Another Bumper Crowd Expected for the $800 Summer Celebration
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The summer of poker is in full swing here at Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas as Event #80: $800 Summer Celebration No-Limit Hold'em gets underway. The two starting flights (Day 1a and Day 1b) run on Wedneesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3, with the bracelet winner set to be crowned on Day 2, Independence Day on July 4.
Each Day 1 flight starts at 10 a.m. local time. Players begin with 40,000 chips and 30-minute levels. One reentry is allowed per flight, and late registration remains open through Level 12 (around 5:00 p.m.).
Both starting flights play 22 levels, with 20-minute breaks every four levels and a 75-minute dinner break after Level 16 (around 7:00 p.m.). Payouts begin on Day 1 when the field reaches about 15 percent of total entries, so expect fast and furious action.
Day 2 resumes July 4 at 11 a.m. with all remaining players returning to play down to a winner. Breaks come every four levels, with a 60-minute pause before the final table. PokerNews traditional coverage will start on Day 2.
America’s Francis Anderson is the reigning champion after winning the inaugural edition of this event in 2024. Anderson battled back from a 3-to-1 chip deficit heads-up to outlast a massive 4,263-player field, ultimately defeating fellow American Brent Lee to capture his first bracelet and a $501,040 payday.
“Oh, it’s pretty insane,” Anderson said in his post-win interview, “Like I’ve won a lot of money in poker, but this is by far my biggest outright victory, like not even close, my last one was only like $50,000.”
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