The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is the collector’s edition of mid-afternoon poker news that comes with three bonus stories that will enthrall the inner poker fan in all of us.
You can always make your own suggestions for future 3-Bet pieces in the comments section below.
In today’s Daily 3-Bet we’ll take a look at Griffin Benger giving fans the inside scoop on November Nine, an incredible rescue during WW2 by a poker group and a closer look at the relationship between eSports and poker.
1) Griffin Benger Behind-the-Scenes
Every year the poker players who make the November Nine have roughly three months to promote themselves and the game of poker.
Most Niners don’t make much use of that time and some even go into hiding during that period (remember how Phil Ivey was essentially a ghost in 2009).
There are some exceptions, however. Russel Thomas and his Jason Somerville-produced The Final Table web series in 2012 come to mind.
It appears Griffin Benger isn’t going to be one to shy away from the spotlight as he just started a new Facebook account that promises exclusive updates leading up to the final table.
We love us some ShaGuar and we have a feeling you might too so you can go ahead and give the account a follow if you’re looking for the inside scoop on his November Nine showdown.
2) Manila Poker Group Saved 1,300 Lives
What have you accomplished in your home game?
Probably drank a bunch of beers and lost a lifetime sum of several hundred dollars, right?
Well this will make you feel bad.
Jewish publication Tablet published an article this week about a poker group in Manila that ended up rescuing more than 1,300 Jews during World War II.
The home game included four Jewish brothers who ran a cigar business in Manila, the president of the Philippine Commonwealth and a young Army colonel named Dwight D. Eisenhower.
During the late-night card games, the players devised a rescue plan that would bring Jews to the Philippines.
Although the USA had strict immigration policies at the time, the Philippines had no quota system, which meant it was easier to obtain an entry visa.
Incredible stuff. You can read the complete article on tabletmag.com.
3) Forbes: eSports Knocking on Poker’s Door
We’ve been saying it for years: eSports and poker are connected in so many ways that it’s getting tough to tell them apart.
Forbes published a long read comparing the business side of poker and eSports this week.
It’s a fascinating look at the how eSports could learn a great deal from poker.
Right now there’s a huge player base and audience for eSports but it’s much easier to play online poker for money, which gives it a huge edge when it comes to consistent prize pools. That trend will likely change when casinos, or gambling operators, figure out a way to get involved with eSports.
Last year we took a look at the biggest tournaments available in eSports and online poker. eSports actually passed individual first-place prizes for poker tournaments a few years ago and shows no signs of slowing down with the recent DOTA II The International tournament tipping the scales at $20.7m.
Take a look at the slightly out-dated chart below:
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