This week’s highlights in the poker world
This week, while Jonathan Duhamel was busy actively chasing his third cash at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, three of the alleged members involved in his home invasion case were given bail rulings in a Quebec courtroom.
In the meantime, another two of the suspects, involved in the December robbery, were denied bail by a Quebec judge on Tuesday.
Duhamel’s ex-girlfriend, Bianca Rojas-Latraverse, and John-Stephen Clark-Lemay will remain jailed until the trial. A trial date has not yet been set. Texas Poker
On the other hand, Anthony Bourque, a third member in the alleged robbery, was released on bail Tuesday. According to Duhamel’s agent, the judge explained that in the case of Rojas-Latraverse and Clark-Lemay, the risk of a second offense was large and that both had really no place to stay that could be considered stable.
A fourth suspect, André Robert-Perron, is being accused of covering up the robbery and he was released from custody last month with a promise to appear in court at a later date. Holdem Poker
The hearings stem from the break-in at Duhamel’s home, in which Jonathan Duhamel, the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event champ, was tied up and severely beaten before robbers escaped with his WSOP bracelet, a Rolex watch and cash from his condo in South Shore Boucherville.
For this home invasion and robbery, Rojas-Latraverse and Robert-Perron are facing five charges, including grand larceny, kidnapping, breaking and entering, assault and battery, and conspiracy. Clark-Lemay is charged with seven counts, while Bourque faces eight.
Randy Couture to host Charity Tournament
Mixed martial arts legend Randy Couture will host the 4th Annual Operation All In charity poker tournament on Saturday, Jan. 14.
Among the MMA fighters expected to attend aside from Randy Couture, the list is long: Clay Guida, Cung Le, John Alessio, Martin Kampmann, Jay Hieron, John Gunderson and Frank Trigg. Also ESPN commentator Lon McEachern will also be in attendance along with several poker pros.
The event, to benefit the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation for injured troops, begins at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Las Vegas. It will also be open to the public and will feature a celebrity charity poker tournament, live and silent auctions, autograph sessions with photo opportunities and raffle prizes. The buy-in for the tournament is $220 with $100 rebuys.
MGM Granted Injunction
Last Friday, MGM Resorts International received a preliminary injunction against the “cyber squatters” that registered poker-related websites associated with names of MGM properties between 2002 and 2005.
One month after MGM filed the motion, the ruling finally came four individuals and two companies, alleging they were trying to capitalize on MGM’s investment in each property. In this case, MGM Resorts attorneys requested a temporary restraining order against the defendants to block them from using the domain names.
Federal Judge Philip Pro ordered three major domain hosting firms to place several websites on hold.
