The Coin Rivet Invitational has another two high-profile players for its unique format and lineup. Americas Cardroom announced this morning that sponsored pro Ebony Kenney and CEO Phil Nagy will be pairing up for the event.
The Coin Rivet Invitational borrows its format from the £1 million buy-in Triton event in 2019. The field is made up of businesspeople and poker pros in equal numbers, with the pros and amateurs playing separately on Day 1. The two fields then combine on Day 2. Aaron Zang won the 2019 event, taking home an eye-watering $16,775,820.
The Coin Rivet Invitational has a lower buy-in ($200k instead of £1 million) and will be played at the Merit Royal Diamond in North Cyprus (the 2019 event took place in London). However, it will be retaining the same split field format.
Kenney will be playing in the pro field on Day 1. Meanwhile Nagy will be taking on the other business people across the room.
Sizing up the competition
Nagy is ACR's CEO and Kenney is one of its most active Team Pros. She also works as a poker streamer, author, life and dating coach, model, and as CEO of UncagedCollective.com.
“Ebony is a refreshing and unique personality who brings such joy and spirit to the table," Nagy told the press. "I think she’s great for the game. Her passion and fearlessness make her competitive in any tournament, so I’m thrilled to give her a Super High Roller shot.”
This will be an exciting run to watch as this is a big jump in stakes for Kenney.
Kenney's Hendon Mob was, until now, largely made up of four-figure buy ins and the occasional $10k event. The Coin Rivet Invitational, with its $200k price tag, puts a whole extra zero on the end of all the cheques being cut.
“To say that I am beyond excited and grateful to Phil would be a complete understatement," Kenney said. "My journey with ACR over the past few years has been filled with so many amazing experiences, but in no way, shape, or form could it have prepared me for anything like this."
Coin Rivet Invitational attendees
Kenney is not shying away from the challenge. In fact, she told the press how much she was looking forward to taking on some of the toughest competition in the game.
Among those already bought into the event as pros are Stephen Chidwick, Wiktor Malinowski, Fedor Holz, Erik Seidel, and the 2022 WSOP Main Event champion, Espen Jorstad.
"It’s not every day I get to play poker with the best players in the world," Kenny said. "It feels surreal and I plan on taking in every moment."
Nagy's Day 1 opponents include other businesspeople from the poker industry like Rob Yong, Scott Ball, and Tony G as well as folks from other realms like investment banker Sosia Jiang and tennis pro Ramin Hajiyev.
The Coin Rivet Invitational kicks off on September 10 and will round for three days, ending on September 12.
Poker.org will have coverage from the ground at the Merit.
Featured image source: Americas Cardroom
