The next Aria high roller week begins this week at the Las Vegas Strip casino, and features two $25,000 buy-in tournaments, along with a pair of $10,000 events.
If Phil Hellmuth actually is serious about his six-figure prop bet against Daniel Negreanu, he will have a golden opportunity to begin that wager at the casino he promotes.
Hellmuth wagered $200,000 to Negreanu's $400,000 that he could profit over 50 Aria $25,000 high rollers. All he is required to do is turn a $1 or more profit and he wins the bet. If he can't pull that off, and most pros don't think he can, he loses and owes Negreanu $200,000.
Hellmuth hasn't announced if he will or won't play in the upcoming Aria series. But he could show the poker community that he means business if does actually compete. Hellmuth and Negreanu are also set to battle in a series of heads-up matches on PokerGO. The exact date of play is unknown but will air on the poker app March 31.
The Aria series begins the same day and features four high stakes events, two of which would count towards the prop bet, if in fact Hellmuth competes. The first two events, one on March 31 and the second April 1, are $10,000 buy-in tournaments. And then on April 2 and 3, the MGM Resorts-owned property will host separate $25,000 buy-in high rollers.
High roller perks
One of the perks of the Aria high rollers is there is no rake, unlike any other tournament, so long as you register on time. Those who sign-up late or re-buy will be charged a $500 fee.
Another perk of these popular regular high rollers is the fast pace of play. The tournaments will have a 30-second shot clock in place. That means if a player doesn't act within 30 seconds, their hand is automatically dead. Six clock extension chips are given to each player at the start of the tournament. These can be used to extend the clock an extra 30 seconds during tough decisions.
Seven-handed play will commence throughout the tournament until the unofficial eight-handed final table. Most Aria high rollers attract 30-40 players, and the competition is stiff. Many of the top poker players in the world travel to Las Vegas to compete in these events. Some of the regulars include Dan Smith, David Peters, and Justin Bonomo. If Hellmuth is ready to begin his side bet against Negreanu, he'll have a difficult task ahead against this level of competition.
Featured image source: Poker Central
