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WORLD SERIES OF POKER MAKING ENCORE STOP AT PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB

12-EVENT SERIES TO OPEN UP WITH A HISTORIC FIRST -- “MILLION DOLLAR GUARANTEE” ANNOUNCED FOR DEBUT TOURNAMENT STARTING FEBRUARY 16TH

January 9, 2012 (Las Vegas, NV) – It’s never happened before. Never. Anywhere. Not even at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

For the first time in history, a major poker tournament will offer a “One Million Dollar Guarantee” on an event which costs $500 to enter.  Normally in poker, million-dollar guarantees are associated with only the most expensive tournaments, usually costing $5,000 or more to enter.  But the Palm Beach Kennel Club is going one step further, upping the ante on what is expected to be a spectacular attraction for all poker players – amateurs and professionals alike.

This season’s opening event in West Palm Beach, a No-Limit Hold’em tournament played from February 16-20, will include a prize pool which is guaranteed to be at least one-million dollars.  Even though the buy-in is $500, some players may enter for much less.  Satellites (mini-tournaments which award seats into the tournament) cost as little as $50.  Hence, someone could conceivably turn a $50 investment into a quarter of a million dollars (the expected top prize), or more.   

In order to accommodate the huge expected turnout, the first tournament will include three starting sessions.  Players may begin play on February 16th, 17th, or 18th.  This will allow as many players to participate, as possible.  Players who bust out are eligible to re-enter and play again during the following day(s).  This exciting event is expected to be a complete sell out.  However, poker staff will do everything to welcome as many entries as possible, including allowing alternates.

In order to accommodate the large turnout, players are encouraged to REGISTER IN ADVANCE.  Players may go to WWW.POKERTICKETS.COM to register and guarantee their seat in this historic tournament.

Indeed, the Palm Beach Kennel Club continues to distance itself from the other dogs in Florida’s poker race.  Last year, the Florida poker scene took a quantum leap forward when the World Series of Poker Circuit came to the Sunshine State for the very first time.  The inaugural tournament series, held last February, was so successful that the WSOP made Palm Beach an anchor stop for the current season.
 
This year, the Palm Beach Kennel Club will be hosting 12 WSOP Circuit gold ring poker tournaments over a two-week period.  Tournaments begin on Thursday, February 16th with Event #1 – which includes the million-dollar guarantee.  The following 12 days will be packed with multiple tournaments and around-the-clock cash-game action.  The poker festival concludes on February 28th with the final table of the $1,600 buy-in Main Event Championship.
 
“Florida poker has officially arrived.  Partnering with the World Series of Poker is as special as it gets," said Noah Carbonne, Director of Poker Operations for the Palm Beach Kennel Club.  "We're thrilled to be involved with the Rolls Royce of poker – which is the WSOP.  For all of us here at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, the State of Florida, and most importantly the thousands of poker players here in the southeast as well as those attending from around the country, we are ready to make history – especially with our million-dollar guarantee, which has never been offered before for an event of its size.”
 
Gold ring tournaments are only a fraction of what’s on the poker menu at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.  Second-chance No-Limit Hold’em tournaments will be running from day one.  The deep-stack tournaments will cost $235 to enter and begin nightly at 7 pm.  Satellites for all gold ring tournaments will also be going regularly inside the poker room.  Several mega-satellites for the Main Event Championship will also be offered.

About a year ago, the Palm Beach Kennel Club expanded its poker operations to include 64 tournament tables, which should be able to accommodate the record turnout expected for several events.  The first event is expected to shatter the previous attendance record as the largest single-venue poker tournament ever held in Florida history. 
 
The Palm Beach Kennel Club is the first dog track to ever host a WSOP-related tournament.  Each final table will take place in a premium location near the main grandstand, which will enable everyone close to the poker action to cheer on the greyhounds, as well.  Naturally, betting windows will be close by for those who want to mix in some racing action with poker playing.  Dog races take place most days starting at 1 pm.  There are also dog races nightly on weekends.
 
The Palm Beach Kennel Club is conveniently located just steps away from the West Palm Beach international Airport, which offers direct flights from all over the country.  Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is also closeby.  Several hotels are situated near the dog track and poker facility, to accommodate all budgets.  The cardroom offers regular shuttle service to and from at least three nearby hotels.  Special hotel rate packages for poker players are available.
 
Based on the fabulous response last year, South Florida will once again welcome the WSOP Circuit and its players with open arms.  This is no surprise, since Florida has a proud poker tradition.  The state has produced several notable names and faces familiar to everyone who follows the game.  Among them is Michael “the Grinder” Mizrachi, from Miramar, FL who is expected to attend the West Palm Beach competition.  Mizrachi made the WSOP Main Event final table in 2010, finishing fifth.  He also won the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship, earning his first WSOP gold bracelet.  Mizrachi is likely to be joined by his three brothers, including Robert who won a WSOP gold bracelet of his own back in 2007.  In an unprecedented feat, all four Mizrachi brothers cashed in the 2010 WSOP Main Event, something unlikely ever to be equaled. 
 
Other famous Floridians expected to attend include the only member of the Poker Hall of Fame from Florida – Dewey Tomko, who lives in the Orlando area.  Also, John Racener, from the Tampa-St. Petersburg area is expected to come.  He finished second in the 2010 Main Event Championship, earning more than $5 million for being the runner-up.  Another Florida poker pro who will attend is Tony “TopCat” Cousineau, from Daytona Beach.  He holds the record as the player with most WSOP cashes in history among those yet to win a WSOP gold bracelet.  In addition, several other notable poker stars are coming to Florida -- including 2004 world champion Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, 2007 world champion Jerry Yang, 2007 WSOP Player of the Year Tom Schneider, and many others.  No doubt, South Florida will be the place to play poker in late February.
 
The action begins with a blue ribbon cutting ceremony on February 16th. 
 
It’s not too late to be part of the biggest poker event in Florida history.  West Palm Beach is well-known for its sandy white beaches, luxury hotels, fine restaurants, great shopping, and plenty of sunshine.  And now, there will be great poker action around the clock at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.   The complete schedule and structure sheets for all events can be viewed at WSOP.COM
 
This will be the 11th of 17 WSOP Circuit stops this season.  All players over age 21 are eligible to compete for a seat in the $1 million freeroll event which crowns the WSOP Circuit National Championship point race.  This season's top 100 players who qualify will compete in the first-ever nationally-televised championship, which will take place in Las Vegas, in May 2012.  The winner of that extraordinary event will receive the most coveted prize in all of poker, a WSOP gold bracelet.


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