Winamax Poker Tour Paris High Roller. Sow won the PokerStars Championship Prague Main Event for €675,000 in December 2017.
Dennis Blieden Wins WPT LAPC for $1,000,000!
The 2018 World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic title belongs to Dennis Blieden, and he's $1,000,000 richer for it. It took fewer than eighty hands of poker to get down from six to a winner. Toby Lewis, fresh of his $10,000 Aussie Millions Main Event win, finished runner-up for just over $600,000. Live streamed with hole cards up on a thirty-minute delay; the final table got underway with Toby Lewis in the lead, Dennis Blieden close behind in second place.
Hand Review: Solaas Bluffs Lewis at Aussie Millions Final Table
Covering live poker tournaments for a living affords me the opportunity to see countless thousands of hands played out, many of which offer interesting and potentially valuable insights into how players — both amateurs and professionals — play the game. In this ongoing series, I'll highlight hands I've seen at the tournaments I've covered and see if we can glean anything useful from them.
Ole Schemion Among Day 1 Big Stacks partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany
The fourth and final starting day of the 2018 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany €5,300 Main Event saw more than 130 players in their seats in the second level of the day. Once the registration had closed, that number grew to an astonishing 415 entries to make Day 1d the strongest flight of all.
Pocket Kings Versus a Flop Bet on a Monotone Board
DECISION POINT: In a no-limit hold'em cash game, you raise from under the gun with . It folds around to the big blind who calls. The flop comes . The big blind bets. Action is on you... PRO ANSWER: You raise preflop with pocket kings and get one caller, who bets out on this board. This situation illustrates a misconception many people have about the game of poker.
Unibet Poker Platform Garners IGA Poker Operator of the Year Honors
Kindred Group (previously Unibet Group) received the Poker Operator of the Year award at the IGA ceremony in central London on Monday — a first for the company. The award specifically recognizes the platform that powers Unibet Poker and PokeriHuone, built by Relax Gaming. Unibet initially launched the platform in March 2014 when the company decided to leave the Microgaming network in order to put into effect a philosophy more focused on new and recreational players.
Inside Gaming: ICE Totally Gaming 2018 Earns Censure Over Sexism
This week's installment of Inside Gaming begins with some headlines from this week's big international gaming conference in London, offers an update on Pennsylvania's gaming expansion, reports on a casino magnate's resignation, and shares the story of a man's journey to honor Las Vegas shooting victims.
PokerNews Podcast 479: GPI Player of the Year Adrian Mateos Diaz
On this week's episode, Sarah and Brent talk about the Aussie Millions and the US Poker Open. They also discuss whether the GPI Female Player of the Year Award is good or bad for women. Then Sarah heads off to London and Brent chats with the GPI Player of the Year Adrian Mateos Diaz. Got ideas for upcoming guests? Want to let us know how we're doing? Here is more info on how you can reach us: You can subscribe to the PokerNews podcast on iTunes here, or you can access the RSS feed here.
Michael Tchong Bests Mustapha Kanit to Win Aussie Millions Event #22
Australia's Michael Tchong outlasted a field of 105 entrants including a final table filled with big names to win the 2018 Aussie Millions Event #22: A$5,000 No Limit Holdem Six Max for A$138,180 ($110,162). The victory was Tchong's eighth Aussie Millions cash and pushed him past the $300,000-mark in career live tournament winnings. Australia's Rory Young was the first player eliminated at the final table in sixth place for A$27,145.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Dropped (A Lot) and the Poker World Freaked Out
Will the 2018 World Series of Poker see record numbers this year? I think the answer to that lies in whether cryptocurrency is doing well or not. Truly. It seems as though the crypto market and poker are becoming more and more molded and dependent on one another. And if you ever want to know how the state of poker is doing, just scroll through your Twitter timeline during the highs or lows of any cryptocurrency and you'll get an instant understanding. Monday night was a perfect example.
Tam Truong Wins Aussie Millions Event #21 for A$118,110
Australia's Tam Truong notched his eighth Aussie Millions cash in a huge way by winning Event #21: A$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Deep Freeze for A$118,110 ($94,161). The event attracted 395 entrants to generate a massive A$513,500 prize pool. This represented a sizeable 12 percent increase from the 352 players that entered last year when Australia's Sotirios Kiokpasoglou won the event for A$106,380.
Andreas Klatt Defeats Kenny Hallaert to Win Aussie Millions Event #20
Germany's Andreas Klatt surpassed $1 million in career live tournament cashes after outlasting a field of 252 entrants and a star-studded final table to win the 2018 Aussie Millions Event #20: No Limit Hold'em Six Max Shot Clock for A$144,330 ($115,860). While Klatt recorded his first live tournament cash in 2011 according to The Hendon Mob, he became better known this past Spring after he crushed the PokerStars Championship WPT MonteDam Swing leaderboard.
Off The Felt: Koalas, Travels and Gym
The 2018 Aussie Millions tournament is still going on in the amazing city of Melbourne. So, of course, our poker players continued to visit on their free time some nice beaches and cute animals (you'll see what we're talking about). Others were travelling, like Lynn Gilmartin, or just chilling and drinking prosecco, like Monia, a perfect plan too, right? Ashley visited one of the best spots in Australia! Early contender for photo of the year. Ebony Kenney was taking some time for herself.
WSOP Champ Blumstein Looks Back, Ready for Fitness Challenge
Six months after taking down the biggest event in poker, World Series of Poker Main Event champion Scott Blumstein is ready to go on a run again. This next step in life will not be a run at the poker table however. He’s got some real running in mind – in the fitness sense. “The one thing I'm focusing on now is my health,” he says. “That's why I've been a little bit off the grid. I'm going to be doing some kind of content based around my weight loss.
Justin Bonomo Wins the First US Poker Open Event
Justin Bonomo has been in an excellent form in the last months, and he carried his momentum to the US Poker Open. The 32-year-old American pro showcased his talent in the first $10,000 No Limit Hold'em event, topping the 68-entry field for a $190,400 payday. "I've just had an incredible run of cards in the last two months, and I hope it continues," said Bonomo who already came into the US Poker Open as the #1 ranked player on the GPI Player of the Year leaderboard.
Raise-Folding for Value? Sometimes You Can
Sometimes when you bet and get raised, reraising is the answer. Sometimes it is not, and folding is the better play. Most players understand the practicality of raising when worse hands can call and raise-folding when better hands come over the top. But seldom is this understanding consistently demonstrated on the river, particularly when it comes to online poker played at stakes of 100NL and below.
Roberto Damelian Wins Aussie Millions Event #14 (A$64,700) in 6.5 Hrs
Australia's Roberto Damelian was the fastest winner at the 2018 Aussie Millions after it took him just 6.5 hours to win Event #14: A$1,150 Hyper Turbo No Limit Hold'em 10/10/10 for A$64,700 ($52,446). The fast-paced event attracted 263 players to generate a massive A$269,575 prize pool or well more than double that of 102 entrants that competed in the similar event last year which ended the 2017 Aussie Millions festival. The theme of the event involves the number 10.
Aussie Millions Announces 2019 Schedule Featuring 26 ANTON Ring Events
In the midst of the 2018 Aussie Millions, Crown Melbourne officials announced that the 2019 Aussie Millions will take place from Tuesday, Jan. 15 until Monday, Feb. 4. The Aussie Millions is Australasia's longest running and largest poker festival.
Philipp Gruissem Joins partypoker, Online Festival Schedule Released
While other sites are cutting down on their poker offerings, partypoker is doing the exact opposite. The online poker room has just released its plans to host 11 different online poker festivals this year. Shortly after publishing its online festival plans, partypoker announced Germany's Philipp Gruissem as its latest ambassador.
Sweet Photo of Tom Dwan and His Fiancé Surfaces
It is so rare to see Tom Dwan on the felt. It's even more rare to see him away from poker and exposing any little truth about his personal life. That's why, back in November, when we heard that he was engaged, we lost our minds. Then throw a double bomb that there could be Tom Dwan babies on the way and call the crash cart; our hearts just stopped.
Vladimir Shabalin Wins the 2018 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event
Vladimir Shabalin has won the 2018 WSOP International Circuit Main Event after almost 14 grueling hours of play. Shabalin beat 485 other players in Casino de Marrakech to bring the coveted gold WSOP Circuit Ring and a whopping 1,300,000 MAD (€114,367 / $142,033) back home with him. Runner-up was the last French hope, Rony Halimi, a regular on the poker circuit. Shabalin is a professional poker player who has been playing for about eight years.
WPT to Host Charity Poker Event Super Bowl Weekend in Minneapolis
A very big weekend is coming up in Minneapolis and it involves football, poker and charity. The World Poker Tour is teaming up with brand experience design agency Latitude, based in Minneapolis, to host a special charity poker tournament on Friday, Feb. 2 of Super Bowl weekend. All proceeds from the event — WPT Foundation Presents NVRFLD — will go towards affecting change around the world through organizations including MATTER, Healing Haiti and Starkey Hearing Foundation.
WATCH: PokerStars Championship Cash Challenge With Kevin Hart Episode 4
They teased it last week with a video which we dubbed the Craziest Hand of Poker You'll See All Year, but now the full first episode of the PokerStars Championship Cash Challenge has been released. PokerStars taped the show during the now-defunct PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo, in which six players battle it out in a €25/€50 cash game with €10 ante. Pre-flop the action is pot limit, post-flop it's no-limit.
Almedin Imsirovic Wins $10,000 Single-Day High Roller for $160,050
The action was fast and furious in the $10,000 Single-Day High Roller at the last day of the 2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. In the hyper format, blinds were just 15 minutes long. A total of 55 entries, 13 of which being reentries, came to the Imperial Ballroom of the Atlantis Resort for one last chance at a spade trophy and hefty cheque. After just six and a half hours, American grinder Almedin Imsirovic took down the tournament.
€12,500 to be Won Every Week in Twister Races at Everest Poker
Twister tournaments are Everest Poker’s take on jackpot sit & go games, exciting single table tournaments where the prize pool is randomly selected before any cards are dealt. Players in Twister games can see the prize played for be up to 1,000-times the buy-in of the Twister game, so up to €50,000 in the €50 buy-in games.
Hand Analysis: Don't Ignore the River
What if the river card had come on the flop? What if your key card had arrived on the river? Maybe you need to be capable of some sort of Jedi mind trick so that you don't get married to a strong hand the way this player did, in this real hand, that was really played online for real money. The name of the bride was "top set" and the dowry was lost in the following misadventure. It was a hand of online poker — 6-Max. Zoom at 100NL ($0.50/$1).
15 Times Phil Laak Proved He Was The Happiest Person on Earth in 2017
I don't know what it is about Phil Laak, but his happiness makes me happy. I mean seriously, I don't know anyone who would get a chuckle over some deer chilling out in some place. But Phil Laak is that person. I get it. He has a wonderful woman in Jennifer Tilly, great friends, he plays poker, travels the world, plays in the snow, surfs, eats good food — he is living the life.
Cash Game Festival Returns to London January 3-7
Cash game players from around the globe are getting ready to break in the new year in style with the Cash Game Festival returning to Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford City in London for the fifth time from Jan. 3-7. The Cash Game Festival began with three festivals in Tallinn, Estonia in 2014 and 2015 before it embarked on an international tour with five stops in 2016. The tour expanded to nine stops in 2017 and is planning for an amazing schedule of big stops in 2018.
Win Your Seat to the Lucky Hearts Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock
Attention PokerNews Members! Enter here for your chance to win a $3,500 seat in the Lucky Hearts Poker Open $2 Million Guaranteed Championship now! Tournament poker returns to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida from Jan. 11 – Jan. 24, 2017 with the Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open (LHPO).
Top 10 Stories of 2017, #1: Chris Ferguson Wins World Series of Poker POY
This year's Top Stories are brought to you by the VerStandig Law Firm, LLC. Combining a keen understanding of the gaming world and an equally keen understanding of the law, Mac VerStandig and his colleagues are devoted to fighting on behalf of the poker community and its members. After 74 events in Las Vegas, 11 tournaments in Europe, and the complete Full Tilt Poker debacle, this is not a headline many in poker world expected – or hoped for.
Get a No Deposit Bonus to Play at SlotsHeaven!
For a limited time only, SlotsHeaven offers a fantastic bonus to all their new players. Be sure to grab this fully loaded Welcome Package and get ready to enjoy the best online casino games of 2017 on one of the best platforms in the industry. Here’s what you get if you sign up for a free account at SlotsHeaven today: Don’t miss this opportunity to play at one of the best online casinos of the year with a no deposit bonus.
Have a King Billy Christmas!
Christmas is just around the corner and there’s no better way to celebrate it than to spend it with King Billy! Play super-fun games, claim extraordinary bonuses, and listen to the best Christmas songs! There’s no better way to enjoy the Holiday Season (and win something, too)! If you like casino games, take my word for this: you will love the new promotions King Billy “the Generous” launched this month. Get a Deposit Bonus of up to 51% + 51 FREE SPINS! Could this offer get any better?
Michael Matsioukkou Wins the 2017 WSOP Sydney Mixed Event
The Mixed Event is a fan favorite and a test of patience and skill as players alternate between two different games: Texas No-Limit Hold'Em and Omaha. As with every tournament on the 2017 World Series of Poker Sydney Circuit schedule, this event attracted a ton of local poker talent to the Star Poker Room to take their stab at earning a coveted Circuit Ring.
Win Amazing Prizes in the December Mission at Unibet Poker
If you like exciting missions each month that award amazing prizes, the recreational poker site Unibet Poker should prove to be right up your alley. The December Mission at Unibet Poker is broken out into five separate challenges each with three different steps (a, b and c) to complete. After completing each any three steps in grouped in a challenge, Unibet Poker will automatically award you a prize ranging from bonus points, ring game tickets or tournament tickets as outlined below.
Top Pair Podcast 298: Mixed Games - The Rules of... "Scrotum"
In episode 298 of the Top Pair Home Game Poker Podcast, Bruce Briggs and Robbie Strazynski take a look at an interesting mixed game called “Scrotum.” Yes, that really is its name. They discuss the rules of how to play, tips for beginners, and some alternative, less NSFW names. They’ll also break down a great article talking about how to go about organizing and facilitating a home game at a holiday gathering, certainly a timely topic.
Meet the Perrys: Sean Perry Got to Play with Pops at WPT Five Diamond
“I just figure there’s no way I don’t win.” Those are the words of a 21-year-old, not beaten down yet by the world. But when you talk to this young man, you get the sense that nothing in this world is going to get him down. His confidence is overwhelming — it makes you believe in every word he says. According to his mother, Merri Perry, Sean is "the Golden child" — "an amazing kid." Okay, she’s a bit biased. Of course any mom would say that about her prized child.
Win Big in the €70,000 Prize Drop at Unibet Poker
Unibet Poker is breaking in the holiday season with a bang. Players will be awarded throughout December with €70,000 in its Prize Drop promotions where players are rewarded simply by playing cash games. The Prize Drop promotion couldn't be any easier. Every day Unibet Poker is selecting specific stakes where random prizes are rewarded to players seated at the table. The stakes of each particular day are clearly visible within the poker client.
Pocket Aces on the Turn: What Do You Do Here?
DECISION POINT: In a no-limit hold'em tournament, it folds to you in the cutoff where you've been dealt and you raise. The button, small blind, and big blind all call. The flop comes . Both blinds check and you make a continuation bet. The button folds, the small blind calls, and the big blind folds. The turn is the , and the small blind checks again. The action in on you...
Casino Poker for Beginners: Keep Your Hole Cards Hidden
Ed. note: For those who might have missed it before, we're reprising Robert Woolley's series of articles for poker players who are new to live poker. The series is great for newcomers, and likely useful as well to those with experience playing in casinos and poker rooms. In these last several "Casino Poker for Beginners" articles, I've spilled all I know about poker chips and about the different kinds of buttons that show up on casino poker tables.
Johan Lees Wins 2017 WSOP Sydney Opening Event for $105,416
It looks like the Star Poker Room is living up to its promise of a bigger and better 2017 after attracting a record field of 1,357 players to its opening World Series of Poker Circuit event. The 2017 WSOP Sydney series crowned its first champion in the 13-event series. It was Johan Lees who claimed the ring after lasting six days and surviving a heads-up battle where he started second in chips to his opponent Matthew Velcic.
2018 PCA Schedule
The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) is back once again with 31 action-packed events from Jan. 6-14 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the sunny Bahamas. The highlight of the schedule is the six-day $10,300 PCA Main Event, which features two opening flights on Jan. 8 and 9. The tournament is a deep-stacked affair with players receiving 30,000 chips and blinds going up every hour on the first day and every 90 minutes on subsequent days.
Railbird Report: Matt Berkey Talks High-Stakes Poker Backing
Before we turn our attention to the digital felt, let's take a look back at the massive kings versus aces pot which Matt Berkey lost on the Poker After Dark episode "Leave it to Seiver". With the blinds at $200/$400 and a live straddle from Garrett Adelstein, Berkey ended up calling a five-bet preflop with against Adelstein's . All the money eventually went in on a board and Berkey found himself on the receiving end of one of the most brutal coolers in televised poker.
U.S. Poker Open to Debut in February, Feature High Stakes Mixed Games
For the most part, if there's a high stakes poker tournament running, the safe bet is that the participants are playing no-limit hold'em. PokerCentral aims to change that, starting with their announcement of the upcoming U.S. Poker Open, set to debut Feb. 1 on PokerGO with an eight-event series that includes a pot-limit Omaha event and a $25,000 Mixed Game Championship.
The Hand I'll Never Forget: Phil Laak Gets Bluffed at 2010 WSOP Europe
It's the hand that put you over the top. Or the two cards you held that time you were rivered for a monster pot. Everyone has "the hand," that one that you remember no matter how many more tournaments or cash games played. PokerNews takes a look at those hands that stick with players and relive the glory, or misery, depending on the results.
The Muck: Hellmuth's $15K 3-Point Shot; Busquet Underdog vs. Colman?
You know the saying, "Follow the money?" Well, that was particularly true when it came to predicting the King of the Hill 2 champion. The betting lines on PokerShares had Olivier Busquet the favorite from the start. And wouldn't you know... And while Parker Talbot and Busquet were battling it out for KOTH glory, Shaun Deeb and Phil Hellmuth were busy consoling each other. But it wasn't until after Busquet slung the belt over his shoulder, that the real fun began.
Parker Talbot Bests Phil Hellmuth to Advance in King of the Hill 2
The second edition of Poker Night in America’s King of the Hill competition went down on Friday at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Olivier Busquet facing off against Shaun Deeb and Parker Talbot, better known as “TonkaaaaP” among the internet community he calls his home, took on the defending King of the Hill champion, Phil Hellmuth.
Poker Habits: 16 Good Ones to Adopt
There are good habits and bad habits in poker as in the rest of our lives. Here is the first of two lists of those poker habits. Below are 16 good ones — that is, habits we want to adopt if we haven't done so already. You determine when and whether you play. Think of rest and poker as going hand-in-hand. If you're not well rested, you don't play. You may get tired during the session, but there's no reason to start out that way.
The PokerNews Quiz: The Great Game of Pot-Limit Omaha
After watching all of the pot-limit Omaha played on Poker After Dark on PokerGO this week, this week’s quiz is all about the great game of PLO, also known as “the action game.” Get six out of eight correct to pass the quiz. When you finish check out the "Top results" to see how you did compared to others taking the quiz. If you are signed in here at PokerNews, your username will appear. If you need an account, just click here.
How Much Do the Pros Actually Play a "Game Theory Optimal" Style?
"Game Theory Optimal" — or "GTO" — is a term often heard in poker these days. Often the term is used imprecisely as a general reference to the "best" style or strategy in a given situation, though in truth it has a much more specific meaning than that. To employ a "GTO" style means to play in a way that is impossible to be exploited by an opponent. It means always making "optimal" decisions that ensure you maximize your expected value in any situation.
Casino Poker for Beginners: Taking a Seat in Your First Game
Ed. note: For those who might have missed it before, we're reprising Robert Woolley's series of articles for poker players who are new to live poker. The series is great for newcomers, and likely useful as well to those with experience playing in casinos and poker rooms. Below find an introduction that answers some of the questions players have when deciding to play in a live poker room for the first time.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Chris
Contact Chris, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack