Poker Tournament Gallery

The First Annual World Poker Challenge Report (Day One)
01/09/01

By Mike Bunis

I've been here two days now and I can say things have gone very smoothly so far. The first two events have been played and they have started an average of only eight minutes late. A very good number for coming right out of the chute.

My other observations:

1. General atmosphere: the tournament is being held not in a separate meeting room but in the middle of the casino floor. This is not as bad as it sounds. Since it is a non-smoking event, the tournament area is remarkably smoke-free!

   Congratulations to the tournament officials. Also, there is(for the most part) sufficient space between the tables to get around. The ceilings are very high and the place is well-lit. (does any of this sound like the Harrah's tournament this time last year in Vegas? NOT!) There is also relatively little racket from the slots. The live action is off to one side in a separate room.

2. Hotel: The room rates, as you probably know, are $25 a night, unbeatable by almost any standard. (once again, remember Harrah's?) I'm not staying in the hotel, but friends of mine who are tell me the rooms are very nice indeed. Also, since the temperature is very cold and it is snowing at this very minute, I wish I was staying in the hotel, since I have to go outdoors to get to the tournament.

3. Action: There were nearly 450 entries in the first event (limit HE) and over 200 in the second event (stud split). The side action ranged from low-limit to $150-$300, pot-limit, etc. There was a particularly good $30-$60 hold`em game with a full kill. Let your imagination run wild and you will have this game. They have Omaha at various limits also. No stud, however.

4. Satellites: Well-organized and plentiful. The juice was a little high, however ($40 with one winner of $330 for hold`em--$50 with one winner of $330 for stud). In addition, a supersatellite is held every night paying (so far) as many as 3 seats in the $5000 main event. They could maybe boost the supersatellite participation by running them at 4:00 in addition to the one being held at 8:00. I don't know, just a thought.

5. Food: No food comps. In addition, the buffet does not open for lunch until ll:30 am, only 30 minutes before the tournament starts.

6. Floor: I was the beneficiary of a particularly poor decision regarding a misdeal, and when the exact same scenario arose a few hours later, it was decided the other way.

   They also don't seem to respond quickly when the dealer calls an open seat. They are often not to be found anywhere in the immediate area. In reality, the seats are usually filled within a reasonable amount of time. They're all competent veterans. So I'm going to write these discrepancies off to first-day jitters.

7. Signup procedure: the exact opposite of Harrah's cumbersome requirements. No buy-in chips required. The whole thing is done at one table. Give `em the money and get a seat. That's it.

8. Rest rooms: they are IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT to the poker area. And we all know what that means if you're in a tournament.

OK, those are my observations so far. Overall, this is a tournament to be taken seriously. They've already set next year's dates in stone and have posted them around the casino. If you can still come this year, try to make it. If not, make plans to come next year.

--Mike Bunis