Sure, everyone's always talking about how poker has officially hit the mainstream, how the game has garnered unprecedented legitimacy, how it's everywhere you turn- well, you get the point. It's one thing, however, to be adopted as the party accessory of choice by Hollywood celebs, but the New Yorker? Lo and Behold, the New Yorker, a publication famous for its abstract intellectual meanderings and all things high-society, hosted a slew of poker legends as part of its recent New Yorker Festival.

The New Yorker Festival 2005, which took place September 23rd through the 25th, included a sold out “High Rollers Steak Dinner" Friday night, with guests of honor Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Howard Lederer, and David Williams. Guests shelled out $200 for the chance to eat steak and talk turkey with these poker greats. The poker dinner shared the festival schedule with award-winning authors, international journalists, cutting-edge designers and other members of society's “creme de la creme."

The granddaddy of poker, Doyle Brunson, talked about his early days as a poker player, at a time when the profession suffered from something of a bad beat. The general sentiment of the discussion followed the progress of the poker fad, its advantages and disadvantages. David Williams, who became a multi-million dollar poker winner while still in university, brought the troubling example of fan mail from youth, possibly inspired by David's story, who want to leave school for the benefit of what they see as a bright future in full-time poker. On the other hand, Phil Hellmuth claimed that poker could be a useful tool for improving social skills in young people, an opinion that resulted in a retort from someone in the crowd.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Monday, 26 September 2005