Grand entrances, but only one winner

Author: Simon Dexter

Given what’s at stake (see below), the influence of showbiz was, rather predictably, never far away as this year’s WSOP* main event finally got under way last week.

Perhaps the grandest (or should that be conceited? Ed) entrance was made by Phil Hellmuth who arrived after three hours of play dressed as an army general with 11 stars on his helmet, equal to the record number of gold bracelets he has won at the WSOP*. He was flanked by 11 girls who marched in with him to ESPN’s “feature table”, naturally catching the cameras’ attention. Pretentious? Moi?

By contrast, the ‘other Phil’, he of Unabomber fame, (Phil Laak) was decidedly lower key. He preferred to remain unnoticed by wearing a prosthetic mask and wig that made him look well, odd, really. Apparently, only a handful of people knew about Laak’s disguise, including his girlfriend actress and poker player Jennifer Tilly.

Although the stars relied upon extremes in behaviour to draw attention to themselves, our favourite entrant to the main event was the unheralded Eugene Yanayt, the last man to register in time to play. He had to call from the airport to say he was on his way just as tournament officials were preparing to void his entry.

Yanayt was late arriving because he said he had spent the night drinking after a chess tournament in Philadelphia (as you would) and he was delayed because airport officials wouldn’t let him board the plane to Vegas. “I kept drinking all night and then they wouldn’t let me on the plane,” said the 24-year-old. “I showed them my ticket and it’s like ‘Come on, I gotta play in the World Series of Poker*.’ They said, ‘No, no, no.’

“I’m really glad I’m here. I thought I could end up anywhere,” Yanayt said as he played and drank a beer (hair of the dog?), his luggage still at his side.

*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah’s License Company, LLC (”Harrah’s”). Harrah’s does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with Littlewoods Gaming or it’s products, services, promotions or tournaments.

Tags: Las Vegas, Phil Hellmuth, Phil Laak

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 10:52 am and is filed under News & Promotions Blog.