By Zach Purgason

09/15/2008

This past Saturday, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino introduced its brand new, 18-table Poker Lounge with a high profile grand opening that featured an all-night poker tournament and a laundry list of poker professionals.

The festivities kicked off at 5 p.m. with a glamorous stroll down the red carpet into the venue and a ribbon cutting session hosted by Las Vegas mayor, Oscar B. Goodman, and poker legend Doyle Brunson.  At 6 p.m., Hard Rock officially opened its new Poker Lounge, and the tournament festivities began.

In spite of the Lounge’s respectable size, the popularity of the VIP tournament event was enough to force nearly one-hundred alternates to only watch the action from the sidelines.  Poker pros Hoyt Corkins, Jeff and Katarina Jett, Evelyn Ng and Todd Brunson were just a few of the big names to attend the free VIP event.

All of the amenities of both the Poker Lounge and Hard Rock resort were available to the attendees.  In addition to its expensive and festive ambience, the Poker Lounge offered full bottle service, a specialty items food menu, free gourmet appetizers and a full bar.  Finally players who exited early were invited to attend the Maxim Magazine party by the Hard Rock pool to mend any injuries to their egos.