World Series of Poker taping at Rincon Casino

RINCON ---- Wednesday marks the final day that residents of San Diego County can catch world-class poker action in their own backyard. Harrah's brought its wildly popular World Series of Poker to the Rincon casino over the last 10 days as part of the inaugural Circuit Tour.

The championship event began Sunday with a $ 10,000 buy-in. The top 20 winners automatically qualify for a $2,000,000 free roll into the final event.

The chip leader going into the last round is rising poker star Prahlad Friedman with $475,000. Friedman drove down from Los Angeles to play in the tournament on a last minute whim and credits his first place position to his aggressive play. He said he enjoys the serenity of Harrah's Rincon Casino compared to the hectic environment at the Los Angeles and Vegas clubs.

Ten players earned spots at the final table today, which is slated for primetime ESPN television coverage. The taping begins at 2 p.m. and will likely air in early summer just prior to the main World Series of Poker event in Las Vegas.


In a bit of local drama, a battle for the number 10 spot took place in the last minutes of day three between Spring Valley resident Naseem Salem and Arturo Diaz of Chula Vista. Naseem worked his way onto the table with just $21,500 in chips.

Salem and Diaz are good friends who play local poker regularly and vowed not to fight each other in the tournament. "I was supposed to go out," said Salem "but at the last minute it wound up Diaz who went all in with around $35,000 and just like that he was out."

Salem said he began playing poker more then a decade ago just after he arrived in the United States from his native Iraq. He and his three brothers own a small chain of grocery and convenience stores in the San Diego area.

"This is not a job," said Salem. "It's just for fun."

Salem's uncle, Lee Salem, a better-known player nicknamed Baghdad butcher, taught Naseem all of the skills he uses in the game.

Just outside of the main tournament room, an impromptu high stakes game broke out during the second day of the main event between several well-known players who were knocked out early.

Gus Hansen, who was recently named one of People Magazine's sexiest men, Phil Ivy and Daniel Negreanu remained late Tuesday evening. The game had gone on for more then 24 hours with more than $1 million on the table.

Considering the stakes and the poker star status, few spectators were catching the action. While it caused quite a stir among the casino staff who are used to much smaller-caliber games, player Chad Brown said such games are commonplace at tournaments.

Brown is a Los Angeles based actor who hosts Ultimate Poker Challenge on UPN with fellow final round player Robert Williamson.

The championship event started out with 208 players hailing from as far away as England, Greece, and Mexico City. Reigning World Series of Poker Champion Gregory "Fossilman" Raymer, formerly of San Diego, was eliminated on the first day of play along with veteran star Howard Lederer.

Spectators will have the chance to be a part of the ESPN taping by arriving at 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. when sessions are set to begin. Due to construction and weather damage, attendees should add 30-45 minutes to their drive time.

By: ELENA CRISTIANO - For the North County Times

Shuttle service from various locations throughout the county is also available. Contact Harrah's Rincon at (760) 751-3100 for more information

News Added: 02 March, 2005

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