2017 Cash Game Festival Gibraltar
Day 1 Started
2017 Cash Game Festival Gibraltar
2017 Cash Game Festival Gibraltar
Day: 1
The 2017 Cash Game Festival Gibraltar Is About to Begin
Following three successful stops this year in London, Nova Gorica, Slovenia and Tallinn, the Cash Game Festival is about to kick off its fourth stop of 2017 at Sunborn Casino in Gibraltar for five days of nonstop cash game poker on May 17-21.
Sunborn Casino is located on a seven-story yacht which acts as a hotel and casino. The festival will take place in the downstairs ballroom, which will host more than 10 tables simultaneously.
Most of the tables will likely be no-limit hold'em and pot-limit Omaha, any game requested will be catered to by the festival's organizers and casino's staff.
Past festivals have included super dealer's choice where any game goes, open-face Chinese Poker, Sviten Special (also known as Drawmaha) and variations of super stud high-low which have included wild cards. There have even been games played where players put cards on their heads and can only see their opponents' cards and not their own.
Additionally, there will be a handful of players attending the festival thanks to Cash Game Festival VIP packages they won online at Betsafe and Guts.
Each day, Brandon Allen will host the two televised feature tables and players will also have plenty of opportunities to enjoy themselves away from the poker tables with plenty of fun activities planned by the festival organizers. Early today, many players have been witnessed around both Gibraltar and the border towns in Spain enjoying the almost perfect weather with some sharing they are anxious to play poker later in the day.
The Cash Game Festival Gibraltar officially kicks off at 5:30 p.m. CEST (4:30 p.m. BST) with welcome drinks inside the poker room. Shortly afterward, the first of two daily televised tables start at 5:40 p.m. CEST (4:40 p.m. BST) and will be streamed on a 20-minute delay with stakes at £1/£2 no-limit hold'em on the Cash Game Festival Twitch channel as well as will be broadcasted across multiple media outlets including PokerNews.
The stakes are planned to go up to £5/£5 no-limit hold'em for the second feature table later in the day. This table will also be broadcasted on a 20-minute delay at 8:40 p.m. CEST (7:40 p.m. BST).
There are plenty of other activities planned for the players that won packages to the event and players purchasing the hospitality package including a dolphin and whale sightseeing boat trip, a city tour, a world-class dinner and a VIP party.
Stay tuned as the PokerNews Live Reporting team will be covering the festival with player interviews and recaps each day during the festival.
Feature Table Being Set-Up
A few dozen players are still enjoying welcome drinks after Cash Game Festival project Manager Andro Loos spoke to the crowd and introduced Casino Manager at Sunborn Casino Georg Tsnoulis, who also welcomed the crowd.
A few of those players are scheduled to be on the early feature table, which will be delayed for about 10 minutes while still being set-up.
Pictures from the welcome drinks ceremony will be shared later in today's coverage.
Feature Table Bios
The first feature table hosted by Brandon Allen is about to be live on the Cash Game Festival Twitch channel and in our PokerNews coverage under the Live Streaming tab.
Here is a look at some of the players:
A huge contingent of Estonian players made their way to Gibraltar after a very successful Cash Game Festival in Tallinn at the end of April. In Seat 2 is one player from this Baltic country who asked to be referred to as Ott. He shared his favorite hand is pocket aces and that he is a bit nervous about appearing on the feature table despite this not being his first time.
Anthony Hernandez, a junior accountant living in Gibraltar, is in Seat 3. Like Ott, his favorite hand is pocket aces, however, unlike his neighbor at the table he stated he was not nervous even though this was his first time on a televised feature table.
Lithuania's Robertas, in Seat 4, also made the trip to Gibraltar after enjoying the previous stop at the Cash Game Festival in Tallinn. His favorite hand is ace-king of diamonds.
United Kingdom's Dom, in Seat 5, is a trader for BetVictor. This is his first televised appearance on a feature table. He explained he was not nervous and this might be due to him playing poker for more than seven years.
Nicholas Rumbo, in Seat 6, is a customs officer in Gibraltar. Not getting premium hands doesn't scare Rumbo as he shared is favorite hands are suited connectors such as ten-nine of diamonds.
Germany's Marcel Schütt, who now lives in Gibraltar is in Seat 7. He shared his biggest achievements in poker came in online and live tournaments. "I won a $3.30 NLH re-buy tourney with over 7,000 players on PokerStars for over $12,000 back in 2010 and managed to come fourth in it again about four weeks later, for another $4,000," explained Schütt. "More recently I took down the Super Stack Gibraltar in January for £5,000."
"I Am Amazing at Sviten Special!"
Sviten Special, otherwise known as drawmaha, has been present at every Cash Game Festival since PokerNews began coverage of the festival when it embarked on its international tour last year.
While it might not be a surprise that it has made its return once again during this festival, it is the first time that it was the first side table opened with the stakes at £2/£2.
Interest in the game began with Betsafe Head of Poker Michael Robinson who fell in love with the game after getting his first taste during the Cash Game Festival London in February. He has reportedly been practicing with friends and been eagerly anticipating him being able to play during this Cash Game Festival.
Also at the table are Cash Game Festival co-founder Martin "Franke" von Zweigbergk and Cash Game Festival CEO Andreas Roseborg.
Franke has won several tournaments playing Sviten Special in the past, however, he is also notorious for creating action both with his infectious laugh and through his play. Franke is feeling good and is off to an early good start picking up several pots. He proudly shared with PokerNews that, "I am amazing at Sviten Special!"
Also on the table are players from Scotland (living in Gibraltar) and England (was previously at CGF London playing Sviten Special and other games)
Michael Michelin Joins the Feature Table
Senior Operations Manager at iPoker Michael Michelin has just joined the £1/£2 no-limit hold'em feature table. Michelin has been to many Cash Game Festivals in the past, however, this is his first one of 2017.
Joining Brandon Allen in the booth is long-time Cash Game Festival Twitch listener John Garrett. We plan to catch up with Garrett during the festival about his experience.
Peter La Terra Slept the Entire Way to Cash Game Festival Gibraltar
Just heading into Sunborn Casino is Cash Game Festival Peter La Terra.
La Terra is an avid poker player, playing at card rooms in Sweden when he isn't traveling for a game. He immediately grabbed a beer while saying hello to some familiar faces.
He peeked in on the Sviten Special table and placed his name first on the waiting list. However, after it appeared that none of the players were about to give up their spot on the table anytime soon, he opted to play on a £1/£3 no-limit hold'em table that opened about 15 minutes ago.
Poker Player Photos From Day 1
Two Fun Competitions for Cash Game Festival Malta Packages and More
The Cash Game Festival and Sunborn Casino are hosting two fun competitions during the festival.
Players receive a 25 play chip every hour on the hour that can be used on play money roulette and blackjack tables located in between the poker tables and a bar. Players can combine chips with other players.
The top five players in chips during the two competitions (May 17 at 5 p.m. to May 19 at 4 a.m. and May 19 at 5 a.m. to May 22 at 4 a.m.) will walk away with prizes. The winner during each competition will be awarded a Cash Game Festival Malta package that includes free hotel, the hospitality package and €500 in cash to be used on the poker tables.
The Cash Game Festival Malta takes place from June 14-18 and you can get more information on the Cash Game Festival website.
The top five players during each of the two competitions receive the following prizes:
- Cash Game Festival Malta package including hotel, hospitality package and €500 stake.
- Cash Game Festival Malta TV table stake valued at €500.
- Cash Game Festival Malta hospitality packages for two people valued at €400.
- Cash Game Festival Malta TV table stake valued at €200.
- Free beer, soda or juice at the Sunborn Casino Bar valued at €5.
Michael Robinson Loves Franke's Money
Cash Game Festival co-founder Martin "Franke" von Zweigbergk's early start to the Sviten Special table has fizzled and is now down a few bucks. It probably doesn't help matters that Peter La Terra just sat next to him.
Franke's loss is someone else's gain. In this case it seems that Betsafe Head of Poker Michael Robinson has taken the most advantage and appreciates having Franke on the table.
Robinson posted on Facebook that he is "Three buy-ins up. Martin "Franke" von Zweigbergk money - the best sort."
Robinson bought in for €100, so three buy-ins currently give him a quick profit of €300. Sviten Special is a swingy game and as Franke can attest to, profit isn't booked until one steps away from the table.