In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.
2022 Poker Hall of Fame nominees are in
While tournament awards and seven figure scores denote huge success within the industry, making the esteemed Poker Hall of Fame remains to be the most prestigious attainment of all. Since the list’s debut in 1979, a total of 60 well-known individuals have been inducted, 32 of which are still living and will cast their vote on who will join the likes of Phil Ivey, Stu Ungar, Chris Moneymaker, and Phil Hellmuth for this year.
2021’s round of nominees saw longtime Israeli pro Eli Elezra make the final cut as the 59th member of the regarded club. Listed below are the eleven nominations as World Series of Poker made the official announcement to close the month of June.
2022 Poker Hall of Fame Nominees
- Josh Arieh
- Layne Flack
- Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier
- Kathy Liebert
- Mike Matusow
- Lon McEachern & Norman Chad
- Michael Mizrachi
- Brian Rast
- Matt Savage
- Isai Scheinberg
Eight of the candidates have already been nominated previously with newcomers four-time WSOP bracelet winner, Josh Arieh, and Las Vegas residents Kathy Liebert and Brian Rast making this year’s addition. Traditionally, one or two members are elected annually and is set to be announced in tandem with the final table of the Main Event at Bally’s & Paris Las Vegas on July 10th.
Partypoker launches All-in Cashout feature
Going on a downswing is probably a poker player’s worst nightmare with a run of bad luck seemingly endless at times. Good thing for users on the partypoker platform as the client recently introduced a fresh way to reduce variance and keep those bankrolls in essentially good condition. The fourth site to launch a feature similar to partypoker’s All-in Cashout gives players the option to lock in their profits instantly based on the current odds.
Available after the flop, the insurance feature doesn’t come free and charges a minimal 1% fee for the instant payout. If the player chooses to go via the traditional route, an option to run it twice is still available should they wish. The new All-in Cashout is currently offered in No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha, Cash and Fast Forward games.
“We are excited to introduce this new feature to our cash games and fastforward tables,” said Vadim Soloveychik, Director at partypoker. “Having the option to hedge the risk of a bad beat when all-in will hopefully give some players more piece of mind while making bold moves, which will add more thrill to the game for all players.”
888poker hosts The Festival Online
Another series hitting your way, The Festival is making a run at the online poker scene with a 20-tournament schedule this coming July 7th through August 1st at none other than 888poker. The global site’s The Festival Online showcases a total of $750,000 in guaranteed prizes with buy-ins ranging from as low as $22 to its highest $525 High Roller events.
Four highlights (Opening Event, Texas Progressive KO, Texas 8-Max, and Main Event) post a six-figure prize pool with the biggest $150,000 guarantee featured by the latter. The $215 Main Event kicks off on July 31st with the completion of the final table scheduled for August 1st to be livestreamed on the 888pokerTV Twitch channel. Four Main Event feeders for as little as $1 are listed on schedule, awarding a total of 145 seats over the next three weeks for those keen on qualifying for cheap.
- 25 Seats GTD to The Festival Online Main Event – 7/7 @18:00 GMT – The Festival Online – Kickoff (Main Event Feeder) – $1 buy-in
- 30 Seats GTD to The Festival Online Main Event – 17/7 @19:00 GMT – The Festival Online – Main Event Feeder – $22 buy-in
- 40 Seats GTD to The Festival Online Main Event – 28/7 @19:00 GMT – The Festival Online – Main Event Feeder – $22 buy-in
- 50-Seat GTD The Festival Online Main Event Mega Sat – 31/7 @17:00 GMT – The Festival Online – Mega Sat – $22 buy-in
The Festival Online Schedule of Events
| Day | Tournament Name | Buy-in | Time (GMT) | GTD |
| Sunday 10/7 | The Festival Online – Opening Event NLH | $109 | 18:00 | $100,000 |
| The Festival Online – Opening High Roller | $525 | 18:30 | $40,000 | |
| The Festival Online – Opening Event PLO (8max) | $109 | 19:00 | $5,000 | |
| Tuesday 12/7 | The Festival Online – Texas Deepstack | $55 | 17:00 | $10,000 |
| The Festival Online – Snap | $33 | 19:00 | $5,000 | |
| Thursday 14/7 | The Festival Online – PLO Deepstack | $55 | 17:00 | $2,000 |
| The Festival Online – Texas 6-max | $160 | 18:00 | $15,000 | |
| Sunday 17/7 | The Festival Online – Texas Progressive KO | $109 | 18:00 | $100,000 |
| The Festival Online – Texas High Roller Progressive KO | $525 | 18:30 | $40,000 | |
| Tuesday 19/7 | The Festival Online – PLO 6-max | $55 | 18:00 | $2,000 |
| The Festival Online – 6-max Turbo PKO | $44 | 19:00 | $10,000 | |
| Thursday 21/7 | The Festival Online – Texas Lowroller | $22 | 17:00 | $10,000 |
| The Festival Online – Super KO | $109 | 18:00 | $12,000 | |
| Sunday 24/7 | The Festival Online – Texas 8-max | $109 | 18:00 | $100,000 |
| The Festival Online – Texas 8-Max High Roller | $525 | 18:30 | $40,000 | |
| The Festival Online – PLO Lowroller | $22 | 19:00 | $1,500 | |
| Tuesday 26/7 | The Festival Online – PKO 8-Max | $88 | 18:00 | $10,000 |
| The Festival Online – PLO Turbo | $33 | 19:00 | $1,500 | |
| Sunday 31/7 | The Festival Online – Main Event | $215 | 18:00 | $150,000 |
| The Festival Online – Texas High roller Finale | $525 | 18:30 | $50,000 | |
| Monday 1/8 | The Festival Online – Afterparty | $109 | 18:00 | $15,000 |
| The Festival Online – Main Event (Final Table) | N/A | 19:00 | $150,000 |
ACR boasts $10M in prizes for this July’s The Venom
Part of its 21st anniversary celebration, Americas Cardroom’s biggest summer tournament is back this July 21st for another round of its fan-favorite The Venom. This month’s festivities boasts a whopping $10,000,000 guarantee, tying it with the site’s largest tournament in history. Four qualifying flights for an entry fee of $2,650 each will run its course as the field plays down through four days of action to conclude on August 3rd.
Last edition’s champion saw Austria’s “BoBomb14” take home a $1.18M payout after outlasting the 3,782-entry field. While the February event’s ambitious $10M prize pool was roughly $545K short of meeting the guarantee, the Cardroom is confident this season’s iteration will see its most impressive turnout yet.
Tons of ways to secure a seat are available on the client for as low as $0. The Venom Fever runs daily satellites beginning on July 8th through the end of the month at different price ranges. Venom Blitz satellites and on demand Step and Skip Tournaments are also up 24/7 where players can make their way through nine levels of play for a coveted seat. Aside from these, the client’s MTT staking feature will likewise be applicable allowing interested runners to lower the cost and variance of playing in The Venom.
$10M The Venom Schedule
Day 1A – Thursday, July 21st, 1pm ET
Day 1B – Sunday, July 24th, 1pm ET
Day 1C – Thursday, July 28th, 1pm ET
Day 1D – Sunday, July 31st, 1pm ET
Day 2 – Monday, August 1st, 1pm ET (approx. 11 hours of play)
Day 3 – Tuesday, August 2nd, 1pm ET (plays down to FT)
Day 4 – Wednesday, August 3rd, 5pm ET (Final Table)
