Bay 101 Open in Full Swing

San Jose native Faraz Jaka

The 2010 Bay 101 Open began this week and thousands of dollars have already been awarded in the first few events.

The smaller tournament series, which started on Monday, offers eight separate events with buy-ins ranging from $345 to $2,000.

The $2,000 buy-in Spread Limit Championship is scheduled to take place this Sunday. In addition to the regular prizepool, the winner will take home a $10,000 seat into the 2011 WPT Shooting Star event.

Three events have already been completed with Joe Basa taking Event 1 for $16,230, Leonard Levenson winning Event 2 for a $10,250 and Phong Ly claiming Event 3 for $9,630.

The rest of the week will include a $500 buy-in Spread Limit Shootout on Friday, a $1,000 Spread Limit Hold'em event on Saturday and the $2,000 championship event on Sunday.

Last year Taylor Raines outlasted nearly 100 players to take down a $50,430 first place prize in the Bay 101 Open championship event.

For more information check the Bay 101 website.