Kai Landry, who has no job, claims to have developed "no marketable skills" in his 37 years and spends much of his time playing poker, doesn't feel he deserves the title of pro.
Maybe not, but he played professionally enough during the six-hour final table to win the WSOP's circuit tour $5,150 championship event at Harrah's Casino Tunica. The victory was worth $183,974, a gold-and diamond trophy ring, and a $10,000 seat into this year WSOP championship event, plus $1,000 expense money.
Landry, from Biloxi, Mississippi, plays about three times a week at the Beau Rivage, dividing his poker time between small local tournaments and $2-$5 no-limit cash games.
Landry, who has played poker since he was 21, said his style of play varies depending on his opponents. At this final table he found his opponents were on the aggressive side, so he decided to be cautious and wait for big hands. With this big win, Landry "absolutely" plans to concentrate on tournaments in the future
This event drew 154 players who built a prize pool of $735,900. This circuit series, which offered noon, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. events, was very successful, drew 11,764 players and a total prize pool of $3,788,335, a nice increase over last year's numbers.
Players arriving for this series were greeted by an expanded, remodeled and re-named hotel casino that underwent a $45 million renovation last year that included a new poker room and the 560-seat Paula Deen Buffet.
HARRAHS TUNICA WSOP CIRCUIT EVENT
EVENT 14 2/2/09
NO LIMIT HOLD'EM CHAMPIONSHIP
BUY-IN $5,000 + $150
PLAYERS 154
PRIZE POOL $735,919
1. Kai Landry . . . . . . $183,974
2. David Dao . . . . . . . $117,744
3. Matthew Stout . . . . . $73,590
4. Leonard Eidson . . . . $61,816
5. Jeremy Byrum . . . . $51,513
6. Mike Leah . . . . . . . . $44,154
7. Glenn Hyde . . . . . . . $36,795
8. Brian McCoy . . . . . $29,436
EVENT 12 1/31/09
NO LIMIT HOLD'EM
BUY-IN $1,000 + $80
PLAYERS 321
PRIZE POOL $311,370
1. Justin Truesdell . . . $77,836
2. Chris Love . . . . . . . . $42,035
3. Leon Morford . . . . . $21,796
4. Phillip Sparta . . . . . $15,569
5. James Pieczynski . . $14,012
6. Donald Crabtree . . . $11,676
7. Giovanni Marcacci . $10,120
EVENT 11 1/30/09
NO LIMIT HOLD'EM
BUY-IN $500 + $50
PLAYERS 416
PRIZE POOL $201,770
1. Michael Carter . . . . $50,439
2. Sean McMahon . . . . $26,027
3. Danny Nelson . . . . . $14,123
4. Steve Weigel . . . . . . . $7,566
5. Michael Sabbia . . . . . $5,044
6. Phillip Wells . . . . . . . $4,550
7. Tom Wright . . . . . . . . $4,035
EVENT 10 1/297/09
NO LIMIT HOLD'EM
BUY-IN $400 + $40
PLAYERS 316
PRIZE POOL $122,814
1. Kenny Long . . . . . . . $30,650
2. Chris Moneymaker $16,552
3. James Naifeh . . . . . . . $8,583
4. Richard Ferro . . . . . . $6,130
5. Glyn Banks . . . . . . . . . $5,517
6. David Lieberman . . . $4,598
7. Matt Haugen . . . . . . . $3,985
