Summer Pot of Gold

The poker community’s collective esteem is taking a bit of a kicking right now.

The eyes of the sporting world are turning to Beijing and the Adonises of the felt are feeling a bit left out.

Unbelievably, poker is still deemed to be unworthy of the Olympics.

That is the first cause for depression.

Secondly, the players have had the final of the ultimate test delayed for four months so a TV company can sell more advertising space to breweries.

It is little wonder that the top chip-rifflers of the circuit are contemplating a call to the trauma team.

Normally, they would console themselves with some top dollar action and then, after the lady has left the buffalo suite with her wad of sweaty money, they would play some poker.

However, August is a slow month and there is a feel of mid-season malaise about the circuit.

Although the Grand Sierra Casino, Reno, is currently offering a ‘Summer Pot of Gold’, some of the prize pools are a bit piss-poor.

Its biggest event, Saturday’s No Limit Hold Event created a pool of $56,745 and consequently only 117 players got out of bed to pay the $550 entrance.

Tom Cage was the man most resistant to narcolepsy and presumably his first prize of $14,185 can keep him in the necessary caffeine should he summon enough energy to enter another of these side-shows.

Main Event Summer Pot of Gold – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino - $500+50

1. Tom Cage - $14,185
2. Bo Hong Do - $11,349
3. Scott Alexander - $8,512
4. Steve Kujubu - $5,675
5. Roderick Won $4,540