Mystery Bounty PokerNews Cup at Golden Nugget Will Have $1M GTD Prize Pool

Connor Richards
Editor & Live Reporter U.S.
3 min read
PokerNews Cup

After a record-breaking event in 2022, the PokerNews Cup is returning to Golden Nugget Las Vegas this summer with anticipation of drawing another massive field for another memorable event.

The 2022 PokerNews Cup drew 1,245 entries to smash the $1 million guarantee and making it the largest poker tournament prize pool in Golden Nugget Las Vegas history. This year's $1,100 buy-in PokerNews Cup will be played in a Mystery Bounty format with the same $1 million guarantee and bounties up to $100,000 up for grabs beginning on Day 2.

The 2023 PokerNews Cup will get underway on June 29 and will feature three starting flights before reaching a winner on July 3. It is again taking place at Golden Nugget Las Vegas, one of the most iconic Las Vegas poker destinations, and will once again feature live-streamed final table coverage and live reporting from the PokerNews team throughout.

What's more, the PokerNews Cup is taking place as part of the Golden Nugget's 15th annual Grand Poker Series running May 30-July 3 with guarantees exceeding $3 million and plenty of Pot-Limit Omaha, Big O, Mixed Triple Draw Lowball, Limit 2-7 Lowball, H.O.R.S.E. and Triple Stud events to choose from.

Read More About The Grand Poker Series!

2023 PokerNews Cup Schedule

DateTime (PT)EventBuy-in
Thursday, June 2911 a.m.PokerNews Cup $1M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1a$1,100
Friday, June 3011 a.m.PokerNews Cup $1M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1b$1,100
Saturday, July 111 a.m.PokerNews Cup $1M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1c$1,100
Sunday, July 2NoonPokerNews Cup $1M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 2-
Monday, July 32 p.m.PokerNews Cup $1M GTD Mystery Bounty Final Table-

Gelman Won Record-Breaking 2022 PokerNews Cup

Last year's PokerNews Cup in downtown Las Vegas was truly an event to remember as 1,245 entries packed into the Golden Nugget in search of the six-figure top prize. While he was one of the shortest stacks to start the final day, New York's Gary Gelman managed to run it up to win $202,725 after defeating heads-up opponent Daniel Hinh.

Gary Gelman
Gary Gelman

“This is definitely my biggest cash and this has been a long time coming," he told PokerNews after the victory.

Other players who final tabled the record-breaking 2022 PokerNews Cup include Forrest Kollar (3rd - $92,095), Eoin Starr (4th - $68,185) and Patrick Caulfield (5th - $51,555).

2022 PokerNews Cup Final Table Results

PLACEPLAYERCOUNTRYPRIZE (IN USD)
1Gary GelmanUnited States$202,725
2Daniel HinhAustralia$142,175
3Forrest KollarUnited States$92,095
4Eoin StarrIreland$68,185
5Patrick CaulfieldUnited States$51,555
6Davic Von SchnehenUnited Kingdom$41,650
7Levi KlumpUnited States$34,380
8Scott StewartUnited States$27,120
9Steven SarmientoUnited States$20,275

Some PokerNews Cup History

The first-ever PokerNews Cup took place in Australia in 2007 and saw 428 entrants to generate a prize pool of $1.1 million. Australia native Dory Zayner became the first PokerNews Cup champion and took home $181,265 after defeating heads-up opponent Kenny Ng.

Dory Zayner
Dory Zayner

After two events in both 2008 and 2009, there was a break in the PokerNews Cup until it returned in 2015. That year, Daniel Can took down the event at King’s Casino Rozvadov for $17,898.

Other previous champions of the PokerNews Cup include Timur Caglan (2016 King's Casino Rozvadov - $67,541), Ryan Van Sanford (2016 Borgata - $68,676) and Panagiotis Panagiotidis (2019 - $20,708).

A full list of PokerNews Cup Champions is available in the table below.

PokerNews Cup Champions

 YEAREVENTENTRIESPRIZE POOL (IN USD)WINNERPRIZE (IN USD)
 2007A$2,800 PokerNews Cup Australia428$1,066,410Dory Zayner$266,959
 2008A$2,000 PokerNews Cup Australia410$563,079Nali Kaselias$171,670
 2008$3,353 PokerNews Cup South African Poker Open175$502,233Darren Kramer$140,575
 2009A$2,000 PokerNews Cup Australia381$661,045Con Tsapkounis$140,537
 2009€1,500 PokerNews Cup Alpine (Austria)129$233,585Marc Naalden$63,094
 2015€250 PokerNews Cup King’s Casino Rozvadov689$213,004Daniel Can$17,898
 2016€270 PokerNews Cup King’s Casino Rozvadov1,082$364,833Timur Caglan$67,541
 2016$2,000 PokerNews Cup Borgata120$222,324Ryan Van Sanford$68,676
 2017€225 PokerNews Cup King’s Casino Rozvadov617$234,684Holger Bansner$28,277
 2019€550 PokerNews Cup Kulata Spring141$102,136Panagiotis Panagiotidis$20,708
 2022$1,100 PokerNews Cup Golden Nugget1,245$1,207,650Gary Gelman$202,725
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Connor Richards
Editor & Live Reporter U.S.

Connor Richards is an Editor & Live Reporter for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for two Global Poker Awards for his writing.

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