2009 Horseshoe Hammond
Event 4 - $200 Buy-in Ladies No Limit Holdem Final Results. 2009 Horseshoe Hammond WSOP Circuit Events.
| 2009 Horseshoe Hammond World Series of Poker Circuit Events Official Results |
2009 Horseshoe Hammond Event #4 Results
2009-2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Horseshoe Hammond
Oct. 18-19
Event #4
Ladies No Limit Holdem
Buy-In: $200 + $35
Number of Entries: 183
Total Prize Money: $33,502
Horseshoe Hammond
Oct. 18-19
Event #4
Ladies No Limit Holdem
Buy-In: $200 + $35
Number of Entries: 183
Total Prize Money: $33,502
| Nadya Magnus |
Final Results:
Place
Name
Hometown
Prize
To view the complete schedule and results for the 2009 Horseshoe Hammond WSOP Circuit Events, click on the link below:
2009 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Schedule and Results
2009 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Schedule and Results
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Nadya Magnus
Patty Till
Alicja Duda
Katie Smith
Emily Bayer
Barbara Alonzo
Marlene Twait
Haley Hintze
Amanda Heidbrick
Christine Beaulieu
Louise Doty
Deborah Morton
Renee Gibbon
Pamela Wilson
Kathy Koon
Renate Pieczka
Michelle Bogard
Catherine Brilando
Patty Till
Alicja Duda
Katie Smith
Emily Bayer
Barbara Alonzo
Marlene Twait
Haley Hintze
Amanda Heidbrick
Christine Beaulieu
Louise Doty
Deborah Morton
Renee Gibbon
Pamela Wilson
Kathy Koon
Renate Pieczka
Michelle Bogard
Catherine Brilando
Palatine, IL
Avon, IN
Chicago, IL
Bourbonais, IL
Oak Park, IL
Belleville, MI
Davenport, IA
Carpentersville, IL
Roud Lake, IL
Lansing, IL
Ralyester, IN
Flint, MI
Downers Grove, IL
Madison, WI
Chicago, IL
Lincolnwood, IL
Oak Lawn, IL
Orland Park, IL
Avon, IN
Chicago, IL
Bourbonais, IL
Oak Park, IL
Belleville, MI
Davenport, IA
Carpentersville, IL
Roud Lake, IL
Lansing, IL
Ralyester, IN
Flint, MI
Downers Grove, IL
Madison, WI
Chicago, IL
Lincolnwood, IL
Oak Lawn, IL
Orland Park, IL
$8,877
$5,494
$3,638
$2,596
$1,940
$1,548
$1,303
$1,156
$1,079
$791
$791
$791
$630
$630
$630
$536
$536
$536
$5,494
$3,638
$2,596
$1,940
$1,548
$1,303
$1,156
$1,079
$791
$791
$791
$630
$630
$630
$536
$536
$536
Popular Links
Poker ReviewsCasino Reviews
Slot Signup Bonus
World Series of Poker
WSOP Circuit
WSOP Europe
WSOP Hall of Champs
World Poker Tour
WPT Articles
Poker Software
Daniel Negreanu's Blog
Poker Advertising
Poker Link Exchange
Poker Links
Poker Reviews
Full Tilt Poker
PDC Poker
Carbon Poker
Spin 32 Poker
Doyle's Room
Ultimate Bet
Absolute Poker
Poker Stars
Bodog Poker
Tony G Poker
Pacific Poker
Party Poker
Paradise Poker
Mansion Poker
Noble Poker
Titan Poker
Lucky Ace Poker
Poker Ocean
Official Report
Event #4 Headlines
1. Nadya Magnus Wins Chicago’s WSOP Circuit Ladies Championship
2. After Finishing in 11th-Place at Last Year’s Ladies Championship, Russian-Born Nadya
Magnus Returns to Claim Victory
3. “I’m Obsessed with Poker,” Newest Ladies Poker Champion Says
2. Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) Continues to Draw Huge Fields – So Far, Attendance
Has Increased 16 Percent Over Last Year
3. Nearly 200 Compete in Horseshoe Casino’s Ladies Poker Championship at Chicago
World Series of Poker Circuits and Ladies-Only Poker Tournaments
Ladies Championship tournaments have a long and rich history. They have been included
on the WSOP schedule every year since 1978.
Since 2005, most WSOP Circuits have included a ladies-only poker tournament as part of
their schedule. The vast majority of these events have proven to be successful. Turnout
for ladies-only events, which ranges from 100-300 players on average, easily justifies their
offering at most Circuits.
The first ever ladies-only tournament on the WSOP Circuit was held at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
in May 2005.
There is some controversy as to whether “ladies-only” tournaments are really necessary in
poker. Those who object, including some women, correctly point out that poker is a gender-
neutral game. That means women are equally capable of playing and winning, just as
men. Detractors also point out that holding ladies-only events demeans women in poker
(their view), by suggesting that females need an exclusive event. However given that the
WSOP wants to promote more women in poker and is eager to meet player demands,
based on the popularity of tournaments for ladies at many WSOP Circuits, its irrefutable
there is a strong demand for their inclusion. And so, ladies-only tournaments are expected
to be an offering at most WSOP Circuits so long as there is a demand for these
tournaments.
Remarkably, no player has ever won two ladies WSOP Circuit championships.
This was the second year the Horseshoe Casino (Chiagoland) has offered a Ladies Poker
Championship. Last year, Linda Tucker from Chicago won the inaugural title victory.
Event #4 Champion (Nadya Magnus)
The 2009 World Series of Poker Circuit champion for Event #4 held at the Horseshoe Casino
(Chicagoland) is Nadya Magnus, from Palatine, IL. She thus becomes the 2009 WSOP
Circuit Chicago Ladies Champion.
Magnus is a 33-year-old part-time poker pro, who is originally from Russia.
Magnus grew up in a city about 400 miles east of Moscow. She immigrated to the United
States in August 2000.
Magnus spends much of her free time playing poker online. She says she plays almost
every day.
Magnus first became interested in poker in February 2007 on a trip to Las Vegas. She was
staying at the Venetian and entered the poker room. Magnus played in a low-stakes hold’
em game and won about $300 in less than an hour. She was so excited about the
experience, that upon returning to her home in the Chicago area, she began reading poker
books and studying to improve her game. Magnus signed up to play for free at PokerStars.
net and learned more about the nuances of the game. She began playing in poker
tournaments about a year ago.
Magnus’ favorite poker book is poker pro Gus Hansen’s, “Every Hand Revealed.” In fact,
she had the book in her possession when she won this tournament. Hansen had
autographed the book.
Magnus played in last year’s WSOP Circuit Ladies Championship, where she finished 11th.
Magnus stated that she returned to her native Russia recently, but did not enjoy the
experience of playing poker there. She stated that many players treat dealers and staff
rudely, which caused her to dislike the poker club scene in Russia.
Magnus won first place and $8,877 in prize money, plus a gold and diamond pendant, which
is the customary prize presented to the winner of the Ladies Championship.
Winner Quotes (Nadya Magnus)
On her first experience playing live poker: “We were in Las Vegas basically drinking and
partying. I had no clue what poker is. I mean, I did know what it is, but I had no clue how
to really play. We stopped by the Venetian poker room and I started playing $1-2 limit. I
basically knew that three-of-a-kind was really, really good, but that was about it. I ended
up making like $300 in a matter of a half an hour. I was catching everything, of course.”
More on her first live poker experience: “I did not even know what I had sometimes. I was
asking guys to help me out and they were really helpful at first. But as soon as I started
winning, they were not as willing to help me out.”
On how she learned more about playing poker: “I went back home (after the trip to Las
Vegas) and I went online and learned the hand rankings. I registered at Pokerstars.net
because it was free. I started playing. It was for play money. Then, I started to read
poker books on strategy.”
On which poker book helped her the most: “My favorite book is Gus Hansen’s, ‘Every Hand
Revealed.’ He’s not really playing cards. He is playing the opponent. I think it’s the best.”
On her status as a prospective poker professional: “I’m not really a pro. I would not say
that. But I am really obsessed with poker. I would have been a pro if I was making a lot of
money. But I mostly play for smaller stakes online.”
On playing poker in Russia: “I never played in Russia before I moved to the U.S. But I tried
to play poker there when I went back this summer. I was disgusted with the way it was
held. The players were extremely rude to the dealers, the waitresses, just about
everybody. I refused to play like that. I even made a comment to them that they knew
how to play poker, but knew nothing about etiquette. I think you have to respect
everybody at the table.”
On what makes many Russian natives good at poker and possible connections to the game
of chess: “My best friend plays chess. She absolutely does not play poker, even though I
have tried to get her into the game. She competes in a lot of chess tournaments
internationally and would do well in poker, I think. But she refuses to do so. I can’t really
say that much more about Russians as poker players because I have not lived there for the
past nine years.”
On her future plans and goals: “Moving forward.”
The Final Table / In-the-Money Finishers
When final table began, the chip leader was Nadya Magnus, with 311,000 in her stack.
Katie Smith (239,000), Alicja Duda (230,000), and Emily Bayer (230,000) appeared to pose
the biggest threat to Magnus’ wire-to-wire win. The remaining five rivals needed to make a
late run to move into contention. Of the final nine players, Patty Till (who ended up
finishing second) had the most impressive tournament pedigree. She had previously made
it to numerous final tables, but was still seeking her elusive first win at a WSOP Circuit.
Unlike many ladies-only final tables which tend to be more jovial than regular open events,
this group of finalists maintained a very serious atmosphere from start to finish. There was
little table talk and almost no crowd involvement. This mood was in contrast to many other
Ladies Championships held elsewhere, which are often the loudest and most fun events to
witness.
The ninth-place finisher was Amanda Heidbrick, from Round Lake, IL. She is a Benefits
Administrator who is married with one child. This was Heidbrick’s first WSOP Circuit final
table appearance, which resulted in a payout totaling $1,079.
The eighth-place finisher was well-known poker writer and editor, Haley Hintze, from
Carpentersville, IL. She was the former Editor-in-Chief of one of poker’s leading websites.
Hintze, who has covered several WSOP events in Las Vegas, is also an accomplished poker
player. She has played in three WSOP Circuit events so far, and has cashed in all three.
Not many players can say they are 3 for 3 in cashes. Hintze collected $1,156 for eighth
place.
The seventh-place finisher was Marlene Twait, from Davenport, IA. She works as an IT
project manager for John Deere. This was Twait’s fifth time to cash on the WSOP Circuit.
Her previous showings include fifth place in the Ladies Championship at Council Bluffs.
Twait earned $1,303 for seventh place.
The sixth-place finisher was Barbara Alonzo, from Belleville, MI. She is an air-traffic
controller. Alonzo has one previous tournament victory. She had to settle for sixth place
this time, receiving $1,548 in prize money.
The fifth-place finisher was Emily Bayer, from Oak Park, IL. She collected $1,940 in prize
money.
The fourth-place finisher was Katie Smith, from Bourbonais, IL. She is a restaurant owner.
Smith collected $2,596 in prize money.
The third-place finisher was Alicja Duda, from Chicago. IL. Duda, a bank teller originally from
Poland, received a nice payout totaling $3,638.
When heads-up play began, Nadya Magnus enjoyed a slim lead over Patty Till. The final
hand came about 20 minutes into the duel when Till was dealt A-2 and moved all in after
the flop came 8-3-2. Magnus called with A-8 (top pair with top kicker). Neither player
improved which meant Magnus’ eights bested Till’s deuces, which ended the tournament.
The runner up was Patty Till, from Avon, IN. She is a medical device sales representative.
Till is best-known for finishing third in the 2008 WSOP Ladies World Championship, held in
Las Vegas. Till also made four final table appearances this year alone at various
tournaments held throughout the Midwest. Till has to settle second place in this
championship, good for $5,494 in prize money.
The winner was Nadya Magnus who earned $8,877 and the coveted gold pendant,
presented to the Ladies Champion.
The Tournament
This was the fourth tournament of the new WSOP Circuit season. The first event in Chicago
attracted the largest field in WSOP history, with 1,412 entrants. This tournament (Event
#4) attracted 183 entries, which was a nice turnout for the ladies-only championship.
Through the first four events of the 2009 WSOP Circuit series at the Horseshoe Casino
(Chicagoland), attendance is up 16 percent over last year. There have been 2,368 entrants
in four events. Last year at this time, there were 2,093 entrants.
The game played was No-Limit Hold’em. The buy-in was $200 (+35). The total prize pool
amounted to $33,502. The top 18 finishers collected prize money.
The tournament began at noon on October 17th and was played over two days. The entire
duration of the tournament lasted about 23 hours.
After Day One, there were five tables who returned for Day Two. Play resumed at 2 pm and
played down to the final nine, which occurred at about 8 pm. The final table was completed
in about four hours, ending at slightly past 11 pm.
World Series of Poker Circuits (History)
The World Series of Poker Circuits began in January 2005. WSOP Circuits were designed to
bring the excitement of the world’s largest and most prestigious poker series to more
players and fans in various regions throughout the United States. Over the past five years,
WSOP Circuits have taken place at Harrah’s Entertainment properties in the following
locations:
Las Vegas, NV (Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, and Bally’s/Paris)
Lake Tahoe, NV (Harvey’s Lake Tahoe)
San Diego, CA (Rincon)
New Orleans, LA (Harrah’s)
Tunica, MS (Tunica Grand)
Council Bluffs, IA (Harrah’s)
Elizabeth, IN/Louisville, KY (Horseshoe Southern Indiana)
Hammond, IN/Chicago, IL (Horseshoe Casino)
Atlantic City (Caesars, Harrah’s, Showboat)
This begins WSOP Circuit season number six. This season officially began on October 16,
2009 at the Horseshoe Casino (Chicago) and will conclude seven months later on May 19,
2010 at Harrah’s New Orleans. This year, there are 11 WSOP Circuit stops held at the
following locations:
Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland)
Horseshoe Southern Indiana
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Harrah’s Atlantic City
Tunica Grand
Harrah’s Council Bluffs
Caesars Atlantic City
Harrah’s Rincon
Harrah’s St. Louis (new location)
Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Harrah’s New Orleans
Only three locations have hosted WSOP Circuits during all six seasons. They are:
Harrah’s Atlantic City
Harrah’s New Orleans
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
WSOP Circuit stops typically include 10-15 tournaments played over a two-week period
(some of the more popular events run longer and include as many as 23 events). Buy-ins
range from $200 for the lower tournaments up to $5,000 for championship events. During
the first two years of WSOP Circuits, all championship events had a $10,000 buy-in. This
has been reduced to a $5,000 buy-in since the 2006-2007 season began.
WSOP Circuits consistently attract large fields and payout impressive prize money. Here
are the ten largest poker events in WSOP Circuit history:
1,412 -- Horseshoe Casino (Chicago), Oct. 16-17, 2009 -- Event #1
1,345 -- Tunica Grand (Mississippi), Jan. 7-8, 2006 – Event #3
1,187 -- Horseshoe Casino (Chicago), Oct. 24-25, 2008 – Event #1
1,181 – Harrah’s Atlantic City, Dec. 5-6, 2008 – Event #1
1,106 -- Caesars Atlantic City, Mar. 5-6, 2007 – Event #1
1,056 -- Caesars Atlantic City, Mar. 5-6, 2008 – Event #1
1,050 -- Caesars Atlantic City, Mar. 7-8, 2008 – Event #3
983 -- Caesars Atlantic City, Mar. 6-7, 2009 – Event #3
954 – Caesars Indiana, Oct. 20, 2005 – Event #1
940 -- Tunica Grand (Mississippi) Jan. 5-6, 2006 – Event #1
Winners of WSOP Circuit tournaments receive a gold ring as the token of their
achievement. This prize is patterned after the coveted gold bracelet, which is awarded to
all winners of WSOP events in Las Vegas.
The player who has won the most WSOP Circuit gold rings is Men “the Master” Nguyen,
with four victories. Nguyen also has 12 WSOP Circuit career cashes.
The player who has won the most WSOP Circuit championship events is Chris “Jesus”
Ferguson, with three Main Event victories. Ferguson won Main Events at Harrah’s Rincon
(2005), Harrah’s Las Vegas (2005), and Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (2007).
The player with the most prize money winnings in WSOP Circuit history is Chris “Jesus”
Ferguson. His combined career earnings currently total $1,359,143. Ferguson has cashed
six times.
World Series of Poker Circuit at Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland)
This is the 51st WSOP Circuit tournament series played since January 2005.
What is now the Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) originally opened up as the Empress
Casino, back in 1993. The casino has since been sold twice and has undergone both
expansion and renovation. It is now the largest casino (measured by number of tables and
gaming devices) in the greater Chicago area. The current Horseshoe Casino configuration
has more than 100 live table games, 3,200 electronic gaming devices, and a 34-table poker
room, making it one of the largest casinos in the Midwest.
Poker pioneer Jack Binion bought and took over the Empress Casino in 2001. He renamed
the property as the “Horseshoe Casino.” It became officially known as “Horseshoe
Hammond,” since it is actually located in Hammond, IN. Harrah’s Entertainment purchased
the casino from Binion in 2004, and retained the name. However, in an effort to align itself
with the Chicago area, the casino is now known as the Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland).
The Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) underwent a $500 million renovation, which was
completed last year. On August 8, 2008 (8-8-08) entertainment diva Bette Midler hosted
and performed at the grand re-opening.
The Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) is the closest gaming facility in proximity to downtown
Chicago, which is just 16 miles away. In fact, the downtown skyline can be seen from many
parts of the casino, which is located along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
A large marina is adjacent to the casino, which holds many water craft. The casino is a
popular destination for boats which come to the resort from all over the region, especially
during summer months.
The casino is located less than a mile from the Indiana-Illinois border. The closest major
airport is Midway, on Chicago’s south side. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is about an hour
away. The casino offers shuttle service to many parts of Chicago and the region.
The Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) draws visitors predominately from the Chicago area.
However, the WSOP Circuit attracts many players from all over Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, and Ohio.
This marks the second year that the Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) has hosted a WSOP
Circuit stop. Last year’s field came close to setting attendance records. A big turnout is
also expected this year, and the first event of the new 2009-2010 season did not
disappoint. The Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) has now hosted two of the three largest
WSOP Circuit tournaments in history.
The Horseshoe Casino poker room regularly holds 34 tables. However, the WSOP Circuit
took over the special events center called “The Venue.” This additional floor space holds 78
more poker tables. This means the Horseshoe Casino holds up to 112 poker tables
combined, making it the largest capacity facility of any WSOP Circuit event.
“The Venue” is regularly used for shows and attracts many of the biggest names in music
and entertainment. The Venue holds up to 3,000 people. But most of the theatre seating
was moved aside for nearly two weeks in favor of poker tables, all packed with players. In
just the last 14 months, The Venue has hosted the following performers:
Paul Anka
The Bee Gees
Lewis Black
Cedric the Entertainer
Alice Cooper
Bill Cosby
Robert Cray
Melissa Etheridge
Aretha Franklin
John Fogerty
Brad Garrett
Vince Gill
Eddie Griffin
Chris Isaak
Alicia Keys
B.B. King
Korn
Gladys Knight
Howie Mandel
Moody Blues
Liza Minelli
Wayne Newton
Don Rickles
Kenny Rogers
Seal
Sarah Silverman
Stone Temple Pilots
Hank Williams, Jr.
In addition, many other acts and top international stars have performed at The Venue.
This is one of two major poker tournaments held annually at the Horseshoe Casino. In
addition to the WSOP Circuit, the casino will be hosting the “Chicago Poker Classic,” to be
held February 26 through March 7, 2010. This tournament is expected to offer nine major
events, plus several second chance tournaments. Attractions include $350,000 in added
prize money, plus a brand new Porsche Cayman luxury car as the grand prize. A complete
schedule of the 2010 Chicago Poker Classic will be forwarded to media at the completion of
this year’s WSOP Circuit events.
__________________________________
HORSESHOE CASINO (CHICAGO)
Horseshoe Casino Senior Vice President and General Manager: Dan Nita
Director of Table Games: Jose Lebron
Poker Room Manager: Jason Newman
Special Events Manager: Amie Hill
Tournament Director: Charlie Ciresi
WORLD SERIES OF POKER
World Series of Poker President and Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
WSOP Vice President -- Ty Stewart
Director of Communications – Seth Palansky
Regional Vice President of Specialty Gaming -- Howard Greenbaum
WSOP Events Manager -- Angele Marshall
WSOP Marketing Manager – Elizabeth Anne Hill
WSOP Tournament Director – Jack Effel
WSOP Media Director – Nolan Dalla
Event #4 Headlines
1. Nadya Magnus Wins Chicago’s WSOP Circuit Ladies Championship
2. After Finishing in 11th-Place at Last Year’s Ladies Championship, Russian-Born Nadya
Magnus Returns to Claim Victory
3. “I’m Obsessed with Poker,” Newest Ladies Poker Champion Says
2. Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) Continues to Draw Huge Fields – So Far, Attendance
Has Increased 16 Percent Over Last Year
3. Nearly 200 Compete in Horseshoe Casino’s Ladies Poker Championship at Chicago
World Series of Poker Circuits and Ladies-Only Poker Tournaments
Ladies Championship tournaments have a long and rich history. They have been included
on the WSOP schedule every year since 1978.
Since 2005, most WSOP Circuits have included a ladies-only poker tournament as part of
their schedule. The vast majority of these events have proven to be successful. Turnout
for ladies-only events, which ranges from 100-300 players on average, easily justifies their
offering at most Circuits.
The first ever ladies-only tournament on the WSOP Circuit was held at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
in May 2005.
There is some controversy as to whether “ladies-only” tournaments are really necessary in
poker. Those who object, including some women, correctly point out that poker is a gender-
neutral game. That means women are equally capable of playing and winning, just as
men. Detractors also point out that holding ladies-only events demeans women in poker
(their view), by suggesting that females need an exclusive event. However given that the
WSOP wants to promote more women in poker and is eager to meet player demands,
based on the popularity of tournaments for ladies at many WSOP Circuits, its irrefutable
there is a strong demand for their inclusion. And so, ladies-only tournaments are expected
to be an offering at most WSOP Circuits so long as there is a demand for these
tournaments.
Remarkably, no player has ever won two ladies WSOP Circuit championships.
This was the second year the Horseshoe Casino (Chiagoland) has offered a Ladies Poker
Championship. Last year, Linda Tucker from Chicago won the inaugural title victory.
Event #4 Champion (Nadya Magnus)
The 2009 World Series of Poker Circuit champion for Event #4 held at the Horseshoe Casino
(Chicagoland) is Nadya Magnus, from Palatine, IL. She thus becomes the 2009 WSOP
Circuit Chicago Ladies Champion.
Magnus is a 33-year-old part-time poker pro, who is originally from Russia.
Magnus grew up in a city about 400 miles east of Moscow. She immigrated to the United
States in August 2000.
Magnus spends much of her free time playing poker online. She says she plays almost
every day.
Magnus first became interested in poker in February 2007 on a trip to Las Vegas. She was
staying at the Venetian and entered the poker room. Magnus played in a low-stakes hold’
em game and won about $300 in less than an hour. She was so excited about the
experience, that upon returning to her home in the Chicago area, she began reading poker
books and studying to improve her game. Magnus signed up to play for free at PokerStars.
net and learned more about the nuances of the game. She began playing in poker
tournaments about a year ago.
Magnus’ favorite poker book is poker pro Gus Hansen’s, “Every Hand Revealed.” In fact,
she had the book in her possession when she won this tournament. Hansen had
autographed the book.
Magnus played in last year’s WSOP Circuit Ladies Championship, where she finished 11th.
Magnus stated that she returned to her native Russia recently, but did not enjoy the
experience of playing poker there. She stated that many players treat dealers and staff
rudely, which caused her to dislike the poker club scene in Russia.
Magnus won first place and $8,877 in prize money, plus a gold and diamond pendant, which
is the customary prize presented to the winner of the Ladies Championship.
Winner Quotes (Nadya Magnus)
On her first experience playing live poker: “We were in Las Vegas basically drinking and
partying. I had no clue what poker is. I mean, I did know what it is, but I had no clue how
to really play. We stopped by the Venetian poker room and I started playing $1-2 limit. I
basically knew that three-of-a-kind was really, really good, but that was about it. I ended
up making like $300 in a matter of a half an hour. I was catching everything, of course.”
More on her first live poker experience: “I did not even know what I had sometimes. I was
asking guys to help me out and they were really helpful at first. But as soon as I started
winning, they were not as willing to help me out.”
On how she learned more about playing poker: “I went back home (after the trip to Las
Vegas) and I went online and learned the hand rankings. I registered at Pokerstars.net
because it was free. I started playing. It was for play money. Then, I started to read
poker books on strategy.”
On which poker book helped her the most: “My favorite book is Gus Hansen’s, ‘Every Hand
Revealed.’ He’s not really playing cards. He is playing the opponent. I think it’s the best.”
On her status as a prospective poker professional: “I’m not really a pro. I would not say
that. But I am really obsessed with poker. I would have been a pro if I was making a lot of
money. But I mostly play for smaller stakes online.”
On playing poker in Russia: “I never played in Russia before I moved to the U.S. But I tried
to play poker there when I went back this summer. I was disgusted with the way it was
held. The players were extremely rude to the dealers, the waitresses, just about
everybody. I refused to play like that. I even made a comment to them that they knew
how to play poker, but knew nothing about etiquette. I think you have to respect
everybody at the table.”
On what makes many Russian natives good at poker and possible connections to the game
of chess: “My best friend plays chess. She absolutely does not play poker, even though I
have tried to get her into the game. She competes in a lot of chess tournaments
internationally and would do well in poker, I think. But she refuses to do so. I can’t really
say that much more about Russians as poker players because I have not lived there for the
past nine years.”
On her future plans and goals: “Moving forward.”
The Final Table / In-the-Money Finishers
When final table began, the chip leader was Nadya Magnus, with 311,000 in her stack.
Katie Smith (239,000), Alicja Duda (230,000), and Emily Bayer (230,000) appeared to pose
the biggest threat to Magnus’ wire-to-wire win. The remaining five rivals needed to make a
late run to move into contention. Of the final nine players, Patty Till (who ended up
finishing second) had the most impressive tournament pedigree. She had previously made
it to numerous final tables, but was still seeking her elusive first win at a WSOP Circuit.
Unlike many ladies-only final tables which tend to be more jovial than regular open events,
this group of finalists maintained a very serious atmosphere from start to finish. There was
little table talk and almost no crowd involvement. This mood was in contrast to many other
Ladies Championships held elsewhere, which are often the loudest and most fun events to
witness.
The ninth-place finisher was Amanda Heidbrick, from Round Lake, IL. She is a Benefits
Administrator who is married with one child. This was Heidbrick’s first WSOP Circuit final
table appearance, which resulted in a payout totaling $1,079.
The eighth-place finisher was well-known poker writer and editor, Haley Hintze, from
Carpentersville, IL. She was the former Editor-in-Chief of one of poker’s leading websites.
Hintze, who has covered several WSOP events in Las Vegas, is also an accomplished poker
player. She has played in three WSOP Circuit events so far, and has cashed in all three.
Not many players can say they are 3 for 3 in cashes. Hintze collected $1,156 for eighth
place.
The seventh-place finisher was Marlene Twait, from Davenport, IA. She works as an IT
project manager for John Deere. This was Twait’s fifth time to cash on the WSOP Circuit.
Her previous showings include fifth place in the Ladies Championship at Council Bluffs.
Twait earned $1,303 for seventh place.
The sixth-place finisher was Barbara Alonzo, from Belleville, MI. She is an air-traffic
controller. Alonzo has one previous tournament victory. She had to settle for sixth place
this time, receiving $1,548 in prize money.
The fifth-place finisher was Emily Bayer, from Oak Park, IL. She collected $1,940 in prize
money.
The fourth-place finisher was Katie Smith, from Bourbonais, IL. She is a restaurant owner.
Smith collected $2,596 in prize money.
The third-place finisher was Alicja Duda, from Chicago. IL. Duda, a bank teller originally from
Poland, received a nice payout totaling $3,638.
When heads-up play began, Nadya Magnus enjoyed a slim lead over Patty Till. The final
hand came about 20 minutes into the duel when Till was dealt A-2 and moved all in after
the flop came 8-3-2. Magnus called with A-8 (top pair with top kicker). Neither player
improved which meant Magnus’ eights bested Till’s deuces, which ended the tournament.
The runner up was Patty Till, from Avon, IN. She is a medical device sales representative.
Till is best-known for finishing third in the 2008 WSOP Ladies World Championship, held in
Las Vegas. Till also made four final table appearances this year alone at various
tournaments held throughout the Midwest. Till has to settle second place in this
championship, good for $5,494 in prize money.
The winner was Nadya Magnus who earned $8,877 and the coveted gold pendant,
presented to the Ladies Champion.
The Tournament
This was the fourth tournament of the new WSOP Circuit season. The first event in Chicago
attracted the largest field in WSOP history, with 1,412 entrants. This tournament (Event
#4) attracted 183 entries, which was a nice turnout for the ladies-only championship.
Through the first four events of the 2009 WSOP Circuit series at the Horseshoe Casino
(Chicagoland), attendance is up 16 percent over last year. There have been 2,368 entrants
in four events. Last year at this time, there were 2,093 entrants.
The game played was No-Limit Hold’em. The buy-in was $200 (+35). The total prize pool
amounted to $33,502. The top 18 finishers collected prize money.
The tournament began at noon on October 17th and was played over two days. The entire
duration of the tournament lasted about 23 hours.
After Day One, there were five tables who returned for Day Two. Play resumed at 2 pm and
played down to the final nine, which occurred at about 8 pm. The final table was completed
in about four hours, ending at slightly past 11 pm.
World Series of Poker Circuits (History)
The World Series of Poker Circuits began in January 2005. WSOP Circuits were designed to
bring the excitement of the world’s largest and most prestigious poker series to more
players and fans in various regions throughout the United States. Over the past five years,
WSOP Circuits have taken place at Harrah’s Entertainment properties in the following
locations:
Las Vegas, NV (Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, and Bally’s/Paris)
Lake Tahoe, NV (Harvey’s Lake Tahoe)
San Diego, CA (Rincon)
New Orleans, LA (Harrah’s)
Tunica, MS (Tunica Grand)
Council Bluffs, IA (Harrah’s)
Elizabeth, IN/Louisville, KY (Horseshoe Southern Indiana)
Hammond, IN/Chicago, IL (Horseshoe Casino)
Atlantic City (Caesars, Harrah’s, Showboat)
This begins WSOP Circuit season number six. This season officially began on October 16,
2009 at the Horseshoe Casino (Chicago) and will conclude seven months later on May 19,
2010 at Harrah’s New Orleans. This year, there are 11 WSOP Circuit stops held at the
following locations:
Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland)
Horseshoe Southern Indiana
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Harrah’s Atlantic City
Tunica Grand
Harrah’s Council Bluffs
Caesars Atlantic City
Harrah’s Rincon
Harrah’s St. Louis (new location)
Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Harrah’s New Orleans
Only three locations have hosted WSOP Circuits during all six seasons. They are:
Harrah’s Atlantic City
Harrah’s New Orleans
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
WSOP Circuit stops typically include 10-15 tournaments played over a two-week period
(some of the more popular events run longer and include as many as 23 events). Buy-ins
range from $200 for the lower tournaments up to $5,000 for championship events. During
the first two years of WSOP Circuits, all championship events had a $10,000 buy-in. This
has been reduced to a $5,000 buy-in since the 2006-2007 season began.
WSOP Circuits consistently attract large fields and payout impressive prize money. Here
are the ten largest poker events in WSOP Circuit history:
1,412 -- Horseshoe Casino (Chicago), Oct. 16-17, 2009 -- Event #1
1,345 -- Tunica Grand (Mississippi), Jan. 7-8, 2006 – Event #3
1,187 -- Horseshoe Casino (Chicago), Oct. 24-25, 2008 – Event #1
1,181 – Harrah’s Atlantic City, Dec. 5-6, 2008 – Event #1
1,106 -- Caesars Atlantic City, Mar. 5-6, 2007 – Event #1
1,056 -- Caesars Atlantic City, Mar. 5-6, 2008 – Event #1
1,050 -- Caesars Atlantic City, Mar. 7-8, 2008 – Event #3
983 -- Caesars Atlantic City, Mar. 6-7, 2009 – Event #3
954 – Caesars Indiana, Oct. 20, 2005 – Event #1
940 -- Tunica Grand (Mississippi) Jan. 5-6, 2006 – Event #1
Winners of WSOP Circuit tournaments receive a gold ring as the token of their
achievement. This prize is patterned after the coveted gold bracelet, which is awarded to
all winners of WSOP events in Las Vegas.
The player who has won the most WSOP Circuit gold rings is Men “the Master” Nguyen,
with four victories. Nguyen also has 12 WSOP Circuit career cashes.
The player who has won the most WSOP Circuit championship events is Chris “Jesus”
Ferguson, with three Main Event victories. Ferguson won Main Events at Harrah’s Rincon
(2005), Harrah’s Las Vegas (2005), and Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (2007).
The player with the most prize money winnings in WSOP Circuit history is Chris “Jesus”
Ferguson. His combined career earnings currently total $1,359,143. Ferguson has cashed
six times.
World Series of Poker Circuit at Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland)
This is the 51st WSOP Circuit tournament series played since January 2005.
What is now the Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) originally opened up as the Empress
Casino, back in 1993. The casino has since been sold twice and has undergone both
expansion and renovation. It is now the largest casino (measured by number of tables and
gaming devices) in the greater Chicago area. The current Horseshoe Casino configuration
has more than 100 live table games, 3,200 electronic gaming devices, and a 34-table poker
room, making it one of the largest casinos in the Midwest.
Poker pioneer Jack Binion bought and took over the Empress Casino in 2001. He renamed
the property as the “Horseshoe Casino.” It became officially known as “Horseshoe
Hammond,” since it is actually located in Hammond, IN. Harrah’s Entertainment purchased
the casino from Binion in 2004, and retained the name. However, in an effort to align itself
with the Chicago area, the casino is now known as the Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland).
The Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) underwent a $500 million renovation, which was
completed last year. On August 8, 2008 (8-8-08) entertainment diva Bette Midler hosted
and performed at the grand re-opening.
The Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) is the closest gaming facility in proximity to downtown
Chicago, which is just 16 miles away. In fact, the downtown skyline can be seen from many
parts of the casino, which is located along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
A large marina is adjacent to the casino, which holds many water craft. The casino is a
popular destination for boats which come to the resort from all over the region, especially
during summer months.
The casino is located less than a mile from the Indiana-Illinois border. The closest major
airport is Midway, on Chicago’s south side. Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is about an hour
away. The casino offers shuttle service to many parts of Chicago and the region.
The Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) draws visitors predominately from the Chicago area.
However, the WSOP Circuit attracts many players from all over Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, and Ohio.
This marks the second year that the Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) has hosted a WSOP
Circuit stop. Last year’s field came close to setting attendance records. A big turnout is
also expected this year, and the first event of the new 2009-2010 season did not
disappoint. The Horseshoe Casino (Chicagoland) has now hosted two of the three largest
WSOP Circuit tournaments in history.
The Horseshoe Casino poker room regularly holds 34 tables. However, the WSOP Circuit
took over the special events center called “The Venue.” This additional floor space holds 78
more poker tables. This means the Horseshoe Casino holds up to 112 poker tables
combined, making it the largest capacity facility of any WSOP Circuit event.
“The Venue” is regularly used for shows and attracts many of the biggest names in music
and entertainment. The Venue holds up to 3,000 people. But most of the theatre seating
was moved aside for nearly two weeks in favor of poker tables, all packed with players. In
just the last 14 months, The Venue has hosted the following performers:
Paul Anka
The Bee Gees
Lewis Black
Cedric the Entertainer
Alice Cooper
Bill Cosby
Robert Cray
Melissa Etheridge
Aretha Franklin
John Fogerty
Brad Garrett
Vince Gill
Eddie Griffin
Chris Isaak
Alicia Keys
B.B. King
Korn
Gladys Knight
Howie Mandel
Moody Blues
Liza Minelli
Wayne Newton
Don Rickles
Kenny Rogers
Seal
Sarah Silverman
Stone Temple Pilots
Hank Williams, Jr.
In addition, many other acts and top international stars have performed at The Venue.
This is one of two major poker tournaments held annually at the Horseshoe Casino. In
addition to the WSOP Circuit, the casino will be hosting the “Chicago Poker Classic,” to be
held February 26 through March 7, 2010. This tournament is expected to offer nine major
events, plus several second chance tournaments. Attractions include $350,000 in added
prize money, plus a brand new Porsche Cayman luxury car as the grand prize. A complete
schedule of the 2010 Chicago Poker Classic will be forwarded to media at the completion of
this year’s WSOP Circuit events.
__________________________________
HORSESHOE CASINO (CHICAGO)
Horseshoe Casino Senior Vice President and General Manager: Dan Nita
Director of Table Games: Jose Lebron
Poker Room Manager: Jason Newman
Special Events Manager: Amie Hill
Tournament Director: Charlie Ciresi
WORLD SERIES OF POKER
World Series of Poker President and Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
WSOP Vice President -- Ty Stewart
Director of Communications – Seth Palansky
Regional Vice President of Specialty Gaming -- Howard Greenbaum
WSOP Events Manager -- Angele Marshall
WSOP Marketing Manager – Elizabeth Anne Hill
WSOP Tournament Director – Jack Effel
WSOP Media Director – Nolan Dalla
