The 2009 World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic, one of the most expected poker series of the year, will kick off tomorrow with the first of the 33 preliminary events running from January 22^nd to February 19^th at the Commerce Casino. In addition to the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Championship, which is expected to draw over 600 players this year, the 2009 WPT L.A. Poker Classic will introduce three new Buy-In $10,000 events: Pot Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E. and a Heads-Up Championship. Commerce Casino is also seeing the return of the $300,000 Guaranteed Limit Hold’em, $200,000 opening event, and the $250,000 Guaranteed No-Limit Hold’em With Rebuys.

“The L.A. Poker Classic is proud to offer three exciting new challenges for those poker players who really want to experience a wider range of high stakes tournament play in an elegant setting, surrounded by the sea and warm sunshine that only California can offer in the winter. With our visibility on the World Poker Tour, the LAPC is already one of the best regarded tournaments in the world and we believe that adding these three additional $10,000 Championship events really raises Commerce Casino’s prestige on the world stage.” commented Commerce Casino Development Manager John Griffo.

Already confirmed to play in the series are the defending Champion Phil Ivey, Pokerstars.com sponsored pro Daniel Negreanu, Allen Cunningham, Erik Seidel, Todd Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, Howard Lederer, Michael Mizrachi, Jennifer Harman, John Juanda, Joe Hachem, Chris Ferguson, Scotty Nguyen as well as other well known players.

 

"The L.A. Poker Classic is a proving ground for those who are ready for the spotlight. All you have to do is look at past winners Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari and Michael 'The Grinder' Mizrachi. For every Phil Ivey that wins the LAPC, there's another up-and-comer who starts his legacy here." said LAPC tournament director Matt Savage.

 

Last year, Phil Ivey outlasted a field of 664 players and beat a final table that included Quinn Do, Nam Le, Charles Moore, Scott Montgomery and Phil Hellmuth to win the LAPC title and the $1,596,100 first prize.

 

Here is the schedule for the 2009 World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic:

Thursday, January 22: Event #1 -- $300 NL Hold’em ($200,000 guaranteed)
Friday, January 23: Event #2 -- $500 NL Hold’em
Saturday, January 24: Event #3 -- $500 limit Hold’em
Sunday, January 25: Event #4 -- $300 NL Hold’em
Monday, January 26: Event #5 -- $500 seven-card stud
Tuesday, January 27: Event #6 -- $300 Omaha eight-or-better
Wednesday, January 28: Event #7 -- $500 no-limit Hold’em shootout
Thursday, January 29: Event #8 -- $300 limit Hold’em
Friday, January 30: Event #9 -- $500 NL Hold’em
Saturday, January 31: Event #10 -- $300 NL Hold’em with rebuys ($250,000 guaranteed)
Sunday, February 1: Event #11 -- $300 NL Hold’em deep-stack
Monday, February 2: Event #12 -- $500 limit Hold’em
Tuesday, February 3: Event #13 -- $500 NL Hold’em six-handed
Wednesday, February 4: Event #14 -- $500 Omaha eight-or-better/seven-card stud eight-or-better
Thursday, February 5: Event #15 -- $500 NL Hold’em
Friday, February 6: Event #16 -- $500 seven-card stud
Saturday, February 7: Event #17 -- $1,000 NL Hold’em w/rebuys ($300,000 guaranteed)
Sunday, February 8: Event #18 -- $500 NL Hold’em
Sunday, February 8: Event #19 -- $1,500 PT  Hold’em
Monday, February 9: Event #20 -- $2,000 NL Hold’em
Tuesday, February 10: Event #21 -- $1,000 NL Hold’em
Wednesday, February 11: Event #22 -- $1,000 H.O.R.S.E.
Thursday, February 12: Event #23 -- $1,000 NL Hold’em
Friday, February 13: Event #24 -- $1,500 NL Hold’em
Saturday, February 14: Event #25 -- $500 NL Hold’em
Sunday, February 15: Event #26 -- $1,500 NL Hold’em
Sunday, February 15: Event #27 -- $5,000 PT  Omaha with one rebuy
Monday, February 16: Event #28 -- $300 NL Hold’em ($100,000 guaranteed)
Monday, February 16: Event #29 -- $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship (three-day event)
Tuesday, February 17: Event #30 -- $1,000 NL Hold’em
Wednesday, February 18: Event #31 -- $500 NL Hold’em
Wednesday, February 18: Event #32 -- $10,000 NL Hold’em heads-up championship (three-day event)
Thursday, February 19: Event #33 -- $500 NL Hold’em shootout
Saturday, February 21: WPT $10,000 NL Hold’em championship (six-day event)
Saturday, February 28: WPT Celebrity Invitational (three-day event)