Locals' world-class poker run cut short

There's always next year for World Series of Poker players Larry Dragon and Shannon Hudson.

At least they hope so.

The pair of Garfield County residents made it to Day 3 of the WSOP's main event, hosted at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas July 6-18. But on Wednesday, July 11, Dragon and Hudson didn't finish in the money.

"I knew that was the money day," Dragon said. "I had to get in the money."

Dragon and Hudson were just shy of making the no-limit Texas Hold 'em's top 621-player list, which offers payouts starting at $20,000 and reaching $8.25 million for the main event's winner. The tournament started with 6,358 players, with California psychologist Jerry Yang finishing on top early Wednesday morning.

"It was very, very disappointing," said Dragon, of New Castle. "To have gotten that far and to walk away with nothing ... Boy, it was very deflating."

Dragon's final hand included a pocket pair of queens, which he felt confident would make him a winner. But an opponent with a pocket pair of kings trumped his hand.

"I'll never forget that hand," Dragon said. "It was great, and it ended too soon."

Dragon won his $10,000 entry into the tournament by playing in a poker fundraising benefit in Aspen. Hudson, of Glenwood Springs, won his seat playing online poker at PokerStars.net. He competed in last year's main event, but was eliminated on the first day.

"It cost me $33 to get into the tournament," Hudson said. "It's great. I'll definitely play next year."

Several times during the main event, Hudson was seated at tables with professional, big-name poker players such as Erik Seidel, Carlos Mortensen and Gus Hansen. Television cameras for ESPN filmed his table's play, including one three-hour stretch.

"I got some TV time, but I was more concerned about winning than the TV time," Hudson said. "(Actress) Shannon Elizabeth was at the table next to me."

Hudson, a plumbing contractor in the valley, said he's been playing poker most of his life but didn't start competing in big tournaments until two years ago. He considers the game a hobby, and competes in tournaments about once a month. In the fall, he'll play in the Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure, a tournament he also won a seat for while playing cards online.

"It's a fun game. If I win online, I use the winnings to play in tournaments," he said. "I don't use any of the household money. Poker can be very expensive."

Hudson's competitive nature keeps his interest in the game.

"You do get nervous. There are so many things that go on in the mind," he said. "I love competition, and poker seems to keep my competitive edge. I used to play a lot of softball, but I'm 45 now and softball is a little hard on my body."

Hudson turned last week's event into a family vacation, with accommodations paid for by PokerStars.net.

"My wife and kids were real supportive," he said.

Both Hudson and Dragon hope to be back in Vegas for the World Series of Poker main event next year.

"All I know is I have to find a way to get back there," Dragon said.



Contact April Clark: 945-8515, ext. 16601

aclark@postindependent.com



Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO

He's the man LAS VEGAS - California psychologist Jerry Yang won the World Series of Poker main event, knocking out seven challengers and taking home an $8.25 million payday and poker's most coveted bracelet early Wednesday morning. The event's finalists ranged in age from 22 to 62, and hailed from five nations: the U.S., Canada, Russia, England and South Africa. By birthplace, players also were from Laos, Vietnam and Denmark. Yang and a huge mountain of cash were all that was left after plowing through a field of 6,358 players who began to play in stages July 6. Everyone paid or won $10,000 to enter the no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event, the biggest poker tournament of the year. Yang said he planned to put his children through college, allow his wife to quit working and give back to the community. - From an Associated Press report