The Run It Up Resorts Rumble is the first live event PokerStars is hosting in New Jersey.

Run It Up Legion is invading Atlantic City this weekend and we’re not just talking about the New Jersey chapter. Poker players and fans of Jason Somerville’s wildy popular Twitch stream are travelling from all over the Northeast for Saturday’s Run It Up Resorts Rumble at the Resorts Casino – the first live event PokerStars has hosted since returning to New Jersey.

And while Somerville is hosting the event but he’s bringing along a number of other Team PokerStars Pros to join in the festivities. Chris Moneymaker, Barry Greenstein, Vanessa Selbst, Liv Boeree and Jen Shahade will all be in attendance.

The schedule for the Rumble includes a breakfast with the pros, a Team PokerStars Q&A session, an “onlive” event where players play on PokerStarsNJ from their laptop or mobile device while seated in the same room and of course a party at the end of the evening to wrap everything up. Somerville will be streaming on his RunItUp Twitch channel during the tournament.

For some attendees, the opportunity to rub elbows with some of poker’s biggest names is a pilgrimage they just had to make.

“I really wanted to make run it up Reno but I’m doing the WSOP this year so I went with that,” said Adam Taormina, from Lock Haven, PA. “Then I heard of a close Run It Up event I could attend and didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to celebrate PokerStars in New Jersey and meet some poker pros.”

Philip Neiman, a 33 year old Queens native, has one simple reason for heading to Atlantic City this weekend.

“Has to be meeting Jason, the guy has brought my game to a new level by just watching his streams,” said Neiman.

He’s not the only one. Chris Kusha, a 29 year old from Staten Island, is making the trip after learning that two his poker heros would be involved.

“I’ve always heard how fun these VIP parties are and couldn’t not jump at the opportunity to go to one nearby,” said Kusha. “I’m most looking forward to getting to meet the players who were very influential to me coming up in poker, particularly Vanessa Selbst and Jason Somerville.”

Somerville, who will travel from Canada where he is streaming Spring Championship of Online Poker action, seems excited about the wardrobe change the event requires.

“I’m incredibly excited to host our first one-day Run it Up festival on the East Coast with two great partners in PokerStars and Resorts,” said Somerville. “I can’t wait to hang out with all of our awesome Run it Up fans in person. It’ll totally be worth putting on pants.”

The Schedule

  • Breakfast with the Pros – 10:00 am
    Attendees can mingle with Team PokerStars Pros and enjoy a light breakfast and conversation.

  • The Run It Up Resorts Rumble – 11:30 am
    The $30 buy-in ‘onlive’ tournament gets underway and is available only to those in attendance.

  • The Run It Up Resorts Rumble Final Table – 3:00 pm
    With just nine players remaining the Run It Up Resorts Rumble is paused so players can be set up at a single poker table to finish the tournament using the “Battleship style”.

  • Team PokerStars Q&A – 4:00 pm
    Players will be able to ask their favorite Team PokerStars Pros any questions about the world of poker.

VIP Club Live: NJ – 7:30 pm
Hosted by the Landshark Bar & Grill at Resorts, the party comes complete with food, games and entertainment and, of course, an open bar.

Players were able to earn tickets to the event through PokerStarsNJ freerolls, by completing a series of challenges on the site, or by making a real money deposit using a special bonus code. For those that failed to qualify on PokerStarsNJ.com, tickets can be purchased on site for just $10, with all proceeds going to Autism Speaks.

For more information check out www.pokerstarsnj.com/vip/live/resorts/