Monday, June 16, 2014

Talking With Sam Trickett and Plugging the Ironman Tournament Concept

On my way cover the final two $10,000 Six Handed NLHE tables at the Rio this afternoon, I happen upon former soccer pro and One Drop second-place finisher Sam Trickett, who is finishing up an interview with the Global Poker Index. He recounts the story of a sick pot in the high stakes Macao games he sometimes plays in––a leveling war in which a pro bet roughly $10 million into a $10 million pot on a paired board, in which a potential straight and flush were also on the board. The pro was called down––with complete air––by a businessman who had only a bluff catcher A-K. Sick doesn’t even begin to describe this type of action––call it the Dwan effect? 


Trickett also mentions that he is excited to play in the $1 million buy-in One Drop again––he finished in second against Antonio Esfandiari in the 2012, taking home more than $10 million. He considers Phillip “Philbort” Gruissem his worthiest opponent––based on experience playing the German at the high stakes cash tables. Speaking to Trickett after the interview, he confides to me that he has not been running particularly well in the WSOP tournaments so far but is far from fazed––he is off to late reg in the $5,000 eight max NLHE. UPDATE: Trickett leads the field as we head into Day 2.

I mention to Trickett that I am interested in organizing a world breaking Ironman event while the WSOP is going on and he seems quite interested––as any competition driven sportsman should be. I have come up with a hypothetical name for the tournament––SICKO (Shulenberger Ironman Poker Classic K.O.) Naturally, if this epic “true glory” event ever gets off the ground, it should have a charitable component. Given its name, a health care nonprofit would be the logical partner. 

So far, we have interest from sponsors at NEON energy drink and event organizers par excellence Kwan International, who are organizing the Project All In Poker worldwide live poker broadcast at the Las Vegas Speedway this Saturday. Timed to coincide with the mega popular Electric Daisy Carnival event right next door, a $50 cover gets partygoers into an event featuring full buffet, DJ GoldenChild from the Mandalay Bay, laser lights show, and a poker tournament. All of this Vegas-style excitement will be live streamed across the globe. 



Moving back to the Ironman concept, I think that this is an idea whose time has come––hundreds of players going out of their minds and babbling in tongues as the day and night progresses; players cursing the poker gods after they wind up with no money after 30-odd hours on the felt. Ultimate poker toughness bragging rights. What is not to like about this scenario?


Below, a few glimpses of the madness that is the Ironman tournament. This is something that we need to turn into an annual Vegas charity event like the One Drop. True deep-stacked endurance poker at its best!







2 comments:

  1. I honestly want to be part of a poker tournament. Do you know how can I join?

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  2. Poker tournament sound like interesting and fun!!

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    ReplyDelete