Pro player Jacob Bazeley, 29, of Cincinnati, captured second place in Event 2 of the World Series of Poker, a $1,500 no-limit hold’em tournament, good for $322,294. Bazeley, who has 31 career cashes (eight at the WSOP), started playing poker in college while on the basketball team at Christian Brothers University in Memphis.
After having some success at Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Ind., he found his way moving south while moving up in limits.
He now makes his home between New Orleans and Cincinnati while surrounding himself with a solid group of friends who all play poker.
“It’s important to make friends with good poker players,” Bazeley said. “And you need to discuss hands afterward and find out what they do in tough spots. If you’re not trying to get better, then you are getting worse.”
Despite outlasting 2,100 players and being at the final table against the likes of Vanessa Selbst and eventual winner Brent Hanks, Bazeley has never felt more confident. And having played all over the country, Bazeley said there is one common attribute among players these days: “No one folds anymore. The days of folks folding top pair are gone.”
DENNY CRUM OPEN: Horseshoe Casino in Elizabeth, Ind., will host former Louisville men’s basketball coach Denny Crum’s tournament July 27-Aug. 4. This will be the seventh year of this series. Events will have buy-ins ranging from $150-$250 and $10K-plus guarantees. Several super- and mega-satellite events will be available for the $675 main event. Details can be found at horseshoe-indiana.com.
— R.C. Thorne is Ante Up’s Southern Indiana Ambassador. Email him at anteuprc@gmail.com.
