The WPBT Winter Classic Information Page

Go ahead and bookmark this page. I’ll just keep updating this page whenever new info becomes available. If you want to be notified of updates, subscribe to the RSS feed on Bloglines.

Looks like we’re going to get a strong turnout. If as many people come as claim they are, we should have our best WPBT Classic event turnout ever!

[UPDATE]: As of 10.17, with the addition of the AlCan’tHang crew, we now have a bigger turnout than we’ve ever had! I think we’re gonna need a bigger boat.

[UPDATE]: As of 11/2 we have space for approx. 5 more people. Anybody not in will need to go on a waiting list until we see if we can add capacity at the IP. People are still more than welcome to join the crew in Vegas but we might not be able to fit you into the tournament.

[UPDATE]: As of 11/3 we have filled up. NO NEW PLAYERS ARE BEING ADDED! The only spots not assigned are for pros who have expressed a possible interest and a small number of very specific people who have asked that we keep a spot open for them. If we have any open spots on the day of the tournament they will go to people on a first come (on the day of the event), first served basis.

Classic Extras

Well, we happened to really luck out. The Dec. 10th tournament date is the same day as the Bellagio Five Diamond Senior’s tournament. That means most of the pros in town will be off that day.

So far we’ve got a tentative yes to either play in the WPBT Classic or attend the after party from Clonie Gowen. It’s still a ways out so we’ll firm things up with her closer to the date but she said she was in. We also have a tentitive yes from Chris “Jesus” Ferguson. Again, it’s a ways out so it’s difficult to get folks to say that they’ll positively, absolutely be there.

PokerProf has been working some of the pros from the first Winter Classic (Max, Marcel, Evelyn, etc.) to make a repeat show at Winter Classic II and so far the responses have been encouraging.

We’re also working on putting together a sponsorship package which I can’t discuss the details of right at the moment but over the next few weeks I’ll likely be making an announcement as to some very cool stuff.

We’re also working on getting a pro to do a Q&A pre-tournament and getting additional pros to come to the after-party.

And as a side note, I get a lot of emails and IM’s from people thanking me for organizing this. First off, thank you. But it’s not just me. PokerProf is the man with the plan in Sin City. He was the one who made the Imperial Palace intros and he’s been busting tail on working his pro contacts. HDouble has also been a major contributor. If all he did was listen to me bounce insane ideas off him he would get co-organizer status for the time I’ve consumed. However, HDouble has done more than that and has been (and is currently) instrumental in helping craft and pitch some of this to folks. Both those guys deserve a hearty thanks as well.

[Update]: We’ve announced a series of satellite tournaments that win the top two finishers a spot at a six person, winner take all, shoot out at the Imperial Palace immediately following the main tournament.

[UPDATE] The final six players in the shootout have been selected.

[UPDATE] Check out the banner from Brian, the Storming the Castle Alert System proposed by Otis, and the possibility of a mixed games night.

[UPDATE] Otis and PokerStars score big for the tournament.

Rumors

We’re working on getting 2004 Winter Classic speaker, Charlie Shoten, to come give another talk. I still listen to the MP3 of his last talk from time to time to center my thinking.

[UPDATE] Charlie is in!!

[UPDATE] Linda for PokerWorks has asked Michael Craig, author of the recently reviewed Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King to come as well as Ron Rose who attended last year’s fest. And as exciting as that news may be, there’s more. Linda spoke with Daniel Negreanu the other night and he said he would be into attending and might even challenge the winner to a heads-up freeroll for $2000. Of course, that all depends on whether or not he’s in town, remembers, hasn’t made other plans, etc. But the good news is that he said he was into it!

Not 100% confirmed yet but poker legend Tom McEvoy may be swinging by and Max “The Italian Pirate” Pescatori could be at the tables with us. As those who played in last year’s event can attest, McEvoy’s presentation was excellent and Max’s strong play at the tables taught a few people about aggression (he placed second in the tournament).

Who’s Going to Be There

Administrative Note: Some significant others and friends are not included in this list but are on the master tournament sheet. As we get closer to the event, I’ll email everyone on the master list to confirm their info and provide any missing info (cell phone numbers, dates you’ll be in town, etc) so people can contact each other and organize meetups.

In

AlCan’tHang, EvaCan’tHang, Big Mike, and Steve
April H. (Feeding the Addiction)
April (This is not a poker blog)
BadBlood
BG
Biggestron
Brian (MattahFahtu)
Change100 (PotCommitted)
Chilly
Chris (Chicks Dig Poker Geeks)
CJ (Up for Anything)
Columbo (Poker Wannabe)
Daddy (SnailTrax)
Dave (DonkeyHunter)
David M
Derek
DonkeyPuncher
Drizz (Nickle and Dimes)
EasyCure and Mrs. Easy Cure
Ephro
-EV
Falstaff (PokerStage)
FHwrdH
Asphnxma (FTrain)
GRob
Geek and Proud
Gracie (She*Verb)
Greg
Grubby
The Human Head
HDouble with special guest, Mrs. HDouble
Iggy
Jaxia
Joanne (A Chick and a Chair)
Joaquin The Rooster
Joe Speaker (The Obituarium)
John V.(Slayre’s Poker Quest)
Josh (Armchair Fisherman)
Kori
Linda (PokerWorks)
Maigrey
Martin (JMC)
Maudie
MeanGene
Mike M
Mike V (Life, The Universe, Poker)
Mr. Subliminal
Obie
on_thg (Res Ipsa Poker)
Otis
Pauly (Tao of Poker)
Performify
Pete (Everything Has A Limit)
PlatKat (and Gus)
PokerNerd
PokerProf
Pokeramarama (Chad)
Randy (Flopopolis)
Rick W of Full Tilt fame
Russ Fox
Ryan (Absinthe)
Shane Nickerson (Nickerblog)
Shelly (HellaHoldem)
Sloshr (RadioVegas)
SoxLover
Spaceman (Catching the Antichrist)
StB (Beer City Poker)
StudioGlyphic
TeamScottSmith +1
Travis (tp’s table talk)
WhiskeyTown
Wil Wheaton

On the Fence (i.e. claim a 50% or over chance of coming)

Toby (About.com)
PokerStage

Room Reservations

Bob at the Imperial Palace has us at the $29 / $39 rates ($29 weekday, $39 weekend). You can go ahead and make reservations by emailing Bob Cohen with the following info:

1. Mention me!!!! Tell him that you’re part of my group. This is a special rate so Bob needs to know you’re not some shlub just trying to get a cheap room.

2. Give Bob the following info:

Full Name
Address
Phone number
Birthday (he’ll have a player card waiting for you when you arrive and bday is required for player card sign ups)
Dates you wish to reserve
Preference of two double beds or one king
Preference of Smoking or non-smoking rooms

3. Ping me and let me know you’re booked. Of course, this is optional but it is appreciated as I’ll try to keep a running list so everybody knows who’s coming and will give me a good idea of who to contact with new info and guesstimating the total number of players in the tournament. You can either leave a note in the comments or email me using the contact link at the top of the page.

Bob’s email is the first letter of his first name and then his full last name @ ImperialPalace.com (how’s that for screwing up the spam bots?).

If you choose not to stay at the Imperial Palace, ping me too so I at least know that we should reserve a chair for you at the tournament. I don’t think they’ll cap it but they may if it gets too large so don’t get left out.

Slayre has mentioned that in his confirm he was told that he would also be receiving a coupon book for buffets, comp dollars, etc. They also stated in the confirm that the room rate is for 2 people and that additional persons can be added for $19 a night.

Also, if you email Bob and he doesn’t get back right away, don’t panic. He’s not in reservations. He’s in guest relations which means that he works all sorts of bizarro shifts and that his bread and butter time is on the weekends. It’s not uncommon for him to be out Mon. – Wed. or Mon. – Thurs. Sometimes he can be a little slow to catch up with the emails but he’s plugging away and will get to everyone. If you don’t hear from him for several weeks, by all means email him again but if you don’t hear back for one or two days, give it a few more 🙂

Wireless Internet I just read on the Imperial Palace website that they now have high-speed wireless internet available (for an additional charge). According to their site they’re the first strip casino to offer wireless to their guests so if you have a laptop, get ready to blog from Vegas 🙂

Tournament Structure (and fees)

Blind structure is being worked out but they have been open to structuring things as we would like them. Buy in would be $50 + $5 (dealer bonus) + $10 (juice) or $50 + $15 for those who are mathematically challenged.

Please see this page for the proposed tournament structure.

Promotions

Rafe Furst, emailed me this morning and threw out an interesting offer. Seems Rafe loves us poker bloggers and would very much like to get some of us to become affiliates for Phil Gordon’s DVD. So, here’s the offer; become an Expert Insight affiliate and Rafe will give us (HDouble and I) a free DVD to give to you at the WPBT event in Dec.

Columbo from PokerWannabe has offered to have WPBT hats made up for approx $20 per person. Check out the comments section for specifics and contact him directly if you’re interested.

[UPDATE] Columbo had some prototypes made. If you would like to order WPBT hats, please contact Columbo on his website and let him know you have an interest.

[Updates]

10.13.05: Added Clonie Gowen as being one of our pro attendees.
10.14.05: Added Otis to the “In” list!!
10.14.05: Slayre’s suggestion added info about coupon books and extra person charges.
10.14.05: Added additional info about contacting Bob.
10.14.05: Added Wil Wheaton as 97% sure he’s coming.
10.15.05: Added info about Phil Gordon DVD/Affiliate offer
10.15.05: Added Russ Fox as In
10.15.05: Added Biggestron as In
10.16.05: Added Flopopolis as In
10.16.05: Added Chris “Jesus” Ferguson as one of our pro attendees.
10.17.05: Moved G-Rob from On the Fence to In
10.17.05: Added AlCan’tHang, EvaCan’tHang, BigMike and Steve to In
10.17.05: Added note that we are officially bigger than any previous WPBT Classic event.
10.17.05: Moved Derek from On the Fence to In
10.17.05: Upgraded Daddy to 100% In
10.17.05: Posted Columbo’s hat offer
10.17.05: Moved Travis from On Deck to In
10.18.05: Added -EV as In
10.18.05: Got tired of Iggy playing coy and added him in as In 🙂
10.18.05: Moved TeamScottSmith +1 to the In list
10.18.05: Just making a note that we have 72 people registered for the tournament. I’m trying to see what the max is.
10.18.05: Moved Chad (Poeramarama) from On Deck to In
10.22.05: Added DonkeyPuncher as in
10.23.05: Updated Randy’s domain
10.23.05: Updated Maudie to In
10.25.05: Removed Lance from In list
10.25.05: Added Change100 to In list
10.25.05: Added info about wireless internet
10.27.05: Added Pete (Everything has a Limit) to In list
10.28.05: Moved Joanne to the In list
10.28.05: Added EasyCure to the In list
10.30.05: Added newest Tilter and Daddy friend Ephro to the list
10.30.05: Added info about Shoten, McEvoy, and Max
10.31.05: Added Linda to the In list
10.31.05: Added info about Sex Gun Shoot Out
11.01.05: Added Greg and PokerNerd to In list (players #82 and #83)
11.01.05: 83 players means a $4000 prize pool!!!!
11.01.05: Added MeneGene as In (player #84)
11.02.05: Added notice about cutting off player sign-ups.
11.03.05: Added Jaxia to the In list
11.04.05: Added notice about cutting of new signups.
11.10.05: Added Charlie Shoten in as pro speaker
11.10.05: Added info about Michael Craig, Ron Rose, and Daniel Negreanu
11.16.05: Added info about the banner system from Brian, Otis’ Storming the Castle Alert system, and Joaquin’s efforts to secure a private mixed game.
11.18.05: Added info about the tournament structure.
11.19.05: Added info about Columbo’s hat offer
11.20.05: Added link to the final six players in the shootout event.
11.21.05: Added info about Otis’ PokerStars news