The second stop of the World Series of Poker Circuit will be at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln. The tournament begins Sunday, Jan. 8, and runs through Monday, Jan. 23. The event features 13 live events with over $1 million in guaranteed prize money.
Satellites begin on Sunday before official open of series
While live poker is thriving at casinos in California, online poker in California is still illegal. However, sweepstakes poker is available to Californians. It uses virtual dollars that players can redeem for cash prizes. For live poker, California cardrooms can be found at most tribal casinos.
The event at Thunder Valley is one the upcoming series’ most anticipated events. Preceding the circuit’s official opening on Thursday, Step Satellites events with a $120 buy-in begin on Sunday and stretch out over four days. One in five players win a $500 WSOP Package Satellite Entry, and 10 $500 entries are guaranteed.
Next is the WSOP Circuit Package Satellite starting on Jan. 11 with a buy-in of $500. Here, one in six wins a $2,700 package, which includes a $1,700 Main Event entry as well as a $600 and $400 entry. The $2,700 packages are guaranteed.
Series kicks off with Senior Event
On Jan. 12, the series kicks off with the $400 buy-in Senior Event. This single-day event is designed for all players 50 years of age and older. Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips and are allowed only one entry. Later that day, two more Satellite events take place with $120 buy-ins. In these events, one in six wins a $600 or $400 WSOP circuit event entry.
Also scheduled for that day is the eagerly awaited $400 buy-in Opener. The $400 No-Limit Hold’em tournament features $250,000 in guaranteed prize money and spans four starting flights. The first leg takes place at 3 p.m. on Thursday, followed by two flights, one on Friday, the other on Saturday. The final is Sunday.
Another anxiously awaited event of the series is the $600 buy-in NLH, a two-day event which starts on Sunday, Jan. 15. The guaranteed prize money for this contest stands at $50,000. Players get 25,000 in tournament chips. The event allows one re-entry, with 20 levels played on Day 1.
Monster Stack features $100,000 in prize money
The Monster Stack, a two-day event scheduled for Jan. 18 and 19, comes with a $100,000 guaranteed prize money and requires a $400 buy-in to participate. Players will start with 40,000 in tournament chips. Day 1 will play down to 15%. The winner on Thursday, Jan. 19, will qualify for the 2023 Tournament of Champions.
Event No. 10 features the $3,500 No-limit Hold’em High Roller event on Thursday, Jan. 19. This two-day event lasts eight hours on Day 1 and has an unlimited re-entry. The final takes place the following day. Players receive 40,000 in tournament chips. The winner qualifies for the 2023 Tournament of Champions.
The show-stopping Main Event, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 20, will have players competing for a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. The Main has two starting flights stretched over three days: Jan. 20, 21 and 23 at 11 a.m. Players get 40,000 in tournament chips and the event has unlimited re-entry. The final table event is Monday, Jan. 23.
Event No. 12, the Eight Handed Knockout with $500 bounties, is a two-day event with unlimited re-entry scheduled to start on Sunday, Jan. 22, and ends the next day. Players will start with 30,000 in tournament chips. The winner will qualify for the 2023 Tournament of Champions.
For a complete schedule of ring events at the Thunder Valley Circuit, including satellites, visit the Thunder Valley website.
Enjoy several amenities at Thunder Valley Poker Room
Thunder Valley Casino Resort is located at 1200 Athens Ave. in Lincoln, approximately 27 miles from Sacramento International Airport. The Northern California casino opened its doors in 2003 and features a 270,000-square-foot casino with 3,400 slots, 100 table games and a live poker room with space for 450 people.
Guests and players can enjoy amenities such as TVs, a bar with video poker, cocktail service, auto shufflers, food tableside, massage, check cashing and more. In past years, Thunder Valley Poker Room has hosted some of the most prestigious poker events, including the World Poker Tour, WPT Deepstacks and World Series of Poker Circuit.
