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There may be hope for us all

It is funny how things change in poker. I have regularly over the past year and a half played a $160 buy in tournament at Harrah's in Laughlin. It is a nice deep stack tournament with 10k in chips and 30 minute blinds. The one interesting thing I have noticed is that of the 30-40 players that are there 20-30 always seem to be the same. I have had some success in this game and have seen most of these players have some success from time to time. One in particular I used to play with reminds me that you just never know what can happen. Tommy Vedes used to play in this game up until this past summer. He had good runs and bad runs and was a regular at Harrah's.

This past summer Tommy's life took a drastic change. He played the main event of the world series of poker and ended up placing 19th and making just over $350,000. A good hit for a decent player. Definitely bankroll worthy. He has since run around the world playing events in Europe and North America and has won a little over $600,000 this year. Some interesting news just came back to me today. He is playing in the Festa al Lago WPT tournament at the Bellagio. He has just made his first final table in a major event. As I write this he is third in chips with 6 players left standing.

The irony is I have no jealousy for the man, It definitely makes me feel that a solid game will get rewarded in the long run. He is playing for $1.2 million this evening and I couldn't be happier to know that a player I have played with and known for a while has had this type of success. I wish this type of success to all that I have met in my poker life. Good luck to all, Tommy has proven it is possible.

COMMENTS

POSTED BY:
smarston

Oct 27, 09 04:38 AM

Here is a pretty amazing addition to this blog, well he ended up taking it all down. Won $1.2 Million and a WPT title. Pretty amazing stuff

POSTED BY:
lasmos

Oct 27, 09 03:16 PM

Hey Smartson! Thanks for sharing. What a great outcome for this guy. It's an inspiration for many of us, and we can only hope that our day too will come. You are so right, "pretty amazing stuff."

POSTED BY:
CCITYSTEVE

Oct 27, 09 04:30 PM

WOW !! -- AWESOME STORY -- I HOPE YOU GET THE SAME RESULTS -- GOOD LUCK

POSTED BY:
swighey

Oct 27, 09 06:29 PM

Tony G would admit it, Mike Matusow might and Phil Hellmuth never will but they got lucky one day and it all turned around and they hit the big time and now they can talk down to us little ones when they sense weakness. Sure you need the skill but when luck comes to town you gotta jump on its back and ride it all night long. GG Tommy Vedes don't forgets your mates, bros, homies, pals or whatever you call em.

POSTED BY:
lasmos

Oct 28, 09 01:27 AM

There is a lot of sense in what Swighey has to say. When the key matches the lock... Yikes! It then becomes a different game if you make it so.

POSTED BY:
alig8trblood

Oct 28, 09 02:21 PM

Good blog smarston. Its weird I was just telling a friend about Tommy Vedes and how he went deep in the Main Event and then captured his 1st WPT title. I think poker is about investing your time and learning the most you can in each session and eventually you will have your breakthrough performance. I truly believe this. Great blog again.

POSTED BY:
checkm8

Oct 28, 09 04:25 PM

i played against tommy in a WPT event...im assuming same one.

POSTED BY:
mistershifty

Oct 28, 09 04:59 PM

He took some sick beats in the WSOP too, could have easily made the final table...Great inspirational story bro, hopefully some time in the near future one of us will be up there...

POSTED BY:
bustdsympthy

Oct 28, 09 05:30 PM

Great story Smartson...happened to be staying at Bellagio Sunday/Monday and checked in on the progress from time-to-time. He hit a couple of winners on the river to really turn it around and win. Love to hear a story like that...gives me hope after my set of 10s got cold-decked by set of As in the Venetian 120 Monday night....but I did cash in 7th Sunday night....just not 1.2 million...lol.

POSTED BY:
IzYummY

Oct 29, 09 02:47 AM

Nice blog gl to you!! oxoxox