It is true what they say – time flies when you’re having fun. The final day of Mixed Game Festival XV crept up with no warning as the crowd started to gather at Bellagio for one last day of fun-filled dealer’s choice action. Things got off to a good start, with three tables running right off the bat – two $4/8 and one $9/18.
But while poker obviously plays the critical role in our Mixed Game Festivals, they’re not really about the stakes or the money. They are about friendship, camaraderie, and genuine love for different poker variations. And if you don’t want to take our word for it, just ask Josh Arieh, a seven-time WSOP bracelet winner who came in of his own volition and spent a few hours splashing around with us in the $4/8 streets.
Playing Poker For the Love of the Game
It’s not typical to see big-name players in small stakes games, which is understandable: they have other obligations in life, and when they go to play poker, they tend to gravitate toward games that fit their usual stakes or buy-in level (i.e., make sense financially speaking).
Which is why it came as quite a pleasant surprise when Josh Arieh reached out and said he’d love to come and spend some time playing low-stakes cash games with us at Bellagio. Arieh is primarily a tournament player, and he hasn’t really played in any cash games in a long time, but he put all that aside and decided that he wanted to be a part of the Mixed Game Festival.
Josh explained that he decided to pay a visit purely for for the love of the game and “to support mix. No Limit Hold’em has had such a big boom, and mixed games are just so niche”. Josh further shared that he actually took his first steps in poker playing mix.
While he understands the intensity and the appeal of No Limit Hold’em very well, Josh believes (rightfully so) that mixed games create a much better background for fun and camaraderie, as players aren’t constantly forced to make decisions for their entire stacks.
Despite laying claim to over $16,000,000 in tournament winnings and seven bracelets, it is clear that Arieh is a real man of the people. Even playing for the lowest stakes imaginable, he chose to spend hours splashing around at the tables and genuinely enjoyed every moment of it!
Making his first ever Mixed Game Festival appearance — welcome to 7x WSOP bracelet winner @JoshuaArieh 🥳
Thanks for coming to splash around with us in the @BellagioPoker $4/8 dealer’s choice streets 😁 https://t.co/DpQ2gkPRST
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 9, 2026
But for Josh, poker isn’t just about money. He describes the game as one big puzzle that he constantly tries to figure out, and, no matter the stakes, he always plays to win. That’s just his winner’s mentality.
But Josh also demonstrated why he’s a winner in life away from the tables, too. For every pot he won (and there were quite a few!), Josh told the dealer to pick one stack before pushing it his way and to keep it as a tip, showing a very generous side and adding plenty of energy and good karma to the table.
Had a blast splashing around yesterday in the @cardplayerlife mixed game festival! Mixed games is the best poker format!
New games I learned a love
– Texaha
-omaJack
-Dramaha 49💉💉💉
— Joshua Arieh (@JoshuaArieh) October 10, 2026
Mixed games may not be quite as popular as Hold’em or PLO, but with the likes of Josh Arieh and Eli Elezra helping to promote them, the future looks bright, and the Mixed Game Festival will continue to proudly carry that torch.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Kentaro Fujita
The final Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day for MGF XV comes all the way from Japan. Kentaro Fujita traveled over 5,000 miles from Tokyo to Las Vegas to enjoy some poker, and to attend his first Mixed Game Festival.
It wasn’t just poker that brought Fujita to the US. He actually came on a business trip, as he works as a travel agent for cruise ship sales. After spending the first couple of weeks of his trip doing the work, it was time to play, and that’s what brought him to Las Vegas for some poker fun!
Kentaro told us that he usually comes out for the World Series of Poker, but since he wasn’t able to do it this year, this business trip popped up as a great opportunity to make up for it. Since he had heard such good things about the Mixed Game Festival from his friends, Fujita decided to try it for himself and had a blast throughout the week!
Back home, he plays mix in home games and at some tournaments spread across amusement casinos, primarily those that are a part of the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT). These tournaments don’t offer cash prizes (as that would be illegal in Japan), but there are still cool rewards up for grabs, as well as the prestige that comes with winning.
Fujita actually had a very good run in the $300 Triple Draw Mix tournament on Day 3 of the festival, finishing in third place, although he attributes that finish more to luck than his skills.
He tells us he picked up on quite a few new and interesting variations at the Festival, like Watermelon, Oma-jack, and Peek-a-Dugi, and can’t wait to tell his poker buddies about them and discuss game strategy when he gets back home.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Armani Peters
Armani Peters, the RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day, is a shift manager at Bellagio, although he tells us that he will still jump into the box if there is an emergency or if a particular dealer needs to urgently step away.
Armani, and yes, that is his real name, has been living in Las Vegas since 2007, and he’s been with Bellagio since 2013. He started his poker journey as a player, but made a transition to the industry side of things, looking for a more reliable paycheck.
Like other staff members we talked to during the Mixed Game Festival, Armani takes tremendous pride in working at Bellagio. He loves interacting with new people every day, as well as interacting with regulars in new ways. In the end, he describes it all as a “bunch of brothers and sisters who all enjoy gambling.”
Having spent over a decade at Bellagio, he’s seen quite a bit, but he tells us that some of his favorite moments were when the late Doyle Brunson would ride in on his scooter, and they had to quickly shuffle people around and move them out of the way. Armani shares that Doyle knew him by name, and that always felt special.
When he’s not working, he enjoys smoking meat and cooking food for his friends and family, a fun hobby that those close to him probably appreciate.
It’s a Wrap for 2026, But the Mixed Game Festival Will Be Back
From the pizza party on Day 1 over a couple of tournaments, to two days filled with cash game action, Mixed Game Festival XV met and exceeded expectations once more.
The T.O.R.S.E. tournament on Day 2 and the Triple Draw Mix event on Day 3 both attracted a fair number of players, and the attendance was greater than what you’d expect during a random week in off-season October. But, once more, the old adage holds true: if you build it, they’ll come.
Of course, throwing in some goodies into the mix always helps, and, thanks to its generous sponsors, the Mixed Game Festival has managed to do it quite masterfully. In addition to three Grand Prize seats into the $1,100 Bellagio Fall Classic Main event provided by BetMGM Poker, players picked up swag from RunGoodGear, quality poker decks provided by Faded Spade, D&B poker books, and hat + hoodie combos from Pokercoaching.com.
After five days, another Mixed Game Festival comes to a close, and our founder recorded a special thank you message to everyone who showed up in support throughout the week.
A personal message, as Mixed Game Festival XV draws to a close.
Shabbat Shalom, from @BellagioPoker, and thanks everyone! ❤️ https://t.co/fK9nVJB2sA
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 9, 2026
The sad news is that there are no more Mixed Game Festivals planned for 2026. The good news is that plans are in the works to take the Mixed Game Festivals to the next level in 2027. We plan to return to the Bellagio and hopefully another Las Vegas casino as well, plus we’re hoping to bring a Mixed Game Festival (or two) to US destinations outside of Las Vegas.
We don’t have concrete dates and details just yet, but if you want to be among the first ones to find out, make sure to subscribe to the Cardplayer Lifestyle newsletter. It’s completely free, and it brings you the kind of poker content you actually want to read!
Thanks for reading our daily recaps, and we’ll see you next time!
Following on all the excitement from the previous day, Day 4 of Mixed Game Festival XV was a bit of quieter affair, but there was still plenty of fun to be had, and many nice surprises for those who took their seats at the table.
The peak moment of the day was when Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra popped up and sat down to splash around in the low-stakes dealer’s choice streets. As anyone in the mixed game circles (and beyond) will know, Eli is one of the best mixed players in the world, regularly playing in the highest-stakes games in Vegas, so to see him play $4/$8 is something entirely different. And yet, at some point Eli exclaimed that “I’ve never played a poker variant with three boards before” — so even poker legends still learn a little something at the Mixed Game Festival.
There were three tables running pretty much from the get-go, with two spreading $4/8 and one $9/18, so there was certainly no lack of action for those who were looking to put their chips to work.
Chilling With Eli
Players who attend Mixed Game Festivals don’t need any particular assistance to create a fun atmosphere at the tables. Having fun and enjoying some good-natured banter is exactly what keeps most of them coming back, and it’s why new players who happen to come across one of the tables fall in love with the concept.
That said, having a big-name player join the ranks and sit down for some hands certainly adds to the excitement. Eli Elezra is one of Festival’s biggest friends and supporters — having attended them ever since the inaugural event five years ago — and he once again found some time in his packed schedule to join the action for a little while.
Welcome back to the Mixed Game Festival, Poker Hall of Famer @elielezra1 🥳
As always, thanks for enhancing our experience! ❤️ https://t.co/5sybdHWVcV
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 8, 2026
Players were thrilled to have him in the room, asking questions, taking photos, and, of course, trying to win some Eli dollars (he played Robbie’s stack, but that’s besides the point). Winning a pot or two off of a legend such as Elezra is the kind of story that one certainly can (and will) take back to their home game.
Plus, Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin decided it was time to see what all the hype was about, so he sat down for his very first Mixed Game Festival experience. With about $10 million in live tournament earnings and two WSOP bracelets, Eric certainly fits in the “poker celebrity” category.
Storming out of the gates here at @BellagioPoker for Day 4 of Mixed Game Festival XV!
Two $4/8 and one $9/18 dealer’s choice cash games running, plus a @basebaldy sighting (attending his first festival 😁)
Join us for all the fun! https://t.co/Colv3qTPdq
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) October 8, 2026
Beyond this, players were spoiled with plenty more free stuff, courtesy of numerous Festival friends and sponsors. From swag to poker books to high-quality poker decks, pretty much everyone who attends a Mixed Game Festival gets something to take home with them.
Big thanks to @ThePokerBoss for spoiling our $4/8 mix players with some sweet @BellagioPoker swag!
🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢
There’s nothing like a Mixed Game Festival 🥳 https://t.co/rOyvUWiQY9
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 9, 2026
Fun times, friendly faces, and @FadedSpadeBrand cards for lucky winners 🥳
Mixed Game Festival XV Day 4 rolls on at @BellagioPoker bringing the smiles and poker action! https://t.co/DEhWaZzJPs
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 9, 2026
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Andy Law
Andy Law, today’s pick for the Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day, is attending his first Mixed Game Festival. Originally from Scotland, Andy has been living in Houston, Texas, for 14 years now, involved in software work for the oil and natural gas industry.
Like many, Andy picked up poker during the Moneymaker Boom. When he moved to Texas, there wasn’t much official poker happening in the state, but he found some home games to keep him busy. Eventually, poker rooms started opening there, and he started coming to Las Vegas in 2019 as well.
Over time, he warmed up to mixed games, as they started to introduce some of the variations into their home game rotations. When he saw an announcement for MGF XV on social media, Andy decided it was time to finally take the trip.
Having spent a couple of days at Bellagio, his experience has been largely positive, although he admits that some games that players pull out of nowhere throw him off, and he has to figure it out as he goes. Thankfully, other players are usually very understanding and happy to help, so he doesn’t have to sweat it too much.
Andy’s interest in mixed games has grown over the years, and he’s been working on his game, primarily expanding his knowledge by reading poker books on the topic. One that really helped him grow was Dylan Linde’s Mastering Mixed Games.
He tells us that the Festival has certainly inspired him to try to introduce a few new variations to his home game, although he admits that a few players may require some convincing.
In general, Andy believes mixed games are more fun and more exciting, and beginners can get started at low stakes, where they don’t have to risk a lot of money. Unlike Hold’em, where you can lose a bundle in a single hand, mixed games are usually more chill, and a couple of hundred bucks can last you a while.
His overall goal in poker is to continue improving year on year, however, he admits that some nice results along the way help keep the motivation up, and he’s proud of cashing the last couple of tournaments he played at the World Series of Poker.
Away from the felt, Andy enjoys reading, watching movies, and, more than anything, spending time with his nine-year-old daughter, playing video games and going to the park.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Corey Silver
Taking the spotlight as the RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day is Corey Silver, a man who’s spent the last four years working at Bellagio but has about 15 years of experience in the industry.
He started off working at the Garden City Casino in San Jose, California. Then, he got a job dealing for Live at the Bike! When that show moved to the Tropicana, Corey moved with it, and that’s how he ended up in Las Vegas.
Once Tropicana was no more, he found his new home at Bellagio, and he admits that getting the job here was a dream come true.
Like many in the industry, Corey actually started as a poker player, playing a lot of online poker back in the day. It came pretty naturally to him as well, as he used to visit his grandparents in Las Vegas as a kid, and he already had a love for the cards.
Despite all the love, playing poker for a living turned out quite difficult, so he shifted his interest to the industry side of things. This allowed him to keep in touch with his passion while avoiding the variance.
Corey is currently dual rate, working both as a dealer and a floor, picking shifts up as needed, and he tells us he is happy in his current roles, as he enjoys the customer-facing side of things and dealing with and to the players.
In his career, he’s had many interesting moments, and he shared with us one that really stands out.
He was dealing a $200/$400 game at Live at the Bike! after the stream, and one player told him that, if he won the hand, he’d give him half the pot as a tip. It was a double-board bomb pot, and everyone was sitting about $100,000 deep, so he was looking at potentially life-changing money.
The hand got down to heads-up, with a $1,000 flop bet, $3,000 on the turn, and another $5,000 going in on the river. It ended up being a $16,000 pot, and it ended in a chop. As Corey started to move $8,000 to the player who promised the tip, he waved it away and told him to keep it.
Corey was over the moon, and he admits that, at that moment, he genuinely wanted to get up and give that player a hug. Instead, though, he kept his composure, thanked them for the tip, and then proceeded to deal the rest of his down.
To this day, this remains one of the favorite moments of his career, not only because of the big tip, but because of the sheer generosity, especially given the fact that the player in question didn’t actually win any money on that hand.
Beyond poker, Corey enjoys playing golf as much as possible, and he admits that he’s picked up a passion for sports cards as of late, buying and selling them on E-bay.
Heading into Mixed Game Festival XV’s Final Day
Mixed Game Festival XV is approaching the finish line, but there is still a full day of action left, and those seats will be open from noon. And if history is any indication, there will be at least one table tomorrow that will play through the night, squeezing every last second out of the experience.
As for the special appearances, 7x WSOP bracelet winner Josh Arieh will be making his first ever MGF appearance and joining us for the final day. So it’s another opportunity to take some photos, hear some great stories, and, of course, try to win a bit of money from a big-name pro. He may not care, but those who manage to pull in a pot or two certainly do.
If you want to be sure that you’re in the action right from the start, you can (and should) reserve your spot by calling (702) 693-7290.
Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XV is in the books, and it was certainly the most vibrant one so far. This was evident not just in the number of players who showed up at Bellagio, but also in the energy-filled, positive atmosphere that took over the room.
Of course, the sheer number of surprise prizes that were flying left and right certainly helped. Everyone who showed up to play was in a running to get at least something to take home, and quite a few players walked away with at least a small token to remind them of all the fun they had.
The $300 Triple Draw Mix tournament was the highlight of the day, and it ended up attracting 32 entries. Aaron Foust was the last player standing, and he padded his bankroll with $2,823 after a heads-up deal.
Tournament action notwithstanding, it didn’t take anything away from the dealer’s choice cash game action. Day 3 was, in fact, the busiest one so far, kicking off with three tables and the fourth one opening shortly thereafter.
Was it the draw of the Festival, the fact that the last $1,100 ticket to the Bellagio Fall Classic Main Event was up for grabs, or the mix of both? Who knows, but it was quite a day!
Expanded Payouts for the Triple Draw Tournament
As mentioned, the main course of the day was the $300 Triple Draw Mix, and the event turned out 20% more popular than the TORSE tournament from the day before, attracting a total of 32 entries.
Four places were set to be paid, but it wouldn’t be a Mixed Game Festival without a surprise twist. 🙂
While the top four finishers would get to split the prize pool of $7,840, players finishing from fifth to tenth place got an opportunity to draw an envelope. Each envelope contained a mystery prize, but in one of them was the final remaining seat in the $100k GTD Bellagio Fall Classic Main Event.
Here’s how we’re giving away our final $1,100 Grand Prize seat to the @BellagioPoker Fall Classic Main Event, courtesy of @BetMGMPoker 😁
#expandedpayouts https://t.co/KhTCCgDix1
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 7, 2026
Leave it to the poker gods to add drama to the proceedings. The first four envelopes that players picked contained smaller prizes (e.g., poker books, Bellagio merchandise, free T-Shirts, etc), so it got down to the wire. With only two envelopes remaining, Arthur Goltz , eliminated in sixth place, had a 50/50 chance. We have a video of how it all went down:
From 6 envelopes down to 2. Only one contained the @BetMGMPoker-sponsored $1100 Grand Prize seat to the @BellagioPoker Fall Classic Main Event.
See how it played out 😁
Congratulations to our big winner — Arthur Goltz! https://t.co/nh71J0WBKf
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 8, 2026
With the “mystery bounty” segment out of the way, the remaining players could focus on the tournament, which eventually got down to Aaron Foust and David Noh. The two decided to split the remaining prize pool right down the middle, with an extra buck and the title going to Aaron.
- 1st – Aaron Foust $2823
- 2nd – David Noh – $2822
- 3rd – Kentaro Fujita – $1333
- 4th – Neil La Barge $862
Congratulations to the “Slot King” 👑
Aaron Foust wins Mixed Game Festival XV’s $300 Triple Draw Mix tournament.
He takes home $2,823 after an even chop with the runner up, defeating a 32-strong field. https://t.co/VcKmd6tDvW
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 8, 2026
That was the end of the tournament, but, as mentioned, the cash game action was going plenty strong on the side, and the players were having a blast.
Things Keep Getting Better
Anyone who’s ever organized any event, be it in poker or in a completely unrelated field, has one biggest fear: What if no one shows up? Or what if only a few people turn up and the whole thing flops?
Of course, the Mixed Game Festival has been going strong for five years now, so it’s guaranteed that some people will always show up. But when they show up in big numbers, it’s one of the best feelings, for the people who worked hard to put the whole thing together and for the players alike. That much more so in the “October offseason”.
Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XV was one of those days. About an hour in, there were four dealer’s choice cash game tables going, three playing $4/8 and one $9/18. And this was happening as the tournament registration was still open.
So, it’s fair to say that people love and enjoy mixed games and, maybe just as much, the format that the Festival brings, where everyone feels welcome, and you don’t need a fat bankroll just to sit at the table. Plus, there were even more prizes up for grabs.
LOTS of merch giveaways today at @BellagioPoker as part of Mixed Game Festival XV courtesy of our sponsors: @DBPoker1, @FadedSpadeBrand and @RunGoodGear.
How did they win the prizes? Come join us and find out! 😜
Look at all those smiling faces. 😁 https://t.co/xsZBOtRAzr
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) October 6, 2026
About eight hours into the day, one $4/8 table broke, but the remaining three kept on going, and no one seemed in a particular rush to go home.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Terry Basham
Hailing from Saint Louis, Missouri, is Terry Basham, the man who has attended every single Mixed Game Festival except for the first one, and yet somehow, he’s never featured as the Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day.
We’ve finally corrected that injustice as Robbie sat down with one of the most dedicated members of the Festival family, who tells us that he became a part of it almost by accident.
Terry happened to be at the Resorts World during the second Mixed Game Festival, and even though he had no experience whatsoever with mixed games, he was intrigued by what was happening. So, he decided to give it a try and see what’s what.
Over the years, Terry’s understanding of mixed games has grown, of course, but what really attracted him was the atmosphere and the fact that everyone was so welcoming and didn’t mind that he was making mistakes – which is easy enough to do in general, let alone if you’ve never even heard about some of the game variations!
From that festival at Resorts World, he made it a point to come EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. He even flew halfway across the world to play in Malta!
Editor’s note: Terry, please forgive me for the typo in your name from the Tweet below, from four years ago 🤦♂️😂
This is Jerry. He just so happens to be on a Mediterranean cruise this week that stopped in Malta.
Realizing this overlapped with @PokerLifeMedia #MixedGameFestival III, he packed his shirt from MGF II at @ResortsWorldLV ahead of time and decided to come play cash games! ❤️ https://t.co/BIBi3kqSJw
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 27, 2022
Terry started playing poker in 2005. He was invited to a friend’s home for a poker tournament with a $20 buy-in, which, at that time, he considered a pretty big amount. But from that moment on, he fell in love with the game, and he tells us with a loud laugh that, from there, he got “degenerated.”
He admits that he has a bit of a cheat that allows him to attend the festivals, as he is a COO of a regional airline company, so he can get cheap flights.
When it comes to choosing between mixed games and Hold’em, Terry explains that he still loves Hold’em tournaments, but if it’s a choice between a low-stakes Hold’em cash game or a mix, he’ll “always go for a mix, and it’s not even close.”
As someone who’s been there pretty much from the start, Terry has seen the Mixed Game Festival grow and change, and he reflected that “it’s really great to see many new faces every time, but also some people who, like me, keep coming back. We’re all kind of Festival groupies, haha!”
Beyond work and poker play, Terry spends his free time skiing, camping, and enjoying his family. He recently became grandfather for the first time, and he makes it no secret that he’s over the moon about it. Congratulations!
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Ben Baggett
Ben Baggett was the Day 3 pick for RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day, but he is not actually a dealer. Living in Las Vegas since 2018, he’s been with Bellagio the whole time, and he is a shift manager/floor supervisor.
Like many others, Ben got into poker by playing the game. He used to enjoy playing as a way to relax and decompress, and from there, he got interested in the industry side of things. He spent a year working in a poker room in California before coming to Vegas.
Ben tells us that the best part of his job is networking and having opportunities to meet people from all walks of life and hearing all sorts of stories, and it all happens organically. Everybody coming to the room is connected by their shared love for the game.
Bellagio is one of those properties that really live by the customer-first ethos, and Ben explains that “being able to meet and fulfill someone’s requests and seeing how happy that makes them is very satisfying and rewarding.”
As for the Mixed Game Festival, this is the fourth time it’s taking place at the property, and it is nice to hear from one of the people in charge of running things on the ground that the feeling toward the crowd that frequents the festivals is overwhelmingly positive.
Ben says that everyone he’s come across has been very polite and friendly, not just toward him, but toward staff in general, and “that helps create a nice and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. That even extends to making close calls at the tables, in situations where one of us may not be very experienced with a particular poker variant being dealt.”
He explains that “the number of games in the rotation has grown to over 35, and I enjoy the challenge of learning new variants, but it’s much easier to do so when players don’t expect you to just know everything and are ready to offer assistance.”
Away from work, Ben enjoys disc golfing with his friends, which also gives him an opportunity to take his two German shepherds for a walk, so it’s a real win-win.
What’s in Store for Mixed Game Festival XV Day 4?
The two tournaments that were on the schedule for Mixed Game Festival XV are in the books, and the three Grand Prize seats in the $1,100 Bellagio Fall Classic Main Event have been given away, but the Festival isn’t over just yet.
We still have a couple of days to go, and some more things to look forward to. On Thursday, Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra will be joining the action for a while, so if you want to mix it up with the legend, make sure to call (702) 693-7290 and reserve your seat.
That’s for the “official” items on the agenda, but as we’ve seen it time and time again, one can never tell what’s going to happen at the Mixed Game Festival, and if you’re not there, you risk missing out on the magic of the moment.
The second day of the Mixed Game Festival XV kicked off at noon at Bellagio. At the center of the daily activities was the $300 TORSE tournament, which got off to a somewhat slow start, but ended up exceeding expectations for a “random Tuesday in October.”
The action started with two tournament tables and one low-stakes dealer’s choice cash game running, but with three hours of late registration, players had plenty of time to get over to Bellagio and join the fun. As it turned out, quite a few took advantage of this opportunity, as the tournament saw a total of 27 entries and a solid prize pool of $6,615.
The lion’s share of that prize pool went to Joseph Hallock, who, after an ICM deal with the runner-up Tony Porcheron, took home $2,534 and the title. Porcheron banked $2,228 for his efforts.
Never a Dull Moment
When there is a tournament happening, the atmosphere can be a bit different in a poker room, as players are more focused and not as splashy, but the Mixed Game Festival is always different, and almost every day, something happens to remind everyone about it.
Although our “official” pizza party took place on the first day of MGF XV, players at Bellagio were in for a surprise yesterday, as Lupe Soto, a member of the Women in Poker Hall of Fame and a longtime supporter of the Festival, showed up with some more free pizza for EVERYONE!
Surprise! @WIPHOF-er @PokerLupe just showed up with pizza for EVERYONE at @BellagioPoker!
There’s nothing like a Mixed Game Festival 😍 https://t.co/pvqvBEr2b3
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 6, 2026
This wasn’t scheduled or expected; it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, and this made the whole occasion that much more special.
About halfway through the day, with six total tables running between the tournament and cash games, there was the second $1,100 Bellagio Fall Classic seat giveaway. This time around, the winner was selected by a random draw of cards, where the first draw selected the lucky table, and the second draw determined the lucky seat number at that table.
The man sitting in that seat was Patrick Moulder, a Las Vegas local, who expressed a great deal of excitement to put his free tournament entry to good use and potentially claim a share of the $100,000 guaranteed prize pool!
Congratulations to Las Vegas local Patrick Moulder.
He was sitting at the lucky table in the lucky seat (random draw) and won himself an $1,100 seat in the Bellagio Fall Classic Main Event courtesy of @BetMGMPoker! 🥳
📸: @pkrreporting https://t.co/cSwNuX66a0
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 7, 2026
Battle for the TORSE Title
The first of the two tournaments scheduled for this edition of the Mixed Game Festival did not disappoint. As mentioned, by the time the registration ended, there were 27 entries, which is a very decent turnout for a daily TORSE event.
The final prize pool of $6,615 was split by four players, and the title went to Joseph Hallock, who managed to outlast the competition and claim the victory after 16 levels of play. The tournament actually ended in an ICM chop between the final two players. Here are the results:
Place | Name | Prize |
| 1 | Joseph Hollock | $2,534 |
| 2 | Tony Porcheron | $2,228 |
| 3 | Joe Santagata | $1,125 |
| 4 | Shale Juster | $728 |
Chris Wallace, another longtime Mixed Game Festival supporter (and past winner of the WSOP $10K HORSE event), was on-site doing an excellent job covering the tournament action, and he compiled some great, detailed reporting and player stories, along with some FANTASTIC professional photos, which you should absolutely check out on Pokerreporting.com.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Emir Delic
Day 2’s pick for Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day is Emir Delic, hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Emir is originally from Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the very same country that this poker writer comes from. 🙂
Emir heard about the festival from his friend (Mike Tyson — no, not THAT Mike Tyson — who was attending his fourth festival), and he decided to join for the trip, even though he considers himself somewhat of a mixed game novice. Back home, he plays at the Gun Lake Casino, but also in some home games, where they not only play the usual rotation, but try to come up with some new mixed game variations as well. “The crazier, the better,” he tells us.
Emir’s experience with mixed games so far has been that they are more complex than most people think, and that there is a lot of underlying strategy to them.
Despite his lack of experience, he’s enjoying the Mixed Game Festival, sharing the same experience we’ve heard so many times before: “Everyone’s friendly and welcoming, making you feel comfortable at the table and helping instead of criticizing. This is the side of poker that people should be much more open to!”, Emir tells us, and we couldn’t agree more.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Kevin Poladyan
Kevin Poladyan, today’s RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day, is originally from Armenia, but has been living in Las Vegas for 27 years. His first job as a dealer was at Mandalay Bay. He then spent a year in California, dealing at the Hollywood Park. After that, Kevin moved back to Las Vegas and started working at Bellagio in 2001. Kevin has also dealt at the Wynn for nearly 13 years, so he’s really seen it all at the poker table after a lengthy career in the box.
What brought him to this job was his love for poker, which he used to play a lot before, although these days he spends most of his free time with his three children and doesn’t get as many opportunities to sit on the other side of the felt.
Mixed games are his favorite to deal, primarily because there is more going on and the action changes constantly.
Kevin also shared with us a story that involves late Doyle Brunson. On one occasion, Doyle was playing in a high-limit mix, with BIG action happening on the side. Brunson was in line to win a full $1 million if his prop bet came in (the board of T-2-2 or T-T-2), and he promised Kevin a $5,000 tip if it came in.
Laughingly, Kevin told us that he was doing everything in his power to deal as many hands as possible during that 30-minute down, but, unfortunately, the bet/win did not materialize, so the $5,000 tip did not find its way across the table.
Action Continues Into the Wee Hours
The action at the Mixed Game Festival continued well after the tournament had ended at just after 9pm. We had two games of $4/$8 dealer’s choice going, with one table of $9/$18 forming later on.
As the clock struck midnight, we lost one of the smaller tables, but two kept on going strong for a fair few hours more. Just your standard Festival “business as usual.” 🙂
For Day 3, there is another tournament on the docket, a $300 Triple Draw Mix, plus more cash game action, and the final $1,100 seat giveaway courtesy of BetMGM Poker. The action kicks off at noon, sharp, and you can reserve your seat at the table by calling the Bellagio Poker Room at (702) 693-7290.
Once more, the Las Vegas Strip is hot with non-Hold’em action as the Mixed Game Festival is back in town. This is the fourth time that Bellagio is hosting the popular festival, and the first time in autumn, as the previous three iterations all took place during peak summer season.
While Sin City may not be buzzing with action and excitement in October as much as it does when the World Series of Poker is in town during June–July, there is no such thing as a bad time for poker in Las Vegas! And with fewer events happening at the same time, mixed games fans can enjoy longer sessions and focus more on the task at hand with fewer distractions.
Off to a Good Start
The Mixed Game Festival has its dedicated followers who regularly turn up, and Mixed Game Festival XV has been no exception. In addition to those who’ve driven in from neighboring states, plenty of players have flown in from all points domestic as well as further afield, including Canada, Wales, England, Israel, and Japan (thus far). Add to that a few walk-ins, and it’s more than enough to get the action going in earnest.
The first day of MGF XV started with some traditional free pizza and two $4/8 dealer’s choice tables. A third one formed within an hour, and those three tables kept going strong for about nine hours straight. Not bad for a random Monday in October! 🙂
Mixed Game Festival XV is underway at @BellagioPoker.
We’ve got @PokerCoaching_ founder @JonathanLittle here splashing around and signing his @DBPoker1 books… and PIZZA 🍕🍕🍕
Come join us! Three $4/8 dealer’s choice tables going thus far! https://t.co/NaKCytiHZa
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) October 5, 2026
Jonathan Little popped up and sat down at a couple of tables, splashed around a bit, and signed some of his popular poker books. Justin Saliba came around to say hello as well, although he didn’t have the time to join the action. So, we already had the first couple of celebrity guests in the room, with more to come.
Some fun mixed game advice from @PokerCoaching_’s @JonathanLittle and @Justin_Saliba.
Come put their tips to the test at @BellagioPoker here during Mixed Game Festival XV. 😁 https://t.co/oTyIbRbgd9
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 5, 2026
First Grand Prize Goes to a Long-Time MGF Supporter
The Mixed Game Festival always features a host of special prizes for the players, and it is no different this time around. The most valuable of those are three Grand Prize seats into the $1,100 Bellagio Fall Classic ($100k GTD), courtesy of BetMGM Poker, and the first one of these seats has now found its owner.
David Hanrock managed to win two consecutive blind PLO flips to claim the seat, and even if there is no such thing as “deserve” in poker, David certainly comes as close as possible. He’s traveled out from Youngstown, Ohio, to about a dozen festivals over the years, and this is the first time he won a major prize.
Dave Hanrock has attended over 10 of our Mixed Game Festivals… Today he finally won himself a Grand Prize 🥳
He won two consecutive blind PLO flips to secure an $1,100 seat in the @BellagioPoker Fall Classic Main Event courtesy of @BetMGMPoker! https://t.co/43WsC1O36v
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) October 6, 2026
The Bellagio Fall Classic Main Event is a Hold’em event, and David shared with us that the last time he played Hold’em was over 10 years ago, so he expects it to be a bit of a challenge. That said, to longtime and future Mixed Game Festival attendees still waiting for their big Grand Prize win, his message is simple: “show up on time, put in the hours, and just hope to be in the right place at the right time.”
While it might not be a very elaborate strategy, it is the one that works in the long run!
As always, there were some additional smaller prizes up for grabs along the way, too, including quality card decks, courtesy of Faded Spade.
Mark from California won himself a 2-deck setup of @FadedSpadeBrand cards for making a 7 low in 2-7 Razz.
Where else can winning be so easy aside from the Mixed Game Festival? 🤣
Come join us all week long at @BellagioPoker! https://t.co/RSFO63yDyW
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) October 6, 2026
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Shale Juster
Just as there are those like David, who barely miss a Mixed Game Festival, there are always some first-timers. Shale Juster, our Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day, is in the latter group.
Hailing from Minneapolis, Shale flew to Las Vegas specifically for the Mixed Game Festival. Visiting was on his to-do list for a while, and this time around, things finally lined up perfectly.
At home, Shale plays two or three times a week, both at Canterbury Park and in four different home games he frequents. Although he is almost retired, he still does some work at his old company, mostly in sales, which “keeps him busy between poker games and regular naps.”
In addition to enjoying some friendly mixed game action, Shale was particularly excited to meet Jonathan Little. Not only has he been following Jonathan’s training videos for a long time, but he also had an opportunity to buy a small piece in one of Little’s high-stakes tournaments at Aria. Jonathan ended up winning that particular event, so Shale’s $100 investment turned into a couple of grand, which “made me an even bigger fan.” 🙂
He tells us that he also took advantage of Alex Livingston’s Master Mixed Games course, and it helped him develop a more aggressive style, although this is work in progress.
And for anyone out there thinking about taking up mixed games, Shale’s message is simple: “unless you’re focused strictly on learning and playing very GTO-focused poker, you’ll have a lot more fun and enjoyment playing mix.”
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Carl McDonald
Mixed Game Festival XV continues on the tradition of highlighting the people who make all the fun possible – the dealers. Day 1’s RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day is Carl McDonald, who specifically got selected for the distinction because he just looked like he was having so much fun in the box!
Carl has been living in Vegas for about a decade, and he’s been dealing on and off at Bellagio for pretty much the entire time, among other casinos in the city and at the World Series of Poker during the summers.
He tells us he knows how to deal all casino games, but he has chosen to stick with poker primarily because there is no smoking allowed in poker rooms.
Bellagio is his favorite place to deal because the dealers “get a lot of freedom.” Carl explains that his personal philosophy is very in-line with Bellagio’s, namely the emphasis on having fun and allowing players to enjoy the moment; “we don’t have to constantly worry about things we aren’t supposed to do.”
Asked whether he prefers dealing mixed games or Hold’em/PLO games, he admits that it depends on limits and the lineup. But $1/$3 No Limit Hold’em is still on the top of his list in terms of how fun and crazy the games can get.
Carl also told us that drunk people are his favorite type of players because they usually have so much fun and there is no telling what can happen at any given moment. It’s a mix of entertainment and anticipation that keeps him on his toes.
Ready for Some Tournament Action?
Day 1 of Mixed Game Festival XV was all about cash games, with three tables going strong for about nine hours and the action eventually merging down to one, featuring the most persistent of players.
Tuesday, October 6, however, brings the first of two tournaments scheduled for this edition of the MGF. It’s a $300 T.O.R.S.E. event that starts at noon, and everyone’s welcome to join. Low-stales dealer’s choice cash games will be available as well right from the start, as well.
The second $1,100 Bellagio Fall Classic Main Event seat will be awarded as well, and to have a shot at it, you’ll just need to be seated in the right seat at one of the tournament tables before registration closes.
As always, if you wish to put your name on the wait list or need any additional information, you can call the Bellagion poker room at (702) 693-7290.
The final day of Mixed Game Festival XIV once again saw four full tables in action, with $4/8 and $6/12 (the latter at least for about half the day) dealer’s choice mixes running in the Bellagio poker room.
The main order of the day was, of course, the final $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship seat giveaway. As explained in the Day 9 recap, to win the seat, players were tasked with a challenge of trying to guess the exact tournament chip value contained in a transparent box.
As you could imagine, this generated a rather jovial atmosphere in the room, with those in attendance attempting creative methodologies to figure it out.
In the end, it was Patrick Ang, our recent Player of the Day pick, who submitted the closest guess, securing a seat in the $4,000,000 guaranteed event. The others who came close, in a true festival fashion, picked up some consolation prizes.
Are You Good at Counting?
Basic math skills are mandatory for any poker player, so to conclude Mixed Game Festival XIV in style, those skills were put to the test. The task was simple enough (in theory): look at a transparent box containing a bunch of chips, figure out what the total is, and submit your best guess.
📣 It’s the FINAL DAY of @cardplayerlife‘s Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker and we’re giving away a @BetMGMPoker Championship Seat! 🥳
📽️ https://t.co/W28YFUIucy
🔗 https://t.co/K0u0CjbrMX
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV #FindTheFountains #JoinTheFestival pic.twitter.com/W0JHq5cSs6— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 11, 2026
The prize for this “simple” match challenge was a hefty one, as the closest guess would bag a seat in the upcoming $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship, a massive poker tournament with a $4,000,000 prize pool.
To be eligible, players had to be seated at one of the tables. At any point during the five-hour window, they could walk up to the box, use whatever strategy they thought best (without actually opening the box), and submit their guess. But there were no second shots – once you submit your number, it’s locked in.
📣👉 How well do you count? Come down to @BellagioPoker and join in the fun of @cardplayerlife‘s Mixed Game Festival XIV! Then put your arithmetic skills to good use as you could win a @BetMGMPoker Championship seat! 🧮🥳
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV pic.twitter.com/GW41h4aoDh— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 11, 2026
The box was shaken, stirred, and took some abuse over the course of those few hours. Some players even attempted to utilize AI technology alongside photo imagery! Eventually, all players settled on their numbers. With that part of the competition out of the way, it was time for Robbie and Bellagio Poker Director Craig Larson to withdraw to a backroom, check all the guesses, and compare them to the actual number.
Even with AI tools, no player managed to correctly guesstimate the exact chip value contained in the box, which came out to 688,500. The closest guess, however, came from Patrick Ang of Ottawa, Canada. Patrick was over the moon to win the ticket, stating that, with that prize in the bag, “he was now even for the trip!”
Massive congrats to Pat Ang, winner of our final Grand Prize here at Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker!
He’s now got a $3500 seat to the 2026 @BetMGMPoker Championship! pic.twitter.com/rCtTnOhdHN
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 12, 2026
As mentioned, other close guesses received nice prizes in the form of poker books, clothing and card decks, courtesy of D&B Poker, RunGoodGear and Faded Spade. In a lighthearted moment, the player who made the worst guess (i.e., the one that was actually furthest away from the correct number) was also given a candy bar, to the amusement of the assembled mass of players.
PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day: Doug Murphy
Spending his time between Las Vegas and South and Central America is Doug Murphy, our final pick for the PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day.
After retiring from his job as a deputy sheriff in 2019, Doug discovered a really cheap and cool way to travel by house and pet sitting, and he’s been doing it since 2021. This gave him an opportunity to visit places like Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and more.
His poker beginnings go much further back. Originally from Idaho, he started playing in Montana as soon as he turned 18. While he can’t recall exactly what attracted him to try the game, as this was before the poker boom, he stuck around because he enjoyed the company at the tables.
He tells us that being the youngest guy in the room, surrounded by players in their 60s and 70s, many of whom were veterans, was really interesting, and he got to hear some amazing stories.
In terms of preferences, mixed games, especially of the Omaha variety, are his go-to. He “missed” the first week of the Mixed Game Festival because he didn’t know about it, but when he heard the news from one of his fellow non-Hold’em poker aficionados, he rushed over to Bellagio.
As far as his experience over the course of the couple of days, Doug admits that not paying attention to the placard at the table can humble you very quickly, and that paying attention is very important in mixed games.
When he’s not in Vegas, he prefers to stay at places that offer good poker action, and he shared with us that Bogota, Colombia, has a great poker room that spreads NLHE and PLO! In addition to helping him quench his thirst for the game, he sees it as a great place and opportunity to practice his Spanish.
RunGood Gear Dealer of the Day: Stephanie Shen
We are concluding our RunGood Gear Dealer of the Day series of Mixed Game Festival XIV with Stephanie Shen. Unlike many we’ve talked to over the span of the Festival, she’s only been in Las Vegas since last year, having immigrated from Guangzhou, China.
Stephanie has waited a long time to move to the US, as she and her husband submitted the request 15 years ago. Her mother-in-law has been living in Las Vegas for 20 years, and she has now finally been reunited with her only son.
Stephanie has kids of her own, two 16-year-old twin boys, and she feels very fortunate with all the opportunities this city has to offer. She tells us she ended up working in a casino, as many people in her circle work in this industry, so it felt like a natural path to take.
She started by dealing table games, but now Stephanie is getting her bearings as a poker dealer, too. Poker is her preference, especially mixed games, with all the different styles and dynamics, and she wants to gain more experience in order to move from being part-time to full-time at Bellagio. We’re certain that her positive attitude will, no doubt, help a lot in achieving that goal!
When not working, Stephanie enjoys traveling and seeing new places. Although she’s only been in the US for a short time, she’s already had a chance to visit Los Angeles, and San Francisco is next on her list.
Until Next Time…
All things considered, Mixed Game Festival XIV was an unabashed success! Once again, the event accomplished its primary mission, which is to bring together true fans of the game in a chill and relaxed environment.
From generous giveaways to big-name appearances that included past Main Event winners, Poker Hall of Famers, and beloved broadcasters, to not two pizza parties to non-stop action at Bellagio, it was certainly an event to remember.
As games at the last couple of tables petered out and this Mixed Game Festival drawing to its conclusion, the question on everyone’s mind is when the next one will come around.
We don’t have any solid dates or venues to share as of yet, but we’ll be targeting sometime in the fall in Las Vegas.
The best way to make sure you get the information about the next event as soon as it is officially available is by signing up for the Cardplayer Lifestyle newsletter. It’s completely free, and, as a bonus, you’ll get a monthly roundup of some cool and unique poker stories, interviews, tips, and reviews that you won’t find anywhere else.
Until next time, keep that love for mixed games burning bright!
Time flies when you’re having fun and anyone who frequented the Bellagio over the past couple of weeks will attest to that. Incredibly, Mixed Game Festival XIV has now been going for nine full days!
Those who joined the action for Day 8 had the pleasure to share table space and play some pots with a couple of Poker Hall of Famers, but the penultimate day of the Festival had even more celebrity appearances in store.
After Mori Eskandani and Huck Seed, it was Eli Elezra’s turn to get in the mix, metaphorically and factually, as the poker legend spent an hour or so playing $4/$8 and $6/$12 dealer’s choice cash games, switching between the tables to give all players in attendance a chance to play some hands against him.
It wasn’t a particularly busy day at the Bellagio, but we had three tables running constantly, and this was somewhat expected, as the final day of Mixed Game Festival XIV on Thursday is bound to attract a big crowd. It’s not just the last opportunity to play the “best home game in Vegas,” as some of the regulars describe it, but we’ll also be giving out the last free seat into the $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship. But more on that in a moment.
Fun With Eli, and More Free Stuff for the Players
We’ve had a great number of celebrity appearances at Mixed Game Festival XIV, including the aforementioned Poker Hall of Famers, Women in Poker Hall of Famers Jan Fisher and Linda Johnson, and poker’s legendary commentating duo, Norman Chad and Lon McEachern. Having these poker celebs at the table adds a lot to the overall atmosphere, so you can never have too many.
In keeping with that idea, we had Eli Elezra, another member of the Poker Hall of Fame, a five-time WSOP bracelet winner, and a mixed game specialist, joining the action for a little while.
Those familiar with Eli’s career know that he is a regular fixture in some of the biggest mixed games in the world, where a single blind could probably cover the full scope of buy-ins spread across a single MGF table.
But, he is also a great ambassador for the game and a big friend of the Festival, and he almost always manages to find some time to pop over and play some hands with the proverbial masses.
As always, Eli was more than happy to take some selfies with the players, give away signed copies of his autobiography Pulling the Trigger, offer some advice about the games, and enjoy the action for an hour or so.
📣 Day Nine of @cardplayerlife‘s Mixed Game Festival XIV, sponsored by @BetMGMPoker, includes a visit from @elielezra1 at @BellagioPoker! 🥳
📽️ https://t.co/kZITXkdCuS
🔗 https://t.co/K0u0CjbrMX
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV #FindTheFountains #JoinTheFestival pic.twitter.com/B34VIoeQIu— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 10, 2026
Additionally, as the Festival is coming to its inevitable conclusion, there is some free merch that needs to find its new owners, so players at the tables had a fair few opportunities to pick up some cool stuff!
Dylan, who is a Mixed Game Festival first-timer, got lucky to scoop a splash pot, and, in addition to a bunch of chips, this also earned him a set of high-quality playing cards, courtesy of Faded Spade.
Dylan lives in Las Vegas but this is his first Mixed Game Festival.
New player lucky – he just scooped a splash pit and won himself a sweet @FadedSpadeBrand setup! pic.twitter.com/BV3dZIdcrD
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 10, 2026
Logan will have an opportunity to take his game to the next level thanks to a free copy of Jonathan Little’s Complete Poker Workout, a very useful and highly interactive poker book.
Logan just scooped a 2-7 triple draw pot here at Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker to win the latest @DBPoker1 book by @JonathanLittle.
He also spontaneousoy made a $20 donation to @PokerGives.
Good people with good hearts get good luck 😍 pic.twitter.com/iPiam3mf5S
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 10, 2026
And, of course, a shoutout goes to RunGoodGear, which has been supplying an endless stream of T-shirts for the dealers and players.
Among our most popular merch items at the Mixed Game Festival are our custom-designed @RunGoodGear T-Shirts.
We give ’em to every “Dealer of the Day” and profile said dealer in our daily recaps. Some great stories in there.
Check ’em out!https://t.co/DJqpRfUl49 pic.twitter.com/0SzRIEJ7gM
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 10, 2026
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Tom Watson
Some players plan things ahead of time, while others, like Tom Watson, make a decision to join the action at the spur of the moment.
Our today’s pick of PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day comes from the Detroit area, and this is his third Mixed Game Festival. He tells us that he honestly didn’t plan to come out this time around, but after seeing all the social media posts ahead of the event, he got a severe case of FOMO, booked his flight last week Tuesday and arrived in Vegas ca couple days later.
Tom is a big fan of mixed games, although he doesn’t think he is a very good player, especially not compared to some of the regulars. However, he enjoys the experience, and he’s not afraid to battle it out, and so far, it’s worked out for him, as he’s about $100 up for the trip.
He says that at home, they call him “Mr. Poker,” a nickname that he doesn’t think he actually deserves considering his skill level, but he always tries to get people excited about the game and the MGF.
Tom works for Ford Motor Company and, at 55, he says he could comfortably retire right now, but he’ll be sticking around for a little while longer. Once he’s done, he says he’d like to be able to come out to Vegas every summer and play some mixed games for a couple of months, even when the festival is not in town.
RunGood Gear Dealer of the Day: Jo Eusebio
We have yet another interesting story coming from Jo Eusebio, our latest pick for the RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day.
Jo came to the US from Hong Kong, spending time in Los Angeles, then moving to New Jersey, and finally arriving in Las Vegas. He’s been working since he was 18, and spent a few years as a car mechanic before being pulled into the casino industry.
His first dealing gig was at Hollywood Park in LA, fresh out of the dealer school. When his sister landed a job with Caesars in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the entire family moved, and Jo landed a job at the famous Taj Mahal.
He tells us that over the few years he dealt at the Taj, he crossed paths with many celebrities, but even today, nearly three decades later, he doesn’t feel 100% comfortable naming any names. “What happens in Jersey stays in Jersey” we suppose… 🙂
As for his job at the Bellagio, Jo has been here since the opening in 1998. One thing that remained constant over the course of his time here is the friendly relationship he has with the players and his fellow dealers. The job itself became more challenging over the years with the introduction of new games and poker variants, but it’s something Jo takes in strides and embraces.
Despite being here from day one, he has preferred to retain his position as a dealer instead of “moving up”. Jo admits that he tried dual rate for a few years, but realized that “being in the box” was what he enjoys most.
Although he might be retiring soon, he honestly tells us that he doesn’t see himself playing much poker, as he is a bit of a “degenerate gambler.” Since his son was born, Jo has put his gambling on a tight leash, though, and focuses on doing his job and spending time with the family.
His message to new dealers looking to break into the industry is simple: “pay attention to what you are doing, develop your own pace, and be patient – always wait for players to complete their action before you move on to the next seat.”
Everything Is Set for the Big Finale!
There is just one final day left before Mixed Game Festival XIV wraps up. But, make no mistake, we’ll wrap things up with a bang.
Thursday, June 11, will see the last grand prize giveaway, where one more player will pick up a ticket to the $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship.
The first two were awarded via PLO flips and poker trivia. For the third one, you’ll need to try and guess the total value of tournament chips contained in a transparent box.
To submit your entry, you’ll need to be seated at one of the active tables. We need to underline this – you can’t just walk over and put in a guess, as this competition is open to our Mixed Game Festival players only. Of course, everyone is welcome to grab a seat and play some hands, as long as there are available seats.
Before submitting your guess, you’re free to do a deep analysis of the chip box. Here’s a video from last year that you can use as a mini tutorial. 🙂
🤔👉 Here’s a flash back to last summer and the chip count @BetMGMPoker Giveaway! We will be doing the same contest on Thursday at @BellagioPoker! 👍🥳
🔗 https://t.co/K0u0CjaTXp
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV #FindTheFountains #JoinTheFestival pic.twitter.com/KSBeNwEFmA— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 10, 2026
Once again, you need to guess the total value of chips, and NOT the number of individual physical poker chips. It doesn’t matter if you guess over or under the exact number – the guess that is closest to the actual total wins the $3,500 seat.
It’s going to be a fun day, and we expect a bumper crowd, so if you want to be absolutely sure you have your seat, call ahead at (702) 693-7291 to put your name on the list. See you at the Bellagio for the big finale of Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival XIV!
It’s sometimes really hard to say what the best thing about the Mixed Game Festival is. Is it the sheer number of poker variations that we don’t see anywhere else? Is it the sense of camaraderie that we witnessed once more on Day 7 as players gathered around to have a few slices of pizza in between hands?
Or is it all the well-known players and poker industry insiders who frequent the event?
We knew ahead of time that Day 8 of the Mixed Game Festival XIV would be “Tuesday with Mori,” featuring Mori Eskandani, one of the people who can take the most credit for the growth of televised poker. An absolute industry legend and a Poker Hall of Famer, Mori is also a huge fan of mixed games plus he has previously graced the festival with his presence (last summer), so to have him at the tables is a great honor.
But there was another surprise in the cards for those who found themselves inside the Bellagio poker room on Tuesday. Huck Seed, the 1996 WSOP Main Event champion and a fellow Poker Hall of Fame member, decided to hop over for a few hours. Where else do you get to play against such poker legends at super-low stakes?
Another Day Buzzing With Excitement
Players started gathering at Bellagio ahead of the official kickoff, and, at noon, there were already three tables going. Shortly after, the fourth one opened up, so everything was lined up for another great day of mixed game action.
Mori Eskandani came in, as promised, and sat down for some $4/$8 action. With everything he has going on, it’s really kind and generous of him to devote some of his time to the festival, showing his true passion for and giving back to the game that helped him achieve so much over the course of his career.
📣👉 Poker Hall of Famer Mori Eskandani has joined the 4/8 streets here at @BellagioPoker! You never know who you will sit beside at @cardplayerlife‘s Mixed Game Festival XIV! 👍🥳
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV pic.twitter.com/JK7wySGWRL— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 9, 2026
It goes without saying that players were delighted to have a chance not only to play with Mori but also to chat with him and enjoy some of his many amazing stories. There are very few people who have been in the industry longer, and even fewer who have accomplished so much and had a chance to meet pretty much all the poker legends. A man like that never runs out of interesting stories!
On the topic of Poker Hall of Famers with stories to tell, the 1996 WSOP Main Event champ Huckleberry Seed certainly qualifies as well. One of the more colorful characters who was a big part of the game even before the game got big decided to relive his early grinding days by visiting the Mixed Game Festival.
Playing Micros Against the World Champ
Stakes during Mixed Game Festivals are pretty much as low as you’ll find anywhere in Vegas. That’s not a secret. It is, in fact, one of the main “selling points” of an event that primarily seeks to promote the game and a friendly atmosphere around the felt.
And yet, there are so many big-name players who have joined the action over the years to show their support for the idea and possibly relive some of those earliest moments of their careers.
The latest player to show his support in this fashion was Huck Seed. He came to the Bellagio a few hours into the action and had no hesitation about sitting down and splashing around in some $4/$8 and $6/$12 pots. He spent a couple of hours going from table to table, so that everyone got a chance to play with him.
📣👉 Poker Hall of Famer and 1996 @WSOP Main Event Champion Huck Seed joined our Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker yesterday. @cardplayerlife was able to chat with him about his experience! 🎙️🥳
📽️ https://t.co/IKlXabDTOl
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV pic.twitter.com/2v2l3C5nX2— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 10, 2026
Of course, the action slowed down a bit, as players wanted to take selfies with the champ and many had questions and wanted to hear stories. Winning a pot or two off a Main Event winner is cool and all, but, for many, this was a unique opportunity to pick his brain and ask him about many interesting stories that circulate the poker space to this day, as well as some specific poker strategy questions.
To have both of these legends at the tables on the same day was something that’s hard to put into words. It’s an experience that only those who frequent Mixed Game Festivals are privy to.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day
While we all love seeing big names at the tables and are grateful for their support, it is the official policy of the festival that we treat all of the players who join the action as stars and try to give as many of them as possible their time in the spotlight.
Today, the honor of the PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day goes to Patrick Ang, hailing from Ottawa, Canada. He came to Las Vegas specifically for the Mixed Game Festival, and this isn’t his first time not by a longshot!
He’s been coming regularly and was actually there for the very first Mixed Game Festival at Westgate!
Patrick keeps coming back because he feels “this is the greatest home game in Vegas.” The main thing he loves about poker is that it helps keep him sharp.
Ever since he started playing poker, mixed games have fascinated him because there is an intellectual aspect to it, looking for a strategic aspect for every different variation, while keeping in mind that it’s still poker. On the social side of things, he loves the atmosphere and the fact that everyone is so happy and relaxed.
On top of all that, the Festival “provides unique opportunities to pick the brains of some of the great players like Eli Elezra and Dylan Linde.”
This time around, Patrick got an opportunity to sit next to Huck Seed and asked him his opinion on how the Main Event field has changed since the time he won the tournament back in 1996. Huck shared his thoughts, saying that “30 years ago, players had a much better feel for the game, while these days, they are much more analytical, but they have less of a feel.”
1996 WSOP Main Event Champion and Poker Hall of Famer Huck Seed paid us a surprise visit today at Mixed Game Festival XIV.
Splashing around at all four of our $4/8 and $6/12 tables at @BellagioPoker, taking selfies with our players, and more.
A true champ of the game. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IrMJja75vX
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 10, 2026
When not playing poker, Patrick is busy with his day job as an online educator and developer for an online private school. His message to everyone out there thinking about expanding their horizons beyond Hold’em is simple (but true) – mixed game players have more fun!
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Jason Gabriel
Not all the dealers we come across share the same passion for mixed games. Some simply focus on doing a good job dealing cards and pushing pots, while others take a much deeper interest and look for ways to improve things. Jason Gabriel, our pick for Day 8’s RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day, is certainly in the latter category.
Jason moved to Las Vegas from Fresno, California, back in 1998. He was working a completely unrelated job but took an interest in poker, playing at The Orleans during evenings. His interest led him to learn how to deal poker all on his own, and later pass the audition at the Orleans to pick up a part-time role.
When his company asked him to move to LA, he decided he’d rather stay right here, leaving his physically demanding job and taking on a full-time dealer position. In 2000, he landed a job with the Bellagio, and he’s been here ever since.
There were many reasons behind his decision. He fell in love with poker, especially mixed games, where analytical thinking, math, and strategy all came together. Plus, working as a dealer, he got to enjoy a much more flexible schedule that allowed him to also play.
But it’s not just his passion that makes Jason stand out. You can’t miss a rather unique tool that he uses to handle the action. It’s a rake-like tool that can deal with chips and cards, and makes things go smoother.
This tool is actually his own invention. Jason came up with the idea when one of his fellow dealers was pregnant and struggling to reach chips. He says there was no real product out there to help with the struggle, so he took it upon himself to make one.
Although you might not be able to tell at a glance, the tool has a unique shape and special features, allowing it to manipulate chips and cards, keeping stacks neat and tidy, and pushing puts more efficiently.
While he makes these tools for friends, he also does it as a business, where people can buy custom rakes (14 different colors, custom text) on his website snaprake.com.
Jason is currently working on another idea, looking to make mixed game plaques easier to handle and also more helpful for the dealers.
While he is aware that these ideas won’t make him rich, Jason tells us he has “an innate ability to analyze situations and make things better, and he is determined to use that ability to make things better for the industry.”
With all these extracurricular activities and working two jobs, Jason doesn’t have much free time. He used to play golf but gave up on that, and he is now mostly focused on poker and taking care of his family – his wife Marcela and his three daughters.
More Hall of Famers in the Pipeline
After another exciting day at Mixed Game Festival XIV, the action is winding down with two tables going into the night. Those who were in attendance will certainly take some interesting stories home.
If you missed today’s action, the good news is that there is another Hall of Famer lined up for Day 9, as Eli Elezra will be joining us. A long-time friend of the Festival and an absolute mixed game wizard, Eli is a very welcome guest. So, call in at (702) 693-7291 and put your name on the list, as we could have another packed day.
📣 Day Nine of @cardplayerlife‘s Mixed Game Festival XIV, sponsored by @BetMGMPoker, includes a visit from @elielezra1 at @BellagioPoker! 🥳
📽️ https://t.co/kZITXkdCuS
🔗 https://t.co/K0u0CjbrMX
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV #FindTheFountains #JoinTheFestival pic.twitter.com/B34VIoeQIu— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 10, 2026
Thursday, June 11, will be the final day of MGF XIV, and it’s when we’ll give away our final seat to the $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship, so just a gentle reminder that, even though the time is running out, there are still some exciting things to look forward to. How will we give it away? Check out the video below 🙂
🤔👉 Here’s a flash back to last summer and the chip count @BetMGMPoker Giveaway! We will be doing the same contest on Thursday at @BellagioPoker! 👍🥳
🔗 https://t.co/K0u0CjaTXp
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV #FindTheFountains #JoinTheFestival pic.twitter.com/KSBeNwEFmA— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 10, 2026
With Mixed Game Festival XIV stretching over two whole weeks, one pizza party simply isn’t enough. In that spirit, Day 7 of the festival featured our second pizza party at Bellagio, with hungry players eager to wolf down some cheese and pepperoni slices. Between that and our first pizza party on Day 2, we made sure our players were plenty well fed, but that’ll be all the pies on the menu until next time; while there’s still some really cool stuff coming up, it won’t be delivered inside square boxes.
It’s clear, though, that our mixed game crowd knows value when they see it, so once again the Bellagio poker room was buzzing with action. We had three tables (two $4/$8 and one $6/$12) going from the start, with a fourth one opening a bit later/ All told, Day 7’s poker action lasted until the final table broke at just after 3am. If you want to know the exact time, you can ask festival founder Robbie Strazynski, who may or may not have been one of the last five players to rack up his chips for the night… 🙂
There was also a special appearance from Alex Livingston, who was unable to attend Day 5’s Pokercoaching.com Meet-Up Game, but who graced us with his presence as soon as he rolled into Las Vegas, throwing more free stuff into the mix for our players.
Alex Livingston’s Mixed Game Course, I Presume?
There is a reason why poker and pizza go so well together – it’s the kind of food that doesn’t require you to abandon the grind entirely. You can keep on mixing it up, and that’s one thing that the regular crowd at these Mixed Game Festivals knows quite a bit about.
Adding to the excitement in the room, Pokercoaching.com’s Alex Livingston came to splash around a bit with the players and give away free lifetime access to his recently-released mixed game course to one lucky player. That player ended up being James Garica who won just for being in the right place, at the right time. No loops or hoops to go through.
With the pizza gone and the main giveaway of the day done, you’d think the action would wind down, but the opposite happened, as a fourth table formed.
📣👉 Our fourth table is opening now! Come join in the excitement at @BellagioPoker as Day Seven of @cardplayerlife‘s Mixed Game Festival XIV rolls on! 👍🥳
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV pic.twitter.com/RygyTI97WQ— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 8, 2026
In addition to scooping (or halving, or quartering) the pots, players got to pick up some smaller prizes along the way. Chuck Martin managed to win his second Faded Spade set of cards for this trip, so whatever home game he plays in should be set for a while.
In an astonishing series of events, @chuckspoker somehow won ANOTHER set of @FadedSpadeBrand cards here at Mixed Game Festival XIV. 😲
Ian is not amused 😂 pic.twitter.com/kMNYXJi2zK
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 9, 2026
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Linda Rand
Day 7’s PokerCoaching.com Player of the Day comes from Tampa, Florida. This is Linda Rand’s eighth visit to the World Series of Poker, and since mixed games are her forte, she decided to check out what the festival has to offer.
Linda is here with her boyfriend, Donnie, who is also a poker player, so they can share the ups, the downs, and everything in between. She tells us that Archie is her favorite poker variant because you can go for high, for low, and change your mind midway through the hand.
Before moving to Florida, Linda worked as a poker dealer at the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa for a full 10 years, and she loves everything about the game: the people, the excitement, the fact that its different every day, and, of course, winning.
While she wouldn’t share with us what exactly she enjoys doing away from the tables (this remark brought lots of laughter while the player interview was being conducted), Linda’s message to all the ladies out there is to give poker a try and not be afraid to come out, play, and have fun. “Ladies, we are smarter than they (men) are,” she announces with conviction.
As for her poker goals, she’d like to win a big tournament, and she doesn’t care too much about what the game variation is, as long as the guarantee is at least $100k. Playing three to four tournaments a month lately, Linda is certainly putting some work toward that goal.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Constantine Garcia Woodward
Constantine Garcia Woodward, originally from California, has been in Las Vegas for about 10 years. He decided to make the move for better work opportunities. Before discovering poker, he worked different jobs, including being a security guard and a ramp agent at the airport in Anchorage, Alaska.
When he moved to Vegas, Constantine picked up a job as a cab driver. He then enrolled in a dealer school and, upon completing his education, he picked up a different career once more, along with a deck of cards.
It was his family (his older brother and his mother) who pushed him toward poker. “I didn’t really know anything about poker, but my brother wanted to be a dealer, and my mother thought I’d be very good at it, say Constantine.” She turned out to be right!
At this point, he’s been dealing cards for nine years, and he has dealt at almost every poker room on The Strip.
As for his hobbies, he likes to exercise, spend time at the park, and play some poker when he can. His dream is fairly down-to-earth, as he primarily wants to be a successful, winning poker player.
While Constantine enjoys the Mixed Game Festival and dealing all the different games, in his efforts on the felt, he prefers to stick to trusted No Limit Hold’em and Omaha High.
For a man who had such a colorful career, it’s no surprise that in addition to sticking with Bellagio for a while to come, he does have some additional aspirations, including working on his truck driving license.
Come Hang Out With Mori
It feels like the longer the festival goes on, the stronger the grasp of its magic becomes, not only to pull the people in, but to keep them in their seats for hours on end as cards fly through the air.
👀👉 Still three tables going strong on a Monday night! Come join in the fun at @cardplayerlife‘s Mixed Game Festival XIV, sponsored by @BetMGMPoker, which runs until Thursday at @BellagioPoker! 👍🥳
♠️♥️♣️♦️#PokerLifeMedia #MGFXIV pic.twitter.com/FXtaj9r4q3— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 9, 2026
There are some cool things lined up for Day 8 as well, with Poker Hall of Famer Mori Eskandani joining the crowd to play some hands and, undoubtedly, share some interesting stories. Plus, Mori is always full of ideas for new games, so we expect the action at his table to be fun and chaotic.
Today’s Day 8 of Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker will include an appearance by Poker Hall of Famer Mori Eskandani…
…and ANOTHER Poker Hall of Famer, too!😃
Wanna know who?
Come join us for “Tuesday with Mori”, and call 702-693-7291 to get your name on the list. pic.twitter.com/LyXengkgbv
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 9, 2026
Plus, there is also a surprise in the cards for Tuesday, but we won’t reveal who it is. What we can say is that it’s going to be special, and you should be there for it!
Be sure to call in ahead of time at (702) 693-7291 to put your name on the list or be at the Bellagio at noon, sharp, to secure your seat.
We are entering the final stretch, with our third and final $3500 2026 BetMGM Poker Championship seat up for grabs on Thursday, so you don’t want to miss out!
We predicted that the somewhat slower Day 4 of the Mixed Game Festival XIV would be the calm before the storm, and that prediction was spot on, as Day 5 turned out to be one of the most eventful so far, wrapping up the first week of the festival on a high note.
There was a lot happening at the Bellagio. The Pokercoaching.com Meet-Up Game kicked off at noon, and there were four tables going right from the start. Players poured into the room for an opportunity to play some low-stakes poker against Jonathan Little and Justin Saliba, two highly regarded and successful pros who spend most of their time playing $10,000+ tournaments, so this was a truly unique occasion.
Little and Saliba also gave away an $800 seat to the ARIA Poker Classic HORSE event, scheduled for June 16, among some other cool prizes. As if having two poker crushers in the room wasn’t enough, there were another couple big-name appearances to get the players excited, too.
There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s dig into it and try to bring you at least some of the atmosphere from Day 5 of Mixed Game Festival XIV.
Pokercoaching.com MUG: Little and Saliba in the House
The main event to wrap up the first half of the festival was the Meet-Up game co-hosted by the Pokercoaching.com crew, long-time friends and sponsors of the MGF.
Jonathan Little, the founder of the popular poker training site, and Justin Saliba, one of the main coaches (who incidentally got his start in mixed games at the festival), joined the mixed game crowd to play some $4/$8 dealer’s choice. Many players wanted to try their luck against the two, which led to four full tables going strong right from the start.
The atmosphere in the room was electric, and the excitement only grew bigger as the time for the tournament seat giveaway came around. Once more, players on all four tables played a PLO flip, with winners progressing to the second round.
The four finalists played another PLO flip, and it was Ben Ward who found the favor of the poker gods to come out on top and win himself a seat to the $800 ARIA Poker Classic HORSE event on June 16.
Congratulations to Ben Ward, who won himself an $800 seat into the @ARIAPoker Classic HORSE 🐎 event on June 16, courtesy of @PokerCoaching_ here at Mixed Game Festival XIV.
Lesson: win your blind PLO flips, and good things will happen! 😂 pic.twitter.com/hPbgOTWv1Z
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 4, 2026
The remaining three players who progressed to the final round each got a nice prize as well. Stephen Brogan, Tony Messing, and Garrett Browning won lifetime access to Alex Livingston’s Master Mixed Games course, which should certainly help them progress with their mixed game prowess.
READ MORE: Check out our Master Mixed Games course review
Of course, there was also a lot of merch up for grabs, and Jonathan Little was signing copies of his books, so players got quite an experience and, once again, heaps of value just for being part of the action. You just don’t get anything like it with other poker festivals.
We’ve got @JonathanLittle here for the @PokerCoaching_ meet up game at Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker.
He’s also signing copies of all his @DBPoker1 books, to the delight of the assembled masses 🤩📚✍️ pic.twitter.com/aUdE3iAksy
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 4, 2026
Poker Media Stars Come Out in Force
Day 5 saw a few more very familiar faces in the crowd. Longtime festival supporter Norman Chad popped in for a couple hours. While Norm is an MGF regular, this time around he was joined by his on-screen partner Lon McEachern, who was happily making his first festival appearance. The only way it could have gotten better is if we had a booth set up for them to do live commentary of the action.
So thankful to poker’s legendary broadcasters @lonmceachern and @NormanChad for taking time out of their schedule to visit Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker. ♥️
Exceptionally grateful to have them supporting the growth of our game. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/2FZuKJATG6
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 5, 2026
And let’s not forget about WSOP bracelet winner Chad Holloway of PokerNews, who decided to spend his lunch break playing mixed games. Plus PokerGO’s Tim Duckworth made his second festival appearance this summer, while veteran poker media stalwart Jesse Fullen turned up to splash around, too.
Had a long lunch break so made my way across the street to @BellagioPoker for @PokerLifeMedia’s Mixed Game Festival XIV!
Got destroyed in Super Stud but recouped some in a big A-5 Badacey. Lots of fun games.
We also filmed with @ThePokerBoss the other day for Saturday’s episode… pic.twitter.com/gy3VFr1NuI
— Chad Holloway (@ChadAHolloway) June 4, 2026
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Daryl Kermmoade
Keeping in line with the festive theme, our Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day is one Daryl Kermmoade. Originally from Kentucky and now living in Lincoln, Nebraska, Daryl came out to Las Vegas for his birthday trip to celebrate turning 63.
Like many who come out to Sin City during the summer, he is focusing on playing some WSOP events. However, he also likes playing at Bellagio during the downtime. When he got here, he noticed the Mixed Game Festival was happening, and it piqued his interest.
He already has some experience playing HORSE, and this seemed like a great opportunity to expand his horizons and try some completely new variations. Having played for a fair few hours, sitting next to festival host and Cardplayer Lifestyle founder Robbie Strazynski, Daryl shared that he was pleasantly surprised at how much fun everyone was having and just how eager other players were to help and make him feel welcome.
He first got into poker around 2003, and Council Bluffs, Iowa is his primary poker stomping grounds. However, he doesn’t get to play much mixed games there, as the choice is mostly down to No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.
As for his poker dreams, Daryl says he’d like to eventually make a final table and win a tournament, as he’s experienced a fair share of bubbles over the years. Hopefully, a free month of Pokercoaching.com will help bring him closer to that goal.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Larry Williams
Larry Williams, originally from Indiana, has been with the Bellagio for two decades. His adventure started back in 2005 when he decided to change things up, leaving his automobile repair business and packing up with the goal to travel the country for a while.
The path led him to Las Vegas, and he discovered that dealing cards was something he enjoyed. Being a people person, he tells us he enjoys the opportunity to mingle with the players.
When asked why he prefers “the other side of the table”, dealing and not playing, Larry was honest and admited that he “sucks at poker,” so a professional career as a player just wasn’t in the cards.
Like many other dealers we’ve talked to, Larry admits that there is a certain different vibe around the Mixed Game Festival crowd, where it’s obvious that people are here primarily to have fun, so there is no tension, and nobody’s playing with their life savings on the table.
He stuck with the Bellagio because he believes it is a great place to work, allowing for a lot of freedom, and, among other things, having a great cafeteria! As far as his professional goals, he says he’s pretty much seen it all and done it all, including pushing a million-dollar pot. “Chips are chips at the end of the day,” Larry tells us.
For fresh dealers who find themselves in the midst of the mixed game mayhem, his advice is to ask for help from the players. “Admit that you don’t know what you’re doing,” he says, “and just ask players to help you untangle the web.”
When not dealing cards, he likes to spend time playing some video poker, taking shorter hikes with his wife, and taking longer trips around the country when the opportunities present themselves.
Take Five, Everyone!
With Day 5 wrapping up in style, with three tables going strong late into the night, it’s time for the Mixed Game Festival to take a short break. But don’t worry, we’ll be back before you know it!
The action will pause over the next couple of days and resume in earnest on Sunday, June 7. Things will kick off at noon once more, and we’ll be giving away the second $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship ticket.
As always, you can secure your seat on the waiting list by calling the Bellagio Poker Room (702) 693-7291 ahead of the start, or simply make sure you’re there before the cards are in the air, and there will definitely be a chair for you to pull up.
Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XIV was pretty crazy (in the best possible way). There was a seat scramble, as players were trying to get in the mix ahead of the first $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship seat giveaway, and then it was a PLO mayhem that decided the lucky winner.
By contrast, Day 4 was much calmer, as we shifted into a bit of a lower gear with two tables of $4/$8 mix kicking off to start the festivities. For the first time since the festival started, there wasn’t a $6/$12 game going. But the ebb and flow of the festival is pretty typical, and it’s impossible for things to always be pedal to the metal for two straight weeks. What’s certain though is that there’s quite a lot lined up for Day 5, so the energy in the room is guaranteed to pick up once more.
Plus, the action will be moving from the overflow tables in the sportsbook directly into the Bellagio poker room. The lighting will be better, we’ll have automatic card shufflers at every table, and foot traffic will be higher. But more on that in a moment. Let’s get back to Day 4 highlights for now.
Rick Gleason Book Signing
While the Mixed Game Festival can’t quite give out thousands of dollars worth of tournament seats every day, there is always a little something extra happening alongside the table action. Wednesday saw Rick Gleason, a poker author and fellow Cardplayer Lifestyle contributor, join the crowd and do some book signings.
Gleason is the author of 101+ Poker Tips That Actually Work, an interesting book that, although it’s not specific to mixed games, brings some very useful general advice for poker players.
We’ve got Rick Gleason here at Mixed Game Festival XIV signing his new book.
It’s not mixed game specific, but there are some great general poker tips in there. Over 101 of ’em 😁
Review here on @PokerLifeMedia, by @santijota8 👇
https://t.co/eyq0gzfxjd pic.twitter.com/OwZSBMBTOb— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 3, 2026
The book is aimed primarily at recreational, low-stakes players, who play for the love of the game, so it’s a perfect match for the Mixed Game Festival crowd.
As always, a few players won free signed copies by accomplishing certain feats at the tables, like Mike Tyson (yes, we know that there are other Mike Tysons out there), who managed to scoop an Archie pot.
For those not as involved in the mixed game world, Archie is a triple draw split game, where the pot is split between the best high and the best low hand (using standard rankings), but there is also the minimum qualifying requirement for the high hand (usually a pair of nines or better) and for the low hand (an 8 or lower). If nobody qualifies, the pot gets split among every player remaining at showdown.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Brian Dowd
Often, in our Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day section, we highlight some of the newcomers who stumbled upon the festival by chance or were invited by a friend. Today, however, we have the complete opposite of that.
Hailing from St. Augustine, Florida, Brian Dowd has been a regular at Mixed Game Festivals, and this is his sixth time attending. His first time was a few years back, at Resorts World, and, like many other regulars, he just fell in love with the atmosphere.
Brian describes himself as a very competitive person, and that’s one aspect he enjoys the most about the game. At the same time, he prefers mixed games over Texas Hold’em and PLO, because mixed games lend themselves to much more fun, interaction, and camaraderie at the tables.
Living in Florida, when he’s not busy with his day job in wood manufacturing, Brian enjoys shooting some pool or spending time on the beach and soaking in the sun. Way before, he also used to be a chef, and he found quite a bit of success with that career before moving on to other things.
As for poker, Brian believes playing the skills the game hones can be of great use in day-to-day life, helping one see the big picture, realize all the different angles, put things in perspective, and decide which way to go – just like you do in a poker hand.
Although he says he likes to think of himself as a decent player, Brian doesn’t have any major poker goals. He just enjoys the competition, spending time with friends, and having a good time at the tables.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Lemlem Woldu
There are some people we’ve had a chance to talk to at the Mixed Game Festival who have been with the Bellagio for a long time, but none of them have been with the company longer than Lemlem Woldu, today’s pick for the Dealer of the Day.
Lemlem came to Las Vegas from Ethiopia in 1997. She got married here and got a job with the Bellagio the following year, as a bus runner, right as the legendary casino opened its doors. She has been here quite literally from the very first day.
After a while, an opportunity arose for employees who wanted to become poker dealers to get the necessary training, and Lemlem jumped on that opportunity. She learned how to deal the cards and never looked back.
There is an important reason she’s stayed with the Bellagio for nearly three decades. She loves the team she works with, the way the management handles things, and all the players who frequent the venue.
Of course, dealing at the Mixed Game Festival is a bit of a different experience, which she describes as both enjoyable and challenging. What she enjoys is that players are relaxed, having fun, and there is a friendly vibe. The challenge, on the other hand, is dealing all the different games, some of which she’s never dealt before – but it’s also fun for her.
When asked about her bucket list item as a poker dealer, she tells us she pretty much achieved all she set out to do. Her work allowed her to raise her two sons and send them to private schools. In her own heartfelt words, “It was this community that made it all possible, and I’m so very grateful for it.”
Day 5 Preview: Pokercoaching Meet-Up Game Time!
Looking ahead to what comes next, Day 5 promises to be a stellar one by all accounts.
Starting at noon, we’ll have a Pokercoaching Meet-Up Game, featuring top veteran pros Jonathan Little and Justin Saliba. The duo will join the action at the tables, so you’ll have a chance to win some chips off of them as well as also ask them some poker strategy questions while splashing around together at the felt.
We’re hosting a @PokerCoaching_ Meet-Up Game tomorrow at 12pm at Bellagio for the Mixed Game Festival!
I’m looking forward to splashing around in all sorts of odd games and we’re giving away an $800 Aria Tournament Seat. See you there!😊💥@cardplayerlife @PokerLifeMedia pic.twitter.com/zq91I47JmQ
— Jonathan Little (@JonathanLittle) June 4, 2026
But wait; there’s more! 🙂 One lucky randomly selected player will also receive a free entry into the $800 Aria Classic H.O.R.S.E event. You just need to be there to have a shot.
Also, a couple of players will receive lifetime passes to Alex Livingston’s Master Mixed Games course, which rates to be one of the best resources for mixed game players, whether you’re just starting or are an experienced player looking to enhance your strategy and find an extra edge.
The good folks at Pokercoaching.com have been longtime friends of ours here at Cardplayer Lifestyle and stalwart supporters of the Mixed Game Festival, regularly giving free 1-month subscriptions to all of our Players of the Day as well as a bunch of other free stuff, so it’ll be a pleasure to co-host the MUG with them.
We’re expecting a full house, so if you have plans to be here, we suggest you call the Bellagio poker room (702) 693-7291 and put your name on the list. That way, you’ll lock in your seat and will be able to get in the action right from the get-go. As mentioned, the action is moving to the main poker room tomorrow, so that’s where you’ll find us!
As we noted in our Day 2 recap, Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XIV was poised to bring a lot of excitement and heaps of value to the players as it featured the first $3,500 BetMGMPoker Championship seat giveaway.
For the third straight day, mixed game players filled four tables playing low stakes dealer’s choice poker for hours. The room was packed, as expected, and it wasn’t just the case that the day lived up to the expectations. Rather, it well exceeded them, as some lucky players were treated to four additional $300 seats to mixed game tournaments being held at the MGM Grand Summer Series a few blocks away on the Las Vegas Strip. This came as a total (and very pleasant) surprise, bringing with it smiles and exultation from the lucky foursome who secured their seats.
The Grand Prize, of course, went to Martin Mata, and he’ll be getting a free shot at the $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship title and a slice of the massive $4,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. He’ll be joined by at least two more lucky seat winners from the MGF XIV giveaway and hundreds of other players early in July at ARIA Las Vegas.
Let the PLO Gods Decide
Make no mistake, poker players will never say no to free stuff, but the manner in which you give that free stuff away matters as well. At the Mixed Game Festival, the focus is always on the fun, so the first tournament seat was awarded using a tried and tested system of PLO flips.
Looks like we have 32 players with over $100 in equity, each of whom is very excited to potentially win a $3500 seat into the 2026 @BetMGMPoker Championship.
The giveaway will happen within the next 90 minutes here at Mixed Game Festival XIV at @BellagioPoker. 🎉 pic.twitter.com/rPi3Hs59Uw
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) June 2, 2026
Sean McCormack, the Executive Director of Poker Strategy and Development for MGM Resorts, was on hand for the proceedings, and was also the one to deliver the pleasantly surprising news about the additional $300 tickets.
There were four tables going at the time, and each table ran out a blind Pot Limit Omaha flip. Then, hand winners proceeded to the second round to play for yet another PLO flip, with the winner of that flip winning the $3,500 ticket.
As you’d expect, it was a bit of mayhem (in the best possible way!), and our friends from PokerNews were kind enough to pay a visit to Bellagio and capture it in the video below.
(Video courtesy of PokerNews / Adam Peiken)
When the dust settled, it was Martin Mata from Denver, Colorado, emerging victorious and claiming the main prize. The other four hand winners to receive $300 seats were Nadi Medlege, Christina Black, Matt Bryant, and Scott Leader.
And if you’re wondering how there were four second-place finishers from just four tables, it’s because we had a chop in one of the round one hands, so five players actually progressed to the final round.
The extra prizes came as a courtesy from “the Poker Boss” Sean McCormack, and we can neither confirm nor deny whether there will be extra prizes awarded for upcoming draws. You’ll just have to be there for it and see for yourself if you might be one of the luck ones!
With the main highlight of the day out of the way, most players went back to their tables, and although we lost one table down the line, the action continued across three tables well past midnight.
Pokercoaching.com Player of the Day: Ben Kabatznik
It’s not only the tournament seat winners who got some free stuff yesterday. Not a day goes by at the Mixed Game Festival XIV without a bunch of prizes being distributed, and that includes one monthly PokerCoaching.com subscription given out every single day to the Player of the Day.
This time around, that honor goes to Ben Kabatznik from San Francisco, California. Ben is in the software-selling business, and he is in Las Vegas for a conference. His original plan was to play some $1/$3 No Limit Hold’em during his downtime, but when he discovered that a Mixed Game Festival was running, he changed his mind.
Ben’s experience with mixed games isn’t super extensive, but he enjoys Omaha Hi-Lo. As for the festival, he appreciates the opportunity to try his hand at some of the lesser-known variants, like Oma-Jack, which you’ll never come across in major tournaments or more formal events.
With a full-time job, he doesn’t have too much time to play poker, so when he gets an opportunity, he prefers to gamble and have fun. Mixed games offer that a lot more than Hold’em, which he says requires much more patience and a very analytical approach. Unfortunately, Ben doesn’t get a chance to play low stakes mix in Cali, so the festival came just at the right time for him.
His poker dream is to play in the WSOP Main Event. He says that at this point in his life, he can afford it financially, but now it’s more about organizing everything and finding the right time to do it and turning it into a fun trip for him and his wife.
While Ben doesn’t have much time to study poker, he greatly enjoys Jonathan Little’s free content on YouTube, so he’ll probably put his one-month subscription to PokerCoaching.com to good use.
RunGoodGear Dealer of the Day: Michael Godfrey
In the spotlight for this edition of the Dealer of the Day is Michael Godfrey. Originally from California, Michael has been living in Vegas for 21 years, and his role at the Bellagio is actually that of a shift manager.
Having spent over two decades in the casino business, he’s held many roles in places like Golden Nugget and South Point, and he’s been a member of the Bellagio team since August 2025.
He says that one of the main things he’s been focusing on since coming on board is to show people that playing poker at the Bellagio can be fun and light, even given the room’s elite reputation. In other words, while he’s got to suit up for work, he LOVES his new free Mixed Game Festival T-Shirt from RunGoodGear. 🙂
His experience notwithstanding, Michael tells us that he was nervous taking on his new role, explaining that working at Bellagio is just different. You can feel the energy of the place that he describes as “the mecca of all poker activities on the Strip.”
Back in the day, Michael arrived in Las Vegas during the Moneymaker boom, with the goal of becoming a professional poker player. A few years in, and having met his wife, he decided to opt for a more stable lifestyle, which is when he became a part of the industry, and he never looked back.
On a personal level, he enjoys the opportunity to learn from the likes of Bellagio Poker Room Director Craig Larson as well as Sean McCormack.
It’s a Wrap on Another Exciting Day
While Day 3 of Mixed Game Festival XIV has concluded, luckily there are seven more days left, so if you’ve missed out so far, there is plenty more to come. The action will kick off at 12pm sharp once more, and you can reserve your seat by calling the poker room at (702) 693-7291 – or just show up on time, and you’ll be guaranteed a seat.
Attention mixed game players:
Do you like the design of our @RunGoodGear shirts?
Come and get ’em at @BellagioPoker during our Mixed Game Festival 😁 pic.twitter.com/6BYEmMVqeL
— Cardplayer Lifestyle (@PokerLifeMedia) June 3, 2026
A reminder that there are some giveaways happening every day, with merch and poker books up for grabs. The next $3,500 BetMGM Poker Championship seat will be up for grabs on Sunday, so plan accordingly!