In addition to their $10,000 no-limit hold 'em championship-to be televised on the World Poker Tour with an expected $6 million prize pool-this year players can also enter three other $10,000 events: pot-limit Omaha, HORSE, and a heads-up championship. HORSE tests a player's all-around skills and features featuring rotating hands of different poker games, while the heads-up championship features a double elimination format, where players compete one-on-one.
"We feel that the addition of these Championship events will add to the prestige of the LA Poker Classic and attract players from around the world to the Commerce," says new LAPC Tournament Director Matt Savage.
The World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational begins February 28, when Commerce is expected to attract poker's elite from around the globe for the duration of February. "The L.A. Poker Classic is proud to offer three exciting new challenges for those who really want to experience a wider range of high-stakes tournament play in an elegant setting, surrounded by the sea and warm sunshine that only California can offer in the winter," said Commerce Casino Development Manager John Griffo. "With our visibility on the World Poker Tour, the LAPC is already one of the best regarded tournaments in the world and we believe that adding these three additional $10,000 Championship events really raises Commerce Casino's prestige on the world stage."
The 2008 LAPC handed out $12,977,200 to those among the 10,000 players that were in the money over the nearly 30 events. This year's edition will feature even more tournaments-35 events beginning with $335 buy-ins, rising up to the four $10,000 Championships. Highlights of the six week tournament include a $200,000 opening event, a $300,000 guaranteed limit hold 'em, and the $250,000 guaranteed no-limit hold 'em with re-buys.
Poker players can either buy-in or win their way into individual events by entering satellite tournaments, and a complete schedule can be viewed on the Commerce Casino website, www.commercecasino. com. All tournaments begin at 1 p.m. unless otherwise stated on the schedule. The LAPC no-limit hold 'em championship starts at noon.
