Wednesday May 5 will kick off the 2010 Nevada State Poker Championships at the Peppermill Casino in Reno, and most of the attention will go to Jennifer Harman's Celebrity charity event.
The Nevada State Poker Championship will consist of a dozen events, culminating with the $500 + $40 Main Event on Sunday May 9. Every event will be no limit holdem action, and buy-in fees will all be under $250 except the Main Event.
Wednesday will have two-$120 no limit holdem tournaments, one at noon and the other getting underway at 6:00 PM. Thursday will deliver more of the same, with two more $120 events, and an additional $225 tournament.
Friday the 7th is the same schedule as Thursday, and Saturday will have a $170 event and the Jennifer Harman Celebrity Charity Tournament. Action wraps up on Sunday with the Main Event and one more $120 no limit holdem tournament.
The charity event will benefit The National Kidney Foundation. Besides the $250 entry fee players will be able to increase their donation to the cause by re-buying into the event for $50 as often as they want for the first three levels.
The charity functions for the cause don't end on the felt; on Friday the National Kidney Foundation Golf Classic will be played at Somerset Country Club, and later in the day a VIP Cocktail Party will be held in the Terrace Lounge. Besides the poker action, Saturday will have a gift bag distribution, a silent auction in the Naples Ballroom, and an awards ceremony in the evening, again in the Naples Ballroom.
Lots of poker celebrities are confirmed for the charity event including stars like Howard Lederer, Marco Traniello, Andy Block, Jeff Madsen, Antonio Esfandiari, "Sopranos" Robert Iler, Gavin Smith, Cyndy Violette, "Saved by the Bell" Dennis Haskins, Lee Watkison, Esther Rossi, Kristy Gazes, WSOP bracelet winner Jon Friedberg, Paul Wasicka, David Plastik, Hoyt Corkins, Marsha Waggonner, Lacey Jones, Maria Ho, Tiffany Michele, Mark Kroon, David Chicotsky, Susie Isaacs, Trishelle Cannatella, "The Brady Bunch" Jennifer Elise Cox , World Champion Snow Boarder Jeff Brushie, Pam Brunson, and Todd Brunson.
The top finishers in the charity event will split over $40K in prizes. The winner will get a seat in the 2010 WSOP Main Event, a seat in the Nevada State Poker Championship, and a bunch of swag that includes the Championship Trophy.
The runner-up in the tournament gets a Nevada State Poker Championship seat as well as an invitation to the 2011 WPT Celebrity Invitational. The top 30 players in the tournament will walk away with something, but the most valuable prize will be won by all who play; the knowledge that they helped out a very worthy cause.