Daily Rewind: PokerStars VIP Day, Lederer Petition, PokerStars' Legal Victory

In today's Daily Rewind we preview PokerStars' forthcoming VIP event in Amsterdam, see player power in action against Howard Lederer and hear about PokerStars' legal battle in Spain.

The Daily Rewind is your one-stop-shop for a sharp review of the day in poker. Join us here for a mix of the latest news and a more irreverent insight into the poker world. Today we discovered the following topics for you:

PokerStars VIP Day

The Tobacco Theatre

PokerStars will be holding their second VIP event in Amsterdam in a couple of weeks, during which they will be announcing some interesting changes to their VIP system.

Following on from the success of their London event where a host of VIP players turned up for a day of drinking, football and, of course, poker, the festivities will now move on to Amsterdam's Tobacco Theatre on December 1st.

In amongst the free food and drink will be the chance to rub shoulders with some of PokerStars' elite, such as Lex Veldhuis, as well as learn what important VIP changes will be taking place in 2013.

For those who aren't able to attend, a live broadcast will take place at 18:30 CET on December 1st and outline all the things you need to know ahead of the system's overhaul.

Lederer's not welcome

When the poker community doesn't like something its members often don't try and hide the fact.

Indeed, in the recent case of Howard Lederer's reappearance on the poker scene, many members of the community were extremely vocal about their discontent towards it.

However, for all their bluster, many poker players don't usually follow-up their convictions with any decisive action.

One player who has bucked that trend in the last 24 hours, though, is Aria cash game regular, Nick DiVella.

Incensed by Howard's appearances at his local room, Nick has created a petition which he hopes will force not only the Aria but other poker rooms to ban Howard from playing there.

Having already attracted around 50 signatures, Nick's voice has already been heard by some Aria staff members and the matter is now being discussed by senior management at the casino.

Whether or not it will lead to a ban is unknown, but the petition will certainly heap even more pressure on Howard Lederer to keep a low profile for the foreseeable future.

The players' voice

PokerStars win Spanish Battle

The judge has spoken

PokerStars' legal battle with Spanish gaming company Codere came to a successful conclusion yesterday when a Barcelona court ruled that the online site had operated legally in the country since going live there in 2001.

Following Spain's regulation of online poker in 2012, PokerStars obtained one of the first licenses for their .es site, however, soon after Codere filed a complaint that claimed PokerStars' services in the country prior to 2012 had been illegal.

That claim was rejected yesterday, though, with the Spanish court agreeing that lack of regulation meant there was no relevant way to prevent online poker being offered in the country.

Commenting on the verdict, Antonio Vazquez-Guillen, PokerStars counsel for the case, said: "It clarifies a question that, in our view, should never have been brought to a Court of Justice."

Micro stakes corner

Micro dreams

Low buy-ins, large guarantees and lots of eager players was the tale of yesterday's opening day of PokerStars' MicroMillions.

With six events and $355,000 on offer, the anticipation surrounding the start of the online series was palpable as thousands of hopefuls began to ante-up before the start of each event.

Indeed, when the final numbers were in, a total of 174,159 players had registered for yesterday's events but only six would walk away with titles.

The first to boost their bankroll and etch their name in the MicroMillions' history book was Bulgaria's "poker izro8". The low stakes grinder banked $1,761 after defeating the Netherlands' "wilco1983" in Event 1.

Also enjoying a huge return on their investments yesterday was: "AAligator33" (Event 2 - $17,952), "Devil_DuckDK" (Event 3 - $11,580), "ADP1985" (Event 4 - $14,096), "MUFC9999" (Event 5 - $5,769) and "Alfons777999" (Event – 6 - $7,371).

Daily Signoff

With the MicroMillions in full swing we look back at where it all started for the small stakes grinders who everyone aspires to be like.