Taj Poker Argument Results in Stabbing Death --  A seat at a $1/2 no-limit game might be many things, but in no circumstances is it worth dying for.  Unfortunately, that’s what happened this past Saturday at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Arthur Prince, 61, of Toms River, NJ, and Vicente Perez, 57, of Macon, GA, ended up in a heated debate over a seat which was vacated by Prince.  Prince was said to be getting more money and to be returning to his seat, but Perez was given the seat minutes later by Taj floorstaff.  The argument escalated and continued outside, where Perez ventured on a smoking break and was followed, according to most accounts, by Prince.  What happened next remains unclear, but in a matter of moments Prince was bleeding to death from a stab wound to his cheek that severed his carotid artery.  Perez was arrested and charged with three felonies, including aggravated manslaughter, and remains in jail in lieu of a $500,000 cash bond.

WSOP Final Table Delayed for Live ESPN Broadcast? --  Rumors flew fast in recent days concerning the possibility that this summer’s Main Event from the World Series of Poker would be delayed by 90 days or so, allowing ESPN to hype the finalists and then broadcast the final table “live” (or nearly so).  Is there truth to the rumor?  While the idea has certainly received serious consideration, there is no confirmation to date from Harrah’s or ESPN.   Such a delay raises a raft of interesting questions and issues that may be too much to overcome, despite the benefit such a move might have for ESPN’s bottom-line interests.

Minieri Topped by Qualifier Mercier in EPT San Remo Final --  The betting bucks had to be riding on internet superstar and Team PokerStars member Dario Minieri, but the title at the PokerStars.com EPT San Remo Championship went instead to unknown Jason Mercier, who won his seat online in a Stars satellite. Mercier and Minieri were both near the top of the board from the end of the second day on, and were the final two as other European stars (Dag Palovic, William Thorson, Anthony Lellouche) fell during the eight-player final.  Mercier finally finished off Minieri to claim the $1,340,867 winner’s check, while Minieri pocketed $779,215 for second.

191 Warrants in South Carolina Poker Raid --  Several homes over a three-county area were raided in an extensive anti-gambling operation conducted by South Carolina authorities, resulting in the busting of one game with about $40,000 in hand and producing arrests of several high-profile South Carolinians, including a deputy prosecutor, a policeman, and others.  The raids and arrests highlighted the onerous anti-gambling laws in South Carolina -- perhaps the nation’s worst -- and renewed calls for a modernization of those laws.