Baccarat Challenge champ takes home $80K

Veteran competitor Kanemoto Mitsuhiro of Japan pocketed the top purse of $80,000 after a dramatic ending in the Baccarat Challenge held Sunday night at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

Kanemoto, a regular fixture in the Challenge, finally hit it big via the hard way and made it for the first time onto the winner’s podium.

“I had the least chips and the only way I could win was to bet a tie and it was indeed a tie. So this is it,” Kanemoto exclaimed during the awarding ceremony that concluded the two-day tournament.

Mr. Kim from Korea settled for second and went home $30,000 richer.

The event drew a total of 130 participants, including a big field of women players who made their mark in this particular tournament—the fifth and final Baccarat Challenge this year at the sprawling hotel and casino.

Four of the female competitors made it to the Final Table of 10 players, including third place finisherm Ms. Park of Korea, who took away $15,000 and fourth placer Miyazaki Mina of Japan, who won $8,000.

The rest of the top 10 picked up $1,000 each.

Earlier in the semifinals, two of the female players missed their chance for a possible crack at the title due to personal reasons.

Kiri Jackson, Tinian Dynasty’s Casino Marketing and Promotions Coordinator, said one of them took a trip back to Japan while another failed to arrive on time at the playing venue after a stroll to a nearby beach.

Jackson said it was a fantastic Baccarat Challenge in 2008, since in the past they only had two or three tournaments a year.

She also said the big number of female players and how they aggressively competed against the male players made it more exciting.

Each player paid an entry fee of $1,000 that already includes three-night accommodation, airfare reimbursement, transfers between Saipan and Tinian, meals, tournament beverages, and gift items.

The preliminary heats on Saturday started with five tables with 10 persons each on three heats. Each player received 5,000 starting chips, where 30 hands are dealt for each heat.

At the completion of 30 hands, the three persons with the most chips on the table qualify for the semifinals, resulting in a total of 42 semifinalists.

At the completion of the third heat, the unsuccessful participants were eligible for the wildcard draw where three names were randomly selected from a barrel and added to the semifinalists.

In the 45-person semifinals, each player received 5,000 chips except for the wildcard qualifiers, who had 2,500.

At the completion of 30 hands, the two persons with the most chips at each table qualify for the final 10.

In the final table, each player received 10,000 starting chips and 40 hands were dealt.

Kanemoto came from behind to win the coveted title.

Tournament Director Tony Jackson said the 2009 schedule for the Baccarat Challenge would be released next month.

In the meantime, the final Blackjack Championships for 2008 is set Dec. 13-14.

“We have a pretty much exiting Challenge. It was a great finish,” he said.