Bossier City, LA (September 18, 2011) – The first Main Event Championship of the new World Series of Poker Circuit season is underway at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Bossier City, Louisiana.
The three-day No-Limit Hold’em tournament attracted a very impressive turnout for the inaugural. There were 475 players that paid the $1,600 entry fee. Up for grabs is $691,125 in prize money and the coveted gold ring going to the winner.
At the end of the second day of competition, only 27 players remain. The chip leader entering Day Three is David Olson, from Addison, TX. He is the only player in the tournament with in excess of 1 million. His count is 1,235,000. The pack of players is around the 200,000-300,000 range.
Play was suspended early on Day Two due to severe thunderstorms in the area. Since the tournament is being played on a riverboat and takes place on the covered rooftop of the large casino, extra precuations were taken to ensure player safety. The tournament area was cleared before the midnight stop time, leaving the survivors to return the following day.
Play on Day Three resumes at noon on Monday.
Payouts have already begun. To see a list of players who have cashed, please click HERE. Prize money payouts are listed HERE.
Current Chip Counts (final three tables):
Praveen Taragaturi 279,000 Irving TX US 2 Main Rooftop 55 1
David Nicholson 426,000 Perkinston MS US 2 Main Rooftop 55 2
Gerald Nabours 419,000 Hemphill TX US 2 Main Rooftop 55 3
Michael Erskine 205,000 Nashville AR US 2 Main Rooftop 55 4
William Douglas Smith 345,000 PLANO TX US 2 Main Rooftop 55 5
Christopher Gamboa 320,000 KATY TX US 2 Main Rooftop 55 6
Matthew Newcombe 617,000 Ada OK US 2 Main Rooftop 55 7
Kenneth Milam 160,000 LA PLACE LA US 2 Main Rooftop 55 8
David Olson 1,235,000 DALLAS TX US 2 Main Rooftop 55 9
Michael Rich 95,000 Grapevine TX US 2 Main Rooftop 56 1
Justin Jones 140,000 Nashville TN US 2 Main Rooftop 56 2
Jeffrey Frye 693,000 PALESTINE TX US 2 Main Rooftop 56 3
Russell Ivy 318,000 Carrizo Springs TX US 2 Main Rooftop 56 4
Justin Joiner 224,000 White Oak TX US 2 Main Rooftop 56 5
Mohammad Khan 276,000 BOSSIER CITY LA US 2 Main Rooftop 56 6
Robert Dreyfuss 405,000 Carrollton TX US 2 Main Rooftop 56 7
Tommy Vinas 214,000 HOUSTON TX US 2 Main Rooftop 56 8
Ai Duong 250,000 San Antonio TX US 2 Main Rooftop 56 9
Roy Henry 618,000 Many LA US 2 Main Rooftop 60 1
Jeffrey Sexton 144,000 Lumberton TX US 2 Main Rooftop 60 2
Tyler Smith 560,000 HENDERSON NV US 2 Main Rooftop 60 3
Richard Golmon 325,000 Alexandria LA US 2 Main Rooftop 60 4
Robert Gussoni 96,000 Los Angeles CA US 2 Main Rooftop 60 5
Miguel Buenafe 01 Buffalo NY US 2 Main Rooftop 60 6
Thao Nguyen 246,000 BIRMINGHAM AL US 2 Main Rooftop 60 7
Jason Fitzpatrick 446,000 HOUSTON TX US 2 Main Rooftop 60 8
Jason Molnoskey 179,000 Houston TX US 2 Main Rooftop 60 9
....................
The first-ever WSOP Circuit at Horseshoe Bossier City has proven to be a big success. Average turnout has been about 300 players per event -- an impressive number given this is the first year the Circuit has visited Northern Louisiana. In addition to the Main Event which is currently underway (Event #11), the last of 12 gold ring tournaments will also conclude on Monday. The last-chance tournament (
Event #12) is a $345 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event.For the Main Event Championship, the top 54 players will be paid. All players who cash will receive WSOP Circuit National Championship ranking points.The race to win the best all-around title here at the Horseshoe Bossier City series is also coming down to the wire. At present, Felicia Johnico holds the top spot. She has a first- and fourth place showing thus far, making her the player to beat. Johnico is also the national point leader – at least until someone posts multiple high finishes here at Bossier City and beyond. The player who accumulates the most overall points in the twelve gold ring tournaments receives a pre-paid entry into the $1 million 2011-2012 WSOP Circuit National Championship, to be held in Las Vegas, next May. At least two players from this tournament series will qualify for the WSOP Circuit National Championship, which is classified as a WSOP gold bracelet event.For further information, about the WSOP Circuit National Championship race, please click here.