|
|
|
|
 |
|
Published:2/1/2010 7:02:22 AM
Hard Rock to host 4 major poker tourneys
|
| The 28-event
series will run Feb. 11-22 and feature two huge events. (Courtesy photo) |
By Wesley Mahan
Sports Writer
CATOOSA, Okla. – The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa is set to host the fifth annual Oklahoma State Championship of Poker in February.
The 28-event series will run Feb. 11-22 and feature two huge events. The first is set for Feb. 13 and will be the No-Limit Hold ‘Em state championship with a $340 buy-in and a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. The second is the Oklahoma State Championship Event on Feb. 21 with a $3,150 buy-in.
Adding to the poker buzz, Cherokee Nation Entertainment officials said this year’s state championship will feature a new points contest.
“The casino is adding $15,000 for a best all-around competition,” Brooks Turk, Hard Rock Tulsa poker tournament director, said. “Every tournament you enter you get a point. Then depending on where you finish (in the tournament) you receive additional points. At the end of the entire series, the top 10 point earners will share the $15,000.”
The 2009 series saw 3,085 players take to the felt. Turk said he expects that number to swell to around 3,500 this year because of the new features and the addition of some less expensive buy-ins.
Turk said he’s watched the poker market and the competition for players explode over the years.
“When we first opened, they (tournaments) were enormous. Poker was at its height, the biggest boom it’s ever seen,” he said. “We’ve got more competition than ever right now. When we first started running big tournaments, the next closest place you could find a tournament like this was Mississippi. We pretty much owned the market on it. But now with all the different casinos and card rooms around it’s become more and more competitive with each series.”
Turk said Hard Rock Tulsa has been an industry leader in the region when it comes to poker and that despite increased competition, poker will continue to flourish in the area.
“It’s still going strong. It’s not as strong as it was three or four years ago when it was on TV all the time, but overall it’s still growing. It’s doing all right and it’s not going anywhere,” he said.
Turk added that in May Hard Rock Tulsa will be home to the Mid South Poker Classic. This series is geared more towards local players because of the smaller buy-ins and is used as a way to give back to them, he said.
Turk said in August CNE will unveil a new yet-to-be-named poker series, and in November people will be able to play in the Hard Rock Poker Open, which should draw a collection of local, national and international players.
Reach Sports Writer Wesley Mahan at (479) 427-9101 or wesley-mahan@yahoo.com
|
|
Comment Section
0 Total Comments (0 Pending Approval)
|
You must Login to post a comment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|