BTW, as currently the only way to get into the Main Event (and thus the money/prize pool) is via a qualifier satallite, I will also say that I'm very used to this concept of the Qualifier satallite to get into a Main Event, as they did this all the time in Ohio when I lived there at the Reeses Charity events in Dayton, Ohio (which is about 50 miles north of Cincinnati where I lived).
I'm also thinking as well, that it might be that if you win multiple seats, and seats they just might be transferable, then you can play in the qualifier, win multiple seats, sell any extra seats to someone else, which might be a round about way someone else can buy directly in (by buying the ME seat from another person who won it).
It would also allow for someone who wants to make some money (by selling seats into the HPT ME) to do so in this mannor.
I'm not for sure about that aspect, though, but that is how they did it in Ohio, and in this event listed here below, that they are currently running in another city/state/location, they say the seats are transferable for that event:
http://www.newsite.heartlandpokertou...007&eid=10
[ QUOTE ]
Late registrations into Flight A will be allowed until the end of the second level.
Win as many seats into the main event as you wish. They are transferable.
Please review Rules tab for more detailed information on Seat transfers.
If you advance into day 2 of the main event, these seats are NOT transferable and must be played by the person that advanced from day 1.
Each individual player will only be allowed to play one flight. (ie: If you bust out of flight “A”, you can not buy into flight “B” even if there are seats available)
Please review structure link for more detailed information.
[/ QUOTE ]
I will also point out that playing in such an (satallite) event, is a whole different animal.
The goal towards the end isn't to win the event, but to simply qualify.
Thus if you have a lot of chips, or even a lot more than most of the short stacks, when it's getting close to the bubble people, the best way to win your seat, is to not even LOOK at your cards, but to fold them, sight unseen, since there is no cash involved and everyone who qualifies will win the same prize, a seat into the main event.
I learned this the HARD way when there were 30 seats in an Charity event in Ohio, a bunch of ppl with a ton less chips than me, I look at my cards in the small blind after the Button (the chip leader) raised (he was making a button move), and I looked down and saw pocket aces. Button had 7 duce o/s, and had raised it to 5k, when I went all in, it was only 7k more to him, he called and the flop was 7, 7, duce. I got no help on the turn or river, and I was the bubble girl out in 31st place with no seat. The Main Event BTW, for this qualifier I played in, was where the GP was 10k.
I don't know a player alive that will fold pocket aces before the flop, and that includes me, so I learned that day, that it's best just not to look, if you have enough to last the blinds and antes for 5 or more rounds when it gets close.
Also, last but not least, the tournaments they run locally here in the casinos, they don't do antes, but I'm pretty sure this one will.
As a result, I think the field will be even softer, because the majority of the locals won't know how to play with Antes involved.