The Windy City Poker Championship’s charity poker event in Tinley Park, Ill., (April 18-21) is generating a lot of buzz in the poker community. The four-day series gives players more than 16 tournaments to play and raise money for two local charities (American Legion Tinley Park Post 615 Women’s Auxiliary and Shady Oaks camp). The series features two premium events that are attracting pro and amateur players from around the country.
The events include a $3K televised sit-n-go on April 21, featuring four amateur qualifiers against celebrities and pros for a potential first-place package worth $20K. Players include world champs Jerry Yang and Chris Moneymaker, Chicago pro Aaron Massey, celebrity Richard Roeper and WPT Boot Camp instructor Nick Brancato. The remaining seats will be awarded to WPT Boot Camp alumni qualifiers, and players who qualify April 18 in various SNGs and satellites. Call 708-935-2861 for details on how you can win a seat on the TV table.
The second featured event is the $2K mega deepstacked two-day main event April 20-21. This event features 40K chips and 50-minute blinds.
Email April2013CharityPokerEvent@yah oo.com to pre-register or get more information.
Other events include the popular Joker’s Wild event, the 2013 Ante Up Chicago Championship and more.
“We want to give players at every buy-in level a fun and valuable tournament made just for them,” WCPC executive director Kirk Fallah said. “From $10 all the way to $3,000, the Windy City Poker Championship is all about giving great opportunities and a high return on investment to those who come out and support the charity event.”
CPC: The Horseshoe’s Chicago Poker Classic opener drew 5,165 entrees, making it the largest tournament on a boat and the largest non-branded series in the United States.
“The Horseshoe’s poker room is the best promoted in the world,” said Dan Heimiller, a pro from Las Vegas who made the final table of the $350 opener that had a $1 million guarantee.
Craig Casino won the historic event and $169,304. He was the Heartland Poker Tour’s all-time leading money winner until recently when Greg Raymer took over the top spot. The 59-year-old known as “Casino” started playing competitively in 2009.
Last year’s Ante Up Player of the Year runner-up Aaron Massey won the $5K Heads-Up event and $73,721.
Blake Bohn captured the main event, pocketing $288,171, the Savage, Minn., pro’s biggest score.
Orlando Romero was CPC’s overall points champion, earning $50K.
— “Chicago” Joe Giertuga is Ante Up’s Chicagoland Ambassador. Email him at chicago.joe@comcast.net.
Chicago Poker Classic, Horseshoe Hammond
Event 1 • $350 NLHE
Entries: 5,165 • Pool: $1.1M
Craig Casino, $169,304
Event 2 • $350 PLO
Entries: 1,017 • Pool: $164,283
Alexander Ahmed, $43,532
Event 3 • $1,100 7-game
Entries: 71 • Pool: $88,870
Jean Gaspard, $30,216
Event 4 • $5K Heads-up
Entries: 49 • Pool: $223,391
Aaron Massey, $73,721
Event 5 • $350 WTA
Entries: 64 • Pool: $33,624
Orlando Romero, $33,624
$3,200 Main Event
Entries: 392 • Pool: $1.2M
Blake Bohn, $288,171
Event 7 • $560 6-Max
Entries: 283 • Pool: $157,255
Ryan Austin, $42,459
Event 8 • $350 NLHE
Entries: 328 • Pool: $98,400
Derek Hanauer, $26,513
Event 9 • $240 NLHE
Entries: 328 • Pool: $65,600
Matthew Riley, $17,671
