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California Casinos Join Forces To Present $3 Million Guarantee Southern California Poker Championships

Bicycle, Gardens, Hustler and Commerce Casino To Host Starting Flights

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Four of the biggest card rooms in the Golden State have joined forces for the Southern California Poker Championships.

The action will kick off at the Gardens Casino in September before moving to the Bicycle Hotel & Casino in early October, the Hustler Casino in late October, and finally the Commerce Hotel & Casino in early November. Everyone who advances to day 4 will combine to create one field and play to a champion on Dec. 14-15 at the Bike. The SCPC final table will rotate from casino to casino every year.

“Los Angeles is the poker capital of the world,” said Bicycle Hotel and Casino Poker Manager Eveliene Dullaart. “I figured, why shouldn’t we have the largest tournament? I asked Mo Fathipour, our Tournament Director, how we could pull this off and with the help of General Partner, Hashem Minaiy, we started approaching several other local casinos.”

“We started meeting with Marc Weinreich, Nancy Grout, and Cavin Quintanilla from The Gardens Casino; Daniela Cicu and Justin Hammer from Commerce Hotel and Casino; and Craig Kaufman from the Hustler Casino,” continued Fathipour. “I presented a structure to the other TD’s, Cavin from the Gardens, Justin from Commerce, and Craig Kaufman, Tournament Director from Hustler and together we put together an event that we know players are going to love! I’m so proud that it will be a Quantum Tournament too. We are all really excited about working together and presenting a really special tournament. It’s going to be a huge success.”

The $350 buy-in SCPC event, which features an incredible 64 day 1 starting flights, is guaranteeing a whopping $3 million for the prize pool. The winner will take home a minimum payout of $500,000 and a brand-new Mercedes, which will be on display at each casino during the preliminary starting flights.

Each starting flight allows for a single re-entry and players can play in as many flights as they’d like, even at other properties. The final ten percent of each starting field will earn at least $600. The final eight percent takes home $700, and the final six percent get $800 along with a ticket to day 2. If a player manages to qualify for day 2 more than once, he or she will also get a payout bonus, depending on the casino.

Furthermore, the casinos have thrown in an extra incentive to play with a $100,000 freeroll scheduled Dec. 13 for the top 50 point earners throughout the tournament’s duration. Players earn points every time they register for a day 1 starting flight, and additional points for advancing to day 2.

Because the SCPC is a Quantum Tournament event, players can also skip day 1 altogether and buy-in directly to day 2 for $4,500. Those players will be given an average stack of 210,000 when the blinds are at 1,500-3,000 with a 500 ante.

The final 33 percent of each day 2 field will make a minimum of $800. That’s in addition to any cash and bonuses they earn for day 1. The final six percent of the day 2 field advances to the championship tournament at The Bicycle Hotel & Casino. The remaining 36 players will utilize the Action Clock by Protection Poker until a winner is determined.