The Rundown: Poker News from the Week ending November 25
by Bodog Poker | Feb 24 2011
Florida
The first-ever
World Series of Poker Circuit Series stop is going down in the sunshine state. While a lot of people sort of shrug away the WSOPC, it’s always a great way to see who’s going to be up and coming in the big show later this year, especially as victories in the main events along the circuit offer up seats. Reed Zhao took the opening tournament, which qualifies as the largest-ever poker tournament in Florida histories and was Zhao’s first major tournament win. He earned in prize money.
He was soon joined in the ring-winners circle by James Giraldo from Miami, playing in his first-ever live tournament after years of online poker and winning $43,191 for taking on over 400 other player sin Event #2. Ray Del Cueto aka Tampa Bay Ray came in first in a $345 buy-in No Limit hold ‘em tournament, netting $28,800 for his play. Chris Lyons won Event #3, letting him claim a rare honor: he’s the only player int he world who’s won major tournaments in the US and Spain. He received $26,480 for taking Event #4. Event #5 went to Brent Carter, who’s been seen around the WSOPC scene over the last few years and is generally considered to be a fixture. He got $13,454 ub oruze nibet,
California
In Oakland, Ernest Scherer III took the witness stand Wednesday in the murder trial of his parents and the poker pro that nobody heard of until he was accused of murdering his parents gave quite a performance, grinning often as he described a religious upbringing, family tension from his father's drinking and his formative days as a poker player.
Scherer III took on a casual air as a court bailiff sat seven feet away alongside the jury of seven women and five men. Led by his public defender Richard Foxall, he spoke frankly of his seminary training for the Mormon church, frequent card games with his family and marrying his now ex-wife, Robyn while they both attended Brigham Young University.
He also talked about the high school years in which his father, a former San Ramon Valley school board member who was recalled in 1990, often left to play cards and drink at the Outpost, a defunct San Ramon card club.
“He just wasn't home a lot," he told the court. "I had this impression of him being like Norm from ‘Cheers.’”
His father’s interest in the game is what gave Scherer the impetus to go on his own and, as others have testified, led him down a path of poor bankroll management, money problems, cheating on his wife and now the crime he’s accused of: the dual murder of his father Ernest and wife Charlene Abendroth.
It’s a sad story that’s putting poker in a poor light and, frankly, we can’t wait for it to be over.
