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Mark's August Tournament Preview
By Mark Napolitano

As promised, here is the "Pick of the Month" for August. There is a great mix of tournaments to choose from this month, something for everyone. How refreshing to see that poker tournaments will be played in the USA, England, Canada, Germany, Australia and Austria during the month of August. The game of Poker is greatly increasing in popularity, and I wish all poker players worldwide the best of luck in these events.

August has 17 tournaments listed in our schedules as follows:

1. July 27th - August 2nd: Guaranteed Summer Challenge at Crystal Park Hotel and Casino, Los Angeles. Seven events with a total guaranteed prize pool of $195,000. This event should attract very large fields due to these guarantees. Special room rates available for tournament players.

2. July 28th - August 1st: Global Pot Limit/No Limit Open at the Bicycle Casino, Los Angeles. Five tournaments all Pot Limit or No Limit ending with a $2500 No Limit Hold 'em tournament. This event is likely to achieve a very nice prize pool and many of the players from the rest of the world will take part as this event starts directly when the TOC is finished.

3. July 31st - August 30th: Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles. I believe this is the longest tournament all year. Buy-ins range from $50 up to $5,000. Satellites begin on July 31st. This is the biggest event held at the Bicycle Casino all year. The Events start on August 2nd, and there will be an award ceremony held on August 26th for the highest points achieved. There will be a money pay off and also the winner gets a choice of a red or black PT Cruiser Car.

4. August 6th: Passport to Paradise at the Hollywood Park Casino, Los Angeles. You can play for 30 hours in any live poker game at the Hollywood Park or Crystal Park for free entry, or you can buy in $100 + $20 on the day of the event. Hollywood Park is adding $25,000 to the prize pool. Not bad for a day's work.

5. August 7th - August 13th: Grosvenor UK Open Poker Festival at The Grosvenor Casino, Luton, England. The events on Thursday 10th and Saturday 12th are EPPA (European Poker Players Association) ranking events. There are seven events, starting with the first three at 100 pounds sterling buy-in. Events number four and five have 250 pounds sterling buy-in and the final two events increasing to 500 pounds buy-in. It is always best to arrive at the Casino early to register, as these events generally sell out.

6. August 8th - August 10th : Tournament of Champions at Casino Emerald in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The top 10 hold 'em, top 10 Omaha and top 7 stud players from the Wednesday tournaments compete to win 5% collected by house, and on a points system somebody is awarded Champion of the Year. Not a tournament that you can buy into, as players have already been selected, but worth remembering for next year. Also held at the same time as the State Fair, so have some fun and take time out to watch the event.

7. August 10th - August 13th: European Dealers Choice Championship, held at the Casino Baden Baden, in the picturesque town of Baden Baden in Germany. Texas Hold 'em is played on this three-day freezeout event with a buy-in of DM 2000. This tournament has a maximum of 72 players, so I suggest you call the Casino and get your reservation in early.

8. August 11th: $15,000 Hold 'em "Beat the Heat" Tournament at the Pechanga Entertainment Center, Temecula in California. There is a complimentary buffet being served at 6: 30 p.m. and the casino is guaranteeing $15,000. The buy-in for this event is $130 + $15, with $50 rebuys. Great Value!!

9. August 14th - August 18th: Mammoth Hold 'em at The Ladbroke Russell Square Casino, London, England. This has proved to be an extremely popular tournament that is held four times a year and has a great turnout. Pot Limit Hold 'em is played for all events and 25% of the players from Mon - Thurs tournaments then get to play in the Friday event. The winner of the Friday event gets 35% of the prize pool and nine places are paid.

10. August 18th - August 20th: Summer Shootout at Ocean's Eleven Casino, Oceanside, California. Two events are Limit Hold 'em, and Omaha Hi/Lo Split is played on the 19th. They all have a $100 buy-in with a $20 entry fee. The casino is guaranteeing $7,500 per event and also funding a Super Bounty $50 button at each table. There are no rebuys or addons for this tournament.

11. August 19th - August 27th: Australasian Poker Championship at The Crown Casino, Melbourne, Australia. Great event run by great guys, Keith Sloan and Danny McDonnagh, who share the same vision for poker as we do. Single table satellites for the $1,500 Main Event will be held on demand until the commencement of the tournament. Support poker in Australia and take part in this rapidly growing event. I will be there next year for sure.

12. August 20: Summer Freeroll at the Hollywood Park Casino, Los Angeles, California. CANCELLED

13. August 20th - August 26th: Speedway of Poker ll at The Garden City Casino, San Jose, California. Registration for this event starts August 1st, there will only be 10 tables for each event. All $120 Buy in's.

14. August 27th: Summer Freeroll at the Hollywood Park Casino, Los Angeles, California. CANCELLED

15. August 29th - September 4th: Guaranteed Fall Poker Challenge at Crystal Park Casino and Hotel, Los Angeles, California.

16. August 30th: Limit Hold 'em Player Appreciation at The Bicycle Casino, Los Angeles, California. $100 buy-in and $20 entry fee, no rebuys and $25,000 guaranteed. A great one-day event, one certainly not to be missed.

17. August 31st - September 2nd: Poker Championship at Casino Bregenz, in Bregenz, Austria. Beautiful scenery and great hospitality greet you for this tournament. Each tournament is limited to 90 players, and the registration desk is opened from 6:00 p.m. every tournament day. Pre-registration is valid until 7:00 p.m. Best All Round Player: 2% of the prize money will be deducted to form the prize. Each tournament winner has the possibility to take part at the 2001 TOC in Las Vegas.

Mark's Pick of the Month for August

My pick for this month is the Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles. In my opinion this is one of the most organized card rooms I have ever visited. The tournaments I have taken part in there have always been very professionally run. The team works very well together. The Legends of Poker this year will be giving away a new car to the overall points winner.

The event kicks off the first week with seven $300 tournaments, it then moves up to seven $500 tournaments for week two. Week three sees six $1,000 tournaments and the end of week three sees an amazing $300 limit hold 'em event with a $100,000 guarantee. This event has multiple rebuys and is a must for all limit holdem tournament players.

August 26th will be the day for the points award and the winner of the car. There will also be a Roast for Card Player publisher Linda Johnson. I am hoping to be present for this event.

August 27th sees the start of the main event, a $5,000 no-limit hold 'em two-day event. The final of the main event is August 28th. I would like to wish all participants in the Legends of Poker the very best of luck. I would also like to thank the staff of the Bicycle Club for putting on this great poker event.

Last but not least I would like to say a big thank you to Jenny Kaye for looking after Tina and me during our recent visit to the Bicycle Casino.

Good Luck,
Mark Napolitano