(Image: phlvisitorcenter.com)
Phil Hellmuth may be somewhat sour at the poker table when things don’t go his way, but the Poker Brat will be enjoying a little bit of sweetness at the end of April when he visits Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino.
Hellmuth, the all-time leading WSOP bracelet winner and one of the most recognizable poker players in the world, will be the guest of honor for the venue’s first ever major poker event.
Dubbed the $100,000 Guaranteed Poker Showdown ($280 entry fee), the tournament, which takes place between April 23 to April 27, will be the first of its kind inside the casino and, according to its Vice President of Gaming, Rose Cook, it will serve as a great advert for the growing poker room.
Hellmuth to Boost Casino’s Profile
Talking about the festival and the impending visit by Mr. Hellmuth, Cook told Pokernews that there will be six Day 1s and she expects the event to sellout quickly.
The SugarHouse is one of Philadelphia’s five legal casinos and since 2010 it has steadily increased its range of games to include a range of table games and poker.
As well as hosting a $100,000 guaranteed tournament to mark the growing stature of the casino, SugarHouse will also welcome the Poker Night in America (PNIA) team for the first time between April 26 and April 28.
The high stakes cash game show, which is shown on CBS Sports, is set to feature Hellmuth alongside a slew of pros from across the US (the line-up is yet to be announced).
In addition to the main show, the PNIA crew will also be filming the second installment of the popular “Ladies Night” event.
Following on from the first female-only cash game back in December 2014, the game will boast a selection of femme fatales, including Beth Shak, Jennifer Shahade and Jamie Kerstetter.
An Advert for Philadelphia Gaming
As well as providing a backdrop for an upcoming PNIA broadcast, the SugarHouse will also be helping to show off the best local talent in Philadelphia.
Through its network of contacts, the casino will be drafting in local cheesesteak legends, including Tony Luke, and giving them a platform on the show.
Although Hellmuth hasn’t formally confirmed that he’ll play in the $100,000 Poker Showdown, Cook believes his presence at the casino as part of the PNIA show will prompt the locals to come out in force.
Poker Night in America
A weekly show dedicated to showing cash games, Poker Night in America is presided over by Chris Hanson in the commentary booth and has aired on CBS Sports since 2014.
The main premise of the show is to take the traditional concept of home games, popular across the US, and put them on national stage.
Since its inception, Phil Hellmuth has appeared twice on the show, as have a number of other household names, including Phil Laak, Vanessa Selbst and Jennifer Tilly.
