Showing posts with label Poker Celbrities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poker Celbrities. Show all posts

Poker Celebrities - Poker Celebrity 2 Annie Duke

My second Poker Celbrity is Anne LaBarr Lederer-Duke, better known as Annie Duke. Born on September 13, 1965. Annie Duke is a professional poker player and also a book author. Annie won a bracelet in the 2004 World Series of Poker $2,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Event and was the winner of the 2004 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, where she earned the Winner-Take-All prize of $2,000,000. At the time, this victory was the most money paid in a single event to a female poker player. That record was broken by Annette Obrestad during the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.

Annie holds the women's record for most "in the money" finishes at the WSOP. Duke has won more than three million dollars in tournament play. Nowadays she refuses to play in women's only tournaments. As of 2009 Annie Dukes total live tournament winnings exceeded $3,600,000. Her 37 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,136,846 of those winnings.

Annie Duke became the first poker player to appear on The Colbert Report. During the show, she talked about her book How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at The World Series of Poker; and what it's like to be a woman in a male-dominated event. Annie Duke Takes on the World featuring Annie playing against amateur poker players was shown on Game Show Network (GSN) in 2006.

Other television appearances include Annie Dukes appearance as a member of the Mob (NBC) where she correctly answered every question and was the only celebrity who wasn't eliminated. She returned and was successful on another fe occasions before returning on February 9 2007 under "Last Man Standing" rules where the game continued until only one person remained. She survived to reach the final five of 100 contestants.

Annie Duke has appeared on NBC's Poker After Dark three times but has not won, Deal Or No Deal to support a contestant who, after taking a $341,000 deal from the bank with only two cases left, found her case number 13 had the $1,000,000..

Along with Phil Hellmuth Jr., Duke is a coach on Fox Sports Network’s Best Damn Poker Show.

Lastly she appeared on the Donald Trump reality television show, Celebrity Apprentice. Throughout the season, each celebrity raised money for a charity of his or her choice. Duke raised more money for her charity (Refugees International) than any other contestant. Of the field of 16 competitors, Duke survived to compete in the finale against her primary rival throughout the show, Joan Rivers. She has also appeared on behalf of poker players worldwide in court (as seen in the video by clicking here) and has also won the NBC Heads-Up this year.

As for her poker game and cash play, it is assumed that Annie Duke is one hell of a money maker and probably the best female poker player the world has seen to date.

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Poker Celebrities - Poker Celebrity 1 Al Alvarez

Al Alvarez is the first poker celebrity to be listed on this blog. There will be many more poker celebrities coming up. He was educated in Oxford where he took a first in English. Al Alvarez became a full time writer in his late twenties after teaching for a short period in Oxford and also the United States. For 10 years (1956 to 1966), Alvarez was a poetry editor. During this period he was also a critic for The Observer.

Al Alvarez is an author of many non-fiction books. He is best known for his study of suicide, The Savage God being one of his many famous novels (1972). He has also written on divorce , dreams, and the oil industry. Most amazingly he has also written about his poker hobby on 2 occasions the titles being:

The Biggest Game In Town - the first-ever description of the World Series of Poker and the people who played in it. This book is still in print today.

Poker Bets, Bluffs and Bad Beats which is - an illustrated survey of the history and psychology of poker.

To add to this poker listing one could include his most recent book which is titled “Risky Business” which contains a few essays on poker and gambling.

Alfred Alvarez also has a 1999 autobiography titled Where Did It All Go Right?

Al Alvarez's poker book The Biggest Game In Town shows how well he can study the psychology of some very unusual players. His book is quite old and outdated now, it is however still a great read. In this book Alvarez indicates players, places, interests and the World Championship back in 1981. His second poker book indicating his knowledge for the game with a perfect introduction for beginners and a nostalgic romp for those already addicted to the game - as reviewed by some readers.

Alvarez has a few famous poker quotes to his name a few which follow:

・ I absolutely don't believe in anything. Full stop. Including luck.

・ I could think of worse ways of going than at the poker table.

・ Yes, I think poker really isn’t gambling

・ I think one of the interesting things about poker is that once you let your ego in, you're done for.

Although Al Alvarez has only one win to his name (1995 Festival of Poker London- £14,400) he knows his poker game like the back of his books! From 1984 to 1994 Alvarez played at the World Series of Poker, but only once in the main event (1994). Al Alvarez may be one of the worlds biggest cash players, one can only assume; with very little information on his winnings.

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