Big Tourney Weekend

There\’s a lot of action going on, now and into this weekend …

First off, in the online world, the WCOOP (World Championship of Online Poker) is going on on PokerStars. You can rail it live as an observer on PokerStars itself, of course, or if you\’ve got an offline life you can follow it semi-live on the PokerStarsBlog in the capable hands of our own California Jen and some of your other favorite bloggers (Change100, Tuscaloosa Johnny, Otis).

Believe it or not, they\’ve also got \”TV\” coverage of these big online tourneys — they\’re about halfway through 33 of them. Check it out right here if you\’ve got a half-hour to kill:

The new PokerStars TV will also be all over the EPT Barcelona, which just got underway — including some live video coverage viewable on the internet, along with more traditional blog-coverage and chip updates.

On the salty side of the pond, the Borgata Poker Open is getting heated in Atlantic City. That\’s where Pauly\’s at. And he\’s covering all the action (along with the ever-illustrative Tropical Steve and poker-media journeyman Michael Friedman) on the official Borgata Blog. The WPT main event kicks off on Sunday. The WPT has their own blog-crew coverage, too — something called \”The Muck\”.

Meanwhile, I\’m stuck here in Vegas, where it\’s a Freerollin\’ Saturday for me:

I start the day in Event #2 of the PokerListings Run Good Challenge. Supposedly we\’re having some blind-structure issues with PokerStars, but regardless, it will be a chance to redeem myself from my lackluster Event #1 performance.

Then, later tomorrow evening, it\’s the grand-opening tourney at the Hard Rock, where I\’ll be playing against Phil Hellmuth, Anjela Brunson, Rick Fuller, Scott Fischman, Scott Ian (of Anthrax), Jeremiah Smith, Andre Agassi, Montel Williams, Randy Couture, Jermaine O\’neal, Paul Pierce, and others for an important motorcycle. Will be texting in updates via CSR should you care to follow my quest against a field that should be a combination of great and terrible, with a less-than-skill-friendly blind-structure.

Click below for more detailed info on the event itself, and the motorcycle.

It really is shaping up to be a Good Poker September.

**MEDIA ALERT****MEDIA ALERT****MEDIA ALERT**

HARD ROCK OFFICIALLY UNVEILS FIRST OF ITS KIND POKER LOUNGE

WHAT:            To celebrate the grand opening, Hard Rock Poker Lounge is hosting a red carpet VIP poker tournament Sept. 13.  The winner will be awarded a priceless Hard Rock Chopper motorcycle, a custom-made collector piece that has been a valuable part of Hard Rock history since the property opened.  Players will get their first chance to experience poker Hard Rock style with bottle service, a specialty food menu and the decadent atmosphere that separates the Poker Lounge from traditional poker rooms.

WHO:              The exquisite room is the real star of the evening. Expect some of Vegas’ favorite famous names, pros from the poker world, plus a few surprise Hollywood and Sports celebs.  Expected to attend include: pro poker players Chad Layne, Scott Fischman, Anjela Brunson, Rick Fuller, Jeremiah Smith, Phil Hellmuth, Stan Goldstein, Jason Newitt and more; Scott Ian Rosenfeld of Anthrax; local celebrity Zowie Bowie; Sal Masekela and Clinton Sparks of Daily 10; talk show host Montel Williams; tennis pro Andre Agassi; UFC fighter Randy Couture; Jermaine O’Neal of the Toronto Raptors; Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics; UFC fighter Mike Swick and more.

WHEN:            Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008
Media Check In:  4:30pm
Red Carpet:        5:00pm
Tournament:        6:00pm

WHERE:          Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Poker Lounge – located across from Pink Taco
4455 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89052