Every year since 2000, the Casino Employees event has kicked off proceedings at the World Series of Poker, and 2010 was no different. Despite the hysteria for the star-studded $50,000 Mixed Games event, it would be a debuting dealer from California who would pick up the first bracelet.
Born in Vietnam, Haoi Pham is a 43-year old poker dealer from San Diego, currently working in the Village Club Casino in Chula Vista, California. Following an epic two-day battle, Pham claimed victory at 5am on Friday, May 29. On the final hand, Pham’s Ac-Ad held up against the 4s-4c of Arthur Vea, all in on a Qh-7d-2c flop.
721 casino employees turned up to the event with Day One taking place in the Pavillion, a larger room adjacent to the Amazon which is said to be the size of a football field. The buy-in was $500, thus creating a total prize pool of $324,450 with a first prize of $71,424.
"I feel very good. I am very happy,” beamed Pham in victory. “I can't wait to tell everybody. I told my boss I would take vacation (to play in this tournament). So now, I get to go back to them and show them what I have done. I feel very, very tired right now.”
The Casino Employees event has kicked off proceedings since it’s introduction in 2000, yet has always been considered a ‘lesser’ event by the general consensus. Few spectators were present and the final was played in the shadows of the $50,000 Mixed Games event. Naturally, this was the event that attracted the attention of the media, and once again, the casino employees were left out in the cold. This didn’t feel like the opening event, and it certainly didn’t feel like a bracelet was up for grabs, yet this was the tournament where a rags to riches story was virtually guaranteed.
At the start of the tournament, albeit to an otherwise empty room, Jack Effel commended the players on their contribution to poker: “All of you are special to us. Without casino employees, there is no live poker. Without casino employees, there is no Vegas.” The day after the final, Pham was presented his bracelet in front of a packed Pavillion. He chose the Vietnamese national anthem. To Harrah’s credit, this was a nice gesture; let’s hope they go one step further next year and add a little money to the prize pool.
Throughout the Series, Black Belt Poker will be bringing you regular bulletins, highlighting the progress of British players, as well Black Belt Poker’s sponsored Belts. I have also started a blog sharing tales of the WSOP/Vegas experience. But, for now, our congratulations go to Hoia Pham, soon to be the forgotten man of WSOP 2010.
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