The 2024 Super High Roller Series concluded at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Spa in North Cyprus, with Richard Gryko winning the final event and claiming his first PGT title in Event #10: $25,750 Pot-Limit Omaha Mystery Bounty (6-Max). It drew 19 entries to create a $465,500 prize pool.
The majority of that money was captured by the UK’s Richard Gryko. He earned every knockout inside the money, securing the title, the top payout of $115,000, and the entire bounty prize pool of $232,750. Gryko now has more than $2.2 million in recorded tournament earnings.
The top three finishers made the money in this event, with Lautaro Guerra Cabrerizo placing third for $42,250. The 2023 PokerGO Tour PLO Series champion also has more than $2.2 million in career cashes.
2023 World Series of Poker main event fourth-place finisher Jan Peter Jachtmann was the runner-up, earning $79,000 for his efforts. He is now approaching $4.6 million in cashes.
The 2024 Super High Roller Bowl Series at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino in Cyprus is soon drawing to a close. The highest buy-in pot-limit Omaha tournament of the festival wrapped up on Sunday, Aug. 25. Joni Jouhkimainen emerged victorious from the 27-entry field in the $51,150 buy-in PLO affair earning a career-best score of $526,900.
The bracelet winner from Finland now has $7,173,919 in career earnings, good for third all-time on Joni Jouhkimainen home nation’s tournament earnings leaderboard. Only Patrik Anotnius ($22.8 million) and Juha Helppi ($8.4 million) have cashed for more on the circuit.
This was Joni Jouhkimainen’s first title of 2024. He was awarded 306 Card Player Player of the Year points and 316 PokerGO Tour points as the champion.
Only the top four finishers made the money in this event, with $1,323,000 in total prizes up for grabs. Gergo Nagy, who finished fourth in a $25,750 buy-in PLO event at this festival just a day earlier, placed second this time around for $431,100. The Hungarian now has more than $1.1 million in lifetime tournament earnings.
The third and final $25,750 buy-in no-limit hold’em event of the 2024 Super High Roller Bowl Series at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino in Cyprus ended up with 41 total entries, resulting in a prize pool of $1,004,500.
After two days of high-stakes six-handed tournament action, Maher Nouira emerged victorious with the title and the top prize of $333,000.
This was the third-largest live payday yet for Maher Nouira, who has recorded four of his top-five paydays this year. His biggest score came with a fourth-place showing in the $100,000 buy-in event at Triton Montenegro, which earned him $933,000. He now has nearly $3.5 million in career cashes.
Nouira earned 420 Card Player Player of the Year points for this, his second title of the year. With 2,241 total points earned across six POY-qualified final tables, he is now tied with Raminder Singh for 104th place in the 2024 POY standings presented by Global Poker.
Maher Nouira earned his first 200 PokerGO Tour points of the year with this triumph, which were sufficient to move him into 219th place in the season-long PGT points race.
Nouira had plenty of stiff competition to contend with down the stretch, including Samuel Ju (6th – $65,000), two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Daniel Dvoress (5th – $87,500), Yulian Bogdanov (4th – $122,000), and Jamil Wakil (3rd – $166,000).
It came down to a heads-up clash between Nouira and current POY race leader Adrian Mateos for the title. The Spanish superstar entered the final showdown with 1,135,000 to Nouira’s 7,070,000. He managed to fight his way back to nearly even, only to run a failed bluff attempt against a straight to finish as the runner-up.
Mateos earned $231,000 and 350 POY points for his 14th final-table finish of 2024. With two titles and more than $8.8 million in to-date POY earnings, he remains the player to beat in the POY race. His 7,825 points give him a 605 point lead over second-ranked David Coleman in the standings.
Maher Nouira also secured 139 PGT points, enough to climb into 24th place on that high-stakes-centric leaderboard. He now has nearly $49.8 million in career cashes to his name.
New York City is home to a vibrant underground poker scene, with numerous private poker clubs offering high-stakes action, professional dealers, and a thrilling atmosphere. However, navigating the world of poker in NYC requires understanding the legal landscape, finding reputable poker rooms, and knowing what to expect. Here’s everything you need to know about private poker clubs in NYC.
Is It Legal to Play Poker in New York City?
Poker in NYC exists in a legal gray area. Social poker games, where no one profits from hosting, are generally allowed. However, many private poker clubs take a rake (a percentage of the pot), which is considered illegal under New York state law. Despite this, underground poker games continue to thrive, drawing players of all levels.
Where Can I Find Private Poker Clubs in NYC?
If you’re looking for exclusive poker games in New York, here are some well-known private poker clubs:
NYC Poker Clubs – A concierge service that connects players to professional poker games in high-end locations.
Poker Night Out NYC – Organizes private poker games in lofts and penthouses across the city.
Fish Tank NYC Poker – A premium poker club in Midtown that offers No-Limit Hold’em and other poker variants.
How Can I Join a Private Poker Club in NYC?
Most private poker clubs require new players to go through a vetting process for safety reasons. Some clubs conduct background checks or require a referral from an existing member. You can usually contact these clubs via their websites or social media pages to inquire about joining.
Are There Any Membership Fees for Private Poker Clubs?
Some poker clubs charge an annual membership fee, while others operate on a per-game basis, taking a rake from each pot. It’s essential to clarify all costs before joining a game.
What Types of Poker Games Are Offered in NYC Private Clubs?
Private poker rooms in NYC cater to a variety of players by offering different game types, including:
No-Limit Hold’em (NLH) – The most popular variant, where players can bet any amount over the minimum raise.
Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) – A fast-paced game where players receive four hole cards and must use exactly two.
Stakes vary, with some clubs offering low-stakes games (e.g., 1/3 NLH with a $100-$500 buy-in) and others catering to high rollers.
Are These Private Poker Clubs Safe?
Many private poker clubs prioritize security and ensure a safe playing environment by vetting players, employing security personnel, and using surveillance cameras. However, since these clubs operate underground, it’s crucial to research their reputation and take necessary precautions.
Can Tourists Participate in Private Poker Games in NYC?
Yes, tourists can join private poker clubs, but they must go through the same vetting process as local players. Contacting the club in advance is recommended to secure a spot in the game.
Are There Any Legal Poker Rooms in NYC?
Currently, there are no state-sanctioned poker rooms in NYC. Players looking for legal poker options may need to travel to nearby states like New Jersey or Pennsylvania, where regulated poker rooms operate.
What Precautions Should I Take When Joining a Private Poker Club?
Before joining a poker game in NYC, consider the following:
Legal Implications – Understand that raked games are illegal under New York law.
Safety – Only play in clubs with a solid reputation and security measures.
Financial Risks – Set a budget and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Personal Information – Be cautious about sharing personal details with poker clubs.
By following these guidelines, you can enjoy the excitement of poker in NYC while minimizing risks. Whether you’re a casual player or a high-stakes grinder, New York’s private poker scene offers some of the best action available. Good luck at the tables!
The New York City casino licensing process looks like it may drag out a bit longer than some legislators hoped. As the state continues seeing bids from major gaming corporations to bring a casino resort to the Big Apple, a bill was approved in both houses to set deadlines for the licensing process to play out.
However, after two months Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has yet to sign the bill and it appears that may not happen at all. That time lag critical as the bill was passed in June and set a deadline for this month to see all bids submitted.
“I’ve been trying to get the process moving,” Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D) told the New York Post in May. “It’s taking too long. We’re leaving $2 billion on the table. Why are we stringing this along? We’re spinning our wheels here.”
Bill Stalled With Governor
The bidding process began in 2023 and in June the New York Gaming Facility Location Board approved a new deadline of June 27, 2025, for all bids to be in.
The state is awarding a total of three licenses around the New York City area, including two expected to properties already in place and one to a new property.
There are numerous players in the bidding process with plans that have included casinos on Coney Island, Citi Field (home of the New York Mets), Nassau Coliseum, and numerous others. Rapper Nas has also been involved in a plan for a license to expand the Resorts World casino at Aqueduct.
“The legislation sets a minimum license fee of $500 million but gives the New York State Gaming Commission the option to accept higher bids,” gaming industry analyst John DeCree told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “The slot and table tax minimums are expected to be set at 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively, but will ultimately be determined by a competitive bidding process similar to the mobile sports wagering licensing process.”
The 2024 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $5,300 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event featured a $3,000,000 guarantee. With 865 entries, that goal was easily surpassed, with $4,195,240 ultimately paid out among the top 109 finishers.
New York stock trader Paul Snead walked away with the largest share, earning $529,428 and the trophy after striking a heads-up deal with Clemen Deng.
“It feels amazing, I just feel like the Hard Rock is my home turf now. I’m originally from New York and still live there and Florida now. Foxwoods used to be my home turf, but now I totally feel comfortable here and playing here. I love the way that they run tournament here, it’s just great,” Snead told Seminole Hard Rock Poker blog reporters after coming out on top.
This was the largest tournament score yet for Snead, topping the $257,334 he earned as the 21st-place finisher in the 2008 World Series of poker main event. He now has more than $2.3 million in recorded tournament earnings, with three of his top five cashes now coming in events held at Seminole Hard Rock properties around Florida.
The final day of this event began with just eight remaining from the field of 865 entries, with Snead in second chip position behind only Deng. Snead closed the gap early on when his pocket sevens outran the pocket jacks of Sterling Savill (8th – $80,000).
Loni Hui was the next to fall. After losing a big pot against Brandon Kessous, she got all-in against the same opponent with K-J suited facing A-3. Kessous made aces and nines to send the two-time bracelet winner to the rail in seventh place ($103,000).
Tyler Montoya, not far removed from a 61st-place finish in this year’s WSOP main event, placed sixth in this tournament for $133,000. His final hand saw his pocket eights run into the pocket kings of Deng, which held to narrow the field to five.
A battle of the blinds ended Billy Pilossoph’s run in fifth place ($175,000). Pilossoph shoved with K-9 from the small blind and was called by Deng, who held K-Q in the big blind. Both players paired their king, with Deng’s kicker playing to earn him the knockout.
A classic race resulted in Jack Thu’s elimination in fourth place ($230,000). Thu’s A-9 was in a fair fight against Kessous’ pocket eights, but the later made an eight-high straight on a seven-high runout to win the pot.
Kessous was soon the one who was all-in and at risk. His final stand pitted A-J against the pocket jacks of Snead. Neither player connected with the board and Kessous earned $310,000 as the third-place finisher.
Snead held 23,350,000 to Deng’s 19,900,000. The two soon came to a deal that saw Deng awarded $512,522 as the runner-up, while Snead secured the title and $529,428. This was Deng’s largest score yet, bringing his career earnings to over $1.9 million.
Poker has been an inspiration for many films through the years – from Rounders to The Cincinnati Kid to Molly’s Game. Now a new entry is on the horizon after a trailer for the new crime thriller Dead Money was released on Thursday.
The film Dead Money is produced by Samuel Goldwyn Films and directed by Luc Walpoth (Baby Money; Trojan Woman_.) Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild; Alpha Dog; Speed Racer; Lone Survivor_) and India Eisley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager; American Outlaws) star in the film.
Goldwyn describes Dead Money: “When a home poker game is robbed by armed men, pro poker player Andy (Hirsch) and his girlfriend Chloe (Eisley) get caught in the middle. Now, Andy must play the best poker of his life at the biggest game in town to save his and Chloe’s lives.”
The trailer features action at the tables mixed with plenty of intrigue and drama. But the home game robbery is a bit of a new twist on the poker theme. Legends like Doyle Brunson have recounted tales of robberies in games before the game became popular at casinos. A home game in New York was even robbed earlier this year.
How will Dead Money stack up against other films in the poker genre? That remains to be seen, but players can decide for themselves when the movie hits theaters and video on demand platforms on Sept. 13.
Rounders Sequel In The Works?
In related news, Matt Damon and Ed Norton apparently are interested in being part of a Rounders sequel. On the Rich Eisen Show recently, Damon said he’d even discussed the possibility with David Levien and Brian Koppelman, screenwriters of the original. He said a sequel could delve into changes the game has undergone over the last two decades.
“The one we’ve been talking about for years, and we’re trying to, and I just saw Edward Norton a few weeks ago, like all of us want to do it is a second Rounders movie,” Damon said. “So much has happened in the poker world in the last 25 years, it would be fun to catch up with those guys.
“They had a whole movie ready to go then, but now there’s been a whole other change in the poker world since then, so I haven’t talked to them about what it would be, but I know … what they had 10 years ago was fantastic, and I’m sure they could augment and roll with the times and update it to where we are today and make something great.”
Poker media member Terrance Reid is listed as the Live Events Manager for Poker.org. While he does spend plenty of time working in the industry, Reid is also an avid player.
The Missouri native and current California resident managed to secure his largest live tournament score ever on Monday, Aug. 5, by taking down the RunGood Poker Series $2,500 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event that was part of the Destination: RunGood Season Finale at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento. Reid overcame a field of 455 entries, earning $192,755 and the title after striking a three-way deal that brought the event to a close.
Terrance Reid now has more than $408,000 in recorded tournament earnings. Prior to this huge victory, his top score was a third-place finish in a $800 buy-in RGPS tournament last fall for $46,600.
In addition to the title and the money, Terrance Reid also scored 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year points. This was his third final-table finish of the year. With 1,424 total points, he now sits inside the top 250 in the 2024 POY standings presented by Global Poker.
This event featured a $1,000,000 guarantee. The 455-entry turnout resulted in a final prize pool of $1,015,105 that was paid out among the top 68 finishers. Several big names ran deep, including WPT champion Taylor Black (7th), Darren Rabinowitz (5th), and bracelet winner and two-time WPT champion Jared Jaffee (4th).
2023 champion of this tournament Tyler Patterson (6th), who is a WPT champion and bracelet winner, continued an impressive streak of final-tabling this event three times in a row. He finished second in the season finale at this venue back in 2022, and then first in 2023. This time around he placed sixth for $39,190.
Jaffee’s elimination in fourth place came at the hands of Reid, who took a massive chip lead into three-handed play. The event concluded when Reid came to an agreement with Lee Markholt and Steven Ritchie based on ICM-chop numbers. Markholt, a WPT champion, earned $124,540 as the official runner-up, while Ritchie secured $110,000 as the third-place finisher.
Final Boarding Million Dollar Main Final Table Results
Michael ‘The Grinder’ Mizrachi has joined elite company within World Series of Poker history by winning his sixth career WSOP bracelet, taking down the final event of the online portion of the 2024 WSOP slate, available on the WSOP’s three-state (MI/NV/NJ) platform. Mizrachi’s latest win in Sunday’s Online Event #30, $888 NL Hold’em Crazy 8’s Encore, was also the first of his bracelet victories to come online.
Mizrachi, playing as ‘Thegrinder44’, topped a 931-entry field to claim the summer’s final bracelet and $108,815.28, ending it by closing out Mitch ‘Paltex’ Garshofski for the win. Garshofky, a three-time Circuit ringwinner, collected $79,544.64 for his runner-up effort. Third place and $58,466.80 went to Kevin ‘GR4ND_THEFT’ Ruscitti.
Complete results for the Crazy 8’s Encore have yet to be posted by the WSOP. Results from four online events are not yet verified, also leaving as this report was published the issue of whether 2024 triple-bracelet winner Scott Seiver succeeded in holding off the last challengers to his probable win in the WSOP’s 2024 Player of the Year race. As of the most recent leaderboard update, Seiver still maintained a 600-point lead through the last of the series’ live bracelet events.
Online Event #30’s 931-entry field was comprised of 535 unique players, who also contributed a combined 391 re-entries. The event offered a $744,800 prize pool, and the top 180 players made the money.
We reached out to Michael after his bracelet win and he recorded a short video for us with his brother Eric.
Mizrachi famed for three $50K PPC wins
The win in Online Event #30 marks the first bracelet victory for Mizrachi since 2019, when he won that year’s $1,500 Seven-card Stud Hi/Lo 8 or Better tourney. Mizrachi is, of course, most famous in WSOP bracelet lore for being a three-time winner of the $50,000 Poker Players Championship in 2010, 2012, and 2018. He joins the likes of Shaun Deeb and Jason Mercier on six bracelet wins. Only 11 players have won more, with Phil Hellmuth on top with 17 bracelets.
The win also moved Michael back in front of his brother Robert for most bracelet wins by a Mizrachi. Robert Mizrachi won his own fifth bracelet earlier this summer in Event #13, $10,000 Dealers Choice Championship.
Scott Seiver will turn 40 next year, which will make him eligible for nomination into the Poker Hall of Fame. This impending milestone lit a fire under the 39-year-old poker pro based out of Las Vegas. He dedicated himself to the World Series of Poker Player of the Year grind in 2024, with the hope that a strong performance this summer might help him cement his status as a worthy candidate for induction in the future.
“It’s always been something in the back of my mind, and as I’ve gotten older and more people I know have gotten in, I realized that a lot of my life I’ve dedicated to this game and this profession, and it would mean a lot to me to show that I’ve left my mark on this field,” Seiver told Card Player when asked about the Poker Hall of Fame as a motivating factor. “So, I thought by coming out here this summer and really just reminding people that I am someone that came through poker.”
Seiver definitely reminded the poker world what he is capable of this year. He cashed 17 times during the 2024 WSOP for a total of $1,449,736 in earnings, winning three bracelets along the way to bring his career total to seven. He is just the 11th player in history to have won as many titles at the series, and the seventh player to ever win three during a single year.
As a result of his impressive run this summer, Seiver locked up the 2024 World Series of Poker Player of the Year award, securing 4,403.85 total points to hold off Michael Rocco (3,803.67) and Jeremy Ausmus (3,686.6).
Seiver’s first win of the summer came in event no. 10, the $10,000 Omaha eight-or-better championship. He defeated a field of 197 entries to earn his fifth overall bracelet and the top prize of $426,744.
He cashed in four more events before buying into the $1,500 razz. He ended up overcoming a field of 547 entries in that event to earn $141,374 and his second title of the festival.
After another series of four smaller cashes, Seiver found himself at a stacked final table in the $10,000 no-limit deuce-to-seven single draw lowball championship, which had drawn 186 players. He was able to navigate his way to victory yet again, earning $411,041 and his third bracelet in the span of a month.
“It means everything to me,” said Seiver when asked about taking down that prestigious event. “I was really devastated when I got second in this two years ago. I’ve always wanted this bracelet so much. This final table was unbelievably difficult. From two tables down, everyone was tremendous and honestly, that makes it even more special. I am good at this game, but I am not like world-class great. Getting to play with Jason Mercier, Billy Baxter… these are people that have won this tournament 10 times or whatever. It was very special.”
Seiver had secured a victory at each of his first three final tables to this point at the series. He managed two more final tables after that, finishing third from 134 entries in the $10,000 buy-in online no-limit hold’em championship for $182,214.
His final hurrah was a sixth-place run in the $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. event
Seiver now has more than $27.2 million in career tournament earnings to his name, with over $7.7 million of that coming from his 87 in-the-money finishes at WSOP events over the years.
2024 WSOPPOY runner-up Michael Rocco cashed 12 times, accruing over $2.2 million along the way. His top scores were his win in the $10,000 six-max no-limit hold’em championship for a career-high $942,922 payday and pair of third-place showings which collectively added more than $922,000 to his haul.
Third-place finisher Jeremy Ausmus cashed 21 times this series, accumulating nearly $3.5 million along the way. He also made seven final tables, tying a record set by Phil Hellmuth for the most in a single WSOP.
Here is a look at the 17 cashes that Seiver recorded in bracelet events this summer:
