In a bold move that has the poker world buzzing, Howard Lederer made his return to tournament poker tonight at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Currently on his second buy-in and still alive in the Festa al Lago $10k, Lederer seems to have escaped any dramatic confrontations to this point. The Twittersphere however, as expected, is up in arms. Several players have commented on Lederer's presence and the atmosphere in the room. Most are simply shocked he'd appear in a room of poker players before Full Tilt accounts have been repaid.
Lederer has been playing in Bobby's Room at the Bellagio over the last couple of weeks but had yet to expose himself so prominently to the general poker public. A small measure of justice was meted out as one of the first people to draw a seat beside him, Anthony Gregg, went on to bust Lederer's first bullet. The tension in the room, however, is still palpable:
And Howard appears at my table.— Christian Harder (@realcharder30) October 23, 2012
Watch More Content Here!!Twitch: (Require to Play Blackjack with us on Twit. The most dynamic and exciting gaming action in Las Vegas is at Bellagio casino. With every flip of the card and roll of the dice, our Las Vegas casino deals a winning combination of luxury and invigoration. Ultimate Texas Hold’em is played like the one in Las Vegas poker rooms. Players start by making an Ante and Blind bet. The two bets must be equal. There are also two side bets at most Ultimate Texas Hold’em tables. On Saturday, the spacious room had 16 tables running with more than half spreading $1-3 and $2-5 No-Limit Hold’em. The Bellagio is one of the few Vegas rooms regularly offering more high-limit games. There were also $5-10, $10-20, and $20-40 No Limit Hold’em games and a $1-2 Pot Limit Omaha (PLO). Staff also offered a waiting list for high. 2 days ago Ultimate Texas Hold’em is played like the one in Las Vegas poker rooms. Players start by making an Ante and Blind bet. The two bets must be equal. There are also two side bets at most Ultimate Texas Hold’em tables.
Here he is lockerz.com/s/255589213— Christian Harder (@realcharder30) October 23, 2012
Should get more interesting now. Never one to hold back his opinion, @jonaguiar joins Lederer's table.— Cliff Josephy (@JohnnyBaxPoker) October 23, 2012
That was quick. Tony Gregg busted Lederer, so Howard strolled back behind the walls of Bobby's room.— Cliff Josephy (@JohnnyBaxPoker) October 23, 2012
Wow Lederer sits down at Bellagio... guy got some guts..— Jonathan Duhamel (@JonathanDuhamel) October 23, 2012
Lederer update: He re-entered, and is at the softest table in the room, so he might last a little longer this time.— Cliff Josephy (@JohnnyBaxPoker) October 24, 2012
I hope that my good friends playing the Bellagio 10k give Howard a warm welcome back to tournament poker.— steveodwyer (@steveodwyer) October 23, 2012
167k 500/1k Lederer decided to join us! It's no coincidence that @jonaguiar & I are within earshot & that he's now wearing headphones. #fb— Matt Stout (@MattStoutPoker) October 23, 2012
I would be playing Festa but Howard Lederer used my buyin on himself.— eric froehlich (@efropoker) October 23, 2012
Got 180k with 62 players left. Also Howard Lederer just busted out at my table. The energy in the room was tense.— Prahlad Friedman (@PrahladFriedman) October 23, 2012
It's great to see Howard Lederer back at the tables. He's a poker icon and we've missed him. #ShitNobodySays— Matt Stout (@MattStoutPoker) October 24, 2012
Howard Lederer playing cash vs all the red pros he helped make rich is one thing but playing in a 10k vs the players he screwed takes nerve— David Baker (@audavidb) October 23, 2012
Howard Lederer, Wtf is wrong w u... Go back into hiding where u belong. If u show up at my table ever, I'll literally laugh in ur face #gfy— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier) October 23, 2012
How is he not scared that someone will clock him in the face. #orworse— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier) October 23, 2012
Lederer shoulda waited til we actually get paid out before showing his face. At least we'll want to hit him with baseball bats...less times.— Matt Stout (@MattStoutPoker) October 24, 2012
FWIW I gave Howard the shooter McGavin double guns when they got ai JT4 w his AJ vs KQ and started the slow clap on the A turn blank river— Jonathan Aguiar (@JonAguiar) October 24, 2012
explain to me how Lederer is playin festa and nobody says a word to him?#twittertoughguysarecool— Jared Jaffee (@jaredjaffee21) October 23, 2012
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Hey Howard Lederer... Go fuck yourself. Sincerely, Everyone— Brent Hanks (@Bhanks11) October 23, 2012