Big-Time Poker Action at the Fifth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open

The Horseshoe Casino and Hotel and the Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi, are gearing up to host the fifth annual Jack Binion World Poker Open, Jan. 6-29, 2004. This event always attracts the most famous names in poker, and this year promises to be an even bigger display of poker's best.

Jack Binion has always been proud of the fact that his tournament has been able to bring world-class poker action to the Mid-South area, and that it has created the same legendary excitement that he brought to the big Las Vegas events. The Jack Binion World Poker Open is the South's only major poker tournament, and the best of the best in poker will again participate. The tournament will feature a championship event with a $10,200 buy-in that will guarantee a first-place prize of $1 million. There will be 19 separate events from Jan. 8 to Jan. 25 that will lead up to the four-day championship event, Jan. 26-29. Satellites will start Jan. 6.

As almost anyone in big-time poker can attest, Jack Binion has always been one of the game's staunchest supporters. His World Series of Poker events in the late '80s and early '90s were legendary in the gambling business, but the Jack Binion World Poker Open was actually the brainchild of one of Binion's protégés, Poker Room Manager Ken Lambert Jr. After following Binion from Las Vegas to Tunica, he dreamed of a Southern tournament that would rival the other national events. But for a tournament of that size, the Horseshoe would need a partner.

That's where the Gold Strike Casino Resort entered the picture. Located only 50 feet from the Horseshoe, and with its 10,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 25-foot-high ceilings, the Gold Strike was the perfect choice. With these pieces in place and Jack Binion's name on it, the tournament was all set to explode, and explode it did.

At last year's final event, the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em championship attracted a national television audience on the Travel Channel as part of the World Poker Tour, as well as live global Internet radio coverage. The final table featured some of the biggest names in the world of poker, including David "Devil Fish" Ulliott from England, Phil Ivey from Atlantic City, Tommy Grimes from Houston, Johnny Donaldson from rural Arkansas, Jeremy Tinsley from Beaumont, Texas, and Buddy Williams from Oklahoma.

A huge crowd gathered to watch the final event, and they were treated to a great final-table show. Under the bright lights of the Grand Ballroom, David "Devil Fish" Ulliott annihilated the field and walked away with $589,990 in prize money and the coveted title of "Jack Binion World Poker Open Champion."

The night clearly belonged to the dynamic poker pro from England. From start to finish, the charismatic, crowd-pleasing Devil Fish put on a display of poker dominance that left just about everyone who watched it dumbfounded. He attacked the blinds and antes with an endless barrage of raises and reraises designed to intimidate and confuse his opponents. The tactic proved to be very effective, and the end seemed a foregone conclusion when it came down to just Phil Ivey and Ulliott. Despite young Ivey's immense talent, there was only so much he could do to challenge Devil Fish, who had a huge chip advantage.

On the final hand, Ivey was down nearly 9-1 in chips when he was dealt K-8. Devil Fish was dealt 6-5. Ivey made a small preflop raise and Devil Fish called. The flop came 8-7-3. Ivey had top pair with a solid kicker and moved all in. Devil Fish did not hesitate to call with his open-end straight draw. He had eight outs to catch a 4 or 9 for the straight. Almost as if it were predestined by the poker gods, a 4 rained down to the felt on the turn, giving Devil Fish the straight and the championship.

But there's more to this tournament than just poker. The two beautiful properties hosting the event also shine brightly. Gold Strike's Grand Ballroom provides an opulent stage, with no convenience overlooked. The hotel's Millennium Theater has hosted world-renowned entertainers, such as Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson. When it's time to relax, the indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and health spa enable guests to let everyday realities slip away.

At the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, Jack Binion has spared no expense to bring his players the complete casino experience. The Bluesville Showcase Nightclub seats more than 1,300 people and features a multilevel design that makes the venue feel quite intimate. Some of the biggest names in entertainment have played at Bluesville, including Ringo Starr, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Chicago, and Joe Cocker, to name just a few.

The Horseshoe also offers wonderful health club and spa facilities, where guests can relax after a long day of gaming action. With one of the South's largest poker rooms, and the action-packed gaming on the casino floor, the Horseshoe offers some of the best gambling found anywhere. And both hotels have large, well-appointed guest rooms. The Horseshoe and Gold Strike will combine to offer everyone at the tournament a luxurious atmosphere with fast, friendly service. They're both great places to stay, play, and enjoy the tournament.

The partnership between these two premier casinos has created one of the biggest and best stops on the world poker tournament trail. The fifth annual Jack Binion World Poker Open will surely prove to be one of the premier events on the World Poker Tour. For more information and reservations, or to register for the tournament, call Carole at (800) 303-7463 or (662) 357-5500, Ext. 5760, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. The Horseshoe Casino and Hotel and Gold Strike Casino Resort are located 15 minutes south of Memphis, Tennessee, in Tunica, Mississippi, the third-largest gaming destination in the country.