If one is good, then two is better, right? Quite a few players took that old adage to heart at Gold Strike’s Winter Poker Classic (Dec. 1-11) in Tunica, Miss. The series sported 24 events (including a handful of satellites for the $1,600 main event) and even featured a no-limit deuce-to-seven lowball single-draw tournament.
Michael Sanders of Russellville, Ark., got things started by capturing the first event, a $125 NLHE tournament that attracted 128 starters. Sanders would earn $4,095, but he wasn’t finished as he earned another WPC title, this time Event 11, a $130 rebuy tournament good for nearly $5K.
Sanders wasn’t the only multiple-event winner, however.
Andy Alina of Hernando, Miss., (Events 4 and 10), Long Ding of Hernando, Miss., (Events 7 and 23) and J.W. Smith of Dalton, Ga., (Seniors and NL 2-7) also captured two titles each.
The main event pulled in 112 players to generate a $162,960 prize pool as Cory Wood of Murfreesboro, Tenn., won the title and $58,666. Wood had to outlast pro and 2009 World Poker Open winner Jeremy “thechemist83” Gaubert of Thibodaux, La., who finished second ($30,962).
Up next at Gold Strike is the Delta Gold Classic, which runs March 23-April 2 and features a two-day, $1,080 main event on March 31.
— Christopher Cosenza, chris@anteupmagazine.com
Winter Poker Classic, Gold Strike Casino & Resort, Tunica, Miss., Dec. 1-11
Event 1 • $125 NLHE
128 Entries • Prize Pool: $12,416
Winner: Michael Sanders, $4,095
Event 2 • $230 PLO/8
58 Entries • Prize Pool: $11,252
Winner: Tracy Stimps, $4,048
Event 3 • $230 NLHE
120 Entries • Prize Pool: $23,280
Winner: Toby Bell, $8,381
Event 4 • $230 Omaha/8
82 Entries • Prize Pool: $15,908
Winner: Andy Alina, $5,727
Event 5 • $340 NLHE
193 Entries • Prize Pool: $56,163
Winner: Mitch Franks, $18,533
Event 6 • $400 6-Max
54 Entries • Prize Pool: $15,617
Winner: Josiah Burdett, $5,309
Event 7 • $230 NLHE
113 Entries • Prize Pool: $21,922
Winner: Long Dinh, $7,891
Event 8 • $230 Omaha/8
59 Entries • Prize Pool: $11,446
Winner: Fred Kinnison, $4,120
Event 9 • $125 w/rebuys
81 Entries • Prize Pool: $15,617
Winner: Gerald Beard, $5,622
Event 10 • $230 Stud/8
34 Entries • Prize Pool: $6,596
Winner: Andy Alina, $2,638
Event 11 • $130 w/rebuys
54 Entries • Prize Pool: $13,386
Winner: Michael Sanders, $4,820
Event 12 • $230 Seniors
91 Entries • Prize Pool: $17,654
Winner: J.W. Smith, $6,356
Event 13 • $125 NLHE
130 Entries • Prize Pool: $12,610
Winner: Glenn Ross, $4,161
Event 14 • $230 2-7 NL Draw
14 Entries • Prize Pool: $2,716
Winner: J.W. Smith, $1,358
Event 15 • $550 NLHE
98 Entries • Prize Pool: $47,530
Winner: John Rollins, $17,111
Event 16 • $125 NLHE
89 Entries • Prize Pool: $8,633
Winner: Dennis Crowden, $3,108
Event 17 • $230 NLHE
138 Entries • Prize Pool: $26,772
Winner: Orlando Belingon, $8,834
$1,600 Main Event
112 Entries • Prize Pool: $162,960
Winner: Cory Wood, $58,666
Event 23 • $230 NLHE
56 Entries • Prize Pool: $10,864
Winner: Long Dinh, $3,911
Event 24 • $125 NLHE
79 Entries • Prize Pool: $7,663
Winner: Raymond McCullough, $2,758
