The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is a squeaky top bunk, a herd of snoring backpackers and an extra mouse prepped for a big afternoon poker news basement session. Today in the 3-Bet we find the first-ever PSCB off to a ripping start, Phil Hellmuth puts up 100,000 words and Dan "Jungleman" Cates wants your business.
1) Kevin Hart, Aaron Paul + More
The first-ever PokerStars Championship Bahamas has been underway for a few days now at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas and has already seen some history made. Feeling no pain. One of the best young veterans on the high-stakes circuit, Jason Koon, won his first-ever $100,000 buy-in event by defeating hotter-than-the-sun wunderkind Charlie Carrel heads-up. We expect it won't be the last time we see those two heads-up in a Super High Roller this year.
Another first: Actor/Comedian Kevin Hart - he of the $97m or so bankroll - played in his first $100k buy-in event and kinda, sorta held his own. For a while at least. He's playing the $50k one-day High Roller today, too. By request of the players, another half-dozen or more High Roller events have been added to the rest of the schedule making that a first for a PokerStars series as well.
The prestigious Main Event has hit Day 1b today with 430 players buying in so far including Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, golfer Sergio Garcia and three-time Super Bowl champ Richard Seymour, who may have another big bet on the go too. It may have a new name but the PokerStars Championship Bahamas is obv. still where it's at for poker's annual new year brodown. Follow along with the Main Event live stream starting tomorrow at 12 pm ET right here.
2) Hellmuth Hits Different 100k Threshold
One semi-surprising absentee from the annual reunion fest in the Bahamas? One "Poker Brat" Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth doesn't have much of a history of success at past PCAs (just one side event cash in 2014) but he still usually popped down for a High Roller event or two. Where is he instead? Busy putting the finishing touches on his new autobiography and looking at old pictures of himself, obviously.
3) No Windows, No Heat, No Distractions
As we saw frequently during the previous Global Poker League season, most baller poker players like to play their big sessions either in luxurious tropical locales or in front of cushy, elaborate home set-ups. Not Dan "Jungleman" Cates. No sir. Why one of the world's best high-stakes No-Limit Hold'em players chooses to grind from the windowless basement of a Romanian youth hostel, we're not sure. But more power to him. Go get some if you dare.
