Going to the WSOP!
I must admit it: I am a Moneymaker-ite. Yes, I started to take poker seriously when Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP back in 2003. Don’t get me wrong. I had played poker many times in college for nickles, dimes, and quarters. In those games, I usually walked away as one of the big winners for the evening. So much so, I was banned from the game my roommates had. I did not play a lot of poker over the following 10 years or so; I was busy with my other passions - Ice Hockey and collecting sports cards. (Interestingly enough, while living in Colorado, I met and became friends with Joe Cassidy when he was a teenager. Joe was a sports card dealer as well. Now he is a professional poker player).
Anyway, after Chris won the WSOP main event, I started to play online. I never thought that I would ever play for real money, let alone go to the “World Series of Poker”. That was for GOOD players. Five years, many thousands of dollars in painful learning experiences, and uncounted thousands upon thousands of played hands later, I am actually going to the WSOP!
As I got more and more serious about poker, I have always said, “Maybe next year.” I guess Donna got tired of hearing that.
“Why don’t you just go to the World Series instead of taking your next trip to California?”, she quipped.
I was hesitant. This is the WORLD SERIES of POKER! I had heard many tales of juicy cash games, bad satellite players, and the works. Am I actually good enough to hold my own? I thought so.
I called The Rio to check for availability. They had rooms, but for ten nights from June 28 - July 8, they quoted me a price of $3200 - and I am a Platinum Member at Harrah’s. No thank you. I asked about different hotels on the strip (Caesars, Ballys, Harrah’s, Flamingo, Imperial). They were coming in at $1700 - $1800 for 10 night. Again, no thank you. I was a little bit down, but asked Donna to call to see what she could get. Harrah’s loves Donna. When we go to Atlantic City, I play in the poker room for 10-12 hours, and she spends the same time on table games and slots. Hence, she is a Diamond Member.
Donna picked up the phone and called the generic reservation number for The Rio. She was quoted a price, but was asked to hold while they got the casino host on the line. After about 15 minutes on the phone, she had the exact same 10 nights ( June 28 - July 8 ) for a mere $510 - tax included! FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS for 10 nights at the RIO during the WORLD SERIES OF POKER! I could not get my credit card out fast enough to confirm the reservation. Additionally, since Donna is a Diamond Member, we get to eat free in the Diamond Lounge.
The last thing to get in order was airfare. We had gone to Denver this past February, and one of our flights were overbooked. United asked for volunteers to be bumped, in exchange for a free ticket. I always like to plan my travel early in the day just in case this situation arises. We volunteered and received vouchers for one free round trip ticket each, valued up to $300. The only “problem” was that airfare from Albany, NY to Las Vegas was going for about $450. So, it looked like we would have to kick in some extra money. Donna called the airline and low and behold, they said that we would not have to pay any extra. The tickets were 100% free!
So, Donna and I are confirmed for 10 nights at The Rio and the airline tickets are confirmed as well. I am going to play in event #52 ($1500 NL holdem). I am also going to try to satellite into the main event.
Next Stop - The WSOP!