If you've ever longed for a throwback to the heyday of poker – when legends like Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Phil Galfond, Andrew Robl, Patrik Antonius, Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, and others would clash in high stakes cash games with millions of dollars on the line – we have a promising development to share.
In a post on social media (linked below), Monkey Tilt Founder and CEO Sam 'Senor Tilt' Kiki told his followers that he and Dwan are "cooking something fun."
And their entree of choice? A "legends game," with all the trimmings.
If that's not enough to get you excited, Kiki has PokerGO Director of Programming Brent Hanks interested in the idea – and he's exactly the person you want in your corner to get the ball rolling.
Who makes your Legends Game lineup?
There's no doubt that a cash game lineup featuring any of the players listed above would do serious numbers in terms of viewership – but there's one essential question that needs to be answered.
Who makes the lineup?
In an ideal world, you get all the icons in one place for a week-long mix of games. Obviously, that's just not possible – so who makes the cut in a one-off session?
Dwan and Ivey feel like must-picks. Were there any more entertaining players to watch during the Poker Boom? We don't think so. Galfond strikes us as too engrossed in his coaching/mentorship pursuits, but, with that said, would he really pass on an opportunity to take part in what would surely be one of the most legendary games of all time?
You simply cannot have a 'Legends Game' without Phil Ivey. Robl and Antonius? Yes. Please. Both.
If Hellmuth wants in, get him in there. While he may not bring action on the same level as the others, the sheer potential for a Hellmuthian throwback blow-up is too enticing to turn down. And if he's not up for the gamble not, no harm done – we've got plenty of other options waiting in the wing. Though, like Galfond, could Hellmuth really sit on the sidelines for a 'Legends Game' – chances are decently high that his ego simply wouldn't allow it.
Negreanu has publicly stated that he has no interest in cash games. If there's no trophy involved, he's not playing. And Kiki didn't exactly jump at the suggestion in his replies.
Esfandiari, while not mentioned in the original post, makes the cut for Kiki – and us too, more of 'The Magician' on the big stage is never a bad thing.
And we haven't even begun to consider all the other legends out there.
Who makes the cut for your 'Legends Game'?
