WSOP Circuit Flashback: Sam Barnhart Wins the 2010/2011 Harrah's Tunica Main Event
Last year, Sam Barnhart won this very event, which kicked off a remarkable year that included winning the WSOP Circuit National Championship and then a 17th-place finish in the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas. Barnhart won over $800,000 in a few month's time, and he is back in action today looking for a title defense.
In homage of Barnhart's victory, we thought we'd take a look back at his win by reprinting the winner's interview he granted PokerNews after last year's WSOP Circuit Harrah's Tunica win. To view the interview in its entirety, click here.
Big win, how do you feel?
Yes, words can’t describe it. The feeling is cloud nine. It’s the greatest thing for any poker player in their plans to win one of these. I mean this is the highlight of what tournaments are all about, and what poker is all about.
We hear you got in on a satellite. What can you tell us about that?
It was the greatest experience and one of the freakiest stories. I had packed up, checked out of the hotel, was on my way home, and in a split moment decided to drop by the poker room, and Teresa [who works there] had a $180 satellite going. I had $300 left and decided to get into that, and ended up winning the single-table satellite. From there, I parlayed it in to where I am today.*
*Barnhart won $148,612 for his Main Event win
Did your Main Event go smoothly? Was it an easy ride?
No, absolutely not. I grinded it, I mean I really grinded it. I picked my spots and I was all-in probably ten times. I was down to around 4,000-5,000, but you know I was here last year when [Paul] Wasicka won. I played in that event and he was down to 5,000 in chips, so I kept telling myself, “You can do it, you can do it.” All through the tournament I kept saying this is my tournament. You have to have that confidence and willpower in order to achieve it.
When you entered the final table you entered sixth in chips behind players like Kurt Jewell and John Nguyen, what was it like playing against them?
They’re great players and they’ve got some nice records. You’re absolutely right, I was pretty low-stacked, but when I came in I talked to some friends and decided to pick my spots and hope to run good and play big pots with them, because when you’re low on chips like that you really can’t afford to play poker really. They were tough because they had the big stacks and were running over us, but you pick your spots, have patience, and usually it’ll come. I think that is the biggest mistake poker players make today is that they don’t have the patience and they think that they have to double up.
How’re you feeling about locking up a spot in the National Championship?
That is an opportunity that is a part of any poker player’s dreams. Just like it is winning one of these rings. Yeah, maybe you’re going to be a little intimidated dealing with some of the top players that have had some extreme successes, but it’s an opportunity I think that any poker player would love to have