It’s just two days until the 888poker $888 Crazy Eights event kicks off in Vegas, one of the highlights of this year’s WSOP schedule.
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There are four starts flights in all for the Crazy Eights – two on Saturday (July 1) and two on Sunday. Last year’s debut event attracted 6,761 players and was named one of the five best tournaments for first-time players by USA Today. Hung Le took it down – for $888,888 – after beating fellow American Michael Lech heads-up. Lech took $401,888 for second place while PCA champion Dimitar Danchev was third for $297,888.
This year’s 888poker Crazy Eights tourney will be a unique event on the WSOP schedule giving pro players and amateurs alike the chance to compete in a sub-$1,500 event but play eight-handed. WSOP comms chief Seth Palansky said: "We wanted to have an affordable buy-in event that also played short-handed – or relatively short-handed. So this concept got settled around an 8-handed event, which we don’t believe has been done at this point.”
More than 75 players have qualified for the Crazy Eights tournament online on 888poker, winning a $3k package that includes accommodation right in the thick of the action at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino – as well as their buy-in and $1,200 travel expenses. As Official Travel Partner for 888poker at the World Series, MainEventTravel has been instrumental in booking accommodation for all 888poker’s qualifiers.
Players get a 5,000 starting stack and play 18, 30-minute levels per start day. If a player busts, they can re-enter any remaining start flight. Survivors from all four flights will be back for Day 2 on Monday, July 3 with the event expected to conclude on Tuesday.
888poker Ambassador Sofia Lovgren said: “An 8-handed tournament is one of my favourite format live events.” Lovgren said getting to know other players at the table is a chance to learn opponents’ weaknesses as well as making the event enjoyable to play.” She said: “Talking to players is a great opportunity to get to know fun people from all over the world and to make some new friends. It will make you stay entertained for the long days of poker. Amateurs will have a great time, even if they don't cash, because they had fun playing and will want to come back and play again. “