John Dolan, the 2010 November Niner and Biloxi resident, snapped off the victory and $336,000 first-place money at the Beau Rivage’s Million Dollar Heater Main Event on Jan. 26.
Dolan has been running good for some time now. In 2010, he finished sixth in the World Series of Poker Main Event, taking home a little more than $1.7 million. A year later, almost to the day, Dolan and long-time girlfriend Ashley Longoria welcomed their daughter, Lilly, into the world. This Beau Rivage victory puts his career winnings tally at nearly $2.5 million. Not bad for a 26-year-old.
Taking down this final table was no easy task, either. Dolan had to work his magic to defeat several formidable foes, including WPT champ Randal Flowers, Las Vegas pros Matt Stout and Ryan Welch, 2010 Gulf Coast Poker champion Mark Rose, Memphis native and pro player Glenn Poole (who finished second), and the “Mad Russian” Kirill Kuglov, who couldn’t miss a flop.
Of all the years that would have made for great TV, this was it. But no one seemed to miss it. The handsome prize pool was more than enough. The Beau’s Heater has come and gone, leaving behind thousands of satisfied players, a happy tournament staff and a few more champions.
This was the first time the Beau held its annual January event without partnering with the WPT. This meant the final table wouldn’t be televised, and the tournament series would go without the national branding the WPT offers. Tournament director Eric Comer and poker room manager Johnny Grooms remained confident they’d get the poker players to come out and play. Their plan? A guaranteed $1 million prize pool in the main event. The verdict? Resounding success. Not only did the Heater draw the largest field in Mississippi history with Event 1 (1,453 entrants), but the $5K main event exceeded the guarantee ($1,018,860, 210 entrants).
It’s only fitting the biggest guaranteed prize pool in state history would be taken down by a local. Not just any local, though. The gentlemen battled it out for hours before Dolan eliminated Poole when his pocket 9s turned a set and Poole’s 10s failed to improve.
One other fine performance of note: Ante Up senior strategy columnist Jonathan Little, the World Poker Tour Player of the Year from Season 6, won two events. His column on Page 46 this month explains the path he took to his two victories.
Now, for a side note. With the Million Dollar Heater behind us, I can safely admit I was a bit nervous about dealing to all of you. I’m still new at this whole “dealing on the road” business, and Biloxi is practically my back yard and full of familiar faces. Thank you to everyone who came up and let me know you read the magazine. You made being back home better than I could have imagined.
Looking forward to seeing you all at Gold Strike Tunica for the Delta Gold Poker Classic this month.
— Jennifer Gay is Ante Up’s Mississippi Ambassador.She can be contacted at
facebook.com/aceofjewels or at jennifergay80@hotmail.com.
Million Dollar Heater, Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Miss., Jan. 6-26
Event 1 • $340 NLHE
Players: 1,453 • Prize Pool: $422,823
Winner: Scott Williams, $74,535
Event 2 • $340 Omaha/8
Players: 79 • Prize Pool: $22,299
Winner: Lohrasb Jafari, $8,276
Event 3 • $340 Stud/8
Players: 58 • Prize Pool: $11,252
Winner: Ron Ware, $4,050
Event 4 • $550 NLHE
Players: 156 • Prize Pool: $75,660
Winner: Larry Carrol, $24,967
Event 5 • $230 Seniors
Players: 205 • Prize Pool: $39,770
Winner: John Lingo, $13,123
Event 6 • $340 NLHE
Players: 134 • Prize Pool: $38,994
Winner: Ryan Tepen, $12,866
Event 7 • $340 H.O.R.S.E.
Players: 34 • Prize Pool: $9,894
Winner: Helen Ellis, $4,453
Event 8 • $340 PLO
Players: 14 • Prize Pool: $9,894
Winner: Robert Harwell, $4,947
Event 9 • $230 NLHE
Players: 99 • Prize Pool: $39,770
Winner: David Cofer, $14,317
Event 10 • $340 Limit
Players: 43 • Prize Pool: $12,513
Winner: Michael Brawley, $5,631
Event 11 • $230 NLHE
Players: 210 • Prize Pool: $35,527
Winner: Stuart McMahen, $13,446
Event 12 • $340 PLO
Players: 46 • Prize Pool: $27,548
Winner: Christopher Lillie, $12,397
Event 13 • $340 NLHE
Players: 192 • Prize Pool: $55,872
Winner: Dustin Brunner, $18,439
Event 14 • $130 NLHE
Players: 73 • Prize Pool: $17,460
Winner: Wesley Richey, $6,286
Event 15 • $340 NLHE
Players: 223 • Prize Pool: $64,602
Winner: Jacob Bazeley, $21,321
Event 16 • $400 6-Max
Players: 86 • Prize Pool: $25,026
Winner: Seth Foster, $8,009
Event 17 • $340 NLHE
Players: 291 • Prize Pool: $84,681
Winner: Mohammed Munaf, $25,407
Event 18 • $550 Omaha/8
Players: 67 • Prize Pool: $32,495
Winner: Daniel Klein, $11,697
Event 19 • $550 NLHE
Players: 154 • Prize Pool: $74,690
Winner: Bobby Mahoney, $24,646
Event 20 • $230 Ladies
Players: 53 • Prize Pool: $10,282
Winner: Kerri Dorsey, $3,701
Event 21 • $230 NLHE
Players: 139 • Prize Pool: $26,966
Winner: Hans Anderson, $8,895
Event 22 • $550 Mixed
Players: 5 • Prize Pool: $2,425
Winner: Tom Franklin, $1,213
Event 23 • $550 PLO/8
Players: 45 • Prize Pool: $21,825
Winner: Joseph Tehan, $9,821
Event 24 • $1,070 NLHE
Players: 87 • Prize Pool: $84,390
Winner: Jonathan Little, $30,380
Event 25 • $660 6-Max
Players: 22 • Prize Pool: $10,670
Winner: Lacey Coffey, $4,801
Event 26 • $1,580 NLHE
Players: 47 • Prize Pool: $68,385
Winner: Joseph Tehan, $30,773
Event 27 • $330 NLHE
Players: 105 • Prize Pool: $30,555
Winner: Michael McGuire, $11,000
Event 28 • $2,100 NLHE
Players: 49 • Prize Pool: $95,060
Winner: Jonathan Little, $42,777
Event 29 • $1,060 8-Game
Players: 14 • Prize Pool: $13,580
Winner: Tim Burt, $6,111
Event 30 • $330 NLHE
Players: 148 • Prize Pool: $43,068
Winner: George McDonald, $14,212
$5,175 Main Event
Players: 210 • Prize Pool: $1,018,860
Winner: John Dolan, $336,105
Event 32 • $330 NLHE
Players: 50 • Prize Pool: $14,550
Winner: Jerry Ard, $6,546
Event 33 • $1,060 Heads-up
Players: 16 • Prize Pool: $15,520
Winner: David Diaz, $10,088
* Some events were chopped so some listed payouts do not reflect th
