Leo Donofrio, a.k.a. "Jet Schizo" Wins First-Ever Atlantic City Turbo Championship
World Series of Poker Circuit Adds New Twist to Hold'em - 607 Players Enter One-Day Tournament with Accelerated Structure
Atlantic City, NJ - The eighth event at this year's Caesars Atlantic City tournament series introduced a new twist on an old game. The $200 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament was played with a "turbo" format, which meant structures were accelerated to 20-minute levels. This ensured that the massive 607-player field would play down to a single winner within one day.
Right on schedule, the event concluded 10 hours after it began as Leo Donofrio took the top prize. Donofrio, who plays in a rock band is also known as "Jet Schizo" to local music fans. Originally from Queens, NY, he now lives in New Jersey. Donofrio is a bass player, singer, and songwriter. In fact, Donofrio has cut several records. But this time, he set a different kind of record as the first winner of a WSOP turbo event. Donofrio received $29,666 for first place, plus the WSOP gold and diamond winner's ring.
The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas has offered turbo events in the past, designed to accommodate as many players as possible within a limited time frame. Most major poker tournaments now last two days, or longer. But the quicker rounds mean players are forced to play faster, which results in some unconventional play.
This was the first time any Harrah's property had offered a turbo format in a WSOP Circuit event. In the four-year history of the Circuit, most events have been no-limit hold'em tournaments, with standard 45-minute or one-hour rounds.
At nearly $30,000 for first place, Donofrio's win meant he earned about $2,750-an-hour. Not bad for a day of poker playing on the Jersey shore.
-- by Nolan Dalla
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