Being a proponent of completely "open to all" BJ tournaments, I would like to draw the attention of this site's members to the excellent prize structure and wide open participation of the Canadian Masters to be held March 24th at Niagara Falls' Fallsview Resort and Casino. Full details are posted in the tournament section on this site. I would ask that Vince Costa, who has won this event for the last two years, stay home and give us BJ mortals a chance. :joker: :joker: :joker:
wide open participation Not quite as wide open as they say. I tried to enter this tournament and was told I had to be a member to play in it. I went to their web site and joined, and called back only to be told that I must activate the card in person. Being a long way from Canada in Mississippi I wouldn't fly up to join. Was told I could still come on the 24th and if it was not full. I could enter, but there were only 168 spaces and 153 entries had already been received.
Try again... They told me that last year and it is BS. I called back and talk to one of the managers and he got me right in. Not many casinos are NOT going to take your money, $1,500 if your willing to send it. Do hurry though, it does sell out. I'll bet you can get in if you just ask to speak to one of the managers. It is a fun tournament, play is a lot different up there then in the states. Prepare to bet big right out of the gate and often. They don't slack off either and the play is very conventional. Not all the players, but most. If you go say hi to Matt44 and his wife, their Canadain but good people anyway...LOL
I'm headed up, and I'm a brand new player there. It wasn't automatic however. After my initial call, I got a call back saying they couldn't register me without having an activated player's account. Later, I spoke to John Heathers, a player development guy there, and he took care of it for me. He may have to see play from another casino that he can verify to take care of you, but he's the guy. In my case, he knew my host from the Venetian, and can verify my play through her. So, I'll see some of you at the Falls in two weeks.
Welcome to Canada Alright Ken, Welcome all of you to Canada! I and my fellow canadians are ready to take on you, the yankees! .... ... Just a note, if you fly into Buffalo and drive to Niagarafalls would be easy and cheaper. But if you have not been in Toronto then flying to Toronto Pearson airport and visit the city. I am sure you would be surprise of the city and people of Toronto how pleaseant and nice they are. See you all at the Niagara Falls, the final table ! HenryTran PS. sorry of the previous post ( if there is one), internet connection error
Hi Henry! It was actually your encouragement that persuaded me to go ahead and take the plunge this year for Niagara. I hope you'll join me for dinner one of the two nights I'm there. I'll be flying into Buffalo and driving up. If anyone else is doing the same, try Priceline.com for a rental car. Rates for a mid-size car were all quoted in the $40 per day range. I bid $22 per day at Priceline and got a car at National. Total rental with tax for 2 days was $55.
No Limo? Last year when I signed up they sent a limo for me. I didn't ask for one, I just asked how to get there and they offered.
Actually, yes, they offered a limo. I didn't want to owe them serious action without knowing what I was getting into, so I spent the $55 for a car instead.
Welcome to Canada! OK, I am better looking into those stragegy book of yours ... ... We will have fun. By the way my section is starting at 3:00 PM ... just let you know ..... so in case you want to change yours ... ..... ( don't tell me yours ..) See you then,
John Heathers tells me that this event is almost full. If anyone else is interested, you need to register soon.
Well I bit the bullet and bought the very last seat yesterday....Im coming up with my son who will be celebrating his 20th BD ....Casino age is 19 for Cananda... Take it easy on the new guy (me) ...how about it guys??? Actually I played in the last qualifier.....2 times in fact..... these guys bet hard and fast...wow! Good luck everyone....I hope I get to meet some of you....mostly in the winners circle...
Canadian BJ tournaments Canada East The $250k Masters is about to take place on Friday and already scuttlebutt has it that Fallsview Resort and Casino is about to announce an expanded monthly qualifying series to begin shortly. Rumor has it that no less than 8 monthly qualifiers of 25k (top prize) and up will follow this year's event, leading to the 2007 Masters. Bigger and better. Congrats to Fallsview. Not to be outdone, Quebec casinos have announced their BJ tournament schedule for 2006/2007 with 6 events leading to their Grand Finale of $150,000 first prize. Imagine, 16 completely open to all tournaments and tax free. So, I would like to welcome our American friends to this week's event and if I can be of service, let me know.
We have a winner And the winner is... James Schiebel, who took home the $125,000 CDN top prize tonight at the Canadian Masters of Blackjack in Niagara Falls. I made the semifinal round, but my run ended there. One player of 7 advances from the semifinals to the final table. With a starting bankroll of $2000 and betting limits of $25 to $500, I managed to accumulate more than $5000 only to come in second place by a mere $25 on the final hand. I pushed on the final hand with 19. This was a really nice event, and I'll definitely plan on returning for future ones. As for the finals, I'll have the final six hands posted when I get a chance.
Canadian Masters Curious: Is that U.S. Dollars? And forgot(and too lazy to go back to trace) who said it was tax free? And if so. would you? could you? in a box. in a sox. in an envelope. in your pocket. in your shoe. in your brief case. or secret numbered account bring that amount of money back to the U.S. without being labled a terrorist? (Me thinks BJFAN4 said "TAX FREE" But as always, I'm open for correction.
Canadian Masters The prize structure is in Canadian funds and in Canada all lottery and Casino winnings are tax free. The $125,000 Cdn was worth approximately $105,000 in US funds. Well done to Kenneth for coming very close to making the finals. As usual, the tournament rounds were dominated by players betting very aggressively and running up a score. The notable exception was the final table where the dealer took care of business with lots of strong hands early in the round.
Newspaper mention of the winner Here's an article with a few brief quotes from the winner... http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/...5&call_pageid=1024322085509&col=1024322199564
So Im the new guy..second big tournament really, lots of minis....the layout is 3 sessions ...2, 3, and 4 PM first sessions...I buy the very last seat and so get stuck in the first session ....the computer assigns table and seat when you check in.... Ok....I see Vince Costa...two time past winner....I wonder where he will sit...I read that Ken Smith will be here but I dont know what he looks like....well oh well....I'll just play my best.... Serendipty.... Two advance and my game although pretty new is fair if I do say so myself...especially with these wild betting, max bet every hand players... Soon we are seated and as we count chips and wait to begin, the announcer walks up to our table and says HI KEN to the dude sitting in seat 2.....Im fat and happy in seat 1 ...last to bet after 21 hands.....Hi Ken?????? No....it cant be....what are the chances?????...there are what...8 to 10 tables....seven players per table....Vince Costa is not at my table...he in fact sits at the next table behind me so if I turn around I can touch him....not that I want too ...but I do glance at his chips a few times during play.. Soooooooooo....I look at seat 2 Ken ........he catches my glance and so I say to him ....Not Ken Smith right???? Errrr ahhhh yes Im Ken Smith ...nice to meet you ..... HAAAAAA this is my luck at this game.....all these tables ....all these seats....BTW right B4 I come doiwn from my room I made sure to review all the articles I had printed out and brought along....written by who????? Ahhhhya.....KEN Smith!!!!! I smile at the irony and attack the game best as I could......BR1 was a max bettor and jumped to an uncatchable lead....I played my best but was put to pasture by seat 2 ....pleasant good guy Ken Smith!!!!! During play I thought about attacking his concentration with endless chatter but in the end he was just too damn nice and he beat me fair and square....I might try that chatter trick some day though....hey I learned it from a guy I watched on KOV...;-) Anyway long story even longer.....It was my great pleasure to meet you Ken. My son and I waited for you at the after game buffet (which was quite nice BTW) but you must have left after the game.... I sure hope to see you at another game soon....I had fun and learned some things.... I was out of the money in tournment play but I at least won back my entry fee ......at the tables which quite a surprise given these CSM games.... Thanks for the site....I am always looking for a good tournment to enter and I love to travel ....so if you ever need a guy ....give me a yell...
Rando, thanks for the smile today. It was indeed a pleasure meeting you and chatting between rounds. To your credit, you had a tough seat. When you needed to make up ground, the cards sure didn't cooperate. And then, my having position on you made a last hand comeback even tougher. As for the buffet, I'm sorry I missed the chance to sit with you. I was actually working during that. I stayed next to the final table to record all the details of the last six hands, and they'll be posted here soon, hopefully in a day or two. I look forward to our paths crossing again. Next time we can try to time our meeting to be at the final table instead of round one.
Ken, I watched the final round on the TV they had set up in the buffet room....WOW would I have loved to be at that final table....that dealer was kickin butt and taking names....perfectly suited for my game I think... BTW the BR1 at our 1st round table was the first guy to bust out in the Semi round....his advice of hit hard and fast was wrong ....although it did get him in the money...it eventually kept him from the real money....fun game.... What is the story about Aruba??? As we spoke I only caught part of the details or the details were not complete yet....where can I find more....heck I'll go to Aruba....I visited there but didnt gamble at all...I got a terrible case of cabin fever and I need warm!!!!!!!!!! Hope to see you at a final table for sure!!!!!
Yeah, definitely our kind of final table. I think in the first 7 hands the dealer had 4 blackjacks, 2 twenty-ones and another made hand.