Bourbon Cigars and Blinds

News and blogs about the world of Bourbon, Cigars and Poker

WPT season opener kicks off at Thunder Valley with an epic Top Gun video

A Top Gun homage video, a smoke machine, a mock explosion, and a packed house. This wasn’t the movie theater, this was the scene for the season opener of the World Poker Tour at Thunder Valley Resort in Northern California…

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Philip Hollederer wins WPT Prime Amsterdam Main Event

Late last night, in the heart of the Netherlands, a new WPT Prime champion was crowned. Philip Hollederer bested the field of exactly 1,000 entrants to take home the trophy. Hollederer, from Germany, claimed the first-place prize of €171,952 for…

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“Nik Airball” vs Matt Berkey: It’s on like Donkey Kong

If you haven’t figured it out by now, super high-stakes regulars, Matt Berkey and Nikhil (Nik Airball) Arcot don’t like each other. It’s not a show for likes or clicks; the animosity is very real. When push comes to shove…

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Brazilian RFN1986 wins PokerStars Sunday Million Anniversary

Brazil’s Ricardo ‘RFN1986′ Nagamoto is Brazil’s latest star millionaire and the champion of PokerStars’ Sunday Million 17th Anniversary. Nagamoto’s win this week saw him outlast a massive online field of 39,500 entrants to take home the $1 million top prize….

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One Drop Foundation executive discusses new partnership with WPT

For over fifteen years, the One Drop Foundation has worked to better the world in many ways. Poker players may be familiar with their name, as they’ve partnered with major poker tournament organizers throughout their history. That connection isn’t surprising,…

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WPT announces first two events in partnerhip with One Drop Foundation

The World Poker Tour has announced details for the first two events of its new charity-based partnership with One Drop Foundation, the global clean-water initiative founded by Cirque du Soleil creator and poker enthusiast Guy Laliberte. This July, as part…

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Caitlyn Cobb and Justin Arnwine discuss women and Black people in poker

In the first installment of this diptych, I introduced you to D.C.-area poker pros Caitlyn Cobb and Justin Arnwine. Here are the stories of how Caitlyn first started playing poker (and why she took so long to start) and why…

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CardsChat Interview: Lex Veldhuis on New Challenges and YouTube Ambitions (Pt. 2)

In the second part of our exclusive interview with PokerStars ambassador Lex Veldhuis, we find out what keeps him hungry and what his fans can look forward to this year. Lex Veldhuis is relishing new challenges in poker, including a…

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Nevada Bill Would Require Gaming Control Board and Sites to Name Online Poker Cheats

A bill that would require the Nevada Gaming Control Board to list people who have been suspended or banned from online poker sites for cheating has been written. Jake Schindler celebrated his first World Series of Poker title alone after…

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Phil Hellmuth Sheds One-Trick Pony Status with US Poker Open Win

Phil Hellmuth got his first win in a non-WSOP event since 2019 this week by taking down Event #5 at the US Poker Open. Phil Hellmuth has won his first non-WSOP event since 2019 by taking down a $10,000 tournament…

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Short Stacks: NFL Allowing Sportsbooks in Stadiums on Game Days, Deeb Wins in New York

Shaun Deeb scores his first World Series of Poker ring, the NFL allows sportsbooks in stadiums, and a weird casino robbery in Colorado are the short stacks CardsChat picked up in our latest orbit of poker and gambling news. The…

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More WPT Season XXI Action: WPT500 UK, $10 Million Event, and Alpha 8 Returns

The WPT is heading back to the UK’s Dusk Till Dawn in May for the first time since 2019 before it hosts its first run of One Drop charity events in Las Vegas, including a $10 million guaranteed summer classic….

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