January 2008 Poker Tournaments Results

by Bernard Lee

Many sports have an off-season where the players are able to rest and rejuvenate. However, like Las Vegas, the poker circuit is year round non-stop action. After a dramatic end to 2007, the 2008 poker campaign kicked off with a bang. During almost every week in January, a major poker tournament title was at stake somewhere across the globe.

Here is a look back at the January 2008 poker tournament results:

Pokerstars.net Caribbean Adventure (January 5-10) – European Poker Tour (EPT) Event

This event was originally a World Poker Tour (WPT) event, but has been transplanted across the pond on the EPT. For many players, this event is one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year as it not only has great poker action, but also is held at a phenomenal location - the Atlantis Resort and Casino on Paradise Island, Bahamas. This year, the event attracted 1,136 players, the fifth largest main event field in poker tournament history, only behind the last four World Series of Poker Main Events. In the end, Pokerstars professional Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier took home the title and the $2 million first prize.

Aussie Millions (January 5–20)

From one beautiful locale to another, the Aussie Millions has become a coveted destination stop on the poker tour. Held in Melbourne, Australia (hometown of the 2005 WSOP Champion - Joseph Hachem), this tournament once again held a $100,000 buy-in preliminary event. Ultimately, Full Tilt Poker professional Howard Lederer outlasted 24 other players, winning over $1 million. In the $10,000 Main Event, Russian native Alexander Kostritsyn outlasted Full Tilt Poker professional Erik Seidel, collecting almost $1.5 million for his efforts.

World Poker Open (January 3-24) - WPT Event and
WSOP Circuit in Tunica (January 3-22) – WSOP Circuit Event

For U.S. citizens, if long flights and passports are not to your liking, no need to worry. There was plenty of poker action in the states. With events running simultaneously at the Gold Strike Casino and The Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi was buzzing with both a WPT Main Event and WSOP Circuit Event, respectively. Eventually, two previously unknown players introduced themselves to the poker world. Bart Tichelman from Atlanta, Georgia won $415,595 and a WSOP Circuit ring, while Brett Faustman, originally from Michigan, took home the WPT title, earning $892,413 and a $25,000 seat into the 2008 WPT World Championship, held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas this coming April.

Borgata Winter Poker Open (January 15-31) - WPT Event

And if all this poker action was still not enough, players could head north to the beautiful Borgata Hotel and Casino, one of Atlantic City’s true gems. The Borgata tournaments are known for providing its participants ample starting chips, allowing for plenty of play. When poker professional Gavin Griffin outlasted 506 other players, taking home the WPT title for a little over $1.4 million, he made poker history. Griffin became the first player to complete the unofficial triple crown of poker: a WPT title, and EPT title and a WSOP bracelet. Congratulations to Gavin on this unprecedented feat.

Overall, poker players who travelled to all the aforementioned January tournaments definitely accumulated thousands of frequent flyer miles. Most people would take a rest after such a rigorous schedule. However, the WPT LA Poker Classic, WSOP Circuit Event in Rincon, California and the Venetian Deep-Stack Extravaganza in Las Vegas all start in early February. Unfortunately, there is no rest for the “fanatic poker” weary.