Mr. Kortotki, along with 250+ women, paid a $300+ entry fee to be a part of a women’s only poker tournament at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. You read that right – it was a Texas Hold’em tournament meant for FEMALES ONLY. And what happened when a man dared to cross the pink line?

Abraham Kortotki, showing the women who's the boss

Kortotki, a 65-year-old male from Las Vegas, Nevada took down the $20,982 first place prize. You can only imagine the excitement of the rest of the players. It’s fairly safe to say Abraham was not going to make any lady friends at the conclusion of this tournament.

So this leads us to a couple questions. First, was it legal for Abraham to play in the first place? The answer is YES. Even though the tournament guidelines were specific about restricting the game to women only, federal law says it is illegal to prohibit men from entering and playing in such tournaments. Anyone over the age of 21 could play and keeping people out on the basis of gender would be considered legal discrimination.

But the second question that arises: Did Kortotki do the right thing?

In our opinion, absolutely not. This was a woman’s only tournament, dude. There were dozens of other Atlantic City tournaments available. No barriers were broken down, no advancements for mankind were made by barging into this game. Mr. Kortotki: You may have won the ladies’ tournament but your lack of etiquette makes you a LOSER.

The second place finisher in this tournament agrees with us. Nicole Rowe of West Windsor lost heads up to Kortotki and had this to say after the fact:

“Competing in an all-women field was something I had been looking forward to, why did he have to ruin it for us?”

Kortotki didn’t seem to have any regrets. Some suggested that he split up the winnings with the top lady but he was having none of that. Supposedly, he is donating some of his winnings to several charities fighting against breast cancer, but who really knows.

The last thought we have on this is how in the world did the only man win this tournament? Does this prove anything about the poker skills of guys vs. girls? This tournament featured 260 women and 1 man, and the man took it down. We are not suggesting that this means men are superior poker players to ladies. But it creates some humorous news and surely will be the subject of talks for months to come. What’s going to happen when the next women only tournament is announced? I’ll guess 10+ guys will join the next one since they have seen a guy win this in the past. These types like money and they don’t care if they are taking it from ladies, kids or men. A win is a win in their books!

Chip leader Darvin Moon and pro Phil Ivey shake hands at the 2009 WSOP

The “November 9″, as the WSOP finalists are being called, is an interesting mix of newbies, pros, blue collars vs bankers. But there’s one thing that they all have in common: they want to walk out with the famous WSOP trophy bracelet. But did you know that some of the biggest poker players claim they don’t even want it?

Poker legend Doyle Brunson, who has won several WSOP bracelets since 1976,  once said “(the bracelets) didn’t mean anything to me.” As he won more of them, he even claimed to have given them away to family members.

Phil Hellmuth Jr. also kept only one bracelet from his 1989 win and gave away the rest of his 11 wins. 10-time winner Johnny Chan did quite the opposite as he kept his prized possessions inside a vault and claimed that they worth “millions”.

While the poker champs seem to play it cool when it comes to possessing the prize trinkets, thousands of other aspiring poker pros are still scrambling after their first bracelet. It’s the most prestigious and coveted non-monetary prize in the world of poker.

The tournament hosts started awarding one bracelet to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP, a tradition started by the founder, Benny Binion.

During the first years, only a very few could get their hands on the bracelets. And these were not the bracelets you know now. The earlier WSOP bracelets were simpler, in fact, the first bracelet (1976) looked like “gold nuggets kind of hammered flat.” These bracelets cost around $500 each.

In the 80’s, the bracelets were exclusively manufactured by Las Vegas Jeweler, Mordechai Yerushalmi, until Harrah’s Entertainment bought the rights to the WSOP in 2004. In 2005, the bracelets were manufactured by Memphis-based Gold and Diamond International.

The license was passed again in 2006 to Frederick Goldman, Inc. where it introduced the Champion’s bracelet diamond-clad bracelet. The Champion’s bracelet had 259 stones including 7.2 carats of diamonds, rubiesto represent the heart and diamond suits, a sapphire to represent the spade and three black diamonds to represent the clubs.

But a year later, luxury watch maker, Corum, which had created additional signature watch prize the year before, became the official bracelet manufacturer for the WSOP. At this point, things were way different than they were in the 1970s. Corum designed not one but four variations for the 2007 WSOP bracelets:

1. The Standard Version
Awarded to 53 winners, featured 53 diamonds.

2. The Ladies World Champion
Featured 4 black diamonds, 2 rubies and 87 blue sapphires. Won by Sally Anne Boyer on the World Championship Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Event.

3. The $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Champion
Featured 91 black diamonds on 136 grams of 18 carat white gold, won by Steve Billrakis on the World Championship Mixed Hold’em (Limit/No-Limit).

For the last tournament in 2008, Corum stepped up its game by icing up the WSOP bracelets with more diamonds. The Main Event bracelet had 291 diamonds, on 168 grams of 18kt white gold. As for the rest 54 event bracelets, they consisted of 55 diamonds, or total weight 0.25 carats on 80 grams of 14kt yellow gold. That’s a long way from the $500 pressed nugget-like bracelets from the 70s.

This year, there will be 57 bracelets awarded in Las Vegas and 4 more at the World Series of Poker Europe. There’s not much details on how many diamonds are used, but we did get a sneak peek. We think Doyle Brunson would’ve understood if some people think these bracelets actually mean something. Just look at all the diamonds.

The finalists known as the “November Nine” will reconvene at the final poker table on November 7, 2009 to battle for the WSOP champion bracelet and a cumulative $27 million pot.

DARVIN MOON

Darvin Moon started playing seven card stud poker at the age of 12 with his grandfather, who never let his young grandson win if he could help it. Moon started to find enjoyment in the aggressive nature of the game.

Although Moon continually played all through his entire life he only learned Texas Hold’em, the card game of the World Series of Poker, three years ago. When he started playing poker professionally, his original  intention was to assist in raising funds for local fire buildings and other charity institutions.

This coming November 2009, Moon will be reprising his current role as the tournament chip leader. One playing style he has demonstrated during the 8 days of the competition was the way that he did not push all-in at any time.

He has shared in interviews that he has always started each day with a game plan in mind. Recently he gave credit to winning the table to his last set of good cards. This unassuming logger from Maryland intends to keep on working at his day job until the final table. He has also revealed that no matter the outcome, he will be traveling to Alaska, and also buying his father a new pink Cadillac.

As an aside, Darvin Moon is the oldest player amongst the November Nine. It will never be simple and easy for the rest of the players to push out his cards nor his skills.

Being the chip leader of the 2009 November Nine, Darvin Moon is assured a minimum of $1.2 Million, and could earn $8.5 million if he takes all. Does this formidable newcomer to the WSOP have what it takes, or will he choke from the unfamiliar pressure of being in the spotlight?

ERIC BUCHMAN

Twenty nine-year old Eric Buchman is one of the most skilled live tournament poker players in the 2009 November Nine. He is also very experienced in handling high levels of pressure during the World Series of Poker. So far, Buchman has live tournament earnings amounting to $967,199 which brings him to the top level of players amongst the 2009 November Nine.

From Valley Stream, New York, Buchman has claimed 10 WSOP places in conjunction with two final tables as well as the Main Event. Buchman was recognized as a runner-up in Event #4 with $1,500 Limit Hold’em in 2006. The event was the biggest Limit Holdem field in WSOP’s history.

Certainly, Buchman has also been successful in both the WSOP Circuit and the US Poker Championships. He finished 2nd in the 2007 Circuit Main Event, Atlantic City and brought home $208,666. Subsequently, Buchman also had two final tables at the US Poker Championships and finished 3rd place in the 2002 USPC Main Event.

At present, Buchman has one win to his credit. He won the 2004 New England Poker Classic Main Event and received $275,000. Buchman is experienced in various disciplines of poker with several trophies in NL Holdem, Limit Holdem, 7 Card Stud, Stud 8 or Better, and Omaha Hi-Lo.

The final table at the WSOP will definitely be the biggest cash to date for Buchman. With his intense nature and risky pattern of wits and chips, Buchman is absolutely one of the favored players to win the 2009 WSOP Main Event bracelet when the game resumes in November.

STEVEN BEGLEITER

Steven Begleiter, a Senior Principal at Flexpoint Ford, an investment firm based in New York City is the 2009 November Nine third placer. He used to be the Senior Managing Director of Bear Stearns & Co. where he was a part of the company’s Management and Compensation Committee.

Begleiter is doing well financially and has no plans of leaving his regular day job at present. But he wants the $8.5M 1st place purse like everyone else, and he’ll be starting at the final table with a strong chip position.

In an interview he shared “I have no idea what I’m going to do in the next four months,” to the Associated Press. “I have a vacation planned with my wife, I got to get to Europe with her – she deserves a trip – decompress a little and not see a flop for a long time.”

Begleiter claimed his $10,000 seat entry into the WSOP by winning it in a poker league. A percentage of his winnings will be split between the players of the game as soon as the tournament is finished on November 10th. He completely admits that he is indeed very fortunate to make it to the final table. Begleiter expressed his ride to the Main Event as “dancing between raindrops in the middle of a minefield.” On the other hand, he is also expected to go back to the felt and put up a formidable fight for his glory against the eight outstanding opponents.

Begleiter’s wife Karen said, “We could have never imagined this. It wasn’t like we were talking about what we are going to do if he wins. He does not talk about winning the game. There are so many people (entered) so it just wasn’t something that came up.”

JEFF SHULMAN

Shulman, the CardPlayer magazine editor, had racked up over $1M in tournament winnings before capturing a spot in the 2009 November Nine which assures him of at least another $1.2 M.

This is the second final WSOP table for the 34-year old player. His first was at the 2000 Main Event. Shulman ended up finishing  seventh place in the event and won $145,000. His very last table appearance at a WSOP event was when he finished seventh for $ 50,000 in a $5,000 buy-in Limit Hold’em tournament. Moreover, he has a total of $400,000 earnings from the WPT circuit.

Shulman has caused some controversy in the poker industry by declaring that he would “toss [my] bracelet in the trash” if he wins the Main Event. Rumor has it that he was resentful of tournament sponsor Harrahs’ dealings with a sister card player magazine, Bluff.

However Shulman says he his comments were inspired by a ”lack of respect for the WSOP and the management and what they’ve done to all of the players. I don’t like it.”

Jeff Shulman is the son of CardPlayer owner Barry Shulman. Indeed, he has become one of the most significant characters in the poker industry. His casual approach is a complete contrast to the serious manner of nearly all poker players. Shulman openly made clear to reporters assembled around him at the WSOP, “I feel like I’m on Adderall and everyone else is on Xanax.”

KEVIN SCHAFFEL

From Coral Springs, FL, Kevin Schaffel at 51 years old is the oldest player in the 2009 November Nine. When the games begins on November 7th, Schaffel will be in mid-field 6th place having 12,390,000 in chips. He will be sponsored by PokerStars. Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Hollywood, FL, are the places he has called as his home casinos.

Schaffel is divorced and a father to two college-aged kids. He used to own and operate a number of businesses before taking up poker at the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event. After his printing and direct mail company experienced a downturn in 2006, he boosted the number of poker tournaments that he joined in and started traveling around the country following the tournament circuit. His name may not sound familiar  to the avid poker fan, but Schaffel in fact has had respectable wins under his belt in the WSOP Championship Event.

Schaffel’s very first cash-in was during the 2004 Main Event where he ended in 42nd place. He has moved on to the 2008 WSOP Main Event, a European Poker Tour event (2008 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure) and another two World Poker Tour events. He has raked in a cumulative$1.4 million dollars at the tables, as well as his payout for being a part of the November Nine.

PHIL IVEY

Born on February 1, 1976 in Riverside, California, Phil Ivey’s family moved to New Jersey when he was just three months old. This is the place where he would grow up and learn the game of poker. Ivey’s poker profession began at an early age having his grandfather as his mentor, who would deal hands of penny-ante 5-card stud to his 8-year-old grandson. His grandfather would deceive his grandson by dealing cards off the bottom of the deck in order to stack the cards against young Phil– hoping to teach a lesson about the possible risks of gambling.

This test was miserably unsuccessful. In fact, it resulted in the opposite outcome, provoking Ivey’s interest and desire to develop into the player he is now. In his teenage years, he told everyone that he wanted to become a professional gambler. Ivey’s first taste of success happened when he was 16, when he got invited to play in a game organized by a family friend. Without any difficulty, he was able to beat the game and got started on looking for newer challenges.

When he reached 18, Ivey procured a bogus ID and was frequently playing at Atlantic City casinos. Even if he admitted to suffer from more losses than victories, he was continuously learning from his slips and becoming adept at a wide range of games. He moved to Atlantic City when he turned 20.

In 2002, Ivey made history by taking home three bracelets at the WSOP. His successes came from three different games, confirming his overall skills and talent. Later on, Ivey became a regular at high-limit cash games in Las Vegas, winning a lot of money and establishing a name for him as one of the most talented players in the world.

Even though he focused more on cash games that time than tournaments, Ivey made waves in November 2005. This is the time when he victoriously won back-to-back titles within five days. Ivey won $1,000,000 at the Monte Carlo Millions tournament on November 20, and earned $600,000 as a first-placer prize at FullTiltPoker.com’s invitational tournament on November 25. He has a total of career tournament earnings more than $6 million.

2007 was a down year for Ivey’s tournaments, but he focused more on cash games that year than tournaments. Nevertheless, he still had great victories when he did actually play. He finished 5th by making it to the final table of the WPT Mirage Poker Showdown and consecutively made two final tables at the World Series of Poker. He was a runner-up in the $5,000 Stud World Championship, defeated by Chris Reslock.

Presently, Phil Ivey is perhaps one of the best and most popular players in the game. He has been labelled the “Tiger Woods of Poker,” and now owns five WSOP bracelets, as well as a record-tying three in one year (2002). It was even more remarkable when he placed in the Top 25 of the WSOP main event in three consecutive years from 2002 to 2005. Moreover, he has also won six World Poker Tour final tables.

Phil Ivey is one true gambler who has no fear and a seemingly unlimited bankroll. Ivey currently lives with his wife in Las Vegas.

ANTOINE SAOUT

Hailing from Saint Martin des Champs, France, Antoine Saout is one of the two non-US born members of the 2009 November Nine. Saout will be one of the players with short stacks at the table having only 9.5 million in chips.

This 25-year-old Frenchman says that this will be his first ever World Series and had no experience in having a documented live poker wins or experience to show off. Saout began playing poker just about eighteen months back and earned his seat to the 2009 WSOP Main Event through an online $50 satellite on Everest Poker. A lot of online players on the site are presently sharing in the success that he is enjoying. It is through his breakthrough of being an Everest Poker player that made it possible for 51 players to jointly earn a share of $1 million, which gets divided to roughly $19,000 per person.

Potentially, Antoine Saout has had the most difficult road to take to be able to earn his way to the “November Nine” final table. He was in the undesirable position of being on the left side of fellow November Nine opponent Phil Ivey for the final three days of play in the 2009 Main Event. If he can learn quickly and make use of the information he gets from playing next to Ivey and manages to grow his chip stack early, then he could end up being a challenging opponent.

JAMES AKENHEAD

James Akenhead, a 26-year-old British poker professional, is one of the two non-U.S. players at the 2009 Main Event final table, alongside Frenchman Antoine Saout. He used to be a railroad conductor and later on went full-time as a  pro poker player. Akenhead currently has a short stack on this tournament.

Akenhead has only two prizes to his name in the World Series of Poker (WSOP). He finished as the runner-up to Grant Hinkle in a $1,500 buy-in No Limit Hold’em tournament during the 2008 WSOP for $520,000. In addition, he took 39th in a £1,500 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event inclusive of the WSOP Europe festivities in London the same year for just over £3,000.

In 2008, he finished fourth in the 888.com U.K. Open after successfully winning two initial heats. James Akenhead made his waves in U.S. competitions by winning a $1,000 buy-in tournament during the Bellagio Cup for $41,000 in July 2007. Since then, he has played in tournaments around the world which includes the United States, Bahamas, Germany, Ireland, and France.

Currently, James Akenhead is sponsored by Full Tilt Poker together with fellow finalist Phil Ivey. A regular on the Governor U.K. Poker Tour, James Akenhead is one of Britain’s top players. Belonging to the long line of Britain’s professionals includes David “Devilfish” Ulliott, Roland de Wolfe, John Gale, and Liv Boeree.

JOE CADA

Joe Cada, a native of the Shelby Township, MI, is a young and logical player who has a brilliant mind for math. “Professionally, I’ve been playing poker for four years,” he shares. “I went to school for three semesters. I want to start my own business soon, so I went for business classes, accounting classes, and statistics too.” But similar to a lot of poker pro aspirants, Cada realized that university life wasn’t for him. He took the step toward to realizing his dream of becoming a professional poker player briefly after the start of classes at Macomb Community College.

While a majority of dropouts learn the transition is difficult, his decision to leave school last year ended up being the most financially rewarding decision of his young life when Cada earned a seat at the final table of the WSOP Main Event, outliving a field of 6,494 players to guarantee himself a payday of at least $1,263,602.

Currently, Joe Cada will come into the final table as fifth in chips having 13,215,000. He did a significant move on Day 8, making his stack double even though his pocket aces were cracked by the pocket tens of Jamie Robbins.

Cada is the youngest of the nine finalists. He intends to take time off to relax. ”I’m going to spend a Michigan summer on the water,” he shares.

The November Nine this year will all meet again on November 7th to play for the $8.5M prize. Will you be watching?

2009 World Series of Poker Final 9

Smith, a 27-year-old poker player from College Station, Texas, saw his chance at the final poker table slip away when he went all-in on his pair of aces in the hole. He was called by Darvin Moon, a 45-year-old self-employed logger from Oakland, Md.  on a community board of an eight, two and four. Moon flipped over his a pair of eights to reveal a set.

Smith did not improve when the dealer revealed the final two cards, and was eliminated in 10th place. He won $896,730.

“I was trying to look weak,” Smith said. “It just didn’t work.”

Smith said he was disappointed with the last hand but happy with his finish in the tournament.

“I didn’t come with very much money and I leave with some now,” he said. “I’m very fortunate, I had a great tournament.”

WSOP 2009 chipleader Darvin Moon

The 45-year-old Moon built his leading chip stack to nearly 60 million by winning the hand, putting him 23 million chips ahead of his next closest competitor, tournament poker player Eric Buchman.

“Everyone at this table is way better than I am,” Moon said. “Something is helping me.”

Moon said he never risked his entire chip stack during eight sessions of play during the tournament.

“The dealers — I love ‘em all,” he said. “It’s great to have a run like that.

Moon said he planned to fly back home soon and return to everyday life.

“As soon as I go home, I go back into the woods,” Moon said. “When it’s time to come out — I’ll come out.”

There is one well-known player still in the mix; veteran poker pro Phil Ivey is 7th but shortstacked at a chip count of 9,765,000 versus Moon’s 58,930,000.

Phil Ivey at the 2009 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Nevada

The others left in the tournament 51-year-old Kevin Schaffel of Coral Springs, Fla.; Antoine “Tonio” Saout, 25, of Saint Martin des Champs, France; Joseph Cada, 21, of Shelby Township, Mich., Steven Begleiter, 47, of Chappaqua, N.Y.; James Akenhead, 26, of London; Eric Buchman, 29, of Valley Stream, N.Y.; and Jeff Shulman, 34, of Las Vegas.

Finals will resume November 7 at the Rio Suites in Las Vegas. The pot is worth $8.5 million USD.

Besides the major Danish poker stars living in Copenhagen, you can also find Casino Copenhagen. It’s a high class, no frills, poker player’s casino. The dress code is smart casual; Gentlemen must wear a blazer or a suit jacket. Sports wear, sun glasses, and iPods are all not allowed. These rules are not enforced, however, for tournaments with more than 30 players, as they take place in the Casino Ballroom. Speaking of the Texas Hold’Em tournaments, this is one of the few places in the world that I have personally seen where you can register for live tournaments online. As with everything slowly moving over to the virtual space of the net; Casino Copenhagen is a step ahead of the curve here and serious about their tournaments. It’s 90 dkk just to attend as a spectator, that’s about $17. As I said this is high class poker so if you decide to play elsewhere, I suggest a home poker tourney with a custom poker table! I can say, it is becoming more and more common that the Scandinavians play online or in semi-private clubs. Do try the card clubs if you find them, but take caution as you would playing poker in New York. Copenhagen is a great city with friendly faces everywhere, get over there and get the green on the table.

Unlike our Custom Poker Tables, these custom poker tables have wireless RFID chips located at the bottom of a table, while RFID tags are fitted on a few deck of cards. Along with some slick high quality video cameras up and running you’ll be able to accurately track individual moves within a poker game.

RFID chips are thin and slim (yet noticeable) so they can be implemented on regular cards. The estimated time and cost needed for this DIY project is approximately $7,000 and three months. So make sure you have won enough money off your buddies before embarking on such a project. For starters, check out our Custom Poker Tables as the price is right and the feeling is professional.

#10 – At the Corner of 4th and 5th Street

The first of many Gus Hansen sitings on the Bad Beat coutdown. The Dane is a strong poker player but currently stands in the poker shadows when in his home country. Also originally from Denmark, young 22 year old Peter Eastgate recently won the WSOP.

#9 – Quad Aces is Not Enough

I think when you wear a wife-beater tank top to the Main Event, you should not be allowed to make bad beats!

#8 – KK vs 88 vs 33

Never count out the little guy, or the river card for that matter.

#7 – Phil Hellmuth Cannot Take a Bad Beat

I genuinely enjoy seeing the Poker Brat blow his top. Tennis had John McEnroe, a href=”http://www.custompokertables.com”>Poker has Phil Hellmuth.

#6 – Great Call, Bad Beat

I’ve written about Negreanu before and here it shows again, he can really read people, calling the pair of Jacks. He did win on a bit of luck, but knowing what the opponent had gave him confidence to push all in quickly.

#5 – Largest Bad Beat Jackpot Online $861,000

This list would not be complete without an online bad beat. As much as we encourage you to buy a custom poker table and play home games, many poker game tables are played online. This Bad Beat paid out a record $861,000 although I’m not so sure about how the money is split up?

#4 – Erik Seidel vs Gus Hansen

Two top pros both go in with strong hands. The poker table giveth and the poker table taketh away. Gus Hansen’s Top 10 Bad Beat record is 1-1.

#3 – Daniel Negreanu and Gus Hansen High Stakes

It’s hard to imagine the wind getting sucked out of a poker table harder than this one. Negreanu is a great statistics player, but the probability of Gus Hansen’s hand is one in 4,165. Can you guess the hand? Gus finishes 2-1 on the Top 10 Bad Beats.

#2 – Someone Has to Finish Last in the WSOP

Oliver Hudson is what we call a “D” celebrity. Son of Goldie Hawn and sister of Kate Hudson, he really gets stuck on this Bad Beat. Amateurs see a good hand and often cannot let go, no matter what is bet into them. Maybe Hudson should stick to the local circuit poker tables. Furthermore, I am very scard of Sammy Fahra all the time… this is arguably our worst bad beat and the quickest way to lose $10,000.

#1 – You Tell Me – Video Contest

These are the bad beats Custom Poker Tables found. With the amount of poker being played today we want to hear about your worst bad beat. Review our bad beat list and then Send us an E-Mail breaking down your bad beat. If you have it on video even better, drop us a link to it! The best bad beat story will win a great prize. The winner will receive Custom Poker Table bragging rights and their name on our site!