October 16 2012, Chad Holloway

Last week during the PokerStars.net European Poker Tour Sanremo, PokerNews was treated to a presentation on the upcoming PokerStars 7 Client, PokerStars’ seventh software update in 10 years. Lee Jones, head of PokerStars Home Games, demonstrated the Alpha-level version of the new client, including changes to the software and new features.

“We’ve made changes to the client to make it easier for new players,” Jones said. “We want it to be easy and fun for people that are new to poker and new to online poker. So that they can be comfortable in the environment, relax, and really enjoy themselves. Those of you who have been using the PokerStars software for years it’s no big deal to you, but I think we can all agree that it’s not the most newbie friendly software in the world.”

Part of making the client more user friendly to new players was a one-page streamlined registration process, and that leads to what is being called the “Quick Lobby”, which is a one-step click to being seated at a table, bought in, and waiting for the blinds. “We are trying to shorten the path for everybody, from getting into the client to having cards pitched at them. This is one of the first steps to doing that,” Jones explained.

The Quick Lobby features a graphical view of who is at the table, what their stack size is, and where seats are available relative to the button. If it’s a seat you desire, all you do is click on it and you’ll be taken straight to it. Players will be able to efficiently customize their desired buy-in range and the max number of players they want to play (i.e. heads-up, six-max, etc.).

The Quick Lobby will also feature an app bar on the right-hand side of the client. The controls, which are neatly laid out, include Settings, Tools, Help, Profile, School and My News, though they’re able to add different apps if so desired. “We can just make that a place you can come and see what’s going on at PokerStars, and in general have much better control, a much friendlier client, a client that will reflect the way that people like to use software now,” Jones said. “Again, it’ll be friendly to people who are new to poker.”

The Quick Lobby, which is fully customizable, is also complimented by a “Live Events” tab, which allows players to quickly and easily locate satellites into PokerStars popular land-based events such at the EPT, Latin American Poker Tour, and Asia Pacific Poker Tour. The Live Events lobby offers players everything they need to know about upcoming tournaments including when they start, the buy-in, prizes, and number of entrants.

“This is the kind of quick access to satellites that makes it very easy for people to understand what they want to do and how they want to do it,” Jones said in regards to the big green “Register Now!” button that provides one-click access. Furthermore, players will be able to search for more tournaments via a scrolling slider, or if they prefer, the traditional list view. “This Quick Lobby view is much easier and user friendly than the traditional airport departure list,” Jones added.

Complimenting the “Live Events” is a map feature that Jones and company hope introduces players to the various destinations. By clicking on certain areas on the map, you’ll be able to discover upcoming events, how to enter them, and what the venues have to offer. There is also a “News” area in the Quick Lobby that notifies players when new items are available, including updates on Team PokerStars Pros, tournament, and promotions.

“We’re very proud of our current software product. It’s taken good care of our customers and of us for the last 10 years, but anything like that, times change, and there comes a time when you want to start with something a bit fresher that reflects advances [in technology],” Jones concluded. “We think this client will be easier, and more efficient for the veterans, but most importantly it’ll be more inviting, friendlier, and more fun for the new players.”

PokerStars is currently going into closed beta with the new client, which will allow a select group of people to test it out. It will then move to an open beta, which means anyone who wants it could get it. “Obviously when you bring out a moderately big change like this, you want to go slowly and carefully to make sure that you don’t have any serious bug,” Jones said. The closed beta test could take some time, but players certainly have something to look forward to in the PokerStars 7 client.

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October 15 2012, Chad Holloway

The Season X World Poker Tour $25,000 World Championship continued on FSN on Sunday night with part two of a three-episode arc. The tournament originally took place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas from May 19 to 26, 2012, and attracted 152 players, creating a prize pool of $3,660,500. At stake was a top prize of $1,196,858 and the title to one of the world’s most prestigious poker tournaments.

In Part I of the WPT Championship, the early stages of the tournament were highlighted, which saw Joe Serock emerges at the Season X Player of the Year after the tightest race in WPT history. It also showcased the first elimination of the final table, which happened when Trevor Pope moved all in for 1.46 million from the button holding . Philippe Ktorza then moved all in for 1.7 million from the small blind with , pushing Michael Mizrachi out from the big blind. Pope was a 3-1 dog and was up out of his seat even before the flop fell , giving him a gut-shot draw to a wheel. The turn gave Ktorza a set, but it also gave Pope an added flush draw. Unfortunately for him, the river was not what he needed and Pope finished in sixth place for $155,571.

Here’s how things stacked up at the top of the broadcast:

WPT Season X $25,000 World Championship Final Table

The Fashion Report: The WPT’s Mike Sexton has been a proponent of dressing nicely at high-profile final tables, and they don’t get much bigger than the WPT Championship; as such, I figured I’d put my keep fashion eye to the test and size of the five finalists.

Michael Mizrachi: I’ve seen “The Grinder” on the circuit quite a bit, and more times than not he wears a hat. That wasn’t the case at the final table as Mizrachi sported a shaved head and a plaid long-sleeve maroon and grey button-up complete with a Deepstacks patch. It was a strange getup in that it wasn’t too casual, but wasn’t really fancy. Grade: B-

Nick Schulman: A black t-shirt is definitely not classy, but when you look at the big, strapping Nick Schulman, you think more bad-boy outlaw, so the black t-shirt, which showed off the tattoo on his right arm and silver bracelet, worked just fine for the young pro. Grade: B

Marvin Rettenmaier: Those Europeans sure know how to dress, and this German pro is no different. “Mad Marvin” was sporting a long-sleeve white button-up, and when rolled up, the sleeves showed a fancy design. He completed that with a PartyPoker patch and a light brown scarf fastened in a way I’ve only seen in Europe. All he needed was a haircut! Grade: A

Steve O’Dwyer: A blue and white plaid button-up isn’t particularly special, but then again Steve O’Dwyer’s look is more about his trademark beard and flowing locks than anything. A shirt is a mere accessory, and in this case it did its job. Grade: B

Philippe Ktorza: Much like his European counterpart, Ktorza sported a white button-up with the sleeves rolled up. The Frenchman didn’t have a scarf, but he did sport a patch of the French flag, a nice watch, and a pair of sunglasses. It didn’t pop, but it was definitely upscale casual. Grade: B+

Steve O’Dwyer

Crazy Three-Way: With the blinds at 40,000/80,000 and a 10,000 ante, Michael Mizrachi looked down at and raised to 200,000. Marvin Rettenmaier, who was next to act, came in with a three-bet to 485,000 holding , prompting Steve O’Dwyer to move all in for 965,000 with . Mizrachi proceeded to five-bet all in for 2.14 million, and after thinking about it for a few moments, Rettenmaier called to put both players at risk.

Mizrachi was a 57 percent favorite to take down both the 2.35 million chip side pot and 3.025 million chip main pot, while O’Dwyer had just a 2 percent chance of winning outright, though he could still chop the main pot with Rettenmaier. The flop wasn’t of note, and neither was the turn. The river gave Mizrachi, who was going for his third WPT title, the chip lead with 5.375 million while sending O’Dwyer to the rail in fifth place for $192,176.

The Ladies Love Ktorza: Nick Schulman opened for 250,000 with only to have Philippe Ktorza move all in for 1.55 million after looking down at . Schulman thought long and hard before asking, “Hammer time?” He then dropped in a call and both players were up out of their seats. I’d like to say there was a good sweat, but the flop made sure there wasn’t one as Ktorza flopped four queens, leaving Schulman drawing dead. The French contingent went wild on the rail as the meaningless turn and river completed the board.

Five Questions Outtakes: Throughout Season X, the WPT aired a popular segment called Five Questions. This week’s segment featured outtakes from throughout the season. Here’ a small sample:

What is with your hairdo?

Will Failla: “Well, I was in Cannes, south of France, I’m watching all these French fries win all these chips, and I’m saying to myself, ‘What is it? What is it?’ And all of a sudden it hit me, I see their hairdo, and everybody’s got this French comb over. Haven’t lost a tournament since I’ve had the French comb over.”

Irv Gotti on his friend Phil Ivey: “I’ll give you one Phil Ivey story, he’s going to hate this too. He was really pissed when he lost that [WSOP] Main Event when he got to the final table, so when he got interviewed and everything, he kept his poker face, but when we went out, he was like, ‘[BLEEP].’ It was the first time I’ve ever seen him upset about poker. Usually he’s got ice in his veins.”

Schulman Out in Fourth Place: With the blinds at 60,000/120,000 and a 20,000 ante, action folded to Marvin Rettenmaier in the small blind and he raised to 280,000. Nick Schulman responded by moving all in for 2.765 million and was snap-called by Rettenmaier. Even before the cards were turned up, Schulman’s face said he was in trouble.

Nick Schulman

The crowd was unusually quiet, and both Rettenmaier and Schulman were on their feet. Schulman needed some help, but the flop left him wanting. The turn paired Schulman, but the 27-year-old pro still needed either another five or an ace on the river keep his hopes of a second WPT title alive. The dealer burned and revealed the . Rettenmaier celebrated with his rail as Schulman exited in fourth place for $256,235.

“I just thought maybe he was a little card dead, getting a little desperate. I thought I might have him dominated, but you know, in retrospect, maybe I never do. It was probably a bad call,” Schulman told Jessica Welman in his post-elimination interview after being asked about his curious call against Philippe Ktorza. “I think I played pretty well, this last hand, he’s opening almost every hand in that spot… sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.”

Who will be the next to join this prestigious list:

Tune in Next Week:The conclusion of the WPT World Championship is set to air on Sunday, Oct. 21, on FSN, so be sure to check your local listings. If by chance you miss it, check back next week for the latest recap of all the action here on PokerNews.

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*Pictures courtesy of World Poker Tour.

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