Casino Player November 2022

PokerStars Dishes Out Platinum Passes to U.S. Players A PokerStars Platinum Pass has become one

of the biggest prizes in poker. The online poker operator is awarding passes to players around the world via online play, live tournaments, and through other opportunities such as social media contests. Winning one of these prizes gives players a $30,000 tournament package for the PokerStars Players

Vladimir Grechnikov reeled in a Platinum Pass in October at Live! Casino Philadelphia.

Chad Eveslage

Chad Eveslage Scores WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic T he World Poker Tour’s Five Diamond World Poker Classic celebrated its 20th year in October from the Bellagio in Las Vegas.A familiar name rose to the top with Chad Eveslage, of Fort Lauderdale, FL,winning one of poker’s most prestigious events for more than $1 million. This was Eveslage’s secondWPT title and he has more than $6.7 million in live tournament winnings. He scored a huge pot in the penultimate hand to cripple his opponent,Steve Buckner.With Buckner holding pocket Queens,Eveslage’sA-9 found anAce on the river and he won the tournament one hand later. “[There are a] bunch of emotions,very tired,happy,”Eveslage said after the win. “Before I hit the ace on the river, I felt resigned to defeat, then it’s just like‘oh, I win.’” The marquee event debuted on theWPT in 2002 and moved to October this year from its usual December time slot.The $10,400 buy-in tournament produced a field of 569 players for a $5.5 million prize pool. “Thank you to the Bellagio for putting on another historic Five Diamond Poker Classic and to all the players that have made this event one of the most prestigious in poker over its 20-year history,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said.“And congratulations to Chad for becoming a two-timeWPT champion.” TheWPTWorld Championship is now set for December at theWynn, offering a $15 million guarantee.As part of his winnings, Eveslage also earned a seat in that event as well as a spot in the $1,100WPT Prime Championship.Eveslage’s firstWPT title came last year at theVenetian,where he won $910,370. For finishing runner-up,Buckner earned $690,000 and also finished second this year at theWPT Choctaw for $320,000.He also moved into the No.1 position in the 2022WPT Player of theYear race, followed by Ray Qartomy in second. Eveslage sits in third after the win at the Bellagio.The top six finishers include 1st,Chad Eveslage, $1,042,300; 2nd, Steve Buckner, $690,000; 3rd, Michael Gathy, $505,000; 4th, Brian Kim, $377,000; 5th,Albert Calderon, $283,000; and 6th,David Kim, $216,000. The Seminole Rock ’N’ Roll Poker Open is next on tap for the WPT in Hollywood, FL. The festival runs through Nov. 30 with the $3,500 main event beginning on Nov. 25 and carrying a $2 million guarantee. The $10,400 World Championship then follows from Dec. 12–18 to wrap up the tour’s 20th season.

Championship (PSPC),which is set Jan. 30– Feb. 3 at the Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. A Platinum Pass includes buy-in to the $25,000 PSPC, six nights’ hotel accommodations for winner and a guest, airfare and airport transfers, $1,900 in expense money and exclusive Platinum Pass winner experiences during the event. The site recently launched live and online opportunities for U.S. players as well. Online players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan can win a Platinum Pass. Players can also win a pass in live Road to PSPC events,with several already completed in Pennsylvania and Maryland. New Jersey’s Vladimir Grechnikov, a professional fisherman by trade, reeled in a pass in October at Live! Casino Philadelphia. The 34-year-old recreational player described the opportunity as“incredible … I have no words for this, I’m totally speechless, this is a dream come true.” PokerStars held the first PSPC in 2019 with Spain’s Roman Colillas scoring a massive win for $5.1 million,which included an extra $1 million for the champion.The PokerStars ambassador entered the tournament with his own Platinum Pass and topped a field of 1,039 entries,which produced a $25.5 million prize pool.The upcoming sequel promises to be one of the biggest events on the poker calendar,with a mix of pros, recreational players and even novices.

w w w . c a s i n o c e n t e r . c o m • C A S I N O P L AY E R 3 1