The second annual World Oilman's Poker Tournament continued to raise the bar as the industry's premiere business and networking opportunity. Taking place at the Bellagio Resort and Casino from March 26-28, the event drew 130 top level executives from across the industry for three days of gaming and entertainment.
The event began on Wednesday evening with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres served in the Monet Ballroom overlooking the Bellagio poolside. During the reception each player’s name was randomly drawn to determine the starting position at each table for play the following morning.
After a gourmet breakfast spread, play began in the Fontana Lounge at 10:00am. The 130 players were seated at fifteen poker tables that were custom made with the logos of our fifteen platinum sponsors.
By 5:00pm the final table was set with 10 participants vying for 9 spots finishing in the money.
Jim Whipkey, from Red Oak Capital Management was the unfortunate player to finish on the bubble in 10th place creating a final 9 with two familiar faces from 2007’s final table: Ed Kremer from Remora Management and Gus Presas from Cawley, Gillespie & Associates. Joining Kremer and Presas in the final 9 were: Chris Aulds (Aulds Management), Tomas Ackerman (Natural Gas Partners), Kevin Townsend (Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse), Trevor Rees-Jones (Chief Oil & Gas), Samantha Meador (TCW Energy & Infrastructure), John Schiller (Energy XXI), and Mark Preng (Preng & Associates).
As the final table played, all of the tournament's earlier participants crowded around the table, some even standing on chairs and tables, to watch the remaining players in an electrifying environment. Cheering loudly after each player pushed "all-in,” the crowd watched as Samantha Meador, despite being the “short stack” on a couple occasions, clawed her way back into contention and into the top three. Meador eventually fell to the aggressive play of second place finisher John Schiller, and 2008 WOPT Champion Mark Preng.
After the tournament all of the players gathered for a gourmet meal at the world renowned Michael Mina Restaurant. The menu included signature dishes such as the Caviar Oestra and Lobster Pot Pie.
After dinner, the guests adjourned back to the Fontana Lounge for cocktails and a private comedy show, performed by Dave Attell, host of Comedy Central’s Insomniac.
On Friday the players had their choice of three activities to enjoy a day in Las Vegas. Most of the attendees chose to spend the day at Bear’s Best Golf Course. The rest of the players chose between a 4-hour helicopter tour of the Vegas Strip, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon, or a day at the famed Spa Bellagio.
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