Punta Cana Poker Classic 2012 Kicks Off This Weekend

If the airport in Punta Cana feels a little crowded this week, blame the Punta Cana Poker Classic. The online poker site has confirmed that a total of 82 online poker players have secured packages worth $5,000 apiece through qualifiers online. The Caribbean tournament gets underway on Saturday, October 13 at 3 p.m. local time.

“The party officially starts on October 12 as we welcome all our online qualifiers plus tons of in-person sign-ups,” stated Punta Cana Poker Classic spokesman Michael Harris. “This is the third consecutive year we’re here for the Punta Cana Poker Classic, and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is buzzing with energy. As cliché as it sounds, this is definitely going to be our best year yet.”

The 82 online poker qualifiers are just a fraction of the hundreds of poker players who will compete for the Punta Cana Poker Classic title and a six-figure payday. Last year, Demo Kiriopoulos earned $136,950 for his first-place finish, and in 2010 Peter Cross took home the first-place prize of $63,000.

The package winners will be treated to much more than a seat at the poker table. Each package won includes one Main Event buy-in, 6-night hotel accommodations for two, all-you-can-handle food and drinks (alcohol included) for two, airfare up to $800, a $1,500 resort credit, 24-hour premium room service for two, a welcome gift bag, ground transportation in Punta Cana and more.

Poker players who didn’t win a seat through an online qualifier can buy directly in at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The buy-in for the $500,000 guaranteed event is $1,500+$150.

Entering its third year, the Punta Cana Poker Classic tournament takes place at the Vegas-style Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Dominican Republic October 12-18 with a guaranteed prize pool of $500,000.

Unlike previous Caribbean tournaments hosted by other poker networks where online poker players had to purchase expensive food and alcohol, the Punta Cana Poker Classic awards tournament players and their guests with bracelets that give them access to unlimited food and beverages 24/7. Hotel rooms are well stocked with beer and liquor, room service is available whenever poker players crave it and over a dozen restaurants and delis are ready to cater to package winners.

Online poker players who can’t make it to Punta Cana for the tournament can follow along with live updates at www.PuntaCanaPokerClassic.com