David Wood knows when to hold ’em and knows when to fold ’em, and will need those skills as he vies for $8 million in prize money at the world’s biggest poker tournament in Las Vegas next month.
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Mr Wood, of Figtree, is preparing to take his place at the 2013 World Series of Poker (WSOP), being held at the Rio Hotel and Casino.
Billed as “the longest-running, largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world”, it was won by Australian poker star Joe Hachem in 2005.
“I don’t get too nervous, but I can’t wait to get over there,” Mr Wood said.
“It’s the biggest tournament in the world, I just want to soak up the atmosphere.”
Mr Wood earned his ticket to Vegas and the WSOP by beating 435 other players to win the NSW Pro Open tournament last September. Incredibly, it was his first poker tournament.
“One of my mates won a ticket into the game, so I just went to play along with him,” Mr Wood said.
“I’ve only been playing for about four years. It was just something to do with mates, playing at the pub or the casino.”
Mr Wood will enter the Vegas tournament as part of the Australian Poker League and 888 Poker League teams. In recent years, up to 6500 players have entered the WSOP, so Mr Wood has been in serious preparation.
“I’ve been travelling around NSW, playing tournaments to practise,” he said.
“I’ve been studying lots, watching poker videos and reading books. But there’s nothing like actual game time, so lots of time at the casino too.”
The typical image of the pro poker player is of mirrored sunglasses, a hat and a stony expression. That’s not what Mr Wood goes in for. He said the WSOP tournament included 12-hour playing days, and he wanted to have some fun during the long games.
“I’m a pretty happy guy at the table,” he said.
“I’ll have a joke and play around with the other guys. I’m not a sunglasses guy.”
With $8 million in the pot, Mr Wood is obviously daydreaming about how he would spend the cash.
“I’m into mountain biking, so I’d buy some land and make a mountain bike park here in Wollongong,” he said.
“And of course I’d help out my family and friends. I’d share it around. I’m not a flashy person.”
For more information on the tournament see www.wsop.com.
