11-player $50K entry fee: how come no one I'v heard of in it?

[betgo]

How come none of the WPT and big game stars showed up? This certainly doesn't look like the line up of an early WSOP.

1 Randy Lewis (USA) $550,000
2 Earl Vanalstyne
3 Robert Bright (Las Vegas, NV, USA)
4 Vince Burgio (West Hills, CA, USA)
5 Sig Sigety
6 Jeff Frerichs (Las Vegas, NV, USA)
7 Kelly Schwalbe
8 Tammy Bright
9 Bobby Bright

[Kevmath]

Probably because they didn't think much of the Plaza Poker Classic tournaments overall. There was little promotion, few entrants in the tournaments, and no major television. Add that up, and you get an 11 person "tournament". Also, at least one person (Vince Burgio) had his entry paid for, so take the 550k figure with a grain of salt.

[Matt24]

I believe they all got the entry paid for, one guy paid it all, then they just split it back up afterwards. They just wanted the tourney to run.

[fnurt]

Robert Bright has some investment business in Las Vegas, I believe Bobby Bright and Tammy Bright are his kids. Earl Vanalstyne is one of his business partners. That's 4 of the final table right there...

[Aceshigh7]

Yea, this tournament is a complete joke.

[betgo]

I think they tried to keep it low key to make a real strong field, but they made it too low key.

[Quicksilvre]

[ QUOTE ]
I think they tried to keep it low key to make a real strong field, but they made it way way waaaay too low key.

[/ QUOTE ]