Hey Matt, I am guessing you guys will leave off Hollywood Indiana next year?

Hollywood Indiana is back on the schedule.

Agree on this in some properties and not in others. I think Commerce, Bellagio, and maybe Florida should still be $10,000. It is still up to the casino to choose their buy-in but it is being discussed.

Yes, is all I can say for now

Yes, Hollywood is actually a great partner and they were really excited about their first event. It is the only event on the WPT in the Midwest so I would like to see this event succeed!

Can you come back to Tunica?

Never been to the area but looking forward to going to Beau Rivage in Biloxi, aren't they close?

about 5-6 hour drive. WPT used to be in tunica til they moved to the Beau The Goldstrikes World Poker Open has been dead since the WPT left. Of couse since the Horseshoe and Harrahs are out that would only leave the Goldstrike or Samstown to hold the tourney in.

Grats Matt,

Is the WPT ever planning on coming back to Canada? WPT Fallsview got the ax (i think because of problems with the government here in ontario but i could be wrong) but there is still Montreal or Vancouver to consider.

Would love it and will definitely check into the possibility!

What a nice guy. never really met him, just said hi couple of times, and he instantly answered my question via twitter. This is kinda funny of course:

They are about 6 hours apart. The Beau Rivage is right on the Gulf Coast and one of the nicest properties in the area. A good choice for a stop.

Matt,

You're having your press conference tomorrow about the upcoming WPT season?

Yes, at 11:00am

The press conference will also be available on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wpt-press-conference

More importantly for some, it also means the return of Kimberly Lansing to the World Poker Tour, and the Royal Flush Girls.

what time zone?

Bellagio time PST

Put me in Matt, I've got hoop dreams!

Stream is live, should start shortly:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wpt-press-conference

Highlights of press conference:

Mike and Vince will be at every day 1, along with the final table
Updated website and online presence
WPT will show tournament action throughout, not just FT
Introduces Kimberly Lansing as the anchor of the WPT (ie. Bob Costas at Olympics)
Introduces Royal Flush Girls

What TV channel will they be on?

Is it still two one-hour segments on Fox Sports?

That wasn't part of the press conference.

WORLD POKER TOUR NAMES KIMBERLY LANSING TO NEWLY CREATED ANCHOR POSITION;
DEBUTS ROYAL FLUSH GIRLS

Matt Savage Officially Introduced As Executive Tour Director


For Immediate Release
www.worldpokertour.com
Facebook.com/worldpokertour
Twitter: wptliveupdates

LAS VEGAS (JULY 10, 2010) -- At a press conference earlier today at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, site of the WPT Bellagio Cup VI, World Poker Tour® (WPT) CEO Steve Heller and WPT President Adam Pliska announced a series of new elements and innovations to Season IX of the World Poker Tour and hinted that more additions are on the way.

“This is an exciting year for WPT,” said Heller. “WPT has always been an innovator of poker and today we are pleased to reveal the first in a series of new additions throughout the season that will enhance the entire WPT experience.”

Three changes were highlighted at this event:

New On Air Enhancements
This season WPT will introduce a television anchor position reminiscent of other large sporting events and unlike any other poker television programs. Kimberly Lansing, a familiar face to the WPT and a favorite of the poker community, will return to the WPT in this new position. In this role, Kimberly will serve as the central hub of the action. She will provide show opens, breaks, commentary and perspective, including player interviews that will serve to bring out the human interest side of playing for high stakes. As a poker player and successful television hostess, Kimberly will capture the action throughout the event and provide a dynamic balance with the “on the field” commentary of Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten.

“We believe the WPT anchor represents a significant step forward in poker programming and Kimberly is a natural fit for the position. Her charisma, style, professionalism and knowledge of the sport have earned her the respect and attention of players throughout the poker community,” said Pliska.

The WPT also announced that in addition to being at every final table, commentators Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten will now attend Day 1 of every U.S.-based WPT event. This big change will allow the legendary pairing to interact with fans, increase on-site promotional opportunities and offer more coverage and analysis of each tournament from the first flop to the last river card hits the table.

Executive Tour Director
Saturday marked the formal introduction of Matt Savage as WPT’s Executive Tour Director. A longtime poker veteran and one of the world’s most renowned poker voices, Matt was the inaugural recipient of the Benny Binion Award for outstanding service in the poker industry and is respected throughout the poker community. Since word first got out of Matt’s appointment, WPT has been inundated with positive feedback.

In the new role, Matt will serve as the liaison between casino tournament directors and WPT, advocating on behalf of players and working to ensure that the needs of WPT’s casino partners are met as a part of the WPT’s continued growth.

“There are so many exciting changes at the World Poker Tour and I’m looking forward to having a big role in the WPT’s continued success,” said Savage. “This is an amazing team and I’m proud to be working with them.”

The Royal Flush Girls
The announcement of WPT’s Royal Flush Girls captured a tremendous amount of attention on Saturday. Part television celebrities and part WPT event ambassadors, the WPT Royal Flush Girls will be on-site for the duration of every tournament. Appearing in every episode of the new season, they will take TV viewers behind the scenes and promise to make for an even more impressive money presentation. The models are not only beautiful; they are diverse personalities that viewers and players will come to know throughout the season.

“Each Royal Flush Girl is American with blended ethnic origins of both Europe and Asia. They represent not only our increasingly integrated world, but the global spirit of the World Poker Tour,” said Heller.

“The Royal Flush girls are sexy, fun and approachable,” said Pliska. “They are a new brand of poker celebrity that fans will come to know from TV and the web, and thoroughly enjoy interacting with at each of the WPT events.”

Four of the six Royal Flush Girls will appear at each WPT stop (in alphabetical order):

Michelle Banzer:

o 2007 Miss Kentucky USA
o Graduated from the University of Louisville with a focus in Computer Information Systems and wants a career fighting crime with computer forensics
o Speaks fluent Vietnamese
o Works with Christmas charities to bring holiday gifts to impoverished children


Melyssa Grace:

o She is the one Royal Flush Girl you most want in the driver’s seat --- she builds and races Formula Drift cars
o The San Diego resident grew up in Hawaii
o Speaks fluent Spanish


Jennifer Haley:

o Triple-majored at the University of California-Irvine in Criminology, Biology and Dance
o Launched a comedic theatre company Hollywood, CA
o Has been dancing since she was 8


Melanie Iglesias:

o Edgy New Yorker, definitely the Royal Flush girl with most attitude
o Singer/songwriter currently working on her debut album
o One of eight kids, she longs to have a large family
o Rides dirtbikes and is a passionate NBA fan


Sunisa Kim:

o Featured on the cover of FHM Singapore
o Holds a Business Economics degree from California State University-Long Beach.


Katrina Topacio:

o Was handpicked by genetics to be a model -- by the age of 12, she was already 5’9”
o A graduate of UC-Irvine, she has a degree in Business Economics.
o Volunteers for “Reading to Kids” program for inner-city youth in Los Angeles.

WPT CHAMPIONSHIP
-- NO LIMIT HOLDEM
EVENT #23 @ 1PM – ((DAY 1A & 1B))
Friday & Saturday – August 20th & 21st Buy-in $4800 + $200 Entry Fee
Each player receives 25,000 in tournament chips,
Players must present their Bicycle Casino Rewards Club Card to register
Level Ante Small Bl ind Big Blind Time
1 - 5 0 10 0 90 minutes
2 - 7 5 15 0 90 minutes
3 - 100 20 0 90 minutes
4 2 5 100 20 0 90 minutes
5 5 0 150 30 0 90 minutes
6 5 0 200 40 0 90 minutes
7 7 5 300 60 0 90 minutes
8 100 400 80 0 90 minutes
9 100 500 1 ,000 90 minutes
10 200 600 1 ,200 90 minutes
11 200 800 1 ,600 90 minutes
12 300 1 ,0 00 2 ,000 90 minutes
13 400 1 ,2 00 2 ,400 90 minutes
14 500 1 ,5 00 3 ,000 90 minutes
15 500 2 ,0 00 4 ,000 90 minutes
16 500 2 ,5 00 5 ,000 90 minutes
17 1,00 0 3 ,0 00 6 ,000 90 minutes
18 1,00 0 4 ,0 00 8 ,000 90 minutes
19 1,00 0 5 ,0 00 10 ,0 00 90 minutes
20 2,00 0 6 ,0 00 12 ,0 00 90 minutes
21 2,00 0 8 ,0 00 16 ,0 00 90 minutes
22 3,00 0 10,00 0 20 ,0 00 90 minutes
23 4,00 0 12,00 0 24 ,0 00 90 minutes
24 5,00 0 15,00 0 30 ,0 00 90 minutes
25 5,00 0 20,00 0 40 ,0 00 90 minutes
26 5,00 0 25,00 0 50 ,0 00 90 minutes
27 1 0,00 0 30,00 0 60 ,0 00 90 minutes
There will be a 10-minute break after each level. Tournament starts with 9 handed tables.
Day 1 & 2 will play 7 levels, Day 3 will play down to 27 players or 7 levels whichever comes first.
Day 4 will play down to 6 players, Day 5 will play until the conclusion.
We will redraw at the end of each day, then again at 27 players and at 10 players.
The duration of play maybe altered at the Tournament Director’s discretion
in order to meet with the televised taping schedule.
Dinner break will be 7:30pm to 8:30pm