PokerStars 3-Bet: Ongame to Shut Online Poker Rooms, PokerStars Launches Largest Online Festival in New Jersey & Jim Rankin Tops WPTDeepstacks Arizona

Our first story is about online poker network Ongame shutting down its online poker rooms, after it began seeing a downfall. The second is news about PokerStars planning one of the largest online poker events in New Jersey with its NJCOOP series. The third story in this edition of our PokerGuru 3-Bet is a tournament report from the World Poker Tour (WPT) Deepstacks Arizona that was won by Jim Rankin.

Facing Losses, Ongame to Shut Online Poker Rooms

Ongame, one of the erstwhile leading online operators will be shutting down its virtual poker rooms this October, according to Poker Industry Pro reports. The company has several skins and a few that will be retained will be shifted to other networks. The news first came to light, when it was reported by Pokeroff, a Russian site.

Ongame’s site, PokerRoom was once the top most platforms, exceeding 3.5 million players before the US passed the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Post the law, Ongame exited the US market and witnessed a huge loss. Thereafter, the company was taken over by several different owners, including David Baazov, founder of Amaya.

Earlier this year, the company was taken over by the NYX Gaming Group Limited, a Las Vegas-based online gaming supplier. However, despite exclusive rights to Ongame’s poker products in the US market, NYX was unable to make any profits.

Ongame’s market share was already down to a meagre average of 130 cash game players, by the time NYX came in according to PokerScout. The downfall continued and as of date, Ongame had just 109 players and ranked at 35^th place on PokerScout.

PokerStars Announces Largest Ever “COOP” Series in New Jersey

PokerStars is all set to launch the New Jersey Championship of Online Poker (NJCOOP), which will run from October 15 to 31, with a roster of 43 events, touted as the largest ever online festival in the state. The event will be accessible only to players who are located in New Jersey and possess a US Social Security number.

The series will have a range of buy-ins from $15 to $1,000 and will precede the PokerStars Festival New Jersey, which is a three-week extravaganza featuring both live and online events for players of all levels.

There will be a variety of tournaments at the NJCOOP, including a two-day $200,000 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event, with a $500 buy-in starting on October 30. A $1,000 NLH High Roller will also be held with a $100,000 guarantee.

Other games will include PLO, Triple Stud, 5-Card Omaha and 8-Game, along with the regular NLH. Formats will vary from fast-fold (Zoom) and Heads-Up, to the less common Big Antes and Speed-Down formats.

Players can win seats via daily satellites to all the Championship events, starting for as low as $1.

Team PokerStars Pro Jason Somerville declared, “I’m so excited that PokerStars is bringing the Championship of Online Poker to New Jersey. It’s great that players in the region can experience playing in this prestigious festival and the buzz that comes with chasing big prize money and major tournament titles.”

“I’m looking forward to playing and streaming NJCOOP on Twitch in my hunt to win a title in its debut year,” he added.

Players who participate in five NJCOOP events that have buy-ins from $100 to $350 will also get an opportunity to participate in the All-in Shootout that will award 20 seats worth $1,100 to the PokerStars Festival New Jersey Main Event.

Besides the above, the NJCOOP Spin & Go’s will also give out tickets to a $200,000 tournament that will play out on October 30 and 31, allowing them to convert a small $2.50 buy-in into a $500 ticket.

Jim Rankin Takes Down WPT DeepStacks Arizona For $37,346

At a final table that featured two Indian-origin players among others, the ultimate victor was Jim Rankin, who defeated Balram Bhandari to take home the trophy and a winning sum of $37,346 at the WPT Deepstacks Arizona Main Event.

Hosted at Casino Del Sol Resort in Tucson, the $1,100 Main Event registered 286 entries and created a prize pool of $274,420.

The final table lasted six hours and eliminations began with Juan Sosa, who exited at ninth place. Luke Saltus, Chuck Weaver and Thomas Zanot followed at eighth, seventh and sixth place respectively.

The final five players Rankin, Bhandari, Sean Berrios, Ajay Gnanasambanthan, and Chad Mizner struck a deal that saw each collecting $31,196 and leaving $10,000 and the $3,000 Championship package for the eventual winner.

Post the deal; eliminations were quick with Mizner exiting at fifth, Gnanasambanthan at fourth and Berrios at third place.

Heads up, Rankin had 4.3 million to Bhandari’s 2.9 million and once again a deal was made to divide the remaining prize money, with Bhandari getting the $3,000 Championship package.

Play ended with Rankin winning the event for $37,346, while Bhandari took home $35,346, plus the package.

Final Table Results

1. Jim Rankin – $37,346

2. Balram Bhandari – $35,346

3. Sean Berrios – $31,196

4. Ajay Gnanasambanthan – $31,196

5. Chad Mizner – $31,196

6. Thomas Zanot – $12,156

7. Chuck Weaver – $10,098

8. Luke Saltus – $8,095

9. Juan Sosa – $6,064