National Poker Championship 2018

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National Poker Championship 2018 9,7/10 5557 votes

One of the biggest summer poker series in Las Vegas, Nevada is on the books for 2018. The Venetian DeepStack Championship Poker schedule features 150 events and more than $31 million in guarantees between May 14 and July 29. Players can expect a smorgasbord of events from the $200 buy-in level all the way up to $5,000. No Limit Hold’em dominates the schedule with Bounty, Big Blind Ante and everything in-between.

According to Venetian Tournament Director Tommy LaRosa, the $31 million in guarantees is what jumps out among the legion of tournaments.

“My goal was to create a schedule of can’t-miss poker tournaments that the players want to see and ultimately participate in,” LaRosa said. “The $31 million in guaranteed tournament prize pools is what stands out the most. It’s either the largest or close to the largest total guarantee ever offered.”

The final event of the 2018 Spring PlayNow Poker Championship played out in just over 12 hours on Sunday at Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg. Khai Nguyen took the last title to conclude the series. The final tournament had a buy-in of $400 and got underway at 1 p.m. On Sunday, running alongside Day 2 of the Main Event. World Series of Poker 2018 was held at Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, USA from May 29, 2018 thru July 17, 2018. This was the 49th annual WSOP event. Thirty-three year old John from USA. Elected to the Poker Hall of Fame (#/#) This denotes a bracelet winner. The first number is the number of bracelets won in the 2018 WSOP. The second number is the total number of bracelets won. Both numbers represent totals as of that point during the tournament. Place What place each player at the final table finished Name. Inaugural Red River Poker Championship 2018.

Venetian and MSPT expand partnership

The lone foothold for the Mid-States Poker Tour in Las Vegas is at The Venetian. The series plays branded events across the year. This summer, that schedule is expanded to five tournaments all of which include a live-streamed final table.

Buy-in levels for these events are $600, $1,100, $1,600, $3,500, and $5,000. The minimum guarantee is $1 million. Formerly, the $1,100 event was the only MSPT event on the schedule. This year’s guarantee for that tournament is a whopping $3,500,000.

LaRosa looks forward to what the live streaming aspect of final tables will do for the Venetian DeepStack series. This is the introduction of live streams to The Venetian’s repertoire of tournaments.

“This summer, The Venetian Poker Room and Mid-States Poker Tour team up for five events at various buy-in levels. All of these events will have ‘live’ reporting by the MSPT team for at least a portion of the event, and all of these Final Tables will be ‘live’ streamed at msptpoker.com.”

New convention space

The days of cramming thousands of players into The Venetian Poker Room and surrounding sportsbook are gone. This year, 103 tables are available in the Sands Expo Convention Center starting on Saturday, May 26. With up to four events running per day in the heart of the summer, players can look forward to maximized space and little to no lines for alternates.

National Heads Up Poker Championship 2018

Bring on the big blind ante

Players want the big blind ante in their events and The Venetian offers it in 16 tournaments this summer and is available at all buy-in levels. Certain $400, $600, and $1,100 single-day events carry the big blind ante along with the $3,500 MSPT event and the two $5,000 Main Events.

LaRosa took a practical approach to instituting the big blind ante to please the full spectrum of players who play Venetian Deepstack summer events.

“For me, it mostly came down to the one-day events where it is very important for players to maximize the number of hands they see,” LaRosa noted. “Of course, with the popularity of this format amongst a number of professional players, I chose to offer it with our highest buy-ins as well.”

Mixed Games represented

Demand for mixed games is on the mind of all Las Vegas operators when constructing the summer calendar. The Venetian has a strong quota of games to choose from with new Pot Limit Omaha variants fresh on the menu.

Single-day PLO and PLO/8 tournaments fill in a few days. The grand addition is the $1,600 PLO MonsterStack 8Max event. The three-day MTT opens on Friday, June 1 and carries a $250,000 guarantee with players starting at a stack of 35,000.

Other mixed events include H.O.R.S.E., OE, and PLO Progressive Bounty.

More new events to choose from

The Venetian is keeping players entertained with new tournaments across the summer. LaRosa looks forward to rolling the additions out with the PLO Monster Stack among his favorites.

National

“I think all four new MSPT events will be a huge hit, but I am also excited to offer a few new events including our $1,600 NLH (6Max) $750K guarantee, $1,600 PLO (6Max) $150K guarantee, $1,600 PLO MonsterStack (8Max) $250K guarantee, $1,100 NLH Summer Savers I and II; both with $1 million guarantees, as well as the $400 NLH NightStack with a $1 Million Guarantee, which should be one of the best valued events all summer.”

The Summer Savers that LaRosa speaks of match up against the end of the World Series of Poker schedule following the start of the Main Event. It will be interesting to see how the numbers from the respective series match up against one another with overlap among major events.

National

Keeping player feedback in mind

LaRosa is active on Twitter in responding to player feedback. Responses to various tweets inspired some of the makeup for the final draft of the Venetian Deepstack schedule.

“Player feedback is very important to me, which is why I seek their opinion every year on our twitter page @venetianpoker. I love to see the ideas they come up with and what events they are passionate about. If they are excited for an event, I just think it makes sense to try to offer it in some way.”

2018 DeepStack Championship Poker Series Schedule

National Heads Up Poker Championship 2018

DateTimeEventGuarantee
May 1412:00 PM$340 No Limit Hold’em DoubleStack Day 1A*$100,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$9,000
May 1512:00 PM$340 No Limit Hold’em DoubleStack Day 1B*$100,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$9,000
May 1612:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$40,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$10,000
May 1712:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1A*$150,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$9,000
May 1812:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1B*$150,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$17,000
May 1912:00 PM$400 SuperStack Day 1C*$150,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$12,000
May 2012:00 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$25,000
2:00 PM$400 Omaha 8/B$12,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$10,000
May 2112:00 PM$340 No Limit Hold’em DoubleStack Day 1A*$100,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$9,000
May 2212:00 PM$340 No Limit Hold’em DoubleStack Day 1B*$100,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$9,000
May 2312:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$40,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$10,000
May 2412:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1A*$250,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$15,000
May 2512:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1B*$250,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$25,000
May 2612:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1C*$250,000
2:00 PM$400 PLO$20,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$20,000
May 2711:00 AM$400 No Limit Hold’em Seniors$25,000
12:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$75,000
2:00 PM$400 PLO 8/B$20,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$25,000
May 2811:00 AM$200 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
12:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Summer Kick Off Day 1A*$500,000
4:00 PM$600 Omaha 8/B Day 1A*$100,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$25,000
May 2912:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Summer Kick Off Day 1B*$500,000
4:00 PM$600 Omaha 8/B Day 1A*$100,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$25,000
May 3012:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$200,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$20,000
May 3111:00 AM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1A*$500,000
6:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em NightStack Day 1A*$1 Million
June 112:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1B*$500,000
2:00 PM$1,600 PLO MonsterStack 8-Max (3 Day)$250,000
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$25,000
June 212:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$100,000
4:00 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$25,000
June 311:00 AM$200 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
12:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1A (3 Day)$3.5 Million
4:00 PM$600 H.O.R.S.E*$50,000
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$25,000
June 412:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1B (3 Day)$3.5 Million
4:00 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
7:05 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Turbo Progressive Bounty$75,000
June 512:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1C (3 Day)$3.5 Million
4:00 PM$800 PLO Bounty (8Max)*$88,888
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$75,000
June 612:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1D (3 Day)$3.5 Million
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$75,000
June 712:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$400,000
4:00 PM$600 BIG O*$75,000
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em NightStack Day 1B*$1 Million
June 812:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack*$400,000
7:05 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’emTurbo$75,000
June 912:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1A (3 Day)$1 Million
4:00 PM$800 PLO 8/B 8-Max*$88,888
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Survivor$40,000
June 1012:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1B (3 Day)$1 Million
4:00 PM$1,600 PLO 6-Max*$150,000
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$75,000
June 1112:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1C (3 Day)$1 Million
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$50,000
June 1211:00 AM$600 No Limit Hold’em Seniors (50+) Day 1A*$600,000
1:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em DoubleStack*$250,000
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Survivor$50,000
June 1311:00 AM$600 No Limit Hold’em Seniors (50+) Day 1B*$600,000
1:00 PM$600 PLO 8/B$75,000
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$50,000
June 1412:00 PM$1,600 No Limit Hold’em (6Max)*$750,000
6:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em NightStack Day 1C*$1 Million
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
June 1511:00 AM$600 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
12:00 PM$800 No Limit Hold’em 8-Max Day 1A*$800,000
2:00 PM$5,000 No Limit Hold’em MSPT (Big Blind Ante) (3 Day)$1 Million
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$75,000
June 1612:00 PM$800 No Limit Hold’em 8-Max Day 1B*$800,000
6:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$75,000
10:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperTurbo$10,000
June 1712:00 PM$800 No Limit Hold’em 8-Max Day 1C*$800,000
4:00 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
7:05 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Turbo$75,000
June 1812:00 PM$1,600 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1A (3 Day)$3 Million
4:00 PM$600 Omaha 8/B*$100,000
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$50,000
June 1912:00 PM$1,600 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1B (3 Day)$3 Million
4:00 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$75,000
June 2012:00 PM$1,600 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1C (3 Day)$3 Million
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$50,000
June 2112:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$300,000
1:00 PM$600 Omaha 8B / STUD 8B$50,000
6:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em NightStack Day 1D*$1 Million
June 2212:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em MonsterStack*$200,000
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$75,000
June 2312:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1A*$500,000
1:00 PM$1,100 PLO 8/B 8-Max$100,000
5:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1B*$500,000
10:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperTurbo$10,000
June 2412:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1C*$500,000
4:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
6:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em NightStack Day 1E*$1 Million
June 2512:00 PM$3,500 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1A (Big Blind Ante) (4 Day)$3.5 Million
1:00 PM$1,100 PLO Bounty 6-Max$100,000
4:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
6:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$75,000
June 2611:00 AM$400 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
12:00 PM$3,500 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1B (Big Blind Ante) (4 Day)$3.5 Million
2:00 PM$500 No Limit Hold’em LIPS Ladies*$40,000
6:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em NightStack Day 1F*$1 Million
June 2711:00 AM$400 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite Turbo5 Seats
12:00 PM$3,500 No Limit Hold’em MSPT Day 1C (Big Blind Ante) (4 Day)$3.5 Million
6:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em NightStack Day 1G*$1 Million
June 2812:00 PM$1,600 No Limit Hold’em Bounty*$700,000
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$50,000
June 2912:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$400,000
6:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em NightStack Day 1H*$1 Million
June 3012:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em MonsterStack Day 1A*$750,000
1:00 PM$1,100 PLO 8/B*$100,000
5:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em MonsterStack Day 1B*$750,000
10:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperTurbo$10,000
July 112:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em MonsterStack Day 1C*$750,000
5:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em MonsterStack Day 1D*$750,000
July 212:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em MonsterStack Day 1E*$750,000
1:00 PM$600 Omaha 8B / STUD 8B*$50,000
7:05 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Turbo Progressive Bounty$75,000
July 312:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$200,000
1:00 PM$400 PLO Progressive Bounty$20,000
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Turbo$40,000
July 412:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$200,000
4:00 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
7:05 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$40,000
July 512:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Summer Saver I Day 1A (3 Day)$1 Million
1:00 PM$600 PLO / PLO 8B*$75,000
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$75,000
July 612:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Summer Saver I Day 1B (3 Day)$1 Million
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$75,000
July 71:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack*$200,000
July 812:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$200,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
July 911:00 AM$400 Omaha 8/B$20,000
12:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Summer Saver II Day 1A (3 Day)$1 Million
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
July 1012:00 PM$1,100 No Limit Hold’em Summer Saver II Day 1B (3 Day)$1 Million
July 111:00 PM$600 MonsterStack*$200,000
July 1212:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$200,000
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Survivor$50,000
July 1311:00 AM$600 No Limit Hold’em Seniors SuperStack (50+)*$50,000
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
July 1411:00 AM$600 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
12:00 PM$5,000 No Limit Hold’em CPPT Day 1A (Big Blind Ante) (5 Day)$2 Million
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite5 Seats
July 1512:00 PM$5,000 No Limit Hold’em CPPT Day 1B (Big Blind Ante) (5 Day)$2 Million
7:05 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellite2 Seats
July 167:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$15,000
July 1712:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$35,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$25,000
July 1812:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$35,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$15,000
July 1912:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1A*$250,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$25,000
July 2012:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1B*$250,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$15,000
July 2112:00 PM$600 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack Day 1C*$250,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$15,000
July 2212:00 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$25,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$25,000
July 2312:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack (Big Blind Ante)$35,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$9,000
July 2412:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Closer Day 1A* (Play down to 5%)$400,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$9,000
July 2512:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Closer Day 1B* (Play down to 5%)$400,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$10,000
July 2612:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Closer Day 1C* (Play down to 5%)$400,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty$9,000
July 2712:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Closer Day 1D* (Play down to 5%)$400,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$12,000
July 2812:00 PM$400 No Limit Hold’em Closer Day 1E* (Play down to 5%)$400,000
7:05 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em SuperStack$20,000
July 2912:00 PM$300 No Limit Hold’em Rebuy$25,000
2:00 PM$400 PLO Bounty$12,000
7:05 PM$200 No Limit Hold’em Bounty$9,000

*two-day event

The final event of the 2018 Spring PlayNow Poker Championship played out in just over 12 hours on Sunday at Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg. Khai Nguyen took the last title to conclude the series.

The final tournament had a buy-in of $400 and got underway at 1 p.m. on Sunday, running alongside Day 2 of the Main Event. By the time late registration closed, 148 entries were recorded. That put $55,500 into the prize pool to be divided 15 ways.

The money bubble burst about eight hours after play began, and it took another three hours to reach the final table of 10 players.

Championship

The first player out from the final table was Kerran Seth, who collected $1,493 for 10th place. Next out was Scott McGregor. He won $1,673 for ninth place.

Eighth place went to Kyle McIvor for $1,920, and the seventh-place finisher was Shep Kaastra. He made $2,269.

Bel Roque was the sixth-place finisher for a score of $2,773.

With five players remaining, the players started talking deal, and eventually agreed to a chop that saw Khai Nguyen take the most money at $9,850. Scott Dunford took the next-biggest bag of cash, at $8,850. Muzz Anderson had the third-biggest score for $7,850, while Wayne Bartnik grabbed $6,850. Pierre Remillard took the smallest share at $5,850. That left a few dollars left over, which players agreed to ship to the dealers as a tip.

They still decided to play it out for the trophy, however, and the finishing order was slightly different than the cashout order. Khai Nguyen still ended up on top, taking the trophy over Pierre Remillard who finished second. Wayne Bartnik took third place in the standings, and Scott Dunford took fourth. The fifth-place finisher was Muzz Anderson.

2018 Spring PlayNow Poker Championship $400 Event Final Table Results

FinishPlayerPrize
1Khai Nguyen$9,850
2Pierre Remillard$5,850
3Wayne Bartnik$6,850
4Scott Dunford$8,850
5Muzz Anderson$7,850
6Bel Roque$2,773
7Shep Kaastra$2,269
8Kyle McIvor$1,920
9Scott McGregor$1,673
10Kerran Seth$1,493

With the conclusion of this fourth and final event, the 2018 Spring PlayNow Poker Championship has come to a close. It has been a great week of poker and a very successful series at Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg.

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