The Dealer and the Backer

Attention all poker dealers! Have you ever had a dream, and then it came true? Have you ever dreamed of playing in the World Series rather than just dealing in it? Well, one dealer had his dream come true. Mike Majerus, a poker dealer for the past 10 years, has been dealing only on the tournament circuit for the last seven years. He was scheduled to start dealing the World Series of Poker this year, but took a slight detour on the way. He basically was broke – and was down to his case $200, in fact – and asked at least 10 guys if they would put him in or at least go partners with him in the casino employees event at the World Series of Poker. He got nothing but rejection until he finally asked Andy Lake, sometimes known as Andy the Artist. Andy has various business interests, but he also does paintings – of angels, in particular. Andy was playing a one-table satellite at the time Mike approached him, and after quickly winning the satellite, he agreed to go partners with Mike on one condition: If Mike cashed in the casino employees tournament, they would take $2,000 off the top and enter him in the limit hold'em tournament that was scheduled the next day. Mike was several levels into the event and still had his original $500 in chips, which made him one of the shorter stacks, when he talked to Andy during a break. Andy took Mike over to where some spinners were on display. He purchased one for Mike, and said that he was putting all of his positive energy into the spinner and was going to sweat him the rest of the way. Well, I am not saying there was anything magical about that spinner, but as soon as the break was over, Mike quickly ran his $500 in chips up to around $6,000, and became a serious contender. With Andy sweating him all the way, Mike battled to get to the final table and ultimately had to settle for a third-place finish that was worth just over $12,000. A very tired Mike (it was past 5 a.m.) then went over to the registration desk and entered the next event, and then got a few precious hours of sleep before play started promptly at noon. Mike's incredible streak continued; he was tired from the previous event but battled like a trooper all day and into the night, when play was halted for the day. Getting some badly needed rest and finding himself "in the zone," he fought his way to the final table, where he had to face former World Champion Huck Seed, the famous T.J. Cloutier, and three-time gold bracelet winner and winner of the Tournament of Champions, David Chiu. Jerry Stensrud of Commerce Casino was also one of the finalists, and finally had to settle for fourth place. Mike had the chip lead going to the final table, but with high limits and an extremely tough lineup anything could happen. He played his heart out and finally got heads up with David Chiu. David was unbeaten in his three previous heads-up matches in the World Series, but this time Mike was to emerge triumphant. He outlasted 609 other players and won more than $400,000 in prize money. What a parlay and a dealer's dream come true!

Andy told Mike before the final table began that if he believed he would succeed, he would. During the final-table action while rooting Mike on, Andy kept rubbing his wrist so that Mike would remember where he would be wearing his gold bracelet if he won. And win he did. I can't think of a more deserving guy, and to beat a champion player like David Chiu made his victory all the more sweet. Mike is 54 years old and a longtime resident of Bakersfield, California. He immediately decided to take a break from dealing the World Series so that he could play some additional events. As hot as he is, who knows what might happen before the tournament is over. Mike likes playing more than dealing, and no one can blame him. Prior to taking up dealing, he played a lot of poker, and spent several years in his own flooring business in Bakersfield and eight years selling real estate. He is a well-rounded guy and is very likable. I have known Mike for a number of years, and can honestly say that a genuine good guy won the tournament. Congratulations, Mike. With a little luck, maybe some of us can join Mike in the winner's circle before the World Series is over.