Cash Game Festival Returns to Bratislava Sept. 19-23
The Cash Game Festival returns to Banco Casino, conveniently located in the heart of the majestic Slovakian capital of Bratislava for five days and more than 120 hours of nonstop poker action from Sept. 19-23.
The Cash Game Festival previously hit Bratislava in the beginning of April when it set casino records for the most cash game tables running.
Cash Game Festival Bratislava Details
This festival is expected to be even more exciting this time around with many confirmed players, including online satellite winners and sponsored players from Cash Game Festival partners 32Red Poker and Unibet Poker.
Games will be available in any poker variant or stakes players desire. Previous festivals included action in no-limit hold'em, pot-limit Omaha, pot-limit Omaha hi/lo, deuce-seven triple draw, open-face Chinese poker, Sviten Special, H.O.R.S.E., super dealer's choice, and more.
As is always the case, the festival will host two televised feature tables per day or 10 throughout the festival on its Twitch channel. As PokerNews is once again covering the action, the feature tables will also be embedded in our coverage.
The feature tables give players a chance at stakes low and high to showcase themselves to family and friends as well as review their own play later. For the first time, Bulgaria's Petyo Andonov, who lives in the Netherlands, will be joining Cash Game Festival Head of Media Henry Kilbane in the booth to provide banter and expert commentary on the action.
To add to the allure of the feature table, the Cash Game Festival awards a trophy and a prize to the player that wins the most big blinds at any of the ten feature tables. Last time the festival was in town, Cash Game Festival Co-Founder Martin "Franke" von Zweigbergk won the first of his two Cash Game Festival trophies. He will be joined by fellow two-time winners Kevin Malone and Jon Kyte in Bratislava for their quests to be the first to win a third.
There will be many others vying for their first trophy including Unibet Poker Ambassadors David Lappin, Rauno "Estonian Jesus" Tahvonen, Espen Uhlen Jørstad and David "Davitsche" Vanderheyden all in the mix.
Lappin is known for his competitive nature, especially when it comes to fellow Unibet Poker Ambassador Ian Simpson, who at one point was in the driver's seat to win the trophy during the last Cash Game Festival at Platinum Casino in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria before Malone took control by winning a huge pot to claim the trophy for himself.
Lappin admits that cash games aren't his bread or butter even though he did wind up a big feature table winner the last time the festival was in Bratislava, but this didn't stop him from taking a dig at his friend.
“I’m really looking forward to the Cash Game Festival Bratislava. Cash games are not really my thing but it’s a comfort knowing I couldn’t do as badly as Ian Simpson,” Lappin shared with PokerNews.
Likewise, 32Red Poker is sending many players to the festival as well including 10-time Cash Game Festival package winner Edgars Armans and Youness Barakat.
Barakat shared about his great experience at the last Cash Game Festival in Bulgaria, where he set a festival record by winning four feature tables during one festival. He is looking forward to great action at the side and feature tables this time around, especially at a €5/€10 televised no-limit hold'em table.
“The Cash Game Festival in Bulgaria was great, having some amazing social activities and good games," Barakat told PokerNews. "I’m expecting nothing less during the Cash Game Festival in Bratislava. And with the 5/10 NLH on the schedule, I’m sure some great battling is about to happen.”
Action Off the Felt
The action is always also hot away from the tables as players are given a chance to socialize with others with common interests. Cash Game Festival qualifiers and others with the hospitality package will be treated at a minimum with welcome drinks, a VIP dinner, a players' party, a city tour with a twist, and a sporting event. Unlike tournament festivals, players can take breaks from the poker action as they see fit and enjoy as many of the activities their hearts desire.
If you can't make it to Bratislava, rest assured there is another exciting festival right around the corner at Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn from Nov. 21-25 with tons of packages available at 32Red Poker and at Unibet Poker. It is always special when the Cash Game Festival visits the Estonian capital as this is where it all began.
Head to the Cash Game Festival website for more information about both of these stops and to book your spot on the televised feature tables.
Here is a look at some of the highlights from last time the Cash Game Festival visited Bratislava in April.
