The Atlantis Casino and Resort brought the World Poker Tour to Reno in September for its Western Poker Challenge, which was highlighted by the $2,500 main event. Casey McCarrel survived a talented field of 96 players to capture the title and nearly $72K.
“Considering the $2,500 buy-in, which is a higher-end buy-in for this market, we were pleased to see the nice turnout and we anticipate even larger fields for future events,” Atlantis tournament coordinator Daniel Chiu said.
Some well-known pros were in the field, including Jennifer Harman, Kathy Liebert and Dennis Phillips. Harman made the final table, but took a bad beat on the bubble when her pocket kings were cracked. Steve Brecher took fourth and local player John Miner was second. McCarrel, who bested Miner heads-up, is a high-stakes limit player from Lafayette, Calif., where he plays in the $80-$160 game at Bay 101.
The 10-day tournament was held in a unique setting upstairs where players enjoyed panoramic views of the Reno cityscape. The tournament schedule featured buy-ins mostly ranging from $100-$500 with re-entries available. The structures were good with long rounds and big starting stacks, giving players plenty of opportunity to maneuver through the fields. Tournament director Elden Brown and a professional team of dealers did a great job making sure everything ran smoothly.
Throughout the tournament mega satellites gave the players a chance to win their seat to the main event. Players also mixed it up in the lower buy-in Omaha/8, H.O.R.S.E. and pot-limit Omaha-PLO/8 events. One performance of note: Gary Debernardi made three final tables, finishing second twice.
The series also featured a WPT Boot Camp with pro T.J. Cloutier on hand to help players improve their skills at the table.
This was the second major tournament at Atlantis under the guidance of poker room manager Bee Estes.
“These tournaments have given us a chance to put the poker room at the Atlantis on a national stage,” Estes said. “It has also postured us as a competitive and active player in the Reno poker market.”
— Cory Howard is Ante Up’s Ambassador for Reno. Email him at antupcory@gmail.com.
WPT Western Poker Challenge, Atlantis Resort, Reno, Sept. 16-25
Event 1 • $340 NLHE
Entries: 74 • Prize Pool: $20,952
1. Matt Hughes, $6,495
2. Lance Oliver, $4,400
3. Earnest Hohusen, $2,829
4. Donald Murray, $2,025
5. John Rose, $1,886
6. Richard Dusa, $1,362
7. Scott Hoffer, $1,048
8. Kevin Davis, $837
Event 2 • $120 NLHE
Entries: 120 • Prize Pool: $11,640
1. James Martini, $3,375
2. George Saca, $2,212
3. John Hom, $1,455
4. Josh Britton, $1,048
5. Robi Shahin, $815
6. Philip Green, $582
7. Stanley Yamada, $465
8. Lance Torgerson, $349
9. Frank Addamo, $291
Event 3 • $340 NLHE
Entries: 78 • Prize Pool: $22,698
1. Jay Zetz, $7,498
2. Wilfred Gorter, $5,000
3. Lance Oliver, $3,180
4. Ed Xang, $2,260
5. Steve Kujubu, $1,760
6. Barry Kay, $1,300
7. Armand Alvarado, $960
8. Ryan Bechthold, $740
Event 5 • $120 NLHE
Entries: 89 • Prize Pool: $8,633
1. Joseph Koreski, $2,773
2. Monty Schmidt, $1,820
3. Zoctan Nemet, $,1160
4. Domenik Zetz, $660
5. Campbell Jamieson, $500
6. Todd Yankov, $360
7. Jorrell Pascual, $280
8. Derek Moreci, $220
Event 6 • $230 NLHE
Entries: 85 • Prize Pool: $16,490
1. Matt Weber, $5,290
2. Daniel Orrock, $3,460
3. Trevor Kalberg, $2,220
4. Michael Zuro, $1,640
5. Jeff Cox, $1,280
6. David Crumbley, $940
7. Kevin Davis, $700
8. Shawn Vanasdale, $540
9. Eric Nelson, $420
Event 8 • $120 NLHE
Entries: 62 • Prize Pool: $6,014
1. Roy Armstrong, $2,045
2. Christopher Hansen, $1,383
3. Harry Stanley, $872
4. Barbara Rementeria, $601
5. Robert Coyle, $481
6. Jacob Arguello, $361
7. Robert Jones, $271
Event 9 • $230 NLHE
Entries 73 • Prize Pool: $14,162
1. Eric Nelson, $4,602
2. Gary Debernardi, $3,080
3. Thomas Gage, $1,980
4. Angela Jordison, $1,420
5. Jacque Lavadour, $1,100
6. Elizabeth Elwell, $820
7. John Chorne, $600
8. Deva Crouch, $460
Event 10 • $120 H.O.R.S.E.
Entries: 33 • Prize Pool: $3,200
1. Ron Ware, $1,344
2. Michael Zuro, $928
3. Brett Mccourt, $576
4. Jon Blaine, $352
Event 12 • $230 NLHE
Entries 51 • Prize Pool: $9,894
1. Dustin Fox, $3,660
2. Gary Debernardi, $2,374
3. Ryan Reed, $1,484
4. Edgar Gardner, $980
5. Camille Cannon, $792
6. Eric Stovall, $593
Event 13 • $120 Omaha
Entries: 48 • Prize Pool: $4,656
1. Barbara Kay, $1,815
2. Gregory Bash, $1,164
3. William Bertram, $745
4. Joyce Remsen, $512
5. Bill Willsie, $419
Event 14 • $120 NLHE
Entries: 66 • Prize Pool: $6,402
1. Anthony Simpson, $2,176
2. Lorrie Williams, $1,472
3. David Farahi, $928
4. Michael Engel, $640
5. Robert Moulton, $512
6. Evan Thalgott, $384
7. Hien Cao, $288
Event 15 • $230 NLHE
Entries: 70 • Prize Pool: $13,580
1. Edgar Gardner, $4,620
2. Michael Ward, $3,120
3. Gale Anthony, $1,960
4. Michael Martini, $1,360
5. George Sact, $1,080
6. David Yoob, $820
7. Shawn Vanasdale, $620
Event 17 • $120 NLHE
Entries: 70 • Prize Pool: $6,790
1. Kevin Kleinman, $2,310
2. Craig Gray, $1,560
3. Ed Sellers, $985
4. Lisa Abrams, $680
5. Lance Donnell, $545
6. James Hanke, $405
7. Thomas Lewis, $305
Event 18 • $230 Bounty
Entries: 99 • Prize Pool: $16,808
1. Brady Glauthien, $5,378
2. John Wolfe, $3,529
3. David Devenport, $3,025
4. Lisa Stanford, $1,680
5. Andrea Flores, $1,302
6. Loren Cloninger, $966
7. Joel Hansen, $714
8. Kenneth Croyle, $546
9. Matthew Weber, $420
Event 21 • $550 NLHE
Entries: 134 • Prize Pool: $64,990
1. Paul Cookson, $18,847
2. Andrew Levine, $12,348
3. Loren Cloninger, $8,124
4. Jedidiah Hoffman, $5,849
5. Eric Garbocci, $4,549
6. Phillipe OlBrechts, $3,250
7. Bruce Angeski, $2,600
8. Gary Debernardi, $1,950
9. Aaron Easley, $1,625
Event 22 • $120 PLO
Entries: 22 • Prize Pool: $2,134
1. Kevin Davis, $1,067
2. William Bertram, $640
3. Richard Orchid, $427
$2,500 Main Event
Entries: 96 • Prize Pool: $223,488
1. Casey McCarrel, $71,517
2. John Miner, $46,932
3. Anthony Winters, $30,171
4. Steven Brecher, $22,349
5. Mike Ruter, $17,320
6. Amanda Musumeci, $12,851
7. Aibing Rao, $9,498
8. Becky Rocco, $7,263
9. Marla Schwartz, $5,587
