HARVEYS LAKE TAHOE WSOP CIRCUIT EVENT MIDWAY RECAP

While all of the poker world’s attention over the past week had been focused on the outcome of the WSOP Main Event, a much more modest, yet no less competitive tournament has reached its mid-point among the pines and beautiful mountain backdrop of pristine Lake Tahoe, NV. 

The 9th of 18 tournaments scheduled at The World Series of Poker Circuit Events at the poker room inside Harveys Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino had drawn to its conclusion Tuesday as Dan Hinkle of Roseville, CA took down the $340 buy-in mixed Pot-Limit Hold’em/Omaha event in the wee hours to win $5,379 and a World Series of Poker Circuit Event Ring.

The one-day event saw the 22-year old business student beating out 52 other players in one of the Circuit Events’ smaller tournaments. Longtime poker columnist and humorist Max Shapiro was on hand to provide coverage.

Click here to read Shapiro’s final report on this event.

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner, Frankie O’Dell’s Hi/Lo Cakewalk

2003 $1,500 and 2007 $2,000 Omaha Hi/Lo WSOP bracelet winner, Frankie O'Dell, bullied his opponents to take down event 5, $340 Omaha Hi/Lo Sunday, earning him an easy 10 grand.  Full results and report available here.

Harveys Lake Tahoe Circuit Event showcases an array of poker variations

Harveys Lake Tahoe is one of the more unique of the 11-stop Circuit Events with the most non-NLH tournaments on its schedule.

One of poker’s most rare offerings, $340 Limit Crazy Pineapple Hi-Lo is scheduled to take place 5 p.m. Wednesday in the poker room at Harveys.

Crazy Pineapple is an exciting member of the hold’em family of poker games. Like hold’em, there is a flop, turn and river. Unlike hold’em, each player is dealt three hole cards, one of which must be discarded after the flop.

Harveys Lake Tahoe Circuit Main Event ($5,150 buy-in)

The final event of the Harveys Lake Tahoe Circuit is the $5,150 buy-in main event. 2006 WSOP Main Event 3rd place finisher, Michael Binger, is the current reigning champion of the two-day tournament.

In a bit of pre-Moneymaker poker nostalgia, a professional has been the reigning champion of the Harveys Lake Tahoe Circuit Main Event for the past two years with Chris Ferguson winning the title in 2007. It will be interesting to see whether the pros’ success in Tahoe will continue through 2009.

Visit the Circuit Event news section on the WSOP.com homepage for full results on all of  the Circuit Event action taking place at Harveys Lake Tahoe through November 17. The next circuit event takes place at Harrah’s Atlantic City on December 4th and runs through December 20th.