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Mark's January Tournament Preview
By Mark Napolitano

The new year starts with 12 tournaments to pick from. Although this is a small amount, this month, it's quality rather than quantity to choose from.

As the biggest event in the southern hemisphere, the Crown Australasian Championships at the Crown Casino will be grander than ever this year. If its comfort and quality that you want, then this is a festival not to be missed. The main event, the Aussie Millions, is in its 3rd year and goes from strength to strength due to the massive advertising campaign that the Crown casino devotes to it. Expect a strong European contingent and a few top Americans as well.

Hollywood Park sees 2 weeks of tournament action with the Hollywood Park Poker Derby which is a 15 event tournament with buy-ins ranging from $100 to $200 with $150,000 Guaranteed over 3 $100 events.

The highlight of the month will be the World Poker Open in Tunica which both Tina and I will be attending as it also hosts the 1st event of the PokerschoolOnline Live Tour 2004. You can win a place in the Live Tour final and a chance of a $25,000 seat to the WPT final at the Bellagio in 2005 if you are a PokerSchoolOnline member.

Be sure to join PokerSchool Online. For only $14.95, you can improve your game considerably and make a difference at the poker table. Many winning school members are proof that practice makes perfect and the school is the place to do it.

January 2 to 18, 2004	Poker Derby	Hollywood Park Casino3883 West Century Boulevard Inglewood (Los Angeles), CA 90303, United States 310-330-2800 Toll-Free: (1) 800-888-4972
Notes: $370,000 Total Guarantee. $10,000 for best all around points player. Food Comps for all players
January 3 to 17, 2004	2004 Crown Australasian Poker Championship	Crown Casino 8 Whiteman Street, South Bank Melbourne, Victoria 3006, Australia [61] 3 9292 5797
Notes: The biggest event in the southern hemisphere in one of the best hotels in the world. The main event the Aussie Millions starts on January 15th for 3 days.
January 4, 2004	No Limit Sunday	Commerce Casino 6131 East Telegraph Road, Commerce Los Angeles, CA 90040, United States 323-721-2100
Notes: Regular Sunday $300 Tournament with one optional rebuy
January 6 to 29, 2004	5th Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open	Horseshoe Casino Hotel / Gold Strike Casino Resort 1021 Casino Centre Drive Robinsonville (Tunica), MS 38664, United States 662-357-5500 Toll-Free: (1) 800-303-7463
Notes: 1 million guaranteed for 1st place in the Main event! Brought to you by the Goldstrike Casino and the Horseshoe Casino Players will receive $500 in Tournament chips for the $200 and $300 events and $800 in TC for the $500 events. Event #12 and #19 will have 40 minute levels. $500 events will have 50 minute levels, 70 minutes at final table. $1000 and $2000 events will have 60 min levels, and 80 at final table. $10,000 Championship event will have 120 min levels. Rebuy tournaments players will be allowed a single or double add-on.
January 8 to 29, 2004	6th Annual Tunica Classic	Grand Casino Tunica 13615 Old Highway 61 North, Robinsonville Tunica, MS 38664, United States 662-363-2788 Toll-Free: 1-800-946-4946
Notes: 16 events culminating in $1,000 2nd chance No limit Hold'em.
January 9 to 11, 2004	2004 Cajun Poker Classic	Harrah's Casino New Orleans 512 Sth Peters Rd New Orleans, LA 70130, United States 504-533-6000
Notes: $500 No Limit Hold'em tournament spread over 3 days.
January 12 to 18, 2004	January Sales Poker Festival	Rendezvous Casino At The Marina Brighton Marina Village, BN2 5UT Brighton +44 (0) 1273 605 60
Notes: Registration closes 15 minutes prior to competition. 90 minute rebuy period and 1 top-up applies to all competitions. Live games from 3pm throughout the Festival, dealers supplied.
January 15 to 18, 2004	ESCARGOT	Bicycle Casino 7301 Eastern Avenue, Sth of Downtown 710/ Florence Bell Gardens (Los Angeles), CA 90201, United States 562-806-4646
Notes: 3 events for the ESCARGOT group members who regularly have fun at these tournaments. Plenty of drinking and old time stories guaranteed.
January 18, 2004	No Limit Sunday	Commerce Casino 6131 East Telegraph Road, Commerce Los Angeles, CA 90040, United States 323-721-2100
Notes: Regular Sunday $300 Tournament with one optional rebuy
January 19 to 25, 2004	The Grosvenor Grand Challenge	Grosvenor Casino Dunstable House, 50 Dunstable Road Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 1EE, England (44) 1582-414-166
Notes: All Tournaments are restricted to 140 players. Book early to avoid disappointment.
January 19 to 29, 2004	America's Poker Classic	Bicycle Casino 7301 Eastern Avenue, Sth of Downtown 710/ Florence Bell Gardens (Los Angeles), CA 90201, United States 562-806-4646
Notes: $200,000 GUARANTEED
January 30 to February 24, 2004	L.A. Poker Classic	Commerce Casino 6131 East Telegraph Road, Commerce Los Angeles, CA 90040, United States 323-721-2100
Notes: 22 events culminating in the $10,000 Buy in WPT No Limit Hold'em

Mark's Pick of the Month 2004 is a new year, and the place to be for the month of January is undoubtedly the World Poker Open in Tunica. Not only do you have the chance to win a million dollars in the WPT World Poker Open Final, but also a chance to qualify for the PokerSchoolOnline Live Tour Final by competing in the 1st ever PSO Live Tour event. The PSO event happens Sunday, 11th January. It's a $500 No Limit Hold'em tournament open to everyone, but if you are the highest finishing PokerSchoolOnline member you win a place in the Live Tour Final and a chance of the $25,000 Bellagio seat. The World Poker Open Final was dominated last year by Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott who won over $600,000. This time, first place has been guaranteed at $1,0000. The hospitality in Tunica is great and both Tina and myself are thrilled to be attending one of the great events of the year again. See you there, Be Lucky, Mark About Mark mark@pokerpages.com