Tucked comfortably in a hidden speakeasy on the 66th ground of Resorts World, among the greatest poker gamers on the earth kicked off F1 week in Las Vegas with a scenic poker sport overlooking the Strip..
The occasion, the $5,300 buy-in Large Deal for One Drop charity poker match hosted by Cirque du Soleil Man Laliberté, was emceed by 17-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth and drew money sport stars like Jennifer Tilly and Antonio Esfandiari.
It additionally produced one of the vital stacked charity occasion closing tables in latest reminiscence, excluding tremendous excessive curler charity occasions just like the $1 million Large One for One Drop, as 2023 World Collection of Poker Major Occasion runner-up Steven Jones defeated reigning WSOP Participant of the 12 months Shaun Deeb to win $73,900.
Additionally on the closing desk had been Esfandiari, high-stakes professional Sergio Aido, Hustler On line casino Dwell regulars Steve Swedlow and Randy “3Coin” Sadler, International Poker Index (GPI) Participant of the 12 months frontrunner Jesse Lonis, and defending champion Derek Adamian.
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Poker on the 66th Ground
The Large Deal for One Drop festivities at Allē Lounge on 66, which PokerNews was on-site to doc, kicked off early with a welcoming reception and opening remarks from Laliberté, Hellmuth and Esfandiari, who gained the 2012 Large One For One Drop for $18.3 million and spoke about his involvement with the One Drop Basis and its protected water initiatives.
“I had the pleasure of happening to El Salvador, to South America, and to truly witness firsthand what this superb charity does for individuals,” Esfandiari stated. “All of us get up within the morning … we acquired within the bathe, we turned on the water. We did not assume for one second that there are such a lot of individuals on planet earth that may’t do this. That may be a luxurious that we take without any consideration every single day.”
After a couple of extra opening actions, together with Lonis being mesmerized by mentalist Jason Suran, playing cards went within the air at tables overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. Upbeat music boomed all through the speakeasy as Hellmuth narrated the motion in a #17 blue One Drop hockey Jersey.
There have been a number of Hellmuth revelations all through the champagne-heavy afternoon, together with that Esfandiari had disinvited him to dinner the evening earlier than as a result of he would not take away his headphones. Hellmuth later revealed he wasn’t among the many 17 gamers who purchased add-ons within the charity occasion, which led to some needles from Deeb.
Talking of, Hellmuth bragged that he was featured in an commercial being projected onto the facet of Resorts World, to which Deeb quipped, “Your ego continues to be greater than the constructing!”
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Regardless of solely drawing 23 entries, there have been a surprising 105 re-buys to create a prize pool of $189,600 ($1,000 of the buy-in went to the One Drop Basis).
The host of the night, Laliberté, was eradicated from the match early and the billionaire spent the remainder of the afternoon shut by on the high-stakes blackjack desk.
Lonis has been the most popular match participant in 2025, so nobody was stunned when gained a queens versus ace-king flip to eradicate Nacho Barbero and make the ultimate desk.
“I acquired in a flip with Jesse, who do you assume gained?” Barbero advised the opposite desk.
Lonis’ sizzling streak continued as he his pocket sixes pipped the pocket fives of Esfandiari to ship the “Magician” out in sixth place on the cash bubble. However the younger poker professional could not crack Deeb’s kings in a three-way all-in that led to the eliminations of Lonis and Steve Swedlow, a lawyer recognized for his HCL appearances.
The third-place elimination of Randy “3Coin” Sadler led to a poetic heads-up match-up between Deeb and Steven Jones, who two years earlier completed runner-up to Deeb’s “Group Fortunate” compatriot Daniel Weinman.
After a second-place end within the 2023 Major Occasion and a newer third-place end on Squid Sport: The Problem, Jones lastly tasted victory as he overcame Deeb’s chip result in win the charity occasion.
Hellmuth posed with Jones shortly earlier than they and the remainder of the poker professionals headed off for different F1 weekend festivities. Hellmuth nonetheless had his black headphones wrapped round his neck, and he gave no indication that he’d be leaving them behind.
Connor Richards
Senior Editor U.S.
