Ontario’s Great Blue Heron Charity Casino “Island Poker Series” – $2,100 Main Event

In what sure to be well received and considered big news for Ontario poker players, the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino has announced it’s inaugural 2012 Island Poker Series; featuring bi-monthly $250+$25 satellites leading up to a $2000+$100 Main Event taking place on May 31st and June 1st.

Players will begin the Main Event with 15,000 starting chips, with 30 minute blind levels for Day 1 and 45 minute blind levels returning for Day 2. Structures will allow for lots of play, beginning at 25/50, with antes beginning at Level 6. Day 1 has 22 levels on the schedule, wrapping up for the evening at 2200/4400/400 and the 100 denominations chips being removed and “colored up”.

The bi-monthly $275 satellites will run on January 12th & 26th, February 9th & 23rd, March 8th & 22nd, then finally wrapping up on April 5th and 18th. Each will start players with 8000 tournament chips and 30 minute blind levels; for every $2000 in prize money, 1 Main Event seat will be awarded. Any prize money left over not adding up to $2000 will be payed to the last player eliminated before the Main Event seats are awarded.

A “sell-out” will award 12 seats and approximately $1000 to the “bubble”, with hard field caps of 100 players in effect. Should the Main Event reach it’s 120 player cap through direct ticket sales, remaining satellites will be cancelled; though the room manager has confirmed they may still run as cash-prizing events.

The Great Blue Heron has a long and consistent history in selling out it’s larger buy-in events and this should be no exception; given the availability of this size of buy-in in Ontario or Canada in general, given the venues reputation and efforts to offer what players are looking for, those serious about participation will want to secure their poker ticket as well in advance as possible.

With the possibility of near a quarter million dollar prize-pool being generated for this event, a few other dynamics are worthy of serious consideration; with many of the areas toughest players surely to be busy in Vegas for the WSOP, the Island Poker Series has opportunity knocking hard for those serious players to young to head south or looking for a shot at a significant bankroll boost in a smaller field. A generous 33% of the prize-pool is allocated to first place if the event should fill; putting the top spot pay-out at roughly $79,000.

Mark your calendars; this is sure to be a big hit and exactly what Ontario players have been asking for!