PRE WSOP Tournaments

Author: Simon Dexter

I first met poker game star Greg 'Fossilman’ Raymer a few hours before the start of last year’s British Poker Open final in London.

There’s something slightly unreal about planning to meet with a guy who has been in the headlines as a result of winning five million bucks in a poker tournament; the World Series of Poker no less. What will he be like? Will he fancy chatting on the morning of a high profile poker game final? How would he normally prepare for a poker tournament scheduled to be televised live and which could stretch into the early hours of the following day?

In fairness, Greg’s demeanour was not that of a brash, overnight multi-millionaire; indeed, he gave the impression of having won $1,000 in a $5 satellite tournament instead of what was then the largest poker tournament prize ever – well pleased with his cash haul, but it was no big deal. Pressure didn’t look as though it was a word that featured too prominently in his poker game vocabulary.

Did he feel pressure, I asked. "Sure," he replied, "I just try not to show it. To be honest, though, once you reach the final table at the WSOP, you’re already well in the money, although playing in a separate WSOP event, competing for one of those coveted bracelets, can be nearly as lucrative."

The Fossilman is 100/1 to reach the WSOP’s final table this time around and 500/1 to win the tournament for the second time in three years. These odds not as long as they sound when one considers that favourite Phil Ivey is priced at 125/1 with several bookies.

Before the final nine poker tournament players emerge at noon on 10 th August to contest an estimated $8.5 million poker game first prize however, an astonishing number of complimentary tournaments will have already been played at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Leisure complex in Vegas.

Last year, a total of 45 separate poker game events attracted 32,341 player entries and more than $106 million in prize money. That’s a staggering amount of cash and, with more poker tournament players registering to play in the WSOP this year than ever before, most poker veterans expect that figure to comfortably exceed $120 million.

"These are the side events that really add to the WSOP atmosphere," Raymer said. "All the pros look forward to them. That constant rattle of chips, the reaction of players on other tables and that of the crowd. It’s a unique poker-playing environment. And it can be a lot of fun."

It can also be very lucrative. Last year, for example, several high-profile poker players secured not only one of those coveted solid gold bracelets for winning a WSOP event, but also enjoyed a handsome pay-day.

Johnny Chan won $303,025 in a $2,500 Pot Limit Hold 'Em tournament and veteran Doyle Brunson trousered $367,800 in a $5,000 No Limit Hold 'Em event. On other days, Erik Seidel won $611,795 in one of the many $2,000 No Limit Hold 'Em games and T J Cloutier pocketed an astonishing $657,100 after winning a $2,000 No Limit Hold 'Em tournament.

The poker game action has already begun and throughout July, up until the WSOP final commences on 28th, a total of 37 separate poker tournaments will be played. Every poker variation is here : from Omaha Hi-low split and No Limit 2-7 Draw lowball with rebuys, to Seven Card Razz and Limit Hold 'Em Shootout, as well as the more traditional fare of No Limit Hold 'Em and Omaha.

Most of these side poker games have buy-in levels starting around $1,000, while at least two 'second chance tournaments’ are scheduled to be played every day : one has a buy-in of $540, while the late evening event costs $225. In other words, it’s possible that, even as the main tournament progresses, poker players from pros to satellite qualifiers have the opportunity to win considerable sums in Vegas.

If that sounds attractive, it’s worth noting that players entering Littlewoods’ daily multi-table tournaments still just about have enough time to win one of two $15,000 WSOP packages. Full details appear elsewhere on the site, but if you’re up for some internet poker action and capable of playing in a sit & go with a maximum of nine others and you’re free between 27 th July and 10 th August, it’s worth clicking here .

One such Littlewoods qualifier Clinton Orchard, currently priced at 500/1 to make the final table, won his Vegas seat after playing in a satellite tournament that cost just .20 to enter. Like many players, he’ll invariably fancy a backing himself to perform well at the WSOP, a common practice as Vincent Mellin, a 54-year-old chartered accountant proved earlier this year when he won the Irish Poker Open in Dublin.

Prior to scooping the £245,000 first prize at the eighteenth century Royal Dublin Society building at Easter, Mellin had backed himself to win the tournament at odds of 150/1. He had initially wanted to place a £700 each-way bet, but opted instead for a more modest £175 each-way wager. It provided a handsome return of £33,129.

Incredibly, the Irish Open was only the second tournament in which Mellin had played.

Not since Johnny Chan won the WSOP in 1988 has a player won the title in two consecutive years and with last year’s winner Joe Hachem quoted at 600/1 to win again this time out, bookmakers appear to believe Chan’s record will not be equalled in 2006. Like Raymer before him, Hachem arrived in Vegas as a relative poker novice, listing his profession as a chiropractor ; he left .5 million richer. Now where’s that MTT detail?

Tags: British Poker Open, Fossilman, Mellin, World Series of Poker, WSOP

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 1st, 2006 at 12:25 pm and is filed under Poker Tournaments.