Coverage of poker events has grown over the years, including Internet streaming of final tables, and that’s where I got to watch David Tuthill, a St. Petersburg pro and student at Florida State, put a notch in his poker belt.
The venue was Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In a large and tough field, Tuthill collected his first World Series of Poker Circuit ring, more than $250K and a seat in the national championship.
Instead of coming home to Florida, he headed west to the City of Angels. Riding the rush and playing confidently, he barreled through a $10K World Poker Tour’s LAPC field and made the final table (but just missing the TV final table). When he arrived in St. Pete, I had the opportunity to speak with him for a short time.
What were the first feelings you had knowing you took down a WSOPC main event? It was joy and a sense of relief. Since I can remember watching Season 1 of the WPT, I knew I always wanted a major victory like this and now I have it. It’s satisfying as well as humbling. I know the work it took to get here and I’m proud of the accomplishment.
How did the LAPC work out for you? When I got there, I just ran real well. Found good spots, got lucky and with about 14 left found my way to the top of the chip count. We were all bunched together, so it was very up and down. When we got to the final nine, it was getting very real. While I am happy with how I played, missing that TV final table, the set, the lights, Mike and Vince calling the action, missing that hurt a little.
What are your plans? Are you going to finish school and do the work/play option, or are you going to take the chance and go for a pro career? Good tough question. I plan to finish at FSU; I love my time there. I have a great group of friends that have been incredibly supportive. So it’s hard to leave them, my girlfriend and all the benefits of being on campus. On the other hand, I love poker and I love playing. It was great when online was available, but now I have to go out and play, so that takes time, planning and preparation. I’ll see where everything is once I graduate, but it’s nice knowing that options are open.
SARASOTA SUNDAYS: One-Eyed Jacks Poker Room at the Sarasota Kennel Club is now open on Sundays 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
NAPLES-FT. MYERS CHAMPIONSHIPS: Stewart Behrle beat nearly 80 players to win $11,771 and the pot-limit Omaha title at Naples-Ft. Myers poker room on March 22.
Then Muktar Hossain and Bruce Gans chopped the no-limit hold’em title on March 24 for $33,075 each. The $1,110 event drew 166 players.
— Email Andrew Malowitz at anteupandrew@gmail.com.
