Happiness and enjoyment was the theme of the day as we closed up shop on our first Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival at the fabulous Bellagio Las Vegas.
The final day of our festivals is always bittersweet, because we know it’s coming to an end, but it truly is a case of “don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy that it happened.” For many players who joined us this week, they really enjoyed it with multiple players logging over 40+ hours of play for the week.
We kicked off Day 5 of Mixed Game Festival VIII with two tables of $4/8 dealer’s choice action a couple hours ago.
Table #3 opening right now.
Don’t miss our final day, here at @BellagioPoker. pic.twitter.com/YcAdCnb9YN
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 20, 2024
Day 5 kicked off with a pair of $4/8 Dealer’s Choice tables running and it wasn’t long before a third opened up. And then there was the Chicago invasion.
Instant fourth table just walked in to @Bellagio to play in the @PokerLifeMedia Mixed Game Festival!
We’re going out with a smash today!#chicago pic.twitter.com/DHYGTUO4rW
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 21, 2024
A whole crew of folks from Chicagoland came in and, fortunately, there was a table and dealer available. Just like that, it was another four-table day at the ol’ Mixed Game Festival.
Turnouts and demand have been awesome all week long and this really threw an exclamation point on what’s been a phenomenally successful debut here at Bellagio.
Along with Mike Daniels rocking the social media coverage all week for Poker.Org, our poker media friends from other outlets have been a big part of the festival (as they always are), coming by to say hi and partake in the mixed game fun. Thursday they came in bulk; I mean look at these wonderful folks!
One of the things I love about my Mixed Game Festivals, is that so many of my awesome friends in poker media always so kindly come out to support the initiative.
Love you guys
Cc: @NICEANDSUNNY, @CGrantSport , @crichards1995, @Tim__Duckworth pic.twitter.com/UJe2rGJoK8
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 21, 2024
One of them truly made the most of his time with us as well, leading us to…
Moneymaker Tour $400 Seat Giveaway
Indeed, after grinding a ton of hours with us on Day 1, when he wasn’t covering the many tournament series around Las Vegas for PokerNews, Calum Grant was the final winner of a $400 side event seat to the upcoming Moneymaker Tour series at MGM Grand Las Vegas.
Our 5th & final @MoneymakerTour $400 seat winner is @CGrantSport.
He correctly guessed @CMONEYMAKER‘s middle name
Thanks to all our players for participating and of course to Chris, @MMTonyB and the Moneymaker Tour for their title sponsorship of Mixed Game Festival VIII
pic.twitter.com/A7paWa0JWR
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 21, 2024
Calum will join fellow poker media star Tim Duckworth, along with Thom Roholt, Rick Fuller, and Lawrence Chen in an event at that upcoming series thanks to the great folks at the Moneymaker Tour.
Speaking of which, look who joined us Thursday to splash around at our big ol’ celebration of kitchen table games: Moneymaker Tour Executive Manager, Tony Burns!
This ought to be interesting…Any help is appreciated!
#TeamMoney @MoneymakerTour pic.twitter.com/vAtPYZVpxh
— Tony Burns (@MMTonyB) June 20, 2024
We’ve got @MMTonyB in the house here on our final day of Mixed Game Festival VIII at @BellagioPoker.
Thanks @MoneymakerTour for being our title sponsor!
Final $400 seat being given away later today.
Come join us
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 20, 2024
The Moneymaker Tour makes its Las Vegas debut June 28-July 6 with a $1,700 buy-in $1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event along with nearly $300,000 in guarantees among a variety of side events.
This is a series you don’t want to miss if you’re already in or on your way to Las Vegas.
PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day
Our final PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day for Mixed Game Festival VIII certainly qualifies in the category of ‘who loves it more?’ I mean check out this license plate!
That baby is on the car of Christine Minx of Powell, Ohio, who flies out to Las Vegas specifically to play mixed games because they’re hard to find in her area unless you’re at her home game, which she wishes could run even more than it does.
“It’s not a very regular thing, because even among my friends it’s hard to get everybody together to play, so that’s why opportunities like this (the Mixed Game Festival) are great to find kindred spirits.”
Christine has been playing mixed games for over 17 years, dating back to the days of the Stardust, where she got her first taste of Las Vegas poker, playing 7 Card Stud games at that legendary venue.
“I was part of a website called AllVegasPoker and I was introduced to (mixed games) by the people there. It’s very exciting compared to Hold ‘em… and I love all the variations, and there seem to be new ones all the time.”
Not surprisingly, Christine says any variant involving Badugi is her favorite game in a mix, but she’s become a lover of all the games since that first foray into Stud many years ago.
As our final Player of the Day for this edition of the Mixed Game Festival, she echoes the sentiment of many of our players, saying that mixed games are well worth giving a try and explaining why you should come out for our next festival if you missed this one.
“I find it to be much more social, light-hearted, and friendly. It’s kind of fun to feel you’re part of kind of a niche group and community with some specific knowledge, and it’s just fun to try something new.”
Mixed Game Festival: Eight Isn’t Enough!
So yeah, that’s it, that’s all for another edition of the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival.
There’s no “closing ceremony” at the end of our @PokerLifeMedia Mixed Game Festivals… they just sort of “fade away”.
A player asked “if I’m tired and glad it’s over so I can rest”?
Are you kidding?
I could do this ad infinitum
Until next time, folks! Thank you
pic.twitter.com/uw9jZxWKa7
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 21, 2024
Huge thanks once again to our incredible partners and sponsors, the Moneymaker Tour, PokerCoaching.com, PokerGO, RunGoodGear, D&B Publishing, BBO Poker Tables, and Faded Spade playing cards, as well as to Bellagio Las Vegas and its wonderful dealers and staff for hosting and providing a top-notch experience.
So long for now, @BellagioPoker.
You’ve been an amazing Mixed Game Festival VIII venue throughout my 78 hours of play since noon Sunday.
New “personal best” 19 hours today and one of the most enjoyable all-nighters in my lifetime pantheon of poker sessions.#wholovesitmore pic.twitter.com/yRTf7QF5Rq
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 21, 2024
Above all, thank you to the players! Without you there’s no mixed game community, and there’s no Mixed Game Festival. We’re so grateful for your support through eight incredible series and for helping us grow bigger and better each time.
Next up for us? Stay tuned for details on Mixed Game Festival IX, coming to Las Vegas once again this November!
About The Author
