Bellagio’s Five Diamond Event #1 Results

The Five Diamond Poker Classic at the Bellagio has crowned the first champion when the first event concluded late on Tuesday evening. John Esposito of Las Vegas outlasted a field of 306 entrants in the $2000+80 No Limit Hold’em event. The total prize pool was $593,640. John received $235,711 and a $25,000 entry in the World Poker Tour Finals on April 18th, 2005 at the Bellagio for today’s victory. The final table chip leader, Reza Payvar of Los Angeles, finished second and collected $107,947. Jimmy Cha of La Habra, California was third and takes home $53,973.

The first day of Event 2 of the tournament, $1500+$70 Seven Card Stud, was being played in the tournament area. Many well known professionals were seated in the event. The number one rated player, Daniel Negreanu, was sitting behind a large stack of chips. At other tables was TJ Cloutier sporting new Poker Mountain logos. Mel Judah, Hassan Habib, David Levi, Joe Awada, David Plastik, Jesse Jones and Steve Simmons remained in the action. The seven card stud final table will be played today, Thursday, beginning at 3:00 pm. Event 3, $25,000+$300 Heads-Up Limit Hold’em, starts at 2:00 pm today. Tomorrow’s event, $1500+$70 Limit Hold’em starts at noon.

The Bellagio’s Five Diamond Poker Classic is a World Poker Tour sanctioned stop. The $15,000+$300 No Limit Hold’em Championship final table will be filmed and shown on the Travel Channel. The Five Diamond Tournament Director is Jack McClelland, a poker industry veteran. Jack and his staff spend many long hours on the tournament floor managing all the events and ensuring that the tournament is smooth and trouble free.

We continue to count down the days until the Holiday Blogger Tournament at Sam’s Town here in Las Vegas. Max Pescatori is now a definite maybe and we are hoping to have one of the Hendon Mob since they will be in town for the Five Diamond poker Classic. This event is shaping up to be a real happening. Our Tournament Director, Dick Gatewood at Call, Raise or Muck It, has up-to-date tournament information.