Pro athletes, poker stars join SKC's second event

SARASOTA — One-Eyed Jack's Poker Room at the Sarasota Kennel Club has upped the ante for its second Pros vs. Joes Texas Hold 'Em Tournament, a two-day event that will be held March 7-8.

Along with ESPN poker analyst Lon McEachern and 2008 Team USA Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger, professional poker players Gavin Smith and Chip and Karina Jett competed in the first Pros vs. Joes tournament. Bradenton's Chuck Chestnut and Tampa's Chris Ladriere, the final two players remaining in the first two-day event, decided Dec. 1 to chop the pot and each player pocketed $32,500 on Dec. 1.

Tennis pro James Blake will play in the March 7-8 tournament along with McEachern and ESPN sidekick Norman Chad, and poker professionals Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Evelyn Ng, Chris Bell and the Jetts. The cost for a seat in the second tournament is $790 and the final 54 players remaining in the 480-person field will be paid, with the winner receiving $85,000.

The tournament field will be divided into two preliminary 240-player flights, with the first flight starting at 1 p.m. March 7 and the second flight starting 24 hours later. After the field is cut to 54 players, play will resume around 8:30 p.m. March 8.

Bounties of $800 will be placed on each of the tournament's "Pros." A sold-out field will guarantee the second- and third-place finishers $50,000 and $34,000, respectively.

One-Eyed Jack's will hold four satellite qualifying tournaments, with a buy-in of $65 and an additional one-time add-on of $50, at 7 p.m. on Friday and on three consecutive nights from March 4-6.

For more information on the tournament, log on to skcpoker.com or call (941) 355-7744 Ext. 1054.

News Added: 29 February, 2008

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