Third Time is a Charm for HPT in Black Hawk
Black Hawk, CO - Denver area poker players unsatisfied with their play at previous Heartland Poker Tour stops in the state have a couple of opportunities to chase the elusive HPT championship and life-changing prize money. Back for the third time this year at Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour in Black Hawk, HPT officials expect another massive prize pool and Cinderella story.
"We can't get enough of Golden Gates," says Heartland Poker Tour President Todd Anderson. "The field is always big, competitive, and interesting. It makes for good TV."
Heartland Poker Tour invites local poker enthusiasts and casual players to compete for a chance to play poker on TV and win "life-changing money." In July, Denver surgeon John Sacha trash-talked his way to a $174,375 payday, with the drama bringing the audience to their feet for most of the taping. In April, 26-year-old Kyle Simpson scored a championship worth $191,340, just as he was looking for a second and third job to make ends meet.
The size of the prize pool is determined by the number of players in the field, with hopefuls entering for as little as $85. The Heartland Poker Tour saw its largest season five prize pool when the tour stopped at Golden Gates Casino earlier this year. The top 43 finishers each got a share of $640,800.
Qualifying rounds start September 18 for those who hope to win their way into the Main Event. With new higher gaming limits, players may also buy directly into the Main Event on October 2nd and 3rd, with play continuing until the field is reduced to six. The remaining six will participate in on-camera interviews and move to the HPT set, assembled on site, to compete for an expected six-figure first-place prize on October 4th. Anyone interested in viewing the taping may get a seat in the audience by arriving on the 4th by 5 PM. The upcoming event in Colorado's popular gaming town will be produced into episodes 120 and 121 and broadcast in March 2010. Heartland Poker Tour is available on TV in over 100 million US households, in addition to widespread distribution throughout Europe and the Caribbean.
Golden Gates Casino & Poker Parlour is partnering with HPT to bring another once-in-a-lifetime experience to poker enthusiasts. Ongoing now, players can win a $2800 vacation package for two to Las Vegas in January, including two seats on a private jet, a four-night stay at the posh Red Rock Casino Resort Spa, and a main event buy-in to the televised "Vegas Vacation Season Six Launch." Other in-demand prizes in the package include passes for a VIP Producer's Party and a buy-in for an exclusive celebrity charity tournament benefitting the nonprofit group, Disabled American Veterans. For $115, players can compete to win a Jet Away package every Saturday through October at 3 PM.
Structures and schedules for the upcoming televised event and the Jet Away tournaments can be found at heartlandpokertour.com.
By: Jennifer Mastrud |
