PokerGO Roundup: Mixed Games Series Results, Nick Schulman Joins ‘High Stakes Poker’, RunGood Dream Seats on the Line
It’s been a busy few weeks at PokerGO with the Mixed Games series recently wrapping up. The festival had players competing in numerous non-Hold’em formats and saw some big names rise to the top.
Some of those included Shaun Deeb, Eli Elezra, Jason Mercier, and John Monnette. Dan Zack also emerged as the overall series champion.
In other news, the platform also announced the new commentator for High Stakes Poker following Gabe Kaplan’s retirement. The platform also offered some more details on the “Dream Seat” promotion allowing recreational players to compete with some of the biggest names in poker. Here’s a look at some of the news from PokerGO.
PokerGO Mixed Games Festival concludes
The last two weeks saw players descend on the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas for action featuring games from Stud to Omaha and more. Zack (pictured in lead image, photos courtesy PokerGO) took the series championship after recording five cashes for a total of almost $5325,000.
That included a runner-up in the $25,500 Ten-Game Championship for $345,000 as well as a third-place finish. The New Jersey grinder now has almost $3.3 million in live tournament winnings. He scored an extra $25,000 and a trophy for winning the overall championship.
“It’s incredible,” Zack told PokerGO. “It is so nice to have this (series). There are no mixed game tournaments outside of the World Series of Poker before this at reasonable stakes. It’s incredible to have another chance a year to play these events, given how fun mixed game tournaments are, and how much demand there is for them in the high-stakes mixed community.”
Chopped the PGT main event and won player of the series! Feeling very blessed for how I’ve run the past year. Huge shoutout to @TDPaulCampbell and the whole pokerGo studio staff for an incredibly well run series. Best tournament room and it’s not close.
— Daniel Zack (@Dan__Zack) February 12, 2023
Former PokerStars ambassador Jason Mercier continued his return to more live poker with a nice win as well. He topped Zack heads up after a deal to win the 10-Game Championship for $367,500.
Shaun Deeb kicked off the festivities by taking down the first event of the series. He scored $208,800 in the $10,300 HORSE, which attracted 87 entries for an $870,000 prize pool.
Poker Hall of Fame member Eli Elezra also found the winner’s circle, grabbing the top spot in the $10,300 Triple Stud Mix for $155,000. Here’s a look at all the winners.
PokerGO Mixed Games 2023
Event Tournament Winner Winner payout Runner-up
1 $10,300 H.O.R.S.E. Shaun Deeb $208,800 David "ODB" Baker
2 $10,300 8-Game John Monnette $211,200 Albert Daher
3 $10,300 Triple Stud Mix Eli Elezra $155,000 Yuval Bronshtein
4 $10,300 Big Bet Mix Ben Lamb $186,300 Maxx Coleman
5 $10,300 Triple Draw Mix Nick Guagenti $171,075 Alex Livingston
6 $10,300 Dealer's Choice Scott Abrams $179,200 Ben Lamb
7 $25,500 10-Game Championship Jason Mercier $367,500 Dan Zack
8 $5,300 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw Cary Katz $83,200 Johannes Becker
Nick Schulman takes commentary reins at ‘High Stakes Poker’
In other PokerGO news, the company also recently announced Nick Schulman as the new color commentator for the popular High Stakes Poker. This follows Gabe Kaplan’s retirement from the show.
Schulman, 38, is a longtime poker pro and commentator. His outside-the-box insight and approach to the game has resonated with many poker fans.
A three-time WSOP bracelet winner, Schullman also has one World Poker Tour title on his resumé. His first episode was released on Jan. 31. Schulman will be paired with long-time High Stakes commentator AJ Benza.
“To join the show that started it all and replace the best to ever do it is a tremendous honor,” Schulman said in a news release. “Thank you to Gabe for having his blessing, see you soon.”
Schulman joined PokerGO in 2015 for the Super High Roller Cash Game. He quickly became a favorite on the network, moving on to provide analysis for the WSOP, High Stakes Duel, Super High Roller Bowl, Poker Masters, US Poker Open, and PokerGO Cup. He’s been a broadcaster of the year award winner at the American Poker Awards.
“Nick represents the modern era of poker as one of the most knowledgeable, dignified minds in the game, and we are thrilled to welcome him to High Stakes Poker,” PokerGO President Mori Eskandani said. “When Nick first started working with PokerGO, it quickly became apparent that he had a bright future on this side of the felt. Nick’s fresh, insightful perspective has added immense value to PokerGO over the years, and we believe he is the perfect fit to carry on the legacy of poker’s most iconic cash-game show.”
Dream Seat promotion kicks off with RunGood Poker Series partnership 
PokerGO recently announced a new promotion throughout 2023 – the chance for players to win a “Dream Seat.” The concept would allow recreational players win seats in the season-ending PokerGO Tour Championship. The event comes with a $1 million prize pool and concludes the tour’s third season. The exclusive event is open to the top 40 players on the PGT leaderboard plus a select group of Dream Seat winners.
PokerGO recently announced the continuation of a partnership with the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) that will see a Dream Seat up for grabs this year.
All 2023 RunGood ring winners earn an invitation to compete in the first-ever RGPS Dream Seat Invitational at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in November. The winner secures the Dream Seat.
RGPS main event winners earn automatic entry into the event, which includes a $300 buy-in and $200 travel stipend. Non-main event ring winners are also eligible to buy in to the event.
“The RunGood Poker Series is ecstatic to partner with PokerGO to give one of our players an incredibly unique experience to compete in the PGT Championship million dollar freeroll,” RunGood President Tana Karn said. “As poker’s leading mid-major poker tour, we are always looking for ways to raise the bar. The RGPS Dream Seat Invitational allows us to do just that while celebrating our ring winners.”
PokerGO will announce more Dream Seat promotions soon. Some of the upcoming stops on the RunGood tour include:
- Jamul Casino San Diego, Feb. 21-26
- Horseshoe Tunica, Feb. 28 – March 5
- Graton Casino, Feb. 28 – March 8
- Downstream Casino Joplin – April 11-16