A Short History of the Bayou Poker Challenge and World Series of Poker Circuit at Harrah’s New Orleans
This marks the sixth year of the Bayou Poker Challenge, which is held annually each May at Harrah’s New Orleans. The two-week long tournament series is part of the World Series of Poker Circuit. The Bayou Poker Challenge is one of the South’s largest and most prestigious poker tournaments. It has awarded in excess of $15 million in prize money since its creation.
The first major poker tournament ever at Harrah’s New Orleans was called the “Cajun Poker Classic,” which took place in early 2004. The three-day tournament attracted 536 players and inspired the casino to host more poker events. Later that year, the first Bayou Poker Challenge was held, which consisted of six tournaments.
Next, Harrah’s New Orleans became a charter member of the World Series of Poker Circuits, which officially started play in 2005. Since then, New Orleans has hosted the final stop on the circuit each and every year, which takes place in mid-May just prior to the start of the WSOP at the Rio in Las Vegas. The first two WSOP Circuit championships held at Harrah’s New Orleans were televised by ESPN and were among the most exciting tournaments broadcast at the time. They still occasionally appear in re-runs to this day.
WSOP Circuit events in New Orleans proved to be so successful that a second tournament series was created, starting in 2007. This became known as the “Bayou Winter Bayou Poker Challenge,” which has since become a pre-holiday attraction. The December series is categorized as a World Series of Poker Satellite, since its Main Event winner earns an entry valued at $10,000 seat (plus expense money) into the WSOP championship, held the following year.
Bayou Poker Challenge results and statistics are included in the historical records of WSOP Circuit events. Each winner receives a gold ring, which is the customary prize awarded for a victory in most WSOP Circuit events. The Bayou Poker Challenge has proven to be a popular attraction for many poker players, who mostly come to the Crescent City from the states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and surrounding areas. The 2005 BPC consisted of eight events. The 2006 BPC had seen events. The 2007 series had 12 events. The 2008 BPC increased to 15 events. In 2009, there were 20 events. This year’s Bayou Poker Challenge offers a full schedule of 19-events — including a senior’s event and a ladies event. In addition, this year’s series from May 7-19 includes nightly $230 buy-in tournaments, which brings the total number of competitive events up to 33. This does not include dozens of mega- and single-table satellites, as well as live action (cash games) held inside the 23-table poker room which operates 24 hours a day.
For the very first time, this year’s WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s New Orleans will also offer its own version of the Tournament of Champions. All players to make it to the final table of any gold ring event are eligible to play in a freeroll for seats in the $5,000 buy-in Main Event. The mega-satellite freeroll will give away six seats in the championship event which will be played May 17-19.
All of the poker tournament action takes place inside the Harrah’s New Orleans amphitheatre, which regularly hosts many of the most popular performers in music and entertainment. But in May, the real stars at Harrah’s New Orleans are poker players.
PREVIOUS BAYOU POKER CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS:
2005 – Walter Chambers (Baton Rouge, LA)….259 players….won $787,340
2006 – Peter Feldman (Harper Woods, MI)….170 players….won $532,950 *
2007 – Lou “the Big Easy” Esposito (Glendale, NY)….346 players….won $516,801
2008 – Nick Ceci (Peachtree City, GA)….249 players….won $382,928
2009 – Jean “Prince” Gaspard (Evanston, IL)….167 players….won $211,722
* The buy-in for the championship event was $10,000 in 2005 and 2006. Since 2007, the buy-in has been $5,000.
2010 Harrah’s New Orleans WSOP Circuit Events Schedule and Results
Tournament Director – Steve Frezer
General Manager of Harrah’s New Orleans — Jim Hoskins
Vice President of Marketing – Sandie McNamara
Director of Table Games – Tosha Skipper
Shift Manager of Harrah’s New Orleans – Larry Barrett
Special Events – Gretchen Holzhauser
Tags: 2010 wsop circuit events, Harrah's New Orleans, no limit holdem, poker tournament results, wsop circuit events
