No WSOP for Irish James in 2009

The 2009 WSOP schedule has been released, and barring some poker miracle, with my bankroll at only $700, I will not have enough money to enter a tournament. It is such a bummer because I was over $2K at the beginning of the year, and then had a really crappy run since then. Late last year, I won a small tournament at the Golden Moon in Mississippi for about $600, and shortly after that, final tabled a larger buy-in tournament at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi for about $800. I was set for the 2009 WSOP, or so I thought.

Then on Super Bowl weekend, I went to the Hard Rock in Biloxi, and proceeded to lose about $800 in $1/$2 No Limit Hold 'Em. It was terrible. That, combined with some other not-so-minor poker losses and poor sports betting (courtesy of Manny Pacquiao), has knocked me out of contention for a WSOP bracelet this year. I keep trying to justify the expense of just paying for the trip and the rest of the entry fee out of pocket, but I feel guilty every time I think about it. There is a really juicy $1000 No Limit event this year, which doesn't make the decision any easier.

It has been a real challenge to keep my poker skills sharp over the last year or so -- which may partly explain my recent losses. As much as the poker industry does not want to admit it, the poker craze is clearly on the decline. Now that the 'casual' player is no longer as interested in the game, the casinos and online poker rooms are filled with die hards... which means stronger competition for people like me. Also, with the disappearance of poker from the mainstream radar, local games are harder to organize. The result is that live poker is not as lucrative, or as easy to practice, as it once was. And it sucks. I love the game, but I also miss the poker nights we used to put together with my family and friends. It was a lot of fun.

Nonetheless, the quest continues, and I haven't given up. It looks like a poker trip to New Orleans is in the works for this fall. Who knows, maybe we will sneak in a Vegas trip too. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that my luck changes, and that I keep my misguided sports wagering under control!