WSOP Circuit

For the fourth consecutive year, the World Series of Poker Circuit has returned to South Jersey. Caesars Atlantic City, located on the famed oceanfront boardwalk, is currently hosting the ninth of 12 WSOP Circuit stops on this year’s tour. The $4,900 buy-in championship event started today, and will be played over the next three days. Day two will be played on Friday. The final table will take place on Saturday, starting at 2pm EST.

Today’s results from Caesars are certain to weigh heavily on the latest WSOP Circuit championship. At the end of Day One, Dan Hicks from Tampa, FL stands at the top of the leader board with 250,800 in chips. He holds a slight advantage over last year’s WSOP main event finalist, Hevad Khan who is currently in second place. Tournament pro Young Phan ranks third. The average chip stack is about 70,000 chips.

This year’s championship attracted 277 entries creating a total prize pool of $1,357,300. This is largest turnout of any WSOP Circuit main event on the 2007-2008 schedule. The large field edged out the previous high mark previously set by Harrah’s Atlantic City late last year, when 244 players entered that main event. This means that Atlantic City’s two casinos rank as the top two championship turnouts on the fourth season of the World Series of Poker Circuit.

“We at Caesars are thrilled with the turnout for our main event this year,” said Tom McDonough, Poker and Table Games Manager at the property. “The big turnout for this as well as our preliminary WSOP Circuit events proves that poker is alive and well in Atlantic City. The response from our players has been overwhelmingly positive and we look forward to hosting many more WSOP events in the future.”

Several notable poker pros entered the prestigious event, including former WSOP gold bracelet winners Eric Froehlich (2 wins), Cliff Josephy, Chris Reslock, Michael “Little Man” Sica, and Cyndy Violette. Former WSOP Circuit champions included Lou Esposito (2007 Harrah’s New Orleans), Abraham Korotki (2007 Harrahs Atlantic City), Rich Rosetti (2006 Harrahs Atlantic City), and Chris Reslock (2005 Showboat Atlantic City).

The defending champion, Danny Yousefzadeh (2007 Caesars Atlantic City) also entered. Other poker notables included Hevad Khan (WSOP main event final table in 2007), Bernie Lee (WSOP main event final table in 2005), and experienced poker pro Young Phan. Dan Shak also played in the event.

He is perhaps best known as co-champion of the inaugural Ante Up For Africa” poker tournament held last year at the Rio in Las Vegas. He donated his entire share of the prize money, totaling about $200,000, to the charity designed to help victims of the Darfur tragedy. He was joined by his wife Beth Shak, who finished as the runner-up in a WSOP event last year in Las Vegas.

Most did not survive past the first day. In fact, 204 players were eliminated – leaving just 73 players still alive to compete for the championship. The tournament’s top 27 finishers will collect prize money. The 2008 Caesars Atlantic City champion will receive $431,136 plus an $11,000 bonus prize – good for a guaranteed seat in the 2008 WSOP championship event to be held later this year in Las Vegas. The winner also receives a commemorative gold and diamond ring, presented to each and every WSOP Circuit champion.