The Quebec Masters Series won't be back for a third season next year. I've got the official word today when I registered for the last of the six regular events of 2007 (next Monday, December 3) at the Casino-du-Lac-Leamy (Gatineau, Quebec). Why? Simple : The legalization of poker in Quebec Province a few months ago. The three government run casinos in Montreal, Gatineau and Charlevoix will now put all their efforts in building their capacities for this wildly popular game. I learned that in the two seasons of the Blackjack Master's Series they only attracted a core number of 70 regular players willing to go to every tournaments and spend an entry fee of $300 (last year) and $500 (this year). Go figure why they could not attract more people : the tournaments were open affairs and first class. They offered more than 100% equity (your guest was comped). For next Monday last regular tournament, 121 people were registered as of today out of a maximum 126 entries (first prize 50k, second 5k, etc.) Still, there is a good news in the fact that they haven't cancelled the Gand Finale of March 2008 (200k first prize, 20k second, etc.). It will be an open tournament (maximum 126 players). Entry fee : $2000.
Too bad, these tournaments are great fun and I went to most of them in 2006 and 2007. I'll see you there!
I didn't get a chance to play in the Master's Series even though I wanted to for 1 simple reason - having them mid-week mostly. The Niagra Falls tournaments are the same - if these events were held on the weekend - starting at 9 am - their attendance would skyrocket. As for the Grand Finale in March - are you sure it is still an open event?
Wrong info in All-In About the March 200k tournament, there was a misleading ad in All-in saying that you needed to win a regular tournament to qualify. This is completely false. The Grande Finale will be a wide open affair. The ad should have read : the top seven ranked players of the Masters Series get a free entry (2k), the next 8 get half their entry fee paid, and anybody willing to pay 2k can get in (maximum 126 players). The Casino-du-lac-Lemay is a medium size casino were the personnel is very courteous (the regular BJ game might not be the greatest, but counters don't get the tap on the shoulder over there). The casino complex (there's a five star Hilton Hotel joined to the building) is located centrally (about 30 minutes from the international Ottawa Airport). This event will be well run and the players from out of town will enjoy their experience. Monday, at the last regular tournament, three players new to BJT were sitting at the final table (one of them, completely new to BJ was drawn) and two of them - Zing Zhang and Wing Wang - fought at the end for the 50k first prize. At that point, I could not watch anymore, so I don't know who won between Zhang and Wang.
Quebec Tourneys I played the September Tourney in Montreal - was very nice and well run - a lot of fun - too bad they aren't going to do these anymore - I was hoping to make one next summer
Damn WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT THERE IN BLACKJACK TOURNAMENT WORLD-DAMN EVEN CANADA IS ON THE HIT LIST MAYBE KEN CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON ALL THIS I FOR ONE AM VERY CONFUSED ABOUT ALL OF THIS-ARE THERE NEW LAWS IN EFFECT OR WHAT?:flame: :flame:
