WPT Bellagio Begins, WSOPC Update, McClelland Retires

WPT Bellagio Sets Prize Pool

Just after the World Poker Tour finished its Montreal stop, the crew headed to the Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip for the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic. The $10,300 buy-in NLHE tournament is one of the more expensive ones of the season, and the ability to reenter through Level 8 on Day 2 is another appeal for some players.

Action started on December 6 and brought in 322 entries, and more came to play on Day 2. The final registration number was 449 entries, and the prize pool was set at $4,355,300. The top 45 players were set to be paid, and the winner was looking at a $1,161,135 payday.

Day 2 stopped with 140 players, and Day 3 took it down to only 59 players. With the money bubble left to burst on Day 4, the leaderboard showed Don Nguyen at the top with 774,500 chips, followed by John Honsonback and Mohsin Charania.

WSOPC Atlantic City Main Event Sets Final Table

When the World Series of Poker Circuit began its New Jersey stop on November 29, there were 12 ring events on the schedule. Harrah’s in Atlantic City hosted the tournaments.

On December 7, the $1,675 NLHE Main Event began with two starting flights on that day. The first brought in 305 players, though only 98 survived. Ari Engel was the chip leader with 151,500 in his stack. The second flight added another 267 entries, making for a total of 572 for the day. When play stopped, it was Michael Lydon in the lead with 213,700 chips.

Registration remained open until the start of Day 2. There were 189 players returning at the start of play, and another four started their tournament action.

All in all, the field was set at 578 players and prize pool at $867,000. That was enough to pay out the top 63 players with minimum payments starting at $2,835 and the winner set to take home $182,070.

The bubble burst in the evening hours when Ian Glycenfer eliminated his opponent. Some of the players who cashed throughout the evening included Jeff Papola, Matthew Oswalt, Loni Harwood, Chris Tryba, and Adam Teasdale. Tim Bishop was ultimately ousted in tenth place for $13,595.

The final table was set for December 10 as follows:

Seat 1: Fabrizio Sarra (2,000,000)

Seat 2: Joseph Wertz (1,945,000)

Seat 3: Kevin Kernan (549,000)

Seat 4: John Jones (878,000)

Seat 5: James Dorrance (1,944,000)

Seat 6: Keith Donovan (1,049,000)

Seat 7: Melad Marji (1,000,000)

Seat 8: Joseph LaPinta (817,000)

Seat 9: Jeremy Wien (1,341,000)

Tournament Director Jack McClelland Retires

Bellagio’s Tournament Director, Jack McClelland, has decided to retire.

He has spent the past 11 years at Bellagio in Las Vegas, participating in events like the World Poker Tour. The current WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic is the last.

Starting with a tournament career at the 1974 World Series of Poker, he also directed events at the Golden Nugget, Commerce Casino, and at international locations like the Isle of Man, Russia, Cyprus, and Aruba.

McClelland told CardPlayer that his career consisted of playing poker for 25 years before settling in at Bellagio, and he plans to return to some casual poker play, such as senior events and “maybe play a few big tournaments.” He added, “I’ve met a lot of good people, had a lot of fun and traveled a lot. I found my little niche and been successful at it. I’m content with my career and ready now to ride into the sunset and try a little something else.”