I have been to more than my fair share of rock shows. From dirty punk clubs, to underground southern blues bars (please-visit-the-house-next-door-to-buy-your-beer kinds of places), to performing arts centers, to giant arenas, I've seen just about everything I could hope to see. Oftentimes, the bands I visit bring light operators who have more likely than not come from a different dimension.

That is to say, I've seen a lot of crazy light shows, too, but none like the one PokerStars put on to celebrate its tenth year on the Isle of Man.

This screen shot does not do the video below any justice, because what you'll see below are a bunch of wide-eyed people of the Isle of Man staring at what at one moment was the beautiful Villa Marina theater, and next was...well, all of that stuff from another dimension.

In just the first few seconds of the video, you will see how the transformation began, but what happens after than is the kind of thing you expect from CGI artists in movies, not projected onto one of your city's most iconic buildings.

So, indeed, thanks to the Isle of Man for welcoming PokerStars so warmly. Here's to another ten years. Maybe by that time the projections will be in 4D...

Here's something you need to know about PokerStars' people: they know poker. In the early days of PokerStars, the staff was made up almost exclusively of poker players. The concept was simple: how better to serve your customers than to know and love the game they play?

Since those early days, the company has gotten bigger and bigger, and it's had to expand beyond the existing poker player pool to staff its many departments.

And guess what? Those new people became poker players, too. How? It's part of the standard company training, and the rewards are more than a friendly performance review.

Evidence: what happened last week at the UKIPT Isle of Man event.

What you see there is Fatima Moreira de Melo dealing an event exclusively to the people who make sure you can play poker safely, fairly, and enjoyably every day. These nine ended up here after battling against more than 1,000 employees from around the world in online staff contests built around the company training program known as Build Your Stack.

1. Steve Clarricoats - Poker Room Operations (Isle of Man)
2. Gioachino Bartolotta - Infrastructure (Ireland)
3. Dmitri Martsuk - Fraud & Security (Ireland)
4. Pete Zorbas - Global Support (Australia)
5. Steven Brian (aka The 2014 reigning BYS Champion) - Financial Planning & Analysis (Isle of Man).
6. Francois Cristau - Global Support (Australia)
7. Alessio Valotti - Global Support (Malta)
8. Artjom Kutjavin- Fraud & Security (Ireland)
9. Andrea Jimenez - Global Support (Costa Rica)

The point of all this is simple: when it comes to running a poker company, PokerStars wants people to know the game, and the company rewards people for doing so. In the end, that is better for you, the player.

"The final table was on the stage, and Lee Jones told all our players in the main hall about BYS and our finalists, and they got a huge round of applause from our players," said Beverly Williams, Director of Training and Development.

When it was all said and done, last year's champ Steven Brian finished third, Francois Cristau came runner-up, and Steve Clarricoats (perhaps the only man who has ever loaned me money to keep me in a poker game...) finished with the trophy.

So, congratulations to Steve and all the others who made the final table, and thanks to the company for keeping poker players on the front lines in the quest to maintain PokerStars' place at the top.

Let's just think about it for a second.

You've been considering making a deposit on PokerStars, but you don't have a ton of discretionary cash. What's more, everything you see about poker on TV and, yes, even here tends to be about those $215 and larger buy-in events. Let's be honest: the pool of people who like poker but don't have $215 or more to burn is much bigger than the pool of people who happily enter a $215 tournament once a week.

So, what about that bigger pool of people who would like to play for big money but don't have a ton of money to spend? Is it even worth it to make a small deposit on PokerStars?

We found out the answer to that this week when PokerStars launched its Common Cents series. Want to know what you can get for $10? Keep reading.

Ready to sign up for PokerStars? Click here to get an account.

The Common Cents series on PokerStars has 14 events. If you were to enter every one of them, it would only cost you $6.50 total.

So, you're thinking: Sure, but what are the prize pools?

Well, by comparison, they are massive. In total, Common Cents has $250,000 worth of guaranteed prize money. The first event alone awarded $10,000 to the winner.

While not all the first prizes are going to be that big, that doesn't mean you can't turn a small deposit into a working bankroll. Think of it this way: for the price of a couple cups of coffee, you could compete for thousands of dollars in a series of 14 tournaments and still have money leftover from a $10 deposit.

The next event in Common Cents kicks off in less than an hour, and tournaments will be running all the way to the 99¢ Main Event on Sunday. What's more, you can play satellites to the Main Event for as little as 1¢ all day every day.

So, here's how to do it:

1) If you don't already have a PokerStars account, go here and get one.

2) If you have an account but haven't already deposited, open up your PokerStars software and use any of the convenient depositing methods.

3) Click on ONLINE EVENTS in the PokerStars lobby, chose COMMON CENTS, and get to work.

Have a success story already? Plan to have one this week? Follow @PokerStarsBlog on Twitter and let us know about it.

Good luck!

Ready to sign up for PokerStars? Click here to get an account.

It might not be the biggest event at the PCA, nor is it the richest. But there's something about the PCA Women's Event that makes it one of the highlights of the trip, and we're delighted to report that it's back again for 2016.

What's more PokerStars is running satellites into the PCA Women's event, giving players the opportunity to win a package worth $2,700 to play the event, which has a buy in of $600, along with $2,100 to cover expenses.

The Atlantis resort, home of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure

For that you get your seat of course, but also one of those journeys that can easily turn into a trip of a lifetime. As anyone who has been to the PCA before, few destinations match it for the hugely enjoyable combination of high stakes poker, sunshine and atmosphere. The PCA has all three. We'll even throw some water slides.

There are four main satellites to the PCA Women's event, each with a buy in of $215.

Sunday 11th October, 14:00 ET
Sunday 25th October, 14:00 ET
Sunday 8th November, 14:00 ET
Sunday 22nd November, 14:00 ET

But if you'd prefer a cheaper option, there are feeder satellites in which you can earn entry into the above events, already running on PokerStars and in the two weeks prior to each of these satellites. You'll find details in the PokerStars tournament lobby.

Touching down in the Bahamas next January will serve as the only reminder you'll need of how much the effort was worth it. There's no better place to play a poker tournament, or get knocked out of one for that matter. Either way they'll be plenty of opportunity to do both.

Check out the PokerStars Women Live homepage for more details. And if you don't have a PokerStars account, click here to open one in a matter of minutes.

With nearly $5 million in live tournament earnings, Faraz Jaka has become a familiar face on all of the major tours. Career highlights include a third-place finish at the 2012 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $755,000, a runner-up at a World Poker Tour event at the Bellagio in 2009 for $774,780, and a number of other six-figure scores on the European Poker Tour, the WPT, the WSOP, and elsewhere.

Jaka has also racked up numerous accomplishments online over the years -- including earning a SCOOP title in 2012 -- and tonight it was in the virtual realm that he collected yet another six-figure score, this time by taking down the Super Tuesday on PokerStars. In a little under 12 hours, the ever itinerant Jaka -- tonight playing from Berlin in anticipation of the WSOP Europe series -- earned a cool $101,080 for winning the weekly $1,050 no-limit hold'em tournament. Here's the story of how "The-Toilet 0" did it.

A total of 532 took part in the Super Tuesday this week, exactly 100 more than played last week and the biggest turnout since mid-August. That meant a $532,000 prize pool (well over the $400K guarantee), with the top 63 finishers dividing up the winnings.

At that point last alphabetically but first in chips was zzwwzzwwzz, with Jaka, Phillipe "takechip" D'Auteuil, Andras "probirs" Nemeth, and Johan "busto_soon" van Til among those in the top 10.

Some time later they were at the tourney's seven-and-a-half-hour mark when just 18 players were left, with zzwwzzwwzz (24th, $2,192), and Phillipe "takechip" D'Auteuil (22nd, $2,192) among the recent knockouts.

At that point Joel "Odonkor1" Nordkvist was in the top spot with more than 385,000, well ahead of nearest challenger Faraz "The-Toilet 0" Jaka with about 215,000 and Andras "probirs" Nemeth in third.

Mike "munchenHB" Telker next went out in 18th, earning $4,256.

Then Scarface.VLT (17th) and after slipping in the counts Andras "probirs" Nemeth (16th) both went out, also earning $4,256. Those two went out in a double-knockout in which Faraz "The-Toilet 0" Jaka's pocket queens bested both Nemeth's pocket nines and Scarface.VLT's pocket aces in a three-way preflop all-in when a queen came among the community cards.

ninobiondino (15th), zugzwang16 (14th), and Laccrimosa (13th) were then successively knocked out, each earning $5,320, followed by Sam "Str8$$$Homey" Greenwood who picked up $6,384 for finishing 12th.

unfrosya (11th) and Johan "busto_soon" van Til (10th) were then sent railward as well, each also picking up $6,384.

Jaka had the chip lead with Nordkvist next in line as the final table began.

Seat 1: Nick "FU_15" Maimone (Honduras) -- 138,667
Seat 2: Johannes "Greenstone25" Korsar (Sweden) -- 163,140
Seat 3: pete_tuga (United Kingdom) -- 157,844
Seat 4: almapenada10 (Brazil) -- 55,744
Seat 5: Granter7777 (United Kingdom) -- 109,903
Seat 6: Faraz "The-Toilet 0" Jaka (Poland) -- 711,966
Seat 7: Joel "Odonkor1" Nordkvist (Sweden) -- 560,874
Seat 8: jasocrime1 (Canada) -- 388,757
Seat 9: 12dürma89 (Austria) -- 373,105

almapenada10 started the final table as the short stack, and it only took five minutes before those chips would be at risk.

With the blinds at 3,200/6,400 (with an 800 ante), almapenada10 opened with an all-in push for just over 40,000 from middle position, then 12dürma89 reraise-shoved more than 360,000 from the small blind. Nick "FU_15" Maimone, sitting in the big blind with just under 97,000 after posting, then called all in and the three players' cards were shown:

12dürma89: [As][Jh]
FU_15: [Ac][Ah]
almapenada10: [Kh][Kc]

It was bad news for almapenada10, and five cards later -- [4c][4s][5h][Ad][3c] -- Maimone had a full house and a big boost to his stack while almapenada10 fell in ninth.

Play continued through the tourney's nine-hour mark, and with the blinds up to 4,000/8,000 it was pete_tuga pushing from the cutoff for just under 90,000, Granter7777 reraise-pushing from the button, and the blinds folding. pete_tuga had [Ac][7s] and Granter7777 [Ah][Jc]. The board came [3s][2h][2c][9c][5s], and pete_tuga was done in eighth.

A dozen more hands went by, then two more knockouts came within three hands.

In the first Joel "Odonkor1" Nordkvist min-raised to 16,000 from early position, then Johannes "Greenstone25" Korsar reraised all in from the small blind for 164,540. Granter7777 followed that with an all-in shove from the big blind, and Nordkvist stepped aside.

Korsar had the big edge with [Kc][Ks] versus Granter7777's [9c][9h], but the [Qc][9s][6c] flop gave the latter a set and suddenly Korsar was way behind. The turn was the [Ac] and the river the [2d], and Korsar was done in seventh.

Two hands later Nick "FU_15" Maimone open-shoved from early position for just over 105,000 (a little more that 13 BBs) with [Ah][Qs] and got one caller in jasocrime1 who had [Ah][Qs] in the big blind. The [Jd][8d][5s] flop was okay for Maimone, but the [Ts] turn was not, pairing jasocrime1. The river was the [4d], and Maimone was eliminated in sixth.

Not long after that hand the blinds had increased to 4,500/9,000 when 12dürma89 raised to 19,530 from the button, then Faraz "The-Toilet 0" Jaka three-bet to 43,120 from the big blind. 12dürma89 responded with an all-in push for 176,048 total, and Jaka called in a flash.

12dürma89 had [Ah][9d] but had run into Jaka's [Ac][Ad]. The board rolled out [4d][Qc][Jc][2c][4h] and 12dürma89's run ended in fifth.

The four remaining players continued to battle, with the counts relatively close and Jaka in front. Deal talk occasionally came up in the chat box, but Jaka suggested saving such a discussion until it was three-handed. By the time they reached the break that came at the 10-hour mark, though, Jaka had pushed up close to 1.1 million, Granter7777 was next with just under 870,000, jasocrime1 had a little more than 495,000, and Joel "Odonkor1" Nordkvist was the short stack hovering just below 200,000.

Not quite 10 minutes after play resumed, Nordkvist open-pushed his stack of 171,222 (about 12 BBs) from under the gun and Jaka called from the big blind. Nordkvist needed to improve with [Jh][9h] against Jaka's [Ac][2c], but the [3h][8d][Td][4h][4d] board hit neither player and Nordvist finished fourth.

The final trio kept at it for nearly another half-hour, then decided to pause things to talk about a deal with Jaka sitting on 1,063,960, Granter7777 with 907,839, and jasocrime1 with 688,201.

Both ICM-based figures and "chip chop" numbers were presented, leaving $8,000 for which to play in both cases. Jaka had already made it clear he likely wasn't going to be interested in a deal unless he were getting more than either of the suggested numbers, and indeed after he said he'd need $10K than the nearly $78K suggested in the "chip chop" the three agreed to nix the deal and play continued.

"No worries," typed Jaka, adding "good luck to you guys whoever takes it down."

A short while after that they crossed the 11-hour mark, then a few minutes later Faraz "The-Toilet 0" Jaka opened with a min-raise to 36,000 from the button, jasocrime1 pushed all in from the small blind for 391,101, and when it folded back to Jaka he called.

Jaka had [As][9d] and jasocrime1 [Qs][Jc]. The community cards came [8c][Kd][2s], then [3s], then [7c], and without having improved jasocrime1 was done in third.

Jaka had the edge to start heads-up play with 1,470,731 to Granter7777's 1,189,269. They talked briefly about a chop once more with Jaka reiterating his need for more, and again the conversation ended amiably without any deal.

After about 10 minutes of heads-up play Granter7777 had pulled even with Jaka, then 10 minutes after that Granter7777 had built a substantial lead, moving up over 2 million while Jaka fell back around half a million.

Jaka chipped back, however, then managed to double up back into the lead in a hand that reached the river with the board showing [8s][4c][7c][4s][3s]. Jaka would check-raise all in on the river, getting called by Granter7777 who held [8c][6h] for eights and fours. But Jaka had [As][4h] for trip fours to grab the pot and the lead.

From there Jaka was the one chipping up over 2 million. Then, as the tournament was approaching the end of its 12th hour, the final hand took place.

The blinds were 15,000/30,000 with a 3,750 ante, and Jaka opened with a raise to 60,000 from the button. Granter7777 called the raise, and the pair watched a flop come [9d][Kc][8s]. Both players checked, then the turn brought the [7c].

This time Granter7777 bet 75,000, and when Jaka responded with an all-in shove, Granter7777 made the call with the 386,264 left.

Granter7777: [As][Ad]
The-Toilet 0: [8d][7d]

Granter7777 had an overpair, but the turn had given Jaka two pair and the lead. The river then came the [Td] and it was all over -- Jaka had won!

Congratulations to Faraz "The-Toilet 0" Jaka for topping a big field and tough final table to win this week's Super Tuesday and a $101,080 first prize.

10/6/15 Super Tuesday ($1,050 No-Limit Hold'em) results
Entrants: 532
Prize pool: $532,000.00
Places paid: 63

1. Faraz "The-Toilet 0" Jaka (Poland) $101,080.00
2. Granter7777 (United Kingdom) $74,480.00
3. jasocrime1 (Canada) $54,530.00
4. Joel "Odonkor1" Nordkvist (Sweden) $41,496.00
5. 12dürma89 (Austria) $29,260.00
6. Nick "FU_15" Maimone (Honduras) $22,610.00
7. Johannes "Greenstone25" Korsar (Sweden) $17,290.00
8. pete_tuga (United Kingdom) $11,970.00
9. almapenada10 (Brazil) $8,831.20

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