Poker Articles

LAS VEGAS, NV – The online poker player is faced with many challenges in live play. Used to pointing and clicking, they must now push chips into the pot, announce bets, and watch others' “tells.” It is normally a difficult transition, but PocketFives.com members at this year’s World Series of Poker have met the challenge. PocketFives continued its dominance at the world’s largest poker event on Monday, July 17, 2006, by winning not one, but two WSOP bracelets. The day marked over $600,000 in prize money raked in by members of the site, bringing the total to an incredible $2.8 million so far in WSOP play and dwarfing the $1.3 million won in the entire 2005 event. To date, the site has tallied three WSOP bracelets, 84 cashes, and an incredible 11 final table appearances.

“I’m thrilled that our site’s members did so well today,” said PocketFives President Cal Spears. “I am absolutely amazed at the turnout so far. We’ve cashed for well over $2 million and we’re not even to the Main Event. Congratulations to Ian Johns, Scott Clements, and all PocketFivers who have cashed so far.”

PocketFiver Ian “Ian J” Johns cashed for $291,755 and his first WSOP bracelet in the $3,000 Limit Holdem Event. Ian is 21 years old. “Ian J had always been a noticed figure at the tables of every online tourney we played,” said PocketFiver Kevin “BeL0WaB0Ve” Saul. He jokes, “I haven’t missed his presence at the tables since he recently decided to devote more time to high stakes cash games.” PocketFives Chief Editor Adam Small claims, “Ian J is one of the toughest players I've observed in online play.  He is capable of consistently beating very large fields of players in a way that very few players can.” Mainly a cash game player, Johns placed fourth in the PokerStars $1 Million Guaranteed in April for $40,000. “If he played more tournaments, he would definitely be one of our top ranked players,” said Small.

A few hours later, Scott “bigriskkyy” Clements cashed for $301,175 in $3,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split, nabbing his first WSOP bracelet. The 24 year-old is known as JRAvila on PocketFives. According to PocketFiver Adam “Roothlus” Levy: “He's a tough player because he's always going to put you to the test.  He's aggressive and willing to gamble a lot.” Aggressiveness paid off, as Scott dominated the final table and had a 10:1 chip lead entering heads up play ($980,000 to $90,000). Clements was ahead wire to wire, entering the final table with an $80,000 chip lead over poker pro Phil Hellmuth. Clements is an avid online player, participating in a Sunday Contest on PocketFives most weeks. He is a successful player on PartyPoker and was up to over $60,000 in online poker winnings this year before Monday’s WSOP victory.

Today’s scores push the total cashes by PocketFives members to over $2.8 million. The site has claimed three bracelets and is quickly becoming a force in the WSOP scene. Over 100 PocketFivers are slated for Main Event play, many of whom have had success so far. “I’m confident our members will make waves in the Main Event. With over 8,000 contestants in the Main Event, anything is possible. I think we’ll take down over $5 million total.”