Arizona State Poker Championship celebrates 10th year at Talking Stick

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Across the country, poker enthusiasts are perfecting their strategies and gearing up for the Arizona State Poker Championship at Talking Stick Resort. Celebrating its 10th year, the annual No Limit Hold’em tournament will allow players to showcase their skills over a five-day period, beginning on Aug. 15. The signature event will be held in the ARENA Poker Room—the largest card room in the state—and will feature a prize pool of more than $1 million.

“The 2014 Arizona State Poker Championship will be particularly special as we’ll be commemorating our 10-year anniversary,” said Tom Young, director of poker at Talking Stick Resort. “Since its launch in the summer of 2004, we have seen the event has grow, not only in size, but in the talent it attracts. There are more pros competing than ever before, but as we’ve seen in the past it can be anyone’s game.”

Kicking off on Friday, Aug. 15, the championship will begin at 9 a.m. In addition to a cash prize of $211,750, the winner will take home a trophy and bracelet designed by renowned Scottsdale jeweler, Scott Gauthier of Jewelry by Gauthier. Handmade with 14-carat white gold, the bracelet features a custom-made 2014 closure and boasts more than two and a half carats of rubies and black diamonds. Second and third place titleholders will receive trophies as well as payouts of $143,000 and $110,000 respectively.

With a $1,000 buy-in and $100 tournament fee, players can enter the competition and battle it out for the top spot. Each contestant will begin with 16,000 tournament chips, but will have the opportunity to purchase 10,000 additional chips for $30. Participants eliminated during the first three days of the competition will have the option to buy in again for an additional $1,100.

The semifinals of the tournament will take place on Aug. 18 followed by the finals the following day. During that time, the remaining 10 contenders will engage in a battle of wits in the final table in order to become champion.

This year’s event will also feature poker household names with 13-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth emceeing the final table. Additional celebrities slated to attend are TV personality and poker player Tiffany Michelle as well as poker professionals Joe Cada, David Williams, Dennis Phillips and Chip and Karina Jett just to name a few.