Poker Championship - René

[sophy]

 

Poker creeps into the Network consciousness: The NBC National Heads Up Championship is here.

April 28, 2005

John Caldwell

 

When I first heard NBC was doing a made for TV poker event, it perked my ears up. Even if it was poorly done, it would still be a good step for poker. The fact that a network was willing to shoot it meant that a network was willing to air it, and unless it was an unmitigated disaster, poker would creep a little more into the mainstream.

 

But it strikes me that NBC actually thought about this, and created an event, rather than just set up cameras at an existing tournament. Having six or eight heads up matches going at once was a really smart way to do it. OK, Johnny Chan is taking time to make a decision...fine, cut to Annie Duke's match. Annie folded? Fine, cut to Phil Ivey's match, and so on. One would have to assume that this was a nightmare to direct (worse than golf), but I am eager to see the end result this Sunday.

 

This Sunday at 1pm (check your local listings), NBC will air its first episode of the "National Heads Up Championship", which will run for six weeks in a row, sometimes on Sundays, sometimes on Saturdays. It may be interesting to note that a couple of the airings lead directly into major horse races. I can see some NBC exec going, "hmmm...gamblers like poker AND horses....Win Win!"

 

The heads up format, and the fact that multiple matches were being held at the same time seems like perfect television fodder. The names participating in this competition are as big as any event out there. The event includes Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, Daniel, Moneymaker, Annie, and my personal favorite Rene Angelil, who is mostly known for being Celine Dion's husband/manager . It is mostly poker pros, but James Woods, and Lakers owner Jerry Buss played in the event also.

 

This marks yet another moment in time for the mainstream penetration of poker. I am interested to see how NBC handles it, and hopefully the commentary, and the coverage is as poker friendly as it will be TV friendly.

 

If you don't want to know who won this, don't read this next paragraph. The winner was Phil Hellmuth, and the only reason I mention this is that I find it interesting that Phil, who has not had a lot of luck in televised events these past two years suddenly comes out of hibernation, and wins the highest profile TV event yet (yes the WSOP, and WPT are bigger poker events, but cable is cable). Phil's stock will once again rise, and let's face it...somebody up there likes Phil.

 

The commentary is provided by Matt Vasgersian, with none other than Mr Kotter himself, Gabe Kaplan chiming in expert commentary. There someone called a "sideline" reporter (boy, this is network TV) named Lindsay Czarniak.

 

For more information on this event, feel free to go to headsuppokerchamp.com and let's hope this comes out good...

 

Please visit our online poker room directory to see the best bonuses on the web!

 

Sorce: http://www.pokernews.com/news/2005/04/nbc-...hampionship.htm

 

 

Does anybody heard about it? It must be interesting, I hope he wins at last

[piglot82]

Thanks for the info. I haven't heard about this yet but you better believe I'm not going to risk missing a chance to see Rene

[Mozinha]

GOOD LUCK RENÉ!!!!

 

Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee somebody... I NEED a video of René playing, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[piglot82]

I hope he is wearing the black suit and the dark glasses. He looks so sexy when he wears that. *fanning myself*

[Mozinha]

I hope he is wearing the black suit and the dark glasses.  He looks so sexy when he wears that.   *fanning myself*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The older he gets the better he looks

 

Please someone, we need a video of this!!!! Please, please, PLEASE!!!!!!!

I hope he wins

[sophy]

Yeah, it would be great to see it. Couldn't someone cap it? Or I hope we get to see pics at least. The last pics from that blackjack thing were cute

[Koolan]

I'll try to record it, remind me again on saturday night

[CelineTheBest5]

Celine should be there with him, I would love to see them lolol :>

[sophy]

I'll try to record it, remind me again on saturday night 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks Vic

I really hope he wins

[sophy]

Celine should be there with him, I would love to see them lolol :>

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

IT would be great to see her in the audience. But she has a show that night, doesn't she?

[piglot82]

It is probably pre-recorded, but I doubt Celine will be there anyway.

[Mozinha]

I wanted:

-René looking sexy in black

-Celine there supporting him

-René winning

-Céline there to celebraty with him

- Kiss

[piglot82]

I wanted:

-René looking sexy in black

-Celine there supporting him

-René winning

-Céline there to celebraty with him

- Kiss

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ME TOO!

-Rene sexy in black

-Kiss

[Mozinha]

I wanted:

-René looking sexy in black

-Celine there supporting him

-René winning

-Céline there to celebraty with him

- Kiss

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ME TOO!

-Rene sexy in black

-Kiss

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Kiss is so cute!!!!

Like the pic on the Gala magazine.

Sexy and sweet

[piglot82]

I wanted:

-René looking sexy in black

-Celine there supporting him

-René winning

-Céline there to celebraty with him

- Kiss

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ME TOO!

-Rene sexy in black

-Kiss

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Kiss is so cute!!!!

Like the pic on the Gala magazine.

Sexy and sweet

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

This is my favorite kiss pic.

[Celine_Dion]

go rene and good luck

[Mozinha]

My favourite is the one in Gala Magazine

[Bellamy]

info about Rene on headsuppokerchamp.net, this Poker Championship game official site:

 

http://www.headsuppokerchamp.net/images/angelil.jpg

 

Angelil is perhaps most well-known for being the husband and manager of pop star Celine Dion. In recent years, however, Angelil has started to make a name for himself in the poker community.

 

Angelil was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is also a big fan of blackjack and has competed in numerous blackjack tournaments.

 

Notable Recent Tournament Finishes

 

21st place  $2,000 No Limit Hold'em  2004 Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas

Source: http://www.headsuppokerchamp.net/bios/angelil.html

[Mozinha]

Wow!!!!!!!!

*Looks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sexy in the pic *

 

Wo, I'm so happy for him, for making himself a name in this community. It's obvious that he really loves this gambling thing. It's so good to see him having time for himself, for doing the things we likes to do. After all, he has been working so hard on the last 24 years. He really deserves this.

 

Céline must be so happy and proud!!!!!!

[Koolan]

They didn't show Rene on the show

[Mozinha]

[tativale]

They didn't show Rene on the show 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ppffffff

[piglot82]

 

This Sunday at 1pm (check your local listings), NBC will air its first episode of the "National Heads Up Championship", which will run for six weeks in a row, sometimes on Sundays, sometimes on Saturdays.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Maybe Rene will be on next week. I couldn't watch it because I had to go out of town, did they even mention him?

[piglot82]

I just read on pokerpages.com that Rene competed in March at the World Series of Poker and placed 11th out of 222 players. He won $29,525 in prize money.

[piglot82]

OK I just found out what happened on the Heads-Up Championship.

 

Here is an excerpt from www.bodog.com recaping Rene's match against Josh Arieh.

 

Written By Josh Arieh

I was fortunate enough to take an early lead and get a little more comfortable until this hand came up. It's my button and I look down at two red Queens. My heart is now beating faster than it was when we started and I am thinking to myself "calm down, just calm down". I make my normal three times the big blind raise and Rene calls rather quickly. The dealer begins to deal the flop cards off the deck one at a time face down. This seems to be taking an eternity. "DEAL PLEASE," I want to say so, so badly, but I was able to keep it in. After what seemed to be a timeout, the flop is finally face up, J-6-2 with two Spades. This seems to be a great flop to Q-Q and I am ready to gamble now. I bet out 1200 of the 20,000 starting chips that we had and Rene thinks for a few seconds and calls. The dealer pats the table and peels the 9 of Spades off the deck, putting 3 Spades on the board. Rene checks again and I put a bet of $4,500 out there. "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?!", I ask myself. Is it really that necessary to bet THAT much? Well, after a long debate, Rene says, "I'm all in." And I say "NOOOOOOOO". What have I done? Why did I make this pot so big? (There's a free lesson for you amateurs out there: always manage the size of the pots that you play. Don't let the pot get too big and give your opponent the opportunity to steal a big pot from you when you have an average hand). After a long debate I decided to fold and live another day. Rene was able to keep a firm grasp of the lead in our match for about an hour before the tide turned. The blinds began to get amazingly high and whoever won a couple pots in a row would take this match and carry that much-needed "W" into the next round. Luckily, that person was me. Rene was cold-decked in a hand when the flop came K-5-5, I was in the big blind with 5-7 off suit. Poor Rene had a King with a good kicker I believe. Shortly after that hand I put Rene all in with the monster of all monsters. I looked down and saw a Queen in my hand and said, "All in." He quickly called showing me A-J (my initials and favorite hand). Uh-oh. I'm in trouble. I've looked at one card and my opponent has A-J, please don't let my other card be a Jack, because I will be in terrible shape only having one card to win with. I flipped my hand face up and had mixed emotions about my other card. It was a 5. LOL. As long as it wasn't a Jack I was happy. After a flop of K-T-3, I was in extremely bad shape. The only way I could win was a 5 and off the deck it came. Rene took defeat as well as I have ever seen it in my entire life. I must say it was an honor to meet and compete against this guy. He is a great player and an even better person.

 

Poor Rene I wish he would've won.

[SFchick]

Back off my man you *censored*!!

 

He is mine and Celine's only just ask Cathy!!

[piglot82]

Back off my man you *censored*!!

 

He is mine and Celine's only just ask Cathy!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Monica and I feel differently

[Mozinha]

11th out of 222 is GREAT, CONGRATS!!!!

 

René is Céline's man....... I don't think she will share with anyone else LOL

 

I just think he is the sexiest thing

[piglot82]

René is Céline's man....... I don't think she will share with anyone else  LOL     

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

OK you're right. Celine wins

 

I just think he is the sexiest thing

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[SFchick]

Back off my man you *censored*!!

 

He is mine and Celine's only just ask Cathy!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Monica and I feel differently

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

OMG where the hell is Cathy when you need her!! At home thats where!

 

Okay as much as him and Celine are a couple i am and have been for a while the official affair!