Hmm, so whaddya know … I was apparently wrong in declaring the final tableists \”too smart\” to get outside assistance (from poker people, at least) in preparation for their big-time November sit-n-go. My only defense is that I musta been really drunk at the time when I was saying that stuff, so it probably doesn\’t count.
From an announcement just in over the transom:
Dennis Phillips is pleased to announce that he will be partnering with Roy Winston and Joe McGowan of Oracle Poker Consulting in preparation for the 2008 World Series of Poker (W.S.O.P) Main Event. Dennis Phillips is currently the chip leader at the final table, where more than $32 million will be divided among the final 9 players. The final table will be played on November 9th.
Not sure of the financial details — maybe they took Oliver\’s advice and partnered for free? — but regardless, one thing does have me reconsidering my position that it would be stupid to hire any poker coaches if you were one of the final nine:
Dennis Phillips is currently employed by Broadway Truck Center in Saint Louis, Mo. An amateur player, he won a $200 satellite into the Main Event of the W.S.O.P, where 6,844 players began.
Hmm, right, we should remember that. And we all know how sketchy the poker world can get at times, so why wouldn\’t he want some folks intimately familiar with it on his side to help him navigate the pre-showtime waters?
Says Phillips on the matter:
\”I\’m confident in my game and don\’t intend to change it, but I\’m also smart enough to know that you can always learn more.\”