While neither the Chicago Cubs nor White Sox were able to reach baseball’s Fall Classic, there is still plenty of World Series action that the denizens of the Second City can get into. For the first time ever, the World Series of Poker Circuit continues its 2008-09 season with a stop near Chicago at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, which started last Friday afternoon.
Because of its proximity to the Windy City, WSOP officials believed that there would be huge fields for Hammond’s events. Adding into the mix is the availability of single table satellite tournaments, which range in buy-in between $70 and $540 every day during the tournament series and can put a player in pretty much any event on the schedule.
The fields so far have exceeded the expectations of all involved. Friday’s first tournament, a $300 buy-in event, drew an astronomical field of 1,187 players to the felts. The field was ripe with regional players, but also drew in poker hopefuls from as far away as California, British Columbia, and the Dominican Republic. With such a throng showing up for the tournament, a prize pool of $345,417 was created and by Saturday there were still 62 players remaining in the event.
After battling down to the final table, it was a financial advisor Perry Ernest who captured the championship. The native of nearby Naperville, Illinois was nearly eliminated with four players remaining when he was all-in with pocket eights against pocket queens, but was able to draw out a straight on the river for the win. For taking down the first title at the WSOPC Hammond event, Ernest won $70,597, the gold and diamond WSOPC championship ring, and a seat in the $5,000 Championship Event on Halloween.
Saturday saw action in the first of two $500 tournaments on the schedule. The numbers remained strong, as 516 people coughed up the buy-ins for a shot at World Series of Poker glory. With slightly over $250,000 up for grabs for the top 54 finishers, it was thought that the action would take some time to complete and as Day Two started, 21 players were still fighting for the top prize of $55,159.
Once the final table was reached Saturday afternoon, it took less than an hour for the champion to be determined. Frederic Winter, who admitted his style of play was “any two cards,” and Matthew Sekeres took turns eliminating players as they reached heads-up action. After a deal between the two, they played one more hand, which was won by Winter, who took home the championship title.
The tournament action should be just as hectic through this week at the Horseshoe Hammond. Final tables on Monday include the $1,000 No Limit tournament as well as a $200 Ladies No Limit Hold’em event. Other tournaments this week include a $200 Pot Limit Omaha tournament with $100 rebuys and a $300 HORSE battle. It all leads up to the start of the $5,000 Championship Event on Friday which, if the current surge of players in preliminary events holds up, should vastly outpace the 84 player field for the first tournament of the 2008-09 WSOPC schedule held earlier this month in Southern Indiana.
Poker News Daily will keep you up to date on activity in Hammond as the World Series of Poker Circuit continues on its tour of the United States.
