Dynasty doles out $155K in Baccarat Challenge

TINIAN—The Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino hosted the biggest tournament in its history last weekend as 156 high rollers from throughout the Pacific Rim settled in to test their luck in one of the most alluring games during the Invitational Baccarat Challenge.

The stakes were high as the $1,000 individual buy-ins were overshadowed by the chance at winning a piece of the originally slated $100,000, but the overwhelming interest increased the total prize money total to $155,000.

Despite the possible difficulties that could ensue when the winners return to their home country, the lure of winning $90,000 proved to be too strong for the multitude of gamers from Japan, Korea, and China who made the journey to the CNMI.

Just to be safe however, the top finishers preferred to withhold their names and images from the media, as their casino hosts provided them absolute anonymity by offering the comforting words of “What happens in Tinian, stays in Tinian.”

“It was a great turnout—the greatest one we’ve had ever with 156 players and a first prize of $90,000. It went off without a hitch. We started with 10, got down to five and it was basically down to two with the player in box four and the lady in box two. The last hand had the kind of excitement that we needed with people going head to head,” said tournament director Tony Jackson.

Jackson said that the appeal of Baccarat has its roots in classic movies when big spenders drop thousands per hand, and that the excitement has lasted throughout the years with big tournaments such as this.

“I think it’s because the big money players play. It’s the excitement of squeezing the cards. They actually get to handle the cards so they’re more involved in the game and have a bit more control. It’s a stylish old game. It has it’s origins with the James Bond movies so it has that added panache to it,” he said.

Despite the huge turnout by some wealthy individuals from Japan and Korea, Jackson said that the day-to-day thrill of the game is beginning to fade through time, but that the Dynasty brought back some of the traditional aspects of the game to give the players the feel of Baccarat’s heyday.

“This game is basically dying. We don’t use the pallet as much anymore, not only here but all around the world so we add just a little more style to it, a couple more dealers, and these guys are specially trained to use the pallet. Only a handful of our dealers can use it, and it definitely adds to the overall experience,” he said.

Chairman Michael Kwan was on hand on the final day as the 27 finalists dwindled to the final 10 at the grand table in the Dynasty Room and recognized the efforts of his staff that made the tournament a success.

“It has been a wonderful event. Our staff is trying very hard to promote the event in China, Korea, and Japan. With this kind of function we get a spike in tourism from all over the region. You can witness this as we brought in over 300 people just for this event,” he said.

There is always something happening across the channel at the Dynasty, and the next tournament is tentatively scheduled for the first or second week in December where players will test their limits on the Blackjack tables.

For more information about any of the events at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, contact the marketing and promotions department by calling 328-2205 or by emailing Tinian.dynasty@vzpacifica.net.