The Nightly Turbo: Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier wins WSOP Tournament of Champions Seat, Another WSOP Lifetime Ban, and More

June 11 2010, Elaine Chaivarlis

On Thursday, the final seat was awarded for the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, we found out another way you can get life-banned at the WSOP, and plenty more, and we decided to tell you about it in tonight's Nightly Turbo.

In Case You Missed It

We caught up with Dan O'Brien on break of Event #19 of the WSOP to get his thoughts on poker, the WSOP, and how much it would take to get him to jump off the Stratosphere. Check out On the Rail with Dan O'Brien for more.

Last week, Tom Dwan had a chance to bankrupt the poker economy with a win in WSOP Event #11. There were huge bracelet bets last year and this year is no different. Bets Bigger than Bracelets has more.

The Golden Ticket

The World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, a freeroll invitational that would see 27 of poker's elite take the felt and battle it out for the title. How were the seats given out? Five of them were automatic entries going to the three previous WSOP TOC winners (Annie Duke, Mike Matusow, and Mike Sexton), 20 players would be selected by the public's vote, and two would be sponsor exemptions ― one going to residents of the U.K. and one, as we found out this week, would go to the winner of a sudden-death sit-n-go hosted by the WSOP Academy, that played out Thursday.

Andy Bloch, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Gus Hansen, Don Cheadle, Sorel Mizzi, Michael Mizrachi, Liv Boeree, Gavin Smith (who took Tom Dwan's spot), and Paul Wasicka were set to compete for that coveted seat. It was Mizrachi (who is having a stellar year) and Grospellier, however, who would find themselves heads up. In the end, Grospellier came away the victor when his bested Mizrachi's after the board ran out .

“I want to thank the WSOP Academy for giving me the chance to win my way into the TOC,” ElkY said after winning the WSOP Tournament of Champions playoff. “I feel like I am a deserving champion based on my record around the world, and I look forward to getting my WSOP bracelet soon.”

Voting is still open for the 20 remaining spots.

Public Service Announcement

We told you less than a week after the 2010 World Series of Poker kicked off that a player was banned for life. Stealing chips isn't the only way you can get a life-ban. According to a tweet from agent Brian Balsbaugh, Rio security told him that if players are caught smoking pot in the parking lot (which has become common place on the breaks of the WSOP), it will result in a lifetime ban.

UB Has Your Way to the WSOP

UB.com wants to send you to the 2010 World Series of Poker. There are at least 50 Main Event packages up for grabs. The $530 buy-in super satellite will play out on June 20 at 16:00 EST. The $12,000 package includes a Main Event buy-in and $2,000 toward travel expenses.

“I can’t wait for the Main Event this year,” Phil Hellmuth, UB Team Pro said. “I’m really focused on winning my 12th bracelet and with over 100 players getting ready to join UB at the series this year, plus another 50 coming through the big guarantee on the 20th, I think there’s going to be a lot more UB players winning final tables this year.”

Players can either buy in directly or play one of the daily feeder satellites running on UB. Sign up for a UB account today and win your way to Las Vegas!

For all the Ladies

The High Heels Poker Tour has a special ladies suite to support the growth of women in poker. Lynn Gilmartin takes us on a tour of the suite to show us what it has to offer.

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Comments

LoneRhino
06-12-2010 06:52

People still play at UB.com??

Wow.

Prieure
06-12-2010 06:44

It might be better to target the toilets, anyone thinking pot is worse for you than coke is deluding themselves. Surely the Rio would get in more trouble if coke is snorted inside their property compared to pot smoked outside, probably inside the personal property (their car) of a player. No stoner ever became a violent pumped up idiot while having a quiet toke, in fact it could be said that all the red bull that players throw down their necks is far worse for both the person taking it and the people that have to sit at a table with them than pot will ever be. If players are smoking inside a Harrah's property that's one thing, but banning players that are outside in the parking lot, that's just dumb, they'll be handing out bans all over the place.

FishingDonk
06-11-2010 18:40

It might sound like a self correction problem to you. To me, it is a stupid rule. Why should I care if anyone wants to possibly impair their judgement? Please take drugs while you are playing!