The PokerNews Cup returned to Golden Nugget Las Vegas on June 24, having a $1,100 buy-in and $1,000,000 guaranteed main event. Andy Rich, Poker Operations' director, made this possible by issuing 100 seats in the tournament.
Rich is a poker legend who played in several major events. The PokerNews Cup forms the Golden Nugget's 14th Annual Grand Poker Series that comprises 81 events with $3 million guaranteed prize money. It will run from May 31 to July 3.
The PokerNews Cup will run from June 24 to June 28, 2022, and PokerNews will offer its live broadcasts. Still, poker enthusiasts can watch a live streamed table on Day 2 and Day 3's final table action.
Rich's Poker Story
The poker legend had an interesting childhood as he started betting at an early age. His father played a weekly poker game during which he taught Rich to count blackjack cards when he was a teenager. Rich's mother played a weekly Mahjong game and led in every football handicapping game that she entered.
Rich added that his mother's game nights had snacks and Coke. He loves gambling, predicting his opponents' next move, and math. The poker pro's first bet was a $5 wager against his mother that he placed on a Vikings vs. Eagles game in 1985.
His mother held the Eagles, and she won the game. But, the bet didn't have vig. Rich founded Initial Records, a record label, in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1992. He later graduated in 1996 from Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Rich's Success at the Grand Poker Series
Rich likes passing time with his family and playing fantasy sports. His interest in poker began over two decades ago, and he gradually got obsessed with it. Besides, the pro likes talking, reading about poker, and watching it.
His passion for poker helped him get a job at a poker room over a decade ago. This allowed him to excel in the poker industry, and he started visiting Las Vegas.
Rich's poker career in Vegas started in 2005 after Harrah's employed him as a cashier in their poker room. Also, he was a skilled Las Vegas Strip dealer. The player began running poker rooms in Harrah's portfolio before the World Series of Poker (WSOP) appointed him as its Operations Director at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino.
How Rich Got to Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget hired Rich as its Director of Poker operations in November 2014, and he still holds that position today. He stated that he is in charge of the poker room's administration, operation, and supervision. Its popularity grew from 7,000 players in 2013 to more than 32,000 participants in 2019.
The room is still operating as 81 events make up its schedule in 2022. Rich intended to improve the poker rooms after Golden Nugget hired him. Also, he wanted to use his WSOP experience to develop the Grand Poker Series and make it famous worldwide.
Rich's most memorable scene was when Rampage got pocket kings at the $16,000 pot in April 2021.
PokerNews Cup Is the Only Downtown Game
The WSOP started at Binion's Horseshoe, Las Vegas. Yet, Golden Nugget is the only downtown poker game. Rich stated that the region might welcome a new poker room soon.
