I am very happy happy with the outcome of this year's 3 Kings WSOP Challenge. Since the poker communities of Playa del Coco/Hermosa established contact last year it has been a thrill and a challenge to combine efforts and players in order to increase not only the size of the events and prize pools, but more importantly the action and fun which is so difficult to quantify.

This year we had 316 entries to the 12 satellites and 12 Super Satellites combined, creating a record prize pool for a private Guanacaste tournament. $21,800 was the value of the prizes at the Final Event:

1st place        $10,000 buy-in to the WSOP 2009 Main Event + $2,000 in cash    Michele Di Leo
2nd place       $1,500 buy-in to the WSOP 2009 Event 51/54 + $2,000 in cash    Julian Rembert
3rd place        $1,500 buy-in to the WSOP 2009 Event 51/54 + $2,000 in cash    Tyler Correll
4th place        $2,800 in cash                                                                                          Mike Schaefer




I am also going, but this time at own expense. I will probably play event 51, and if I win something big in that one I will continue, otherwise I will just hang with my buddies and play something on the side.

I hope to see Mike Alto there. Mike was one of the founding fathers of the 3 Kings, but unfortunately he had to leave for the states almost 3 years ago. Great player, grandson of Jesse Alto (most Main Event final tables in WSOP history) and a great buddy.

Also coming to town are Mike Fonseca and Diego Quesada (see stats on www.costaricapoker.org), it'll be great to hang with those CB guys again!

July 1st I will be joining a lot of drunk Danes in a $1-2 NLHE game at the Venetian, It started last year during the WSOP, and the game has already reached institutional status!! Probably three tables will meet for free cocktails at what is likely to be the smallest game most of them have ever played in their poker career - including 2008 ME Champion Peter Eastgate!!