What draws players to it is a pretty consistent motivating factor: the money.
Because of the location - the Wynn in Las Vegas - and the higher-buy-in events ranging from $300 to $2,000 that make up the schedule, the Wynn Classic usually draws a multitude of top pros as well as amateurs looking to take their shot at the prize pool.
Last year, 198 players came to the tables for the $10,000 Championship Event to battle it out for their piece of the nearly $2 million prize pool, and the final table was replete with star power. Players such as Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Johnny Chan, Mike Matusow and Chau Giang were there, but fell short of the inaugural Wynn Classic championship.
In the end a previously unknown player, Zachary Hyman, outlasted those name players as well as pro Ted Lawson, whom he battled heads-up, to take the championship and the $729,033 first-place prize.
The schedule this year has already seen quite a few pro players as well. Josh Arieh and Allen Kessler have both won tournaments on the schedule, and top pros such as the aforementioned Lawson, Dutch Boyd, 2007 WSOP Player of the Year Tom Schneider, David Plastik and Max Pescatori have all earned cashes.
The online players have also been getting in on the fun and games, with Darrell "Gigabet" Dicken and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier making final tables.
Two players in particular have stood out during this year's events. Brandon Cantu has earned three cashes and one final table during the schedule at the Wynn Classic. Perhaps he'll use some of the bounty money he picked up in San Jose during the WPT Shooting Star event to try to make another deep run in at the Wynn.
The other professional who's been in the mix during the run of tournaments at the Wynn is Frank Rusnak. While the Chicago player is still low in name recognition, he has more than $300,000 in career earnings (including a final-table appearance in the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure) and has made three Wynn Classic final tables.
When the cards hit the air today, odd are the playing field will be larger than last year and filled with some of the best professionals in the game.
PokerListings will be there to report on all the action in the Live Tournaments section, and we'll find out if it will be a top pro or another amateur who collects the trophy.
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‘60 Minutes’ may do Absolute Poker scandal story
Nat Arem, one of the people who investigated and uncovered the Absolute Poker superuser scandal, wrote on his blog that “60 Minutes” may be doing a story on online poker and AP. While the story is far from a sure thing, Arem believes the show is ��...full article
Nat Arem, one of the people who investigated and uncovered the Absolute Poker superuser scandal, wrote on his blog that “60 Minutes” may be doing a story on online poker and AP.
While the story is far from a sure thing, Arem believes the show is in the middle of working on it, and he thinks it may have a negative tilt/impact on online poker.
Patrik Antonius signs with poker agency
Poker Royalty announced last week that Patrik Antonius had signed on at the agency, which will provide him worldwide management and marketing representation in areas such as media, sponsorship, licensing, commercial endorsements and appearances.
Antonius, 27, hails from Finland and has become one of the breakout young players on the poker circuit. Not only can he be found playing the "Big Game" at the Bellagio against the likes of Doyle Brunson, Barry Greenstein and Jennifer Harman, he's also found success in tournament poker.
He has more than $2.6 million in the past few years, with 10 World Series of Poker cashes, six World Poker Tour cashes, and two European Poker Tour cashes in 2005 that include a win and another final-table finish.
"Patrik is one of those rare combinations of natural abilities, looks and raw talent that can transcend the game of poker," said Chris Porter, Poker Royalty director of sales and marketing. "Add Poker Royalty's resources and core business relationships and Patrik will be an even brighter star on the tour and off."
Antonius joins a roster of poker players at Poker Royalty that includes Josh Arieh, Johnny Chan, T.J. Cloutier, Antonio Esfandiari, Gus Hansen, Phil Hellmuth, Erick Lindgren, Carlos Mortensen, Daniel Negreanu, Greg Raymer, Evelyn Ng, Cyndy Violette and more.
"Poker Royalty works with some of the biggest names in poker, creating for them the kind of opportunities no other company can provide," Antonius said. "I am very excited about the new relationship with Poker Royalty."
Related Article: Bill Edler Signs with Poker Royalty
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Poker Room Review: Cities of Gold Casino, Sante Fe, NM
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Poker Players Alliance Names State Directors
The Poker Players Alliance has furthered its intentions to continue growing as a "grass roots" organization with the announcement that 50 PPA members have now been selected as State Directors, one for each state. The PPA's...
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