Bellagio Scraps All-Rebuy Poker Schedule for Five Star World Poker ClassicPreliminary Tournament Offering Now Include Non-Rebuy Options |
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The schedule for the 2010 Five-Star World Poker Classic at Bellagio was originally released in December, right at the conclusion of the Five-Diamond World Poker Classic. Due to lower-than-expected player turnout for the preliminaries in December, the decision was made to make all preliminary events no-limit hold’em tournaments with rebuys for the 2010 Five-Star tournament series.
“The four rebuy tournaments in December had gone very well, and the players seemed to like them, so we thought we would try that format,” said Jack McClelland (pictured right), tournament director at Bellagio. He continued, “We always try to listen to the players. In December, the players liked the rebuys [a lot], so we thought, let’s go with it. A few people said, ‘I don’t know if I like that,’ but I wasn’t expecting the turnout to be like this.”
The first tournament at the 2010 Five-Star World Poker Classic took place on Tuesday, March 30, and it attracted 26 players who purchased 37 rebuys. The total prize pool for the event was $61,110, and the champion was Rep Porter who took home the top prize worth $30,555.
In response to the low turnout and player feedback, Bellagio announced today that it was once again adjusting Five-Star tournament series schedule.
“I was expecting somewhere between 100-150 players, but with the small amount of players, we decided to make the change. I don’t normally like changing something in the middle of the stream, but it seemed like it was necessary here,” said McClelland.
The tournament changes include a reduction in the number of rebuy events and a reduction in some of the tournament buy-in amounts. The preliminary schedule now consists of seven $1,000 no-limit hold’em events with rebuys, five $1,000 no-limit hold’em events, four $500 no-limit hold’em events, and two $1,000 pot-limit Omaha events with rebuys. A $5,000 no-limit hold’em event has also been added to the schedule.
“The players still like the rebuy tournaments, but with the bad economy they can’t afford to purchase multiple rebuys as much,” said McClelland. “We decided to modify the schedule and leave the rebuys in for those who like them, and we also went back to more traditional single buy-in $500 and $1,000 tournaments.”
If players are looking for a cheaper option to play at Bellagio this month, they can also enter the $330 no-limit hold’em events that take place daily at 5 p.m. between now and April 14. The $330 events allow a maximum of two rebuys.
The super-satellites tournaments for the World Poker Tour Championship have also been changed from a $1,000 buy-in with rebuys to the standard $2,500 buy-in. Super-satellites will take place on April 15 and 16 at 5 p.m., and twice on April 17 (noon and 5 p.m.) and April 18 (noon and 9 p.m.).
The WPT Championship $25,000 no-limit hold’em event remains unchanged. It will begin on Sunday, April 18 and will crown a champion on April 24. Players can buy in to the championship event for the first eight levels.
Here is a look at the new schedule for the Five-Diamond World Poker Classic:
Tuesday, Mar. 30: Event No. 1 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em with rebuys)
Wednesday, Mar. 31: Event No. 2 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em with rebuys)
Thursday, Apr. 1: Event No. 3 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em with rebuys)
Friday, Apr. 2: Event No. 4 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em with rebuys)
Saturday, Apr. 3: Event No. 5 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em)
Sunday, Apr. 4: Event No. 6 ($500 no-limit hold’em)
Monday, Apr. 5: Event No. 7 ($500 no-limit hold’em)
Tuesday, Apr. 6: Event No. 8 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em)
Wednesday, Apr.7: Event No. 9 ($500 no-limit hold’em)
Thursday, Apr. 8: Event No. 10 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em)
Friday, Apr. 9: Event No. 11 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em with rebuys)
Saturday, Apr. 10: Event No. 12 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em)
Sunday, Apr. 11: Event No. 13 ($1,000 pot-limit Omaha with rebuys)
Monday, Apr. 12: Event No. 14 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em)
Tuesday, Apr. 13: Event No. 15 ($1,000 pot-limit Omaha with rebuys)
Wednesday, Apr. 14: Event No. 16 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em with rebuys)
Thursday, Apr. 15: Event No. 17 ($500 no-limit hold’em)
Friday, Apr. 16: Event No. 18 ($5,000 no-limit hold’em)
Sunday, Apr. 18: Event No. 19 ($25,000 WPT Championship)
Thursday, Apr. 22: Event No. 20 ($1,000 no-limit hold’em with rebuys)