The PPC Poker Tour, which hosts US and destination poker events, recently concluded yet another successful stop at the Horseshoe Tunica and is now at Fort Pierce Jai-Alai and Poker in Florida for the 2014 Fort Pierce Poker Open. The three-event series will feature a $250 buy-in, $50,000 guarantee Main Event, which will run Sept. 4-7.
“This will be our third series at Fort Pierce Jai-Alai and Poker and every series continues to grow,” said Sandy Swartzbaugh, Commissioner of the PPC. “The Spring Classic in March was a huge success with over $76,000 in the Main Event prize pool and four players winning PPC Aruba packages. The staff is a pleasure to work with and the players are great.”
From there, the PPC Poker Tour will head to the Silks Poker Room at Tampa Bay Downs from Sept. 17-21 for the 2014 PPC Tampa Downs Fall Classic, a four-event series that will feature a $175 buy-in $50,000 guaranteed Main Event. The stop also gives players a last chance opportunity to qualify for the PPC Aruba Championship Oct 15-21.
“After hosting a record breaking PPC NAC event in July, we are excited to give our players one more chance to win packages to join the PPC in Aruba for the World Championship,” said Patrick Murphy, Director of Poker, Tampa Bay Downs Silks Poker Room. “The players and the staff always look forward to the PPC making a stop at The Silks.”
Speaking of the PPC Aruba World Championship, which will take place from Oct. 15-21, 2014 at the Radisson Aruba Resort and culminate in a $2,200 buy-in, $200,000 Guarantee Main Event, the PPC Poker Tour has already qualified 60 players for the headline tournament. That means there is already $120,000 in the prize pool before the series has even started.
“The PPC Poker Tour will send its most players to Aruba this year by far. It’s crazy to think 80-90 players will have won PPC Aruba Main Event packages from our stops before we land in Aruba,” said Swartzbaugh. “Launching the $200,000 Main Event with over $150,000 in prize pool is very exciting. Mix in the allure of Aruba and we are looking forward to our biggest field yet. This year will be one crazy ‘poker-cation.’”
In 2013, Germany’s Robin Kazemieh took down the title and a $59,139 first-place prize. 2012. This year, World Poker Tour Player of the Year Joe Serock, who won the 2012 PPC Aruba Championship and finished third in 2013, will be in attendance, as will PPC pros Joe Ebanks, Alex Outhred, Mark “P0ker H0? Kroon, and Ronnie Bardah.
Tournament organizers are expecting between 200-250 players for the Main Event, which is considerably more than 2012’s 31 players and 2013’s 88. Those who make the trip to Aruba* will be able to attend a Gusto VIP Party on Oct. 15 hosted by Serock.
*The PPC has arranged special hotel rates at the host Radisson Aruba, Rui Palace Resort (all-inclusive), and The Mill Resort Aruba. Contact PPC travel agent Bridget Stein at (561) 883-3523 or bridget@ppcpokertour.com to make reservations.
In addition to the Main Event, which will be covered live by PokerNews for the second year in a row, the PPC Aruba will feature a $5,300 buy-in High Roller NLHE/PLO Mix, Senior Poker Tour, and LIPS Tour events; and small $65 buy-in nightly turbo tournaments every night at 10 p.m. Regular events will all start at 4 p.m., which allows players to enjoy all Aruba has to offer.
There are still six events remaining before the championship in Aruba, so players have the opportunity to qualify for the season-ending event at each of those stops. For those who would like to attend without going the qualifier route, simply contact PPC travel specialist Bridget Stein to book your trip today for the best “Poker-Cation” of the year. She can be reached at 561.883.3523 or via email at bridget@ppcpokertour.com.
