A friend of mine who is a manager at the Seneca Niagara poker room up in Niagara Falls gave me the heads up on a schedule of tournaments coming up at the end of April... Apparently, Deepstacks University will be coming to town (Mike Matasow, Mike Mizrachi, and a couple of others) surrounding a $1300 main event tournament on Saturday, April 30th. 20,000 in chips, 60 minute rounds, $150,000 guaranteed prize pool, and bounties on the heads of the pros. There are also smaller buy-in, yet better structured tournaments in the few days leading up to that main event. For those who are familiar with Seneca Niagara, it is to note that there are also some capital improvements going into the room before this week. Also, for those in Canada who play the tournaments, someone will be on hand to help with all the paperwork associated with getting back the 30% tax that that comes with tournament winnings in the room. More information should be posted on the website within the next week or so, along with a facebook page for the room.

From someone who has played in that room before, this is probably the best event they've held in their 6 or 7 years they've been open. There hasn't been much to post about on here in recent years for their tournaments. This, however, looks like something worth entering for a change. I'll post updates whenever I hear something. Anyone within a reasonable distance of WNY planning on attending?

Deepstacks University website lists the event, but the Seneca website doesn't. Hmm... Hopefully advertisement falls through, and they attract less runners than the $150,000 guarantee! +EV!

Thanks for posting the news. I look forward to playing in this.

I saw it advertised in a magazine... Bluff maybe? The dates were different, but I heard it got moved up to these dates. So it's happening.

Yayyy. Brag: I'll be there defending my October matusow tourney title

Also, I've heard the poker room is going to be giving away seats/adding seats into satellites that they're going to be running starting within the next few weeks. Another rumour I heard the other night was they might be giving away seats through drawings, as well. Can't confirm/deny any of it right now, but I'll keep everyone posted. My next trip up there might be Presidents Day weekend...

I talked briefly with The Grinder last night and he said he'd be in attendance for this. Hopefully FT runs sats to this like the Reno event.

I will definitely be there.

Are you close with the Grinder?

No but he said he'd be there so I have to imagine they will duplicate the reno format and have sats on Tilt.

I think I'll be playing in this event, as well, hopefully getting in through satellites. (Should be running shortly) I've heard some other rumors surrounding the poker room. Apparently, talk of letting 18-21 year olds has surfaced. Not sure how it's coming along, but trying to get enough runners for the $1500 event to meet the $150,000 guaranteed prize pool is a top priority in the room. Someone told me Turning Stone has alcohol now, and they still let minors in. Can anyone confirm this? Syracuse University > University of Buffalo, so I'm not sure what opening the doors to minors will do. Either way, I welcome the younger crowd on any table I'm playing at...

Turning Stone now has alcohol, served in the Poker Room, I have not noted any change in the age of players, nor heard any comments, it must be the servers decision on age, or perhaps they are serving the 18's?

Update on this tournament: Super satellites will run on Fridays, @8:00pm, and Sundays@2:00pm from now until the end of April, when the event is scheduled. Here is the scoop: the buy-in for the super satellites will be $55, and the house is kicking in $1000 to every prize pool of the super. For every $165 in the super satellite prize pool, 1 seat will be awarded to the main qualifier, which will take place on Saturdays, starting on March 12th. (or you can buy into the main qualifier for $165 directly, but with $1000 extra being thrown into the super satellites, it's probably +EV to take a shot at winning a $165 seat there). Basically, 6 seats are going to be awarded no matter what... ($1000/$165 = 6 seats), and 1 additional seat for every 3 buy-ins of $55. Satellite ends once the awarded seat number bubble has burst. (For instance, if 30 people show up, thats $55x30 for $1650, + 1000 for a total of $2650. This will award 16 seats for the $165 main qualifier on Saturdays, and the leftover money goes to 17th place) For the main qualifier on Saturdays, 1 in every 10 are going to win a seat into the $1500 event to be played on April 30th/May 1st (day 2). Winners in the super satellites will be given a ticket to play in a Saturday main qualifier of their choosing. Additional information is coming. (i.e. structure of the super satellites, main qualifier, and the actual $1500 main event) From what I know, the main event is 20,000 in chips with 60 minute rounds, and the super satellites are 2500 in chips with 12 minute rounds. The exact blind levels will be posted shortly for all events.

Just as I thought, there were only 17 last night for the $55 super satellite, so by the time the house kicked in $1000, 11 of us received main qualifier tickets. Most of us are choosing not to use them today, so maybe next Saturday at 3pm for me. I might show up tomorrow at 2pm to
(hopefully) start racking up more tickets to the main qualifier for future weeks, unless I can nail it on my first try next Saturday...

I've noticed more and more people showing up for the $55 satellites the last couple of times they've been run. So far, close to 10 people have qualified for the $1500 main event being played April 30th, with over 5 weeks to go until the event, so for the first time in a long time that I can remember, Seneca is getting people into the event effectively, instead of waiting for the last minute to run satellites. I was hoping for a turnout of less than 110 players, (with the $150,000 guarantee, woulda been a real nice +EV if only 70-80 showed up) but it looks as tho they'll get over that number if the early interest in the satellites are any indication. Will keep everyone posted. Who on the forum still plans on being there that weekend? Send me a pm and maybe we can hook up on a table or something...

any word on if they're gonna let in 18-21 yr olds?

Just wanted to let everyone know that Deepstacks put on a great production at the Final Table of our World Poker Challenge main event. They had a production crew, hole cams, a 360 cam that was above the table, the whole nine yards. I would assume they are going to be doing the same thing there so if even if you not playing, you should definitely check it out.

Yeah Chris, I've noticed "live streaming" on all the advertisements, and wasn't sure what that was... Thank you for detailing it!

The live stream part is pretty intriguing, I hadn't even noticed that on the flier.

The satellites are going surprisingly well. Just yesterday they had 30 players for the $55 satellite at 2pm and then immediately afterward, ten of the 16 that won the $165 vouchers played a $165 single table for the seat to the main event.

Unfortunately, it looks as though that fell through. It's unfortunate with the University of Buffalo and Niagara close by with all that 18-20 year old money from their rich parents...

http://www.senecapoker.com/news/full...p?newsid=10038

This is the link to the structure of the satellites they've been running in the poker room. The structure for the $1500 main event is also listed below... Still waiting to win my seat into the big one. (2 for 2 on those $55 satellites)

Man I really wanna come out and play this event. Plane tix from Vegas too much!

Will try the $165 MT Sat today. Will definitely be there for the $1,500. Was in the room yesterday, a lot of excitement about this event and it's still a month away.

Can someone explain the 30% tax please?

I assume your talking about the 30% that is with held if you are from a foreign country that does not have a tax treaty with the US. I know for one example that if you are a Canadian citizen you will be taxed (have money taken out of what you won right away) 30% on your winnings because the US and Canada do not have a treaty. Whether you would be able to get that money back I don't know. A lot of players from different countries that do have a tax treaty get what is called an itin number which means international tax identification number. If you have one of those the 30% is not withheld. That number is like having a SSN.

Other than that I don't see why if you are a us citizen or have the itin number they would take that much from your poker winnings. Other states like Mississippi take out 3% of your winnings on anything that is taxable. California also takes a percentage out also but I don't know the exact amount but I believe it's 7% which you can get back if I'm not mistaken.