PokerStars Unveils New Mystery Cash Challenge with All-Star Lineup

September 08, 2023

Get ready for an exciting combination of high-stakes poker cash games and the thrill of mystery bounty tournaments as PokerStars has unleashed its latest creation - the PokerStars Mystery Cash Challenge.

The first episode will be released on Saturday, September 9 at 3 p.m. CEST on PokerStars' Central and UK YouTube channel. Brazilian audiences will also be able to watch along but will need to wait until the following day, as the first episode goes live at 8 p.m. CEST on September 10 on the platform's Brazilian Youtube channel.

This innovative format delivers a poker spectacle not seen for quite some time.

Botez Headlines Lineup

To ensure the Mystery Cash Challenge kicks off with a bang, PokerStars has assembled an impressive lineup of poker pros and personalities. Among those ready to embrace this new challenge is chess superstar Alexandra Botez.

Botez is no stranger to the PokerStars stage, having clinched victory at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure earlier this year, where she secured her first PokerStars trophy and a cool $10,815 in winnings. Now, she's back to take on the Mystery Cash Challenge.

Joining her are seasoned PokerStars commentators Griffin Benger and Maria Ho, along with Team Pros Sam Grafton and Parker "Tonkaaaa" Talbot. Adding an international flavor to the mix, Brazilian poker crusher Fabiano Kovalski will also be in action.

James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton will be in the commentator's booth, ready to provide their signature blend of humor and insight as the drama unfolds.

"Poker More Accessible Than Chess," says Twitch Streamer Alexandra Botez

Unraveling the Mystery Cash Challenge

At first glance, the Mystery Cash Challenge appears to be your typical No-Limit Hold'em cash game, but there are significant twists that set it apart from the ordinary. The game starts with a €25/€50 pot-limit pre-flop, transitioning into a no-limit structure post-flop, which is the same format that the popular show The Big Game used to follow. In simple terms, players can bet an amount up to the current pot size before the flop, but once the flop is dealt, it's a no-holds-barred showdown.

The game unfolds over six rounds, each consisting of 10 hands. The first nine hands serve as a qualification phase. To be eligible for the tenth and final hand of the round - known as the bomb pot - players must emerge victorious in at least one of these nine pots.

During the bomb pot, the player who has won the most pots leading up to it will receive the much sought-after button. In the event of a tie, the player who most recently won a pot will claim the button.

But that's not all; there's an exciting Bonus Prize in the mix, ensuring that every hand and pot matters.

Sam Grafton: The Five And a Half Million Dollar Man

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