Financial Portfolio Manager Wins Spot in the WSOP

Jason Richards, a portfolio manager in the financial world, is a modern day superman of sorts after he sheds his corporate image off the office to join the bigwigs of poker.

Richards' talent in poker has earned him a spot in the much-coveted No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship of the 2006 World Series of Poker where an expected 8,000 people will join. He qualified by finishing in the top 23 of a tournament at PokerStars.com last month. The event will take place July 28 at the Rio All-suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

"It goes from excitement to being pretty nervous just trying to capture all of it," said Richards. He said he learned to play from his father and really got honed in the game with some friends while attending Coronado High. "I'm just trying to overcome some of my first-time jitters so it doesn't show at the table."

Winning in the online qualifier has given Richard the opportunity of a lifetime as PokerStars.com's prize package includes the $10,000 buy-in fee plus $1,000 in pocket money.

"That does take some of the pressure off, knowing that I've got a free roll," Richards said. "I'm playing to win some, but I'm not worrying about losing something. You get to enjoy the opportunity to play a little more when it is not your own money."

He has been prepping himself by reading about poker strategy, playing at local casinos and practicing with friends.

"It is exciting, but intimidating," he said. "I don't think there is any other sport where you can buy into an event and play with a Tiger (Woods) or on the Suns roster."

"I could be playing off the same deck as the guys I see on TV everyday."

Friday, 18. 2006
Sherry Barlow

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