Las Vegas, NV (June 2, 2011) – The Rio’s first World Series of Poker tournament of the year has come to an exciting conclusion with the crowning of a new poker champion.
Sean Drake, from Folsom, CA won the Casino Employees Championship (Event #1). He won $82,292 in prize money. Drake was also presented with his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet, which is the ultimate prize in poker.
Drake, age 27, is a part-time poker dealer who works at the Folsom Lake Bowl. Although he still works, Drake has also enjoyed a spectacular run in various poker tournaments, particularly a few of the major online events. He's won more than $150,000 playing online.
The victory sets Drake up for the summer. He planned to come to Las Vegas and play in several events. With an addition infusion of cash into his bankroll, Drake hopes to catapult himself into an even more successful career as a full-time player.
The runner up was Jason Baker, a dealer and floorman from Assiniboia, SK (Canada).
The tournament was originally planned as a two-day affair. However, the large turnout mandated that a third day be added to the schedule. A complete list of all players who cashed in the CASINO EMPLOYEES CHAMPIONSHIP can be seen here.
This was classified as the first competition on the WSOP schedule, since it was the first gold bracelet actually awarded at the Rio, which has hosted the world’s most prestigious tournament series since 2005. However, in reality -- the first WSOP gold bracelet of the year was won three days earlier by Sam Barnhart, from Little Rock, AR. He won the WSOP Circuit National Championship, which was afforded WSOP gold bracelet status for the first time.
Just prior to the start of the Rio’s first event, WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel took the main stage inside the Pavilion Tournament Room and began things in grand style. Keeping with ritual that has become an annual tradition, all casino employees in the room were asked to join in with a rousing rendition of the customary announcement which begins all WSOP events.
"Shuffle Up and Deal" boomed across the room at 12:35 pm on Tuesday, when cards flew into the air for the first time on the tournament floor. Over the next seven weeks, the Rio will be the epicenter of all things poker-related. Poker players, media, and fans from all over the world are expected to flood into Las Vegas for what promises to be the most exciting and expansive WSOP in history.
Based on at least one very early indication, it appears that poker players continue to revere the World Series with unequaled reverence and dedication. Attendance for the first event was up significantly over last year when there were 721 entries for the debut event. The same tournament this year has attracted 850 entries. Could the WSOP once again defy all the challenges of economic recession, perpetual pessimism, and increasing global competition? Will the WSOP once again surpass everyone’s expectations and shatter attendance and prize money records? We shall see.
The Casino Employee’s Championship has been the launching pad of most WSOP calendars since it was first added as a gold bracelet event, back in 2000. The tournament was initially called the “Dealers World Poker Championship," since the tournament was only open to casino dealers at the time. The following year, all casino employees became eligible. The inaugural event attracted only 109 entries. It doubled in size the next year due to the expanded eligibility.
The Casino Employees Championship was initially added to the WSOP schedule to recognize the considerable contributions of many dedicated professionals in the gaming industry. It has been an official gold bracelet event during all 12 years it’s been held. From 2000 to 2003, the Casino Employees Championship was played as a Limit Hold’em tournament. Since 2004, the event has been a No-Limit Hold’em tournament. The largest turnout in history for this event took place at the 2006 WSOP when 1,232 players entered.
Sean Drake became only the 12th person in history to win a gold bracelet in this tournament. The previous list of previous winners of the Casino Employees Championship includes:
Hoai Pham (2010)
Andrew Cohen (2009)
Jonathan Kotula (2008)
Eric Narciso (2007)
Chris Gros (2006)
Andy Nguyen (2005)
Carl “Coach” Nessel (2004)
David Lukaszweski (2003)
David Warga (2002)
Travis Jonas (2001)
Dave Alizadeh (2000)
The WSOP continues at the Rio through July 19th. For LIVE UPDATES, please stay tuned to WSOP.com.