Narrowing the highlights down was almost an impossible task, but if we had to pick just five, these are them.

1. Maria Ho Takes Second-Largest Female Cash Ever in $5k NL Hold’em

Maria Ho became the first woman of the 2011 WSOP to make a final table when she made the final of Event #4, $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em.

She ultimately made it to heads-up play against Allen Bari but had a huge chip disadvantage to overcome as she started down 11.1 million cips to 1.8 million chips.

Ho managed a quick double-up to 4 million, but never got any closer. She’d ultimately fall to Bari to give him his first bracelet, but she still took away $540,020.

This was the second-largest cash ever for a woman in an open WSOP event.

2. Jason Mercier Wins Second Career Bracelet

Jason Mercier is clearly one of the most dominant tournament players in the world.

However, Mercier had only three career WSOP final-table appearances and two were at the WSOP Europe.

That changed this year when Mercier made three final tables at the 2011 WSOP including the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six-Handed Event.

This was the first year that the WSOP spread six-handed PLO and the final table didn’t disappoint as Mercier and David Chiu started the final table as the chip leaders.

Mercier ultimately made it heads-up with Hans Winzeler. Winzeler put up quite a fight, but the experience of Mercier proved too much.

Mercier took his second career bracelet, and second in Omaha. His first bracelet in 2009 was in the $1,500 PLO Event.

Mercier also took home $619,575 for his win.

3. Bertrand Grospellier Finally Breaks Through for First Bracelet

Bertrand Grospellier was one of the best players in the game today without a bracelet heading into the 2011 WSOP.

With over $8 million in career earnings as well as a WPT and EPT title, the bracelet was the one thing missing from his resume.

That all changed in the $10k Stud World Championship.

Against a stacked final table that included Maxwell Troy, Chad Brown, Chris Tryba, Alexander Kostritsyn and John Hennigan, ElkY came out on top for his first bracelet.

One of the more amazing facts about his win is this was his first-ever Stud tournament.

Suffice it to say that the game has quickly grown on him.

4. Cancer Survivor David Diaz Wins $1,500 Triple Chance Event

For many, a WSOP bracelet victory would be the biggest win of their life.

For David Diaz, it is all a part of a lifetime freeroll.

Diaz was born in Honduras and was diagnosed with cancer when he was four years old. For most, that would be a death sentence.

Diaz hit the equivalent of a one outer when his aunt and uncle brought him to the United States and sent him to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis.

At that time, St. Jude’s was the only hospital that treated childhood cancer. Diaz responded to treatment and put his own bad beat on cancer.

Diaz’s victory in the $1,500 Triple Chance NL event was easily the largest of his five-year professional career.

He took home over $352,000 along with the bracelet.

5. Ben Lamb Makes the 2011 WSOP November Nine

Ben Lamb had already had a career year at the 2011 WSOP heading into the Main Event.

He had cashed four times with three final tables, including his first bracelet win in the $10k PLO Championship.

Lamb held the chip lead or was in the top ten in chips every day except one during the eight days of play.

Ultimately, Lamb made the final table of the 2011 WSOP Main Event and will start the final table 5th in chips.

Lamb already has overtaken Hellmuth for the Player of the Year lead, meaning Hellmuth must make a final table in Europe to even have a shot at Player of the Year.

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Check out the 5 Worst Moments from the 2011 WSOP.

As seen on http://www.pokerjunkie.com/5-best-moments-from-the-2011-world-series-of-poker

These are five of the true lowlights:

1. Phil Ivey Sits Out Entire 2011 WSOP

Phil Ivey announced on the first day of the 2011 WSOP that he was sitting out the entire series due to Full Tilt not paying back US players.

Ivey then filed a lawsuit against Full Tilt Poker for $150 million that essentially seemed like a ploy for him to get out of his non-compete agreement.

As the series plodded along, Full Tilt had its gaming license suspended and decided to go into negotiations with “European investors” that prompted Ivey to drop his suit.

However, Ivey decided to stay in Ireland and work with Full Tilt on the deal as opposed coming back to Vegas to try and improve on his eight WSOP bracelets.

Say what you will about Ivey’s genuine intentions in all this, when the world’s best poker player doesn’t play in the showcase poker series of the year, some of its luster is lost.

2. James Bord Threatens John Juanda During $25k Heads-Up Championship

On Day 1 of the $25k Heads-Up Championship, James Bord started running his mouth to John Juanda and the “conversation” continued after Bord lost his match.

When Juanda asked him what the problem was, Bord reportedly proceeded to call Juanda a thieving prick, a disgrace and a fake and disgusting human being.

Finally, Bord told him that if he saw him outside, he was going to beat his ass.

Floor and security personnel were brought into it and the two had to be removed from the room as security sorted things out.

3. Darcourt Doesn’t Want to Show

Photo: Pokernews

In a huge hand with Matt Gianetti on Day 6 of the Main Event, Darcourt folded on a flop of Js-3h-3c after Gianetti three-bet.

Darcourt tried to slide the cards to the muck, but the TV producer told the dealer to hold the cards.

Darcourt told the producer that he refused to show and this sparked a debate.

Floor staff came over and told him that he signed a contract to comply with TV production crews.

Darcourt defiantly told them to show him said contract.

The floor then threatened Darcourt with a penalty and Darcourt told them to give him the penalty.

After a few minutes, Darcourt calmed down enough to finally show his cards and then he stormed off.

It should be noted that weeks ahead of time a release was sent by the WSOP stating that players will have to sign a release agreeing to cooperate with the TV crews at all times.

If players did not want to do so, the WSOP’s response was that they “should not play the Main Event.”

4. Carter Gill Makes Day 2 of Main Event and Gets Banned From Caesars’ Properties

Photo: Pokerlistings

Carter Gill made it through Day 1c of the Main Event with around 50k in chips.

In the time between Day 1c and Day 2, Gill went and got himself banned from all Caesars’ properties, which includes the Rio.

The skinny of the story is that he got into an altercation with his girlfriend and threw her clothes out of the window.

Tournament Director Jack Effel told Gill that his hands were tied in the matter and Gill’s stack was blinded off.

I’ll take clothes tossing for $10k, Alex.

5. Treatment of Jonathan Epstein by Rio Floor Staff at Ladies Event Final

Photo: Pokerlistings

It was no surprise that fans at the final table of the $1k Ladies Event acted rudely and consistently jeered Jonathan Epstein for making the final table.

After all, he is a man playing in a women’s event.

However, the floor staff that ran the event that day clearly acted unprofessional towards Epstein.

In past events, fans would be forbidden to jeer and boo players. That was not even attempted.

When the final table was made, the floor announced “Good luck everyone” before looking at Epstein and stating “not everyone.”

A few more random, demeaning cracks were directed Epstein’s way and when he busted from the event the same floorman joined in with the crowd as they sung “Hey, Hey, Goodbye” as Epstein departed.

While that type of behavior was expected from the fans, floor staff usually try and rise above such antics.

While Epstein’s choice to play the Ladies Event may not be a popular one, he was still a customer of the Rio, Caesars and the WSOP and should have been treated professionally by staff.

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Check out the 5 Best Moments from the 2011 WSOP.

As seen on http://www.pokerjunkie.com/5-worst-moments-from-the-2011-world-series-of-poker

The business of poker takes center stage this week as Wynn Resorts is rumored to be buying bwin.Party and Zynga poker faces a patent lawsuit that could jeopardize its billion-dollar operations.

Also, a downtown Vegas mainstay is looking to renovate and reopen their once popular hotel.

Wynn Resorts Rumored to be Interested in Purchasing bwin.Party

Back in March, the merger between Party Poker and Bwin was finalized. Since that point, the company has seen its stock price drop by around 45 per cent.

It appears now that Steve Wynn and Wynn Resorts may be interested in taking over the current #3 online poker site in the world.

Rumors swirled on Tuesday regarding a potential takeover by Wynn and stock prices of bwin.Party shot as high as 170p per share before falling back to 105.7p.

This is the 2nd week in a row that bwin.Party has been the talk of a takeover. Last week, William Hill Poker was rumored to be among those interested in taking over the company.

At present, bwin.Party nor Wynn Resorts have released a statement on the matter.

Zynga Poker Sued for Patent Infringement

Zynga Poker’s popular social gaming operations may be in jeopardy following a patent infringement suit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

Agincourt Gaming accuses Zynga of violating patents held by the company relating to credits-based online gaming as well as the prize redemption system the site uses.

Agincourt claims that Zynga violated their patents on other games such as FarmVille, FishVille, YoVille, Empires & Allies, Treasure Isle, Mafia Wars, CafeWorld and others.

According to Bill Carmody, a senior partner with the firm that is representing Agincourt:

“Agincourt’s patents cover the most lucrative aspects of online social gaming – including those comprising the bulk of Zynga’s revenues – as they contain the crucial ‘link’ that allows for global, interactive prize redemption over the Internet.”

Binion’s Hoping to Reopen Hotel in Near Future

Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas, NV has announced plans to renovate and eventually reopen its hotel tower.

The casino closed its hotel in 2009 due to deteriorating conditions.

The renovated hotel would have a new climate control system as well as a complete interior overhaul.

The current furnishings date back to the 70s and the climate control system is based on a two-pipe system that caused the hotel to be uncomfortable to many in the fall and spring months.

According to Tim Lager, the General Manager of Binion’s, owner Terry Caudill’s “No. 1 priority is to find a way to reopen the tower completely remodeled.

“He thinks things are starting to come around.”

Lager states that it may still be a year or more before any real progress is made towards getting the renovation project off the ground, but in the meantime players looking for a room can get one at Binion’s sister property Four Queens which is just across the street.

Editor’s Note: PokerJunkie Blogger Compncards has stayed at the Four Queens numerous times and recommends it for those looking to stay in Vegas on the cheap.

As seen on http://www.pokerjunkie.com/wynn-for-party-lose-for-zynga-tie-for-binions?pjc=widget:rss