Poker Central has been very active in creating programming for its streaming network. Already broadcasting the World Poker Tour final tables and some of the World Series of Poker (much to some people’s distaste), Poker Central has also created the Super High Roller Bowl and the U. S. Poker Open. These “made for streaming” events are about to see some additions as Poker Central heads to London to attempt to spawn a franchise in the U. K.
British Poker Open, Super High Roller Bowl U. K. Coming to Town
In a deal signed with Aspers Casino and partypoker LIVE, Poker Central will bring their two linchpins of their broadcasting on PokerGO and put a European spin on them. From September 2-12, the British Poker Open will take to the stage in Aspers Casino. With buy ins ranging from £10,000 to £100,000, the ten-event series will mirror what has been done in the U. S. with the U. S. Poker Open (and it will have similar rules as to the shot clock and time extensions).
Once the ten-tournament series has wrapped up its action, some would say the REAL action will begin. The Super High Roller Bowl London will take place, once again in Aspers Casino, with a £250,000 buy in. The tournament will run from September 13-15 and will be capped at 49 players.
There will be distinct guidelines as to who can get into the tournament. Officials with the entities involved state that 30 seats will be “open,” meaning that anyone can get in (provided they pop the £25,000 fee as a deposit and can come up with the rest of the buy-in). The other 19 seats will be picked by Aspers Casino and Poker Central. If more than 30 players want the “open” seats, there will be a drawing to determine who will get into the tournament.
“After our expansion of the Super High Roller Bowl into Asia two years ago, we were able to see how international audiences responded positively, and the event’s prestige grew,” Sam Simmons, president of Poker Central, noted during the announcement of the new tournaments. “Bringing the Super High Roller Bowl and first British Poker Open to London is another milestone in our mission to highlight more players, venues, and destinations from around the world through live tournament streaming on PokerGO.”
Who Will Play in the Tournaments?
There is a laundry list of British and European pros who might be willing to take part in these events. Stephen Chidwick, who battled with U. S. Poker Open champion David Peters for the overall crown this year, is probably a dead set lock to be playing. There a few other British pros in the mix, including Talal Shakerchi, Jack Salter, Charlie Carrel, Chris Moorman and Niall Farrell.
A flood of players from France, Germany and Italy would also be up for the battle in London. 2019 WSOP Championship Event runner up Dario Sammartino would probably love a run at some of these tournaments, as would France’s Benjamin Pollak and Antoine Saout. Germany can send an entire squad of players to play in the event, including Rainer Kempe, Christoph Vogelsang, Dominik Nitsche, Ole Schemion and Steffen Sontheimer.
But will there be other players in the mix? Will U. S. pros such as the aforementioned Peters, Justin Bonomo, Bryn Kenney or Dan Smith be a part of the game? What about Canadian pros like Sam Greenwood, Timothy Adams or Sorel Mizzi? (It can be assumed that Daniel Negreanu, a dual Canadian/U. S. player with ties to Poker Central, will be a part of the field.) And will there be a flood of “unknown” players from the Asian arena (including Russia) who might decide to take their shot in this battleground? There’s plenty of questions about the new British Poker Open and the Super High Roller Bowl London and they will all be answered come September.
