WSOP 2013 Latest, GPI in the News

Poker Writer Etches Name into the Record Books

Day three of this year’s WSOP not only saw the usual mix of faces making the headlines, but one of the industry’s most prolific reporters. Indeed, after making his way through 897 players, PokerNews writer Chad Holloway has claimed his first bracelet and the first of this year’s WSOP.

A hard fought battle during today’s final session saw the American lose the chip lead with two players left, only to snatch it back from Allan Kwong before claiming the $84,915 top prize. Following his historic win the long-time spectator took a moment to bask in the spotlight, before tweeting:

“Thanks for all the support. I can’t believe I won a @WSOP bracelet. Seriously, there are no words how much this means to me.”

While Chad was busy taking down the $500 employee event, the $5,000 eight-handed spectacle took another step closer to a final table. After starting out with 194 players, including Tom Marchese, David Sands and David Vamplew, vying for the title, Event #2’s second day came to a conclusion with just 28 players left.

On a day that saw the likes of Antonio Esfandiari, Brandon Cantu and Kyle Julius bust just before the close of session, it was Rafal Michalowski who topped the overnight leaderboard. After bagging 632,000 chips the American will start tomorrow’s session just ahead of Markus Gonsalves (502,000) and David Vamplew (465,000) in the penultimate race for the $553,906 top prize.

While things were heating up on the other side of the Rio, the $1,000 No Limit Hold’em was busy attracting a total field of 1,821 runners. Competing over the course of two Day 1s, the overall chip leader at the close of Day 1B was Jerry Payne with 99,425 chips.

GPI Aids National News

It seems that the GPI is fast becoming the international media’s go to resource when it comes to poker.

Indeed, following a news story focusing on Amnon Filippi and a court ruling allowing him to travel the WSOP, the article’s writer, Dareh Gregorian, noted that they used the GPI as part of her research.

Filippi was arrested last October after police found more than 100 marijuana plants in a property connected to him and the story focus on a judge’s recent decision to lift his bail conditions so he can travel to this year’s WSOP. Within the piece the New York Daily News writer stats that they learned about Filippi’s poker history using the “Global Poker Index website”.

Indeed, as poker continues to pique the interests of casual consumers across the world, it seems that the GPI is helping to create a reliable reference point for those wanting to learn more.