VENETIAN HOST NATIONAL POKER LEAGUE $15K CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday was the first day of the National Poker League’s Vegas Open Championship at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. With a steep $15,000 buy-in it was no surprise that the event was loaded with well known professionals including a brace of WSOP world champions, Jamie Gold – 2006, Chris Ferguson – 2000, and Berry Johnston – 1986. More WSOP and WPT champions – John Juanda, Gavin Smith, Allen Cunningham – remained in the hunt for a piece of the $812,000 prize pool. Jennifer Harman, world’s best female poker player and Kathy “Poker Kat”Leibert remained at the tables late in the day. The contest attracted 57 players to battle for the championship.

Action will reconvene on Tuesday at 3 PM and continue until there are six players remaining for the TV final table on Wednesday. I had an opportunity to visit with Venetian Director of Poker, Cathy Raymond, and learned that a press release will soon announce two more of the very popular Deep Stack Extravaganza Events that will be added to the 2008 poker tournament calendar. Stay tuned for the exact dates and details.