PPC Poker Tour Gearing Up for October's PPC Aruba World Championship and Other Events
The PPC Poker Tour, which hosts US and destination poker events, will culminate with the PPC Aruba World Championship from October 15-21, 2014 at the Radisson Aruba Resort. The $2,200 buy-in, $200,000 Guarantee Main Event is the premier tournament of the tour, and players have been qualifying for the event all season long.
"The PPC Poker Tour will send its most players to Aruba this year by far. It's crazy to think 80-90 players will have won PPC Aruba Main Event packages from our stops before we land in Aruba," said Sandy Swartzbaugh, Commissioner of the PPC. "Launching the $200,000 Main Event with over $150,000 in prize pool is very exciting. Mix in the allure of Aruba and we are looking forward to our biggest field yet. This year will be one crazy 'poker-cation.'"
In 2013, Germany’s [Removed:65] took down the title and a $59,139 first-place prize. 2012. This year, World Poker Tour Player of the Year Joe Serock, who won the 2012 PPC Aruba Championship and finished third in 2013, will be in attendance, as will PPC pros Joe Ebanks, Alex Outhred, and Mark "P0ker H0" Kroon.
Tournament organizers are expecting between 200-250 players for the Main Event, which is considerably more than 2012’s 31 players and 2013’s 88. Those who make the trip to Aruba* will be able to attend a Gusto VIP Party on October 15 hosted by Serock.
*The PPC has arranged special hotel rates at the host Radisson Aruba, Rui Palace Resort (all-inclusive), and The Mill Resort Aruba. Contact PPC travel agent Bridget Stein at (561) 883-3523 or [email protected] to make reservations.
In addition to the Main Event, which will be covered live by PokerNews for the second year in a row, the PPC Aruba will feature a $5,300 buy-in High Roller NLHE/PLO Mix, Senior Poker Tour, and LIPS Tour events; and small $65 buy-in nightly turbo tournaments every night at 10 p.m. Regular events will all start at 4 p.m., which allows players to enjoy all Aruba has to offer.
Players will also have the opportunity to win there way to the PPC Aruba via stops that will be held across the country between now and then.
PPC, Maryland Live! Casino, and 106.7 The Fan Team Up
On Sunday, August 24, at 4:15 p.m. the PPC will team up with Maryland Live! Casino and 106.7 The Fan to host the first-ever Sports Junkies PPC Poker Stop, which will send players with one of the Junkies to the ultimate Aruba “Poker-Cation” — the 2014 PPC Aruba World Championship.
"The Sports Junkies have been the premier morning show in the Baltimore/DC area for years,” said Swartzbaugh. “Teaming up with The Junkies and Maryland Live! Casino will make for a fun event. This is a chance to not only get up close and personal with JP, EB, Cakes, and Lurch, but the winners will head to 2014 PPC Aruba World Championship with one of the Junkies.”
The Sports Junkies PPC Poker Stop will feature a $100 buy-in, and for every $4,000 in the prize pool a player will win a package to the 2014 PPC Aruba World Championship.
“We’re so thrilled to partner with Maryland Live! for the Junkies PPC Poker Stop,” said JP from The Sports Junkies. “It’s the perfect marriage for our fan base and it's so great to be able to host a poker tournament right in our backyard. Can't wait!”
The $4,000 PPC Aruba prize package will include one $2,200 buy-in at the 2014 PPC Aruba World Championship; one $100 PPC Aruba buy-in for a tournament that offers a $5,000 guaranteed first-place prize; a five-night stay at the all-inclusive Rui Palace Aruba; and $500 in travel expenses.
“The PPC Poker Tour and 106.7 The Fan have each proven to be terrific partners for Maryland Live!, so to have the opportunity to team up with both of them for a poker tournament was a no-brainer given the Sports Junkies’ passion for the game,” said Mike Smith, Director of Poker Operations, Maryland Live! Casino. “The Sports Junkies PPC Poker Stop will be a great addition to the tournament line-up at The Poker Room.”
2014 PPC Fort Pierce Poker Open
From September 2-7, 2014, the PPC will head to Fort Pierce Jai-Alai and Poker in Florida for the 2014 Fort Pierce Poker Open. The three-event series will feature a $250 buy-in, $50,000 guarantee Main Event, which will run September 4-7. Players will be able to buy in to any of the five Day 1 flights.
"This will be our third series at Fort Pierce Jai-Alai and Poker and every series continues to grow." said Swartzbaugh. "The Spring Classic in March was a huge success with over $76,000 in the Main Event prize pool and four players winning PPC Aruba packages. The staff is a pleasure to work with and the players are great. We can't wait to come back in September."
2014 PPC Tampa Downs Fall Classic
From September 17-21, 2014, the Silks Poker Room at Tampa Bay Downs will play host to the 2014 PPC Tampa Downs Fall Classic, a four-event series that will feature a $175 buy-in $50,000 guaranteed Main Event. The stop also gives players a last chance opportunity to qualify for the PPC Aruba Championship in October.
"Silks Poker Room at Tampa Bay Downs and the PPC Poker Tour were meant to grow together," Swartzbaugh said. "Every series we do at Silks is seamless and we'll send over 30 winning players to Aruba in October. We recently had a record field and continue to exceed all guarantees by wide margins. Silks is the best and we are lucky to work with one of the finest rooms around."
To help players plan their next PPC poker trip, 20 percent of the Tampa Downs Fall Classic prize pool will go toward entries into the 2014 PPC Aruba World Championship.
“After hosting a record breaking PPC NAC event in July, we are excited to give our players one more chance to win packages to join the PPC in Aruba for the World Championship,” said Patrick Murphy, Director of Poker, Tampa Bay Downs Silks Poker Room. “The players and the staff always look forward to the PPC making a stop at The Silks.”
Don’t forget to hashtag "#PPCAruba" at PPC tour stops and use "#ArubaHunting" on Twitter if you’re trying to win your way in. For more information, visit PPCPokerTour.com.
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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
