|
The
2005 WSOP saw some of the best poker players in the
world battle it out for record prize pools. 2005 was
also the year for the first ever Dealer Olympics. The
dealers at this year’s WSOP were given a chance
to compete in four grueling events, with the winners
awarded trips to Monte Carlo, courtesy of Matt Savage
and www.savagetournaments.com. Contestants had to complete
all four events, and the best times from each event,
along with the top ten overall times, moved through
to the final, which was filmed live on stage for Players
Network during the Lifestyle Show at the WSOP.
The final event saw dealers attempting to pay out a
four-way split Omaha hi/lo hand in the quickest possible
time. Apart from the regular pressure the contestants
faced, the final was filmed and telecast live via the
web on www.playersnetwork. com. All of the finalists
found the final event to be one of the most challenging
hands of poker that they had ever dealt, and some admitted
that they felt more pressure during the Dealer Olympics
final than some of the final tables of the WSOP. The
top ten finalists were sent one by one to the Players
Network stage to compete in the final event with the
other contestants waiting offstage in a sound proof
room. None of the contestants knew what to expect for
the final, which was shrouded in secrecy. Thus, the
dealers either had the skills or they didn't. And the
four winners were truly sensational dealers.
|
This
Years Events
|
| The Shuffle Race.
Dealers had to take a scrambled deck of cards
and perform a regular poker shuffle consisting
of a riffle, a strip and two more riffles. |
| The Set-up Race.
Dealers had to take a shuffled deck of cards
and suit them as fast as possible. |
| The Sweetest Pitch.
Dealers had to pitch out an entire
deck on a specially built poker table as fast
and as accurately as possible. There were
six holes in the table that represented player
positions. Dealers received a penalty for
each card left on the table or for cards that
flew off the table. |
| Rack Attack.
While in the box, the dealer had to complete
a fill for that table as fast as possible. |
|
Along with bragging rights for next year, the top four
finishers won an all expenses paid trip to Mote Carlo
and a chance to deal the most prestigious poker event
in the world, the Monte Carlo Millions. Situated on
the Mediterranean ocean, Monte Carlo is one of the premier
getaways for the world’s elite, and now four dealers
from this year’s WSOP will be living in high society
for a week. Working closely with Matt Savage, the four
winners will get the chance to travel the world, working
some of the most sought after dealing gigs that money
can’t buy.
There were some impressive results in all events, yet
one contestant stood out amongst all others. Originally
hailing from Las Vegas, Derek Glover scored the best
overall time, and thus went straight to the finals where
he showed all other competitors that consistency and
accuracy, as opposed to raw speed, are the best qualities
in a poker dealer. Derek managed to complete the final
event without any errors, and in the fastest time, thus
crowning himself the first ever Dealer Olympics Champion.
You can watch highlights of Derek's performance on the
web at www.playersnetwork.com, and if you’re ever
in Las Vegas, drop by the Monte Carlo hotel and casino
(Yes, he works there and this event was not a set up!)
and say hi to Derek; he is now the Tournament Director
for their poker room. See what winning the Dealer Olympics
can do for you!
Another dealer on her way to Monte Carlo is Jolyn Havilland.
Last year ESPN camera crews claimed that Jolyn Havilland
had the fastest shuffle they had ever seen. Originally
from Florida, Jolyn didn't disappoint the crowd. After
a bad warm up round, Jolyn found her form and was able
to perform the entire shuffle process in an eye popping
eight seconds. No dealer was able to match her time,
so Jolyn had a free pass to the finals where she was
able to showcase her all around skills and score a second
place.
UNTIL NEXT TIME MAY THE FLOP BE WITH YOU…ALWAYS
THE HUX
|
