Originally Posted by NoGimmicks
Verona, NY – (June 7, 2011) Heartland Poker Tour officials announced plans for an East Coast stop this August at one of the most-requested venues on the nationally-televised poker tour. Poker players from throughout the U.S. aggressively campaigned for another HPT event at the upscale Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. In the main event, players can count on a half a million dollars in the prize pool. Guarantees for other events in the series leading up to the main event will bring payouts to at least a million dollars at Turning Stone this summer.
“The players spoke,” said HPT President Todd Anderson, “Thanks to our friends at Turning Stone, we're going to make our much-anticipated return to Upstate New York very profitable for some fortunate players."
HPT has visited Turning Stone a handful of times since 2007, attracting casual players and pros to the 18-and-over venue. Adam Junglen, Tyler Reimer, and Jason Somerville all found themselves on national TV at previous stops. The young up-and-coming players went on to make names for themselves, and healthy bank accounts, in the poker industry.
“It’s no secret why our players love this event,” said Executive Producer Greg Lang, “Players as young as 18 have a shot at taking down a major televised tournament and the property is second to none.” A destination resort in Upstate New York, Turning Stone attracts more than four million visitors each year with world-class gaming, upscale hotel rooms and suites, multiple championship golf courses, an indoor golf training center, 19 restaurants, first-class spas, a dance club and a sports pavilion with indoor tennis and racquetball courts.
“Turning Stone Resort Casino is pleased to continue our partnership with HPT and excited to offer a $500,000 guarantee for the main event, ensuring that this will be the biggest HPT event we have ever hosted,” said Turning Stone’s Director of Poker Operations, Jason DiBenedetto. “We are confident that the players, their guests and poker fans will enjoy all of the amenities that our resort has to offer.”
Now filming its seventh season, HPT invites poker enthusiasts to compete for a chance to play poker on TV and win “life-changing money.” To date, HPT has awarded 29 million dollars and produced 170 hours of television programming. Executive Producer Greg Lang says the appeal of HPT is “part reality TV, part sporting event, except it’s an open casting call for anyone interested in playing.”
Beginning June 19, players seated in live games at Turning Stone are eligible to win free seats into all events in the series with guarantees from $10,000 to $100,000, as well as the $500,000-guaranteed televised main event. Players can also enter through qualifying rounds beginning June 31st. Players may buy directly into the main event on Saturday, August 13th, with play continuing until the field is reduced to six on Sunday. The remaining six will return on Monday to participate in on-camera interviews and compete for a six-figure first-place prize. The event at Turning Stone will be produced into two episodes and broadcast in the fall. Heartland Poker Tour is available on TV in over 100 million US households, in addition to widespread distribution throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.
Structures and schedules for the upcoming event will be available soon at HPTpoker.com. Highlights include:
Monday, August 8th: $100,000 prize pool guarantee; $350 buy in
Wednesday, August 10th: $150,000 prize pool guarantee; $1,090 buy in
Saturday, August 13th: $500,000 prize pool guarantee, televised main event day 1; $1650 buy in
Sunday, August 14th: televised main event day 2
Monday, August 15th: TV final table
Friday, August 19th: $100,000 prize pool guarantee; $350 buy i