Atlantis Bahamas Poker Tournaments
- Atlantis Bahamas Poker Tournament
- Atlantis Bahamas Poker Tournaments 2019
- Atlantis Bahamas Poker Tournament 2019
- Poker players from around the world spent much of today traveling to the airport in Nassau, Bahamas, then catching a cab or shuttle to Paradise Island, and exploring some of the massive Atlantis resort.
- Alongside the Main Event, the festival includes a full schedule of 10 quality tournaments with a range of buy-ins. It kicks off on 13 th November with The Opener and continues with multiple events with plenty of different formats for you to enjoy.
However, the Bahamas was home to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, one of the most famous poker tournament series taking place in January of every year – until its 2019 cancellation. Still, many millions were won at the tables of PCA with some of the biggest names in poker vying for glory. The Bahamas has also hosted partypoker LIVE events.
Table Of Contents
The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure is no more.
After 16 years, most of it spent being one of the premier live stops on the international poker scene, PokerStars has opted to discontinue the event, according to reporting from PocketFives.
The relevant sentence comes at the bottom of the linked piece, in a quote from PokerStars Marketing Director Eric Hollreiser.
'It’s no secret that after 15 successful years, the PCA [prior to last year’s PSPC] has been losing momentum and there’s been increasing player criticism of the location,” Hollreiser said. “As such, we will not be returning to Paradise Island in 2020.'
History of the PCA
PCA began as a partnership with the World Poker Tour, taking place on a cruise ship in 2004 and hosting a field of 221 players. Poker legend Gus Hansen would ship the inaugural event, then a $7,500 buy-in, for $455,780.
The next year the PCA moved to its famous home at Atlantis Resort, the sprawling and opulent set-up that occupies almost half of Paradise Island.
Over the years there, the series would eventually evolve into becoming part of PokerStars' European Poker Tour, with the buy-in goosed up to $10,300. It would eventually stand as one of just a few remaining $10K main events on the overall live schedule, although the buy-in was dropped to $5,300 for a couple of years, including the one year the event was rebranded as PokerStars Championship Bahamas in 2017.
The PCA peaked in terms of prizes awarded in 2009, when little-known Canadian Poorya Nazari won a monstrous official first-place of $3 million, although it was widely reported thata deal had been struck at some point before the finish. In terms of entries, the PCA Main Event peaked during the two following years when 1,529 and 1,560 turned up, respectively.
The Main Event was far from the only big draw at PCA. It also hosted some of the first and biggest $100K events in poker before that was just another tournament in the procession of high rollers. The $25K High Roller was also usually one of the most well-attended on the calendar.
Declining Attendance
While the PCA for years could count itself a premier live poker stop, it had fallen on somewhat hard times in recent years.
After attendance peaked in 2011, the lack of online satellites available to North American players contributed to a large attendance drop back to 1,072 in 2012 — about two-thirds of the previous year's total. As the poker environment became tougher and edges shrank, the attractiveness of an expensive stay on an island resort went down as well.
A further drop of about 20 percent — from 1,031 to 816 — in 2015 convinced PokerStars brass to try lowering the buy-in to the aforementioned $5,300. The move did little, as a bump of about 100 entries just meant the prize pool dropped massively, awarding its first winner's prize below seven figures since 2005.
Things only got worse the following year, and 2018's return to $10,300 saw attendance drop in the number of entries to 582, a level not seen since 2005 as well.
The PCA received a major shot in the arm in 2019 when the PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold'em Championship was announced. While the landmark event would run alongside the PCA Main Event, the lure of the most lucrative $25K in history was enough to bring out plenty of grinders and push Main Event attendance back up to 865 for Chino Rheem's victory.
However, that always looked to be temporary fix given that the PSPC was thought to be a one-off and certainly looked unlikely to be repeated every year. With the news that the event will move to Barcelona for 2020, it was confirmed that there would be no similar life raft to keep the 2020 PCA afloat, and PokerStars opted to end the long-running event rather than risk continued decline.
Barring a reboot some time down the road, that means Rheem will go down as the final PCA Main Event champion, closing the books on one of poker's longest-running and most lucrative tournament series.
Atlantis Bahamas Poker Tournament
Tables of PCA Major Event Winners
Main Event
| Year | Buy-In | Entries | Total Prize Pool | Winner | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | $7,500 | 221 | $1,657,500 | Gus Hansen | $455,780 |
| 2005 | $8,000 | 461 | $3,487,200 | John Gale | $890,600 |
| 2006 | $8,000 | 724 | $5,647,200 | Steve Paul-Ambrose | $1,388,600 |
| 2007 | $8,000 | 937 | $7,063,842 | Ryan Daut | $1,535,255 |
| 2008 | $8,000 | 1,136 | $8,562,976 | Bertrand Grospellier | $2,000,000 |
| 2009 | $10,000 | 1,347 | $12,674,000 | Poorya Nazari | $3,000,000 |
| 2010 | $10,300 | 1,529 | $14,831,300 | Harrison Gimbel | $2,200,000 |
| 2011 | $10,300 | 1,560 | $15,132,000 | Galen Hall | $2,300,000 |
| 2012 | $10,300 | 1,072 | $10,398,400 | John Dibella | $1,775,000 |
| 2013 | $10,300 | 987 | $9,573,900 | Dimitar Danchev | $1,859,000 |
| 2014 | $10,300 | 1,031 | $10,070,000 | Dominik Panka | $1,423,096 |
| 2015 | $10,300 | 816 | $7,915,200 | Kevin Schulz | $1,491,580 |
| 2016 | $5,300 | 928 | $4,500,800 | Mike Watson | $728,325 |
| 2017 | $5,000 | 738 | $3,376,712 | Christian Harder | $429,664 |
| 2018 | $10,300 | 582 | $5,645,400 | Maria Lampropulos | $1,081,100 |
| 2019 | $10,300 | 865 | $8,390,500 | Chino Rheem | $1,567,100 |
$100K Super High Roller
| Year | Entries | Total Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 38 | $3,743,000 | Eugene Katchalov | $1,500,000 |
| 2012 | 32 | $3,136,000 | Viktor Blom | $1,254,400 |
| 2013 | 55 | $5,724,180 | Scott Seiver | $2,003,480 |
| 2014 | 56 | $5,433,120 | Fabian Quoss | $1,629,940 |
| 2015 | 66 | $6,402,000 | Steve O'Dwyer | $1,872,580 |
| 2016 | 58 | $5,626,000 | Bryn Kenney | $1,687,800 |
| 2017 | 54 | $5,239,080 | Jason Koon | $1,650,300 |
| 2018 | 48 | $4,737,600 | Cary Katz | $1,492,340 |
| 2019 | 61 | $5,918,220 | Sam Greenwood | $1,775,460 |
Atlantis Bahamas Poker Tournaments 2019
$25K High Roller
| Year | Entries | Total Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 48 | $1,200,000 | Bertrand Grospellier | $433,500 |
| 2010 | 84 | $2,057,998 | William Reynolds | $576,240 |
| 2011 | 151 | $3,775,500 | Will Molson | $1,072,850 |
| 2012 | 148 | $3,626,000 | Alex Bilokur | $1,134,930 |
| 2013 | 204 | $4,998,000 | Vanessa Selbst | $1,424,420 |
| 2014 | 247 | $6,051,500 | Jake Schindler | $1,192,624 |
| 2015 | 269 | $6,456,000 | Ilkin Garibli | $1,105,040 |
| 2016 | 225 | $5,400,000 | Nick Maimone | $996,480 |
| 2017 | 159 | $3,895,500 | Luc Greenwood | $740,032 |
| 2018 | 142 | $3,484,800 | Chris Kruk | $836,350 |
| 2019 | 162 | $3,928,500 | Martin Zamani | $895,110 |
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Atlantis Bahamas Poker Tournament 2019
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PokerStars Caribbean Adventure
For visitors who have toured the extravagant resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, exploring the interior of Atlantis Resort for the first time has a way of bringing you back to Sin City.
Domed ceilings and towering columns highlight palatial architecture, marble and granite span the room from floor to ceiling and modern artwork adorns every available wall. And just like in Las Vegas, that immaculate gallery-like ambience soon gives way to the sights and sounds of action: cards being shuffled, chips being stacked and slot machines sounding off to announce the latest winner.
When you near the center of Paradise Island, between Coral Towers to the west and Royal Towers to the east, Atlantis Resort reveals yet another hidden treasure: a full-fledged casino that rivals many of the megaresorts in America, Europe and Australia.
More than 700 slot machines with a wide range of coin denominations from $0.01 to $100 and the latest themes and titles are on site, many of them clustered underneath a gorgeous glass sculpture by famed artist Dale Chihuly.
The table gaming area runs up to 85 games at once, spreading classics like blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette. Punters can also place their sports bets at the Pegasus Race and Sports Book. Perfect summertime temperatures mean that guests at Atlantis Resort never lack for outdoor enjoyment, but the inclusion of a cutting-edge casino complements the serene setting perfectly.
Many visitors to the area aren’t even aware of the casino upon booking their trip; others simply see it as an afterthought. But even five minutes inside will show why Atlantis Resorts is home to one of the most prestigious poker tournaments of the year.
If you consider gambling to be a regular hobby, chances are you ran a search for applicable laws in the Bahamas before booking your trip.
The results of that search may have been confusing, too, as many resources will inform readers that gambling is banned by law throughout the entire country. While this is technically true, the restrictions on casino games and other forms of gambling only apply to Bahamian citizens. Tourists arriving at Atlantis Resort, or anywhere throughout the Bahamas for that matter, are free to enjoy casino gaming wherever it is made available.
The Atlantis Resort casino is housed within an enormous 100,000-square-foot building that directly links Coral Tower to Royal Tower. The venue offers the full spectrum of casino gaming with slot machines and table games lining the expansive floor. Here are some of the games you will find:
Slots
Slots enthusiasts can enjoy the most modern themes and titles on everything from traditional three-reel designs to interactive video slots. If you’re new to slots and want to try it out without spending any cash then there is also complementary slots play available. Free Daily Slot Tournaments are great fun and have decent prizes too. Winners pocket $100 worth of free spins, the runner-up receives $50 in slot comps and much more.
Table Games
All of your favorites are here, with baccarat played in a special VIP-style lounge and blackjack running around the clock surrounding the Temple of the Sun.
Other table games onsite include mini-baccarat, craps, roulette, Let It Ride Progressive Poker, Three Card Progressive Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em Progressive Poker.
Although the last three games include the phrase “poker,” they’re actually hybrid table games, and thus don’t follow the traditional rules of poker you’re used to from tournaments or cash games. If you prefer playing classic no-limit Texas hold’em (NLHE) over table games against the dealer, read on to find out how guests at Atlantis Resort can get in the game.
Race and Sports
Even after departing home and heading for Paradise Island, you can still support your favorite sports teams – or simply put some dough down on the sharp side of a good game – by heading to the Pegasus Race and Sports Book.
The board posts up to the second odds and lines and, and every major league and race track throughout North America is available to bet on.
Gambling in the sun
Gambling can be great fun, but sitting inside while your friends frolic around the pool and soak in the sun isn’t always appealing. Thankfully, Atlantis Resort has you covered with Cain at the Cove, an exclusive swimming pool area available to adults only.
The 9,000-square-foot Ultra Pool has two separate infinity pools that are elevated above-ground level to offer stunning views of the Caribbean Sea below.
Cain at the Cove features 20 private cabanas and The Cove Pool Café. Poolside concierges will bring refreshments while you enjoy the mini-craps table and six blackjack tables on the premises.
Although the Atlantis Resort casino doesn’t contain a full-time poker room, the property’s connection to the poker world extends back for more than a decade.
Paradise Island has played host to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) since 2005 following the tournament series’ debut in 2004. That year saw the PCA held aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, but tournament organizers decided to depart for solid land, and the PCA has been an annual Atlantis Resort tradition ever since.
Offering a comprehensive schedule of events, and included within the European Poker Tour (EPT) banner between 2008 and 2010, the PCA became an essential stop along the global tournament circuit. Serving as a “spring break” style complement to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) summer camp theme, the PCA regularly attracts elite touring pros from around the world who are eager to experience poker in paradise.
The PCA’s showcase tournament, a no limit hold’em Main Event, has been won by poker luminaries like Gus Hansen (2004), Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier (2008), Galen Hall (2011) and Mike Watson (2016) over the years, lending the series a certain sense of prestige. Between 2006 and 2015, the PCA Main Event created a millionaire with each year’s champion.
In recent years, the PCA expanded to include high roller and super high roller events, creating additional opportunities to chase seven-figure scores. Elite pros like Eugene Katchalov (2011), Scott Seiver (2013), Vanessa Selbst (2013) and Steve O’Dwyer (2015) have all won more than $1 million by winning nosebleed-stake events at the PCA.
Starting in 2017, the PCA’s name was officially changed to PokerStars Championship Bahamas, but aside from that, the series’ spirit lives on. The poker world will descend on Paradise Island between Jan. 6 and Jan. 14 for the first-ever PokerStars Championship Bahamas, to be held at Atlantis Resort.
In total, 92 events will be on the schedule, with most days featuring a dozen tournaments running concurrently. The festivities kick off on Jan. 6 with the highly anticipated $100,000 buy in Super High Roller. Players who can’t afford to drop six figures so easily can hop in several events with low buy-ins between $110 and $330 on opening day alone.
While NLHE is obviously the game of choice in most events, poker variants like pot-limit Omaha (PLO) and seven-card stud, along with mixed games like H.O.R.S.E. and H.O.S.E., also get their due.
The PokerStars Championship Bahamas Main Event begins on Jan. 8 with the first of two starting flights.
If you’ve never been to the an event like this before, or just want to win your way in on the cheap, PokerStars is running a full schedule of online satellites and qualifiers. Buy-ins for these PokerStars Championship Bahamas qualifiers range from the micro stakes to mid-range and up, but you can secure a $10,000 PokerStars Championship prize package, which includes a $5,000 Main Event seat, by landing the jackpot in a $10 Spin & Go tournament.
The PokerStars Championship Bahamas doesn’t start for more than a month, so players all over the world have plenty of time to win their way to paradise courtesy of PokerStars.