Bellevue software manager wins $1.3 million in World Poker tournament
Mar 20, 2012, 9:25 AM | Updated: 11:24 am
 Sean Jazayeri, from Bellevue, won $1,370,240 in a poker tournament. (Image: World Poker Tour) |
A Bellevue man said his winning $1.3 million at a World
Poker competition in Los Angeles is “an absolute fantasy
come true.”
The amateur player told 97.3 KIRO FM Ron & Don’s Show he did his
best to prepare for the event.
“I’d read about eight poker books and I actually went
through a boot camp and took some poker training,” said
Sean Jazayeri of Bellevue. “I was hoping to play well.”
Listen to
Sean Jazayeri, Bellevue software manager who just won
$1.4 million
Jazayeri had played smaller tournaments in the past, but
said the L.A. Poker Classic, part of the World Poker Tour,
was by far his largest competition.
“I told my brother I’ll be happy if I cash, meaning if I’m
in the top ten percent.”
His chances looked hopeful when it came down to the
Jazayeri and a pool of 70 other players.
“I was texting my family and telling them I’m finally
going to cash.” Jazayeri knew he had a pretty good shot
to at least win the lowest cash prize.
He said he was freaking out as he continued to advance.
“At my very table, the person that I think is the best
player in the world was sitting two seats away from me,
Erik Seidel,” said Jazayeri.
“This would be like going up against [pitcher] Randy
Johnson for batting practice,” explained host Ron Upshaw.
Jazayeri said it took five days to get down to the final
six, and then it was a marathon to the final two.
“The first day we played eight and a half hours. The
second day they weren’t happy with how fast we were
knocking out people, so they made us play until one in the
morning. That one was 13 hours with a dinner break in the
middle.”
Jazayeri’s showdown with his final opponent took around 12
hands and won him the tournament and $1,370,240.
“In all honesty, sometimes I still have to stop and say
‘Did that really happen?’ It’s something I’ve always
fantasized about, winning a big tournament,” said
Jazayeri. “I never imagined it’d be something this big.”
Jazayeri was paid in chips and as part of his win, he’s
automatically entered in the WPT championship event, which
otherwise would have been a $25,000 entry fee.
“Wish me luck,” said Jazayeri. “I’ll need it.”
By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor
