The Masters was handled with byes. After the round of 32 matches and the $1000 buyers, there were 10 players for the round of 16. Four players got the anti-byes. Paul Weaver beat Justin Nunez in the final at DMP.
I've managed to win my first two main draw matches and am in the round of 8. No consolation matches were played yesterday, so there was a lot of down-time on the first day of the main. (If you lost your first you were done for the day.) The Masters and Limited jackpots are already completed; all I remember about the limited was that Susan Randall was in the final.
I and four others made a foray to the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood (14 miles down the road) and had a good time. Nasser lost a little in the Poker room (room has about 40 tables), I tought Bill D. how to play PaiGow Poker after he dropped some coin at the blackjack tables, and Elaine and Wayne won a little. I'm ahead on the blackjack for the weekend, as again, there is a lot of down-time in this 4-day weekend event, so I've been back there more than once.
Having Chiva provide all the boards is great; they are as nice as most any player's set I've played on with beautiful green and red flat checkers and a nice billiard table cloth surface with some bounce. The cups are oustanding with felt lining and a large lip. The 1/2" tend leave the rather bouncy board too often, but the bigger dice do not.
Many commented on the $600 Main draw entry fee and the 15% rake, but Chiva says it was necessary with all the expense of making and shipping the boards (for 54 total players we have JUST a few too many boards at 64:) Also, 4 day/3 nights is helpful for him because it puts him over the room-nights requirement. If it was just 3 days/2 nights, he'd have to pay big bucks for the ballroom.
Some pics:
