GPI First Look: WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star

The WPT California Swing returns to San Jose this week with the presentation of the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star:

AMATEUR HOUR IN SAN JOSE

One of the most unique tournaments on the live tournament circuit returns as the Bay 101 Shooting Star is set to kickoff shortly in San Jose. Days after Chris Moorman’s victory at the LAPC, pros and amateurs are right back at it at the Bay 101.

Speaking of amateurs, they ruled the day at last year’s final table, and this for the second year in a row, as WeiKai Chang (GPI#1148) would defeat Joe Nguyen (GPI#1653) heads-up for the first seven-figure score of his poker career.

Last year’s final table also included three members of the GPI Top 25: Paul Volpe (GPI#9) – who was making his second straight appearance at a WPT Final Table – young gun Joe Kuether (GPI#23) and Poker Hall of Fame member Erik Seidel (GPI#11).

With everyone gunning for the Shooting Stars, trying to add a little to their winnings, the amateurs seem to have found a way to take advantage of the situation – we’ll have to wait and see if the trend continues this week.

TAKING A SHOT AT THE SHOOTING STARS

Fifty of the game’s most famous players were invited to San Jose as Shooting Stars. Although it’s quite an honour to be selected, those players do have a huge target on their backs as anyone who busts them will collect a bounty.

GPI World #1 Daniel Negreanu, defending World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Ryan Riess (GPI#347), Big One for One Drop winner Antonio Esfandiari (GPI#65) and 47 of their peers will need to only play their game, but also avoid the sharks in the water trying to collect their bounties.

Extra prize money also awaits those that end each Day 1 as chip leaders … plus, just like the LAPC, the tournament will switch to six-handed play once we hit the final 36 participants, making this one of the most unique tournaments on the live tournament circuit.

Flying to Vegas after an awesome week with the homies at South Padre. Bay 101 in a few days!!! First tournament in the US since Nov. #LFG

— Ryan Riess (@RyanRiess1) March 8, 2014

DEFENDING CHAMPION

›› WEIKAI CHANG  

Born ›› Albany, NY, USA
Resides ›› San Jose, CA, USA
Team ›› Free Agent

GPI# ›› 1148  |  PoY# ›› NR
GPI Score ›› 782.56

Career ›› Wins: 2  | Cashes: 21  |   Top 10: 6
Earnings ›› 2014: $0  |  Career: $2,069,310

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