Garry Gates Tells About His WSOP Main Event Final Table Experience
Garry Gates, a former consultant of player affairs for a major online poker site, came in 4th in the second largest Main Event field in WSOP history this year, pocketing $3 million.
Now, he sat down with writers for the USA Today’s For the Win column to share some interesting tidbits of information the average poker fan may not know about.
Garry Gates was Backed by Jason Mercier
For an avid poker enthusiast, it is no surprise if someone doesn’t have 100% of himself in a $10,000 tournament. In fact, it’s the norm by now.
However, many probably didn’t know that Gates’ backer is quite well known in the poker world – it’s 5-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Jason Mercier.
Mercier got 66% of Gates’ action. It paid off quite nicely for him, with a $6,600 investment he made $2 million.
Also, Jason Mercier wasn’t the only famous poker pro rooting for Gates. According to the FTW piece, Phil Hellmuth and Chris Moneymaker sent him texts of support before the WSOP Main Event final table play began.
How a WSOP Main Event Finalist Eats
According to Gates, one of the most frustrating parts of a World Series poker player’s day is when everyone is trying to get to a nearby restaurant on dinner breaks. Getting out of the parking lot then is not the most pleasant experience.
For those who wish to avoid that, the company All American Dave delivers food right to the poker tables.
There’s also a popular hot dog cart and an eatery called “Poker Kitchen” inside the Rio Casino.
The Daily Schedule for the WSOP Main Finalists
Garry Gates also pointed out how grueling it can be to play for poker’s most coveted title, the WSOP Main Event. Even sleeping can become troublesome.
“We’d finish play by 1:30 a.m. and then we’d have to be back the next day by noon. My adrenaline would be pumping so hard, I didn’t get to sleep until 6 a.m. I’d go to the gym or for a run, drank a ton of water, tried to eat healthily, anything to get an edge mentally and physically that I could over the field. Ten hours is a long time to maintain 100 percent focus. Any slip-up or lapse in concentration can cost you millions of dollars” – told Gates to USA Today.
Gates also talked about how he asked his friends and family watching the WSOP Main Event final table on TV to text him previous hands once they caught up with the 30-minute delay. Evidently, this is common practice for poker pros who play publicly broadcast events.
Finally, the hero of this article revealed that you cannot use your phone at a World Series event while your hole cards are still in front of you. If you’re playing in a featured table, you need to walk off-camera to use your mobile devices.
Earn up to 60% cashback when signing up through us at partypoker!
When signing up through VIP-Grinders.com on partypoker, you can now earn up to 60% cashback on partypoker plus take part in the following exclusive VIP-Grinders Promotions with massive extra value:
- $30 Welcome Bonus in SPINS Tickets
- Up to 60% Cashback via the Diamond Elite Club
- 4 x $250 Private Poker Freeroll per month
- Exclusive Party & Bwin Chase
Terms and conditions apply. New customer offer and 18+ only. Should you require help regarding your betting pattern, please visit www.begambleaware.org.
