$325,000 Won at Pechanga Open
Friday, 18 February 2005
Starting Wednesday, February 9, and culminating Sunday the 13th,
thousands of poker players competed for stunning prize pools in the
first “Pechanga Open” tournament. Each night the stakes building
higher, the number of competitors increasing, and th
Starting Wednesday, February 9, and culminating Sunday the 13th,
thousands of poker players competed for stunning prize pools in the
first “Pechanga Open” tournament. Each night the stakes building
higher, the number of competitors increasing, and the buy-in
amounts increasing correspondingly, by tournament’s end the
Pechanga Resort and Casino crowned five very intense players, one
for each night of the tourney.
On Night One the poker room opened for the first hot game of No
Limit Hold ‘Em. Contestants came from as far away as Arizona for a
chance at the $13,000 prize pool. Beating out another 129, mostly
male, players for it, the top prize went to Star McCormick, from
Oceans 11 Casino in Oceanside, California, who took home
$4,415.
Night Two saw 251 try their luck and skill once again and cash
prizes were given to the top 30 finishers. Matt Gilsdorfm of
Escondido, California, came in first, with $8,285.
Night Three saw 236 players vying for prizes in the largest pool
so far -- $48,600. Brandon Palm, just visiting from the small town
of Horsebreath, Wyoming, who plays poker frequently with friends
back home but had never expected to win a tournament, took $15,580
back to the ranch.
On Saturday night, 165 players each put up the $300 buy in for a
chance at the $49,500 pool. Stiff competition found out most of
them, but Nick Padovan, from San Pedro, California, came out ahead
with $16,830.
On the final day, Sunday, 382 paid to compete and only 40 places
were granted for the finals, and each of them was shooting for the
top seed as the prize pool totaled $191,000. Many hot hours later,
Harvey Hunnicutt beat out two other players to collect the top
prize of $59,210. Harvey announced that the Pechanga Poker Room was
now his favorite, and that he would be back next year to defend his
title.