Tom McEvoy is a Winner's Winner - and looks like a member of the Traveling Wilburys. Photo taken 1983
Against 19 of poker’s biggest champions, Tom McEvoy walked away with another event win, the first ever Binion Cup, and a baller red Corvette. This was the first ever Champions Invitational and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
With a field that included Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Peter Eastgate, Dan Harrington, Carlos Mortensen and more, the Champs Invitational looked more like a fantasy poker roster than the opening tables of a tourney.
Action was deep over the two-day event, as you’d expect. More than the prize pool, bragging rights were definitely on the line. McEvoy knocked out a few heavy-hitters, including Brunson, on the way to the title.
Carlos Mortensen started Day 2 of the event as chip leader, but was run out by ’93 champ Jim Bechtel to wind up in 5th place.
Coming in second place was 2002 Main Event winner Robert Varkonyi who was eventually beaten out holding a straight flush – to a higher straight flush from McEvoy. What can I say? These big boys really come out to play the game.
This is an event that is going to catch on. With bigger winner every year, they’ve got a deep pool to chose from. Who will we see next year? Only time will tell.
I wrote about this as well on my blog. My description was “Eye candy” for poker players. It was interesting to see that anytime two players were pitted against each other, it was a World Champ vs. a World Champ. That alone was enough to make these guys look human.
But I don’t know that this is an event that will catch on. Greg Raymer had to miss most of it because of his deep run in the $40k. The field size will grow by one every year, but unless one of the main stream big pros like Hellmuth or Scotty makes the final few, it loses interest. Action Dan, Carlos Mortensen, Robert Varkonyi and Tom McEvoy just don’t move the needle as much as the other guys. But it is a great concept.