Poker News

The final free-roll tournament in the World Series of Poker qualifying series at the Pahrump Nugget will be held Saturday, starting at 4 p.m.

A total of 28 players have qualified for the Saturday tournament, based on their having played 40 hours of live poker in the Nugget during December.

The top five finishers Saturday will be awarded points; 10, for first; 5, for second; 3, for third; 2, for fourth and 1, for fifth. The payoffs total $2,100, with the Nugget having paid out $2,310 in prize money.

A total of $10,000 will be at stake Feb. 24, when the top 20 players compete for at least one seat in the 2007 World Series of Poker, tentatively scheduled to begin June 1 at the Rio Casino-Hotel in Las Vegas.

The series leader, after 11 events, is Tom Duke, with 25 points (one first, three seconds). Blake Lozo has 20 points (two firsts), while Frank Polansky has 19 points (one victory).

The standings:

A total of 31 players have placed in the previous 11 World Series of Poker qualifying tournaments at the Pahrump Nugget.

Listed are the players, their points, and in parenthesis, wins:

1. Tom Duke, 25 (one).

2. Blake Lozo, 20 (two).

3. Frank Polansky, 19 (one).

4. Jim Robertson, 15 (one).

5. Rob Lisull, 14 (one).

6. Larry Mauch, 13 (one).

7. Butch Dole, 10 (one); ties -- Bernie DeSantos, 10 (one); Buzz Busbee, 10 (one).

10. Rob Reddick, 6.

11. Rollie Batayola, 5; ties -- Ken Fiege, 5; Ben Lagos, 5; Andy Franzen, 5; Russ Eleogram, 5; Skip Woodland, 5; Frank Kost, 5.

18. Rupert Hodnett, 4.

19. Don McDermott, 3; ties -- Doug Gregory, 3; Todd Bock, 3; Ron Kaltenbach, 3; Patti Franzen, 3; Rusty Rivas, 3.

25. Jack Morgadonna, 2; ties -- Ray Guin, 2; Nella Lawson, 2; Reno Gregory, 2.

29. Reno Soto, 1; ties -- Mike Greenwich, 1; Carmen Lombardozzi, 1.

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