Oklahoma State Championship of Poker at Cherokee Casino Resort

TULSA, Okla. - The Oklahoma State Championship of Poker returns to Cherokee Casino Resort Feb. 13 - 26.

The tournament draws the best in poker from the Midwest, and beyond, all vying for cold, hard cash and bragging rights in nine state championship title events, including the Oklahoma State Championship title. Before the event wraps, title-holders also battle it out for a $25,000 seat at the World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship in Las Vegas in April 2008.


“The Oklahoma State Championship of Poker is one of our biggest tournaments throughout the year,” said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, which operates Cherokee Casinos. “We are excited to feature an even bigger prize pool this year and more state championship events, attracting the best poker players around. We feel like the recent success of the Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge IV, which was our largest and richest tournament to date, will play heavily in this tournament as well. Many players that were exposed to our poker room for the first time, whether it’s from across the state line or from across the country, will return to play in this tournament.”


The 2007 Oklahoma State Championship of Poker tournament drew notable national and regional players such as Scotty Nguyen, Berry Johnston, Brant Hale, Tina Bergstrom, Ben Lamb and Noah Nodine. In the end, three Oklahomans took first through third places in the main event championship with poker veteran and Stillwell, Okla., resident Harold Kirkpatrick winning ultimate bragging rights and more than $124,000.


The 2008 Oklahoma State Championship of Poker tournament features a series of No Limit Texas Hold ‘em and Omaha state championship events including No Limit Hold ‘em, Limit Hold ‘em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Seniors No Limit, Pot Limit, and Ladies No Limit. In addition to these events, the tournament also features the H.O.R.S.E State Championship and the Triple Draw Lowball State Championship. Winners of all state championships will not only win the title, but also silver championship rings. Championship title event buy-ins are $340.


The Oklahoma State Championship Main Event begins at 1 p.m. on Feb. 24 with an estimated prize pool exceeding $350,000. Buy-in for this event is $3,150.

Winners of each championship, the Pot Limit Omaha tournament and the main event have the opportunity to play in a WPT World Championship Satellite on Feb. 26 beginning at 6 p.m. The winner of this event receives a $25,000 seat at the WPT World Championship in April at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.


The tournament kicks off February 14 appropriately enough with another one of the resort’s popular Jack & Jill tournaments. But this time, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, Cherokee Casino Resort is providing a sumptuous, fine dining dinner for two for all participating teams in the resort’s Grand Ballroom during a one-hour break of the tournament. Jack & Jill features tag teams of two, one male and one female player, playing in a No-Limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament. The team members alternate playing at each level with the same chip stack throughout the tournament. Buy-in for this event is $200 total and special tournament hotel rates apply.

Poker Player

News Added: 07 December, 2007

Number of views : 824