Poker Writer
Seventeen-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth will head to Lilac Club Casino in New Hampshire next weekend for a special poker challenge. He will take a seat in the Rochester casino for a tournament, battling against players in an estimated $100,000 prize pool, before sitting in for a first-come, first-served public cash game.
Eric Barbaro, the Chief Operating Officer of Granite State Gaming and Hospitality, hyped up the action by stating:
This isn’t just another tournament, it’s a shot at poker history. Phil Hellmuth isn’t just a champion, he’s a legend, and top tournament players will walk away with a share of $100,000 cash.
Tournament And Cash Game With ‘Poker Brat’
Hellmuth, fresh off his feud with Shaun Deeb over WSOP Player of the Year formulas, will play in the $100,000 “Beat the Champ” tournament. It starts Saturday, Aug. 16, at 10 a.m. Players can hunt a bounty on Hellmuth’s head, as the player who eliminates him will earn $500.
The field for the tournament is capped at 108 players, with a chance for some alternates. Players can qualify for a “Beat the Champ” seat via three different avenues.
- Player of the week promotion: The top five players who log the most hours in the Lilac Club Casino Poker Room get a guaranteed seat. Runs from June 29 through Aug. 9.
- $250 satellites: Aug. 2 and 9. One seat for every six players.
- Direct buy-in: $1,200 entry. Registration opens on the Friday before the event, with late registration stretching until 1 p.m. on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Poker Brat will play a cash game from 1-3 p.m. No specific stakes were mentioned in the presser.
Prior to the poker festivities, Hellmuth will hold a meet and greet with fans on Friday. The first 75 guests in line will receive a signed copy of Hellmuth’s book “The Poker Brat.”
About the new Lilac Club Casino
Lilac Club is a brand new poker venue, having just opened its doors on March 14.
It has more than 200 gaming machines and a gastropub. It also features a poker room with 12 tables. And with the Granite State not known as a poker hotbed, that makes the poker room at Lilac not only the newest in the state but also already one of the best.
The casino also aims to contribute to local non-profits. According to their website:
Lilac Club Casino expects to contribute an estimated $3 million each year to a projected 73 nonprofits in Rochester and surrounding communities while supporting up to 80 full- and part-time positions.
