A Fun Table at the World Series of Poker

As I write this column, the main-event winner of the World Series of Poker has yet to be determined. What I want to talk about is my starting table on opening day. Actually, it was called day 1C, because they had to split the opening day of play into four segments, with approximately 25 percent of the starting field of 8,773 playing each day. Everyone had to play six full two-hour levels on opening day. This is a lot of stress and work, and there is usually a lot of seriously concentrating grim-faced players at each table. This was not the case at my table. I have been playing the main event of the World Series of Poker every year since I won it. Since that occurred in the last century – 1983, to be exact – this was the 24th time I have participated. In all of that time, I have never been at a more fun table. Instead of the usual blood and guts, there was a genuine amount of bonding going on. Jokes were flying fast and furiously. Players were even rooting for each other when somebody went all in. Everybody wanted to keep our table intact and continue to enjoy the happy spirit of play.



How did all of this happen? After all, we were playing for the world championship and a $12 million first prize. Mostly, this spirit of friendship could be laid on the doorstep of Ashleigh Sleiman of Jacksonville, Florida. She had never played the big tournament before, and obviously did not know that we were there to rip each other's heart out. She was very talkative and making jokes. She had no clue who I was. When somebody informed her that I was a former world champion, and even wrote poker books, she responded, "Oh, I never read any of that junk." The table totally erupted in laughter. I had tears in my eyes because she was so genuine and meant no real insult. She was impossible not to like. In fact, on the dinner break I gave her an autographed copy of one of my books as a gift.



With Ashleigh leading the way, others joined in the conversation. Don't forget, we were all strangers to each other. The only person at the table whom I had met before was Adeline Freedman from Simi Valley, California. By the end of the day, we felt like we had known each other for years. It was unusual that I had a third lady at my starting table, since only 3 percent of the starting field was female. Her name was Carol Angstead of Longmont, Colorado. She was quiet at first, but it was impossible not to talk around Ashleigh.



In addition to the ladies, we had a nice gentleman from Ontario, Canada, Ron Steeper. He too was quiet at first, but could not help laughing at the jokes. Two seats to my right was a young man who barely looked 21. Many of the younger players have an attitude, especially if they have had some success. He was nothing but polite, and survived the day with a good stack of chips. His name was Nate McCrary from Longview, Texas. I was very impressed with his play, and think he will make his mark in the poker world if he continues to play.



The player on my immediate right kept me and the rest of the table laughing almost as hard as when Ashleigh had the floor. His name was Nick Ducey from Cincinnati. Our table was having so much fun that the ESPN camera crew often came over to record what was going on. Nick waved to the camera and said, "Hi, mom." I promised I would mention his mother in this column, so I will. Hello, Madeline; you raised a great son. Nick had one of the funniest lines of the day. He said that he got along better with the people at this table than he did with his own family members at Thanksgiving time. I'm sure this is no reflection on you, Madeline. Nick had played the big tournament before, and said his personal record for lasting the longest was 1:30 a.m. on the first day. He was determined to beat that record, even with a short stack. And he did, by 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I was the one who busted him when he went all in with a pair smaller than my pocket jacks. Since we were only 15 minutes away from being done for the day, he ordered a beer and requested that he be allowed to sit with us until a player from a broken table arrived. This request was granted. He said he was rooting for me the rest of the way, and kept sending me e-mail to check on my progress.



I know this column was a little different from my usual strategy columns, but it was too much fun not to write about. In my next column, I will talk more about my personal journey through the minefields to survive until day four. I would not have lasted through the first day without Ashleigh; that will be part of my continuing saga of the 2006 WSOP. If we all can survive the minefields, Ashleigh, Nick, and the rest of us at this table hope to meet you in the winner's circle soon.

Tom McEvoy is a representative of PokerStars.cpom. He also is the voice of ProPlay, a new and innovative way to learn winning poker strategy. Find out more at www.ProPlayLive.com/tommcevoy.