All You Need To Know About the HPO $2,500 Championship Event Coming This Thursday
Coming up this week in Las Vegas is one of the best events of the summer, the Hollywood Poker Open $2,500 Championship Event at M Resort Spa Casino. It comes with a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool and will begin on Thursday, June 23 at 11 a.m. with the first of two starting flights. The final day will take place on Sunday, June 26.
The event will feature two starting flights and a big field that has averaged nearly 700 players over the first three editions. An average first-place prize of $340,000 has been up for grabs, and if that's not a juicy tournament to get excited about, then we're not sure what is.
With satellite qualifiers coming from Hollywood Casino venues all over the U.S., this will once again be a can't-miss tournament during the summer.
The event will mark the culmination of the HPO's Season 4, and PokerNews will have its team on the floor for coverage. You'll be able to find updates, chip counts, photos, and results from the tournament floor right here on PokerNews.com.
A Player-Friendly Structure
Players of the HPO Championship Event will be thrilled that they get more than just a shot at a juicy $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. Each competitor will begin with 25,000 in tournament chips and the first level will be 50/100, giving each player 250 big blinds to start with.
Levels will be 60 minutes throughout, with the plan to play 11 levels on Day 1, another 11 on Day 2, and then down to a winner on Day 3.
Registration will remain open until the start of Day 2, with unlimited reentries also allowed up until that point.
Big Winners and Big Prizes
The first three editions of the HPO Championship Event saw some big-name poker players take top honors.
In Season 1, it was Spain's Ana Marquez scoring $320,000 in first-place prize money when she defeated a field of 631 entries. To close out Season 2, another non-American player took the title. Britain's Simon Deadman scored the $351,097 prize after topping a field of 692 entries. Then in Season 3, the United States' Kevin Stammen won $347,045 after he beat a field of 684 players.
Over the first three seasons, the HPO Championship Event has awarded over $4.525 million in prize money and all signs point to another $1.5 million-plus being added to that total after Season 4's event is complete.
Get in for Cheap with Satellites
If $2,500 is a little too pricy for your taste, then try your hand at one of the $235 satellites the HPO will be running for a chance to get into the big show.
There will be three $235 satellites on Thursday, June 23, taking place at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. Each of those will have a guaranteed seat in the prize pool. The 9 a.m. satellite will be a turbo.
On Friday, June 24, another two $235 satellites will take place at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., with the earlier one once again being a turbo.
Click here for more details on the schedule and satellites.
Seniors Championship On June 25
In addition to the $2,500 Championship Event, the HPO will hold its $555 Seniors Championship on Saturday, June 25. Entrants must be 50 years or older to participate, and the $555 buy-in will get you 12,000 in tournament chips.
Levels will be 40 minutes in length, with registration and reentry allowed for the first six levels.
For complete information on the Hollywood Poker Open, please click here.
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