PARK CITY POKER ROUND-UP

BY DENISE NEIL

The Wichita Eagle

About 2,000 people attend the first day of what's billed as the world's largest amateur tournament

Usually, at 10 a.m., Steve Peters and his buddies have just finished an all-night game of poker. But at 10 a.m. Saturday, Peters found himself surrounded by people doing things not normally associated with 10 a.m. --things like holding, folding and, in many cases, drinking beer.

About 2,000 people showed up to participate in the opening day of the Park City Poker Round-Up at the Kansas Coliseum Pavilion.

The Texas Hold 'Em tournament, being billed as the largest amateur poker tournament ever, continues today, Feb. 19 and 20, March 19 and 20 and April 16 and 17.

The tournament's buy-in is a $25 optional donation, and proceeds will go toward improving Park City's skateboard park.

Peters, a 28-year-old relative newcomer to the game, said he struggled out of bed Saturday morning because of the allure of the tournament's grand prize -- a seat in the annually televised World Series of Poker, worth $10,000.

"The number of people here is pretty overwhelming," he said. "But if you don't play, you don't have a chance."

Although the tournament's first day drew about 500 fewer people than the 2,500 capacity organizers were hoping for, many attendees still were surprised by the event's size.

Spread out over a football-field-size floor, the tournament featured players representing all ages, races and walks of life, crowded nine to a table.

Many wore sunglasses and hats, hoping to hide their emotions from their competitors.

Some brought along good luck charms -- like one man who displayed a tiny green Buddha statue on the table.

Some chewed on cigars, since smoking wasn't allowed in the building. Many chatted excitedly with strangers at their tables.

The constant sound of poker chips hitting tabletops provided the background music.

Kurt McPhail, whose locally based Amateur Poker League organized the event, said things ran smoothly considering the size of the undertaking.

The tournament was slammed by more than 300 walk-up registrants, which delayed the start of play by about 30 minutes.

But McPhail hadn't registered any major complaints, he said.

"We really hope to fill this up on Sunday," he said. "I think a lot of people were apprehensive to come out to this large of a tournament. But now people are going to go spread the word that it ran very smoothly."

Even Pat Dollar, the first person eliminated from the tournament after only about a minute and a half, said she was glad she'd come.

Dollar, a 56-year-old Hoisington resident and poker fanatic who's active with a poker league in nearby Great Bend, was so excited about the tournament, she's already registered to play each day.

Day one got off to a bad start, she said, because she took a risk, which she's prone to do. She had two pair in her hand -- sevens and fours -- and she bet it all. But another player at her table had three 10s.

Dollar, who plays poker five nights a week, said she wasn't surprised by the interest in the tournament. Poker is a hard game to resist, especially when there's no real money involved.

"It's free, for crying out loud," she said. "And we have such a good time playing. We laugh. We joke. It's amazing."

Former Wichita Mayor Bob Knight, who originated the idea for the tournament as a way to demonstrate Park City's viability as an entertainment destination, said he too was pleased with the first day.

Knight is president of Chisholm Creek Ventures LLC, a group that recently announced its plans for a 60-acre destination resort and casino in Park City.

On Saturday, three artists' renderings of what the resort would look like stood at the entrance to the tournament floor. Throughout the day, players stopped to marvel at the Towne East Square-size building that would include restaurants, hotel rooms, a spa and a five-story parking garage.

"I believe this turnout is a clear indication that there's a thirst for this kind of recreation," Knight said. "Almost without exception, people have told me today that they'd really like to see this casino unfold."