Fallsview World Poker Tour Update
Sorry I haven't been an active poster lately, it's been kind of busy here in preparations for the WPT. The satellites have been ridiculously busy, we just passed 10,000 satellite entries (1,000 tournaments) and are on pace for 250-300 Main Event entries from our satellite program. On any given day, we usually have four tables dedicated to satellites and expect that to increase in the next couple of weeks. As a result of the anticipated size, I have decided to go to three starting days and will allow a limited choice of starting day, mainly to accomodate the distance travelers.
Here is the tentative schedule:
Oct 26 Day 1A 200 players
Oct 27 Day 1B 200 players
Oct 28 Day 1C 200 players
Oct 29 Day 2 270 players
Oct 30 Day 3 140 players
Oct 31 Day 4 45 players
Nov 1 Day 5 18 players
Nov 2 Final Table 6 players - Champion
So, in response to the other post regarding numbers, I believe we will come in around 600 entries. It is a completely a guess, as always. We could be around the same as last year but the demand is far greater this year, and we could get bombarded at registration and end up with 700+. The real unknown factor is the online sites, and the big three are doing satellites this year - they didn't last year. We can comfortably seat 900 with three starting days, that's why I went with the safe choice.
Some other points to note:
* I intend to play nine-handed throughout as long as numbers allow, and if they don't, I will revert to nine-handed as soon as possible.
* I have removed the 25-25 level, but added a 100-200 with no ante level. The rest of the blind structure remains the same. Blinds start at 25-50.
* When we go hand-for-hand, the clock will be stopped at the conclusion of the first hand, and remain stopped until all hands are complete.
* Cards are dead if you are not in your seat as soon as the second card is dealt to each player.
* The first day of play may be up to seven levels of play so that I can get down to the numbers I need, but from day two onwards it will be five levels of play per day, plus a dinner break. Thirty tournament tables limits my elimination numbers for the first day, I have to lose more than half the field. We do not have the choice of using overflow areas.
* Noon start, 90 minute levels, and 20,000 starting chips.
It's been great meeting a lot of you as you visit Fallsview, please continue to introduce yourself. I wish all of you well in the satellites (wherever you play them
) and the Main Event.
Here is the tentative schedule:
Oct 26 Day 1A 200 players
Oct 27 Day 1B 200 players
Oct 28 Day 1C 200 players
Oct 29 Day 2 270 players
Oct 30 Day 3 140 players
Oct 31 Day 4 45 players
Nov 1 Day 5 18 players
Nov 2 Final Table 6 players - Champion
So, in response to the other post regarding numbers, I believe we will come in around 600 entries. It is a completely a guess, as always. We could be around the same as last year but the demand is far greater this year, and we could get bombarded at registration and end up with 700+. The real unknown factor is the online sites, and the big three are doing satellites this year - they didn't last year. We can comfortably seat 900 with three starting days, that's why I went with the safe choice.
Some other points to note:
* I intend to play nine-handed throughout as long as numbers allow, and if they don't, I will revert to nine-handed as soon as possible.
* I have removed the 25-25 level, but added a 100-200 with no ante level. The rest of the blind structure remains the same. Blinds start at 25-50.
* When we go hand-for-hand, the clock will be stopped at the conclusion of the first hand, and remain stopped until all hands are complete.
* Cards are dead if you are not in your seat as soon as the second card is dealt to each player.
* The first day of play may be up to seven levels of play so that I can get down to the numbers I need, but from day two onwards it will be five levels of play per day, plus a dinner break. Thirty tournament tables limits my elimination numbers for the first day, I have to lose more than half the field. We do not have the choice of using overflow areas.
* Noon start, 90 minute levels, and 20,000 starting chips.
It's been great meeting a lot of you as you visit Fallsview, please continue to introduce yourself. I wish all of you well in the satellites (wherever you play them
) and the Main Event.
Comments
1) With the final $640 satellite on October 19, will the $1,200 satellites run daily from October 20 until Day 1a?
2) Is a certified cheque or bank draft CASHABLE at the cage?
3) What time has the first $1,200 satellite on Saturdays been getting an interest list of ten players?
4) Assuming 600 entries, will the total prize pool be $5.82 million, with 3% taken out for dealers' gratuities?
5) Will exactly 10% of the players make it to the money, e.g., 60? Assuming 600 entries, can we get an idea of how much first place will be and how much the first person eliminated in-the-money will get?
6) Can a player buy in for all three days, e.g., multiple satellite wins? If so and the player makes it to Day 2 more than once, can he only play his biggest stack with the shorter stacks being taken out of play?
7) Will out-of-turn actions be binding? Can a player reveal one or both cards when it's heads up? Can a player show one card after the hand is over without having the other card turned up too?
8 ) Will the tournament information screen display the number of players left and average chip stack in real-time (just like Casino Brantford's tournaments)?
9) Will there be any welcome package for registrants, just like Casino Brantford, Casino Rama, WSOP, etc?
10) Will there be any WPT Boot Camp, book signings or WPT-branded souvenirs for sale?
11) I remember Daniel Negreanu suggesting nine-handed tables and stopping the clock after the first hand-for-hand. Out of curiosity, what is wrong with having ten-handed tables as opposed to nine?
Thanks again. I look forward to playing!
Fallsview ... thanks for stopping by to update us!
Now if you failed in your attempt at the first Day 1 it's a different question..
LMAO, only if your name is Justin Bonobo
Cake has 4 seats, UB winners choice just started, Pokerroom I think 5 seats. There may be more out there, but I think I'm pretty up to date with all the online options out there.
Whether I play or not I'll prob head down anyways. thx for the update.
Good questions Blondefish, expect maybe #6. Highly unlikely, but an interesting concept
Most of the satellite players that I won money for are reinvesting their share back in me, so I have made the +EV decision to play at the WPT. In addition, a poker business owner said that he wants to stake me for a seat, so I want to know the rules.
1) Yes, $1200 satellites will run from October 20th until the start of the Main Event on the 26th. We will run up to eight tables round the clock. In the five lead up days last year we had 100+ Main Event seats won.
2) They are cashable, but you need to fax them in ahead of time to allow for clearance. The fax number is 905-371-7960, and you can phone 1-888-FALLSVUE ext-56403 to verify the clearance. Allow a few days minimum to clear. Do it now if that's your plan.
3) The past two Saturdays we have had four tables of $1200's going at Noon start. We completed 14 last Saturday.
4) $5.82 million to be exact, based on 600 entries.
5) It's a variable number that tops out at around 9%. On 600 we will pay 54 spots, first place will be $1,571,400 and 54th place will receive $17,460.
6) Never, never, never. I believe it could compromise the integrity of a tournament. I won't structure a tournament like that.
7) Action out-of-turn will be binding if the action before him has not changed. If live cards are exposed, the hand will continue and the patron will receive a penalty at the conclusion of the hand. To be awarded a pot when called, a player must show both cards to receive the pot. If the hand is uncalled and the player chooses to show one card, they do not have to show both. FYI, 13Cards and myself will be the only people making calls for irregularities and errors in order to maintain consistency and accountability. 13Cards is one of the most knowledgeable poker people and the best I have encountered in my opinion when it comes to poker decision-making.
8) The clock is much better this year, it shows everything.
9) No welcome package. Brantford offers a welcome package, Rama did not when I played there, and the WSOP does not.
10) The WPT Boot Camp does not happen during the event, and may still happen but we are looking at a spring date. Branded merchandise ran into importing issues and will not be here, which is disappointing because I believe it would do very well here. Book signings ran into disappointing requests that I will not get into - they won't happen.
11) Nine-handed is for comfort and does give an advantage to skilled players. I figured you would be all over that Blondefish!
Actyper - you could very well be right. Last year, up to the week of the event we expected 15 seats, we ended up with 80.
Thanks for everyones support.
good show, wlecome to the big dance! did Buddy make it?
Congrats Rob. How did you do in that game when I saw you in the morning. I tried for the first time yesterday, its not bad, better than 4card or 3card thats for sure. Definately a zoo last night! with so much scenery.
I doubled my money on the Texas table game, and was called to the poker room.... and yes very good scenery....although at Cesar's palace on a Saturday night is extreme!
Congrats Rob
Congrats on getting thru Rob.... Just curious as to whether we've played poker together.. are you from the Toronto area? Ever play at any of the undergrounds?
I used to play at the training room a year ago, played a few times at the river room, but I generally stay away from the underground clubs since the casinos offer to much action. I just wish there was one in Toronto.
P.S. Yes, after my satellite, I noticed the head-turning "scenery."
It's like that every Saturday night! Shoulder to shoulder! Even on the odd weeknight, the scenery is hot!
My bank allows withdrawing only up to $1K per day and I didn't have time to stop by the bank before going to the casino. I had to take out a cash advance using a credit card. The casino charges a 3% flat rate if you get an advance of over $5,000, but strangely, it can be more expensive for a lower advance, e.g., $175 fee or 5.8% for withdrawing $3,001. So I took out exactly $5,001 and got charged over $150. Even though I transferred more than $5K to my credit card account as soon as I got home, my bank has charged me an extra $10 for the cash advance and will probably charge me interest on my total purchases. Had I brought enough cash, I would have saved more than enough money to play a Step A satellite for free. Prepaying a credit card account at least one business day before using a bank machine (instead of the casino) to get a cash advance would also have been a better alternative.
Do you like the ballcaps more than the cash?? time to get a blondefish maple leaf jersey.