BREAKING NEWS Jan. 16. Francesco "Cheech" Barbaro wins the 2010 Quad-States Mixed Games Poker Championship, surviving a field of the region's most experienced poker veterans in a marathon 14 hour tournament. For more on the story, visit: http://www.ChicagoPokerNews.com

Three Title Bracelets (SEE PHOTO ABOVE) will be on the line Jan. 15 & 16 as players from around the world meet for Chicagolands most prestigious championship poker series. The Quad-States Poker Grand Championships are sanctioned by Chicago Poker News as the Official Championship of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Both a No-Limit Texas Holdem event and a Mixed Games (No-Limit HOSE) event are scheduled. Title bracelets will be awarded for the champion of each of these tournaments and to the player with the highest overall average finish for both events. All tournaments will be double-elimination style with one optional re-buy and/or add-on available. Chicago Poker News publisher Stew "Chicago Mike" Bishop describes this structure as "truly a championship... double elimination tests a players ability to come back from the felt... the great players have that talent... effectively, to win these titles you will have to 'beat everyone twice'..."

The Quad-States tournaments are among the highest-percentage payout structure, offering over a 90% prizepool payout at full buy-in & rebuy in addition to trophies and the coveted Championship Title Bracelets. "The payout percentage for these tournaments is about as high as it gets", said Bishop, "... gamblers can do the math and recognize the value here..."

Despite the popularity of the Texas Holdem Event, Bishop advises players not to overlook the Mixed Games Championship: "... Texas Holdem gets alot of attention these days, since Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP in 2003...", says Bishop, "... I've been managing poker events almost 20 years now, I can tell you absolutely, without question, the number one way to improve your poker game is to play Mixed Games. It's like an athlete needs to cross train, a poker player needs to play all the games if they want to get to the top... that's one reason Chicago Poker News recognizes this series as the 4-State Championship, because it offers both Texas Holdem AND Mixed Games, and it offers a great payout..."

A special hotel room rate will be available to players at the event. See calendar page for complete details.

Chicago is legendary for the warmth and hospitality of it's citizens and players will appreciate the professionalism and courtesy of Poker Manager Dom Niro and the entire tournament staff at the Majestic Star.

On behalf of a great city and a great venue, the Chicago Poker Meetup Group wishes all players the very best of success at the Quad-States Poker Grand Championships and we'll see you at the final table!