By Todd Lamansky
“Build your bankroll where it all began.” That was the tag line for the sixth annual Binion’s Poker Classic, which ran alongside the biggest event in poker. And like the World Series of Poker, the brainchild of the late Benny Binion, the BPC reached into three calendar months, kicking off May 25 and concluding July 8. There was no main event per se; however, there were two $1K events, the largest entry in a series that, save for two $500 tournaments, featured buy-ins between $100 and $200. Alan Wasserberger (Chicago) and Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ) won the $1K events, earning $22,543 and $36,485 for their respective victories.
Meanwhile, across the pedestrian thoroughfare that is the Freemont Street Experience, was the Grand Poker Series at the Golden Nugget (June 2-July 4). Charlie Culp (Mebane, N.C.) outlasted 176 runners to claim first prize in the $1,080 Grand Finale. The $46,356 score more than quadrupled his lifetime earnings.
As the Grand Finale was winding down, the Golden Nugget Poker Queen LIPS Poker Championship, a yearly staple at the Grand, was just getting started — two days after the WSOP’s ladies’ event — and featured many of the same faces, including J.J. Liu and Karina Jett, who took home $8K of the $75K prize pool after agreeing to a six-way chop at the final table.
The 2010 champion, Stacey Nutini, who won the LIPS event at Venetian’s Deep Stack Extravaganza in February, cashed in all three ladies’ events: Binion’s, the Nugget and the WSOP, where she received $5,155 for finishing 23rd out of 936.
A little closer to the Rio on the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Wynn was making its run at the tournament game with the Summer Classic (June 4-July 2). The $2.5K main event kicked off on July 4. Michael Hack bested a field of nearly 250 players to take home top honors, good for a $125,103.
The Wynn’s structures were some of the best in town with 15K starting chips at the lowest buy-in ($340) and 30K for the main event. Depending on the event, levels lasted 40-90 minutes and blessed runners with smoother blind jumps at the higher levels.
These series are an affordable alternative to World Series bracelet events. Results for these series can be found below.
Binion’s Poker Classic, Binion’s Gambling Hall, May 25-July 8
$125 NLHE
Entries: 252 • Pool: $24,444
Steve Wilson, $2,684
$230 Omaha/8
Entries: 156 • Pool: $30,264
Kelli Gast, $7,872
$125 NLHE
Entries: 133 • Pool: $12,901
Mike Dempsey, $3,839
$230 H.O.R.S.E.
Entries: 141 • Pool: $27,354
Mark Roland, $3,873
$225 NLHE
Entries: 35 • Pool: $6,790
Pat O’Reilly, $1,473
$230 PLH/PLO
Entries: 200 • Pool: $8,342
Mark Cunningham, $1K
$125 NLHE
Entries: 135 • Pool: $13,095
Carl Lagrassa, $3,143
$230 PLO/8
Entries: 95 • Pool: $18,430
John Guth, $4,028
$225 NLHE
Entries: 28 • Pool: $5,432
Mike Leacock, $907
$230 Stud-O/8
Entries: 125 • Pool: $24,250
Kevin Bradford, $7,277
$125 NLHE
Entries: 181 • Pool: $17,557
Dennis Soukup, $1,902
$230 PLO
Entries: 43 • Pool: $8,342
Tim Vanwetswinkel, $1,500
$125 NLHE
Entries: 122 • Pool: $11,834
Richard Christian, $2,896
$230 Badugi/2-7
Entries: N/A • Pool: N/A
Dustin Birma, $3,554
$125 NLHE
Entries: 123 • Pool: $11,931
Chris McGrath, $2,699
$230 Omaha/8
Entries: 105 • Pool: $20,370
Rex Lloren, $4,890
$125 NLHE
Entries: 172 • Pool: $16,684
David Brown, $2,566
$230 H.O.R.S.E.
Entries: 176 • Pool: $34,144
James Wheatley, $7,342
$225 NLHE
Entries: 74 • Pool: $14,356
Mansour Alipour, $2,200
$230 Stud games
Entries: 119 • Pool: $23,086
Ian Feller, $6,925
$125 NLHE
Entries: 182 • Pool: $17,654
Mark Rosin, $3,800
$230 2-7 Triple Draw
Entries: 45 • Pool: $8,730
John Marlowe, $2,652
$225 NLHE
Entries: 107 • Pool: $20,758
Bill Watchman, $5K
$230 PLO/8
Entries: 114 • Pool: $22,116
Anthony Reategui, $6,635
$225 NLHE
Entries: 83 • Pool: $16,102
Rob Demand, $3,394
$230 8-game
Entries: 77 • Pool: $14,938
Marc Magazu, $4,780
$230 Seniors
Entries: 367 • Pool: $71,198
Mark Hays, $8,106
$125 NLHE
Entries: 213 • Pool: $20,661
John Therrell, $2,874
$230 Stud
Entries: 68 • Pool: $13,192
Deb Burkhead, $1,735
$125 NHE
Entries: 229 • Pool: $22,213
Jeff Fullmer, $5,331
$230 H.O.R.S.E.
Entries: 137 • Pool: $26,578
Casey Bullock, $6,500
$225 NLHE
Entries: 117 • Pool: $22,698
Robert Swickard, $5,344
$230 Stud-Omaha/8
Entries: 121 • Pool: $23,474
Johnny Stafford, $3,173
$125 NLHE
Entries: 150 • Pool: $14,550
Andy Sessa, $2,204
$230 PLO
Entries: 67 • Pool: $12,998
Tony Kendall, $2,980
$125 NLHE
Entries: 198 • Pool: $19,206
Christian Delacombaz, $1,630
$230 H.O.R.S.E.
Entries: 133 • Pool: $25,802
Brian Wessinger, $4,864
$125 NLHE
Entries: 143 • Pool: $13,871
Jayson Yuu, $2,133
$230 Stud/8
Entries: 71 • Pool: $13,774
Dave Howard, $3,431
$125 NLHE
Entries: 117 • Pool: $11,349
Charles Moore, $2,117
$230 Team Event
Entries: 102 • Pool: $19,788
C. & M. Shannon, $5,936
$125 NLHE
Entries: 145 • Pool: $14,065
Richard Janzen, $2,108
$230 PLO/8
Entries: 52 • Pool: $10,088
Jayson Yuu, $3,530
$125 NLHE
Entries: 104 • Pool: $10,088
Frank de Busscher, $1,665
$230 PLH/PLO
Entries: 52 • Pool: $10,088
Daniel Hall, $3,026
$225 NLHE
Entries: 73 • Pool: $14,162
Jeff Fulmer, $3,294
$230 Badugi
Entries: 22 • Pool: $4,268
Joe Chiocoski, $1,484
$1,080 Main Event
Entries: 177 • Pool: $171,690
Charles Culp, $46,356
$125 NHLE
Entries: 146 • Pool: $14,162
Walter Milgroom, $2,230
$230 L.I.P.S.
Entries: 388 • Pool: $75,272
Tamara Cruz, $8,047
$125 NLHE
Entries: 108 • Pool: $10,476
Peter Lawson, $3,142
Grand Series, Golden Nugget, June 2-July 4
Event 1 • $100 Casino
54 Entries • Pool: Pool: $4,714
John Hayward, $804
Event 2 • $150 NLHE
145 Entries • Pool: Pool: $18,988
Susan Kaufman, $4,175
Event 3 • $150 NLHE
100 Entries • Pool: $13,095
Lenny Johansson, $4,060
Event 4 • $200 6-Max
60 Entries • Pool: $10,476
Paul Maslin, $2,260
Event 5 • $200 PLO/8
62 Entries • Pool: $10,825
Tom Dolan, $2,794
Event 6 • $150 NLHE
83 Entries • Pool: $10,869
Matt Pettit, $2,713
Event 7 • $200 Omaha/8
100 Entries • Pool: $17,460
Ron Fast, $3,270
Event 8 • $200 NLHE
61 Entries • Pool: $10,651
Brian Nemeth, $3,200
Event 9 • $150 NLHE
51 Entries • Pool: $6,678
Andrew Grieve, $2,540
Event 10 • $150 NLHE
54 Entries • Pool: $7,071
Tom Ackerman, $2,537
Event 11 • $200 6-Max
70 Entries • Pool: $12,222
Brian Woods, $4,035
Event 12 • $500 4-Max
45 Entries • Pool: $20,079
Carter Gill, $8,030
Event 13 • $150 NLHE
77 Entries • Pool: $10,083
Ralph Babb, $2,470
Event 14 • $200 Stud/8
61 Entries • Pool: $10,650
Han Hoai, $2,580
Event 15 • $200 NLHE
72 Entries • Pool: $12,571
Mitchell Smith, $3,098
Event 16 • $150 NLHE
64 Entries • Pool: $8,381
Aaron Lapointe, $1,736
Event 17 • $150 NLHE
46 Entries • Pool: $6,024
Paul Christ, $2,000
Event 18 • $200 6-Max
64 Entries • Pool: $11,174
Lou Ladner, $3,012
Event 19 • $1K NLHE
95 Entries • Pool: $87,542
Alan Wasserberger, $22,543
Event 20 • $150 NLHE
63 Entries • Pool: $8,250
Ben Thursfield, $1,904
Event 21 • $200 PLO/8
43 Entries • Pool: $7,508
Matthew Gregoire, $1,252
Event 22 • $200 NLHE
68 Entries • Pool: $11,873
Charles Bailey, $3,068
Event 23 • $150 NLHE
112 Entries • Pool: $14,666
David Frey, $3,328
Event 24 • $150 NLHE
65 Entries • Pool: $8,512
Michael Moore, $2,359
Event 25 • $200 6-Max
85 Entries • Pool: $14,841
Mike Koja, $3,199
Event 26 • $200 PLO/8
81 Entries • Pool: $14,143
Douglas Arcadi, $3,349
Event 27 • $150 NLHE
64 Entries • Pool: $8,381
Paul Maslin, $2,850
Event 28 • $200 H.O.R.S.E.
21 Entries • Pool: $9,370
Kami Chisholm, $4,685
Event 29 • $200 NLHE
54 Entries • Pool: $9,428
Joe Reid, $2,359
Event 30 • $150 NLHE
64 Entries • Pool: $8,381
Lowell Biddle, $762
Event 31 • $150 NLHE
51 Entries • Pool: $6,678
Steffen Schmid, $2,380
Event 32 • $200 PLO/8
28 Entries • Pool: $4,889
Carl Carnevale, $1,901
Event 33 • $200 Ladies
100 Entries • Pool: $17,460
Laura Cantero, $3,123
Event 34 • $1K NLHE
281 Entries • Pool: $258,941
Miguel Borrero, $36,485
Event 35 • $150 NLHE
42 Entries • Pool: $5,500
George Karambinis, $1,440
Event 36 • $200 NLHE
19 Entries • Pool: $3,317
Kirk Heflin, $1,590
Event 37 • $200 NLHE
34 Entries • Pool: $5,936
Daniel Himmler, $1,581
Event 38 • $150 NLHE
105 Entries • Pool: $13,750
Matthew Sustrac, $3,233
Event 39 • $150 NLHE
49 Entries • Pool: $6,417
Tom Cleary, $1,657
Event 40 • $200 6-Max
68 Entries • Pool: $11,873
Ramenantsoa Stephens, $2,645
Event 41 • $200 H.O.R.S.E.
56 Entries • Pool: $9,778
Donald Merutka, $2,080
Event 42 • $150 NLHE
45 Entries • Pool: $5,890
Jim Barnes, $2,360
Event 43 • $200 PLO/8
42 Entries • Pool: $7,333
E.J. Romano, $2,310
Event 44 • $200 NLHE
56 Entries • Pool: $9,778
John Robertson, $1,792
Event 45 • $100 NLHE
118 Entries • Pool: $10,300
Tommy Dyer, $1,707
Event 46 • $100 NLHE
Entries: 94 • Pool: $7,990
Shaun Fugate, $1,139
Wynn Summer Classic, June 4-July 6
$2,600 Main Event
Pool: $603,825 • Entries: 249
Michael Hack, $125,103
$340 NLHE
Pool: $43,359 • Entries: 149
Zachery Schneider, $12,032
$340 LHE
Pool: $19,788 • Entries: 68
Matthew Schultz, $5,339
$550 NLHE
Pool: $37,345 • Entries: 77
Joshua Doody, $8,235
$1,070 NLHE
Pool: $97,970 • Entries: 101
Leandro Csome, $28413
$340 NLHE
Pool: $30,264 • Entries: 104
Kevin Zhang, $7,426
$340 NLHE
Pool: $26,772 • Entries: 92
Yuriy Gulin, $6,827
$550 NLHE
Pool: $51,410 • Entries: 106
Andrew Rassi, $9,499
$340 NLHE
Pool: $41,322 • Entries: 142
Ryan Spittles, $11,464
$340 PLO/8
Pool: $52,671 • Entries: N/A
John Flournoy, $10,000
$340 NLHE
Pool: $20,661 • Entries: 71
Felipe Balaban, $3,200
$340 NLHE
Pool: $29,973 • Entries: 103
Charles Salenius, $8,694
$550 NLHE
Pool: $34,435 • Entries: 71
Warren Wiggins, $7,123
$340 NLHE
Pool: $18,624 • Entries: 64
Steve Chadwick, $5,210
$340 NLHE
Pool: $22,698 • Entries: 78
Torrey Korsog, $7,036
$550 NLHE
Pool: $23,765 • Entries: 49
Cody Cluster, $9,031
$340 Omaha/8
Pool: $25,317 • Entries: 87
Mitchell Smith, $6,456
$550 NLHE
Pool: $31,040 • Entries: 64
Jarod Ludemann, $10,554
$1,070 NLHE
Pool: $37,830 • Entries: 39
Arjun Pasricha, $12,300
$340 NLHE
Pool: $28,809 • Entries: 99
Liam Hooks, $7,342
$340 NLHE
Pool: $23,280 • Entries: 80
Mathias Estrade, $5,424
$340 NLHE
Pool: $17,169 • Entries: 59
Juliet Yarina, $5,837
$550 NLHE
Pool: $20,370 • Entries: 42
Denis Vasilyevich, $6,800
$340 NLHE PLO/8
Pool: $22,698 • Entries: 78
Jeffery Hwang, $7,036
$340 NLHE
Pool: $15,423 • Entries: 53
Jason Sagle, $4,400
$1,070 NLHE
Pool: $27,160 • Entries: 28
Sean Lionel, $13,136
$550 NLHE
Pool: $19,400 • Entries: 40
Ross McLeod, $7,372
$340 NLHE
Pool: $9,021 • Entries: 31
Zal Irani, $3,428
$340 NLHE
Pool: $16,587 • Entries: 57
Omer Zararsiz, $5,640
$340 NLHE
Pool: $22,116 • Entries: 76
Michael Zenetzis, $6,856
