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Big Bucks: ‘High Stakes Poker’ Returns for Season 10 Featuring Negreanu, Esfandiari, & More

The big cash and big personalities return in January with the 10th season of High Stakes Poker debuting on PokerGO.

The big cash and big personalities return in January with the 10th season of High Stakes Poker debuting on PokerGO. The popular show returns from the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. 

Poker fans can expect $200-$400 No Limit Hold’em with a few new faces mixed with some regulars taking a seat at the table.

“High Stakes Poker is such a special, classic brand that has been the genesis to so many of the game’s most memorable moments,” PokerGO President Mori Eskandani said in a news release. “PokerGO is extremely proud to release the 10th season of this remarkable show, and we plan on celebrating the momentous occasion with special offerings, giveaways, and more.”

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An historic poker show continues

High Stakes Poker pulled the curtain back on big-money cash games when the show premiered in 2006. Originally aired on GSN (Game Show Network), the production was one of the first to feature a cash game at a time when tournament poker was earning big ratings during the poker boom.

Betting with such huge sums of money drew in viewers, who were more accustomed to small stakes games with friends. High Stakes Poker instead featured millions of dollars at the table and players seemingly nonchalantly tossing bricks of cash into the pot.

The table talk among these grizzled poker veterans also resonated with those checking out the action from home.

Some of the game’s most legendary players have appeared through the years including Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Phil Hellmuth, Antonio Esfandiari, and Patrik Antonius.

After being off the air for a few years, PokerGO acquired the show in 2020 and resurrected the nosebleed-stakes action. As 16-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Hellmuth said of the show when it returned, High Stakes Poker mixes “great personalities and great players.”

Expect big names again this season

Jennifer Tilly returns for Season 10 of High Stakes Poker.

The new season promises even more high stakes action mixed with  interesting personalities. Esfandiari returns to the series for the first time since Season 7. He’d played in every season prior to that.

Negreanu is again in the mix as well for his ninth season after taking part in some of High Stakes’ biggest moments. No other player has played in more on the show than Negreanu, who only missed the eighth season.

Fans may also see award-winning actress and well-regarded poker player Jennifer Tilly. She returns after an entertaining appearance in Season 9.

Maverick Gaming CEO Eric Persson made waves earlier this year in an entertaining heads-up battle against Hellmuth. The two brought plenty of verbal barbs and Persson is also rumored to be on High Stakes Poker this season as well.

AJ Benza and Gabe Kaplan once again call the action as they did in the original show. Tens of millions of dollars have been won and lost at the High Stakes tables over the years.

For Brunson, playing on the show had less to do with making a television appearance and more to do with what he’s done best throughout his decades in the game – separating opponents from their cash.

“Everybody was trying to impress the audience with unusual plays, so I played ABC hands,” Brunson told USPoker in 2020. “I remember winning 15 times before finally having a loser.”

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PokerGO Super High Roller Europe Concludes with Huge Performances from Phil Ivey, Jake Schindler

The high stakes action headed to North Cyprus over the last couple weeks for PokerGO’s Super High Roller Series (SHR) Europe. Some big names came through with dominating performances.

That included Phil Ivey taking the player of the series title and Jake Schindler winning the championship event. The entire poker festival included 11 events with buy-ins ranging from €25,000 to €250,000. Here’s a recap of the action.

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Ivey continues to shine

After already winning a title in the Triton Poker Cyprus Special Edition, which preceded the action, Ivey continued his stellar play in the SHR. He won two titles between the two series and cashed a total of five times for $2.8 million.

Triton and SHR events both counted toward the series leaderboard. Ivey added another $25,000 for his player of the series title.

“It’s still nice,” Ivey said. “It’s always nice to win a tournament.”

Schindler takes main event

Jake Schindler shows off his winner’s trophy. (photo courtesy Merit Poker/PokerGO)

The $250,000 Super High Roller main event attracted a top-notch field of high rollers. The event brought in 32 players for an $8 million prize pool.

In the end, Jake Schindler found the winner’s circle for a massive $3.2 million score. After returning as chip leader with seven players remaining on Day 3, he continued to cruise.

Eventually heads-up with Paul Phua, Schindler held more than a 2-to-1 chip advantage over his opponent. He hit the gas and dominated Phua on his way to the title.

Phua took $2.1 million for runner-up. Schindler now has more than $30 million in live tournament winnings.

“It’s sweet to get a title in one of these,” Schindler said. He added about his tournament record: “This has to be the biggest win.” 

Event 10: $25,000 NLHE Turbo

This was a late addition to the series and saw Canada’s Timothy Adams top the field of 31 for the title. The tournament attracted a prize pool of $775,000 with Adams grabbing $310,000 of that.

Germany’s Marius Gierse took the runner-up spot for $201,500. Daniel Dvoress continued to shine in the series, finishing third for $124,000. 

Event 9: $50,000 NLHE

This event saw 19 entries for a $950,000 prize pool. Malaysia’s Lee Wai Kiat took the win for $513,000.

Three players cashed in the event with Seth Davies taking runner-up for $285,000 and Jason Koon scoring third for $152,000.

Event 8: $50,000 NLHE

Elton Tsang, of Hong Kong, notched his fifth cash of the series in this event and took the crown for $684,000. Canada’s Dvoress found another nice score, taking second for $456,000.

The tournament attracted 38 entries for a $1.9 million prize pool. Dvoress would go on to finish runner-up in the leaderboard standings as well, just behind Phil Ivey.

Event 7: $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha

Eelis Parssinen, of Finland, topped a field of 20 in this four-card action in North Cyprus. He scored $270,000 for his efforts and then went on to take third in Event 8 for another $304,000.

The tournament saw a prize pool of $500,000 with another Finnish player, Joni Jouhkimainen, taking runner-up for $150,000.

Event 6: $50,000 NLHE

Daniel Dvoress had a huge series in North Cyprus. (photo courtesy Merit Poker/PokerGO)

Daniel Dvoress shined throughout the series and snagged a trophy in this event as well as $731,000. He topped a field of 43 entries, which produced a $2.2 million prize pool.

Sam Greenwood took runner-up for $473,000 with Koon finishing third for $322,500. Dvoress worked his way up from fifth out of the final seven players on the final day to capture the title.

Event 5: $50,000 Short Deck

Short Deck continues to grow in popularity at these high stakes series. In this event, Hong Kong’s Danny Tang jumped to the top spot for $640,000.

The tournament brought in 32 short deckers with a $1.6 million prize pool. Malaysia’s Lun Loon took the runner-up spot for $416,000. Koon again made a deep run, scoring third for $256,000.

Event 4: $50,000 Pot Limit Omaha

Phil Ivey found yet another title in North Cyprus after coming up big in the Triton series. He took down this event for another $640,000 after topping Ali Imsirovic in heads-up play.

The tournament brought in 32 entries for a $1.6 million prize pool. Ivey is pleased to be back at the live poker tables.

“I’m enjoying playing these tournaments,” Ivey said. “It’s fun.”

Imsirovic pulled in $416,000 for runner-up with Jouhkimainen in third for $256,000. Plenty in the poker world have noticed Ivey’s reemergence, including Daniel Negreanu.

Event 3: $25,000 NLHE

This became the largest event of the series, attracting 64 entries for a $1.6 million prize pool. When the dust settled, Germany’s Marius Gierse won the title for $432,000.

Hong Kong’s Danny Tang finished runner-up for $320,000 with Koon grabbing third for $208,000.

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Event 2: $50,000 Short Deck

Mikita Badziakouski celebrates a Super High Roller Series victory. (photo courtesy Merit Poker/PokerGO)

This Short Deck action found Mikita Badziakouski, of Belarus, raising the trophy and collecting $756,000. The online cash game high stakes grinder has notched some big wins in live poker events in recent years.

He’s also shown plenty of skills in Short Deck in recent years and securing this title wouldn’t be easy. Badziakouski faced Ivey heads-up for the title and was able to deny him another title.

Ivey scored a $504,000 payday for second. Koon finished third for $336,000 in an event that brought in 42 entries.

In 2018, Badziakouski won back-to-back Triton super high roller events. He now has another nice win for his resumé.

Event 1: $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha

The first event of the series saw 40 entries for a $1 million prize pool. The Netherlands’ Tom Vogelsang kicked off the series with a win and a score of $360,000.

The win becomes a nice bullet point for the longtime online player.

“It kind of feels like a breakthrough,” Vogelsang said. “Because I’ve always been doing well online, but I didn’t really have the recognition that comes after winning something like this.”

Hungary’s Laszlo Bujtas finished runner-up for $240,000 and Slovenia’s Rok Gostisa took third for $160,000.

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Phil Ivey Among Triton Winners in Cyprus, PokerGO European Series Next Up for High Rollers

The Triton Poker Special Edition Cyprus concluded this week with Phil Ivey scoring a title and the PokerGO Super High Roller Series Europe up next.

The Triton Poker Cyprus Special Edition wrapped up Thursday after four events and millions of dollars awarded to winners. One name stood out among the rest as 10-time World Series of Poker champion Phil Ivey grabbed a Short Deck title.

The Poker Hall of Famer added to his extensive poker resumé. This added a nice bullet point to the series, Triton’s first in three years. Here’s a quick look below at all the Triton winners from the Merit Hotel and Casino in North Cyprus.

The action in Cyprus now shifts to the PokerGO Super High Roller Series Europe.

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Event 5: $25,000 Short Deck

The second straight short deck tournament saw Hong Kong’s Winfred Yu emerge as the winner. Well-known among Asian poker circles, Yu topped a field of 41 entries for a  $1 million top prize.

This was the second Triton title of his career after winning a short deck event in Montenegro in 2019. Yu has a reputation as the go-to organizer of high stakes cash games in Asia. Many of the region’s top pros took to the stage to celebrate with the winner.

 Malaysia’s Ivan Leow took the runner-up spot for $699,500 and Danny Tang, of Hong Kong, took third for $447,000. 

* Note: There was no fourth event scheduled, per Triton custom.

Event 3: $75,000 Short Deck

Ivey showed his poker skills in this one, topping a field of 51 entries for his second Triton title. This score brought a payday of almost $1.2 million, the largest share of a $3.7 million prize pool.

Away from the live poker scene for a few years, the 45-year-old certainly made his presence known in Cyprus. Along with the title, Ivey made two other final table appearances. That fact wasn’t lost on fellow poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu.

“You love to see it!” he noted on Twitter. “One of his biggest strengths has always been figuring out new games faster than everyone else, and it appears he gets short deck.”

That appears to be true and Ivey’s previous Triton win also came in this format in Montenegro in 2018. In this week’s win, he eliminated five of his final six opponents.

 Malaysia’s Kiat Lee finished runner-up for $840,000 with Mike Watson, of Canada, finishing third for $538,000.

Event 2: $100,000 NLHE Eight-handed

The Triton action ramped up to a six-figure buy-in for this one with Dutchman Teun Mulder coming out on top. He prevailed over a field of 69 entries, which produced a prize pool of $6.6 million.

Mulder won $1.9 million for his efforts after beating his best friend and countryman Tom Vogelsang heads-up. The two even predicted their own heads-up battle.

“We talked about it,” Mulder said. “We said today it’s going to be the Dutch guys first and second.”

Vogelsang grabbed almost $1.4 million for runner-up and Jake Schindler, of the United States, won $903,000 for third.

Event 1: $50,000 NLHE Six-handed

Online poker superstar Andras Nemeth, of Hungary, kicked off the series with a nice win for $1.1 million. He topped a field of 82 entries that produced a $3.9 million prize pool.

“It wasn’t easy,” Nemeth said. “The final table was really tough. I was a little bit nervous at the start and I made a couple of … well, it was close but I made some not good decisions. Then when we got short stacked, it was all about who was going to win the first major all-in.”

Nemeth found himself heads-up against friend and fellow Hungarian Laszlo Bujtas for the title. Bujtas added $770,000 for second place.

“It was surreal to play for the first time and to then get heads-up against one of my best friends in poker,” Nemeth said. “I had to pinch myself.”

South Korea’s Tommy Kim placed third for $503,800 and Ivey finished fourth for $387,100.]

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Triton strikes deal with GGPoker

The Cyprus series was the first tournament series run after the tour announced a deal with GGPoker. The poker operator becomes Triton’s official online poker sponsor.

The two companies are promising online qualifiers to some of the biggest events in poker. Could a Triton online high roller series also be heading to GGPoker? No word on that, but it doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility. 

GG also grabs a presence in a popular live poker series with the deal. Triton next heads to Spain from May 13-25 for more high-stakes action.

Super High Roller Series Europe kicks off

After the Triton series wrapped up, the high roller action shifted to PokerGO’s Super High Roller Series Europe. The schedule features another 10 events and the first tournament kicked off Thursday.

Buy-ins range from €25,000 to €250,000 and a $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha event kicked off the series. The final table is set for Friday with Laszlo Bujtas returning as chip leader.

PokerGO will stream all final table action.  Here’s a look at that complete schedule:

DateEventBuy-in
April 7#1 – Pot Limit Omaha$25,000
April 8#2 – NLHE$25,000
April 9#3 – Short Deck$50,000
April 10#4 – Pot Limit Omaha$25,000
April 11#5 – NLHE$50,000
April 12#6 – Short Deck$100,000
April 13#7 – Pot Limit Omaha$25,000
April 13NLHE Championship$250,000
April 14#8 – NLHE$50,000
April 15#9 – NLHE$50,000

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Triton Poker Returns With Cyprus Special Edition; Series Joins PokerGO High Roller Series 

After a two-year hiatus and some stop and starts on returning, Triton Poker announced on Wednesday that the series is back this spring.

After a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus and some stop and starts on returning, Triton Poker announced on Wednesday that the high roller series is back this spring.

Triton Poker Cyprus Special Edition runs April 2-7 at Merit Hotel and Casino in North Cyprus. The series will once again feature massive prize pools and some of the biggest names in poker. A philanthropic effort also returns as part of the nosebleed stakes action as well.

“As our aim has always been to bridge the gap between the poker community and the world through philanthropy, it is essential that our tournaments make a comeback to aid this process,” Triton CEO Andy Wong said in a news release. “We look forward to welcoming all our familiar and loved players who have waited patiently for this day.”

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What to expect from the series

Triton is known for drawing in well-heeled players and businessmen for some big-money action. The Cyprus Special Edition will feature four events with No Limit Hold’em and Short Deck as the featured format.

Here’s a look at the complete schedule (note that there is no official Event No. 4 per Triton custom):

Triton Poker Cyprus Special Edition Series 

DateEventBuy-in
April 2#1 – NLHE Six-handed$50,000
April 3#2 – NLHE Eight-handed$100,000
April 5#3 – Short Deck$75,000
April 6
#5 – Short Deck$125,000

The four events are part of PokerGO’s Super High Roller Series Europe at the same venue. That schedule features another 10 events as well.

Players will find another major offering of high stakes events with buy-ins ranging from €25,000 to €250,000. Here’s a look at that complete schedule:

2022 PokerGO Super High Roller Series

DateEventBuy-in
April 7#1 – Pot Limit Omaha$25,000
April 8#2 – NLHE$25,000
April 9#3 – Short Deck$50,000
April 10#4 – Pot Limit Omaha$25,000
April 11#5 – NLHE$50,000
April 12#6 – Short Deck$100,000
April 13#7 – Pot Limit Omaha$25,000
April 13NLHE Championship$250,000
April 14#8 – NLHE$50,000
April 15#9 – NLHE$50,000

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Checking out the Triton action

Along with the big money for winners, the Triton series is also part of the PokerGO Tour. All players in the money will qualify for leaderboard points.

Triton incorporates high-end video production for poker fans at home to check out the action. The series will once again be offering Twitch streaming coverage for players around the globe.

Poker fans can tune in to Triton’s official YouTube and Twitch channels to enjoy some world-class poker live on the felt.

The last Triton Series was held in August 2019 at Kings Casino in the Czech Republic. Tony G scored a nice win in that series, winning the €25,000 Short Deck for €264,308.

Orpen Kisacikoglu also took down the €100,000 NLHE event for €1.2 million. In 2021, the series announced upcoming events in Sochi, Russia, and Bali, Indonesia. However those were canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

There hasn’t been an update on those events yet. Poker in Russia may not be possible at this point considering the country’s recent invasion of Ukraine. However nothing official has been announced in regards to the Triton Sochi event.

Many players and fans will be pleased to see the Triton action return to North Cyprus.

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PokerGO Ramps Up WSOP Europe Coverage; Another Bracelet Awarded as Europeans Shine

The World Series of Poker continues this week at King’s Casino in the Czech Republic and PokerGO begins streaming the action on Wednesday.

The World Series of Poker continues this week at King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, and PokerGO begins streaming the action on Wednesday.

The platform streamed live events throughout the WSOP in Las Vegas and the coverage now shifts to Europe. Viewers have an opportunity to check out the action beginning with the €25,000 Platinum High Roller.

The free streams are presented by ClubGG, the sweepstakes poker site of GGPoker. So far, plenty of Europe’s own players have found the winner’s circle so far with several tournaments still on tap.

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Four WSOP events to watch on PokerGO

In total, the WSOPE features 15 gold bracelets running Nov. 19 – Dec. 8 with €11.5 million guaranteed. PokerGO viewers will find live final table streams of four marquee events from the series. Here’s a look at the complete live stream schedule:

  •  €25,000 Platinum High Roller (Dec. 1, 12:30 pm ET) – €1 million guaranteed
  • €1,650 No-Limit Hold’em Six-Max (Dec. 2, 12:30 pm ET) – $200,000 guaranteed
  • €10,000 NLHE Six-Max (Dec. 4 at 12:30 pm ET)
  • €10,350 Main Event (Dec. 8 at 12:30 pm ET) – €5 million guaranteed

Past WSOP Europe broadcasts are also archived on PokerGO.com. That includes more than 100 hours of content including the 2019 WSOPE and episodes from 2008-13.

Series highlights European players

With the WSOPE piggybacking on the Vegas series so closely, fewer players from the western hemisphere seem to be among those in Rozvadov. That excludes poker hotbeds like the United States, Canada, Brazil, and more.

With the Vegas series running in the fall instead of summer, organizers couldn’t put a break in between the two series With the first five events complete, winners have all been from Europe.

That list of countries includes Kosovo, Slovakia, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Italy. Most players in the top spots so far have been from European countries.

Travel difficulties due to COVID-19 appear to play a part. But North American players also have some other options with the World Poker Tour offering two major events in November and December.

The Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open is underway at the Seminole Hard Rock in Florida. The Five Diamond World Poker Classic is also set for Dec. 15-19 at Bellagio in Las Vegas at Bellagio. Some players may just need a WSOP break with the Vegas series now complete.

WSOPE awards another bracelet

Edmond Jahjaga shows off his WSOPE bracelet. (photo courtesy WSOP)

Kosovo’s Edmond Jahjaga became the latest WSOPE winner on Tuesday, winning Event 5: €550 Colossus. He topped 2,478 entries for a score of €147,775 and his first bracelet.

France’s Riadh Farhat finished runner-up for €91,318. Jahjaga is a businessman back in Kosovo and only began playing poker about five years ago.

“It means a lot to me,” he told WSOP.com afterward. “I don’t know how to describe it because it comes so unexpectedly. The whole experience feels like a movie and it just happened.”

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Wiktor Malinowski Knows No Limits – Scores Super High Roller Bowl Europe Title For $3.7 Million

Online poker pro Wiktor “Limitless” Malinowski’s won the Super High Roller Bowl Europe (SHRBE) main event Wednesday for $3.7 million.

From the keyboard to the crown. That’s how PokerGO commentator Brent Hanks described Wiktor “Limitless” Malinowski’s Super High Roller Bowl Europe (SHRBE) championship win on Wednesday.

The description is certainly now fitting. The high stakes online poker pro scored the biggest win of his career for $3.7 million – this time in a live setting. Malinowski isn’t a traditional high roller. A glass of wine and smoking a cigar is a regular part of his online poker streaming routine. That was the case in March when he battled Fedor Holz heads-up at GGPoker.

With the SHRBE title, he’ll now have even more reason to celebrate. The championship brought the series to a close. Here’s a look at Malinowski’s big win as well as the last few events closing out the series.

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Super High Roller Bowl Europe championship

The SHRBE featured nine events at Merit Royal Hotel Casino in North Cyprus. Some of the game’s best turned out for the high stakes action. That has included some big wins by players like Phil Ivey and Tony G.

Malinowski added his name to that list in the championship event. Along with the money, the Polish pro takes the SHRBE championship ring and adds his name to a long list of SRB winners that includes Justin Bonomo, Brian Rast, Christoph Vogelsang, Isaac Haxton, and others.

The event kicked off on Monday with Malinowki as chip leader going into Wednesday’s final table. However when play reached heads-up, Ivan Leow held a chip advantage over Malinowski.

That lead flipped back and forth a bit however, before both players got it all in with Malinowski holding Ace-King to Leow’s Ace-Four. Neither player paired and Malinowski scooped a massive payday.

In total, the tournament attracted 71 entries for a $10.3 million prize pool. Leow scores $2.5 million for runner-up.

In April, Malinowski took to Twitter longing for the return of live poker. In North Cyprus, Limitless returned in a major way.

Event 5: $50,000 Short Deck

The stripped-deck action returned to the series with China’s  Santi Jiang taking the title for $756,000. The score meant four nice series cashes for Jiang, who is based out of Spain.

In total, he cashed for more than $1.2 million in the series. Seth Davies finished runner-up for $504,000 and the event attracted 42 entries for a $2.1 million prize pool.

Short Deck has become a popular poker variant on the high roller circuit. Phil Ivey won the first event of the series, which also featured the game.

In Short Deck, deuces through fives are removed from the deck. This makes for plenty of action and big hands. Because of the differing mathematics in the game, straights are worth more than flushes. Jiang certainly seems to have figured out Short Deck’s intricacies.

Event 6: $100,000 NLHE

This six-figure buy-in saw Artur Martirosyan finish on top for $1.4 million. The payout becomes the biggest live score for this player from Russia.

David Peters also continued his huge run over the last few months, taking runner-up for $910,000. He also scored fifth in the championship event for $820,000.

These finishes come after he earned overall champion of the US Poker Open in June after winning three events.  He also grabbed a World Series of Poker bracelet at WSOP.com in July.

The tournament attracted 35 entries for a $3.5 million prize pool. France’s Johan Guilbert continued his impressive run after already scoring one win in the series. This time he took third for $560,000.

Event 7: $100,000 Short Deck

Tony G was back in the winner’s circle after already winning the second event, $25,000 Short Deck. He got it done again in the game a week later, this time in this six-figure buy-in version.

The Short Deck wizard scored $1.2 million this time after topping Paul Phua heads-up for the title.

Phua took home $728,000 for runner-up. Jiang also had another deep Short Deck run, finishing fourth for $260,000. It was certainly a huge series for Tony G.

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Event 8: $50,000 Short Deck

After some huge runs throughout the series, including a runner-up and a third-place finish, Seth Davies broke through with a win. He took home $435,400 after topping a field of 19 entries for a $950,000 prize pool. Jake Schindler took runner-up for $362,600.

Davies made numerous final tables and deep runs over the last two years and now has another title on his deep poker record. In four cashes in the series, Davies added more than $1.3 million. Here’s a look at all the SRBE winners.

Super High Roller Bowl Europe 2021

Start DateEventBuy-inTournamentWinnerPayout
Aug. 231$25,000Short DeckPhil Ivey$408,000
Aug. 242$25,000No Limit Hold’emJohan Guilbert$506,250
Aug. 253$25,000Short DeckTony G$382,500
Aug. 264$50,000No Limit Hold’emSelahaddin Bedir$832,000
Aug. 275$50,000Short DeckSanti Jiang$756,000
Aug. 286$100,000No Limit Hold’emArtur Martirosyan$1.4million
Aug. 297$100,000Short DeckTony G$1.2 million
Aug. 318$50,000Short DeckSeth Davies$435,400
Aug. 30Main Event$250,000No Limit Hold’emWiktor Malinowski$3.7 million

* Lead image courtesy Merit Poker

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Phil Ivey, Tony G Score Titles In Super High Roller Bowl Europe

The Super High Roller Bowl Eruope is underway in North Cyprus and some of the early event winners include Phil Ivey and Tony G.

The Super High Roller Bowl (SHRB) is underway in North Cyprus and some big names are rising to the top. Some of the early event winners include Phil Ivey and Tony G in one of PokerGO’s premier events.

The series is attracting some of poker’s elite with nine events running Aug. 23-31 featuring buy-ins starting at $25,000. The $250,000 Super High Roller Bowl is the signature tournament and should build a massive prize pool. Here’s a look at some of the action so far.

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Event 1: $25,000 Short Deck

Phil Ivey came out on top in this game featuring a stripped-down deck. In Short Deck, deuces through fives are removed from the deck.

This makes for plenty of action and big hands. Because of the differing mathematics in the game, straights are worth more than flushes.

The Short Deck win earned Ivey $408,000 and continues a big run he’s been on since March. That included a runner-up finish in the fourth event in this series as well. Short Deck has been especially good to the 10-time World Series of Poker champion. Beyond the SHRB, here’s a look at his major scores since March:

  • 2nd,  partypoker LIVE Millions $51,000 Short Deck – $525,000
  • 1st – partypoker LIVE Millions $50,000 Short Deck – $856,050
  • 1st – WPT Heads-Up Championship – $400,000

The SHRB Short Deck event attracted 48 entries for a $1.2 million prize pool. High stakes regular Stephen Chidwick finished runner-up for $264,000.

Event 2: $25,000 No Limit Hold’em 

French player and popular Twitch poker streamer Johan Guilbert scored this title for a nice score of a half-million bucks. He topped a field of 81 entries for a top prize of $506,250.

Turkey’s Selahaddin Bedir finished runner-up for $364,500 and continued his huge run in the series by winning the fourth event. The event attracted 81 entries for a $2 million prize pool.

Guilbert has $2 million in live tournament winnings and has become a regular on the high roller scene. In May, he finished runner-up to Matas Cimbolas in a $10,000 Aria High Roller event for $108,000.

Some other big names cashing were Seth Davies (third, $243,000) and Ali Imsirovic (6th, $121,500).

Event 3: $25,000 Short Deck

The stripped-deck action returned and another familiar name rose to the top. Lithuania’s Tony G scored the title for $382,500.

The event attracted 45 entries for a $1.1 million prize pool. American Chris Brewer finished runner-up for $247,500.

A regular on the poker scene since running deep in multiple World Poker Tour events during the poker boom. For several years, the businessman and poker player (real last name Guoga) has also served as a member of the European and Lithuanian parliaments. 

Guoga now has $7.6 million in live tournament winnings. This win followed another Short Deck score in a $25,500 partypoker MILLIONS event in the game. He won that event in 2019 for $265,859.

Event 4: $50,000 NLHE

The battle for this title came down to two players who’ve already been heads-up in the first three events. Phil Ivey won the first event of the series and Selahaddin Bedir took runner-up in the second.

This time, Bedin came out on top for $832,000 in an event that attracted 52 players for a $2.6 million prize pool. For second place, Ivey earned another $546,000. Both players have had impressive runs in the series so far.

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More action ahead

The weekend brings some more high roller action, all available to stream live on PokerGO. Players can jump in $50,000 and $100,000 NLHE events on Friday and Sunday.

The Short Deck action returns on Saturday with a $50,000 event on tap. The final two events in the series play out next week and PokerScout will provide a recap of those events as well. Here’s a look at the events remaining on the schedule:

2021 Super High Roller Bowl Europe

Start DateEventTournamentBuy-inRe-entry
Aug. 275Short Deck Hold’em$50,000Unlimited
Aug. 286No Limit Hold’em$100,000Unlimited
Aug. 297Short Deck Hold’em$100,000Unlimited
Aug. 30Main EventNo Limit Hold’em$250,000Single
Aug. 318No Limit Hold’em$50,000Unlimited

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Super High Roller Bowl Europe Starts Next Week in North Cyprus

Live poker continues to return with the Super High Roller Series Europe the latest to get cards in the air in North Cyprus from Aug. 23-31.

Live poker continues to return with the Super High Roller Series Europe the latest to get cards in the air. The festival is running in North Cyprus from Aug. 23-31 with nine events hosted by Merit Royal Hotel Casino.

The series features some of the biggest high stakes players in the world. Players will find No Limit Hold’em and Short Deck events, highlighted by the $250,000 buy-in Super High Roller Bowl. The series also announced recently that GGPoker and Luxon Pay will serve as sponsors.

“GGPoker is thrilled to be a sponsor of Super High Roller Series Europe, working in partnership with PokerGO and Luxon Pay to make this year’s event bigger and better than ever,” GGPoker head of public relations Paul Burke said in a news release.

“With massive prize pools and fields stacked with elite players, Super High Roller Series Europe is sure to be something very special, and we, along with the rest of the poker world, can’t wait to follow all of the action.”

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A look at some of the SHRB lineup

As the action unfolds in North Cyprus, tournaments will be streamed live on PokerGO platforms for free. Many of the game’s biggest names plan on playing.

That includes Ali Imsirovic, Bryn Kenney, Christoph Vogelsang, Timothy Adams, Stephen Chidwick, David Peters, Daniel “Jungleman” Cates, and World Series of Poker Main Event champions Hossein Ensan and Ryan Riess.

David Peters will be among those heading to North Cyprus for the PokerGO High Roller Series this week.. (photo courtesy PokerGO)

Imsirovic is the current leader on the Guaranteed Rate PokerGO Tour leaderboard. He’s been one of the hottest players in poker over the last few years.

Kenney took second in the Triton Million in 2019 to move to the top of poker’s all-time money list. Vogelsang won Super High Roller Bowl III in Las Vegas for $6 million. Adams won back-to-back Super High Roller Bowl victories in Australia and Russia in 2020 for a combined $5 million.

Chidwick and Peters are both US Poker Open champions. Chidwick won the series in 2018, with Peters taking the crown in 2019 and 2021. Riess not only won the 2013 WSOP Main Event, but is also a World Poker Tour champion.

Dwan is a high-stakes legend who can be seen regularly in appearances on PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker.

A growing series continues

The first Super High Roller Bowl debuted in 2015 with a $500,000 buy-in. Brian Rast won that event for $7.5 million. Seven countries have hosted the SHRB including:

In June 2020, an online version was also held online at partypoker with Justin Bonomo winning for $1.8 million.

Along with poker pros, businessmen such as Paul Phua and Richard Yong plan on taking part again this year.

According to PokerGO, Some new names are also expected to play. Some of those new players include  b, Selahaddin Bedir, Abraham Passet and Robbie Toan. Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

2021 Super High Roller Series Europe

Start DateEventTournamentBuy-inRe-entry
Aug. 275Short Deck Hold’em$50,000Unlimited
Aug. 286No Limit Hold’em$100,000Unlimited
Aug. 297Short Deck Hold’em$100,000Unlimited
Aug. 30Main EventNo Limit Hold’em$250,000Single
Aug. 318No Limit Hold’em$50,000Unlimited
 

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PokerGO, GPI Reach Deal on Streaming Global Poker Awards in Las Vegas Through 2024

The GPI announced an agreement with PokerGO this week that will see the service streaming the Global Poker Awards through 2024.

The Global Poker Index (GPI) has carved out a niche in the poker world ranking the game’s best players. Over the last few years, the site’s Global Poker Awards have also recognized greatness within the game.

The company announced an agreement with PokerGO this week that will see the service streaming the awards through 2024. Like the first editions in 2019 and 2020, the 2022 ceremony will be in Las Vegas at the PokerGO Studio. 

Because of COVID-19, GPI canceled the awards ceremony in 2021 and will resume in March 2022. The Global Poker Index is part of Mediarex Group sports and entertainment, which also includes Hendon Mob (THM). The awards celebrate notable poker players, media, and industry pioneers.

“We are honored to be a part of celebrating the accomplishments of the most renowned figures in the poker industry,” GPI/THM President Eric Danis said in a news release.

“After having to cancel this year’s ceremony due to the pandemic, we are so excited to welcome the poker world once again to the Global Poker Awards in March 2022 and for years to come.”

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What to expect from 2022 awards

When the awards resume in 2022, poker fans will see more than 20 awards presented. Some of those regularly given out include:

  • GPI Player of the Year
  • GPI Female Player of the Year
  • Poker Icon
  • Players’ Choice Award for Best All-Around Poker Player
  • People’s Choice Award for Hand of the Year

“The Global Poker Awards recognize and celebrate the most elite poker players and significant figures making a notable difference in the industry,” PokerGO President Mori Eskandani said.

“At PokerGO, we aim to give credit to those who make a splash in our sport, and holding these awards in the PokerGO Studio for the next three years allows us to do so.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-I9on-UY2A

A look back at 2019-20

The last Global Poker Awards saw some of the biggest names in poker collect hardware for 2019 performances. Alex Foxen picked up Player of the Year for the second straight year. Kristen Bicknell claimed the Female Player of the Year for the third year in a row.

As of Thursday, American Nick Pupillo stood atop the standings for 2021. However, Foxen also has a shot to add another title and is currently in seventh.

Bicknell, a partypoker ambassador, remains at the top of the standings on the female side of the rankings. She could be in line for a fourth straight award.

Australia’s Robert Cambell won the award for Breakout Player of the Year. The honor came after a huge World Series of Poker performance that included two bracelet wins.

Phillip Hui took Final Table Performance of the Year for winning the WSOP Poker Players Championship. He won the event for $1.1 million at a final table that included Josh Arieh, John Esposito, Bryce Yockey, Shaun Deeb, and Dan Cates. 

The annual Icon Award went to Johnny Chan. Other winners included:

  • Stephen Chidwick – Players Choice for Toughest Opponent
  • Paul Phua (Triton Poker) – Industry Person of the Year
  • Matt Savage (World Poker Tour) – Tournament Director of the Year
  • PokerStars Players Championship Bahamas – Event of the Year
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PokerGO Launches New High Roller Tour To Rank Game’s Best, Releases 2021 Event Schedule

The team behind PokerGO is betting on live poker’s return in 2021 and has unveiled the PokerGO Tour, a global poker ranking system.

The team behind PokerGO is betting on live poker’s return in 2021, including high rollers getting back in the action. The company unveiled the PokerGO Tour last week, a global professional poker ranking system with some extra winnings for top performers.

The tour highlights 150 tournaments around the world with tens of millions of dollars at stake. The goal is to rank top poker pros as seen in professional sports such as golf or tennis.

“The sport of poker is hundreds of years old and until now, there has not been a globally recognized tour and ranking system that establishes and celebrates the most elite players across the globe, so we started something we hope will evolve and grow,” PokerGO President Mori Eskandani said in a news release.

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“The PokerGO Tour events will include the world’s most challenging high stakes events in the world, bringing poker front and center in the world of sports in a way that has never been done before.”

The tour’s addition comes online poker has also exploded internationally – including numerous online high roller events.  As of now, the PokerGO Tour only highlights live events however.

Details on the PokerGO Tour

As part of the new tour, players earn points throughout the year for every finish at each qualifying event. The top performer will be named Player of the Year and score an extra $100,000.

Second and third place also earn $50,000 and $25,000. The tour rankings are updated regularly and showcase the top spot in the world of high stakes poker players.

So far, the standings have included about 20 events so far this year. As of Monday, Ali Imsirovic stood atop the leaderboard.

Online players will recognize many of the names from some of the world’s biggest online events as well. Here’s a look at the top five players with their winnings:

  • 1st – Ali Imsirovic, $1.4 million
  • 2nd – Sean Perry, $731,700
  • 3rd – Chris Brewer, $759,565
  • 4th – Sean Winter, $708,590
  • 5th – Arthur Conan, $733,320

PokerGO high roller schedule released

As part of the PokerGO Tour’s launch, the company also released the schedule for its 2021 high roller events. That includes a few new events planned.

The US Poker Open is set for June 3-14 with 12 events at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. The player of the series wins the inaugural Eagle Trophy this year.

Justin Bonomo shows off his winnings and championship ring after the 2018 Super High Roller Bowl. (photo courtesy of PokerGO)

The company is also launching the PokerGO Cup, a new series with eight events and running July 1-10. The Cup features various poker formats including a $100,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event.

Other qualifying PokerGO Tour events from the network include:

  • PokerGO Heads-Up Championship – This is a new $100,000 event slated for July 12 with a $3.2 million prize pool. The tournament features 32 poker pros battling in a bracket-style format.
  • Poker Masters – A 12-event series from Sept. 13-24 challenging the world’s best all-around players. The overall winner takes home a championship purple jacket.
  • Super High Roller Bowl – A $300,000 buy-in, three-day tournament set for Sept. 26 with some of the world’s best players. The pros battle for millions of dollars with the winner also taking home a championship ring.

The PokerGO platform will stream all the action from each series.

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Live poker returning in big way

The PokerGO tour uses any live tournament with a $10,000 buy-in or higher in calculating standings. As April closes out, players seem to be eager to return to live poker.  

The World Poker Tour has seen massive fields in events run since January. The $3,500 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown is currently underway in Florida.

That event produced a field of 2,482 entries for a $7.9 million prize pool, easily topping the $2 million guarantee. The champion earns a top prize of almost $1.3 million.

The series also includes a pair of events counting toward the PokerGO Tour. Arthur Conan won a $50,000 Super High Roller event last week for $733,320. A $25,500 High Roller also kicks off Monday.

Online poker also remains extremely hot at the moment. Tournament series around the world continue awarding hundreds of millions of dollars each month.

Partypoker currently has its annual POWERFEST underway. The Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) is also running at PokerStars.

The WPTDeepStacks London Online also wraps up today at 888poker. The US market has also seen some major series this month at WSOP.com, partypoker US Network, and PokerStars.