Robison Dies, Selbst to Play Nadal, WSOPC Cherokee Prelims

Danny Robison Passes Away

Longtime poker player Danny Robison died this week. Doyle Brunson announced it via Twitter, saying that Robison was a friend, not to mention Chip Reese’s best friend and “instrumental in poker development in Vegas.”

Robison came to Las Vegas with Reese in 1973, and the pair played cash games together regularly at the Stardust. He won a WSOP bracelet in 1995 in the $2,500 Seven-Card Stud event, and he was known as one of the best cash game stud players in the world.

Selbst and Nadal to Play Heads-Up

Vanessa Selbst plans to take on tennis legend Rafael Nadal on April 11, just before the start of the EPT San Remo series in Italy. The two will meet in Monaco, where Nadal is scheduled to compete in an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) match.

Both players are signed to sponsorship deal with PokerStars and will compete in a heads-up poker game at the Casino Monte Carlo on Friday.

WSOPC Cherokee Preliminaries Underway

The World Series of Poker Circuit is at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina. Action began on April 3 last week and culminates in the $1,675 NLHE Main Event scheduled to start Friday, April 11. Numerous gold rings have already been awarded in preliminary events.

Event 1 was a $365 NLHE tournament with 700 entries and a $210K prize pool. Mark Saporito was the winner and took home more than $43K.

Event 2 was another $365 NLHE but garnered 894 players for a $268,200 prize pool. Kevin Sherrill won more than $53K for first place.

Other winners thus far include Harold Mahaffey in Event 3 (PLO) and Kaivon Hakimi in Event 4 (NLHE Reentry).