Hollywood Poker Open to be held late June

Above: The Hollywood Casino Tunica is the venue for Regional Tournament Series to send winners to Las Vegas for the Hollywood Poker Open $2500 buy-in Main Event.

Two weeks ago, I tried to qualify to play in the Hollywood Poker Open to be held June 27-29. There is a guaranteed $500,000 prize pool, so it's worth shooting for. Unfortunately, I came in second that time, and the regional tournaments are winner-take-all. There was another qualifier today, so I gave it another shot. The winner would get a seat in the ME, a free room for three nights at the luxurious M Resort, and $1000 spending money, a $3800 package.

When there were four players left, there was one big stack, two short stacks, and moi with a good-sized stack in second place. A lady (short stack) asked, "Is anybody interested in a chop?"

Of course you can't chop up a trip like this, but that gave me an idea. "I would like to go out there and play. It's a dream of mine," I said. "If I could have the seat, the three of you could divide the $1000 however you like. I won't take a share, just the seat."

There were players earlier who entered specifically to earn a seat, but they were already busto. As I held my breath, the other players quickly agreed to my suggestion, and we had a deal. Vegas here I come.

Above: MOJO holds a mock-up of a check showing that he had won the trip.