Thursday, September 21st: "Horse"-ing Around And Turbo High Hands Join The Spotlight

ICMYI: Wednesday's $100 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" had a little "European flare" to it, as Gervasio Valiente (Barcelona, Spain) headed a five-way deal that ended the tournament.  The event saw registration close with (39) entries, which was just the number needed to reach the tournament's guarantee (the official prize pool closed at $3,003).  The posted prize pool boasted solid numbers once again, including a first place prize that was over $1,200.  The pool would eventually be altered though, as players agreed to pay an extra spot, with the following five names cashing in the event:

1. Gervasio Valiente (Barcelona, Spain) $691
2. Carl Handwerker (Pompano Beach, FL) $691
3. Max Marion (Delray Beacj, FL) $691
4. George Spyropoulos (Miami, FL) $690
5. Marc Freund (Plantation, FL) $240

Tournaments: Thursday's tournament action opens with a non-no limit hold'em event, with the $130 H.O.R.S.E. ($2,000 GTD) event beginning at 11:00am.  These weekly mixed events have been very popular with the players, due largely to the excellent structure.  Players in the tournament sit down to starting stacks of 14,000 units, with levels starting a (15) minutes (while registration is open), then transitioning to (20) minutes (Levels 9+).

No limit hold'em makes it's return in the evening, as the $100 No Limit Hold'em "Big Stack Turbo Bounty" ($3,000 GTD) tournament gets underway at 6:00pm.  This event (which has been in the Monday (AM), Wednesday (PM), and Saturday (AM) time slots) finds itself in the Thursday evening time slot for the first time, and should attract a nice sized field.  The structure stays the same, as players sit down to starting stacks of 18,000 units, with (15) minute levels played throughout the event.  There is also an optional add-on at the end of registration, which allows for players to get 10,000 units towards their existing stack (for $25, with 100% of add-ons going towards the prize pool).

Promotions: The Full House Early Bird promotion is in it's regularly scheduled spot this morning, but it's no longer just for limit hold'em players.  Every table in the poker room (excluding time raked games) is eligible for the promotion, which pays out the first (50) full houses (payout depends on which stakes are being played).  Similar to what is run on Friday's, there will also be $300 awarded to qualifying high hands every (15) minutes (from 12:00pm-4:00pm).

11:00am - $130 H.O.R.S.E ($2,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 14,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Alternates and late entries will receive full stacks

- Levels 1-8 are (15) minutes in length, with Levels 9+ lasting (20) minutes

6:00pm - $100 No Limit Hold'em "Big Stack Turbo" w/ $25 Bounties

- Players will begin with a 18,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (10) levels

- Option player "add-on" at the end of Level 10 ($25 for 10,000 tournament chips), with 100% of the "add-on" going to the prize pool 

- Levels are (15) minutes in length