The stakes were raised at the 2023 Poker Masters high-stakes tournament festival. Following six initial tournaments with a $10,100 buy-in, event number seven saw the buy-in increase to $25,200. A total of 44 players entered the no-limit hold’em tournament, resulting in a prize pool of $1.1 million. After two days of intense tournament action, Nick Schulman emerged as the champion, securing the title along with the top prize of $374,000.

This marked Schulman’s second title of the year, adding to his impressive poker resume, which includes four World Series of Poker gold bracelets. He earned his most recent bracelet in the $1,500 seven-card stud event during the summer. At 39 years old, Schulman has accumulated lifetime tournament earnings of nearly $16.6 million, with his largest score coming from his victory in the 2005 World Poker Tour World Poker Finals at Foxwoods Resort Casino, where he earned $2.1 million.

Additionally, Schulman earned 224 PokerGO Tour points from his triumph, propelling him into sixth place in the race for the Poker Masters Purple Jacket.

This exciting event unfolded over two days at the PokerGO Studio within ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The second day began with six players remaining, with Ren Lin being the sole player eliminated after the money bubble burst late on day one, securing a $44,000 prize and 105 POY points for his 22nd final-table finish of the year. Lin’s accomplishments included two titles and total POY earnings of nearly $3.7 million, placing him fifth on the POY leaderboard.

Justin Saliba, a two-time bracelet winner, saw his run come to an end in sixth place when his pocket threes lost to Brian Rast’s A-10 in a race. Saliba walked away with $66,000 and 140 POY points, positioning him 13th in the POY standings.

Schulman continued his impressive performance by eliminating the next two opponents. First, his pocket nines triumphed over Victoria Livschitz’s A-4 suited, sending her home in fifth place with $88,000. Then, Schulman pushed with 9-8 suited from the small blind, facing off against two-time bracelet winner Chris Brewer’s A-Q. Brewer initially held the lead through the flop, but an eight on the turn swung the momentum in Schulman’s favor. With a blank on the river, Brewer officially finished in fourth place, taking home $121,000.

Andrew Lichtenberger marked his 36th birthday in an extravagant manner. The seasoned poker professional emerged as the victor from a field of 85 participants, clinching the championship title in event number 5 of the 2023 Poker Masters. This victory marked his 16th recorded live tournament win.

In the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event held at the PokerGO Studio within the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Andrew Lichtenberger secured the champion’s purse of $204,000. With this win, his total career tournament earnings soared to over $15.9 million, adding another impressive chapter to the World Series of Poker bracelet winner’s storied career.

Notably, this marked Lichtenberger’s fifth appearance at a final table in 2023, and it was his first championship title of the year. His outstanding performance earned him 1,122 Card Player Player of the Year points, propelling him into the ranks of the top 500 contenders in the 2023 POY race, sponsored by Global Poker.

Furthermore, Lichtenberger secured 204 PokerGO Tour points for his victory, making it his third cash of the Poker Masters series. He previously finished seventh in event number 3 and thirteenth in event number 4. With a total of 266 PGT points and earnings amounting to $265,700, he now occupies the third spot in the race for this year’s Poker Masters Purple Jacket, trailing behind only Vladas Tamasauskas (506 points) and Ren Lin (299 points).

This event awarded cash prizes to the top 13 finishers from its $850,000 prize pool. Only six contenders advanced to day 2, with two-time bracelet winner Daniel Lazrus leading the pack and Lichtenberger holding the fourth chip position at the start.

Koray Aldemir, the 2021 WSOP main event champion, was the first to exit in sixth place with $51,000 in winnings. His K-J hand couldn’t prevail in a preflop showdown against Daniel Lazrus’ 8-7 suited.

Brock Wilson achieved his third cash and second final-table appearance of the festival in this event, but his journey ended in fifth place. His A-7 suited was bested by the A-K of Lazrus and the pocket tens held by bracelet winner Brian Kim. Wilson took home $68,000.

Lichtenberger soon surged into the lead, winning a significant pot against Kim with the same top pair of tens but with a higher kicker. Kim then eliminated Niko Koop in fourth place ($85,000) by making eights full of kings on the river, triumphing over Koop’s kings and nines.

The next pivotal all-in confrontation witnessed Lichtenberger shoving from the small blind with pocket threes. Lazrus accepted the challenge and called all-in from the big blind with pocket sixes. Lichtenberger flopped a set and maintained his lead, ultimately ousting Lazrus in third place ($102,000).

The heads-up battle commenced with Andrew Lichtenberger holding 7,625,000 chips against Kim’s 3,000,000. It didn’t take long for all the chips to find their way to the center. In a few hands, Lichtenberger open-shoved from the button with AHeart Suit6Spade Suit, and Kim called with ASpade SuitQSpade Suit from the big blind. The board favored Lichtenberger, showing 7Spade Suit4Diamond Suit3Heart Suit6Diamond SuitADiamond Suit. With aces up, Lichtenberger secured both the pot and the title, while Kim earned $144,500 as the runner-up.

Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:

Darren Elias is a well-known champion, with an impressive record of four titles on the World Poker Tour, establishing himself as the greatest of all time in that arena. His latest triumph came on a Saturday, as the 36-year-old secured yet another victory, this time within the confines of the PokerGO studio at Aria.

In event number 2 of the Poker Masters, Elias outshone a field of 97 participants, claiming a substantial prize of $223,100 from the total purse of $970,000.

This marked his second PokerGO title of the year, following his victory in a $15,000 event at the U.S. Poker Open back in March. Hailing from New Jersey, Elias has now amassed a career tournament earnings total exceeding $12.8 million.

The competition rewarded its top 14 players with payouts, each taking home a minimum of $19,400. Notably, Chris Brewer was eliminated on the bubble on the first day, and the tournament continued until the final table of seven players was reached.

Among the prominent figures who cashed in the event were former Poker Masters champion Sam Soverel (13th place), as well as Ryan Riess (10th), Dan Shak (9th), Michael Rocco (8th), Alex Foxen (7th), and Erik Seidel (5th).

Lithuanian professional Vladas Tamasauskas secured the sixth position, marking his second consecutive final table appearance after winning event number 1. With these two finishes, he currently leads the overall series leaderboard.

Bin Weng, the current frontrunner for Card Player Player of the Year, achieved his second cash prize in two attempts, following his 16th-place finish in event number 1. This time, the Chinese pro claimed the third spot, earning $116,400 and adding 360 more POY points to his tally.

Weng is experiencing a breakout year on the tournament circuit, boasting two WPT titles, a WSOP Circuit ring, victory in The Return championship at Borgata, and a total earnings figure exceeding $5.1 million. With 9,198 points accumulated so far this season, he enjoys a comfortable lead of over 1,200 points ahead of his closest competitor, Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero.

Former POY winner and two-time WSOP bracelet recipient Eric Baldwin secured the runner-up position, taking home $155,200. This achievement brings his career tournament earnings to $8.2 million.

The Poker Masters consists of a total of 10 events and runs until September 26, featuring buy-ins ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. The player with the best performance throughout the series will be awarded the prestigious Purple Jacket.

This high-stakes festival was inaugurated in 2017 and has seen past champions such as Steffen Sontheimer (2017), Ali Imsirovic (2018), Sam Soverel (2019), Michael Addamo (2021), and Sean Winter (2022).

Final Table Results

The 2023 World Poker Tour Liechtenstein CHF 1,100 buy-in main event at Grand Casino Liechtenstein shattered records with a total of 1,644 entries, establishing a new WPT Prime record for field size in a regular-season event. This impressive turnout translated into a prize pool exceeding $1.8 million in U.S. dollars. Following six starting flights and two full days of action featuring players from all flights, David Kozma from Hungary emerged as the champion, claiming the top prize of $300,541.

For Kozma, this victory marked a significant milestone as it was his largest live tournament win to date, nearly tripling his previous top payout of $105,000, which he earned as a runner-up in a $1,700 buy-in event at the 2022 Winter Poker Open at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. After this remarkable win in the European principality nestled between Austria and Switzerland, Kozma’s total recorded tournament earnings now exceed $453,000.

In addition to the cash prize, Kozma’s first-place finish also granted him a $10,400 seat at the season-ending WPT World Championship held at Wynn Las Vegas.

Kozma’s victory earned him 1,080 Card Player Player of the Year points, propelling him into the top 500 in the 2023 POY race standings sponsored by Global Poker.

The final day of the tournament began with 11 players vying for the title, with Kozma leading the pack. He maintained his dominance as the field consolidated onto a single table. Kozma’s first elimination at the final table occurred when his KHeart SuitJSpade Suit flush triumphed over the KDiamond SuitJClub Suit, sending Alessandro Pichierri to a fourth-place finish with $107,296 in winnings.

Kozma continued his impressive run, dispatching Lukas Pazma in third place with his K-10 suited, forming tens and fours to overcome Pazma’s J-9 in a preflop showdown. Pazma walked away with $143,360.

The heads-up showdown featured Marc Sen holding 26,600,000 in chips, while Kozma had 22,900,000. The final two competitors engaged in a brief battle, spanning just 22 hands before a champion was crowned. Kozma surged ahead at the right moment, setting the stage for the final hand. Sen began by limping on the button with ADiamond Suit6Heart Suit, and Kozma checked his option with 6Club Suit5Heart Suit. The flop unveiled 8Spade Suit6Diamond Suit2Heart Suit, prompting Kozma to place a single big blind bet. Sen responded with a raise to three big blinds, which Kozma called. The turn revealed the 5Spade Suit, leading Kozma to wager another three big blinds. Sen then went all-in for 15 big blinds, and Kozma called, revealing his two pair. The 5Diamond Suit on the river secured Kozma’s victory with fives full of sixes, earning him the pot and the championship title.

As the runner-up, Sen, a resident of nearby Switzerland, received a consolation prize of $193,200.

Here is the final table Results:

The Culinary and Bartenders Unions‘ more than 53,000 Las Vegas hospitality workers will hold a vote that could pave the way for a strike.

The unions announced that a vote will happen on Sept. 26, in which union members will choose whether or not they will allow the unions’ negotiating committee to call for a strike. It is a vote to allow leaders to vote on a strike, not a vote to strike.

The vote comes as the unions and Las Vegas’ top three employers negotiate a new five-year contract:

1. MGM Resorts International
2. Caesars Entertainment Corporate
3. Wynn/Encore Resorts

Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement that the unions are fighting for a contract that would protect overworked union members and that the unions and Vegas employers are still “so far apart” in their negotiations:

“As companies reduce labor, there are less workers who have even more responsibilities and are doing more work instead of spending quality time with their families, and that has to change.

Workers have built this industry and made it successful and that’s why we are demanding that workers share in that prosperity. It’s disappointing that we are still so far apart from the casinos after months of negotiations with the largest three gaming companies in Las Vegas.”

The vote comes five years after the Culinary Union won its negotiations after workers voted to allow the union to call for a strike

Las Vegas casino workers fighting for wage increase and workload reduction

The unions’ list of demands encompasses several key areas of working conditions and pay:

• The largest wage increase in the Culinary Union’s history
• Easing housekeeping quotas
• Moving to pre-pandemic daily room cleaning schedules
• More security personnel in hotels and casinos to protect workers
• Required training for any new technology introduced in the workplace
• Job protection related to pandemics and economic crises

Housekeepers in the union argue that the current housekeeping schedules are untenable for workers. Hotels switched to intermittent room cleaning during the pandemic and have not switched back to daily cleanings.

This means Las Vegas casino hospitality workers have bigger workloads because rooms are dirtier.

“Daily room cleaning is a safety and workload issue,” Culinary Union member Evangelina Alaniz said. “When it’s been three or four days since I’ve been assigned to clean a room, I’m never sure what I’m going to find behind that door.”

Strike vote comes a month after Caesars’ boss  said he didn’t expect “drama”

The news of a strike vote is somewhat of a surprise considering Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg said in the company’s second-quarter earnings call last month.

“As we speak, there is work being done in terms of a new contract… you’re talking about complex stuff that takes a little while,” he said in the Caesars earnings call. “But I’d expect that we’ll have new agreements by the fall. And I’m not expecting a whole lot of drama around.”

In the MGM Resorts International Q2 earnings call CEO Tom Hornbuckle expressed the same confidence.

“You all know the culinary and the company—all of Las Vegas companies are now out in negotiating process, which is going well,” Hornbuckle said in the MGM Resorts earnings call. “We have decades of history with them on doing this. This town hasn’t seen a strike since the ’80s.”

However, he said the main sticking point in a new contract might be pay. “I think the big thing that’s going to impact us is going to be ultimately wage,” he said.

Hornbuckle’s comment about wages may have been prophetic, as the unions are not happy with the negotiations and drama seems inevitable.

Though the outcome is unknown, the Culinary and Bartenders Unions have a track record of success. They negotiated union contracts with the formerly ununionized Venetian and Palazzo earlier this year and won negotiations with the Palms Casino Resort in May.

The World Poker Tour has unveiled an unprecedented guarantee of $40,000,000 for the upcoming WPT World Championship taking place at Wynn Las Vegas. Scheduled from December 12th to 21st, this $10,400 buy-in tournament will boast an extra starting flight compared to its 2022 debut, which attracted 2,960 entries.

“The WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas is poised to reach new heights and we wanted to match that expectation with a guarantee that no live poker tournament has ever seen before,” said WPT Chief Executive Officer Adam Pliska. “The journey to December begins now, and we plan on giving players another unforgettable experience at Wynn Las Vegas.”

Last year’s iteration of this tournament featured a $15 million guarantee, a figure nearly doubled thanks to the impressive turnout across three starting flights. Ultimately, the final prize pool reached a staggering $29,008,000, distributed among the top 371 finishers, with the eventual champion, Eliot Hudon, pocketing $4,136,000. The top six finishers all enjoyed seven-figure payouts.

Ryan Beauregard, the Executive Director of Poker Operations at Wynn Las Vegas, marveled at the overwhelming support and enthusiasm from the poker community, stating, “The incredible backing and enthusiasm we’ve witnessed from the poker community in just one year is unlike anything I’ve seen before. We eagerly anticipate the 2023 WPT World Championship and anticipate hosting yet another industry-leading event that offers an unparalleled player experience.”

This year’s edition will feature four starting flights as it strives to reach the largest guarantee in poker history. According to the structure sheet available on the WPT website, $9,800 from each buy-in will contribute to the prize pool, requiring a total of 4,082 entries to surpass the guarantee.

Check out a video from WPT about this massive event:

The WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas festival runs from Nov. 29-Dec.23 and features over 30 events. Other highlights include the $5 million guaranteed WPT Prime Championship $1,100 buy-in event (Dec. 7-12), the $250,000 guaranteed WPT Ladies World Championship (Dec. 6-8), and the $1 million Big One for One Drop (Dec. 18-20).

In 2019, Mark Barrientos swiftly crossed the finish line in a high-speed $250 buy-in event at the World Series of Poker Circuit, securing a substantial five-figure reward and clinching his inaugural WSOPC gold ring. Over four years after that triumph, Barrientos, hailing from Wichita, KS, made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle, outlasting a competitive field of 397 participants to seize victory in the 2023 WSOP Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa $1,700 no-limit hold’em main event.

Mark Barrientos walked away with the champion’s title, a second gold ring, and a cash prize of $126,900. This victory also propelled him to accumulate 600 Card Player Player of the Year points.

Reflecting on his success, Mark Barrientos shared with WSOP reporters, “The significance of the first ring was immense. I felt the need to prove myself as many individuals teased me due to it being a turbo tournament. This triumph feels even more satisfying, as I believe my performance throughout this event was more skillful.”

Remarkably, this marked Barrientos’ inaugural six-figure win, elevating his total earnings to $163,106, with a substantial portion of his winnings originating from the WSOP Circuit.

The prize pool for this tournament totaled $601,455 and was distributed among the top 60 participants. Noteworthy participants who made significant progress included bracelet holder Jordan Morgan (53rd), the 2017 victor of this event, Will Berry (39th), bracelet holder Bryan Campanello (15th), and Kasey Mills (12th), who secured fifth place in a previous WSOPC main event at the same venue earlier in the spring.

The final phase of the tournament commenced with only seven players remaining following Angela Jordison’s exit late on day 2, as her pocket fives succumbed to Barrientos’ ace-king in a preflop race.

Lionel Jiang started the last day in the lead and further bolstered his position by eliminating Mark Martin (7th – $18,065). James Stone then tallied two eliminations, ousting Tomas Teran (6th – $23,519) and Wayne Nicholsen (5th – $31,087), narrowing the field down to four contenders.

Subsequently, Stone found himself heading to the sidelines (4th – $41,707) after his pocket eights fell to Jiang’s pocket queens. Barrientos subsequently constructed a hand of aces up against Brent Gregory’s tens up. With all chips in play by the river, Gregory’s journey concluded in third place ($56,785).

Jiang commenced the heads-up showdown with the lead, yet Barrientos gradually surged ahead. As time progressed, Mark Barrientos managed to distance himself, ultimately sealing his triumph in the final hand. In this pivotal moment, Jiang pushed all-in from the button with 6♥ 2♥, and Barrientos made the call with K♦ 2♦. The board unfolded as K♣ J♠ 8♣ 3♥ J♦, solidifying Barrientos’ victory. Jiang earned $78,440 as the commendable runner-up.

WSOPC Tulsa Final Table Results

The fourth installment of PokerGO’s High Stakes Duel took place on Thursday night in Las Vegas, featuring a head-to-head showdown between Daniel Negreanu and Doug Polk, both high-stakes players who were once fierce rivals. Despite their previous conflicts, they came together for a $100,000 buy-in winner-takes-all match, signaling a truce in their feud. However, the competition remained intense as they vied for the $200,000 prize in the High Stakes Duel.

The match lasted around three hours, with a pivotal moment occurring early on when Daniel Negreanu contemplated a critical call that could have ended the game within just 15 minutes. Facing a crucial decision with ASpade Suit JDiamond Suit and a board showing ADiamond Suit 7Club Suit 3Club Suit KSpade Suit 2Club Suit, Negreanu ultimately folded to Polk’s 5Club Suit 4Club Suit, which turned out to be a rivered flush.

Despite initially falling behind 2:1, Daniel Negreanu managed to gain the upper hand by flopping the best possible hand (the nuts) with AClub Suit JClub Suit on a board of 10Club Suit 8Club Suit 4Club Suit 2Spade Suit 7Diamond Suit. Polk, holding KClub Suit 3Diamond Suit, lost a significant portion of his stack by aggressively betting on all three streets in pursuit of his missed flush draw.

In the final hand, Polk once again employed an aggressive strategy, firing bets on all three streets with 9Spade Suit 7Spade Suit on a board displaying KClub Suit 8Diamond Suit 6Club Suit AHeart Suit QClub Suit. Negreanu saw through the bluff and made the call with ADiamond Suit 10Heart Suit, clinching the last pot of the evening.

Daniel Negreanu expressed the challenge of playing against Polk, noting his opponent’s willingness to put him in difficult situations. He acknowledged that making tough calls, like the one in the final hand, is part of the game.

Following his victory in a previous match against casino owner Eric Persson, where they each put up $50,000, Negreanu faced the choice of cashing out with a $150,000 profit or participating in a higher-stakes $200,000 buy-in match. Ultimately, Negreanu decided to opt out, declaring, “I’m done.” He secured the championship belt and stated his willingness to defend it in the future, should challengers arise.

With this win, Daniel Negreanu became the second player in the show’s history to achieve multiple victories, elevating his record to 2-3. Notable players such as Tom Dwan, Jason Koon, and Phil Hellmuth also boast respective records of 1-1, 1-0, and an impressive 9-2.

Seonguk Huh emerged victorious in the World Poker Tour Prime main event held in Taiwan, which was co-hosted by the WPT and the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association. The South Korean poker player clinched his inaugural WPT Prime title, securing the substantial $197,741 top prize. This marked the most substantial cash he had ever earned in his poker tournament career. As an additional reward, Seonguk Huh was granted a $10,400 entry to the WPT World Championship scheduled for December at Wynn Las Vegas.

The no-limit hold’em tournament, featuring a buy-in of NT$33,000 ($1,064 USD), attracted an impressive participation of 1,359 entries across three starting flights. This turnout set a new record for the largest field in any WPT Prime main event. Among them, the top 173 players all secured at least $821 in prize money from the total prize pool of $1,237,387, surpassing the guaranteed $1 million. Notable eliminations on the journey to the final table included WPT Beijing champion Pete Chen (94th) and former WPT Prime Cambodia champion David Erquiaga (161st).

During the final table, comprising players from six different countries, Seonguk Huh commenced play with a favorable chip count. He swiftly demonstrated his prowess by eliminating Guillem Segura in ninth place, thus propelling himself up the leaderboard. Huh continued his successful streak by sending Feng Wen Chen to the rail in eighth place. The trend continued as he ousted Dongkyu Kim in sixth place, and later played a pivotal role in eliminating Jacky Wang in fourth place. By this point, Seonguk Huh commanded a significant majority of the chips in play.

Advancing to the heads-up finale against Yannick Leonard, Seonguk Huh held a nearly 4:1 chip lead after dispatching Seung Hun Ko to the third-place finish. The heads-up match concluded in less than thirty minutes as Huh dominated every showdown pot on his route to victory. In the final hand, Leonard pushed all in with a King of Spades and Jack of Clubs, while Huh revealed an Ace of Clubs and King of Diamonds. The board displayed King of Hearts, 8 of Spades, 3 of Diamonds, Ace of Diamonds, and 2 of Diamonds, sealing Leonard’s fate in second place with a prize of $131,790. This marked a substantial achievement for the Frenchman, representing his deepest run in a tournament of this magnitude.

WPT Prime Taiwan Main Event Final Table Results

Join us on the evening of Wednesday, September 9th, to partake in a delightful blend of entertainment, cuisine, fashion, and cards, all in support of a meaningful cause.

The enchanting Viva St. Jude Charity Series of Poker gathering is set to unfold at the Rose Rooftop, nestled within Resorts World Las Vegas. The event’s proceeds will be directed towards benefiting the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, contributing to their noble mission. As you mingle amidst the event’s elegance, relish in a premium open bar, live performances that captivate, and an exquisite live auction. Anticipate an unparalleled dining experience, all the while being immersed in the latest creations of the renowned designer, Anne Fontaine.

Post-dinner, an exclusive turbo poker tournament awaits, providing you the extraordinary opportunity to engage in a face-off with the illustrious Poker Hall of Famer, Daniel Negreanu. Luring you with a plethora of rewards and bounties, including a coveted $10,000 seat in the prestigious 2024 World Series of Poker main event, this tournament promises excitement.

You have the choice of acquiring a comprehensive poker and dinner package for $400. Alternatively, indulge in the dinner alone for $300, or partake in the poker contest alone for $200. Should you desire to extend your involvement, rebuys and add-ons within the tournament can be obtained at $100 each.

This September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The inception of St. Jude Children’s Hospital dates back to 1962, a pivotal year that heralded transformative treatments. These innovations have remarkably elevated the survival rate for childhood cancer from a mere 20% to an inspiring 80% and beyond.

The Charity Series of Poker, initiated in 2014 by poker maestro Matt Stout, stands as a non-profit entity dedicated to orchestrating and promoting benevolent poker tournaments and events. Through these initiatives, funds are raised, and awareness is kindled for causes and organizations deserving of support. For further details and to secure your event tickets, we invite you to explore the CSOP website.