Bayou Poker Challenge Returns to Harrah's New Orleans
Harrah's New Orleans is hosting the 2010 Bayou Poker Challenge, which is taking place in the heart of the downtown district adjacent to the French Quarter. The two-week tournament series takes place from December 2-12, 2010.This marks the fifth year of the Bayou Poker Challenge, which is held annually each December, at Harrah's New Orleans. It is one of the south's largest and most successful poker tournaments, and has awarded in excess of $10 million in prize money since its creation.
This year's schedule includes something for just about every poker player. There are 14 major tournaments, with buy-ins ranging from $150 up to $2,500 for the Main Event Championship. There are also mega- and single-table satellites running for every event.
Most poker tournaments begin at 1 pm daily and are played as two-day events. Most day ones play down to a final table; then, the finale takes place on day two. An added bonus this year: All players who make it to a final table (Events 1-10) have a shot to win a free seat in the Main Event via a freeroll tournament, taking place on December 9th.
There are also five 5 pm tournaments on this year's schedule, as well as nightly 7 pm No-Limit Hold'em tournaments, which cost only $150 to enter.
Cash games are also expected to be busy. The Harrah's New Orleans poker room, with 23 tables, has a reputation for some of the best action in the country. Games run 24/7 and regularly include Limit Hold'em, No-Limit Hold'em, and Pot-Limit Omaha.
A Short History of the Bayou Poker Challenge
The first major poker tournament held at Harrah's New Orleans was called the "Cajun Poker Classic" which took place in early 2004. The three-day tournament attracted 536 players and inspired the casino to host more poker events in the future. Later that year, the first Bayou Poker Challenge was held, which consisted of six tournaments.
Next, Harrah's New Orleans became a charter member of the World Series of Poker Circuits, which officially started play in 2005. Since then, New Orleans has hosted the final stop on the circuit each year, which takes place in mid-May just prior to the start of the WSOP at the Rio in Las Vegas. The first two WSOP Circuit championships held at Harrah's New Orleans were televised by ESPN and were among the most exciting tournaments broadcast at the time. They still occasionally appear in re-runs to this day.
WSOP Circuit events in New Orleans proved to be so successful that a second tournament series was created, starting in 2007. This became known as the "Bayou Poker Challenge" (a.k.a. the Winter Bayou Poker Challenge), which has since become a December attraction. This tournament series is categorized as a World Series of Poker Satellite, since its Main Event winner earns an entry valued at $10,000 seat (plus expense money) into the WSOP championship, held the following year. This year's Bayou Poker Challenge Event Champion will win a seat into the 2011 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.
Bayou Poker Challenge results and statistics are not included in the historical records of WSOP Circuit events. Nonetheless, the Bayou Poker Challenge (BPC) has proven to be a popular attraction for many poker players, who mostly come to the Crescent City from the states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and surrounding areas.
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by Nolan Dalla
posted by Kurt at 11:17 PM
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