The PokerNews Cup returned with an $1,100 buy-in, $1,000,000 GTD Main Event to the Golden Nugget Las Vegas. The man responsible for making it happen, as well as giving away 100 seats to the tournament, was Director of Poker Operations Andy Rich, a longtime poker industry veteran.
As part of PokerNews’ continuing Industry Insiders series, we previously caught up with Andy Rich to learn more about the man making things happen in downtown Vegas’ last remaining poker room.
“I had an amazing childhood and was around gambling for as long as I can remember,” Rich said when asked about learning poker. “My Dad had a weekly poker game and taught me how to count cards in blackjack by my early teens. My Mom had a weekly Mahjong game and won practically every football handicapping contest she entered. Her game night always had better snacks. Always Coke, never Pepsi.”
He continued: “I love gambling, math, and the psychology of out-thinking your opponents. The first sports bet I remember was $5 against my mom in 1985 on a Vikings vs. Eagles game. My mom had the Eagles. She won, but at least no vig on the bet.”
Before finding his way into poker, Rich founded his own record label, Initial Records, in 1992 in Louisville, Kentucky, and then graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University in 1996.
Rich, who enjoys fantasy sports and spending time with his wife and two kids, fell in love with poker more than two decades ago.
“The thing is, I don’t just love poker, I obsess over it. I love to play poker. I love to read about poker, talk about poker, write about poker and watch poker online and on TV,” he explained. “My passion for the game led me to obtain my first job in a poker room almost 20 years ago, eventually being fortunate enough to become an industry leader.”
Nir Levy opened to middle position and Lena Evans called from the cutoff. The button three-bet to 15,000 and pushed out, Levy but Evans called.
The 9♦7♠4♠ flop checked through to the 6♠ turn. Evans moved all in and her opponent quickly folded.
Evans is the founder of Poker League of Nations, the World's Largest Women's Poker Group and has also hosted a Ted Talk on why poker is good for you and your brain.
The board read 2♣2♥9♠J♦J♣ and a player in the big blind checked over to Shane Melert in the hijack, with 39,000 in the middle already.
Melert moved all in for 65,000 which was enough to put his opponent all in and his opponent went into the tank. After over a minute of thought he tossed his hand into the muck, ceding the pot to Melert.
