Ilari “Ziigmund” Sahamies is an online poker legend, having won millions in his short career, and this is despite some early tilt issues –often brought on by playing online poker while drinking—which the Finnish pro has put an end to over the last couple of years. However a massive downswing in 2010 has caused the young pro to reexamine his life, and judging from his blog at coinflip.com it seems he is not sure if poker will continue to be a part of it!
Sahamies wrote: “Its new year but it started like last year ended if we speak about poker.Im totally tired for poker at this moment…I play very bad but I have been unbelievable unlucky also…havent got 2 winning day in a row…maybe last 3 months and thats sick…I dont feel good about playing poker so maybe I should quit…Maybe I cant play anymore”
It’s hard to say why some people get burnt out on poker and others don’t, but judging from his posts, and his overall mood during the downswing, it would seem that Ziigmund is indeed burnt-out on poker. We’ll have to wait and see if he decides to take some more time off or perhaps take an extended amount of time off, or if simply dropping down in limits and grinding away some good wins will do the trick.
Jan 18 2011
Isildur1 in Hot Water with Sweden’s Tax Authority
written by: John Comments: Comments Off
After revealing himself to the world at the PokerStars PCA tournament series, Viktor “Isildur1” Blom now finds himself amidst an all new controversy,; this time it’s not a poker opponent, but the Swedish tax authority, according to a Swedish newspaper called Dagens Industri.
According to the article, Viktor Blom has drawn the attention of the Swedish tax authority thanks to exploits on Full Tilt Poker. What makes the case so interesting –and explains Blom’s low profile and hidden identity– is that Swedish law taxes all pots, not money won, played at any site not operating inside the European Union.
Heading into the final table of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event final table it looked like Chris Oliver –who controlled 40% of the chips in play– was going to walk away with the title and throughout most of the final table he did nothing that would sway anyone into thinking otherwise. Oliver spent most of the day increasing his chip-stack and utterly decimating the other players at the table with his wild play, and a healthy dose of “Run-Good”.
Unfortunately for Oliver, after controlling the action for some 9 hours of the final table his run ended in a matter of minutes as Galen Hall was able to turn a 37 million to 10 million chip disadvantage, into a PCA championship in roughly 30 minutes!
Hall was able to “dodge bullets” all night long, and at one point even folded a straight when Oliver had a full house, one of the better lay-downs in poker history. He finally got something going when Oliver ran into a cooler on an A-4-2 board holding bottom-two-pair; the problem was Hall held A-2 and was able to double through, and for the first time at the final table Oliver was facing a dangerous opponent in terms of chips.
Jan 14 2011
Man Who Purchased Peter Eastgate’s WSOP Bracelet Identified
written by: John Comments: Comments Off
According to poker.org the person who won the EBay auction for Peter Eastgate’s 2008 World Series of Poker Championship bracelet has finally come forward, and the man who was willing to part with the $147,000 necessary to own a piece of poker history was Scottish philanthropist and poker enthusiast William Haughey.
Word came down from the Danish newspaper ekstrabladet.dk who reported Haughey was on hand when the money was handed over to UNICEF –Eastgate donated the entire proceeds from the sale to the popular charity—which according to the Danish Daily went down like this: “Haughey was also present when the money was handed over to UNICEF, at the occasion represented by Manchester United’s legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, who is a UNICEF ambassador and a friend of Haughey.”
There’s no doubt that while playing poker for such high stakes in nationally televised shows or well-known tournaments that tensions can be high and blowups may occur. Actually, you’d probably be surprised that it doesn’t happen more often.
We’ve done some looking back and wanted to bring you the top 5 best blowups. 2008 seemed to be a bad year for Phil Hellmuth’s patience and seeing as he is the “poker brat” it’s no surprise he is featured prominently in the top 5. He did not though, make our #1 pick. Who did?
#5: Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth: 2008 WSOP Tirade
Favorite line(s): “He called with a Q 10 Honey.” & “Idiot from Northern Europe!”
Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth: 2008 WSOP Tirade
#4: Hellmuth vs. Bellande: Poker Etiquette, Poker After Dark
Favorite line(s): It’s generally hilarious that of all people to be arguing about etiquette it’s Phil Hellmuth and Jean Robert Bellande!
Hellmuth vs. Bellande: Poker Etiquette, Poker After Dark
#3: Tom Dwan vs. Phil Hellmuth 2008 Nation Heads-Up Poker Championship
Favorite line(s): Dwan telling Hellmuth to “learn to play heads-up no limit” & Phil saying “we’ll see if you’re around in 5 years.”
Tom Dwan vs. Phil Hellmuth 2008 Nation Heads-Up Poker Championship
#2: Hellmuth vs. Dragomir: 2008 WSOP
Favorite line(s): “Buddy you’re an idiot, is what you are. This is the state of poker.”
Hellmuth vs. Dragomir: 2008 WSOP
#1: Sheikhan vs. Matusow: 2005 WSOP
Favorite line(s): “You know we’re in a hand, you need to shut the f*ck up.”
Sheikhan vs. Matusow: 2005 WSOP
YouTube Playlist: Best Poker Blowups: OnlinePoker.org
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