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Antonio Esfandiari, center, stands with his brother Paul, left, and father, right, after winning the $18 million Big One for One Drop prize at the World Series of Poker at the Rio on Tuesday, July 3, 2012.
Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 | 3:04 p.m.
Cirque du Soleil founder and billionaire Guy Laliberte will repeat his Big One for One Drop poker tournament in 2014 with the largest first-place prize in poker history. The buy-in is $1 million, and this year’s inaugural event raised $10 million for charity.
Players, though, won’t have to wait two years to help make a difference to the global water crisis because next year the buy-in will be only $1,111. Guy said at the Final Nine table at the 2012 World Series of Poker at the Rio on Monday: “It has the potential of being the biggest event for entrants at the 2013 WSOP, and we’re calling it the Little One for One Drop!”
‘DANCING’ ROMANCE RUMORS: Brothers Maksim and Val Chmerkovskiy may well be standing shoulder to shoulder tonight, with one of them facing elimination on “Dancing With the Stars.” If Val departs with his partner Kelly Monaco, who starred here in “Peepshow,” they’ll have more time to spend with each other without the pain of rehearsals. Rumors indicate that they are dating up a storm.
Maks, who choreographed our “Le Reve -- the Dream” at the Wynn, might get axed along with partner Kirstie Alley. Or Melissa Rycroft, a regular Venetian visitor, might go bye-bye with partner Tony Dovolani. The three couples are at the bottom of Wynn odds maker Johnny Avello’s betting for fun rundown of odds. He’s still got Gilles Marini with Peta Murgatroyd, Shawn Johnson with Derek Hough and Apolo Ohno with Karina Smirnoff as the top three jousting for the mirrored disco ball winner’s trophy.
TALENT SEARCH: Casting agents from “America’s Got Talent” will be here for an invitation-only VIP showcase Nov. 18. They tell me they are looking for unique talent with an emphasis on pop groups, extreme fitness acts, amazing animals, dance acts with a theme and those who use any cutting-edge technology.
FIRST FLIGHT: The first British Airways flight from London’s Gatwick Airport to our McCarran International new terminal arrived Monday with a traditional water cannon salute. The 272-seat, Boeing 777 will fly here three times per week; the new service is estimated to provide a nongaming economic impact to Southern Nevada of nearly $41.5 million annually. Britain is the No. 1 source of overseas travelers to Las Vegas, nearly 420,000 visitors in 2011, accounting for nearly 9 percent of all international travel to our desert destination.
MURRAY’S TV: Magician Murray Sawchuck celebrates his six-month anniversary at the Tropicana on Thursday and gets prime marquee space with his picture at one of the busiest intersections in all of America. Murray, still honeymooning with new bride “Fantasy” dancer Chloe Crawford, is the only headliner at the hotel and just received word that his children’s TV series “The Jadagrace Show” starts airing on CBS in early February. Murray also just filmed a guest spot on “Top Gear USA” and is shooting a hit French series similar to MTV’s “The Real World.”
NEW PARTNERS: MGM Resorts International has partnered with Royal Caribbean cruise lines to offer each other’s rewards program members special deals. MGM M Life members can earn free annual cruises, while Crown & Anchor members on Royal Caribbean experience the best of Las Vegas hotels and star shows.
‘VEGAS’ STARS: Michael Chiklis and Carrie-Anne Moss, the October cover stars of our sister Vegas Magazine from the new CBS hit drama “Vegas,” host the annual men’s issue tonight at the Venetian. They join Publisher Josef Vann and Editor Abby Tegnelia for the reception.
TONIGHT’S TIPS
Sky Blu of LMFAO hosts a Halloween edition of his regular fun party at Pure in Caesars Palace with a superheroes and villains costume party.
Gavin Maloof launches his Red Velvet Zing vodka with a Halloween masquerade ball at his home in Spanish Trail.
The ghouls from Eli Roth’s Goretorium party with the EC Twins at the Lost Angels bash at Hyde Bellagio.
Diplo and Jillionaire from Major Lazer perform at 1 OAK in the Mirage.
And the exhibits for the SEMA convention show are open for four days of everything automobile.
TOMORROW’S TEASE
We meet two of the new Cirque du Soleil “Zarkana” stars and also will have a Royal Robin Rundown of all the horrors and happenings of Halloween. We’ll preview “Rock of Ages” that moves into the Venetian in December and check in on Guns N’ Roses as they start their Hard Rock Hotel residency.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
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