Generally speaking, sleeping on the job does not end well for the parties involved.
But for Eric Goldstein, it worked like a charm after he won an automatic satellite qualifier into the World Series of Poker Main Event while asleep in bed.
He will now take his seat in the $10,000 buy-in tournament, which is considered to be the most prestigious in poker, despite the fact that his entire career prize money totals barely $16,000.
The $80 auto satellite awarded just one seat into the flagship event on Sunday, and was a unique all-in contest in which each player automatically backs their entire chip stack on each hand.
Goldstein’s luck was in, and he outdid the rest of the 126 players to book his place at the table in Las Vegas.
Looks like we playing the Main Event for a discount. pic.twitter.com/lUh7G5Zkle
— Eric Goldstein (@goldsteinE) June 30, 2022
He will now be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Chris Moneymaker, who in 2003 made history as the only player to win the World Series of Poker Main Event having qualified via a satellite. The aptly-named ace prevailed in the $89 entry qualifier, before taking down a purse of $2.5 million on the biggest stage of them all.
It has been a busy couple of weeks of WSOP action, with Daniel Zack creating a little history of his own by winning two bracelets in one single series – with time to add more.
Dan Cates has now won back-to-back editions of the Poker Players Championship, while Dash Dudley joined the ranks of those with three WSOP bracelets after triumphing in a Super Turbo Bounty contest and banking more than $300,000 for his efforts.
Checkmate for Carlsen?
The PSG and Brazil forward Neymar had earlier competed in a WSOP event, and his presence sees him join fellow ‘celebrities’ including Matt Damon, James Woods and former Spiderman actor Tobey Maguire in trying their luck at the biggest of them all.
You would be hard pressed to describe multiple-time chess world champion Magnus Carlsen as a celebrity, but the internationally-renowned star is another famous face who will be taking to the felt in Las Vegas.
He will join Goldstein in the Main Event, and admitted he was looking forward to showing his skills on the big stage.
“It will be interesting as a once-in-a-life-time-experience to play the World [Poker] Championship,” the 31-year-old confirmed.
With an IQ of 190, Carlsen has the basic tools to be a success in the game, and some who have played against him have already confirmed what a formidable opponent he is.
Final day of the Norwegian Poker Championship starts in a few. 39 players left. I am middle of the pack???
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) April 9, 2022
And although there isn’t an extensive history of his career wins and prize money online, Carlsen did finish 29th out of 1,050 players at the Norwegian Poker Championship, where at one point he held the second biggest chip stack in the field.