Americas Cardroom begins Punta Cana Poker Classic coverage

The second episode of Living the Dream: Punta Cana Poker Classic 2016, sponsored by Americas Cardroom, is now online. The web video series follows players from the trusted US online poker room competing in the $500k Punta Cana Poker Classic. This episode features interviews with players on break during the Main Event Day 1a, who all agree that this year's move from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Punta Cana to the Melia Caribe Tropical was a good idea.

"I never thought we could do better than the Hard Rock, but this place is really nice," said Steven Schillenberg, who's been playing this event for eight or nine years, since it began in Costa Rica.

"The competition's great. Great players!" he said. "To win this, I'm going to have to get lucky on the river at least twice. And more pocket aces would be good – get my money in, pre-flop."

"I've been coming here for about seven years now. You can't beat it!" said Steve Lets, another Americas Cardroom player who's been coming to this event for many years. "The new game that they have, the Sit & Go 2.0, it's actually really, really good. I'm really getting into it! I think the more you play it you'll enjoy it even more."

"Living the Dream: Punta Cana Poker Classic 2016" videos are available only on the Americas Cardroom poker news blog. Episode 2, Off to a Great Start, is now online.

Americas Cardroom is one of the biggest U.S.-facing poker rooms on the rapidly growing Winning Poker Network and welcomes players from America and around the world.

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Punta Cana Poker Classic launches new website

Organizers of the Punta Cana Poker Classic today took the wraps off their new website. Featuring a host of new features and optimized to work on mobile devices, the new PuntaCanaPokerClassic has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and informational, perfect timing with the event less than two months away (25-31 October).

The new website includes an improved booking system that allows players to reserve their package directly on the site. Also new is a media section featuring pictures of the players, so those following along at home can keep tabs on what's happening.

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Americas Cardroom guarantees Punta Cana Poker Classic packages

The WSOP Main Event is just days away, but the focus has already officially shifted to the next big poker event in the Caribbean. Americas Cardroom today confirmed that its Beast and Sit & Crush satellites on Sunday nights will now only award Punta Cana Poker Classic packages. Each $4,900 package includes one Main Event buy-in and accommodations for two, and seven total packages are guaranteed to go.

"It seems like yesterday that cards were just in the air in Punta Cana, but the next big event is around the corner once again," stated Michael Harris, spokesperson for Americas Cardroom. "With seven total packages guaranteed every Sunday night, we're hoping to see more players than ever at this year's Punta Cana Poker Classic."

For the last few months, Americas Cardroom has guaranteed three $12,500 packages through two Sunday satellites ($50+5 buy-in). Each package gave players the choice between a WSOP Main Event buy-in plus money for accommodations or two Punta Cana Poker Classic packages with accommodations for four.

With the World Series of Poker Main Event kicking off this Saturday, the satellites will now focus exclusively on Punta Cana Poker Classic packages. The new format will guarantee more winners than the previous structure.

The Beast PCPC Satellite begins at 6 p.m. ET every Sunday and will guarantee 5 packages, while the Sit & Crush PCPC satellite starts at 8 p.m. ET and guarantees 2 packages. Each satellite costs $55 to enter or players can earn their satellite ticket for free by accumulating enough points in either of the weekly points races.

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Punta Cana Poker Classic shatters participation record in 2015

PUNTA CANA - This year’s sixth annual Punta Cana Poker Classic is in the books with its biggest turnout ever. Luis Yepez of Venezuela was the overall winner, finishing atop of a record-high field of 567 players who combined for an $824,985 prize pool. Americas Cardroom is the flagship sponsor of the land-based poker tournament that took place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from Nov. 2-9.

“This year’s event defied all expectations by blowing away the $500,000 posted guarantee by over $320,000,” stated Americas Cardroom’s spokesperson Michael Harris. “Players are turning to the Punta Cana Poker Classic because it offers a substantial prize pool poker tournament and a tropical beach vacation all in one.”

Yepez took home $156,000 for his first place win, after a deal was made. He came into the final table dead last in chips and managed to navigate his way to this year’s championship by dispatching player after player in the final two days of play and holding on in a heads-up battle versus Jaime Farriol.

After the first six players were eliminated at the final table, the remaining three cut a deal. The final table and winnings breakdown is as follows from first to ninth place: Yepez ($156,000); Farriol ($108,000); Gabriel Diaz ($105,000); Ari Engel ($41,250); Jose Tavarez ($33,000); Pablo Bravo ($24,750); Jose Luis Cases ($23,100); Antonio Rodriguez ($19,800) and Amos Ben ($16,500).

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