The Young Get Richer and Richer

As we go to press, the Borgata Poker Open just wrapped up and, in what now seems like a reoccurring story, another very young champion has emerged.

Mark Newhouse, a 21-year-old limit hold'em specialist, was the last man standing from the 540-person field and, as the World Poker Tour's newest champ, took home $1.5 million. The exciting final table featured another young player whom everyone should keep their eyes on, Chris McCormack. He developed his game alongside the Mizrachi crew in Florida, and finished second and won just over $800,000. Chris Bell, making his second WPT final table, topped the $1 million mark in lifetime tournament winnings with his fifth-place finish. Check out the next issue for a full recap on this event.

Having players in their 20s take home millions is just part of poker these days, and proves that anyone has a shot. In the preceding WPT event, the Legends of Poker, which is profiled on Page 106, Joe Pelton, in his early 20s, scooped the $1.5 million first prize. Before this payday, his highest tournament cash ever was $11,000!

It just seems natural that the young bucks would keep up the blockbuster performances after the youth movement that took place at the 2006 World Series of Poker. UC-Santa Barbara college student Jeff Madsen was the poster boy for this success, winning two gold bracelets within a week and becoming the youngest WSOP champ in history. Eric Froehlich, age 22 years and 4

months, became the youngest player to ever win two WSOP gold bracelets until Madsen trumped him, picking up his second gold. Mark Vos and Ian Johns, other early 20s bracelet winners, are other players to watch from this group.

It's amazing when a player like Allen Cunningham, at the age of 29, could even be considered a veteran. But, with more players cutting their teeth online, players are getting better quicker, and you can bet that the era of young champs is here to stay.