By Scott Long
If you’ve ever felt priced out of a major tournament series, you won’t at the Red Rock/Ante Up Magazine Poker Challenge Jan. 21-27.
The Ante Up Poker Tour series at Red Rock Casino Resort Spa in Las Vegas features two events with buy-ins of $40, five tournaments with $100 buy-ins and five mega satellites for $260. It all leads up to a $1,100 main event that features four starting flights over two days, with the winner appearing on the cover of the March edition of Ante Up.
“We put the $40 events in there so there’s something in the afternoon and no one can say there wasn’t an event they couldn’t play,” said Derek Glover, tournament director at Red Rock. “We don’t want to have a week-long event where somebody says I couldn’t afford anything.”
But make no mistake, there’s plenty of higher-limit action for players on the 14-event schedule, including two no-limit hold’em events with buy-ins of $330 or more, an Omaha event, two bounty tournaments and a 32-player-max heads-up event with a $230 buy-in.
“The heads-up event is getting a lot of buzz,” Glover said. “I think that’s going to be one of our signature events going forward.”
The highlight, of course, will be the main event, which kicks off at noon on Jan. 25, with another flight at 7 that night and two more flights at the same times on Jan. 26. All advancing players will return at 2 p.m. on Jan. 27 to find out who wins the title and makes the cover of Ante Up.
“Players will start with 15,000 chips, 40-minute levels and get lots of play on Day 1,” Glover said. “We let them play in multiple Day 1s, so players who carry chips to Day 2 can still play another Day 1 and try to get a bigger stack for Day 2.”
Players who like satellites will find plenty of options, starting with single-table satellites that pay out a $260 voucher that can be used to buy in to any event, including mega-satellites. Vouchers also can be combined with cash. Five $260 mega-satellites will play out Jan. 22-24, with the top 20 percent in each advancing to the main event.
When players aren’t in a tournament, they’ll find plenty of cash-game action to keep them busy in Red Rock’s poker room.
“We have real good cash-game action here at Red Rock,” Glover said. “We have 20 tables in the room and normally spread $2-$4, $4-$8 and $6-$12 on the limit games; there’s $1-$2 and $2-$5 on the no-limit and occasionally we get some $5-$10 no-limit games as well. So there’s something for everyone in the cash games.”
And all of this plays out in a AAA Four-Diamond resort that pampers its guests, starting with its luxurious suites that overlook Red Rock Canyon or the Las Vegas Strip. Suites include plush beds, high-definition televisions, Bose radios and deep-soaking tubs. Ante Up players who book through the link on AnteUpPokerTour.com can enjoy an $89 room rate.
“No one is going to be disappointed with paying $89 for a room at Red Rock,” Glover said. “The rooms are absolutely beautiful.”
Dining options are nearly endless, including Haci, a contemporary Japanese restaurant, and the T-bones steakhouse, plus several casual options, including a food court and buffet. The resort offers plenty of diversions, including a spa, resort pool, theater, bowling lanes and children’s activities. And, of course, an expansive casino with a bingo hall and sportsbook will come in handy since the Red Rock/Ante Up Magazine Poker Challenge is just before the Super Bowl.
This is the fourth year in a row Red Rock has held a January tournament series, and Glover said he’s looking forward to showcasing the property to new and returning players.
“It’s a great opportunity to work with the No. 1 poker publication that there is, so it’s good for us, it’s good for (Ante Up) and it’ll be good for our guests,” he said, adding the main-event winner appearing on the cover of Ante Up is creating quite a buzz. “All the poker players don’t want to have their picture taken unless it’s for the cover of a magazine.”
AUPT AT RED ROCK SCHEDULE
Jan. 21, noon: Event 1, $220
Jan. 21, 3 p.m.: Event 2, $40 (w/$10 rebuys)
Jan. 21, 6 p.m.: Event 3, $100 (w/$25 bounties)
Jan. 22, noon: Event 4, $220
Jan. 22, 3 p.m.: Event 5, $40 (w/$10 rebuys)
Jan. 22, 6 p.m.: Event 6, $100
Jan. 23, 3 p.m.: Event 7, Omaha $100
Jan. 23, 3 p.m.: Event 8, Heads-Up, $230 (32-player max)
Jan. 23, 6 p.m.: Event 9, $100
Jan. 24, 3 p.m.: Event 10, $220
Jan. 24, 6 p.m.: Event 11, $100 (w/$25 bounties)
Jan. 25, noon: $1,100 Main Event Day 1A
Jan. 25, 3 p.m.: Event 12, $330
Jan 25, 7 p.m.: $1,100 Main Event Day 1B
Jan. 26, noon: $1,100 Main Event Day 1C
Jan. 26, 3 p.m.: Event 13, $400 (w/$100 bounties)
Jan. 26, 7 p.m.: $1,100 Main Event Day 1D
Jan. 27, 2 p.m.: Main Event Day 2
* All events are no-limit hold’em except where indicated. Five mega-satellites ($260) that advance 20 percent of the field to the main event will be Jan. 22-24, with single-table satellites available 24 hours a day. For more information, visit anteuppokertour.com or anteupmagazine.com/redrock.
