Tournaments & Cash Games
For 20 lengthy months, the match ballroom of the Bicycle On line casino was once a ghost the city. Generally stuffed with clattering chips, large pots, and “oohs” and “aahs,” the silence was once deafening if walked across the on line casino quickly after its reopening earlier this year. There was once little question, then again, that after the massive tournaments returned to LA, so would the avid gamers, and that has been the case up to now this week on the Motorcycle.
Avid gamers packed into the Trade On line casino match room for a $200K assured match. (Symbol: Kevin Taylor/CardsChat)
The hole week of this newest match collection featured a $200K Assured No-Prohibit Dangle’em Match. It was once the primary match in Los Angeles to put up a ensure for the reason that pandemic close down reside poker in California in March of 2020. Trade On line casino up to now ran a couple of match collection, however by no means posted a ensure, and their turnouts indisputably suffered.
The Motorcycle’s $200K Ensure, alternatively, ended up greater than tripling by way of the top, with avid gamers producing a large $640K prize pool. For LA regulars like Sean Yu, it was once a welcome go back to normalcy in attempting occasions.
“It’s improbable. I actually overlooked it. It’s been like 20 months for the reason that remaining match on the Motorcycle. It’s been a very long time,” stated Yu. “I believe actually blessed, we take as a right the entire nice LA tournaments and swiftly the entirety close down and you have got to trip to Vegas. Actually satisfied that [the] Motorcycle is again. Having a look ahead to a excellent collection.”
If you happen to construct it, they are going to come
Bicycle On line casino match director Mo Fathipour knew something from the very starting; when the Motorcycle was once able to deliver again tournaments, there was once indisputably that the promises would even be there. He admitted to being anxious to start with, however the ones nerves had been briefly calmed after a blowout opening weekend.
“When I used to be striking $200,000 assured I used to be frightened myself. After two years with tournaments, avid gamers must have a masks, that would impact some other folks,” Fathipour stated of the Motorcycle, which is requiring mask to be worn on the match tables. “After I noticed 200,000 in two days, that was once it. I used to be dozing like a toddler! Then I noticed it move to $641,000 — it’s simply wonderful, for only a $300 buy-in, you get $116,000 first position.”
That is simply the primary of 3 huge assured occasions that LA-area avid gamers can experience within the weeks ahead of the Vacation season. Subsequent week, the Motorcycle will hang any other $200,000 assured tournament, this one the usage of the casino’s Quantum format. Avid gamers like Yu have praised Fathipour and the Motorcycle for taking a chance with those promises whilst different casinos proceed to keep away from them.
“Poker avid gamers normally, if there’s a ensure they love it. On the Motorcycle, they at all times ruin the ensure, this one were given thrice the ensure, “ stated Yu. “The promises are nice, simply put one thing small in the market to draw avid gamers. If you happen to construct it, they are going to come.”
Studying from different casinos
Fathipour says that he heard the avid gamers’ lawsuits and needs to ensure that he’s providing them one thing that they only can’t get any place else in Southern California nowadays.
“I do know the Motorcycle doesn’t publish dangerous tournaments. Avid gamers got here to me and stated there’s a tent, there’s no meals on the tables, no promises, so I simply discovered from their errors,” stated Fathipour. “Even though I lose a ensure, OK, I lose one. I’m prepared to chance that. For March, I’m bringing again the Mega Thousands and thousands, $1 million ensure beginning at simply [a] $250 buy-in. Avid gamers recognize it. Any more, if Motorcycle places up a match, persons are coming.”

Vahan Sudzhyan, winner of the $200K assured tournament. (Symbol: Kevin Taylor/CardsChat)
This opening match was once chopped by way of native avid gamers Vahan Sudzhyan and Arash Sarraf, with each and every participant taking house greater than $88K. Sudzhyan stated after the outcome that he certified within the remaining Day 1 beginning consultation to be had, whilst Sarraf had complicated via probably the most first $360 classes, a fantastic go back on their investments.
The WSOP Circuit events are currently running at the Bike, and the collection wraps on Dec. 22 with the overall day of the $300,000 Assured tournament.