Poker News Round-up: 31/03/09

Poker News Round-up: 31/03/09

More from the world of poker:

Tony Hachem’s home raided by Australian Tax Office
Smooth as Silke for Martin at GUKPT London
Feeling Lucky? Where do you live in the UK?

Tony Hachem’s home raided by Australian Tax Office
Tony Hachem, brother of former WSOP champion Joe Hachem, has been the subject of a raid on his home by the Australian Tax Office (ATO).  Hachem (Tony) was reported to be furious about the incident and was quick to hit out at the local authorities and armed police who conducted the dawn raid.

Hachem said; “It was a disgrace. Anybody would have thought it was an Underbelly scene. They had three cars, they flashed their badges. Two of the guys announced they were police. They came with a warrant and I was in shock. I live with my mother, who has emphysema. She was in shock.”

Hachem also stressed his innocence in the matter by concluding; “Their conduct coming to my place was totally wrong. They wasted taxpayers’ money because all it needed was a phone call. The ATO got it wrong. I am an innocent party.”

Joe Hachem struggled to keep his WSOP main event winnings from the 2005 championship when the ATO argued he was a professional player at the time of winning.  Joe successfully argued his case to the contrary and kept his $7,500,000 prize in full.

Smooth as Silke for Martin at GUKPT London
Irish poker professional, Martin Silke, has won the London leg of the GUKPT for a tasty looking £172,850 prize.  Silke took on Londoner Luke Trotman in an hour long heads-up encounter which ended in embarrassing fashion for the Englishman.  Trotman thought his rivered flush was good for victory but it had actually given Silke a stronger hand in the form of a full house.  Silke quickly went on to claim victory a few hands later, leaving Trotman with £103,000 to ease his pains.

Poker legend Dave Colclough was once again on a final table.  ‘El Blondie’ finished 9th for £11,950.
 
And finally…
If you’re feeling especially lucky or unlucky at the online poker tables then it could all boil down to where you live!  A recent survey has found the top ten luckiest and unluckiest places to live in the UK.  So, if you’re wondering whether to chase that flush draw or not, here are the lists in full:

Top ten luckiest places to live:

1. St. Albans
2. Sutton
3. Brighton
4. Luton
5. City of Manchester
6. South West London (SW postcodes)
7. Torquay
8. Bolton
9. Harrow
10. Stevenage

And the top ten unluckiest:

1. Belfast
2. Perth
3. Newport
4. Salisbury
5. Motherwell
6. Darlington
7. Dudley
8. Aberdeen
9. Doncaster
10. Colchester

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