WSOP is History

I dealt on Day One of the WSOP: 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d as well as Day 2. After that, the field melted down and fewer tables were needed. The Satellite room, usually packed, was empty. We started over seven weeks ago with some 4000 people applying for positions and attending auditions. Of those, 896 were hired. No idea how many actually made it to the Main Event, but I know that there were a small number who were fired for incompetence and a number that were taken off the roster because they simply didn't show up regularly and a number walked away from the job because they either realized that they weren't going to make the kind of money they expected or they discovered that dealing can be tough and it just wasn't worth it.

By the time the Main Event arrived there were 305 dealers on Swing Shift alone. Sunday's Main Event had some 2700 players which means 270 tables were needed. They used the Amazon Room, which is the primary location for the tournaments and they also filled the Satellite Room with Main Event players. They put people in the casino poker room and the hallway outside of Buzio's restaurant and also in the Brazilia Room. From WSOP Updates:

The Brasilia room is packed full today. Some of the notable names in the field are: Ryan Young Tim Vance Lou Esposito Sully Erna Eskimo Clark Jose Canseco Amir Vahedi Phil Gordon Erik Cajelais David Williams Hevad Khan There are still a bunch of empty seats that should be filled in soon enough. Some of the big pros tend to arrive late to the event. We'll keep you posted as to when they show up.
Today's field includes none other than the 2007 WSOP Main Event winner and defending champion Jerry Yang. Last year Jerry overcame
6,357 other players to take down the biggest prize in poker and $8.25 million in cash. Jerry hasn't let fame and fortune go to his head, maintaining his humility as he carried the honor of poker's world champion for the past 12 months. Jerry is back today to try and do it all over again this year, but it won't be easy, as the cameras swarm his table with all eyes centered on him.

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:27:13
Think I'll Wait for the Fourth Day One - So thought a lot of folks. Shane "Shaniac" Schleger and Joe Pelton are here and at the same table. And Layne Flack and Antonio Esfandiari are also tablemates. Also among those here in the Brasilia Room: Scott Clements, Dan Shak, Tom Schneider, Ryan Daut, and Eugene Todd, bro.

I was also assigned to deal in Brazilia on Sunday. Of the names above I dealt tables that included Sully Erna, Phil Gordon, Eskimo Clark, David Williams, Hevad Khan, Shane "Shaniac" Schleger, Scott Clements and Eugene Todd.

This year WSOP instituted the "Hevad Khan Rule" which can assess a player a penalty for "Excessive celebration" because of Hevad's antics at last year's tournament. I just have to tell you that when I dealt to Hevad Khan he was one of the nicest and most polite players in the field. He was pleasant, affable and demonstrated a clever sense of humor. Other dealers had the same experience. I guess he saw himself on TV and made a decision to behave differently.

I also dealt on Day 2 but after that, with no Single Table Satellites, no Mega Satellite, no $330 Nightly No Limit Tournament and hardly any cash tables, it was time to call it quits.

My World Series of Poker Dealer experience is ended. Just like I can say that I once caddied for a PGA pro and for an LPGA pro I can say that I dealt at the tables of the 2008 World Series of Poker and viewed the action from the inside.