In what was one of the more unusual tournament formats in quite some time, San Pedro, CA’s Richard Bakovic outlasted a huge field to win the championship of the Commerce Casino’s Million Dollar Guaranteed event.
The latest concoction from the mind of Commerce Casino tournament director extraordinaire Matt Savage, the event guaranteed a $1 million prize pool for a minimal $335 buy in. The twist – as any tournament created by Savage seems to have – is that there were five opening days for the tournament. In addition to the multiple Day Ones, Savage also allowed players who were busted from earlier days in the tournament to enter back into the event on a successive day (for example, bust on Day 1A, you could come back on any of the remaining four days, etc.).
The tournament proved to be a huge success for the Commerce Casino as 3300 players turned out for action. Included among those players were such notable pros as legendary gamer Archie Karas, “Miami” John Cernuto, John “The Razor” Phan, Maria Ho, Nam Le, Shannon Elizabeth, David Plastik and Al “Sugar Bear” Barbieri. Although the 3300 players amassed made for the biggest tournament field in the history of Los Angeles poker, it fell short of the $1 million guarantee by approximately $60K; the Commerce Casino was pleased to pick up the overlay.
The 3300 player field was whittled down to only 315 players over the course of the five Day Ones, with these players earning a cash for their efforts in the tournament. Some of the notable names that picked up some pocket change for their work were the aforementioned Barbieri (259th for $500), Eric Mizrachi (239th, $750), “Hollywood” Dave Stann (234th, $750), Hon Le (225th, $750) and Phi Nguyen (169th, $1000).
The remaining 135 survivors from two days of poker gathered to carve up the remaining prize pool – and its first place prize of $173,500 on Sunday. Savage not only worked the floor of the Commerce as the tournament director, he provided nearly instantaneous coverage through his Twitter account, @SavagePoker. “After 5 D1’s @TehanJ (former World Poker Tour Mandalay Bay Championship winner Joe Tehan) is the Chip Leader with 376,000 going into D2. Also in 135 Nam Le, Archie Karas, Miami John, Tony Ma,” Matt tweeted. He continued his commentary over Twitter until a champion was crowned.
Cernuto was able to make it to 102nd place before being dismissed from the tournament, earning $1730 for his time at the Commerce. Veteran Vegas grinder Don Zewin ended the tournament in 53rd place ($3470) and Tehan’s run ended soon after that in 46th place. Karas’ tournament would come to an end with his 41st place finish ($3900) and Nam Le left in 33rd ($4340).
The final nine players divided up nearly a half million dollars at the final table, with the play grinding into the early hours on Monday. As the blinds climbed, strapping play, a six way split of the remaining prize money was decided upon as dawn streaked the sky, with Richard Bakovic earning the title of the champion of the Commerce Casino’s Guaranteed Million Dollar tournament:
1. Richard Bakovic (San Pedro, CA) $173,500*
2. Nathan Che (Elk Grove, CA) $97,100*
3. Derek Gomez (Orange, CA) $61,570*
4. Ramzi Srour (Burbank, CA) $47,700*
5. Phong “Turbo” Nguyen (Los Angeles, CA) $39,030*
6. Aaron Kweskin (Los Angeles, CA) $30,350*
7. Thinh Do (Fullerton, CA) $21,680
8. Charles Dolan (Fountain Valley, CA) $15,610
9. Trong Nguyen (Garden Grove, CA) $10,000
* Does not reflect chop
Although there was a slight overlay for the tournament, the Commerce Casino’s Million Dollar Guaranteed event proved to be a success. Up next for the Commerce is their Commerce Hold’em Series, which will play out from September 1st through the 19th. Over $2 million in prize pools are expected to be generated during that tournament schedule, with their famous L. A. Poker Classic set to begin its next run in January 2011.
