Press Release
Bill Elder Takes Home First World Poker Tour Title At The Premiere Gulf Coast Poker Championship
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Welcomed 256 Players and a $2,483,200 Prize Pool for the Inaugural WPT Event
BILOXI, MS (September 9th) – The Mississippi Gulf Coast swelled with action September 6th to 9th during the inaugural World Poker Tour® (WPT) Gulf Coast Poker Championship. In the most impressive comeback in WPT history, Bill Edler was down to his last two chips deep into the third day only to come back and win first place prize of $747,615, a $25,000 seat into the WPT World Championship at Bellagio in April, and his first WPT title.
This victory highlights a breakout year for Edler, who has now earned more than $2.6 million in 2007. Hailing from Las Vegas, Nev., Edler has played professional poker for several years and has garnered wide respect on and off the felt. This win also catapults Edler into second place in the player of the year rankings.
The WPT Final Table also featured local pro Tom Franklin, aka "Captain Tom," a native of Gulfport, Miss, who took home $116,814 in sixth place. Tim Razin, a Dallas Restaurateur, placed fifth, bringing in $140,177. Fourth and third place winners, John Davidson and Hank Sitton, won their entry in a satellite winning them $163,530 and $210,265, respectively. Second place and $411,185 was captured by David Robbins, whom Edler described as "first class in every respect and a fine player."
For more Gulf Coast Poker Championship and final table details, visit the World Poker Tour Live Updates at www.worldpokertour.com. The Gulf Coast Poker Championship will air on GSN in the Spring 2008.
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ABOUT WORLD POKER TOUR:
WPT Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WPTE) is a company engaged in the creation of internationally branded entertainment and consumer products driven by the development, production, and marketing of televised programming based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the World Poker Tour®, a television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs on the Travel Channel in the United States and is scheduled to begin broadcasting on GSN in early 2008. WPT is licensed for broadcast globally. WPTE also offers real-money online gaming on its website, www.worldpokertour.com.com, which prohibits wagers from players in the U.S. and certain other restricted territories. WPTE currently licenses its brand to companies in the business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel, publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment, DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware. The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate sponsorships. For show information, tools for improving poker play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com. WPTE is a majority owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: LACO). Photos and media information can be found online at: www.worldpokertour.com/media
ABOUT BEAU RIVAGE:
Casual elegance is redefined at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, MGM MIRAGE's destination resort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Named one of the top 100 hotels in the continental United States and Canada by Travel + Leisure, Beau Rivage blends world-class amenities with world-famous Southern hospitality. Featuring 1,740 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites; 11 restaurants; four nightclubs and bars; a 1,550-seat theatre; an upscale shopping promenade; a world-class spa & salon; and Fallen Oak, a new Tom Fazio designed championship golf course; Beau Rivage offers the finest destination resort experience in the Southeast. For more information or to make reservations, call (888) 56-ROOMS or (228) 386-7444 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (CDT), Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends, or visit www.beaurivage.com.
Contact:
Beatrice Lamothe/WPT:
323-330-9854
blamothe@worldpokertour.com
Mary Cracchiolo
mcracchiolo@beaurivage.com
