High-stakes poker players must be getting bored with low buy-in tournaments amidst the pandemic. Their live poker choices have been limited, as has been their ability to travel.
Las Vegas is open for business, though, and Aria is ready for high-stakes tournaments.
At the end of January, Aria welcomed a couple dozen players for the resurrection of its High Roller events. With many precautions in place and players willing to give it a go, the Las Vegas Strip casino hosted three High Rollers with $10K buy-ins.
Attendance was low, especially as compared to pre-pandemic times. But with reentries and the players’ desire to get back to their live high-stakes action, some players made it happen. And Dan Smith, Cary Katz, and Christopher Brewer walked away with titles.
Aria is ready for more.
End-of-February High Rollers
The next $10K buy-in tournaments will be on Thursday, February 25; Friday, February 26; and Saturday, February 27. Aria will host the events in its poker room, starting at 2pm each day.
The single-day events will offer rake-free action for those who register on time. Late registrants will pay a $500 fee along with their buy-ins, and all reentries will require a $500 fee. The rules will be the same as last month.
--Levels will play for 40 minutes each.--Breaks will occur after every two levels, with a dinner break after Level 6.--Late registration closes when Level 7 begins.--Shot clock will be set at 30 seconds.--Each player will receive six 30-second time extensions.--Final six players will receive six more 30-second time extensions.--Play begins with 7-handed tables.--Final table will play 8-handed.
These seem to be the new standard rules for the Aria High Rollers at this time.
https://twitter.com/PokerCentral/status/1361367208497209344?s=20
The staff in Aria’s poker room – indeed, the entire facility – must wear masks. Players must wear them at the tournament tables as well. “Players are encouraged to follow good hygiene practices.”
Encouragement is one thing, but Aria and parent MGM Resorts enforce strict rules relating to social distancing, mandatory masks, and employee precautions and training. It seems logical that the poker room will abide by the same protocols.
Streaming High Stakes Poker
The new Season 8 of High Stakes Poker continues to air on PokerGO, with new episodes every Wednesday. Players who want to watch their favorite high-stakes players compete in the biggest cash game around can tune in or catch past episodes on PokerGO.
This week, Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth joined High Stakes Poker for the first time since the series returned in 2020. Games played in the last months of 2020, and the first episodes debuted at the end of December.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYa_frFOMYQ
