Good Evening Pokermadness !

I’m sorry it took so long before I got back but I had some work for school and different examinations to deal with. I’ll post the next players quicker, so that we could reach the number one in a couple of weeks. I’m running extremely bad the last weeks, especially during live play than. I’m so carddead sometimes that it’s very hard and frustrating to deal with. Last week we played a nine handed cash game for about 6 hours, my best hands were 4x pocket Deuce , one time my favourite pocket fours and one big Ace, Ace-Jack. I played with a dozen of suited connectors but missed like every flop. I only won pots when I bluffed at it, and I know that’s not yet my best game. Online I’m more on a rollercoaster, running over and under the 330$. I play good and with patience, following the Smallball Poker strategy, looking out for pot control and keeping the pot small, especially with overrated hands like Ace-Queen or Pocket Nines. But the biggest problem is that I certainly don’t win too many coinflips for the moment. I’m going to stop complaining right now and start with number 35…

(35)   =>   DAVID   WILLIAMS

> David Anthony Williams

> born 09/06/1980 in Arlington, Texas (USA).

> resides now in Las Vegas, Nevada.

> became 2nd in the WSOP Main Event in 2004, losing to Greg Raymer.

> won 1 Bracelet (’06 Seven-card Stud)

> plays online at Bodog Poker as a member of TeamBodog.

> has Live Tournament Winnings of over $ 6,300,000 (until 2009).

David is a very smart person, which he showed when he scored enormous on his scolar tests at high school and could choose any university he wanted. He chose Southern Methodist where he studied Economics. Before poker, David was a big star in the game ‘ Magic : The Gathering ‘ but he was suspended  from the game in the late 90s after he’ve marked the cards during a big tournament. He started to play online poker during his suspension and never left it because of the money. He still plays Magic: The Gathering when he wants some fun. David was being mentored in poker at the beginning of his career by Marcel Luske. His second place at the WSOP Main Event in 2004 is still the best finish ever in the Main Event for an African American. Despite of his interest in fashion and bling bling, David Williams is an excellent tournament player. He made three final tables at the WPT and had some great results in high rated televised poker shows such as High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark and King of Vegas.

(34)   =>   JAMIE   GOLD

> born as Jamie M. Usher

> born 25/08/1969 in Kansas City, Missouri (USA)

> based in Malibu, California.

> Nickname : ‘ Golden Boy ‘

> is the 2006 WSOP Main Event winner.

> ranked 3th on the All Time Money List

> won over $12,200,000 (until 2009) in Live Tournament Play.

Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree from State University of New York. Before his famous poker victory, he was a talent agent and worked as a manager of Lucy Liu and James Gandolfini. Jamie has being tutored in poker by Johnny Chan and Chris Ferguson, who’s his neighbour. He won the biggest cash prize ever with his win in the WSOP Main Event in 2006, after beating Paul Wasicka heads-up. During the tournament he became very well-known for his table-talk, telling the truth about his hands all the time and he had a rare gameplan which is still causing a lot of controversy about his pokerskills. He also likes to eat blueberries during a tournament. He featured in Poker After Dark and season 3 and 4 of High Stakes Poker. He had a controversy after his big win with Bodog Poker. Because he partnered with Crispin Leyser and they had a deal for the half of Gold’ winnings at the WSOP but Jamie refused to give Leyser $6,000,000 after he won the Main Event. Finally he sorted it out with Leyser after different causes, but he ended his contract with Bodog. Jamie now still plays poker but not all the time. He’s also a businessman, television producer and president of Buzznation.

(33)   =>   GAVIN   SMITH

> born 04/09/1968 in Guelph, Ontario (CAN).

> resides now in Las Vegas, Nevada.

> Nickname : ‘ Caveman ‘ or ‘ Birdguts ‘

> won the WPT Mirage Poker Showdown Championship event in 2005.

> was the WPT Player of the Year in season 4.

> won 3 Poker After Dark titles.

> plays online at Full Tilt Poker as a sponsored Pro.

> won over $4,800,000 (until 2009) in Live Tournament Play.

Gavin is a former poker dealer, taxi driver and golf course employee. He’s a very agressive player, doing a lot of talking and drinking (was one time very drunk on Poker After Dark !) at the table but also likes to laugh and joke. He’s a very successful player, making three other WPT final tables. Besides that , he won a lot of other big tournaments such as the B.A.R.G.E Main Event in 2004 and the World Pro-Am Challenge in 2006. Gavin has many famous and funny prop bets with his good friend and fellow Poker Pro Joe Sebok, e.g. Gavin has a tattoo with the initials J.S. after he lost a bet against Sebok. Gavin acts as the co-host of Pokerroad Radio show along with Sebok and The Voice of Poker After Dark, Ali Nejad. Smith is also a good friend of Erick Lindgren, who’ve helped him building up his bankroll.

(32)   =>   ALLEN    CUNNINGHAM

> born 28/09/1977 in Riverside, California (USA).

> resides now in Las Vegas with fellow Poker Pro and girlfriend Melissa Hayden and their dog Muffin.

> Nickname : ‘ Clever Piggy ‘

> won 5 Bracelets (’01 Seven-card Stud/ ‘02 2-7 Draw/ ‘05 NL Hold’em/ ‘06 NL Hold’em w Rebuys/ ‘07 PL Hold’em)

> became 4th in the WSOP Main Event in 2006 (when Jamie Gold won).

> plays online at Full Tilt Poker as member of TeamFullTilt.

> has Live Tournament Earnings of almost $10,400,000 (until 2009).

Allen studied Civil Engineering until he was 18 before dropping out and play poker professionally. He is famous to be a quiet, peaceful and focused player who’s playing the game with an analytical vision. Allen earned the title ESPN/Toyota Player of the Year in 2005 and was voted by his peers as the Best All Around Player under 35. He joined a small group of players in 2007 who’ve won a WSOP Bracelet in three consecutive years. Allen is a great tournament player, he won one Poker After Dark title, the National Poker League Vegas O.C. Main Event in 2007 and the WSOP Circuit Event in 2008. He ranked 8th on the All Time Money List.

(31)   =>   ERIK   SEIDEL

> born 06/12/1959 in New York City (USA).

> resides now in Las Vegas, Nevada.

> Nickname : ‘ Sly ‘

> won 8 Bracelets (’92 Limit Hold’em/ ‘93 Omaha 8 or better/ ‘94 Limit Hold’em/ ‘98 2-7 Draw/ ‘01 NL Hold’em/ ‘03 PL Omaha/ ‘05 NL Hold’em/ ‘07 WC NL 2-7 Draw Lowball w/Rebuys)

> became 2nd in the 1988 WSOP Main Event and 4th in the 1999 WSOP Main Event.

> plays online at Full Tilt Poker, part of design team.

> has Live Tournament Winnings of over $9,800,000 (until 2009).

Erik is a former professional backgammon and stock market player. He worked on Wall Street before playing poker full time.  He’s one of the famous players from the Mayfair Club, including Howard Lederer and Dan Harrington. He reached the final table in his first big WSOP event in 1988 when he lost to Johnny Chan heads-up. The final hand of that battle was featured in the famous pokermovie ‘ Rounders ‘. Erik is a great tournament player, not only did he won 8 Bracelets but besides that he won the 2008 WPT Foxwoods Poker Classic and he finished 2nd twice in a big event at the Aussie Millions in 2007 and 2008. He ranked 9th on the All Time Money List. Erik is very well-known as a big music fanatic, listening to a very wild range of different genres of music. He has a special tab on his website where you could find his favourite music albums. He likes to play tennis when he has some time left.

So next time we dive into the top-thirty of Most Famous Poker Players.Watch out for the bad beats and only go All In when you have the best hand!

Cheers,

J.M.