The Daily Rewind: WPT Prague, New PokerStars Security & The REAL Hotshot Winner

In today's rewind we bring news of the Prague Poker Festival starting, new security at PokerStars, new partnerships for the Epic Poker League and the true champion of the PokerStrategy.com Hotshots list.

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:

WPT Prague begins

The Prague Poker Festival has begun with Day 1A of the World Poker Tour Prague underway. We have the likes of Olivier Busquet, Melanie Weisner, WPT Season IX Player of the Year Andy Frankenberger and Mike "timex" McDonald in attendance, though we've got our eye on PokerStrategist romazzsgk. He won a WPT Prague package thanks to the PokerStrategy.com SideKick.

We'll be bringing you all the action from Prague in our forums with our frequently-updated live ticker:

Check out the WPT Prague live ticker

Epic Poker League partners with USA Today & Big Lead Sport

Ahead of the third Epic Poker League event next month, Epic Poker has announced partnerships with USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Big Lead Sports. This will see the Global Poker Index (GPI) published in the print and online editions of USA TODAY every week.

"Our work with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Big Lead Sports will help drive poker deeper into the mainstream news cycle and further position the game right alongside other professional sports content,” said Epic Poker League and Federated Sports & Gaming chairman Jeffrey Pollack.

GUKPT Grand Final Main Event begins

While most of the poker world head to Prague for the Prague Poker Festival, London still has its draw for tournament players with the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) Grand Final beginning today. The £2,625 event last year saw Luong-Huu Bui beat a field of 207 to win a £144,905 ($230,300) first prize.

PokerStars increase Spanish player pool with Cara de Poker takeover

Ahead of planned online poker regulation in Spain, PokerStars have increased their presence in the country with the takeover of iPoker skin Cara de Poker. Player accounts on Cara de Poker, including VIP points and funds, are being transferred to PokerStars.

Image source: Pokerfuse.com

"Only license holders will be permitted to offer poker games and tournaments to Spanish players, significantly reducing the number of games available,” read the Cara de Poker statement on the website, titled "PokerStars - the Best Possible Choice".

"Only the largest room in the world and in Spain will be able to offer the number of tables needed to provide a superior experience," the statement continues. This news comes shortly after news that the Estrellas Poker Tour would continue in 2012.

$100m tournament - "nobody in Macau knows about it"

The poker world has been getting excited about plans for a $100 million guaranteed tournament - with a not-too-shabby $25 million for the winner - to take place in Macau in 2013. However, Macau insider Tom Hall is bursting everybody's bubble.

Hall, in a post on Two Plus Two, claimed that "nobody I know in Macau knows anything about it. None of the casinos, big game players, media guys has heard anything credible.

The PokerStars APPT Macau could be dwarfed by a $100m tournament - or not?

"You also have to get any poker event approved by [Macau gaming regulator] the DICJ... also gambling on TV is highly restricted in China. Publicity grab."

So the jury is still out on this one - of course we hope it happens.

PokerStars boost security with cell phone verification

Shortly after introducing in-table captchas to battle bots, PokerStars have upgraded security again. Now those players who request a password reset or a one-time password for their RSA token will recieve security confirmation by text message.

This new feature can be toggled under the "Account" menu in the PokerStars client, though is is only available for now in certain regions. You must register and validate a mobile phone number to use this feature.

The real Hotshot winner

We couldn't fool you guys - Tatjana is beautiful but you know as well as we do that there is only one poker player or poker-related person who belongs at the top of the PokerStrategy.com Hotshots list.

We are very proud to present Hotshot #0 - the one, the only - Patrik Antonius.

He's so dreamy...