UNITED STATES POKER CHAMPIONSHIP 2000
Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City
December 13th- December 15th 2000

$7500 buy-in No-Limit Hold 'em Championship event.
Reigning Champion Daniel Negreanu

Update (12/15/00 12pm EST): Day 3 Report
Update (12/14/00 12pm EST): Day 2 Report
Update (12/13/00 5pm EST): Day 1 Report

It is with great excitement and pleasure that I find myself here at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City to bring Internet coverage of the main event of this years USPC to our loyal readers at www.PokerPages.com. It is my intention to keep you updated on a regular basis for the first 2 days and then bring you a hand by hand account of the final table on Friday using our Chat Room. The first 2 days updates will include photographs as often as possible and I will also plan to continue the photographs through the final day. This is my first ever trip to Atlantic City.

In 1999 Daniel Negreanu won the $7500 buy-in No-Limit Hold 'em Main event to be crowned "United States Poker Champion". Daniel is a very worthy defending champion despite his young age. I expect him to be in there pitching this year in the later stages.

I arrived here late last night in temperatures approaching freezing after a long treck from Austin, to find 3 of my friends from England in celebratory mood. Hamish Shah, Surinder Sunar and Ian Dobson (3rd in the PokerMillion). Hamish had just won the $500 buy-in No Limit event and $32,000.

The room which holds about 70 tables was quite busy with live action and a super satellite in progress. The organizers are expecting around 90 entrants for the main event which will generate a pool of some $675,000.

It is now 12.00pm Wednesday and I am about move down stairs to the tournament area. There is a final Super Satellite in progress which looks set to produce 3 more entries and a single table satellite. It still looks like around 90 players will take part.

Some noted names among them include Erik Seidel, T.J, Daniel Negreanu, Kathy Liebert, Charlie Brahmi, Mike Sexton, Surinder Sunar and Ian Dobson. These are just the players I have seen personally. Sorry to any "stars" I have missed out at this stage. When I see you I will mention you!!

That's all for now, I will begin my coverage at 4.00pm today.

Be Lucky,
Mark Napolitano