Atlantic City Weekly

If you ever wanted some proof that amateurs still have a lot of power in casino poker tournaments, all you have to do is look at the early results from the Caesars Atlantic City World Series of Poker circuit event. Amateurs have been holding off some young and upcoming pros throughout the first four events and have scored some major first-place wins. And in a good sign for A.C. casinos, the event seems to be drawing players from throughout the Mid-Atlantic area, with winners even hailing from Virginia and Georgia. Sure it’s tough on local guys with a dream, but the city needs to bring in players from all over to compete in the poker world.
Here’s a recap of the early action.
Event 1: The first champion of the series was Yat “Tony” Cheng, from Atlanta, Ga. The 32-year-old, Chinese-born poker pro usually plays cash games and often plays in A.C. Cheng was short stacked for a time at the final table, but eventually coasted to his first major tournament victory, collecting $55,569 in the $300 + $40 tournament. The opening event attracted 682 players.
Event 2: A $500 + 60 No Limit Hold’em tournament saw Ithaca, N.Y., plumber Michael J. Morusty face down pro Luis Nargento (Queens N.Y.) for the tournament win. The two players dominated the tournament from start to finish and appropriately found themselves in a final showdown. Morusty, 54, won $39,731 and added to an already impressive amateur record, which includes a fourth-place finish in the 2009 Seniors World Championship at last year’s WSOP.
Event 3: A $300 + $40 tournament that attracted a big field of 662 and posted a $53,940 top prize. Virginian Earnest Whistler, 41, survived an about four-hour final showdown between himself and pros Adam “Lippy” Lippert and Vinny Pahuja, who have more than $1.6 million in tournament wins between them. According to the WSOP blog, the brash amateur challenging two pros heightened tension at the final table, but eventually Whistler outlasted both of them and is credited with getting more than a few improbable suck outs.
Event 4: A $500 + $60 No Limit tournament saw another amateur, John Hubiak, 29, of Taylor Pa. pick up a $58,937 top prize after agreeing to a final two-player deal with semi-pro William Daloisi, who pocketed $30,419. Hubiak won the WSOP ring which all winners of the events major tournaments receive.

A couple of major tournaments are underway this week including a $1,500 + $100 deep stack tournament that launched Wednesday. Of course, the circuit event’s main tournament, a $4,900 + $250 No Limit Hold’em tournament begins Friday. There’s still time to catch some satellite action for that tournament Wednesday and Thursday, The winner of the main event gets a $10,000 seat at the WSOP Main Event this July at The Rio in Las Vegas as well a top cash in a prize pool estimated to top $1 million.

For info on the tournament and registration times go to worldseriesofpoker.com or caesarsac.com. You’ll also be able to follow updates from the tournament on our blog at acweekly.com. 

(Look out for the new acweekly.com poker blog — “The Real Deal” coming soon!)

Here’s a look at the rest of the city’s tournament action:

Bally’s
Billy’s Poker Room is located on the sixth floor. Poker Tournament Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday at 1pm & 7pm - $40 + $10
Wednesday Speed Tournaments at 1pm & 7pm - $40 + $10
Friday Speed Tournament at 1pm $40 + $20
Friday at 9pm - $100 + $20 ($15,000 chips)
Saturday at 1pm - $60 + $15
Saturday at 7pm - $60 + $15 ($15,000 chips)
Sunday Speed Tournaments at 1pm & 6pm - $40 + $10 ($10,000 chips, 12 minute level)
Tournaments are subject to cancellation at management’s discretion. For more information, call 340-1143.
Bally’s has Bad Beat progressive jackpots and special comp reward credits for specific hands. Plus, every Thursday, earn double comps for all play from 6pm to midnight. Every Monday through Wednesday, score one of the winning hands below and receive additional comps as your prize:
• Royal Flush = $20,000 Bonus Reward Credits
• Straight Flush = $5,000 Bonus Reward Credits
• Four of a Kind = $2,000 Bonus Reward Credits

Borgata
The Borgata offers 85 tables and features all variations of Texas Hold ‘Em, 7-Card Stud and Omaha. The casino has daily poker tournaments with buy-ins of $100 + $20 weekdays and $300 + $40 Friday and Saturday. Special room rates are available for all tournament players.
The Borgata also has daily single table “Sit and Go” tournaments that have buy-ins ranging from $30 + $10 to $1,000 + $60.
Borgata has Survivor Tournaments that are multi-table cash tournaments. One in every ten players wins ten times the buy-in. Fridays at 5pm: $350 Buy-in + $50 Entry. Sunday at 11am and 4pm: $150 Buy-in + $30 Entry. www.theborgata.com

Caesars
Caesars offers Texas Hold’em $1-2 No Limit, $2-5 No Limit and $5-10 No Limit games. Structured games start at $2-4, $3-6 and $4-8. Higher limit games are also available based on demand.
Caesars offers regular Deep Stack Gladiator Games V, daily tournaments with $100 + $20, $85 +$15) buy-ins Sunday through Thursday; $100 + $20 Friday and $150 + $25 buy-ins on Saturdays (with a $300 + $25 the third Sat. of each month). All players who enter the Gladiator Games tournaments will be awarded points towards the Colosseum Games to be held in February 2010. In addition, points are awarded to all players who finish a poker tournament in the money. The top 100 players by point total are invited to the Colosseum Games. At this tournament, Caesars will give away 10 seats to the WSOP Circuit Event to be held at Caesars in March 2010.
Caesars offers Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, featuring head-to-head play with the dealer and an optional bonus bet that pays odds if your final five-card hand is a three-of-a-kind or better.

Harrah’s Resort
Harrah’s Poker Room is located on the first level. Ante up for round-the-clock hot poker action with 40 tables featuring Seven Card Stud, No Limit and Limit Texas Hold ‘Em Poker. Poker limits vary with both no limit and limit games in various dollar amounts starting at $1 to $2 no limit and $2 to $4 limit Texas Hold ‘Em. Seven Card Stud starts at $1 to $5. There are daily tournaments at 10:15am ($58+$12); Sunday to Friday at 1:15pm ($68+$12); Sunday to Thursday at 8:15pm ($68+$12); and daily midnight tournaments ($58+$12). Friday features a 15,000 in Chips tournament at 8:15pm ($105+$20) and Saturday at 1:15pm ($175 + $25) and Saturday Night Satellite at 8:15pm ($56+$14). For complete information, call the Poker Hotline at 441-5741.
Harrah’s has a $60,000 Freeroll Tournament on Monday, April 12. Play 150 hours of rated play at the Harrah’s Resort poker room to qualify now to March 30. The top three winners will receive a $10,000 World Series of Poker Seat and $1,000 cash. For complete information, call the Poker Hotline at 441-5741.

Showboat
The Showboat’s Poker Room is on the first level near the Boardwalk entrance. The location has an expanded area of play including 28 gaming tables, 13 42” plasma televisions, and easy access to the Spirit Bar and casino cashier.
No Limit Hold ‘Em schedule:
Monday through Thursday at 11am, 2pm, 7pm & 10pm; $53 + $12 = $10,000 in chips
Friday at 11am, 2pm & 10pm; $53+$12 = $10,000 chips
Friday at 7pm; $85 + $15 = $10,000 in chips
Saturday at 11am, 2pm, 7pm & 10pm; $85 + $15 = $10,000 in chips
Sunday at 11am, 2pm, 7pm & 10pm; $53 + $12 = $10,000 in chips
No Re-Buys, Add-Ons or Antes. For more info call the Poker Hotline: 343-4686 or visit www.showboatac.com

Tropicana
The Trop Poker Club is a full-service, simulcast facility, featuring 35 poker tables, and comfortable race areas. Daily tournaments are $40 + $12 ($50/$12 Sun. 11:15am) buy-ins on weekdays and $100 + $22 buy-ins on Friday and Saturdays. Poker card holders can earn comp dollars, ranging from 50 cents to $2 an hour. Poker comps are accepted for 50 percent of the face value, at The Quarter and Tropicana’s Market Place. The comp dollars may also be applied towards room charges or used to purchase selected show tickets.
The Tropicana’s Bad Beat Jackpot is a player-funded progressive jackpot that rewards the victim of a bad beat, so even a losing hand is a winner.  The Tropicana also offers a separate Tournament Bad Beat Jackpot, available to all players who participate in a Texas Hold ’Em tournament (must have a buy-in and entry fee.) Call 1-888-POKER-AC to learn more or visit www.tropicana.net.

Trump Taj Mahal
The Taj has regular tournaments Sunday through Thursday ($48 + $12, $40 + $10, $50 + $15), plus higher stakes tournaments on the weekends ($85 + $15, $100 +$20) Friday.; $100 + $20, $200 + $40) Saturday. Trump’s large, smoke-free poker room offers 70 tables, tableside food and drink service, and free poker instruction. For complete details, including times and buy-in information, call the Trump Taj Mahal Tournament Desk at 449-6910 or 449-5880. Register on-line at ptseats.com.

The Taj offers its 50-50 Club. Rated players with 50 or more hours of live poker cash games in any calendar month will enjoy membership in the 50-50 Club. Benefits include free parking for the month; entry in the $5,000 Free-Roll Tournament to be held on the second Friday of each month (begins 11am); receiving $50 Comp Dollars for registering in the Free-Roll Tournament.