PlayNow Poker Championship Kicks Off with Satellite Night
Action is set to get underway at the PlayNow Poker Championship. The series always kicks off with a multi-table satellite night where players compete for tickets to the $600 and $1.100 events. For $180, players get 7,500 chips and play 20 minute levels until 10% of the field remains.
Despite the event being capped at 200 players, total entries in year's past have come close to 300, as once the 200 cap is hit, an alternate list starts seating new entries and reentries as other players bust.
This is just the start of a week of exciting poker action from Club Regent Casino, and the players who survive today will be looking to parlay their tickets into cash later in the week. There are four chances to convert a buy-in into cash throughout the week, and last year, more than $450,000 in prizes was awarded across the four events.
All four major tournaments this week will award a trophy to the winner, in addition to the prize pool. The two marquee events, the $600 2-day NLHE starting on Thursday night, and the $1,100 Main Event starting on Saturday, also have custom made rings for the winner. The Main Event this year adds a special treat for the Champion ... a custom-fitted jacket available only to winners of the PNPC Main Event.
Rick Blom was the player with all the chips at the end of the the Main Event last year. Blom was running pure on the final two tables, getting his run to the championship started by spiking a jack for a set to out-draw pocket aces, and he was just getting started. He followed that up a few hands later going runner-runner full house after getting in behind with jacks again against his opponent's nut-flush. After that, he rolled to the win, and added nearly $60,000 to his bankroll.
Here's a look at all the action on deck for this week in Winnipeg.
2019 Fall PlayNow Poker Championship Schedule
| Date | Time | Tournament | Buy-In | Notes |
| Wednesday, September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Single Table Satellites | $50 & $120 | 10-minute blinds |
| Wednesday, September 4 | 7:05 p.m. | Multi-Table Satellite | $180 | 200-player cap |
| Thursday, September 5 | 2:05 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em tournament | $600 | 260-player cap |
| Thursday, September 5 | 7:00 p.m. | Single Table Satellites | $50 & $120 | 10-minute blinds |
| Friday, September 6 | 1:00 p.m. | NLH Day 2 restart | $600 | Play to winner |
| Friday, September 6 | 2:05 p.m. | NLH Turbo Bounty | $300 | $50 bounties |
| Friday, September 6 | 7:00 p.m. | Single Table Satellites | $50 & $120 | 10-minute blinds |
| Saturday, September 7 | 12:05 p.m. | Main Event | $1,100 | 260-player cap |
| Saturday, September 7 | 7:00 p.m. | Single Table Satellites | $50 & $120 | 10-minute blinds |
| Sunday, September 8 | 12:00 p.m. | Main Event Day 2 | $1,100 | play to winner |
| Sunday, September 8 | 1:05 p.m. | NLH “Stage 2" | $400 | 160-player cap |
Action on the satellite gets going at 7 p.m. Stay tuned here for all the action.