PokerNews to Live Report This Weekend’s Ante Up World Championship at Thunder Valley
Table Of Contents
Since early July, the Ante Up Poker Tour has been at California’s Thunder Valley Casino Resort for both the Ante Up NorCal Classic and Ante Up World Championship. This weekend, the stop will culminate with a $1,650 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed Main Event. The winner of that tournament will not only walk away with a lot of cash but will also appear on the cover of Ante Up Magazine’s September issue.
What’s more, the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand to offer live updates from the tournament, which offers two starting flights at 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday respectively. The surviving players from both flights will then return Sunday at Noon to play down to a winner.
“This year, the championship will play to the money on Day 1,” said Thunder Valley’s Ben Erwin. “Players have shared across-the-board compliments about finishing the event on Sunday. I look forward to hearing from the players this year about playing to the money bubble on Day 1.”
This marks the sixth time the Ante Up World Championship will be held at Thunder Valley. Past winners of the Ante Up World Championship Main Event include Imad Lahham (2018), Jonathan George (2017), Cy Williams (2015), and Justo Avalos (2014).
Satellites Galore
"Players have come to expect big guarantees and a bunch of opportunities to win their way into our most popular events."
Thunder Valley will host $365 single-table satellites all weekend long. That includes a special “One and Done” satellite on Friday, July 26th at 6 p.m. where 40 seats are guaranteed.
“The satellite schedule is aggressive, no doubt about that,” Erwin said. “This is a big part of success, growth, and excitement of the Ante Up Worlds. Players have come to expect big guarantees and a bunch of opportunities to win their way into our most popular events. This year definitely delivers with more than 100 Main Event entries guaranteed and 40 seats up for grabs on July 26 in a ‘One and Done” shootout concept that Matt Savage and Justin Hammer debuted at the WPT Los Angeles Poker Classic earlier this year.”
Click here for a look at the full satellite schedule.
About the Property and Tour
The Ante Up World Championship was first held at Thunder Valley back in 2014.
The venue is a AAA Four Diamond luxury resort that features a Las Vegas-style casino, more than 400 oversized and well-appointed guest rooms, a spa with complimentary steam room and sauna access for hotel guests, outdoor pool and a wide variety of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, including the signature High Steaks Steakhouse.
Ante Up Poker Tour was founded by Scott Long and Chris Cosenza, the publishers of Ante Up Magazine and hosts of the PokerCast, an award-winning weekly Internet audio show that dates back to 2007.
For more information on the Ante Up Poker Tour, visit anteupmagazine.com.
Remaining Ante Up World Championship Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, July 25 | 10 a.m. | Event #25: $400 NLH Head-to-Head Championship |
| Thursday, July 25 | 1 p.m. | Event #26: $160 NLH Change Up (redraw to four-table shootout, final four players play heads-up |
| Friday, July 26 | 11 a.m. | $1,650 Main Event Day 1a |
| Saturday, July 27 | 11 a.m. | $1,650 Main Event Day 1b |
| Sunday, July 28 | 11 a.m. | Event #28: $235 Big O/8 |
| Sunday, July 28 | Noon | Main Event Day 2 |
| Sunday, July 28 | 2 p.m. | Event #29: $1,100 NLH Knockout ($500 bounties) |
| Sunday, July 28 | 5 p.m. | Event #30: $160 NLH Series Finale |
Images courtesy of Ante Up Poker Tour
