JASON REEP CROSSES THE FINISH LINE AT WEST PALM BEACH
Jason Reep Rides Away with HORSE Championship

Monster Holiday Weekend in South Florida Produces Three Gold Ring Winners

WSOP Circuit Action at Palm Beach Kennel Club Continues through Feb. 28th


West Palm Beach, FL (February 20 2012) – The finale of the HORSE championship was overshadowed perhaps during what was unquestionably the biggest weekend in Florida’s relatively short history as a hotbed of major tournaments.

On the same breezy night HORSE players were battling for their fair share of a sizable prize pool topped off by a shiny-new WSOP Circuit gold ring, about 100 feet away three women were battling for their own gold ring – plus nearly twice as much prize money.  The spectacle of three females overcoming a sizable field comprised of about 95 percent men was a rare right indeed.  It marked the first time ever that three women had taken the top three spots in a major poker tournament.

Then, on the other side of the arena was the “One Million Dollar Guarantee” No-Limit Hold’em finale -- which was also held within shouting distance.  A door-busting $2,607 bodies slammed through the doors at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, making it the second-largest poker event ever in WSOP Circuit history.  The prize pool also set a new record, at $1,250,345.

This is the atmosphere that the HORSE finale was played in, an almost surreal manifestation of poker renaissance unique to the Sunshine State.

Rising above all the rest in the HORSE mix was Jason Reep, from nearby Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Reep collected $17,279 in prize money.  For his victory, Reep was presented with the coveted gold ring, which is the ultimate token of achievement for winning a WSOP Circuit tournament.  

This was the third of 12 gold ring events on the WSOP Circuit schedule at West Palm Beach.  Turnout was the highest of any HORSE event played in the WSOP Circuit this season.  Officially listed as Event #3 -- the $345 buy-in HORSE tournament attracted 247 entries – a healthy field size in the modern age where No-Limit Hold’em is customarily king.  The total prize pool came to $70,527.  The top 27 players were paid.  All players who cashed received WSOP Circuit National Championship ranking points.

A full list of all players that cashed in Event #3 can be seen at WSOP.COM

The first day’s action resulted in the elimination of ninety percent of the starting players.  There were only 29 survivors who resumed action on Day Two.  After another few hours of play, the field was trimmed down to the final table.  The nine finalists and their starting chip counts were as follows:

SEAT 1:  Ralph Broderick (Boynton Beach, FL) – 159,000 in chips
SEAT 2:  Nick Gelsomino (Deerfield Beach, FL) – 280,000 in chips
SEAT 3:  Chris Bigler (Las Vegas, NV) – 580,000 in chips
SEAT 4:  Chris Brown (Miami, FL) – 159,000 in chips
SEAT 5:  Manny Minaya (Tampa, FL) – 325,000 in chips
SEAT 6:  Jason Reep (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) – 296,000 in chips
SEAT 7:  David “Birdman” Fried (Las Vegas, NV) – 250,000 in chips
SEAT 8:  Joe Palma (Bensalem, PA) – 145,000 in chips
SEAT 9:  Steve Allen (Bradenton, FL) – 250,000 in chips

It took Reep about six hours to vanquish his final foe and win his first WSOP-related title.

With his victory, Reep moves into the top spot along with two other previous winners as the early leaders in this WSOP Circuit’s “Best All-Around Player” standings.  The player who accumulates the most overall points in Caesars Palace’s twelve combined gold ring tournaments receives a pre-paid entry into the $1 million 2011-2012 WSOP Circuit National Championship.  At least two players from this tournament series will qualify for the WSOP Circuit National Championship, which is classified as a WSOP gold bracelet event.  The other automatic qualifier will be the winner of Main Event championship (Jan. 27-30).

With three tournaments wrapped up, there are still nine more gold ring events remaining in what is being billed as a “12 rings in 12 days” poker series.  The WSOP Circuit at the Palm Beach Kennel Club continues through February 27th.  This year’s schedule includes not only all the gold ring events, but multiple second-chance tournaments, single table and mega satellites, plus cash games going around the clock inside the action-packed poker room

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MORE ABOUT THE WSOP CIRCUIT AT PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB

This marks the second consecutive season that the Palm Beach Kennel Club (PBKC) has hosted a WSOP Circuit stop.  Last year’s attendance and prize pool figures were so strong, that the decision to return once again to sunny South Florida once again was inevitable.

Indeed, PBKC continues to distance itself from the other dogs in Florida’s highly-competitive poker race.  This year, PBKC will be hosting 12 WSOP Circuit gold ring poker tournaments over a two-week period.  Tournaments officially began on Thursday, February 16th with Event #1 – which included a one-million dollar guarantee.  This marked the first time in history that any tournament of that size ($500 buy-in) offered a guaranteed million-dollar payout.

The following 12 days are sure to be packed with multiple tournaments and around-the-clock cash-game action.  The poker festival concludes on February 28th with the final table of the $1,600 buy-in Main Event Championship.
 
“Florida poker has officially arrived and partnering with the World Series of Poker is as special as it gets," said Noah Carbonne, Director of Poker Operations for the Palm Beach Kennel Club.  "We're thrilled to be involved with the Rolls Royce of poker – which is the WSOP.  For all of us here at the Palm Beach Kennel Club, the State of Florida, and most importantly the thousands of poker players here in the southeast as well as those attending from around the country, we are ready to make history – especially with our million-dollar guarantee, which has never been offered before for an event of its size.”

Gold ring tournaments are only a fraction of what’s on the poker menu at the Palm Beach Kennel Club.  Second-chance No-Limit Hold’em tournaments will be running from day one.  The deep-stack tournaments will cost $235 to enter and begin nightly at 7 pm.  Satellites for all gold ring tournaments will also be going regularly inside the poker room.  Several mega-satellites for the Main Event Championship will also be offered.

The PBKC initially opened in 1932, making it one of the oldest pari-mutual racetracks in the country.  Owned and operated by the famous Rooney Family (which also owns the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers), the track has been a popular attraction and a leisurely way to spend an afternoon for locals and visitors alike.  Known for its live greyhound racing and simulcasts from numerous racetracks all over the country, PBKC jettisoned into a new era last year when it expanded its poker facility, which is now one of the largest poker rooms in Florida.

About a year ago, PBKC expanded its poker operations to include 64 tournament tables.  PBKC is the first dog track to ever host a WSOP-related tournament.  Each final table takes place in a premium location near the main grandstand, which enables everyone close to the poker action to cheer on the greyhounds, as well.  Naturally, betting windows will be close by for those who want to mix in some racing action with poker playing.  Dog races take place most days starting at 1 pm.  There are also dog races nightly on weekends.
 
PBKC is conveniently located just steps away from the West Palm Beach international Airport, which offers direct flights from all over the country.  Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is also close by.  Several hotels are situated near the dog track and poker facility, to accommodate all budgets.  The cardroom offers regular shuttle service to and from at least three nearby hotels.  Special hotel rate packages for poker players are available.
 
It’s not too late to be part of the biggest poker event in Florida history.  West Palm Beach is well-known for its sandy white beaches, luxury hotels, fine restaurants, great shopping, and plenty of sunshine.  And now, there will be great poker action around the clock at the PBKC.  The complete schedule and structure sheets for all events can be viewed at WSOP.COM
 
PBKC is the 11th of 17 WSOP Circuit stops this season.  All players over age 21 are eligible to compete for a seat in the $1 million freeroll event which crowns the WSOP Circuit National Championship point race.  This season's top 100 players who qualify will compete in the first-ever nationally-televised championship, which will take place in Las Vegas, in May 2012.  The winner of that extraordinary event will receive the most coveted prize in all of poker, a WSOP gold bracelet.