The 2009 Foxwoods Poker Classic (FPC), one of the most prestigious poker tournaments in the USA, got underway on Monday, March 23, 2009, at the Indian-run Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA.

The FPC consists of 14 different events, culminating with the Championship Event, a no-limit Texas hold ‘em tourney with a buy-in of $10,000 that runs from April 3 through April 8, 2009.

Besides the Championship Event, other events at the ‘09 FPC include no-limit Texas hold ‘em tourneys with buy-ins of $500, $600, $1,000, $5,000 and $2,500, a limit Texas hold ‘em tourney with a buy-in of $400 and a seven-card stud tourney with a buy-in of $400.

There is also a no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament for women only that has a buy-in of $300.

At last year’s FPC, the Championship Event had 346 entrants, a total prize pool of $3,230,014 and payouts to the top 40 finishers.

It was won by Erik Seidel, who earned $992,890 for the victory.

The runnerup was Robert Richardson, who earned $558,792.

Coming in third was Andrew Barta, who earned $281,011.

Taking fourth was Frank Cierei, who earned $200,261.

Fifth was Adam Katz, who earned $151,811.

Rounding out the 2008 FPC Championship Event’s final table and finishing in sixth place was Ted Forrest, who earned $103,360.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)