MPN solidifies its closing date. Run It Once’s Splash the Pot tweaked. Check out these stories and more in the Tuesday Hit and Run.
MPN set to close May 19th, 2020
MPN has confirmed the date it plans to shut its doors in a Tweet posted on Monday. Previously saying that the closure would occur in mid-2020, Microgaming revealed that the last hand will be dealt on May 19th, 2020 — 16 years after first offering online poker.
MPN will deal our last hand on May 19th, 2020.
Our MD @AlexScott72o: 'Let’s do everything we can to make the next six months something special, which we can look back on with pride.’#ChallengeAccepted
— MPN (@ThrillOfPoker) November 25, 2019
The Microgaming Poker Network consists of 16 online poker skins, many of which will likely move to other networks. Red Star Poker has already announced it will be moving to the iPoker Network, a possible home for the other skins. In fact, in a recent statement, iPoker seems to be actively courting some of the displaced poker rooms. “With several other collaborations already in the pipeline, Playtech is driven to increase investments into their iPoker product, ensuring that their network grows ever stronger.”
Although MPN is ditching the network model, it earlier hinted that it was likely not getting out of online poker entirely, suggesting that the Microgaming could ultimately operate an independent poker room.
Quick hitters
– Phil Galfond has announced a series of changes to the rewards system of Run It Once, including some tweaks to its popular Splash the Pot system. While innovative Splash the Pot feature is being reduced from the equivalent of 51% to 30% rakeback, with it will come the introduction of “Legends,” a more traditional rakeback program that can award up to 45% in value, allowing for a total return of up to 75% depending on volume. The introduction of Legends will coincide with the Legends Kick-Star promotion running from November 25th to December 8th, where points earned towards Legends will be earned at a 1.5 rate.
– The World Poker Tour has added one new event each for Season XVIII of the main WPT Tour as well as the DeepStacks Tour. The new WPT Main Tour date will be the January 17th Lucky Hearts Poker Open, while the WPTDeepStacks Tour will be held in Amsterdam from March 12th to March 15th.
– ICYMI: Dan “Junglemandan” Cates took down not one but two major partypoker tournaments over the weekend, winning $153,000 in the $215 partypoker MILLION and another $105,450 in the $5,200 Sunday Big Game $300,000 Guaranteed.
– Tuesday’s featured classic Grinderschool poker training video of the day is part 2 of Carroters’ “Focus on the Grinder” series. In this episode, Carroters and a student review five 3-bet themed hands played at $25NL.
Best poker videos on the Internet
– Daniel Dvoress is the latest subject of “I am High Stakes Poker,” where Lee Davey sits down with Dvoress to discuss his status as one of the best high stakes players with $15 million in recorded live tournament wins.
– Looking to watch some poker during the holiday week? PokerStars posted Day 2 of the Moneymaker Tour from Dublin, which awarded a Platinum Pass to the winner in addition to the first-place prize.
– Phil Galfond sits down for a multi-table session of PokerStars and Run It Once that includes a $10k Heads-up Pot Limit Omaha cash game:
