$1 Million Guarantee Opens the 2010 LA Poker Classic

For the first time in history, a One Million Dollar prize pool is guaranteed for the opening event at the 2010 L.A. Poker Classic.

The L.A. Poker Classic (also known as the "LAPC") is held annually at Commerce Casino, located about 15 minutes south of downtown Los Angeles, California.  In 2009, the LAPC opening event drew a record setting 1,592 poker players in a single day.  In what was his first year as Commerce Casino's tournament director, Matt Savage followed-up last year's LAPC series with the first ever multi-day non-WSOP tournament during the 2009 California State Poker Championship (another Commerce Casino annual tournament series), breaking his LAPC record turnout with 1,898 entrants and exceeding the $400,000 guarantee by nearly $150,000.  After the overwhelming success of the multi-day opening event, Commerce Casino and Matt Savage opened the 2009 Hold'em Series with a 5-day Half-Million Dollar Guarantee, and drew an astonishing 3,967 poker players who competed for $750,000 in prize money.  If history is any indication of the future, it seems that Matt Savage is hell bent on breaking every record he sets.

The 2010 LAPC schedule that Matt Savage has put together is mind blowing, and the opening event is no exception.  On January 20, 2010, card players from around the world will converge upon Commerce Casino to play the $335.00 No-Limit Hold'em 5-Day Opener for a chance to win a portion of One Million Dollars.  The first place winner of this historical event will take home a trophy and at least $250,000.  Although the first event spans five days, it is actually a two-day tournament structure with with 3,000 in starting chips and 40 minute blind levels.  While not all participants will make it to the final day, money will be paid each day to the sum of one table per every 100 registered players (approximately top 10%).  The minimum payout is anticipated to be at least double the net entry costs.  Only those skilled (or lucky) poker players who find themselves at the final two tables of Days 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d will advance to the final day of play scheduled for Sunday, January 24, 2010.  

Busting out of the opening event on either Day 1a, Day 1b or Day 1c should not crush a poker player's dreams of winning the trophy because players are allowed to re-enter each subsequent day up to, and including, Saturday, January 23rd.  With single table satellites ranging from $40 to $240 running daily from 10:00 a.m. to Midnight, tournament players can play for redemption after being untimely knocked-out of the opening event by winning tournament chips (that do not expire) at any of the 10-player No-Limit Hold'em sit-n-go's for a chance to try again the following day. In addition, the cash games at Commerce Casino during LAPC are widely considered to be the juiciest in the world.

Tournament pre-registration is currently available at the concierge desk located in the Galleria on the first floor of the casino.  It is projected that, although nearly 100 tables will be made available for the LAPC Opening Event, those seats will be sold out at least 12 hours prior to each of the Day-1 start times.  Once the first 1000 seats are sold out, alternate seating will be available for purchase up to the close of each day's registration period which is typically after the first break; however, alternate players will be assigned a number and seated on a first come, first serve basis.  Commerce Casino strongly recommends that players register for the LAPC Opening Event as soon as possible.

Commerce Casino is the largest poker casino in the world with more than 200 poker tables and is located at 6131 East Telegraph Rd., Commerce, CA 90040, just off the Santa Ana (5) Freeway at the Washington Blvd. exit. The phone is (323) 721-2100.