Inside the £20 Million Poker Extravaganza in a Luxury London Hotel
Date: 2023-09-23 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: POKER, EVENTS
In August, London witnessed an extraordinary gathering of poker aficionados and VIPs, with more than £20 million up for grabs. Mirror Sport had exclusive access to this high-stakes event.
Poker pro Daniel Cates, famously known as 'Jungleman' in the poker community, found himself in an unusual predicament. He missed a chance to pay a hefty $250,000 entry fee due to a misunderstanding and a lack of phone access. This London rendezvous was no ordinary poker tournament, but the Luxon Invitational, part of the Triton Poker Series. With more than £20 million in play, it was an invite-only affair held at the Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair.
As the tournament commenced on a midweek afternoon, 90 players had already paid their initial £250,000 entry fee, with some returning after playing until the early hours in another high-stakes game. Those who lost their starting chip stacks had a second shot by buying back in, pushing the player count to over 100.
One of the event's unique aspects is its invite-only nature. Triton, the organization behind this tournament, invited a select group of VIPs, each of whom could invite a poker pro of their choice. This led to private discussions and negotiations among the pros to secure an invitation. Among the recognizable faces was American pro Doug Polk, who made a rare trip to Europe for this event. In the early stages, VIPs and pros played separately to level the playing field.
The hotel's setting overlooking Hyde Park added to the event's allure, but the true intensity was revealed when the games began. Alongside pros and VIPs, Triton invited Tom Clarke Hill, the voice of Tony the Tiger, to provide an electrifying introduction.
The tournament attracted a mix of players, from seasoned pros to recreational enthusiasts. Throughout the two-week series of events, buy-ins ranged from $25,000 to ten times that amount, offering numerous opportunities to vie for millions.
Cates, invited by Triton Poker founder Richard Yong, praised the Luxon Invitational's structure and suggested more collaborations between businessmen and pros could be intriguing.
Selecting a poker pro to accompany them was a critical decision for the VIPs. One VIP revealed that they chose a player based on their positive demeanor and willingness to donate a portion of winnings to charity.
As the tournament progressed, some VIPs accumulated chips to compete against top pros. Among them was Seth Gottlieb, a US-based businessman, who enjoyed the mix of players. Ultimately, the tournament saw 23 players earn payouts, with minimum cash winnings of $342,000 and the winner taking home nearly $7 million.
American pro Bryn Kenney secured the top spot and a $6.86 million prize, with the final table representing Europe, Asia, and North America. Despite the outcome, those who fell short had other opportunities to win big in various tournaments and cash games.
For many, the cash games were the main attraction, offering unbridled excitement and substantial winnings. Invitations for these games were hard to come by, and once secured, players were reluctant to leave the table. Cates, when asked how long he planned to play, simply said, "I'm not leaving. Not leaving the game."
Poker pro Daniel Cates, famously known as 'Jungleman' in the poker community, found himself in an unusual predicament. He missed a chance to pay a hefty $250,000 entry fee due to a misunderstanding and a lack of phone access. This London rendezvous was no ordinary poker tournament, but the Luxon Invitational, part of the Triton Poker Series. With more than £20 million in play, it was an invite-only affair held at the Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair.
As the tournament commenced on a midweek afternoon, 90 players had already paid their initial £250,000 entry fee, with some returning after playing until the early hours in another high-stakes game. Those who lost their starting chip stacks had a second shot by buying back in, pushing the player count to over 100.
One of the event's unique aspects is its invite-only nature. Triton, the organization behind this tournament, invited a select group of VIPs, each of whom could invite a poker pro of their choice. This led to private discussions and negotiations among the pros to secure an invitation. Among the recognizable faces was American pro Doug Polk, who made a rare trip to Europe for this event. In the early stages, VIPs and pros played separately to level the playing field.
The hotel's setting overlooking Hyde Park added to the event's allure, but the true intensity was revealed when the games began. Alongside pros and VIPs, Triton invited Tom Clarke Hill, the voice of Tony the Tiger, to provide an electrifying introduction.
The tournament attracted a mix of players, from seasoned pros to recreational enthusiasts. Throughout the two-week series of events, buy-ins ranged from $25,000 to ten times that amount, offering numerous opportunities to vie for millions.
Cates, invited by Triton Poker founder Richard Yong, praised the Luxon Invitational's structure and suggested more collaborations between businessmen and pros could be intriguing.
Selecting a poker pro to accompany them was a critical decision for the VIPs. One VIP revealed that they chose a player based on their positive demeanor and willingness to donate a portion of winnings to charity.
As the tournament progressed, some VIPs accumulated chips to compete against top pros. Among them was Seth Gottlieb, a US-based businessman, who enjoyed the mix of players. Ultimately, the tournament saw 23 players earn payouts, with minimum cash winnings of $342,000 and the winner taking home nearly $7 million.
American pro Bryn Kenney secured the top spot and a $6.86 million prize, with the final table representing Europe, Asia, and North America. Despite the outcome, those who fell short had other opportunities to win big in various tournaments and cash games.
For many, the cash games were the main attraction, offering unbridled excitement and substantial winnings. Invitations for these games were hard to come by, and once secured, players were reluctant to leave the table. Cates, when asked how long he planned to play, simply said, "I'm not leaving. Not leaving the game."
