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$325,000 Won at Pechanga Open

Poker players pocket more than $325,000 from the Pechanga tournament

Friday 18th February 2005

Starting Wednesday, February 9, and culminating Sunday the 13th, thousands of poker players competed for stunning prize pools in the first “Pechanga Open” tournament. Each night the stakes building higher, the number of competitors increasing, and the buy-in amounts increasing correspondingly, by tournament’s end the Pechanga Resort and Casino crowned five very intense players, one for each night of the tourney.

On Night One the poker room opened for the first hot game of No Limit Hold ‘Em. Contestants came from as far away as Arizona for a chance at the $13,000 prize pool. Beating out another 129, mostly male, players for it, the top prize went to Star McCormick, from Oceans 11 Casino in Oceanside, California, who took home $4,415.

Night Two saw 251 try their luck and skill once again and cash prizes were given to the top 30 finishers. Matt Gilsdorfm of Escondido, California, came in first, with $8,285.

Night Three saw 236 players vying for prizes in the largest pool so far -- $48,600. Brandon Palm, just visiting from the small town of Horsebreath, Wyoming, who plays poker frequently with friends back home but had never expected to win a tournament, took $15,580 back to the ranch.

On Saturday night, 165 players each put up the $300 buy in for a chance at the $49,500 pool. Stiff competition found out most of them, but Nick Padovan, from San Pedro, California, came out ahead with $16,830.

On the final day, Sunday, 382 paid to compete and only 40 places were granted for the finals, and each of them was shooting for the top seed as the prize pool totaled $191,000. Many hot hours later, Harvey Hunnicutt beat out two other players to collect the top prize of $59,210. Harvey announced that the Pechanga Poker Room was now his favorite, and that he would be back next year to defend his title.




Source: OnlineCasinoNews