Kai Landry: Wins WSOPC Tunica

The shy and modest spiky haired Kai Landry is our new champ as he took down the $5,150 championship event of the WSOP Circuit tour at Harrah’s Casino Tunica. His victory gives him a nice earnings of $183,974, a gold-and diamond trophy ring, and a $10,000 seat into this year WSOP championship event, plus $1,000 expense money.

Here were the starting chip counts:

Landry, from Biloxi, Mississippi, started the day with $300,000 and competed well for a man stating, ”I’m no pro”. In heads-up  action, Landry and Dao were very close to even in chips. Dao pulled ahead, but then lost most of his chips after re-raising all in with pocket 4s. He ran into Landry’s queens, losing after the board came 6-6-2-2-7.

On the last deal, the board showed 4c-Kd-10d-Ad. Landry had a straight (Js-Qh), and bet out. Dao had draws to a royal flush (Jd-7s), and raised all in. He missed when a 6s hit the river, making Kai Landry the new champ.

2009 40th Annual WSOP

The announcement of the 2009 WSOP schedule comes on the heels of what may be a hard to beat 2008 record setting year. Truthfully, it is times like these were many poker players are definately feeling the blow of our crumbling economy and the sting of the U.S. government to ban online poker.

But as we sit here and reflect back at last years 58,000 who vied for the $18 million prize pool, will we see the dawn of a new day at this years events? Will the draw and excitement, the glitz and glamour of online poker once again give way to a new breed of players emerging yet again in these troubling times?

Starting Wednesday, May 27, 2009 and ending at the final tables on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, a total of 57 events will award gold bracelets in 2009, 2 more than 2008 which awarded 55 bracelets. Harrah’s also increased the number of $10,000 buy-in World Championship events from 8 to 10, and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of  the 2009 WSOP, a special one-time only $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event will be held in the opening days of the WSOP.

Jeffery Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker says, “Whether you play poker around the kitchen table or consider yourself a professional, you will find a comfortable seat at the 2009 World Series of Poker. “This year’s schedule offers more variety than ever before and we look forward to welcoming players from around the world to the Rio for our 40th annual extravaganza this summer.”

Let’s just hope this years events will have more highlights of classic poker filled with rich tradition and memorable moments showcasing the true grit and integrity of poker!

Rio Hotel & Casino
3700 West Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV  US
800-752-9746

WSOP Circuit Event: Event #2

Event #2 – No Limit Hold’em
Perry Ernest
Winnings: $32,448

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 0
WSOP Earnings: $0

Circuit Cashes: 3
Circuit Earnings: $105,020

WSOP Circuit Event: Event #1

Event #1 – No Limit Hold’em
1st place: Ronald Sewell
Winnings: $37,384

Harrah’s Tunica
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 to Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Buy-in: $340
Prizepool: $149,574
Entries: 514

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 1332
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $74,496
WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 1
WSOP Earnings: $14,762
Circuit Cashes: 2
Circuit Earnings: $59,734