The Heartland Poker Tour will be in Chicagoland on Aug. 7-18 at a new venue, Ameristar East Chicago. Since its inaugural event in August 2006, the HPT has a long history of success in this area with nearly $8 million in winnings. Last year’s prize pools exceeded $800K for the $1,650 buy-in televised events.
“Chicago players have asked for this move for years,” HPT tournament director Jeremy Smith said. “We anticipate another huge event in this market. Ameristar will be ready to meet the demand.”
Along with the nationally televised main event, six tournaments are scheduled. Event 1 (NLHE $300) will have six Day 1s. Bounty, pot-limit Omaha and Survivor along with $150 buy-in tournaments make up the remainder of the schedule.
This will be Chicagoland’s first major tournament on land as it will be in Ameristar’s Discovery Ballroom with 30 tournament tables. Cash games will be played on the boat while the HPT is in town.
Ameristar can accommodate traveling players with a 288-room hotel, along with dining options that have received rave reviews such as Bugatti’s Steak & Pasta, Amerisports and Heritage Buffet.
WCPC: The Windy City Poker Championship’s weekly charity events have experienced an upswing in attendance, as it moves closer to its first 2014 televised event May 24-25 at 191 South in Mokena, Ill.
Rick Rahim, Faraz Jaka and 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Jerry Yang will be in town.
First televised event is a $1K sit-n-go on May 25 at noon. Local radio personality Richard Roeper again will play in the TV event supporting Shady Oaks Camp in Homer Glen. The winner of the $1K event will advance to the $3K televised SNG.
New this year will be a televised cash game. The $2-$5-$10 blinds game will have a $2K max, $500 minimum buy-in. For details on how you can win a seat on TV contact executive producer Kirk Fallah at kirk@windycitypokerchampionshi p.com.
HORSESHOE: Dave Kaminsky won the Horseshoe’s $100K guarantee end-of-month tournament, winning $35K. The $500 event had 347 entrees for a prize pool of $151K.
— Email “Chicago” Joe at chicago.joe@comcast.net.
