Phil Hellmuth, if he’s down to play, will soon have an opportunity to begin his $400,000 side bet against Daniel Negreanu. Aria Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip has a pair of $25,000 high rollers scheduled for the next week, along with two additional $10,000 buy-in events.
Hellmuth wagered $200,000 at 2-1 odds (to win $400,000) that he could turn a profit through 50, $25,000 buy-in Aria high-roller tournaments. He has an unlimited amount of time to complete the prop bet against his future heads-up opponent.
The “Poker Brat’s” first shot at beginning the side bet will occur next weekend on the Las Vegas Strip. Aria, which boasts one of the top poker rooms in the world, is home to some of the biggest games in the US, including regular high-roller tournaments that attract many of the top pros, such as David Peters, Dan Smith, and Justin Bonomo.
Such deep fields mean it won’t be easy for Hellmuth to win his bet against Negreanu. There aren’t many marks in these tournaments, unlike some of the less expensive WSOP events he’s shipped in the past.
Rake-free poker
One thing poker players love just about as much as anything is a rake-free tournament. That’s what players receive in the Aria high rollers, along with the same delicious free cocktails the $1/$2 grinders get to sip on.
The upcoming series kicks off on March 31 with the first $10,000 buy-in tournament, followed by the same event on April 1. If you get caught bluffing during the latter tournament, perhaps you can pull the “April Fool’s” card and get your chips back. Actually, we don’t advise trying that.
The $25,000 tournaments run on April 2 and April 3 at Aria. If Hellmuth is serious about proving he can crush these high rollers, he’ll show up ready to play at the casino he proudly promotes.
Each tournament begins at 2 pm PT at the Las Vegas resort. Free rake only applies to those who register by the start of the event. Players who show up late to register, and reentries, are subject to a $500 fee.
The structure in Aria high rollers is enjoyable to those who despise tanking. Players have just 30 seconds to act before their hand is deemed dead. That speeds up the action, which has long been an issue in many high-stakes poker tournaments.
