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WSOP Circuit series returns to California's Central Valley 

January 8, 2019 (Lincoln, CA) - The World Series of Poker Circuit arrives on Thursday at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California, northeast of Sacramento, returning to one of the Circuit's most popular venues.

Several big events highlight the official 12-day schedule, including the series-opening Event #1, a $400 buy-in, five-starting-flight event with a $300,000 guarantee. Adding to the fun and excitement are a $400 Monster Stack event, a $3,250 No-Limit High Roller tourney, and, late next week, the Circuit Thunder Valley $1,700 main event with its own $500,000 prizepool guarantee.

Thursday's opening-day play begins with two separate starting flights in Event #1, $400 No-Limit Hold'em $300,000 Guarantee. Starting flight 1A gets underway at 10 am, with starting flight 1B kicking off at 4 pm. Opening flights 1C and 1D follow a similar schedule on Friday, with the fifth and final opening flight beginning at noon on Saturday. The popular Monster Stack event offers two separate starting flights on Wednesday, January 16 and offers a $100,000 guaranteed prizepool, while Event #10: $3,250 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller, gets underway on Thursday, January 17 at 4 pm, launching a packed second weekend of Circuit play.

The centerpiece, of course, is the WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley main event: Event #11, $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em, offers two separate starting flights. Flight 11A starts at noon on Friday, January 18, while Flight 11B begins at noon on Saturday, January 19. Last year, Stockton, California's Hafiz Khan topped a 599-player field to win the championship ring and $188,686.

WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley will offer 13 ring events over its 12 total days of play, consisting of 12 open events plus the $250 Seniors NLHE (Thursday, January 17). Three non-hold'em events are on this Circuit stop's slate: Event #4: $400 H.O.R.S.E. begins on Monday, January 14; Event #6, $400 Omaha Hi-Lo 8-or-Better begins on Tuesday, January 15; and Event #12, $400 Pot-Limit Omaha, starts on Sunday, January 20.

The winner of this year's main event and the series' overall Casino Champion both earn free seats into next year’s GlobalCasino Championship. That Casino Champion honor is awarded to the player who earns the most overall points in the stop's 12 points-earning ring events.

Here's the full schedule of ring events for WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley:

• Event #1A: $400 No-Limit Hold'em / Flight 1 of 5 (Thursday, Jan. 10, 10 am) - 2 Day Event* - $300K Guarantee
  
• Event #1B: $400 No-Limit Hold'em / Flight 2 of 5 (Thursday, Jan. 10, 4 pm) - 2 Day Event* - $300K Guarantee
  
• Event #1C: $400 No-Limit Hold'em / Flight 3 of 5 (Friday, Jan. 11, 10 am) - 2 Day Event* - $300K Guarantee
• Event #1D: $400 No-Limit Hold'em / Flight 4 of 5 (Friday, Jan. 11, 4 pm) - 2 Day Event* - $300K Guarantee
  
• Event #1E: $400 No-Limit Hold'em / Flight 5 of 5 (Saturday, Jan. 12, 12 pm) - 2 Day Event* - $300K Guarantee
• Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Bounty Knockout (Sunday, Jan. 13, 11 am) - 1 Day Event - $40K Guarantee
  
• Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold’em (Monday, Jan. 14, 10 am) - 1 Day Event - $30K Guarantee
  
• Event #4: $400 H.O.R.S.E. (Monday, Jan. 14, 4 pm) - 1 Day Event
  
• Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed Turbo (Tuesday, Jan. 15, 10 am) - 1 Day Event - $30K Guarantee
  
• Event #6: $400 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (Tuesday, Jan. 15, 4 pm) - 1 Day Event - $30K Guarantee
  
• Event #7A: $400 No-Limit Holdem MONSTER STACK (Wednesday, Jan. 16, 11 am) - 2 Day Event - $100K Guarantee
• Event #7B: $400 No-Limit Holdem MONSTER STACK (Wednesday, Jan. 16, 11 am) - 2 Day Event - $100K Guarantee
• Event #8: $250 No-Limit Hold’em SENIORS (Thursday, Jan. 17, 9 am) - 1 Day Event
  
• Event #9: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo (Thursday, Jan. 17, 10 am) - 1 Day Event - $50K Guarantee
• Event #10: $3,250 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller (Thursday, Jan. 17, 4 pm) - 2 Day Event 
• Event #11A: $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em MAIN EVENT / Flight 1 of 2 (Friday, Jan. 18, 12 pm) - 3 Day Event** - $500K Guarantee
  
• Event #11B: $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em MAIN EVENT / Flight 2 of 2 (Saturday, Jan. 19, 12 pm) - 3 Day Event** - $500K Guarantee
  
• Event #12: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha (Sunday, Jan. 20, 11 am) - 1 Day Event 
  
• Event #13: $1,125 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed (Sunday, Jan. 10, 4 pm) - 2 Day Event
  

* Day 2 of Event #1, when survivors of all starting flights are combined, takes place on Sunday, January 13.

** Day 2 of Event #11 is Sunday, January 20. Day 3 is Monday, January 21.

Click here for the complete schedule of events at WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley.