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Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
Big prizes, new perks for Nguyen Challenge
By Miguel Strother
Listen up, baby. The Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge V is set to start Oct. 30 at the Cherokee Casino in Tulsa, Okla.
With an estimated prize pool of more than $2.5 million, some big-name pros making the trip to play and key changes to the structure, it should be an excellent event.
"Our local players and poker pros from all over the country look forward
to this tournament each year," says David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, which operates Cherokee Casinos.
"And we've listened to what they've been saying and made some changes we feel are really positive. We've moved the tournament to our second floor grand ballroom allowing for more live cash games in the poker room, and we've shortened the length of the tournament but added more events each day."
The tournament runs through Nov. 10 and includes an additional event to each day this year, bringing the total to 31 events. Those events are as follows:
| Date | Time | Tournament | Buy-in |
| Oct. 30 | 7 p.m. | Jack & Jill | $125+$25 |
| Oct. 31 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $300+$40 |
| Oct. 31 | 3 p.m. | *Omaha 8-or-Better | $200+$30 |
| Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $125+$25 |
| Nov. 1 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 1 | 3 p.m. | Mega Supersatellite | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 1 | 7 p.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $200+$30 |
| Nov. 2 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $500+$50 |
| Nov. 2 | 3 p.m. | Mega Supersatellite | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 2 | 7 p.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $125+$25 |
| Nov. 3 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 3 | 3 p.m. | *H.O.R.S.E. | $500+$50 |
| Nov. 3 | 7 p.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $200+$30 |
| Nov. 4 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 4 | 3 p.m. | *Pot-Limit Omaha | $500+$50 |
| Nov. 4 | 7 p.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $125+$25 |
| Nov. 5 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 5 | 3 p.m. | *6-Handed NLHE | $200+$30 |
| Nov. 5 | 7 p.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $125+$25 |
| Nov. 6 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 6 | 3 p.m. | *Limit Hold'em | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 6 | 7 p.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $200+$30 |
| Nov. 7 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $500+$50 |
| Nov. 7 | 3 p.m. | Mega Supersatellite | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 7 | 7 p.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 8 | 11 a.m. | *No-Limit Hold'em | $1,000+$80 |
| Nov. 8 | 3 p.m. | Mega Supersatellite | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 8 | 7 p.m. | Mega Supersatellite | $300+$40 |
| Nov. 9 | 11 a.m. | Main Event Day 1 | $3,000+ $150 |
| Nov. 9 | 3 p.m. | Ladies NLHE | $125+$25 |
| Nov. 10 | 11 a.m. | Main Event Day 2 | -- |
Nguyen is fondly referred to as "The Prince of Poker." He arrived in the United States from Vietnam when he was just 14 years old. After living in Chicago for a while he made the jump to California.
It was there he picked up poker, to his own and his bank account's benefit.
Nguyen now lives in Las Vegas and is a former World Series of Poker Main Event Champion. He also won the $50k buy-in H.O.R.S.E event at the 2008 WSOP, largely considered the tournament that determines the world's most skilled card player.
Nguyen's total tournament career earnings amount to nearly $10 million, and in the process of making that, he has become one of the most talented and well-liked pros in the game.
"God has given me that talent, you know what I mean?" Nguyen told online gaming publication Bodog Nation. "And that's why I am who I am now. You know what I mean? I call some cards. I call some flops. It's crazy. And I call people's hands, and people look at me like, 'Wow.' It's unbelievable you know? And sometimes I just amaze myself.
"But it's not like I would walk around and act all bad and all that. You would never see me do something like that you know? I'm like a model for young kids these days. They want to look up to some pro with class. They don't want to see someone with millions of dollars and talking like nobody. I don't do those things, you know what I mean? Scotty stays Scotty Nguyen, you know, baby?"
You can bet Scotty will be making the rounds kissing babies and shaking hands at the tournament named after him. You can also bet he'll be attempting to take down last year's champion T.J. Cloutier in the process.
Players who want to get in on the action can receive discounted hotel rates at the resort with the block code "Scot1008." Rates for players are $79 during the week and $99 Friday and Saturday night. The resort also offers additional rooms at Cherokee Casino Inn.
For more information, visit www.CherokeeCasino.com and check for updates on all the play at pokerlistings.com.