2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Harrah's New Orleans

Bayou Poker Challenge Main Event
Day: 1
123
Event Info

2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Harrah's New Orleans

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j♣7♣
Prize
$382,928
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$1,196,650
Entries
249
Level Info
Level
17
Blinds
10,000 / 20,000
Ante
3,000
Sort

2008 WSOP Circuit - Harrah's New Orleans

[user38449]
[user38449]
'The City That Care Forgot'
'The City That Care Forgot'
High stakes tournament poker is back in the Big Easy, as the Fifth Annual Bayou Poker Challenge (BPC) gears up for its $5,000 Championship Event, scheduled to kick off at noon CST later today.

The last major event on the tournament trail before the World Series of Poker (WSOP), the Bayou Poker Challenge generally attracts a solid field comprised of pros and amateurs alike, some looking to play one last 'normal' tournament before the bedlam begins at the end of the month.

Last May, 346 players turned out for the Fourth Annual BPC, which was won by Lou Esposito of Glendale, NY ($516,801). The WSOP Circuit later returned to Harrah's New Orleans in December, but drew a field of just 160 runners. Dr. Andy Philachack took down that tournament, and the $247,860 first place prize money that went with it. Back for another May installment, the tournament staff expects a bigger turnout this week.

PokerNews' Live Update Team will be on site for the duration of the event, shipping the scoop straight from the tournament floor. Coverage begins at 12:00 p.m. local time; we'll see you then!

The Day 1 Lowdown

donpeters
donpeters

A makeshift poker room has been created in the Harrah's New Orleans Theatre specifically for the Bayou Poker Challenge. Players will begin Day 1 with 10,000 worth of starting chips and play seven 75-minute levels, with a 15-minute break at the end of each level.

More than just prize money is at stake for the event's contestants and eventual winner. In addition to the dough, the champion will receive a $10,000 seat in this summer's World Series of Poker Main Event, $1,000 in expense money, and a gold WSOP Circuit championship ring.

A Couple of Quick Announcements

[user42991]
[user42991]
We have approximately 20 minutes until the start of today's event. The tournament director has just announced that today's event will be played nine-handed, adding that late registration will remain open until 1:15 p.m. Turbo satellites have just begun for the event, for those hoping to win a last-minute seat in the championship event.

Players Filtering In

donpeters
donpeters
Players are beginning to filter into the tournament room for today's event. Each player is required to fill out a release form upon arrival at his or her table.

Play should be underway within 10 minutes.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

Shuffle Up and Deal

[user66118]
[user66118]
It's high noon in the Big Easy, and the cards are in the air. The tournament room continues to fill up, as the players make their way to their seats. Be sure to keep it tuned right here and follow along with the action, as we work our way through the field here on Day 1.

The Circuit's Unofficial MVP

[user38449]
[user38449]
Doug 'Rico' Carli
Doug 'Rico' Carli
"If we had a circuit MVP, this person would've won all four years," said World Series of Poker Media Director Nolan Dalla of Doug 'Rico' Carli. Carli has cashed an amazing 34 times on the WSOP circuit and owns two circuit titles. He's reached the final table a staggering 19 times and will be going for number 20 here today. Carli drew a starting table with 2005 WSOP Main Event runner-up Steve Dannenman.

Tags: Doug Carli

A Couple of Nice Pots Early

[user42991]
[user42991]
Over on Table 19, a player that likes to be referred to only as "Gio" has taken a couple of nice pots. On a board of {10-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{Q-Clubs}{10-Clubs}{4-Clubs}, Gio makes a bet of 3,000 into a pot of 3,000. The player in seat seven tanks for about a minute before folding. Gio flashes the {10-Spades}.

Immediately after this hand, he takes down a 700 chip pot when his opponent in the one seat folds.

More Notable Players

donpeters
donpeters
As the tables start to fill up completely, names such as Jimmy Tran, Ted Lawson, Steve Dannenmann, Alan "BodogAri" Engel, and the seventh-place finisher at the WSOP Circuit event at Caesars Las Vegas, Thomas Hover, can be found amongst the participants.
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