The landmark Mixed Game Festival X at Resorts World Las Vegas is officially in the books! Things came to a head on the final day, with a big $300 H.E.R.O.S. event that featured a handsome prize pool of $10,500 and loads of special prizes.
Tony Phan emerged as the ultimate hero, outlasting the other 41 players in the field to pick up $3,790 first place money, as well as a $750 seat to the PokerGO Tour Mixed Games satellite and a free 1-year subscription to Pokercoaching Premium.
The winner wasn’t the only one walking away with a smile on his face, though, as there were quite a few special prizes added to the mix.
Of course, the cash game action continued throughout the day, with two tables of $4/$8 going strong as players flocked to Resorts World to get in as many hours as possible before the official wrap-up.
Fun Tournament to Round Things Up
The second tournament on the Mixed Game Festival X schedule took place on Day 5, attracting a total of 42 entries. The $300 H.E.R.O.S. event gave players a chance to prove their tournament skills, but it also offered a lot of added value in the form of satellite tickets for the PGT Mixed Games event and added Pokercoaching.com yearly subscriptions.
The final $10,500 prize pool was distributed among the top seven finishers, with Tony Phan, the winner, claiming the lion’s share of it, plus one of those satellite tickets and a yearly Pokercoaching.com subscription.
Congratulations to Tony Phan, winner of our Mixed Game Festival X $300 HEROS event! 🏆
Tony wins $3,790 💰
Tony also wins a $750 seat to the @PokerGOTour Mixed Game satellite. 🛰️
Tony ALSO wins a 1-year membership to @PokerCoaching_, as the tournament’s final patch wearer. 📈 pic.twitter.com/aRuhbOM31g
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) February 21, 2025
However, players didn’t necessarily have to make the money to win a prize in yesterday’s event. The second PGT ticket was thrown in the mix as a mystery bounty, and players had a shot at it as they busted the tournament. Most players opened envelopes to see our founder Robbie Strazynski concentrating hard at the poker table, but one player got the smiling Robbie “mazel tov” wishes…
It was Eric Rivkin who managed to find the lucky envelope after busting in 11th place, so despite not making the money in the event, he secured a $750 satellite seat to the PokerGO Tour, which is certainly a very nice consolation prize.
Congratulations to Eric Rivkin, who just busted out $300 HEROS event at @PokerRoomRWLV and drew the winning bounty for a free $750 @PokerGOTour Mixed Games satellite seat 🥳 pic.twitter.com/4UXFfekICP
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) February 21, 2025
The tournament was the perfect way to wrap things up at the festival, with players having a lot of fun and picking up some extra prizes, keeping things in the spirit of the event. There is no doubt that everyone who spent some time at the tables over the past few days will be walking away with fond memories, eager to come back sooner rather than later.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Soshi Ya
During Mixed Game Festivals, players tend to come and go, but some are there for the long haul. Soshi Ya is certainly in the latter group, as he was here for all five days, playing cash games and both tournaments.
Soshi journeyed to Las Vegas all the way from Tokyo, Japan, after seeing a Twitter/X post announcing the Mixed Game Festival X. Now that’s what you call true dedication!
He’s been playing poker for 14 years, and although he humbly says that he doesn’t consider himself very good, it is the feeling that he gets when winning that keeps him coming back to the tables. He prefers mixed games, especially O/E (Omaha 8 / Stud 8 mix), over Hold’em, the game that he only plays if there is nothing else available.
While cash games aren’t allowed in Japan, Soshi manages to stay sharp by playing tournaments organized in amusement centers in Tokyo. This is important for him, as he’s the kind of player who learns by playing, and he prefers the hands-on experience over studying books and solvers.
He’s had a great time at the festival, and he says the next time, he’ll try to get some of his friends to come with him. As for his favorite part of it all, Soshi says he enjoyed the double-board Omaha “high high” the most, although it didn’t quite work out for him.
“I like double board!,” he says jokingly, “but it doesn’t like me.”
RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Klaus Bohr
Klaus Bohr is another dealer who has been with Resorts World from the very first day. Originally from Germany, Klaus came to Las Vegas in 2018 and, like so many living here, found a place in the gaming industry.
He was no stranger to poker when he arrived in Sin City, as he used to organize and deal tournaments back home in the city of Osnabruck. His knowledge was mostly limited to Hold’em, though, so he had to take a three-week course to learn how to deal other games, but all this came naturally to him.
His first professional experience in Las Vegas was with Planet Hollywood. After this, he spent some time working at a couple of different casinos, eventually landing at Resorts World when it opened, and he’s been a member of the team ever since.
In addition to his job as a dealer, Klaus loves to work with wood, crafting items like pens, kitchen appliances, and more. It started off as a hobby, but recently, he’s been taking it more seriously, looking to turn it into a profitable business.
Although he struggles to find time to play himself, he loves poker and everything that comes with the job, especially the opportunity to interact with players.
As for his favorite highlights during his three-and-a-half-year stint, he says that opportunities to deal in high stakes games with a couple of million on the table remain fresh in his memory. Beyond that, he explains that the entire team is great and easy to work with, the players are friendly, and he pretty much loves every aspect of his job.
Until Next Time, this summer in Las Vegas, at…
Another Mixed Game Festival has come to its end. Once again, the event demonstrated that you don’t need high stakes and huge prize pools to draw in a happy, fun-loving poker crowd.
Mixed Game Festival X is in the books!
Thanks to everyone who attended and made it so special here at @PokerRoomRWLV 🙏❤️
Until next time 🔥 pic.twitter.com/z3BwW6W8Hz
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) February 21, 2025
Poker has so much more to offer, giving players a chance to relax, get to know each other, and just enjoy the moment without stressing too much about the monetary aspect – and that’s what Mixed Game Festivals have been about from the very start.
As players disperse, it’s not as much of a goodbye as it is until the next time because plans are already in the works for a summer event. More details will be revealed… right now 🙂
*Our coverage of Mixed Game Festival X is brought to you, with much appreciation, courtesy of our presenting sponsor, the PokerGO Tour.
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