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Copyright 2005 LasVegasVegas.com
January 3, 2006
HEADLINE:
Shannon Elizabeth Wins Nicky Hilton Poker Tournament
Body:
Shannon Elizabeth wins the first ever Nicky Hilton Caesars
Palace New Years Eve poker tournament. Outlasting all the top
name pros and watching the celebrities and walk-ons fall aside,
Shannon left little doubt she was the champion this day.
Shannon is no stranger to major poker
tournament play, having entered events in the Rio's 2005 WSOP
including the main event, where she lasted past the brutal first
day. The actress and producer is a serious tournament poker player,
probably as a result of her Texas origin. Shannon is a native
Texan, born in Houston, an area that has produced many accomplished
actors and even more accomplished gamblers...especially high-dollar
poker players, so no surprise she can play. Howard Hughes was
another gambler/movie mogul born in Houston.
Half of the new tournament poker room at Caesars Palace was cordoned
off for the players, dealers, fans, media, well-wishers, friends,
one of the Hilton sisters, actress Jennifer Tilly, friends of
Nicky Hilton, bodyguards and the generally curious. The 92 players
in the tournament included an 'A' list of poker professionals
attracted mostly to the exposure and fun, the event being a part
of Nicky Hilton'[s New Years Eve party at Caesars' Pure Nightclub.
The event offered an approximate $120,000 prize pool.
The tournament was officially named the Nicky Hilton & Kevin
Connolly host a New Year's Eve Poker Tournament. At least, that
was the name on the glossy flyer. The tournament got under way
about a quarter past eleven Saturday morning, kind of early for
some of the nocturnal poker pros. They often play through the
night, so some of them had come to this tournament after playing
all-night in a cash game, no sleep. The tournament was under the
direction of Caesars Palace Tournament Director, Paul Lord, present
on the floor to referee the tables and keep the tournament moving.
The ego-enriched crowd full of New Year's holiday cheer remained
docile, reserved and often strangly quiet, probably a result of
the early hour. Even the crowd of camera toting onlookers was
unusually hushed. The tournament ran smoothly from start to final
hand, a tribute to the professional staff of the poker room at
Caesars Palace.
Tournament namesake, Nicky Hilton, has apparently been exposed
to some poker lessons. She played for more than two hours outlasting
many of the pros that started the contest. Maybe its a result
of her lineage from great-grandfather and the Hilton Hotel empire
founder, Conrad Hilton. He was born in San Antonio, New Mexico
(just south of Socorro, New Mexico) and it has long been rumored
around New Mexico that her great grandfather was a skilled poker
player.
The pro player community included 2005 World Series of Poker
Tournament of Champions winner Mike Matusow experiencing a New
Years Eve card mugging, then walking away after not winning a
race. Layne Flack, Jim Miller, David Williams, Evelyn Ng, Chip
Jett, John Phan, Scott Fischman, Antonio Esfandiari and Cyndy
Violette playing in the tournament. One by one the players were
eliminated, then Shannon Elizabeth won the last all-in of the
tournament and was crowned the champion of the Nicky Hilton New
Years Eve Poker Tournament.
I cover many of the major tournaments including WPT Championships
and all the events of the WSOP. One of the differences I noticed
with this crowd was the steady stream of catered service food
coming to the tables, some of which was nibbled, then forgotten.
This is something I don't see much of at the major tournaments.
Food is delivered to players but it is always consumed by someone.
The tournament was a great test for the new Caesars Palace Poker
Room and they get high marks. I thought it a fitting event for
the opening the poker room after a sixteen year absence of live
poker at Caesars Palace.
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