Turks and Caicos WPT Event

[shaniac]

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Why wouldn't the WPT be powerful enough to have other events set their schedules around the WPT's already well-established tour?

I consider it simply good business. I remember hearing once something like if they open a Burger King right next door to a McDonald's, both places do more business.

In any case, the fall tour from the Caribbean to Europe has exciting implications.

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One implication: the Trump Taj Mahal (ESPN) US Poker Championship is the one being squeezed once again.

I do NOT see a 7-day window (5 days of play plus 2 travel days) between September 6 and November 13 that is free of conflicts with other televised tournaments for the USPC to schedule itself.

Remember that the 2006 USPC lost its star power when 64 brand-name players chose to skip the USPC in order to attend the PPL draft TV taping (which still has not aired on TV due to UIGEA-induced sponsorship issues.)

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Yeah, but I think a lot of people will try to get to the USPC 2007 assuming it gets the same incessant amount of coverage from ESPN and because the structure is quite good and the competition relatively soft. Like I said, I'd skip any/all the others to return and play that event again.

Aruba to USPC has been the traditional route, so it's T&C that needs to squeeze the event in I think.

Edit: NM, I forgot T&C was scheduled first, then Aruba, and I assume USPC will be after. Europe can wait, if it must.

[pyedog]

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lolovert,

I love it when you advise us on which tournaments to play based on potential weather hazards.

I did peruse that website and didn't see any mention of a casino.

Also, I'd choose Turks and Caicos over Aruba, since I've been to Aruba once before and Turks is supposed to be nice, and I like going to new places, and the prizepool will be bigger. But if it conflicts with the Taj USPC I wouldn't go to either.

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Shaniac, I went to Turks in October for a week with my girlfriend and another couple. It was a great trip and a really nice island so I would recommend it as a place to visit.

If you go then I recommend renting a scooter to ride around on while you're there because the weather was perfect for that. There are a few snorkeling spots which can be accessed easily if you know where you're going and the reefs are amazing.

I saw three fairly large brown sharks near a reef while I was snorkeling alone near dusk. This was a scary experience because I had never heard that there are sharks close to the shore there. But then when I read online I realized that they were just nurse sharks and they were actually harmless.

I didn't do any scuba diving while I was there unfortunately and that is still something that I will have to do someday. There is no longer a casino on the island although I read that there used to be one a few years ago (I think it only had slots and a few table games) but they knocked it down. There is a ton of construction going on there with new huge new resorts being built. Hopefully they do it tastefully because the beach there is one of the nicest in the World with white sand and turquoise water.

The main island that we were on (also where the tournament is held I believe) is surprisingly small and only takes about 1.5 hours to scoot across in one direction. Also about half of the island is undeveloped. It is a fairly quiet place to visit (I was there during off season though) and is not a crazy party locale, but more of a relaxing and beautiful vacation spot. We did see signs in the airport there advertising the Johnny Chan TCI Poker Invitational.

It is fairly expensive there, but we had free accommodations due to our friend's mom owning property there. Other than that restaurants and bars were comparable in price to say Miami Beach or LV. I believe that hotels are very expensive there though.

[shaniac]

Sounds like my type of place. And renting a scooter sounds right up my alley. In the past, I would often rent a bicycle when I get to a new city.

Also, how many tournaments does Johnny Chan lend his name to?

[Lou]

see Brick and Mortar for Player's Club trip report which I will be posting shortly -- Lou

[jsnipes28]

I spent an entire summer fishing in the Turks and Caicos, specifically Providenciales (Provo), the main island where the Club Med is and where the tournament will be held.

IIRC there was no casino, but I imagine Club Med has lots of floor space that will can be used as a poker room.

As others have said it is extremely beautiful, great food, some interesting stuff to do, and damn expensive.

I'd love to go for this though.

[coxquinn]

Capital is Cockburn Town. interesting

[Matt Savage]

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Capital is Cockburn Town. interesting

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There is a fair amount of that in Aruba as well :-) from what I hear anyway. The Aruba dates are September 29-October 6 but the main event starts on the 2nd. $500 or $1,000 events are on the schedule every day starting on the 29th.

Matt Savage

[RandALLin]

Awesome that they moved aruba dates so that T&C is a possibility. These next 4 months have 7 tournament series for us under 21 folk now instead of just 6 [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]