Big One for One Drop Dealer Andy Tillman

Relaxed atmosphere takes pressure off.

In a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the WSOP $1 million Big One for One Drop is perceived from a dealer’s vantage point, Matt Tillman talks to PokerNews.com reporter Frank Op de Woerd before his shift.

The affable dealer was asked whether there is more pressure placed on his colleagues due to the event’s massive entry fee and constant TV camera action. “There’s more pressure just to not make mistakes,” commented Tillman. However, he added that “due to how relaxed [the One Drop participants] are, it almost takes the pressure off of you.”

He went on to compare the casual yet focused table atmosphere of the charity event to that of a $20 or $30 MTT.

The WSOP One Drop employee obviously has a firm grasp on what it takes to professionally carry out his duties during important hands in the tournament. Tillman said that when a big hand is taking place, he focuses on the players to identify subtle “check” movements to ensure he doesn’t disrupt the flow of the action by missing a player’s intentions.

Tillman recalls the most memorable hand he saw Sunday night, which was between Dan “Jungleman” Cates and Doug Polk. Rattling off poker terms such as “tanked” and “3-barrel bluff,” the WSOP dealer sounded like a seasoned pro.

Unfortunately, Tillman “didn’t have the buyin” for the $1 million tournament. Perhaps he found himself in a similar situation to Phil Hellmuth—coming up Snake Eyes securing the remaining $130k required for taking a shot in the event.

Fortunately for Op de Woerd, Mr. Tillman didn’t threaten to walk away if his interviewer delved deeper into which potential backer couldn’t come up with the money in time.

21+ in OH. Please play responsibly. For help, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or 1-800-GAMBLER.
published 9 years, 9 months ago • by • permalink

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