Atlanta Poker Club Members At The 2013 APC $10,000 Main Event
The 2013 APC $10,000 Main Event Invitation Only Tournament took place on Saturday, June 1st and Sunday, June 2nd. This 2-Day Tournament gave away a $10,000 Seat into the World Series of Poker Event in Las Vegas!
To qualify you had to receive an invitation, and 129 players came out to play in the Main Event. The Pleasant Hill Event Hall in Lilburn was the perfect location to have such a large tournament and the Atlanta Poker Club provided food, desserts, and drinks!
There was anticipation and excitement as players took their seats. Facebook updates started almost immediately!
At every break players discussed hands and chips stacks and looked around to see who was left. By the time the first day of tournament play ended at around 10:00 p.m. there were 44 players left!
It was a long first day for some but the excitement kept the adrenalin flowing and players couldn’t wait for Day 2 to start!
Final Table and Order of Finish:
10 – Danny Bavongkhoun
9 – Shyster
8 – Bill Reid
7 – Kevin Ilias
6 – David Carruth
5 – Curtis Fay
4 – Aaron Porter
3 – Shane Field
2 – Russell Ramuten
and your winner –
SAM SILVERMAN
Sam will be playing in the $10,000 World Series of Poker Tournament in Las Vegas, and that includes $1,000 travel expenses! We wanted to know more about Sam Silverman.
How long have you lived in Atlanta?
I’ve lived in and around Atlanta
since 1999. I grew up as an Army brat and graduated from the University of South Carolina and attended Graduate School in Lexington, Kentucky. Currently we live in Buford. I’ve been married for 23 years and have four daughters and a son.
How long have you played with the APC?
Started in April. Previously I’d played in neighborhood games and in Florida. In April, I told my wife I wanted to get serious about Texas Hold’em…that I didn’t know the strategy of the game. A friend plays at Del Rio and invited me to play. I started reading books and studying the game.
How have you been studying the game?
Reading and listening to books including Annie Duke and Phil Gordon. Also read poker blogs and online tips, and study the videos on You Tube. I’m trying to develop my own style and trying to figure out what is going to work at each table. Before the APC, I had very little and scattered experience. I credit the APC with helping me develop my current skills.
What style would you call your game?
Tight aggressive and that sums up my play. I’ve watched the conservative players and you can figure out their style and I add variance to my play. I play around a little more early in the tournaments.
What was your impression of the Main Event Tournament?
The venue was great! I was supposed to be on vacation with my family and they went on ahead so I could play. Check in was fast and super easy. Professionally run and no drama. A fun event and the hosts and Tournament Directors were jovial.
How did you feel during the tournament at different levels?
My original goal going in was to last the first day. Never thought, nor in my vocabulary, was to win. I had never played a Deep Stack Tournament before and never really had the feel of it. I had a tight and aggressive strategy at end of day one and had 67,500 in chips. I paid attention to chip stack and after first day I had met my goal. On the second day, within an hour or so I hit some pretty big pots with tight aggressive play and was at 300,000 chips. Then I got knocked down to 200,000 and then 80,000 chips. When we got down to final 3 tables I felt pretty good, and even better at the final table.
What are you expecting at the WSOP $10,000 tournament?
Going to the $10,000 WSOP was on my bucket list. I was so overwhelmed from winning the event and even for the next couple of days after the event. Now there is some anxiety because last year Sallie Avino did so well…a lot of pressure, as I don’t want to go out there and donk out. I have no idea if I will do well. If you go in there not thinking that you will do well you won’t make it past the first day. I’m trying to find the balance between swagger and humility. I want to represent the APC well and take advantage of the chance of a lifetime! I want to do really well, and enjoy myself and have fun.
I’m so glad that I bought the VIP membership, and received the invitation. If you earn any points and buy the membership it is worth it! I bought it because I felt I was investing in the APC and can play for free and learn. I wanted the experience to get into a big tournament and it gave me experience and opportunity. It is worth the investment and the extra chips at every game.
Next stop for Sam Silverman is Las Vegas! Good luck! Take lots of pictures and most importantly, enjoy the experience of a lifetime!
