While the World Series of Poker is getting into full swing, the Central Florida tournament scene is heating up with events galore.
HARD ROCK TAMPA: The area’s largest poker room is in the middle of hosting its World Poker Tour Summer Tampa Bay Open until June 9. The six-max and black-chip bounty tournaments return, along with two senior events.
Also, there are two Omaha events, which last series had none, and on June 4 there’s a NLO/NLHE mix event. Two nights later PLO/8 takes center stage. If you were disappointed in the lack of Omaha last series, then this series is a must for you.
DERBY LANE: The poker room’s tradition of running some of the most friendly tournament structures in the Tampa Bay area continues. June will kick off the sixth month of the Derby Lane Poker Run.
This monthly two-day event has had more than 100 runners each month and the race for the yearly tournament of champions continues. This event is so player-friendly because the structure is solid and the buy-in allows for the recreational and semi-professional players to play and not take too much out of their bankroll.
SARASOTA KENNEL CLUB: As announced on the Ante Up PokerCast, the One-Eyed Jacks Poker Room will host a satellite June 1 to the Ante Up Poker Tour World Championship in July. With four packages guaranteed, the prize is amazing: all-inclusive accommodations for two, which includes $750 resort credit, and one entry into the $1,100 World Championship Main Event (the winner getting their picture on the cover of September’s issue of Ante Up). The $220 satellite will have unlimited re-entries for $100 through the first four levels.
TAMPA BAY DOWNS: The Silks Poker Room is introducing its first weeklong tournament series this July. Check out the room for weekly satellites Mondays and Thursdays to the $540 main event, $225 warm-up event and $330 PLO event. We will preview the series in our next issue, but satellites have begun along with in-room promotions to win your way into the series.
$10 MILLION TEASER: Announced at the end of April after the Hard Rock Hollywood’s WPT main event, the news of Florida’s first $10 million guarantee tournament happening in Hollywood this August became an instant buzz.
All Seminole poker properties are getting into the action, and Tampa is no different. While nothing official has been set, we have heard satellites and promotions to the $5,300 main event will run after the summer WPT Regional. For more on this, be sure to read South Florida Ambassador Dave Lemmon’s column.
— Email Andrew Malowitz at anteupandrew@gmail.com.
