Goldstrike tourney update

Here is a clip from the article in this week's Jackpot Magazine about the Goldstrike Tourney.

Link: www.jackpotmagazine.com

There is plenty of room available in the event, which is geared to accommodate up to 350 players, and it would not surprise me that they either hit that number or come close, since the tournament is the only one in some time and there now appears to be no other on the horizon in the Tunica market. Thus, you want to sign up early and Lepre, the big daddy of blackjack tournaments in Tunica, recommends you do just that by contacting the casino’s marketing staff at (662) 357-1111.

“We expect a large turnout and are already getting entries from all over the country,” said Lepre. “We have a large core of tournament players available but we expect this event to draw a lot of new faces with this unique marketing campaign.”

The prize money goes deep with second place at $23,000, third at $15,000, fourth at $10,000, fifth pays $6,000 and sixth a nice sum of $3,500. Seventh through 36th place pays back the entry fee of $500 and there is a final wildcard for $2,500.

The schedule kicks off with a welcome reception and registration at meeting rooms B and C on the second floor and there is also something that I especially like and has been the hallmark of Lepre’s past tournaments…a private first-class diner with imported, hand-rolled cigars and music. It’s not the band or dancers from the Ba-Da-Bing topless club on the TV show, but you can bet it will be fun party.

Session play begins on Saturday, Aug. 5, after the late registration at 9 a.m. and continues through several sessions with the last one being at 6 p.m. Immediately after the second round there is a prime private buffet for players participating in the tournament. There are no rebuys.

On the last day of the event, there will be a bonus drawing at 8:45 a.m. in the blackjack pit and the semi-final round commences at 9 a.m. followed by another bonus drawing at 10:45 a.m. The final round gets underway at 11 a.m. and at noon all the money will be distributed.

Also another clip from Rudi's column:

Check out the photograph on the front page of this issue with a cast of questionable characters that look like they just got in town from New Jersey. Is it Tony Soprano and his gang? Who is the babe? Sure looks like them and it works as the graphic to illustrate a feature story on the appropriately named BA-DA-BING Blackjack Tournament at GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT. There is $125,000 on the line, not to mention first place for $50,000 and that kind of money will attract a lot of players, like tournament pros KEN SMITH, of BLACKJACKTOURNAMENTS.COM, and well-known author and blackjack expert, DR. HENRY TAMBURIN, who also writes for JACKPOT! and publishes the noteworthy BLACKJACK INSIDER NEWSLETTER. Expect more to show up, so call now to get in the deal at (662) 357-1111.

Pat

 

Get-together for BJT members Mr. Smith?

Ken,

How about nominating a time and location for any interested BJT members to get together - I would think prior to the tourney might be best. I am personally unfamiliar with the Goldstrike or would do so myself. Of course we have the registration and dinner at 19:30, but perhaps a smaller social gathering of the "highly tournament evolved" from this site would be in order.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration

Chips

 

Gold Strike BJT

Unfortunately Gold Strike is following in the path of the other Tunica casinos in making their tournament an accumulation advancement to the semi finals. At least its not as bad as the Grand and Sheraton where no tournament blackjack skills were required to win the trip to LV to play for a million. Possibly the televising WSOB and UBT will sway the thinking of the tournament directors in the future to make these tournaments more competitive instead of catering to their drunk high rollers.
IG

 

Are you playing?

So, Instagator - are you playing in this one?

Chips

 

Party in my room?

Chips/Ken S. we could have a get together in my room. I already will have a cheese and fruit basket in the suite and instagators whine...LOL

 

Bars

Ken,

I know the bar you are thinking of at the Goldstrike, which is near the crosswalk to the Horseshoe. There is a more private one by the high limit area. It is on the left as you come in from the hotel lobby, directly in the corner behind the slots. I think they have some TV's in there above the bar. I haven't been in there, but it looks like it is usually not crowded. If Rick gets his suite number assigned, we could move it up there.

There is also a bar directly upstairs off the escalator in the lobby into their theater. I don't know if there is an event scheduled there Friday or Saturday night, but it would make a good meeting area regardless of whether the bar is open or not.

I would guess the tourney will be played in room A which is upstairs next to where they hold the registration and food. The lobby outside the meeting rooms is large too.

It might be nice to bring some "Hi my name is..." nametags. People could list their BJT names and their GP ones if they like. It would also make it easy to spot a BJT person too.

Pat

 

VIP Room?

Would the VIP room next to the high limit area be an option? Free beverages and snacks are available as well as comfortable seating. If about half of us have access, there shouldn't be a problem with us getting in.

 

Getting together

Good idea Walt. With the implied "ranking" of options, what say that all those interested in getting together prior to the 19:30 reception/dinner meet just outside the VIP room by 18:30. Then, depending on the numbers, we can either move into the VIP room or go to the bar by the high limit area.

Chips

 

2nd the motion

I 2nd Chips motion of meeting outside the VIP room at 6:30 pm on Friday August 4th. Also I'll pick-up some stick on name tags (Pat's suggestion, I guess 30 should do.) so everyone can put there screen name on them from BJT.com and or Global-Player and we can finally put faces with the names.

See everybody next weekend.

 

BJT get together

How many members are going to be at Gold Strike? Maybe Freddy can find us a drinkin' hole. Besides we can each take a guest into the VIP room. So that might be an option.

 

Gold Strike tournament numbers GROWING

Just talked to Ken Akerson at GS who told me the number of registered tournament players this week-end is now over 400. Me thinks that Gold Strike Casino will be doing quite well. He did state that since the number of registrants is over 350, "management may consider increasing the prize structure"....I would hope so! Lee

 

Getting together

Have just be informed that: The registration takes place between 4 and 7 p.m. on Friday. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. What say that all interested meet at 18:00 rather than 18:30 outside the VIP room now? Thanks for the number of entrants update.

Chips

 

pre-dinner meet & greet

Sounds good, Jan and I will be there. Also for late arrivals, we could stop back at the bar for an after dinner drink.

Looking forward to Friday.
tgun

 

I hope not also...

I wasn't at the Gold Strikes last event, but I remember hearing all about it. Actually I am coming to play in this event only because Adofe Lepre is now at the Gold Strike. If Adofe has anything to say about the extra money I'm sure it will go back into the prize pool.

 

Gold Strike up-date!

I just got a call from Jack Wood an Executive casino host at Gold Strike. He told me that as of 4:35 pm today they have 347 players for this weekend.

I ask if they were going to add any additional money into the prize pool for every player over the 350 I was told it was scheduled for.

He told me he wasn't sure, but plan on the prize money staying the same as advertised. He told me that it was based on 50 comp players and 300 buy-in's, but they ended up with several more comps then they expected.

At only 347 I have no problem, but if 400 plus players show up and no additional money is added to the prize pool this will be my last time playing Gold Strike.

I won't sweat it until I get there and get to talk to Adofe and see whats up.

 

Gold Strike attendees

I have put a list people we know from this site and global player together that I think will be attending the tournament. There are probably a lot more:
Ken21
instigator
chips
Leha
BigTex
swap
UT Vol
applejack
Swede
tgun
Lou and Sue
Delta Duke?
DrBass
Jaybird
P. Taylor
Walter H.
ace Donovan
CounselorLee
lots of luck
Luckygem
Zorro
and maybe more. Good luck to all and let's have fun.

 

Add on

Elyssez and Swog, (not sure if swap was suppose to be swog)?