Deerfoot Inn & Casino Presents Revamped 2012 Canadian Open Poker Championships Schedule – August 22nd to September 2nd

Still the record holder for the largest combined prize-pools ever seen in Alberta poker history, the Deerfoot Inn & Casino has released a revamped schedule, based on player feedback, to proudly present the 5th installment of the Canadian Open Poker Championships.

The 2012 COPC tournament series will take place from August 22nd to September 2nd, with 10 events and 7 satellites; including several “steps” type formats to qualify to play in the much anticipated return of it’s signature $5,000 buy-in Heads Up.

Players of all budgets or bankrolls can take their shots and participate in the exciting poker action; with satellites from $90+$10 all the way up to $520+$30 and direct buy-ins from $300+$30 all the way up to the $1000+$100 “Mega Stack”, $2,000+$200 No Limit Hold’em Main Event or the $4600+$400 Heads Up as seen on the complete 2012 COPC schedule:

(*Updated/additional info provided by Poker Manager Robert Bowers – June 26th, 2012)

August 22nd, 7:00PM - $180+$20 Super Satellite

One in every 7 players will receive $1,100 in Tournament Dollars. Remaining cash will be paid to one additional place. • 6,000 CHIPS • 20 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

August 23rd-25th, Noon - EVENT #1A & #1B $550 Championship

Thursday, Friday, Saturday • 10,000 CHIPS • 40 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 3 Levels

Thursday, August 23rd, 7:00PM – $90+$10 Satellite

One in every 7 players will receive $550 in Tournament Dollars. Remaining cash will be paid to one additional place. • 5,000 CHIPS • 20 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

August 24th, 7:00PM - $180+$20 Satellite

One in every 7 players will receive $1,100 in Tournament Dollars. Remaining cash will be paid to one additional place. • 6,000 CHIPS • 20 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

August 25th, 2:00PM - Event #2: “Mega Stack” Championships – $1,000+$100

• 15,000 CHIPS • 40 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 3 Levels

August 25th & 26th, 7:00PM - $520+$30 MTT Satellite to $5,000 Heads Up Championship

One in every 10 players will receive a $5,000 Heads Up Event Seat. Remaining cash will be paid to one additional place. • 6,000 CHIPS • 20 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

Aug 26th, Noon - Event #3: Ladies Championship – $300+$30

10,000 CHIPS • 30 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

August 26th, 2:00PM - $90+$10 Sat to $550 HU Satellite

One in every 7 players will receive Heads Up MTT Satellite Seat. Remaining cash will be paid to one additional place. • 5,000 CHIPS • 20 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

August 27th-29th, Noon - Event #4: Heads Up Championship – $4,600+$400

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday • 20,000 CHIPS • 20 MIN Levels • Best 2 of 3 Wins Match

All entries must be in by 12PM • Bracket Drawing Will Begin At 12PM

August 28th, 7:00PM - Event #5: NLH Bounty – $300+$30

10,000 CHIPS • 30 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

August 29th, 2:00PM - Event #6: NLH Six Max Championship – $2,000+$200

20,000 CHIPS • 40 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 3 Levels

August 30th, 2:00PM - Event #7: Pot Limit Omaha – $1,000+$100

20,000 CHIPS • 40 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

August 30th, 7:00PM - Super Satellite – $235+$25

One in every 10 players will receive a $2,200 Main Event Seat. Remaining cash will be paid to one additional place. • 6,000 CHIPS • 20 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

August 31st & September 1st, Noon - Event #8: Main Event Championships -$2000+$200

25,000 CHIPS • 45 MIN Levels • Entries up to SECOND break, 6 Levels

August 31st, 7:00PM - Super Cruise Satellite – $230+$20

One in every 10 players will receive a Cruise Package for 2.Remaining cash will be paid to one additional place. • 6,000 CHIPS • 20 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

September 1st, 2:00PM - Event #9: “Triple Chance” – $500+$50

3 Stacks of 5,000 CHIPS • 30 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

September 2nd, Noon - Event 10: “Last Chance” $300+$30

10,000 CHIPS • 30 MIN Levels • Entries up to first break, 4 Levels

Highlights of Past $2,200 No Limit Hold’em Main Event Chamionships & $5,000 Heads Up

In previous years and at these higher buy-ins, the $5,000 Heads Up Championship has attracted a huge number of top pros; “All Time Money Leader” Antonio Esfandiari, 12 time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, Terrence Chan, Jennifer Tilley, Phil Laak, Joe Hachem, Mike “Timex” McDonald, Michael Wywrot, Andrew “Clockwyze” Pantling, Nghi Van Tran, Shawn Buchanan, WSOP Bracelet winner and “November Niner” Matt Jarvis, Brad “Yukon” Booth, former WSOP Player of The Year Jeff Madsen, Dennis Phillips, Two Time CPT Invitational Winner Richard Webb, Huck Seed, Layne Flack, Gavin Smith, Lacey Jones, Benjamin “Spektah” Leblond and Greg “FBT” Mueller are just a handful of the big names that have sat down to play the best 2 out of 3 format and 64 player bracket.

In 2008, Huck Seed defeated Brad Booth in the finals to claim the $100,000 top prize; while in 2009 Benjamin “Spektah” Leblond faced on of the toughest Heads Up seeds in history to eventually face and defeat Jeff Madsen for $85,000 after the two agreed to split first and second for $65,000 each and play for an additional $20,000.

2010 seen Matt Jarvis defeat Christopher Bush in the finals to claim the $100,000 top prize, but in 2011, the buy-in was dropped to $2,000 to try to make it more accessible to the general poker community; while it did a great job of doing that, prize-pools and out of town pro attendance suffered, though a lot more locals were able to give it a shot. Grande Prairie’s John Wilson defeated Joel Bullock to claim the top prize.

With the buy-in moved back to a level fit for pokers most elite, hopefully we can assume that this event will return to the healthy numbers of all previous installments prior to 2011.

The $2,200 COPC No Limit Hold’em Championship has also seen some very nice prize-pools, with Winnipeg’s Zennawi Petros emerging the victor and winner of $63,000 in 2010 after a fat final table deal , while Calgary’s Bo Fric won $44,900 in 2011 for his first place finish (played as a $1,650 buy-in), with out any chops involved.

Mike “Timex” McDonald, Terrence Chan and Gavin Smith are just a few of the notable Canadian pros who travelled across the country to play in this one.

For those interested in learning even more about the Canadian Poker Open Championships, be sure to also check out the extensive player photo galleries, video interviews and live coverage by CanadaPoker.com; from both 2010 and 2011.