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HARRAH'S PHILADELPHIA SET TO HOST WSOP CIRCUIT EVENTS APRIL 25 - MAY 6
CHESTER, PA - Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack may be known for the best harness racing action along the East Coast, but over the next two weeks, it won’t be the horses taking center stage, but the World Series of Poker Circuit Events’ top grinders as they take the WSOP National Championship points race down the final stretch.
This is the third year that Harrah’s Philadelphia will host the WSOP Circuit Events, which takes place April 25 – May 6, 2013. With over $500,000 in guaranteed prize money and a wave of late-minute National Championship points chasers from around the country expected to fill the poker venue, tournament organizers have for months been preparing for what could be the largest tournament series ever held at Harrah’s Philly.
“Since January, we’ve been giving away seats to our Ring Events and have given 100 seats to our Main Event satellite on May 3rd,” said tournament director, Dave Bartole.
“We’ve been marketing the event on radio, billboards and social media and will have up to 70 tables available here at the venue. We’re looking forward to a great series.”
Players will look to earn points toward a seat to the WSOP National Championship by cashing in each of the 12 official Ring Events to be held at Harrah’s Philadelphia, which is located just 12 minutes from Philadelphia International Airport.
The top 60 point earners will join 40 Main Event and Casino Champion winners from each of this season’s 20 Circuit stops at the National Championship to be held at Harrah’s New Orleans May 22-24. Up for grabs are the WSOP Bracelet and a share of a $1 million prize pool put up by Caesars Interactive Entertainment.
An additional 100 POY qualifiers from the annual WSOP and WSOP Europe events will be eligible to buy-in to the ESPN-televised event for $10,000 each, which will put the total prize pool well over the $1 million mark. Last year’s National Championship generated $1,570,000 in prize money.
The first official Ring Event of this year’s Circuit series at Harrah’s Philadelphia, a $365 No-Limit Hold’em Event, begins Thursday, April 25th and will be followed by the $365 buy-in Re-entry event on Friday, April 26th.
The $1,600 buy-in Harrah’s Philadelphia WSOP Circuit Main Event begins at 11am on Saturday May 4th and will feature a $300,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Last year’s Main Event champion was Christopher Bonn, a radiology assistant from nearby East Lansdowne, PA. Bonn took home $109,760 for the win.
Other events scheduled for this year’s Circuit Series at Harrah’s Philadelphia include a $365 buy-in H.O.S.E. Ring Event on Tuesday, April 30th and the Ladies Event, which kicks off Sunday, May 5th.
WSOP.com will be closely following the National Championship points chase at Harrah’s Philadelphia with updates and will track which of the top at-large contenders are competing at the Philly Circuit stop.
Learn more about the WSOP National Championship and view the current points leader board here.
The nearby Days Inn Hotel is offering a special WSOP room rate. Call (610) 876-7211 and mention the WSOP. The Best Western Hotel, located near Harrah’s, is also offering a special rate for WSOP players. Call (610) 872-8100 and mention WSOP.
