Some of the biggest events in Ante Up Poker Tour history have played out at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, and more memories are set to be made Nov. 25-30 at the third annual Ante Up NorCal Classic.
“The Friday after Thanksgiving is a time where we have held a very popular bigger buy-in event since the room opened in 2010,” said Ben Erwin, director of poker operations at the casino in Lincoln, Calif., just north of Sacramento. “Then in 2012, the tournament became a tour event with Ante Up. In the inaugural year of the Ante Up NorCal Classic, we saw over 340 entries during our first $1,000 buy-in. As the number of series events and other tours have been added to the schedule, the Ante Up NorCal Classic has now become what it was at the beginning – a very popular, bigger buy-in event that our players have come to enjoy during this time of the year.”
This year’s NorCal Classic features seven events and will be capped off by a $500 buy-in two-flight Main Event with a guaranteed $250,000 prize pool, the winner of which gets a seat in the 2015 Ante Up World Championship Main Event, also at Thunder Valley. The rest of the series shows the creativity and variety that Erwin has become known for while at Thunder Valley, with buy-ins ranging from a $140 “bankroll builder” to a $250 no-limit event with a $50,000 guarantee. Limit Omaha/8 and knockout events, always popular with Thunder Valley players, are also on the schedule, which has nearly $350,000 in overall prize pool guarantees.
Also back is a $250 Western Senior Poker Tour event.
“We have seen a great response from the players in the area,” Erwin said. “This was the first senior event held at Thunder Valley and they have really gained quite a following.”
Several multi-table satellites are planned for the NorCal, with single-table satellites going on demand. When not playing in events, players have a wide variety of cash game options in the poker room, which expands to 33 tables during tournament series. The property features a AAA Four Diamond hotel with spa, as well as numerous dining options, including the High Steaks Steakhouse.
For more information on the event, visit anteupmagazine.com/thundervall ey .
