The Party Poker Den Big Game is back once more, and this time it will run for 36 hours of continuous high stakes cash play.
Party Poker and Matchroom Sport issued a joint release to announce the upcoming “PartyPoker.com Poker Den: The Big Game III,” which will take place in London on September 30 and October 1st. A number of players from previous Poker Den Big Games have already confirmed their attendance, including Andrew Feldman, Brian Townsend, David “Devilfish” Ulliott, Jamie Gold, Kirk Morrison, Neil Channing, Robert Williamson III, Roland de Wolfe and recent headline maker Tony G, on the rebound from his recent Tiffany Michelle disappointment.
A number of fresh faces are also due to play the Big Game, including high-profile poker couple Jennifer Tilly and Phil Laak, last year’s WSOPE Main Event runner-up John Tabatabai and legendary show-stealer Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, who must be looking forward to giving Phil Hellmuth yet another tongue lashing on TV. Hellmuth – whose performance in the first Poker Den was described by Padraig Parkinson as “half murder, half suicide” – has not yet confirmed his assistance. Other big name players attending the Big Game include Anthony Hardy, Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, Jon Kalmar, Roberto Romanello and Sammy “Any Two” George.
Minimum buy-in for the Big Game will be $10,000; and word on the street says players will buy in for at least $50,000 a head. Blinds will start at $25/$50, but experience has shown that the pros soon want the stakes to increase. It will be up to tournament director ‘Mad’ Marty Wilson’s discretion to allow straddling or any other hijinks to make the game even more exciting. PartyPoker will also intervene to “pump up the action” with the PartyPot, a $1,000 bonus to be given out every hour on a selected hand.
The organizers – Matchroom Sport and Party Poker – are naturally looking forward to this exceptional poker event. Eddie Hearn, Head of Online Gaming at Matchroom Sport said “The Poker Den has come such a long way since we started it back in the summer of 2005 (…) We have seen some great action, fantastic banter between the players and some berating between players. The format has become one of the most popular amongst international broadcasters and with this series being 8 hours longer, some players have boasted that they can go the full 36 hours without a break – and that I can’t wait to see. ”
A PartyPoker.com spokesman was even more enthusiastic, declaring: “Viewers love the fine line between poker genius and complete madness it seems to bring out in the world’s top pros! The Den is a small intimate venue so we just hope it is big enough to accommodate their egos!”
Play by play commentary will be provided by Jesse May – who has vowed to cover all 36 hours straight – as well as several other pros. The Big Game will be broadcast on Five in the UK early next year and will then be distributed worldwide. Action can also be followed live on www.matchroompoker.com.
There were the Big Game everywhere you looked. It was only after the Big Game that I realized how little I actually knew about Party Poker and Matchroom Sport and A number. But had the Big Game finding it.
Your laughing commentator makes me change channels to anything else.