By Todd Lamansky
Every summer thousands of poker players flock to the Rio in hopes of winning a coveted bracelet, but the World Series of Poker isn’t the only event going on in Las Vegas at that time. Just a few miles away, near downtown’s Fremont Street Experience, the Grand Poker Series at the Golden Nugget and the fifth annual Binion’s Poker Classic at Binion’s Gambling Hall attracted plenty of players.
Both series boasted considerably smaller buy-ins, lower rakes and structures that rivaled the WSOP. For instance, runners in Binion’s $1K main event received 60-minute blinds and 30K chips, the same amount as the WSOP main event, at 10 percent the cost.
All of the Nugget’s tournaments (with buy-ins as cheap as $125) featured 12K chips and 40-minute blinds, while participants in the $1,080 main event started with 20K and 60 minutes.
Titan Poker pro Marvin Rettenmaier (Germany) took home top honors and $53,713 in the Grand’s main event while former World Poker Tour Player of the Year Faraz Jaka scored $8,206 for seventh.
And popular pro Chip Jett, who has more than $2 million in lifetime tournament earnings, managed to nab two titles: Event 2 ($235 PLO) and Event 40 ($225 PLO/8), along with a fourth in Event 42 ($230 Omaha/8).
Todd Breyfogle won Binion’s main, which was good for $55,635, his largest score. Breyfogle also finished 39th in this year’s WSOP Event 8 ($1K NLHE).
But the most notable item of all was the cancellation of the Golden Nugget’s grand finale scheduled for July 4, a Howard and Suzie Lederer charity event that was supposed to include a BBQ, pool party and fireworks in addition to a charity tournament, for which first prize was a seat on NBC’s Poker After Dark.
* Many events from both series were chopped, so the first name given is listed. Also, missing events weren’t supplied, held or were just satellites.
Binion’s Poker Classic • May 30-July 11
EVENT 1 • $100 Casino Employees • 115 Entries • $10,040 Prize Pool • WINNER: Steve Lee, Las Vegas, $1,366 EVENT 2 • $150 NLHE • 141 Entries • $18,464 Prize Pool • WINNER: Rodrigo Reyes, Chile, $3,618
EVENT 3 • $150 NLHE • 144 Entries • $18,857 Prize Pool • WINNER: Tom Withers, Lake Villa, FL, $2,405
EVENT 4 • $200 PLO/8 • 120 Entries • $20,952 Prize Pool • WINNER: Dan Scott, Kitchener, Ont., $3,940
EVENT 5 • $200 NLHE • 121 Entries • $21,127 Prize Pool • WINNER: Ron Phipps, Santa Clarita, CA, $5,005
EVENT 6 • $150 NLHE • 103 Entries • $13,488 Prize Pool • WINNER: Keith Murdock, Winter Haven, FL, $3,200
EVENT 7 • $150 NLHE • 125 Entries • $16,369 Prize Pool • WINNER: Jame Samsone, Las Vegas, $4,650
EVENT 8 • $150 NLHE • 110 Entries • $14,405 Prize Pool • WINNER: Scott Stewart, Lakewood, CA, $4,000
EVENT 9 • $200 H.O.R.S.E. • 71 Entries • $12,397 Prize Pool • WINNER: Adam Clayman, Ogalla, NE, $3,520
EVENT 10 • $150 NLHE • 102 Entries • $13,357 Prize Pool • WINNER: Kyle Roland, Las Vegas, $2,740
EVENT 11 • $200 Omaha/8 • 80 Entries • $13,968 Prize Pool • WINNER: John Van Laan, Bay City, MI, $3,220
EVENT 12 • $200 NLHE • 151 Entries • $26,365 Prize Pool • WINNER: Clint Holmes, Rothschild, WI, $5,000
EVENT 13 • $150 NLHE • 113 Entries • $14,797 Prize Pool • WINNER: Bill Shepherd, Casa Grande, AZ, $2,844
EVENT 14 • $150 NLHE • 143 Entries • $18,726 Prize Pool • WINNER: Nicole Mummy, Las Vegas, $5,035
EVENT 15 • $150 NLHE • 139 Entries • $18,202 Prize Pool • WINNER: Josh McQuoid, Philadelphia, $4,705
EVENT 16 • $200 6-Max • 162 Entries • $28,285 Prize Pool • WINNER: Kevin O’Leary, Surrey, UK, $7,620
EVENT 17 • $150 NLHE • 112 Entries • $14,666 Prize Pool • WINNER: Randy Propson, Milwaukee, $4,255
EVENT 18 • $200 Stud/8 • 74 Entries • $12,920 Prize Pool • WINNER: Meg MacRae, Denver, $1,730
EVENT 19 • $200 NLHE • 122 Entries • $21,301 Prize Pool • WINNER: Julio Rodriguez, Miami, $4,650
EVENT 20 • $150 NLHE • 156 Entries • $20,428 Prize Pool • WINNER: Christi Koide, S. Bernardino, CA, $3,695
EVENT 21 • $150 NLHE • 121 Entries • $15,845 Prize Pool • WINNER: Rich Chase, Chicago, $3,012
EVENT 22 • $150 NLHE • 139 Entries • $18,202 Prize Pool • WINNER: Steffen Schmid, Germany, $3,800
EVENT 23 • $200 PLO/8 • 111 Entries • $19,381 Prize Pool • WINNER: Ryan Miller, W. Middlesex, PA, $3,554
EVENT 24 • $150 NLHE • 95 Entries • $12,440 Prize Pool • WINNER: Yann Pauchon, Switzerland, $3,058
EVENT 25 • $500 H.O.R.S.E. • 62 Entries • $27,665 Prize Pool • WINNER: Robert Gray, Silver Springs, MD, $5,450
EVENT 26 • $200 NLHE • 75 Entries • $13,095 Prize Pool • WINNER: Yann Pauchon, Australia, $3,810
EVENT 27 • $150 NLHE • 107 Entries • $14,012 Prize Pool • WINNER: Chad Holloway, Reedsburg, WI, $2,758
EVENT 28 • $150 NLHE • 79 Entries • $10,345 Prize Pool • WINNER: Randy Enos, Aahu, HI, $2,608
EVENT 29 • $150 NLHE • 103 Entries • $13,488 Prize Pool • WINNER: Sander Springer, Holland, $2,743
EVENT 30 • $200 Ladies • 72 Entries • $12,571 Prize Pool • WINNER: Eleanor Gredger, London, $3,875
EVENT 31 • $200 NLHE • 149 Entries • $26,015 Prize Pool • WINNER: Josh Palmer, Daphne, AL, $5,200
EVENT 32 • $1K NLHE • 314 Entries • $289,351 Prize Pool • WINNER: Todd Breyfogle, Hopkins, MN, $55,635
EVENT 33 • $200 NLHE • 67 Entries • $11,698 Prize Pool • WINNER: Brandon Setzer, Charlotte, NC, $3,775
EVENT 34 • $150 NLHE • 105 Entries • $13,750 Prize Pool • WINNER: Brad Russell, Milwaukee, $3,940
EVENT 37 • $200 NLHE • 100 Entries • $17,460 Prize Pool • WINNER: Tyler Fields, Las Vegas, $4,550
EVENT 39 • $200 NLHE • 78 Entries • $13,619 Prize Pool • WINNER: Jason Riesenberg, Halibur. IA, $4,360
EVENT 40 • $200 NLHE • 68 Entries • $11,873 Prize Pool • WINNER: Jerry Yamachika, Las Vegas, $3,975
EVENT 41 • $100 NLHE • 109 Entries • $8,458 Prize Pool • WINNER: JoeYoung, Las Vegas, $1,179
EVENT 42 • $100 NLHE • 111 Entries • $8,614 Prize Pool • WINNER: Kent Odgaard, Denmark, $1,495
EVENT 43 • $150 Dealer’s choice • 46 Entries • $6,024 Prize Pool • WINNER: Kendall Fukumoto, Honolulu, $3,975
Golden Nugget Grand • June 4-July 3
EVENT 1 • $125 NLHE • 343 Entries • Prize Pool: $32,398 • WINNER: Michael Walker, $3,461
EVENT 2 • $230 PLO • 61 Entries • Prize Pool: $11,834 • WINNER: Chip Jett, $3,076
EVENT 3 • $125 NLHE • 163 Entries • Prize Pool: $15,511 • WINNER: Mike Dempsey, $3,679
EVENT 4 • $230 Omaha/8 • 135 Entries • Prize Pool: $26,190 • WINNER: Jon Morrell, $6,286
EVENT 5 • $225 NLHE • 73 Entries • Prize Pool: $13,862 • WINNER: Casey Martin, $3,318
EVENT 6 • $230 Stud/8 • 129 Entries • Prize Pool: $25,026 • WINNER: Randy Propson, $6,400
EVENT 7 • $225 NLHE • 73 Entries • Prize Pool: $14,162 • WINNER: John Matyiko, $3,682
EVENT 8 • $230 H.O.R.S.E. • 144 Entries • Prize Pool: $27,936 • WINNER: John MacLeod, $4,904
EVENT 9 • $230 Stud/8-Omaha/8 • 112 Entries • Prize Pool: $21,728 • WINNER: Michael Longo, $6,515
EVENT 10 • $125 NLHE • 187 Entries • Prize Pool: $18,139 • WINNER: Gerardo Acosta, $4,764
EVENT 11 • $230 PLO/8 • 116 Entries • Prize Pool: $22,504 • WINNER: Joe Silverman, $6,750
EVENT 12 • $225 NLHE • 86 Entries • Prize Pool: $16,684 • WINNER: Chance Wagstaff, $4,410
EVENT 13 • $230 NLHE Young Guns • 18 Entries • Prize Pool: $3,492 • WINNER: Derek Gomez, $1,746
EVENT 14 • $230 Omaha/8 • 97 Entries • Prize Pool: $18,818 • WINNER: Jena Betrue, $6,001
EVENT 15 • $125 NLHE • 239 Entries • Prize Pool: $23,183 • WINNER: Dan Stafford, $2,500
EVENT 16 • $230 PLO • 88 Entries • Prize Pool: $17,073 • WINNER: Robert Cochran, $4,451
EVENT 17 • $125 NLHE • 171 Entries • Prize Pool: $16,587• WINNER: James Markley, $2,932
EVENT 18 • $230 Stud • 64 Entries • Prize Pool: $12,416 • WINNER: Scott Gullett, $3,228
EVENT 19 • $225 NLHE • 105 Entries • Prize Pool: $20,370 • WINNER: Mansour Alipourford, $4,800
EVENT 20 • $230 Stud/8 • 122 Entries • Prize Pool: $23,668 • WINNER: Ron Fast, $4,735
EVENT 21 • $225 NLHE • 84 Entries • Prize Pool: $16,296 • WINNER: Mark Wilson, $5,214
EVENT 22 • $230 H.O.R.S.E. • 121 Entries • Prize Pool: $23,474 • WINNER: Vaughan Machado, $2,448
EVENT 23 • $125 NLHE • 229 Entries • Prize Pool: $22,213 • WINNER: Shaun Laveruy, $4,312
EVENT 24 • $230 8-Game • 110 Entries • Prize Pool: $21,340 • WINNER: Steve Earlywine, $3,902
EVENT 25 • $225 NLHE • 105 Entries • Prize Pool: $20,370 • WINNER: Hans Anderson, $1,923
EVENT 26 • $230 PLO/8 • 94 Entries • Prize Pool: $18,236 • WINNER: Joseph Silverman, $5,836
EVENT 27 • $125 NLHE • 242 Entries • Prize Pool: $23,474 • WINNER: Deker Turoff, $2,527
EVENT 28 • $230 Omaha/8 • 85 Entries • Prize Pool: $16,490 • WINNER: Theador Timmerman, $4,300
EVENT 29 • $125 NLHE • 327 Entries • Prize Pool: $31,719 • WINNER: Gary Greer, $2,688
EVENT 30 • $230 PLO • 72 Entries • Prize Pool: $13,968 • WINNER: Joel Hurst, $2,600
EVENT 31 • $125 NLHE • 180 Entries • Prize Pool: $17,460 • WINNER: Peter Primiano, $4,321
EVENT 32 • $230 Seniors • 332 Entries • Prize Pool: $64,408 • WINNER: Mark Hirakawa, $10,003
EVENT 33 • $225 NLHE • 132 Entries • Prize Pool: $25,608 • WINNER: Franciscus Johanne, $7,684
EVENT 34 • $230 Stud/8 • 103 Entries • Prize Pool: $19,982 • WINNER: Lawrence Kaplan, $3,156
EVENT 35 • $225 NLHE • 94 Entries • Prize Pool: $18,236 • WINNER: Tim Baijanov, $4,691
EVENT 36 • $230 H.O.R.S.E. • 99 Entries • Prize Pool: $19,206 • WINNER: Donald Webb, $2,664
EVENT 37 • $125 NLHE • 171 Entries • Prize Pool: $16,587 • WINNER: Didier Rabb, $4,479
EVENT 39 • $225 NLHE • 123 Entries • Prize Pool: $23,862 • WINNER: Seth Bailey, $3,569
EVENT 40 • $225 PLO/8 • 96 Entries • Prize Pool: $18,624 • WINNER: Chip Jett, $4,162
EVENT 41 • $125 NLHE • 199 Entries • Prize Pool: $19,303 • WINNER: David Pollack, $3,341
EVENT 42 • $230 Omaha/8 • 83 Entries • Prize Pool: $16,102 • WINNER: Timothy Acker, $4,853
EVENT 43 • $125 NLHE • 159 Entries • Prize Pool: $15,423 • WINNER: Matt Schultz, $3,378
EVENT 44 • $230 PLO • 31 Entries • Prize Pool: $6,014 • WINNER: Joe Silverman, $2,105
EVENT 45 • $125 NLHE • 145 Entries • Prize Pool: $14,065 • WINNER: David Gonzales, $1,829
EVENT 46 • $125 Tag Team • 120 Entries • Prize Pool: $11,640 • WINNER: Kendall Paloci-Hank Paloci, $2,400
EVENT 47 • $550 Stud/8 • 29 Entries • Prize Pool: $14,065 • WINNER: Alex Papachatzakis, $3,927
EVENT 48 • $125 NLHE • 137 Entries • Prize Pool: $13,289 • WINNER: Bruce Bowlby, $1,455
EVENT 50 • $550 H.O.R.S.E. • 48 Entries • Prize Pool: $23,280 • WINNER: Bill Slaght, $8,147
EVENT 51 • $125 NLHE • 51 Entries • Prize Pool: $12,804 • WINNER: Matthew Fridley, $3,127
EVENT 54 • $125 NLHE • 115 Entries • Prize Pool: $11,155 • WINNER: John Hayward, $1,502
EVENT 56 • $550 Omaha/8 • 22 Entries • Prize Pool: $10,670 • WINNER: David Webb, $4,268
EVENT 57 • $230 NLHE • 84 Entries • Prize Pool: $16,296 • WINNER: Marco Melder, $3,988
EVENT 60 • $550 PLO/8 • 95 Entries • Prize Pool: $46,075 • WINNER: Juan De Diego, $7,972
EVENT 61 • $125 NLHE • 176 Entries • Prize Pool: $17,702 • WINNER: Kent Framptin, $4,611
MAIN EVENT • $1.080 NLHE • 235 Entries • Prize Pool: $227,950 • WINNER: Marvin Rettenmaier, $54,713
EVENT 64 • $125 NLHE • 126 Entries • Prize Pool: $12,222 • WINNER: Jeremy Bruyas, $3,272
EVENT 65 • $235 Poker Queen • 303 Entries • Prize Pool: $58,782 • WINNER: Angela Gelinas, $11,347
EVENT 66 • $125 NLHE • 149 Entries • Prize Pool: $14,453 • WINNER: Duc Dang, $3,711
