After all the excitement we saw on Day 5 of Mixed Game Festival XIV, including the Pokercoaching.com Meet-Up Game, appearances by Lon McEachern and Norman Chad, and an $800 HORSE tournament seat giveaway, there was a short break in action over the weekend.
By all accounts, that two-day break was perfectly timed, as players turned out en masse for the Day 6 action on Sunday, creating the busiest day of the festival so far. There were four tables going from the very start, with an unprecedented FIFTH(!) one opening within an hour.
There is no doubt that it was the allure of mixed games that attracted players to Bellagio, first and foremost, but the fact that there was another major giveaway in the cards certainly helped. One player would walk away with a $3,500 seat in the 2026 BetMGM Poker Championship, and that’s kind of added value you don’t find every day on The Strip.
By the time of the giveaway, there were three $4/$8 and two $6/$12 games going, and the atmosphere in the room was simply electrifying. But, unlike the first time, this time around, it wasn’t just luck that would determine the winner. Instead, the players’ knowledge of the game they so love was put to the test.
Poker Trivia Takes Center Stage at Bellagio
When the moment came, there was a random table and seat draw for the ticket giveaway. Whoever was occupying the seat drawn would have to answer three poker trivia questions correctly to claim the Championship ticket.
We have FIVE dealer’s choice mix tables running here on Day 6 of Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker!
Three $4/8s and two $6/12s!
Major $3500 @BetMGMPoker Championship seat giveaway happening soon. 💰
To say it’s an exciting day would be a major understatement. 🥳 pic.twitter.com/WrU1gnWzfP
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 7, 2026
The first draw did not produce a winner, as the player who was picked unfortunately stumbled on the very first question and couldn’t produce the correct answer. He received a consolation prize in the form of a RunGoodGear Mixed Game Festival T-shirt, but the grand prize remained up for grabs.
Table and seat cards were then reshuffled, there was a new draw, and, this time around, it was Barry H. from Manhattan in the hot seat. Barry demonstrated a high level of poker and MGF trivia knowledge, as he correctly answered three multiple-choice questions in a row, bagging himself a $3,500 entry into the upcoming BetMGM Poker Championship. He’s pictured in the winner’s photo above, alongside festival host Robbie Strazynski and Bellagio Poker Director Craig Larson.
Even with the giveaway done and dusted, the action continued strong at the Bellagio, as everyone was having a lot of fun and was in no rush to leave the premises. The mixed games continued across five tables for a whopping 10 hours, and even as the clock struck midnight, there were still three games going.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Jeremy Privett
A math and US history teacher hailing from north Alabama, Jeremy Privett, is our today’s pick for the PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day.
Jeremy comes out to Las Vegas for the World Series every year, and he loves playing mixed games, but the usual $20/$40 stakes offered at most places are a bit too high for his bankroll. This is why he was excited to hear people talking about the Mixed Game Festival at the WSOP and had to come across the street and see it for himself.
Poker has been a part of Jeremy’s life for a long time, as he learned how to play Omaha when he was just a boy, and practiced his general poker skills on one of those old-school entertainment system video poker games. He’s been familiar with the stud games as well, and after the Moneymaker boom, he also picked up Texas Hold’em.
He enjoys playing mixed games, but, unfortunately, there aren’t many casinos that spread them regularly these days, and there are no casinos whatsoever in Alabama. So, when he’s itching to play, he has to drive for at least three and a half hours to Tunica, Mississippi.
What he loves the most about the game is the camaraderie and having a good time at the tables, and that you get much more of that playing a mix. His message to everyone out there who might be hesitant is to come out and give it a try at low-stakes, and they just might be surprised at how much they’ll enjoy it!
Jeremy also loves his day job as a teacher, as it allows him to see people grow and reach their goals, and his math knowledge certainly comes in handy at the tables. In his spare time, in addition to playing poker, he loves watching football and playing fantasy football.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Vinicio Jurich
If there is one thing that Las Vegas is not short on, it’s interesting stories about people you’ll come across here. Vinicio Jurich, our RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day, has a story of his own, showing that this city often has a magical grasp on those who visit it.
Vinicio moved to Vegas about five years ago, at the height of the pandemic. He is originally from Buffalo, New York, where he had been working the same job since high school, hanging out with the same people all the time, and he was feeling a change was in order.
So, when his friend, a YouTuber, told him he was going to Vegas for a while and he was looking for roommates, Vinicio jumped at the opportunity. Having played poker growing up, Vinicio was interested in what Sin City had to offer.
He spent a few months playing poker, mostly recreationally and with mixed results, and then, as fate would have it, he met his girlfriend. This incentivized him to extend his stay.
Then, one of the dealers at Planet Hollywood told him about the dealer school that could open new opportunities for him. As he was considering whether this was a worthwhile investment, he came across his friend from Buffalo, who arrived in Vegas and was attending that very school! He figured this was enough of a sign to give it a go.
Vinicio spent the next two months acquiring his dealer stripes. After he graduated, he went for a WSOP audition as the Series was happening at the time, and he got his first gig as a dealer. Not long after, the Bellagio was looking for new dealers, and he applied and got the job.
Vinicio says all the people he met along the way over the last few years, and all the experiences he had while in Las Vegas, were very transformative. Before coming here, he was mostly introverted, spending most of his time inside and playing computer games. He tells us that he took that initial trip to Vegas, driving on an expired learner’s permit.
Although a lot has changed, he still enjoys playing video games to unwind. Lately, Fall Guys has been his favorite choice, in part due to the fact that his girlfriend took a liking to the game, so they can enjoy it together.
As for his hidden talents, Vinicio shares that he can sing pretty well, but he has a pretty serious case of stage fright, so he is only able to perform for the people he knows well.
This is his second time dealing at the Mixed Game Festival, and he finds that players are very welcoming to the dealers and always ready to help when someone’s not familiar with a particular game variant. From a player’s point of view, this also represents a good opportunity to expand his horizons and explore options beyond the usual NLHE and PLO options.
Pizza Party, Take Two!
The Mixed Game Festival doesn’t have hard stop limits. There is no telling how long into the night (or morning) the action will continue, but we can officially say that Day 6 was the busiest one so far.
For Monday, June 8, we have another pizza party coming up. Pop over to Bellagio around noon and have a slice or two to get some much-needed fuel before you get on the grind.
As always, seat reservations are open, so call (702) 693-7291 to put your name on the list for $4/$8 or $6/$12 and help us get Day 7 underway in style. We are now into the second half of Mixed Game Festival XIV, but there are still some exciting things coming up, so stay tuned!
A little birdie just told me that @PokerCoaching_‘s @rumnchess will be making an appearance early in the day at @BellagioPoker for Mixed Game Festival XIV.
Also, I understand that there will be pizza 🍕
A couple great reasons to come and join us 😀
Call 702-693-7291 pic.twitter.com/u3rTPskSOB
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 8, 2026
