Day 3 of the 2017 Cash Game Festival Gibraltar at Sunborn Casino was a monumental success. A new record at the casino was set with eight cash games running simultaneously. Last night the new record was established with seven tables.
The action began to pick up after the VIP dinner was over and a few dozen players filed into the ballroom where the poker festival is taking place.
It was also another big day for Norway's Knut Rysstad who for the second time during the festival was the biggest winner during a feature table booking a profit of nearly £400 in £1/£2 no-limit hold'em. There are still two days left for him to tie or beat the record of accomplishing this three times with Italy's Federico Drassich, who accomplished this feat during the 2017 Cash Game Festival Slovenia.
For the first time during the Cash Game Festival that we can remember, "ROE" or "round of each" was introduced where a round of pot-limit Omaha is followed by a round of no-limit hold'em. Other games that took place today included pot-limit Omaha, open-face Chinese poker and of course no-limit hold'em.
Tomorrow will be a huge day both on and off the felt. Earlier in the day, there will be a pool party on the seventh and top floor of the yacht where the casino and hotel are located. Later in the evening will be a high-energy VIP party.
Stay tuned at PokerNews as we bring you the biggest and best highlights of the 2017 Cash Game Festival Gibraltar.
Norway's Knut Rysstad living in Spain near the Gibraltar border won almost £400 on the late stream and was the biggest winner. This was the second time this festival he was the biggest winner on the feature table. The record for the most times someone has been the biggest winner at a feature table was accomplished by Italy's Federico Drassich who was the biggest winner on three separate occasions during the Cash Game Festival Slovenia in March.
Rysstad shared that he was out until the sun was up last night. His energy level may have been affect, but he was still able to do damage on the felt.
The Cash Game Festival just made history for Sunborn Casino again. A £1/£2 no-limit hold'em table just opened bringing the total number of tables up to eight.
There is a good chance the record will extend further and we will keep you up to date. Here is a look at all of the tables in action.
A £2/£2 pot-limit Omaha table just opened. The Sunborn Casino record that was established last night with seven cash tables running simultaneously was just tied.
The later televised feature table just kicked off with stakes at £1/£2 no-limit hold'em. You can check out the action on the Cash Game Festival Twitch channel and here at PokerNews under the Live Streaming tab.
Norwegian football scout Martin Lunde is in Seat 1. He shared he was playing poker since before he was a teenager with friends and now is a seasoned veteran appearing on four televised tables. Just recently he made it to Day 3 of the PokerStars Championship Monte Carlo Main Event.
British content manager Chris Vaughan is in Seat 2 and loves suited gappers especially ten-eight of spades.
Norway's Knut Rysstad living near Gibraltar is making his second appearance on a feature table this festival in Seat 3. He had a good run on yesterday's later table but shared he gave a bit back after the stream was over to his opponents. He is hoping for better luck today.
Oscar is in Seat 4 followed by Daniel Fox who was one of the big winners on the early feature table in Seat 5.
One seat over in Seat 6 is Eyal Narkiss who described himself as an executive game producer. He said his country of origin or where he lives is "complicated." Narkiss seems to have an excellent sense of humor as he shared his biggest poker achievement was not losing all of his money and joked, "What was the question again?" when asked if he was nervous.
Germany's Marcel Schütt living in Gibraltar is making his second return to the feature table in Seat 7 and Dom who appeared on the earlier televised table and was one of the big winners on the televised tables on Day 1 is in Seat 8.
John Garratt followed the Cash Game Festival on Twitter during the Cash Game Festival London in February and got curious what it was all about. Shortly afterward, he checked out the stream on Twitch and was hooked. He liked what he saw and eventually began chatting with Cash Game Festival commentator Brandon Allen under his handle 127gazza.
"It was something different I haven't seen before," said Garratt about why his interest peeked about the Cash Game Festival. "Obviously, the standard festival is tournaments. This is the only one I have seen that is only cash games and popped out as something different."
"I found out on the schedule that Gibraltar was coming up and asked Brandon if I could pop down and he invited me to join him on the stream," said Garratt.
Now that Garratt has seen things first hand, he likes what he has seen even more.
"I think it is a great idea," Garratt said about the Cash Game Festival. "It is kind of nice that you are guaranteed a seat when you show up. At some casinos, there might not be a table open or a seat free and wait a few hours. It is good to know you can register ahead of time and show up and be guaranteed a seat."
Garratt appeared on the televised feature table for the first time ever. He shared before the stream he was a little nervous, but after a few 'free' drinks his nervousness turned into aggression.
"It was a good laugh," said Garratt. "I was kind of worried that maybe the cameras would make the dynamic a little nervous for me. I enjoyed myself and kind of enjoyed the free beer for appearing on the table. I wish I won money instead of lost money. Perhaps I was a little too aggressive."
The £1/£2 no-limit feature table just kicked off. You can check out the action on the Cash Game Festival Twitch channel and here at PokerNews under the Live Streaming tab.
As a special surprise, Betsafe Ambassador Monika Zukowicz will be joining the commentary booth as a cohost.
BetVictor trader Dom is in Seat 1. He was the biggest winner of all the players appearing on the Day 1 feature tables. He is hoping for some similar success today.
United Kingdom's Ryan Davey is in Seat 2. He not only was the biggest winner on the early feature table on Day 2, but also appeared in the commentary booth to give an assist to Cash Game Festival commentator Brandon Allen.
Norway's Frode Alnes appears in Seat 3 and has been playing poker for more than two decades. His shared his favorite hand is eight-seven. It looks even better when suited.
John Garratt, in Seat 4, is normally watching the Cash Game Festival stream and gave the commentary booth a try on Day 1. He is now going for a third angle as he will appear on the feature table for the first time as a player.
Sweden's Niklas Blomqvist, in Seat 5, is not only a Cash Game Festival veteran but also has appeared on dozens of feature tables in his poker career. He is a postman by day and tries to supplement his income on the poker felt.
Swimming teacher Mike Scott is in Seat 6. His favorite hand is ten-eight. He is not nervous despite this being his first feature table experience.
Ireland's Daniel Fox is in Seat 7. He shared his biggest achievement in poker was, "Running the national student poker championships in Ireland for two years."
Rounding things off in Seat 8 is a player simply referred to as Freddy.
Welcome to Day 3 of the 2017 Cash Game Festival Gibraltar at Sunborn Casino.
Many of the players are starting the day by enjoying the perfect weather and taking in the sites and sounds of Gibraltar and Spain.
By the time the second feature table ended a casino record was set with six tables. Unlike many other casinos where the action levels off and begins to wane at around midnight, in Gibraltar the action continues to grow.
At around 2 a.m. the record was broken with seven full tables running simultaneously after a second Sviten Special table opening. Festival organizers believe this record won't stand long as they believe it will be eclipsed on Day 3.
Among the many tables expected to run today will be two televised feature tables hosted by Cash Game Festival commentator Brandon Allen. The first table will be a fun £1/£2 no-limit hold'em game at 5:40 p.m. CEST on a 20-minute delay. The stakes are planned to increase to £2/£5 no-limit hold'em for the later televised table at 8:40 CEST on a 20-minute delay.
You can check out all the action on the Cash Game Festival Twitch channel and across multiple media outlets including PokerNews by heading to the Live Streaming tab after coverage is live.
Players with the hospitality package were treated to a whale and dolphin watching boat tour. Today's activity away from the poker tables should satisfy a difference sense for VIP players as at 7:30 p.m. they will head a world-class dinner on the seventh and top floor of the yacht which houses the casino and hotel. The tailor-made dinner will obviously also include drinks and is timed to coincide with the sunset from one of the highest points on the peninsula without being on top of "the rock" itself.
Stay tuned at PokerNews as we report on the highlights of Day 3 of 2017 Cash Game Festival Gibraltar along with interviews including with Betsafe Ambassador Monika Zukowicz.
