BetMGM Poker ambassador Darren Elias is no newcomer to tournament success, and the "End Boss" started off the BetMGM Poker Online Championships strong by taking down Event #1: $500 Kick-Off No-Limit Hold'em in New Jersey for $12,925.

Elias took some time to answer a few questions from PokerNews about what he's been up to since this summer's WSOP and what his schedule looks like for the inaugural BetMGM Poker Online Championships. Those questions and answers are available below.

Can you give us a quick update on what you’ve been up to post-WSOP?

Since the conclusion of WSOP, I've been spending a good deal of time home with the family. I've travelled down to Florida for a few WPT series', but haven't played a ton of poker.

I always find myself looking for a respite from poker towards the end of WSOP, and find the time to rest and recover at home invaluable to being at my best when I do return to play. This month, I'm playing quite a bit online as BetMGM is running its largest series ever.

The BetMGM Poker Online Championships is the largest series in BetMGM Poker history with over 75 events and $2M in GTDs. Seems very ambitious. How do you feel about it?

I think this BetMGM Poker Online Championship is a great offering. Our team is really willing to push the envelope with what's possible in our markets and they've put together an ambitious schedule geared towards higher stakes and big tournaments.

You’re grinding from New Jersey I assume? If so, how’s it going thus far?

Yes, I live in NJ and am playing from here. I was fortunate enough to win the first event of the series so it's been going pretty well so far. I've been pleased with the turnouts and guarantees being hit almost across the board.

What events are you most looking forward to and why?

There were a few events that caught my eye when I first saw the schedule. The first was the $2,500 High Roller Event which ran Sunday, Sep 18. There haven't been a lot of tournaments on BetMGM's network at that price point so I was interested to see how it fared and how many players came out to play.

The players did not disappoint! The winner in NJ took home $40k, and we beat the guarantee in all three states (NJ, PA, and MI). I also believe it was the highest stakes tournament ever offered by BetMGM in PA and MI, so I'd say that event was a huge success.

The other event I was looking forward to is the $109 Phase Event, which has a unique structure. There are flights running every night for this event and essentially playing down to the money, where players will carry their stacks forward and continue to play down to a winner on Sunday, Sep 25. This event has a $100K guarantee which is incredible for a $100 tournament in our ring-fenced markets, and I appreciate the creativity and ambition of our team in including this event.

How do you feel about “early bird registration” where players who register at the start will get 100% rakeback? Do you usually start tournaments on time or late reg?

I love the early bird registration feature we are using during this series. As a player who almost always starts on time, I welcome receiving the rake-back benefit. I also agree with the feature from a theoretical point of view. We have seen similar rewards in the live arena for on-time registrants at high stakes tournaments, and it only seems natural that that should carry over into the online arena as well.

Who are some of the best BetMGM Online players that may stick out in your mind?

Well since I'm only able to play with the NJ players, I don't want the MI and PA players to feel slighted here. In NJ, we have a small group of regulars who play a lot of volume on BetMGM. Most of them seem to be aspiring professional players in their 20's and that gives me hope for the next wave of American Poker Players.

It brings back nostalgia to think of myself cutting my teeth playing online and I'm happy these players have that opportunity as well. I think it's great that we have states where these players can chase their dream in a legal regulated market and hope it only expands from here.

What’s next for you post-BetMGM Poker Online Championships? Any upcoming poker stops?

After the BetMGM Poker Online Championships, I'll be headed to the Bellagio in Las Vegas for the WPT Five Diamond. I'm also looking forward to the WPT series at the Wynn in December. Hoping to continue playing well and finish the year strong.

Who is your NFL Super Bowl pick?

I've been a lifelong Patriots fan, but realize that the saga of winning the Super Bowl every other year has ended. As for a pick this year, I'd have to go with the Bills. They have a strong team and Josh Allen is fun to watch.

Tags: Darren Elias