Season 22 Week 7

This was a crazy week at the VPL.

This week the VPL hosted 24 players.

The points race was intense. One player was even blinded in all the way for points.

24 players meant that we started off with three full tables.

Within the first three levels we were down to two tables.

Combing tables before the break is almost unheard of, but it happened.

That caused me to think the tournament wasn't going to last very long.

I was wrong. The tournament ended with the blinds being 1,000/2,000 and ended after 2:00.

Before this tournament Clay was 4 points behind the leader.

Clay wasn't in town but paid and had his chips blinded off for points.

That move paid off for him.

He is now tied for the points race.

Next week is the final week and will determine who wins the points money.

Also, there was a 5th spot paid, so that money goes to the Holiday Invitational.

The updated balance is to the right.

Now to our favorite spot of the blog: Bubble time

The four players on this list were: Jason, James, Joe and Alan

Joe reached back and popped the bubble this week in 4th place.

Money time: James, Jason and Alan

The only person to have previously qualified with this three is Alan.

In 3rd place with a win of $40 was Jason.

Heads UP: James and Alan

Now this was one tough battle.

Blinds were $1,000/$2,000 when it was finished.

In 2nd place, and qualifying for the TOC, with a win of $102 was James.

That means that week 7's winner, along with the chip and $204 was Alan.

That makes 11 qualifiers for the TOC.

Who will win points next week?

Will there be any new qualifiers to the TOC?

You know the drill, only one way to find out................................come and play!

Good luck to everyone next week!

Season 22 Week 6

We will start 2010 off in the correct way.

The blog is updated right away.

The start of 2010 was nothing less than amazing.

This year began with 23 people who brought their money and a dream of winning it all.

There 23 people at the VPL, as a result, there was $27 which is entered into the Holiday Invitational Tournament in December.

With the new format, 3 people get paid.

There are 4 names on the bubble list this week and they are:

David, Clay, George, and Angela

With this array of characters, there are two previous qualifiers and two that have not.

Who had the magic pin.......

All you have to do is ask.

This week the magic pin belonged to Clay.

Clay exited the table in 4th place.

With this exit brings us to the money list:

George, Angela and David.

Will there be 1 or 2 new qualifiers this week?

The answer is...................................2.

Next to leave the table in 3rd place was David with a win of $39.

Heads-Up: Angela vs George

Going into the battle, George had the chip lead.

I have to say that this was the most see-sawed (yes that is a word) battle of the VPL to date.

At one point, Angela was all-in with only 1 bet left. George called and doubled her up.

Then we would have an all-in and a call only to switch about $8,000 in chips.

A couple of hands later another all-in and call. This time another $8,000 in chips would switch the other way.

This probably happened about 3 or 4 times.

The tournament ended with the blinds at 800/1,600.

With one last all-in and call..................................

It was George who fell short this week. George would finish the tournament in 2nd place with a win of $97.

Which meant that Angela took down the first tournament of 2010 at the VPL.

Her 1st place finish earned her the chip and $195.

Congratulations to both George and Angela for qualifying for the TOC.

The points leader board changed once again.

There are only two weeks left in season 22.

Do you have what it takes to play at the VPL?

Only one way to find out, we will see you next week.

Good luck everyone.

Season 22 Week 5

This marked the last tournament of 2009.

What a year for the VPL.

Excellent poker and some not so excellent poker.

This year marked some growing pains for the VPL.

2009 reached maximum capacity at the VPL.

Week 5 had 19 showed up to battle on the felt.

There were only 4 places paid. No payout to the holiday invitational.

This week's bubble list contained the following names:

Jeremy, James, Slugger and Clay

The final bubble of 2009 was brought by James.

James left the table in 4th place.

Money time:

Jeremy, Slugger and Clay.

Next to say good bye was Clay.

Clay's 3rd place finish earned him $48.

Heads-up: Slugger and Jeremy

These two players have previously qualified for the TOC.

Slugger came into this heads up battle as the chip leader.

The battle was fierce but in the end there could only be one.

Jeremy couldn't fight his deficit and finished the tournament in 2nd place.

His 2nd place finish earned him $80.

Sluggers 1st place finish, earned him the chip as well as $161.

What does 2010 hold in store for the VPL?

Only one way to find out. Come and play.

Every week brings us closer to the holiday invitational.

Good luck to everyone.

Season 22 Week 4

Halfway through season 22.

Despite the weather and being so close to Christmas the VPL hosted 19 players.

All 19 players were eligible for the "on-time" bonus.

The river was very cruel this week for some players.

At the VPL, you never know until the last card is laid down.

Since we had 19 players, there were 4 spots divided out.

The top 3 players received cash.

The 4th place went to the TOC/points.

Because there was no 5th place, no money went to the Holiday Invitational.

The VPL wants to give a shout out to one of the original players.

Santos gave a surprise when he showed up to play.

He started playing with us when the league was at the Hangovers Bar in Swink.

Enough with the schmoozing, let's get it started and read about why we are really here.

The bubble list.

Alex, Slugger, Santos and Todd.

This week, the pin to pop the buble was imported all the way from Kansas.

That's right, Santos finished his evening in 4th place.

Money list: Slugger, Alex and Todd

You know what's coming next.

Whenever there is a 4th place, it is always followed by a 3rd place.

This week Slugger went out in 3rd place with a win of $48.

Heads-Up: Alex and Todd

This is interesting because Alex took a little time off from the VPL and on his first night back, he qualifies for the TOC.

The tournament ended 400/800.

In 2nd place, qualifying for the TOC with a win of $80 was Alex.

Season 22 week 4 belong to Todd.

Todd's 1st place finish this week earned him a place in the TOC, the chip as well as $161.

We will see what week 5 has in store for the VPL.

Until then, may you all have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Come join us for the last tournament of 2009 on December 29, 2009.

Good luck

Season 22 Week 3

The numbers weren't as big but the action is always on the highest level.

This week brought a total of 21 players to sit down for the fight to victory.

The VPL will always continue to bring the best poker action in the valley.

When there are 21 or more players the money pot is broken down the following way:

1st - paid

2nd - paid

3rd - paid

4th - points/TOC

5th - Holiday Invitational.

The 4 names on the bubble list this week include: James, David, James and Alan.

After some creative raises, bluffs and all around crazy plays brings us to the person who popped the bubble.

That person was Steve.

At this point the following players have made some money:

David, James and Alan

Next to leave the poker table was James with a win of $35.

Heads-up: David and Alan

After the all-in and a call, left a winner.

Coming in 2nd place with a win of $89 was David.

The winner of week 3 was Alan with the chip and a win of $178.

congratulations to both David and Alan for being the next two players to qualify for the TOC.

Good luck next week.

Season 22 Week 2

We started off week 1 (season 22) with a record number of people (25).

This set off a change in the seating. 24 paid players (along with 3 dead hands) will be
the maximum numbers of players at one time. The 25th player coming into the VPL will
have to wait until someone gets busted out. I know this didn't happen this week but that
was because I miscounted.

That record would not stand for very long. This week, season 22 week 2, once again set a new attendance record with 26 people.

This also has set a new record payoff of $221.00.

This week also started the countdown to the Holiday Invitational 2010.

This tournament is roughly scheduled for:

Sunday December 5, 2010 @ 2:00.

The buy-in will be the regular $21 along with the invitation.

You will need 20 tickets to get an invitation. Every paid entry into the VPL (not including the TOC) will earn you 1 ticket.

Old payout system: 21 or more people
1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th got paid and the 5th went to the TOC/points.

New system: 21 or more people
1st, 2nd, and 3rd get paid, 4th will go to the TOC/points and 5th will go to the Holiday Invitational.

This causes more money for the TOC/points. (because it's the 4th place not 5th that goes to this pot).

NOW: down to the business why we are all here reading this!

Season 22 Week 2 Bubble time:

Jeremy, George, James and Clay

This week James had to say goodbye to the VPL in 4th place busting the bubble.

Money time: Jeremy, Clay and George

There will be two new qualifiers to the TOC.

Next to see his way off the felt with a win of $44 was George.

Heads-Up: Clay and Jeremy

This was quite the battle.

This week also proved to be one of the longest tournaments (I know, duh, the most people)

This tournament ended with the blinds of 800 -1,600.

One new level of blinds have been added. After 1000 -2000 will be 1,500 - 3,000.

In the end, there stood only 1.

in 2nd place with a win of $110 was Jeremy.

That means, Clay was the winner of week 2. His good play earned him the chip, and a record payout of $221.00.

Congratulations to Clay and Jeremy for qualifying for the TOC.

Will the VPL get any bigger? Only one way to find out................you have to come and play.

Good luck everyone.

Season 22 Week 1

Last season was the biggest season of the VPL to date.

As always, the VPL doesn't hold back in hosting the very best in poker.

December 1, 2009 proved to be history in the making, once again breaking an attendance record.

That's right, week 1 was host to a total of 25 poker players.

Because of this big number 2 new rules have been implemented:

1: when the 2nd color-up is finished. The blinds will be 200-400 with the blinds being 20 minutes.

2: When 3 tables are full (8 physical players with a dead hand) the 25 player will become an alternate and have to wait until a seat opens up.

Pre-paid players will be considered physical players. No more than nine hands per table (8 physical and 1 dead hand)

The 7:15 bonus is always in effect. The 7:15 will be marked by the cable box on top of the T.V. at Valdez Casino.

Let's get down to the action.

This week was 25 players with 2 regulars not showing up.

Big poker means big risks and bigger rewards.

The bubble contained the following names: Slugger, Janice, Joe, Jeremy and Alan

The next person out would get paid as much as the first person out--------Zero!

Unfortunately that person was Jeremy.

However, the effort was not for nothing. Exiting the table in 5th place he has earned 21 points.

Money time included: Janice, Slugger, Joe and Alan

The next person to leave the table in 4th place, 23 points and and win of $34 was Alan.

Now it was Janice's turn to say goodbye to week 1. Her effort earned her 3rd place, 25 points and a win of $42.

Heads-up: Slugger vs Joe

Congratulations to both of these players to be the first two to qualify for the TOC.

In 2nd place, with 25 poins and a win of $106 was Slugger.

That means that Joe was the winner of week 1 earning himself 27 points, the chip and $212.

This week's payout also set a record for a 1st place payout during the season.

This also makes the first time that two players received more than $100 in a single week.

Thanks to everyone who has helped make the VPL what it is today.

The maximum capacity has been met. Let's make an effort to always fill it.

Good luck to everyone next week.