Horseshoe all-in for Poker Classic
BY JOHN GROCHOWSKI casinoanswerman@casinoanswerman.com February 22, 2012 3:40PM
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In three short years at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, the Chicago Poker Classic has become more than a local staple. It’s a favorite on the Midwestern card players’ scene.
“It’s as prestigious event as any,” said Horseshoe poker room manager Jason Newman. “It’s a huge event.”
The third annual classic opens Feb. 23 and runs through March 5. With 11 numbered events along with a Turbo series, nightlies and satellites, there are 33 events overall. The main event, the $3,125-buy-in, $60,000-added No-Limit Hold’em Championship with a total prize pool in excess of $750,000, begins a four-day run on March 2.
All events taken into account, there’ll be more than $500,000 added in this year’s classic. There’s a player points competition connected to the six Turbo Series events and 11 cash events. A $50,000 prize and a 2012 Chevy Camaro await the series points leader. Turbo events are no-limit hold ’em with a $200 buy-in, the first three coming Monday-Wednesday evenings, then for another three consecutive nights starting March 2.
In between, March 1 is a big satellite day, with $240 super satellites leading to the main event at noon and 7 p.m., and $350 mega satellites at 4 and 9 p.m.
All that has the regulars in Horseshoe’s poker room buzzing, Newman said.
“They love it,” Newman said. “The fact is there’s so much value with the added money, the added seats. We run promotions in the cash games the month of February leading up. It increases the action while promoting the tournament and getting players in.”
In promotions throughout February, Horseshoe poker players have been earning their way into the main event, and also into the $1,100 Heads Up No Limit Hold’em event that starts Feb. 28 and is scheduled to run through March 1.
Newman expects close to 9,000 players to compete in the Classic. That helps give Horseshoe a region-wide reputation as a poker place to be.
“It just gives more exposure to the poker room,” Newman said. “It increases the size of our poker community. It’s incredibly inviting to outside poker players to get involved here in Chicago.”
For full details and an event schedule, visit http://tinyurl.com/7t6ohqf.
John Grochowski is a local freelance writer. Look for him on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/7lzdt44); Twitter (@GrochowskiJ) and at casinoanswerman.com.
