The largest contingency at the 2026 Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship is without a doubt the No Limit Pub Poker Tour. Jimmy Rivers and Carl Pipitone, co-owners, started the league back in 2006 in Jupiter, Florida. Now the league has grown to represent 13 regions and over 50,000 players in 2026.

"It's overwhelming to see the support," co-owner Jimmy Rivers said. "We all love poker, but it validates that we are bringing people together with poker as a backdrop."

The league prides itself on creating a community atmosphere at its events, and that festive atmosphere shows in the energy and demeanor that players bring to the table.

Rivers shared with PokerNews that this aspect of their league is a central part of their philosophy.

"It's about being the most welcoming for newer folks out there. People are looking to be part of something," Rivers said. "We welcome people in that easy social way, and make them feel totally welcome."

It's safe to say that the 2026 Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship at the Palm Beach Kennel Club is considered home turf for the No Limit Pub Poker Tour, and Rivers shared lightheartedly that it means a lot to the league and players to try and defend their region.

"It would mean a lot to have a local player win it," Rivers said. "It's a thrill for them to have players from around the country to come here to play."

The under-the-gun player raised to 1,100 before they were called by a player from early position. The button also called.

Ellen Schirmer of the Deepstacks Poker League woke up with a hand that she wanted to risk it all with and chose to jam.

Nobody wanted to risk it against Schirmer, as everyone folded to yield the pot to Schirmer, who scooped a pot uncontested.

Ellen Schirmer

19,200

19,200

A player was all-in preflop before Veronica Areyan of No Limit Pub Poker Tour chose to bet 12,000 on the flop of . Her opponent folded to go to a showdown against the all-in player preflop.

Opponent:
Veronica Areyan:

Areyan outflopped her opponent and the hand held on the turn and the river to award the pot to Areyan.

Veronica Areyan

34,200

34,200

Jaime Hidalgo of No Limit Pub Poker Tour began with a limp from middle position. He was followed by a limper from the hijack before the cutoff opted to raise to 1,200. The small blind called, and both limpers came along.

The flop led to a bet of 2,000 from Hidalgo. The hijack and small blind folded, but the cutoff stuck around with a call.

Hidalgo bet 3,000 on the turn and was called.

The river did not slow Hidalgo down, who went all-in for his remaining 3,000 in chips. The cutoff made a reluctant call.

Hidalgo showed for trip kings. The cutoff revealed Hidalgo successfully cracked aces as he showed .

Jaime Hidalgo

21,000

21,000

The hand began with an open to 800 from the hijack. Tony Gately of No Limit Pub Poker Tour called from the cutoff before the button, and the small blind came along.

It was checked to Gately on the flop, who bet 2,000. He was called by the button before both the small blind and hijack folded.

Both remaining players checked the turn to bring the river. Gately bet 4,000 and was called by the button.

Gately showed for a straight to take down the pot.

Tony Gately

38,000

38,000

Players are now on a 15-minute break. Play will resume at the 300/600 level.

There were over 15,000 already in the middle on a board that read when Robert Savadge of the No Limit Pub Poker Tour bet 12,000 on the river. His opponent gave it considerable thought before he put in a call.

Savadge showed for a flush. His opponent mucked his hand to award the pot to Savadge.

Robert Savadge

59,000

59,000

There were approximately 10,000 already in the pot on a board that read .

Shannon Wilkerson of the Deepstacks Poker League was not shy about getting in the chips as she went all-in for 13,400. Her opponent gave it some thought before ultimately making the call.

Wilkerson showed him the bad news as she revealed she had the best starting hand in the game with for a set of aces, as she dragged in the chips after her opponent tossed his cards in the muck.

Shannon Wilkerson

38,400

38,400

A player from early position got it started with a raise to 800. The raise was called by Latasha Matthew from the small blind and the big blind.

It was checked to the original raiser on the flop, who continued for 800. Matthew called and the big blind folded.

Both remaining players checked the turn was to bring the river. Matthew put out a bet of 3,000, and that was enough to get it done as her opponent folded.

Latasha Matthew

33,000

33,000

The under-the-gun player raised to 1,100 before they were called by a player from early position. The button also called.

Ellen Schirmer of the Deepstacks Poker League woke up with a hand that she wanted to risk it all with and chose to jam.

Nobody wanted to risk it against Schirmer, as everyone folded to yield the pot to Schirmer, who scooped a pot uncontested.

Ellen Schirmer

19,200

19,200

The hand began with a raise to 800 by Peter Cote of the Eastern Poker Tour from early position. He was called by the cutoff and the button.

All three players checked the flop to bring the turn.

Cote fired 1,000, and the bet was enough as two players folded to yield the pot.

Peter Cote

34,000

34,000

The camaraderie of the Bar Poker Open was on full display last November at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, with the final table lasting more than seven hours to determine a winner in the $400 Atlantic City Championship.

Albert Croteau was feeling the support from his home league, the Eastern Poker Tour, as he battled for the biggest moment of his poker career.

"Those are my people," Croteau explained after defeating Anton Saich heads-up to earn the victory. "They were rooting for me on the live stream and just watching from their game that they were playing. So that just makes me feel great, the community that we got."

Croteau rode that inspiration to the largest score of a career with results dating back to 2010, taking home $30,000 and the BPO trophy.

2025 Bar Poker Open $400 Atlantic City Championship Final Table Results