While it may not be as prevalent as it was even just a few years ago, tournament poker is still a powerful draw for many in the poker community. The number of casinos and card rooms offering tournaments remains high across the country, in many cases driven by several poker tours that have a set schedule of events over the span of a calendar year. Come November, a new entry into the poker tournament landscape will hold its inaugural event in a highly popular casino.
America’s Poker Tour, the brainchild of former Heartland Poker Tour veterans Fred Bevill (who announced the syndicated shows of HPT alongside Chris Hanson) and Derek Melicher (a former executive with HPT), will take off on November 3 at the Majestic Star Casino in Gary, IN, technically the suburbs of Chicago. Starting on November 3, satellites starting as low as $90 will kick off to funnel players towards their $1100 Main Event, which will begin on November 10. It is arguable that America’s Poker Tour, which will tape their shows for syndicated broadcast, is offering the best chance for players to get “into the action” for the lowest price in the poker tournament business.
The Main Event isn’t the only action going on with America’s Poker Tour. As a part of their schedule at Majestic Star, there will be a $50,000 guaranteed No Limit Hold’em tournament to kick off the festivities that features a buy in of $150 and multiple Day 1 starts. A $150 Pot Limit Omaha event, two more individual $150 No Limit Hold’em tournaments and a $150 Seniors Event will also be conducted.
It sounds like an audacious task for an organization’s first event and Melicher admits it is taking up quite a bit of time. “We’ve been crazy busy, as I am sure you can imagine,” Melicher admitted when he sat down to speak with Poker News Daily. But we were able to get some insights on what to expect from the new poker tour when it hits the felt come November.
Poker News Daily: How will America’s Poker Tour separate themselves from the glut of tours that are out there?
Derek Melicher: We’re using the tagline, “By Players, For Players” as we want to get back to why people start playing poker from the beginning…EXCITEMENT! We want this to be an exciting, energetic, fun event where everyone is having a good time and there’s that sense of community that I think sometimes get lost. You’re going to see that in the televised show as well. This isn’t the normal poker show where you see hand after hand until a winner is determined. The adrenaline, intensity, and excitement that occurs at each tour stop is going to be showcased.
PND: What was the catalyst for creating the APT?
DM: Fred Bevill and I had both worked for Heartland Poker Tour for a number of years. Fred in a producer/host role and myself in an executive/management role. We wish the best for HPT but we plan on doing things a bit differently. Hopefully the players and also the partnering casinos will recognize that and we can build something special here.
It’s a lower buy-in than a WPT or HPT. We are at $1100 for the Main Event while HPT is mostly at $1650 so we are the lowest buy-in amount that offers players a shot at television exposure. We also have satellites where players can win their Main Event seat for $90 or $250. This makes it affordable for the every-day weekend warrior player and also builds the prize pool to a level that pros will see value.
PND: Three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Dutch Boyd has committed to the first stop in Chicago. What has been the general response from other pros and who else might we see in the Windy City?
DM: Besides Dutch Boyd, I have also received commitments from former World Champion Joe Cada, Jeff Madsen, Will Failla, Eddy Sabat, Stan Jablonski, and Bernard Lee. We will also have a special guest appearance from Amanda Leatherman, who will be doing some sideline reporting.
PND: How about the future stops for APT?
DM: I have a lot of interest for 2017. We’re still working out dates with potential partners, but I’m expecting anywhere from 8-14 tour stops in 2017 and 12-16 events in 2018. The events will be spread throughout the U. S. including Florida, California, Chicago, and places in-between. Overall, we’re really excited and we plan to bring that excitement to each event!
We thank Derek for taking the time in an obviously hectic schedule to offer us a look at the start of America’s Poker Tour. For more information, be sure to visit the APT website, where you will also find a schedule of events for their inaugural stop in November at Majestic Star Casino.
I’m happy to to read good news for a change.
One month to up my game. I guess ill just practice Ace poker drills in the meantime.
meet you guys there!