WSOP Circuit - Tunica Grand...

[Zybomb]

These are the kind of tournaments I want to get into. Something with 200-400 people in NOT 6000!!! Not for 10G, but a nice event for a grand or so

If memory serves, even the 1000 and 1500 WSOP events are packed with 1500 + people

Does anyone know of lower buy in (500-1500) events that will have a normal field?

[Talking Poker]

The smaller events at the smaller circuit stops (WSOP and WPT) have smaller fields. They don't have the glory (tv) and most of the big name players skip them though.

My $1000 WSOP event last year had 971 people in it. There's a number I will never forget. But anything tied to the WSOP in Vegas is going to be inflated like that. If you want a smaller field, hit one of the circuit tourneys.

[Talking Poker]

2006 World Series of Poker Circuit
Grand Casino-Resort – Tunica, Mississippi
Official Report
Day Two
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $9,800 (+200)
Number of Entries: 241
Number of Players Remaining: 27
Total Prize Money: $2,289,500

End of Day Two Standings (Chip Counts):
Don Barton Pahrump, NV 244,200
Brian Lamkin Austin, TX 218,900
Lee Markholt Eatanville, WA 169,600
Daniel Alaei Las Vegas, NV 140,900
Daniel Negreanu Las Vegas, NV 140,000
Ernie Shepherd Lizella, GA 132,500
Khosrow Naraghian Memphis, TN 131,500
Brandon Adams Boston, MA 111,400
Bryant King Spokane, WA 110,300
Bill Edler Las Vegas, NV 106,100
George Bronstein Tampa, FL 98,300
Hertzel Zalewski Houston, TX 95,100
Chad Brown Los Angeles, CA 86,100
Phil Galfond Gaithersburg, MD 79,400
Kia Mohajeri Bockledge, FL 77,600
Wendell Barnes Charcton, MA 67,900
Willis D. Fillers Greenville, TN 54,000
Robert Schulz Southaven, MS 49,000
Mark Gregorich Las Vegas, NV 45,300
Michael Tait Ft. Lauderdale, FL 40,400
Roland Israelashvili New York, NY 40,000
Galen Kester Sabatia, MS 39,800
Todd Brunson Las Vegas, NV 36,900
Larry Satterwhite Houston, TX 34,600
Miguel Mateo San Juan, PR 31,800
Don Mullis Mooresville, TN 18,300
Bruce Sturgeon Bedford, IN 13,600

Tournament Veteran Don Barton is the Chip Leader in WSOP Circuit Championship at Tunica Grand
Day Two ends as many of the biggest names go bust; final 27 players set to return for Day Three

During the first two days of the World Series of Poker Circuit championship event at the Tunica Grand, many observers remarked that this one of the toughest major events of the year. The main event attracted a brutally-tough field -- at least half of which consisted of former WSOP gold bracelet winners and world class players. However, most of the big names hit the rail as bust-outs on Day Two leaving a wide mix of players with different backgrounds and levels of experience to compete for more than $2 million in prize money.

At the top of the standings is Don Barton, from Pahrump, NV. Barton is a familiar name to those who follow tournament poker. He has appeared at countless final tables in his storied poker career. Barton has finished in the money 22 times and has won nearly half a million dollars at the World Series of Poker alone.

The chip leader’s closest rival is Brian Lamkin, from Austin, TX. Lamkin is the 37-year-old owner of a commercial flooring company. He has been playing poker for 20 years and has entered three WSOP events, to date. His best cash was in a major tournament at the Bellagio (Las Vegas) last month. Lamkin and Barton are currently the only two players with over 200,000 in chips.

The most notable big names remaining include Daniel Negreanu, Todd Brunson (who won his first WSOP gold bracelet in 2005), and Galen Kester, who is arguably Mississippi’s top tournament player in recent years.
Play is expected to get more intense over the next day. ESPN will begin full coverage, as the tournament shifts to the Tunica Grand Special Events Center. Nine players will eventually be eliminated, just short of a payout. Prize money will go to the top 18 finishers. On Day Three, play will continue down to the final table of nine players – who will make up the final table. Play resumes tomorrow at 12 noon CST.

Note: All content in this report may be re-printed by media.
Report by – Nolan Dalla (Media Director)

Photographs available through Eric Harkins

Tunica Grand Poker Room Manager – Karen Kaegin
Tournament Director – Johnny Grooms
Co-Tournament Director – Jack Effel

[Robbie Robb]

C'Mon DN! You can do it!!!!

[Talking Poker]

2006 World Series of Poker Circuit
Grand Casino-Resort – Tunica, Mississippi
Official Report
Day Three
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $9,800 (+200)
Number of Entries: 241
Number of Players Remaining: 9
Total Prize Money: $2,289,500

End of Day Three Standings (Chip Counts):
1. Brian Lamkin Austin, TX 600,000
2. Daniel Negreanu Las Vegas, NV 410,000
3. Kia Mohajeri Bockledge, FL 331,000
4. Wendell Barnes Charcton, MA 237,000
5. Robert Schulz Southaven, MS 229,000
6. Bryant King Spokane, WA 200,000
7. Lee Markholt Eatonville, WA 177,000
8. Chad Brown Los Angeles, CA 123,000
9. Brandon Adams Boston, MA 103,000

Eliminated Players (in-the-money)
10. Ernie Shepherd Lizella, GA $32,055
11. Mark Gregorich Las Vegas, NV 32,055
12. Daniel Alaei Las Vegas, NV 32,055
13. Don Barton Pahrump, NV 27,475
14. Hertzel Zalewski Houston, TX 27,475
15. Bill Edler Las Vegas, NV 27,475
16. Michael Tait Ft. Lauderdale, FL 22,895
17. Larry Satterwhite Houston, TX 22,895
18. Phil Galfond Gaithersburg, MD 22,895

Texan Brian Lamkin the Chip Leader Going into Final Table in WSOP Circuit Championship at Tunica Grand

The Final Table:
Seat 1: Brian Lamkin
Hometown: Austin, TX
Chip Count: 600,000
Brian Lamkin is from Austin, TX. He is the 37-year-old owner of a commercial flooring company. Lamkin has been playing poker for 20 years and has entered three WSOP events, to date. His highest cash up to this point was in a major tournament at the Bellagio (Las Vegas) last month. Lamkin is engaged to be married and there would be no sweeter wedding gift than to win first prize here in Tunica – which is over three-quarters of a million dollars. He comes in as the favorite, with a respectable chip lead.

Seat 2: Daniel Negreanu
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Chip Count: 410,000
Born in Canada, Daniel Negreanu is now one of poker’s biggest superstars. His breakthrough win came at the 1999 World Series of Poker, when he won his first gold bracelet. He has since won two more. Negreanu was named Card Player Magazine’s ‘Player of the Year’ in 2004. He is just as famous for his poker writings, which are carried by several top poker websites. Now, at age 31, Negreanu is married and has settled down in Las Vegas. When he’s not sitting at final tables, he can usually be found playing in the highest-limit cash games in the world. Yet Negreanu candidly admits that last year was an off-year for him. He would like nothing more than to start off 2006 with a big win. He’s well on his way, currently ranked second in the chip count.

Seat 3: Robert Schulz
Hometown: Southaven, MS
Chip Count: 229,000
If anyone at today’s final table has a home field advantage, it is Robert Schulz from nearby Southaven, MS. Schulz, age 27, was actually born in the New York City area. He was once a craps dealer before he turned to poker playing to make his living. Schultz came close to winning an event here last summer when he cashed in second place in a field of 879. He’s in good shape coming in to this final table, with about an average stack size.

Seat 4: Brandon Adams
Hometown: Boston, MA
Chip Count: 103,000
If formal education were a prerequisite for winning poker tournaments, then today’s championship would go to Brandon Adams. He is scheduled to earn his PhD later this year from Harvard University. Adams was at a televised final table a few months ago, when he appeared in the 2005 Tournament of Champions. He has the toughest challenge of anyone in today’s finale – with the shortest chip count.

Seat 5: Wendell Barnes
Hometown: Charcton, MA
Chip Count: 237,000
Wendell Barnes, age 38, is from Charcton, MA. He is married and has two children. Barnes says he started playing poker about 15 years ago and mostly plays with friends. He is certainly going to have a lot more friends if he wins this tournament. To date, his best finish was at the New England Poker Classic – a second-place showing worth $80,000. He also won Event #12 here in Tunica last week, the no-limit hold’em shootout. Barnes lists his occupation as a welder. He hopes to catch fire and melt all of his opponents at today’s final table

Seat 6: Bryant King
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Chip Count: 200,000
Bryant King is a 38-year-old concert promoter originally from Kentucky. He now lives in Spokane, WA. King says he learned to play poker from his grandmother. King came close to the big prize in last year’s main event at the World Series of Poker. He finished 21st – a remarkable accomplishment considering there were 5,619 entries. This event started with 241 players and King is currently sixth in the chip count.

Seat 7: Lee Markholt
Hometown: Eatonville, WA
Chip Count: 177,000
Lee Markholt is a 42-year-old professional poker player from Eatonville, WA. He is married and has two children. Markholt is no stranger to playing for big prize money. He has made it to two WSOP final tables in his distinguished poker career, but has yet to win a gold bracelet. He did win $225,000 at the Five Diamond Classic at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, last year. Markholt won his way into this tournament via a one-table satellite. He arrives seventh in the chip count.

Seat 8: Kia Mohajeri
Hometown: Bockledge, FL
Chip Count: 331,000
Today’s senior citizen at the final table is 52-year-old Kia Mohajeri. He was born in Tehran, Iran – and now lives in Florida. Kia is married and has one child. He lists his profession as an electrical engineer. Mohajeri hopes to shock the poker world with a victory today and he is well on his way – currently third in the chip count. Mohajeri won a major poker tournament held last year at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.

Seat 9: Chad Brown
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Chip Count: 123,000
Chad Brown has appeared in front of more television cameras than everyone else at this final table – combined. That’s because he was, and remains, a professional actor. He has appeared in films, on television, and as host of a TV game show. Brown has been a commentator on poker programs and is currently working on a project with fellow-actor Joe Mantegna. But today, Brown’s focus will be on winning a poker tournament. Brown, who lives in Los Angeles, has appeared at many final tables and has won his fair share. It will take quite a performance today by Brown to overcome his chip disadvantage. He’s currently eighth in chips.

The final table begins on Friday, January 27th at 2 pm CST.

Note: All content in this report may be re-printed by media.
Report by – Nolan Dalla (Media Director)

Photographs available through Eric Harkins

Tunica Grand Poker Room Manager – Karen Kaegin
Tournament Director – Johnny Grooms
Co-Tournament Director – Jack Effel

[Gordogg]

I see your Aruba buddy Don Mullis missed the money.

[Talking Poker]

Such a shame.

Did I mention how bdawg and I saw him deep in ANOTHER tourney in Atlantis? That guy can play, I guess. I mean, I wasn't impressed when I played with him, but he sure goes deep enough.