I don’t think I’ve ever hated having to write and publish an article more than this one. I have very unfortunately had to make the decision to cancel Mixed Game Festival XIII.
For those who don’t know, I live in Israel. As of this writing, our skies are closed “indefinitely” due to the ongoing situation in this part of the world. British Airways cancelled my ticket almost immediately. Even our national carrier, El Al, which always flies (even during wartime), is not currently allowing people to purchase new tickets as it focuses its operations and resources on bringing citizens stranded abroad home to their families.
But the Show Must Go On, No?
As events have continued to unfold over the last 2+ days, I have been scrambling to try and make contingency plans, find substitute hosts, and envision Mixed Game Festival XIII continuing without me on-site. Throughout all that, and despite the incredible kindness and good intentions of many wonderful people who offered to step in and assist, a number of things just didn’t feel right.
If we attempt the aforementioned “Plan B” (or even “Plan C”, which would be cancelling Week 1 and waiting for further developments in order to make a decision re: Week 2), I’d be doing a disservice to our players, to Resorts World Las Vegas, and to our festival’s sponsors – Faded Spade, RunGoodGear, D&B Poker, and Pokercoaching.com. I always make a COMPLETE commitment to every event I put together. If I’m precluded – for whatever reason – from providing that FULL effort, it would be unfair (in my view) to everyone else involved who expects “Robbie’s Mixed Game Festival”.
Moreover, if the festival were to proceed without my being on-site, that would just add unnecessary stress to my life that I frankly don’t need more of while a war is waging here at home. Of course, added to all that would be the inescapable melancholy of watching my festival unfold from afar without being able to partake in all the fun.
When It Comes to Family, Poker Takes a Backseat
My wife, Miriam, has been unbelievably supportive throughout these last couple days. Multiple times, she said “Robbie, you should go” and has spent an inordinate amount of time kindly listening to me as I wavered back and forth in my decision-making while incessantly refreshing for updates about potential exit routes. “And you want to keep a good name and a good reputation with your sponsors, with Resorts World, and with the people who attend,” she added.
She said this, mind you, as we’re hearing dozens of sirens each day, as she, my kids, and I spent an inordinate amount of time together in our bomb shelter, including sleeping there.
But even if I could somehow manage to find a way out of Israel and make it to Las Vegas, the bottom line is that it would just be wrong to leave my family under these circumstances.
Believe it or not, I actually found myself in a similar situation just last summer during Mixed Game Festival XI. There’s an important difference though; last summer, I was already in Las Vegas when war suddenly broke out mid-festival. This time around, I’m home.
It’s one thing to be stranded; it’s another thing to “abandon ship”.
The Fallout Sucks
I feel horrible towards you guys, the players. So many of you made travel arrangements, booked hotels, took time off from work, and had other plans in place.
I feel horrible towards the Resorts World poker room staff. We’ve held eight past Mixed Game Festival there, and they’ve always been so wonderful and accommodating.
I feel horrible towards our sponsors. When sponsorships for anything in the poker industry are increasingly difficult to come by, you guys nonetheless stepped up and offered your full-throated support.
I’m so sorry, everyone.
For whatever it’s worth, I still want to encourage you all to patronize D&B Poker, Pokercoaching.com, RunGoodGear, and Faded Spade. They’re great companies in our industry. Please give them your business.
And if you don’t end up cancelling your Las Vegas travel plans, please stop by Resorts World to play some poker. Check PokerAtlas; you might even find a mixed game running.
Now What?
Make no mistake about it, running Mixed Game Festivals has become a significant part of my business. There’s a very real financial hit I’m taking by cancelling.
And, my Gd, do the hundreds of hours I’ve invested into organizing everything, making my own travel arrangements, and promoting the festival feel in retrospect like a MASSIVE exercise in futility.
But it’s OK.
My family and I will be OK. We’ll be together. We’ll ride out this war as a family. That’s what matters most.
No matter how hard they try to extinguish our flame, Am Yisrael Chai! 🇮🇱
I’ll end off on a resoundingly positive note: Gdwilling, Mixed Game Festival XIV will proceed as scheduled this summer. You can mark your calendars: May 31-June 11 at Bellagio Las Vegas. I hope to see you there!
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