Jim Rice World Poker Tour
Mike Sexton will be leaving his longtime role as commentator with the World Poker Tour, a tour he helped build from square one into one of the most popular poker shows and live tours over the past 15 years.
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'It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the World Poker Tour since its inception in 2002,' Sexton said in a release from the WPT. 'When the World Poker Tour launched, it was a dream come true, and to be there from the beginning and see how the WPT changed the poker world forever by essentially turning poker into a televised sport has been amazing. And to do it all this time with my co-commentator from day one, Vince Van Patten, has made it even more special.
Jim Rice's Results, Stats. Our website uses cookies to make your experience on our website better. If you continue to use this website then we will assume you are ok with that. May 22, 2017 Mike Sexton Leaving WPT to Become partypoker Chairman. WPT icon Mike Sexton is leaving the WPT after 15 years. Mike Sexton will be leaving his longtime role as commentator with the World Poker Tour, a tour he helped build from square one into one of the most popular poker shows and live tours over the past 15 years. Watch World Poker Tour: Bellagio Five Diamond World Poker Classic at TVGuide.com.
Case in point is Jim Rice, who appeared on Season 23 Survivor: South Pacific back in 2011. Rice, who hails from Denver and works in the marijuana field, is in action on Day 4 of the 2019 WSOP Main. $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em - WSOP Main Event 50th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2019, Las Vegas 145th $ 59,295 201.61: 201.61: 23-Jun-2019: United States $ 800 No Limit Hold'em - Deepstack 8-Handed (Event #53) 50th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2019, Las Vegas 84th $ 2,853 105.22: 105.22: 22-Feb-2019: United States.
'It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the World Poker Tour since its inception in 2002.'
'I’d like to thank Steve Lipscomb for his vision to create the World Poker Tour, Adam Pliska for bringing the WPT to incredible heights, and the entire WPT family for all they do and have given me. I'd like to mention everyone, but there’s simply too many to name.'
Tony Dunst, who had an ongoing role on the WPT's TV show and sometimes stepped into the booth to substitute for Sexton when he made deep runs in WPT events, will take over for Sexton on a full-time basis.
'Mike Sexton set the standard for what it means to be an ambassador, and the positive impact he had on my career and the broader poker community cannot be overstated,' Dunst said. 'I’m honored to be taking his seat in the booth next to the legendary Vince Van Patten; and while I intend to bring my own style to the position, Mike will be a lasting inspiration for how I carry myself and treat people within poker.'
In an interview with PokerNews in late 2016, Sexton detailed how he initially learned about the WPT and came aboard. Lipscomb had pitched the idea to Sexton on a plane ride, and Sexton said he thought it was 'the greatest thing since sliced bread.'
Over the course of 15 years, multiple channels and trips to countless venues across the world, the WPT was built into one of the most powerful and recognizable brands in the industry, with Sexton as its face. His role in that, along with an impressive playing career that includes a World Series of Poker bracelet and a WPT title in Montreal last year, resulted in a 2009 induction into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Sexton isn't going to fade into the sunset just yet, though. He'll be transitioning into a role as chairman of partypoker, the online poker room where he has been an ambassador for years. Sexton called it 'an emotional time' in a partypoker blog post.
'Mike will be a lasting inspiration for how I carry myself and treat people within poker.'
'I was at partypoker from the start, before there was even a name or a single virtual card was dealt,' he said. 'I experienced the crazy times of the poker boom when we became the No. 1 site in the world. I remember people sleeping on the office floor when we were all working 24/7 to get the software launched, and I remember the first partypoker Million on a cruise ship which overlaid $500K.'
The poker world and partypoker's role in it have come a long way since then. As the poker boom first got rolling, partypoker was the top brand in the online poker world.
However, the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act made it illegal for payment processors to fund players' online poker accounts in the United States. Management at partypoker made the tough decision to pull out of the market, enabling PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and others to claim much of their business and rise to the top of the industry.
'It was devastating for me to see the decline of partypoker when we were forced to pull out of the U.S. and then watch from the sidelines as our competitors remained and benefited from our customer base,' Sexton said.
Now, partypoker is attempting to continue its ambitious dual push to rise to the top of both online and live poker, the latter of which has recently been spearheaded by John Duthie.
Sexton has his work cut out for him, but competing against the best isn't something that deters him at all. In fact, he told PokerNews in April at the WPT Tournament of Champions that it's what he relishes about competition.
'I love playing against the best,' he said. 'It's not a grueling, painful experience like it is for some people, because I really enjoy the challenge of it.'
That's how he feels at the felt, and he'll bring that same attitude in his new role with partypoker. Droid bionic micro sd slot. So, while he knows it will take work to get partypoker back to its old place on poker's throne, he's ready to embrace this new challenge.
Jim Rice World Poker Tournaments
'I am really looking forward to working with people that love the game like I do,' he said. 'We are not aiming for second place.'
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Table Of Contents
Three years before Chris Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) and changed the course of history, a show debuted on CBS that really launched reality television into the stratosphere. The game was Survivor, and given both it and poker are games based on social dynamics and deception, it’s not surprising the two worlds often overlap.
From Jean-Robert Bellande (JRB) appearing on Season 15 Survivor: China, to bracelet winner Ronnie Bardah a rumored contestant on the upcoming season, poker players have tried their luck on Survivor on several occasions. Likewise, some former Survivor contestants have crossed over into poker.
'I think they’re sweating their one percent harder than I’m sweating my 97 percent.”
Case in point is Jim Rice, who appeared on Season 23 Survivor: South Pacific back in 2011. Rice, who hails from Denver and works in the marijuana field, is in action on Day 4 of the 2019 WSOP Main Event and is already guaranteed to make more money than he did on Survivor.
“I played two WSOP events. The $800 and this. I’ve cashed in both. Pretty excited about that,” he told PokerNews. “This is my first Main Event, though I’m telling everyone at the table it’s my fifth or sixth. I bought in. I have three friends who each have one percent, and they’re very excited for their one percent. I think they’re sweating their one percent harder than I’m sweating my 97 percent.”
Games of Deception
“Without a doubt.”
That’s what Rice snapped off when asked if there are any parallels between playing Survivor and a poker tournament the magnitude of the WSOP Main Event.
“You come in on Day 1, you’re nervous and think ‘Where am I?’ Then all of a sudden it doesn’t take too long to get settled in, and once you’re settled in you’re playing your own game – Survivor or poker. The cameras kind of fade off into the background. It’s just you and eight others in this scenario, 16 others on the island. I think there’s always been a lot of overlap between the two games.”
Despite the similarities that make both a good poker player and Survivor contestant – such as patience, aggression, ability to read opponents, etc. – the former group has yet to go on the show and actually win.
“I’ve always thought poker players would do better than they have done in the past on Survivor,” Rice admitted. “Rob Mariano became a poker player after Survivor. A few people such as Albert Destrade, he’s still grinding poker. He was in this event. He has one percent of me, we did a swap.”
'Once you’re settled in you’re playing your own game – Survivor or poker.'
The man Rice is referring to is Albert Destrade, runner-up of Survivor: South Pacific. Destrade is a fairly well-known Florida grinder who mainly plays cash games, though does have nearly $200K in lifetime earnings. He did well on Survivor, but in the end, failed to earn a single vote from the jury.
Rice continued: “I would think it would translate a little better than it has. I’m surprised they don’t have more poker players on there. I know Daniel Negreanu is a big fan.”
A Survivor Rebuy?
On his season, Rice was the seventh player voted out after 24 days and the first member of the jury. He was asked to be a part of a later season but scheduling conflicts prohibited it. He was also one of 32 eligible contestants for the “Second Chances” season but failed to make the top 20 in a public vote. Despite all that, he’s garnered praise from the show’s host and executive producer Jeff Probst.
So, will he ever play again?
“I think the memory of me has waned so I think my chances go down a little bit. If I take down this Main Event maybe they’ll ask me.”
“Probst loves me and I enjoy him, I think he’s a great guy,” said Rice. “I think the memory of me has waned so I think my chances go down a little bit. If I take down this Main Event maybe they’ll ask me.”
For now, he’s focused on playing his best game in the WSOP Main Event. However, he won’t rule out the possibility of a Survivor reunion.
“I’ve got to get to the table with JRB,” he said. “Two Survivors at one table. JRB is much more accomplished as a poker player than on Survivor.”
Given his affinity for poker and expertise in the marijuana business, wouldn’t a place like Vegas that offered both in droves appeal to a man like Rice?
“I tried several times to get in this market and had three or four deals fall through,” he said when asked about trying to set up shop in Sin City. “I don’t think so now.”
For more on Rice follow him on Twitter @jamesloganrice.
To follow Rice’s run in the Main Event be sure to keep up with PokerNews’ live updates straight from the tournament floor. Click here to see what’s happening now.
Jim Rice World Poker Tournament
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