Event #1: Limit Hold'em
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY: $7,100
ENTRIES IN THIS EVENT: 71
Report by Debbie Burkhead
The Desert Poker Classic started today with 71 players vying for the distinction of becoming the winner of the opening event. Kurtis Hanneman earned that distinction along with $2,840.
Satellites will begin each morning at 9 a.m. until noon and again every afternoon from 4 p.m. until midnight. A continental breakfast is offered every morning between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
All tournament players will also receive a ticket for a free buffet, valid throughout the tournament between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.
All tournaments are TOC qualifiers and will be using the Tex's TEARS structure.
Each day one player will be chosen as a bounty and the player who eliminates them will receive a prize.
There will be a Golf Tournament on Wednesday, April 18, hosted by Russ Hamilton at the Desert Willow Golf Course. The buy-in is $210 and is sponsored by Fantasy Springs Casino. The tournament will be a scramble format with an approximate prize pool of $5,000. Everyone is invited to enter and to add to the excitement the Desert Poker Classic will give one lucky player the chance to win $1,000,000. The player who shoots closest to the pin on a specific par 3 will have the opportunity to take one shot from 165 yards out on the 18th hole for a hole-in-one. If this lucky player makes a hole-in-one he will win $1,000,000,000!
On with the final table results . . .
With 10 players remaining, they were playing hand for hand and two players were eliminated from separate tables at the same time, leaving eight players for the final table. The two players eliminated were Pete Gidlua and Ed Baranski. They split ninth place money and both are eligible to play in the bubble tournament on the 19th. The final table was determined at 7:00 p.m.
The remaining eight players took a dinner break and resumed play at 8:20 p.m. with 20 minutes remaining at the $1,000-$2,000 limit with blinds at $500-$1,000.
On the first hand after the dinner break Richard Valdez was on the big blind and after posting he was left with only $800. Mike Rollert raised, Kurtis Hanneman folded on the small blind and Richard called all-in. Mike showed K-J and Richard had 5-7 of spades. The board came A-K-10-5-2 and Richard had to settle for 8th place and $178.
Six hands later Ed Yuchasz raised and Mike called. The flop came 10-4-2, Ed bet and Mike called. The turn card came an eight, Ed bet $1,100 all-in and Mike called. Ed showed pocket sixes and Mike showed pocket nines. The river was a seven, neither player made a set and Mike's pair of nines was declared the winner. Ed took 7th place and $248.
At 8:40 p.m. the limit rose to $1,500-$3,000 with $700-$1,500 blinds.
At 8:52 p.m. John Henry called all-in for $300 more against Randy Refeld. John showed Q-7 and Randy turned over A-7. The board came 4-5-8-4-J and Randy's ace high held up. John was eliminated in 6th place with $320.
At 9:07 p.m. Mike raised, Rod Trevino called and John Martin called all-in. The flop came 7-9-7, Rod checked, Mike bet and Rod folded leaving John all-in against Mike. Mike turned over A-Q and John had Q-8. The turn card was another nine and the river was a three. Mike won with ace high and John took 5th place along with $390.
On the next hand Randy and Kurtis went at it until Randy was all-in. Randy had pocket sevens and Kurtis had pocket eights. The board came 2-Q-J-4-Q and Randy had to settle for 4th place and $497.They were down to three players and on the very next hand Rod raised, Kurtis reraised and Rod called. The flop came 4-5-2, Kurtis bet, Rod raised and Kurtis reraised and got Rod all-in. Rod showed A-4 and had flopped a pair of fours, Kurtis turned over pocket jacks for the lead. The turn card brought a king and the river card was a seven, neither helped Rod. Rod collected $852 for 3rd place.
At 9:13 there were two players left and Kurtis had a huge chip lead over Mike.
On the 11th hand of heads-up play Mike raised and Kurtis called. The flop came K-8-9, Mike bet, Kurtis raised and Mike called all-in. Mike showed A-Q and Kurtis turned over 8-5. Kurtis flopped a pair of eights and Mike needed an ace or queen to stay alive. The turn card was a jack, giving Mike a straight draw but the river was another eight which gave Kurtis a set of eights for the win. Mike took 2nd place and $1,633 to add to his bankroll.
At 9:20 p.m. Kurtis was declared the winner of the first event of the Desert Poker Classic and received $2,840.
Congratulations, Kurtis!
The Final Table Chip Standings & Seat Positions:
| Seat Position/Player | Chip Count |
| Seat 1: Kurtis Hanneman | $27,100 |
| Seat 2: Richard Valdez | $1,800 |
| Seat 3: Rod Trevino | $7,800 |
| Seat 4: Ed Yuchasz | $4,100 |
| Seat 5: No Player | |
| Seat 6: John Martin | $6,400 |
| Seat 7: John Henry | $9,500 |
| Seat 8: Randy Refeld | $6,600 |
| Seat 9: Mike Rollert | $6,900 |
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