The World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic (long name IMO) came to an end, and Daniel Alaei is the man who was crowned champion. Alaei went through one of the toughest fields a poker tournament can put together. The only two names that come to mind who did not participate were Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth. The final table only proved to be tougher for Alaei as he went up against the likes of Josh Arieh, Faraz Jaka, Shawn Buchanan, and Scotty Nguyen. In the end, Alaei went through 328 players in his quest for the title, and the first place prize of over $1.4 million.

The much anticipated 2010 World Series of Poker is making headlines before the action event begins. The WSOP will introduce a televised $50,000 Eight-Game Poker Championship, which will replace last year’s $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. Like I mentioned earlier it will be Eight-Game, but with an added twist. Once players reach the final table of the event, players will only play No-Limit Texas Hold’em. ESPN reportedly told the World Series that they will not televise ‘mixed games’, because ratings drop when the game being played isn’t NL Texas Hold’em. Well they’ll get their wish when the players enter the final table of the $50,000 Eight-Game event.

Bodog is in the giving mood this holiday season, as Bodog brings their players ‘Bodog’s 12 Days of Christmas’. The promotion started on December 16th, but don’t worry it will continue until the 27th of December. Through playing at the Bodog tables, players can earn ‘Poker Points’ that will earn them an entry into a daily drawing. The drawing can win players a Sony Bravia 52” TV, Sony VAIO laptop, seats to the 100K guarantee, and plenty of cash prizes to go around. Bodog will have two draws per day, so log on now to start earning your poker points.

It was another successful Tuesday night for PokerStars as the regular ‘Super Tuesday’, and the newly introduced ‘Outlast the Pros’ took place. ‘PreshaDrop’ was the player who shipped the Super Tuesday ($1,000 buy-in) as he outlasted a field of 327 players for $63,000 in first place prize money. ‘Pandemonic’ was the individual who ‘outlasted the pros’. For his efforts, he was rewarded $3,697 for first place, and a share of the $1,000 bonus for outlasting the PokerStars pros. PokerStars, PreshaDrop, and Pandemonic (must be a P thing) all cashed in on the nights events.

California is at it again. California is to hold a hearing in February that may lead to the legalization of poker within the state. Sen. Dean Florez sees it as a perfect opportunity for the state, and it’s citizens to bring in more income. Which is quite obvious. There is an estimated one million poker players playing online in the state of California. That’s one million in that state alone. If the United States were to legalize poker, and put a tax on it, there would be questions that it would be worthwhile to legalize. With the job rate the way it is in America, this provides opportunities some citizens aren’t seeing right now.