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High-stakes soldier
Officer gets shot at big money, World Poker Tour title
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Posted : April 07, 2008
Eric Richards may not have the thousand-yard stare, but he’s got a pretty good poker face.
The 24-year-old soldier earned a $25,000 seat at the World Poker Tour World Championship, to be held April 19-26 at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. He qualified after winning an event at the Oklahoma State Championship of Poker.
On a whim, Richards, a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Okla., drove to the Cherokee Casino in Tulsa in February and entered a $300 buy-in for Omaha Hi/Low, which is similar to the popular poker game Texas Hold ’Em.
Richards bested nearly 230 players to win $8,000 and a championship ring, then knocked off 10 competitors in a subsequent tournament of champions to win a coveted seat in the WPT Championship.
Richards said he picked up poker while an undergraduate and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadet at Montana State University. To supplement his income, he worked as a dealer at a Bozeman, Mont., card shop, The Korner Card Room.
“I learned a lot about the different variations of poker and a little on how to read people at the table,” he said.
He also pocketed some quick cash, including $2,000 during one marathon game that spanned nearly three days. (He took breaks to sleep, shower and go to class, he said.)
Richards said his commander approved his leave on March 27. He said he’s looking forward to the high-stakes match.
“I’m more excited than nervous about going there and playing and seeing the professionals and how I match up to them,” he said.
Richards said his family and girlfriend — all of whom will be traveling to Vegas — have been supportive of his card talent. And perhaps they should be: Last year’s winner took home nearly $4 million.
High-stakes soldier
Officer gets shot at big money, World Poker Tour title
-
Posted : April 07, 2008
Eric Richards may not have the thousand-yard stare, but he’s got a pretty good poker face.
The 24-year-old soldier earned a $25,000 seat at the World Poker Tour World Championship, to be held April 19-26 at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. He qualified after winning an event at the Oklahoma State Championship of Poker.
On a whim, Richards, a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Okla., drove to the Cherokee Casino in Tulsa in February and entered a $300 buy-in for Omaha Hi/Low, which is similar to the popular poker game Texas Hold ’Em.
Richards bested nearly 230 players to win $8,000 and a championship ring, then knocked off 10 competitors in a subsequent tournament of champions to win a coveted seat in the WPT Championship.
Richards said he picked up poker while an undergraduate and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadet at Montana State University. To supplement his income, he worked as a dealer at a Bozeman, Mont., card shop, The Korner Card Room.
“I learned a lot about the different variations of poker and a little on how to read people at the table,” he said.
He also pocketed some quick cash, including $2,000 during one marathon game that spanned nearly three days. (He took breaks to sleep, shower and go to class, he said.)
Richards said his commander approved his leave on March 27. He said he’s looking forward to the high-stakes match.
“I’m more excited than nervous about going there and playing and seeing the professionals and how I match up to them,” he said.
Richards said his family and girlfriend — all of whom will be traveling to Vegas — have been supportive of his card talent. And perhaps they should be: Last year’s winner took home nearly $4 million.
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