The 1st of four Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganzae got underway this week … and sure enough, the chance to play a skill-heavy event (deeper stacks, longer level times) for a low buy-in seems extra appealing (at least value-wise) in the current economic client.
I don\’t have too many specifics, but I can say the fields seem to be bigger than last time, or at least are staying in the same ballpark. They definitely haven\’t shrunk, relative to the world economy, that\’s for sure. At this moment, the Venetian poker room and 30-something extra tables set up on the main casino floor aren\’t packed, but they are full. Some familiar faces (on very quick glance) about five levels into today\’s $550 NLH include Gobboboy Jimmy Fricke and PokerNews expat John Caldwell.
In a few minutes About an hour ago, the final table from yesterday\’s $330 got underway. Bryan Micon from Neverwin was there, along with David Plastik, a couple other solid players, and a couple donks (according to Micon, who has since busted). First place: $28k.
To give you another example of the field sizes the Venetian\’s 2009 DSE-1 is drawing, Event #1, on Monday, another $330, saw 447 players and a $129k total prize pool. 36 got paid …
1st – $40,117
2nd – $21,029
3rd – $10,353
Some other familiar faces who have been hanging at the Venetian this week: JJ Liu (she hasn\’t missed a day), Kenna James, Susie Isaacs, Daniel Alspach, Adam Schoenfeld, and Lacey Jones. Some bloggers seem to be filtering through here, too … just ran into BWOP, and I hear Grubette is on her way.
UPDATE: Also in the $550 hizzouse — Haley Hintze and Mike Laing. Maybe this sorta turnout is nothing new, but it seems to me these events are being taken much more seriously than previous Deep Stacks.
