The Dealer Olympics

• December 2005
• |
• Bluff Staff

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