Heading into Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XI, there were a couple of things we were pretty sure about: 1) Tables at Bellagio Las Vegas would be buzzing with action once more, and 2) Mori Eskandani, a Poker Hall of Famee and the PokerGO President, would be making an appearance.
The day delivered on both accounts. Action started at noon once more, and there were two or three tables going on at all times, with players trickling in and out of the room. Some were there for the long haul, while others would sit in for a couple of hours, perhaps waiting for their tournament to start or winding down after a long day on the WSOP grind.
As we hinted in the MGF XI Day 2 recap, there were a few small surprises for those in attendance as well. For instance, one lucky player picked up a quality two-deck setup from Faded Spade, which will undoubtedly make an appearance in some of their future home games.
Congrats to Brent!
He won a free two-deck setup of @FadedSpadeBrand cards here at Mixed Game Festival XI at @BellagioPoker for correctly guessing the home state of company founder @TomWheaton_ 😀
Do YOU guys know where Tom lives? pic.twitter.com/ujz0BjPt1V
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 10, 2025
Mori Eskandani’s First Appearance, Norman Chad Returns
All players who turned up yesterday were excited about the announced visit from Mori Eskandani, one of the true legends of the game. Mori has done wonders for televised poker and continues to do so as the President of PokerGO. He kindly took a short break from his busy schedule across the street producing the broadcasts at the World Series of Poker to splash around with us in the low-stakes mixed game streets at Bellagio.
Eskandani also took the opportunity to introduce a new poker variation to our players that he came up with himself. After all, what better place to do it than the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival?
As per Mori, the game — which is yet to be named — is “sort a combination of Texas Hold’em and Stud. Everyone is dealt two cards, followed by a round of betting. Then, the flop is dealt, and everyone gets another card dealt face up (so, it is two cards down, one card up, like in Stud). Another betting round follows. Finally, another card is dealt to all players, face-down, followed by the last betting round. Once the betting is done, there is a showdown, and the best five-card hand wins. Players can use as many or as few hole cards as they want, combining them with the three community cards to make the best hand possible.”
Mori wasn’t the only well-known face in the crowd yesterday, though, as Norman Chad made an appearance as well. The man known as the “voice of poker” was there to make some noise with his chips and deliver some good-natured ribbing that has become a Mixed Game Festival tradition.
I am at @PokerLifeMedia Mixed Game Festival XI with scammer Mori Eskandani and foreign visitor @cardplayerlife.
My chances of losing? 85%.
My chances of leaving with nothing left in my wallet? 95%. https://t.co/uG6h3vstnc
— Norman Chad (@NormanChad) June 10, 2025
Players who had the opportunity to sit and mix it up with the pair of poker legends exclaimed that the experience was nothing less than an absolute highlight. But don’t take it from us… take it from the players themselves! Here’s one glowing testimonial:
Feels wonderful to get this kind of positive feedback from our Mixed Game Festival players!
Thanks, Sean O’Hare, and thanks again @Eskandani and @NormanChad 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ak5k27qvmV
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 11, 2025
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Tara Dunn
Returning for another session after already attending the Mixed Game Festival the day prior, Tara Dunn is here primarily to learn about mixed games in a friendly environment, making her a perfect choice for the Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day.
Like so many others, she came to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker, something she’s been doing on and off for the past decade. At the moment, Tara’s favorite game is Pot Limit Omaha, especially the double-board variation, because there are so many potential combos to think about. She has been developing an interest in other mixed game formats, looking for opportunities to learn more and expand her poker horizons.
As a former professional athlete, it is the competitive element of the game that appeals to her the most. To her, “mixed games are all about connecting dots and outthinking your opponents. There are so many more things to pay attention to than in Hold’em, such as how people look at their cards and the way they bet, so it is a more exciting and engaging experience.”
Tara admits that she “still has a long way to go in terms of learning the rules and basics of all the different variants, but she certainly sees mixed game poker being an important part of her future poker efforts.”
When it comes to her dreams and aspirations about the game, besides the obvious desire to win the WSOP Main Event (which she realizes is a very tall order), Dunn mostly “wants to have fun and enjoy her time at the tables. As a serious recreational player, she has good bankroll management, primarily doing poker as a fun hobby.”
RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day: Aiden He
One of many dealers making sure things flow without a hitch at Bellagio Las Vegas is Aiden He, today’s RunGoodGear.com Dealer of the Day. Originally from the Bay Area, Aiden has been living in Las Vegas for the last couple of years.
He first came in touch with poker through his dealings with crypto. Many of his friends in that space loved playing the game, and he was a frequent guest at these home games.
After his crypto investments hit some unexpected bumps a few years back, he decided to pick up a job at a casino. He started as a chip runner, quickly advancing to a dealer position. Then, earlier this year, he applied for a job at Bellagio and got accepted.
Aiden describes his job at Bellagio as exciting because of the variety of the games and stakes on offer. As for his time away from the tables, he enjoys playing computer games like Counter-Strike and Minecraft.
What’s in Store for Mixed Game Festival XI Day 4?
While there are no big giveaways or special appearances officially on the books for Day 4 of the Mixed Game Festival XI, don’t let that discourage you from heading over to Bellagio. If we’ve learned anything from the first few days, it’s that you never know who might show up for some fun small stakes dealer’s choice action and a few laughs, even if they usually play stakes that are 10 or 20 times higher.
The action will kick off at noon once again, and there should be a few tables running right from the get-go. To make sure you have a seat, put your name on the wait-list, which is available every morning at the Bellagio Poker Room. You can do it in person or call 702-693-7291 ahead of start time.
