Nolan Dalla, WSOP media Director, at the 2005 WSOP.
Nolan dalla, WSOP Media Director and author, sent his report from the World Poker Open at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. The complete report appears below from one of my favorite poker authors and probably the most knowledgeable tournament poker historian on the planet. Nolan chronicled the tragic life of the greatest poker player of all times, Stu Unger. The book titled One of a Kind : The Rise and Fall of Stuey "The Kid" Ungar, The World's Greatest Poker Player makes for a great, if emotional read. I remember seeing Stuey hanging out at the Horseshoe and I was there the day he won his third WSOP championship outside in the heat under the canopy.
I added the hyperlinks and photos to the article.
2006 World Poker Open
Gold Strike Casino Resort Tunica, Mississippi
Official Report
Day Two
No-Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $10,000 (+200)
Number of Entries: 327
Number of Players Remaining: 52
Total Prize Money: $3,171,900
Gavin Smith, shown here from the 2005 WSOP, is the World Poker Open chip leader after day #2.
Gavin Smith Dominating World Poker Open After Day Two
Former WPT winner and tournament pro leads with nearly 400,000 in chips with 52 players remaining
For the seventh straight year, Tunica, Mississippi evolved into the center of the poker universe as the World Poker Open returned to the Gold Strike Casino-Resort. After two consecutive weeks of preliminary tournaments, satellites, and cash games, Tunica's crown jewel--the $10,000 buy-in championship event--began with 327 players and a prize pool exceeding $3 million.
"The World Poker Open has become the second-largest poker tournament in the world," said Robin Fisackerly, Poker Room Manager and Tournament Coordinator at the Gold Strike Casino-Resort. "I believe this is because we have established a great tradition here in Tunica. We treat our poker players like they are specia...because they are. People attend this tournament from all over the world and we want to make sure we make it worthwhile for them to keep coming back year after year."
Indeed, Tunica is noted not only for being one of the largest casino markets in the United States. It has also become the center of poker action in the South. With 76 poker tables filled to capacity, limit, pot-limit, and no-limit games run virtually around the clock. But for the next three days and nights, all eyes will be focused on the World Poker Open main event, featured as part of the highly-successful World Poker Tour to be broadcast later on The Travel Channel.
At the end of Day Two, the chip leader is Gavin Smith. The former Canadian who now lives in Las Vegas has become a familiar face on the World Poker Tour. He has finished high in several major tournaments over the past two years and won a $1 million first prize at the Mirage (Las Vegas) in 2005. Smith started the day second in the chip count. However, it took only a few hours on Day Two for Smith to establish his dominance in this event and seize the chip lead, becoming the first player to rocket above the 300,000 mark. Now guaranteed an in-the-money finish, it remains to be seen of Smith's momentum will continue; or will the winds of change blow and end his dream of winning another huge prize and becoming one of a small elite group of players to win two WPT events.
Smith sat down to an interview and gave his thoughts about the World Poker Open and his ultimate chances for victory:
Question: You have been the chip leader in this tournament most of the day. What has the competition been like?
Smith: It's been pretty good. I had a tough table the last few hours, with 'The Grinder' (Michael Mizrachi) on my left. But we both managed to move up in chips and did not tangle much. I was very fortunate. I had lots of people push in chips with me. I'm not the easiest guy to bluff. I made a few big calls and everything is going well so far.
Michael 'the Grinder' Mizrachi playing at the Bellagio.
Question: Let's talk more about having the two biggest stacks in the tournament not only at the same table, but side by side. That is highly unusual, with 80 or so player left. How did that affect your strategy?
Smith: I really thought we were going to play some pots (together). Since I had him outchipped, I could normally dictate when we were going to play a big pot. I had the luxury of knowing I could bust him, but he could not bust me. But since he had position on me, he was able to have some control. If Grinder had decided we were going to do some gambling, then I was ready to do some gambling (with him). But for the most part, Grinder played in a fashion that indicated he did not want to play any big pots with me. When he had big hands, he made big raises. He didn't try to suck me in. He only got one pot off me, worth about 50,000, when I called him down when I thought he was bluffing. But he won. Other than that, we did not tangle much.
Question: One thing that is striking about your composure is that you always seem to be smiling at the table. You never let your emotions get out of control. How do you maintain such a positive attitude?
Smith: I try to have fun no matter what I do. I like playing poker. That's what it is all about. I just want to have fun when I play.
Question: You are the chip leader. How does that affect your strategy for tomorrow?
Smith: It's really not going to affect me at all. I am pretty much going to play the same way I have played so far. I plan on putting people to some decisions. That's how you build a stack.
Question: Do you think there is more pressure on you going into the final stages of the tournament with the chip lead, since your expectations might be higher?
Smith: I do not think there is any more pressure, because I put a lot of pressure on myself to win. Whenever I go to a final table, I think I am the favorite. I don't care what the chip count is. I'm always disappointed to lose. I do think there are higher expectations from other people when you in this spot. But in terms of internal pressure, I do not think there is any more (because of the chip lead).
Question: You have been in this spot before. Do you think it is more difficult to win that first big tournament, or win a second or third and maintain a high level of play once you've achieved your first victory?
Smith: I think it is tough no matter what. It's always tough to break through for the first time. I knocked on the door a lot of times before it opened. So, I guess I would say winning the first one is toughest. Also, after you win your first one, you get a lot more respect from people. They tend to give you more walks in your blinds. They tend to respect your raises more. They do not want to tangle up with you as much, because they know you have won before.
Question: There are many talented players left in this field. Who do you like besides yourself to make it to the final table?
Smith: There are a lot of great players left. Chris Bell, The Grinder, and others...these are players who are very dangerous. Scotty (Nguyen) has chips and he is always a threat. I predict we will see a lot of big names late in the tournament and the final table will be something for everyone to watch.
On Day Three--play resumes at 12 noon CST.
Gold Strike Poker Room Manager...Robin Fisackerly
Tournament Director...John Nieznanski
Director of Poker Operations...Ken Lambert
Jill Ann Spaulding playing at the 2005 WSOP (photo has nothing to do with this article).