The world’s largest and most prestigious poker tournament series is returning again to the Crescent City. For the sixth consecutive year Harrah’s New Orleans, the south’s premier gaming and resort destination, will be hosting a World Series of Poker Circuit stop which is the 2009 Bayou Poker Challenge. This year’s 13-day tournament series takes place from May 8-20, 2009.

The World Series of Poker is the world’s richest sporting event. Last year, the WSOP competition in Las Vegas alone awarded nearly $170 million in prize money to winners – more than Wimbledon, the Masters, and the Kentucky Derby combined. Five years ago, the WSOP hit the road for the first time in history. Poker tournaments were offered at multiple Harrah’s properties spread throughout the United States. Harrah’s New Orleans was one of the first casinos ever to host a WSOP-related event held outside of Las Vegas. Turnout has been heavy all five years, which has made New Orleans one of the Circuits’ most popular destinations.

This year’s action-packed schedule includes 20 major daily tournaments, plus 10 more nightly tournaments – bringing the combined Bayou Poker Challenge menu to 30 total tournaments. This makes the upcoming Bayou series one of the busiest poker destinations of the season. In addition, the Harrah’s Poker Room will offer multiple satellites and around-the-clock cash-game action.

Harrah’s Casino and Hotel is conveniently located adjacent to the famous French Quarter. Within walking distance of numerous local attractions, the resort is the perfect destination for poker fans wanting to combine the excitement of tournament poker with world-class cuisine and great entertainment. In years past, WSOP Circuit tournaments in New Orleans have attracted thousands of poker players with all levels of experience, from recreational competitors to world champions. Former WSOP champions Doyle Brunson, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Chris Moneymaker, Dan Harrington, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, and Joe Hachem have attended in recent years. Harrah’s New Orleans has also been visited by other poker greats, including Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Berry Greenstein, Phil Gordon, and many other superstars.

This year’s poker tournament schedule includes one of the most extensive offerings of No-Limit Hold’em held anywhere. Most days include two or three No-Limit Hold’em tournaments, which is sure to appeal to those who like to play poker both day and night. Five Pot-Limit Omaha events will also be offered – making this is most extensive Pot-Limit Omaha offering in the country. New Orleans has been a proud home to Pot-Limit enthusiasts for decades and Harrah’s inclusion of this alternative form of poker on the upcoming schedule shows their eagerness to promote a game indigenous to the Gulf Coast region. Pot-Limit Hold’em and Omaha High-Low are also on the schedule. In addition, there will be a ladies-only poker tournament held on Sunday, May 17th. Tournament buy-ins are as low as $200. The Bayou Poker Challenge championship event will be played on the final three days of the series (May 18-20) and will cost $5,150 to enter. Super-satellites for the championship event costing as little as $225 will be held daily.

Players planning on coming to New Orleans for the Main Event should plan to arrive a few days early, as two $1,000 buy-in events (No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha) will be taking place on March 14th and 16th.

“Harrah’s New Orleans is proud to be an annual fixture on the World Series of Poker Circuit,” said Jim Hoskins, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Harrah’s New Orleans. “For those out there reading this, now is the perfect time to come to New Orleans. There are many terrific deals, and our great city combines just about anything you could ask for – whether it’s fun, food, or entertainment. Who knows, someone out there might show up, win our poker championship and become rich and famous. It’s happened before here at Harrah’s New Orleans.”

This year’s tournament director is Steve Frezer, one of poker’s most respected and experienced gaming officials. The Harrah’s New Orleans Director of Table Games is Tosha Skipper, who will be working with her staff to coordinate and guarantee the success of the south’s premier poker event.

Poker players will also be provided with discount hotel accommodations for as low as $85 per night at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. The hotel is located directly across the street from the casino. Players may call 1-800-HILTONS. When booking, players should inform the reservations agent they are with the poker tournament and request -- CODE: WSP. Reservations can also be made through: www.harrahsneworleans.com

For more information about Harrah’s New Orleans, please call 504-533-6000 or visit: www.harrahsneworleans.com. For more information about the World Series of Poker and upcoming WSOP Circuits and results, please visit: www.worldseriesofpoker.com

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by Nolan Dalla

by Josh Harris

Coushatta Casino Resort has completed the $270+30 buy-in tournament for the “Seven Clans Poker Cup Series” February 17-23. Eric Yates of Friendswood, TX took first place in the event and won $16,924. He chopped the event with the second place finisher and jumped with joy when the event ended.

The final table came together at 9 pm and the players were in a hurry to move slow. One player didn’t even show up to play his seat.

Blinds were to $8k-$16k when the first person found himself burnt out. Mitch Bono raised the pot to $40k and Ron Brown moved all-in with $59k. Bono called the all in with pocket Kings and Brown showed his two Jacks. The board had Brown packing up his jacks and moving out in 10th place.

In the next hand, Raymond Racca’s chip stack was all in on the blind. Gilbert Ball called and sent Racca’s empty chair away from the table in 9th place.

Several hands passed and Gilbert Ball decided to move all in with $61k. He got a call from Damian Negrin who showed pocket sevens. Ball flipped over his pocket sixes and flipped out in 8th place when the board provided no hope.

Blinds increased to $10k-$20k with Derrick Le Blanc in the big blind. Steve Jordan called the blind and they headed to the flop of 7 6 A. Jordan moved all in for $30k with J 8 and Le Blanc called with A 10. Steve Jordan headed home when the turn and river came out flat and put him 7th place.

The button moved all the way around the table before Damian Negrin made a move with A 5, raising the pot to $65k. Big blind Steven Brooks called all in with a 10 3. Neither player hit the board so Steven Brooks hit the hay in 6th place.

Play slowed down until Negrin found Kings in the pocket. He raised the pot to $65k and Curtis Cavazos shot back with an all in . Negrin called and then saw his Kings facing Cavazos bullets. The board brought another king so Cavazos’ bullets backfired and shot him off the table in 5th place.

The button made eight rounds before anyone dived into the action again. Blinds were increased to $20k-$40k and Eric Yates raised the pot to $125k. Damian Negrin called and the flop came 9 K Q. Both players checked and the turn was 2. Yates bet $125k and Negrin was all in with pocket fours. Yates showed Q 10. The river was a king and Negrin was snuffed in 4th place.

Two hands later, Negrin moved all in with K 2. Mitch Bono made the call with pocket rockets. Negrin was shot out in space with 3rd place.

After the hand, Eric Yates and Mitch Bono made a deal and chopped heads up. Yates was deemed first and enjoyed having his cake and eating it too.

Congratulations Eric!

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RSF Medias, LLC
J. Harris, Tournament Press

e-mail: rsfpoker@aol.com

by Josh Harris

Coushatta Casino Resort recently concluded the first of four events during the “Seven Clans Poker Cup Series” February 17-23. Jose Flores of Jourdanton, TX won first in the$180+20 buy-in tournament with a 222 person field and collected $11,628 from the $39,140 prize pool.

Tournament play began at 10 am and the final table was ready to play 8 hours later. There was hostility and action in the air as the final nine came together onto common felt.

Four hands into play and Stephen Hart removed Derrick Clinton from competition. Clinton found his fate of 9th place.

Two hands after that, Jose Flores picked up pocket queens and went all in against Tommy Roberts and his two bullets. When a queen hit the flop Tommy was kicked to the sidelines in 8th place.

Action continued to run hot when three hands later another fatality was recorded. Jeremy “J-Hizzle” Holloway ran his pocket sevens up against Derek Coleman’s A K. Derek’s big slick slipped him off the table in 7th place.

The very next hand proved just as deadly. Jim Luna was all in on his big blind and then eclipsed when Jose Flores moved over his 10 9 with K 10. Luna faded into 6th place.

After two hands pass by, Harold Dixon discovered himself in 5th place in one of the fastest hands of the night.

It only took three more hands for Flores to flourish when he found aces in the hole. Robert Grady tried his luck against him with K 7. The board offered Grady no protection and he was shot down in 4th place.

Events caught fire in the next hand when Jeremy “J-Hizzle” Holloway tested the flame of Flores. Both called in to see the flop of 10 3 J. Jose made a move all in with Q 8 and Holloway called him with J 7. The turn brought a blank and the river put the sizzle to J-Hizzle when the dealer turned the 9. J-Hizzle was out like a light in 3rd place.

Play slowed for seven hands and then Stephen Hart got an A 10. Blinds were $3k-$6k and he raised the pot to $30k. Jose looked down to find K 3. He decided to move all in and Hart had enough heart to call. The board came out K 7 8 J 2. Hart stopped beating in 2nd place.

Congratulations Jose!

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RSF Medias, LLC
J. Harris, Tournament Press

e-mail: rsfpoker@aol.com