In the world of Poker, there are bustling activity at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and World Poker Tour (WPT), there is great visibility for the hearing poker players and a greater chance to win millions of dollars; in the Deaf world, Deaf players are relatively unknown and unrecognized for their prowess on poker tables. That is no longer the case because of DeafNation Internet TV sports coverage in recent years.

The DeafNation Poker Tour recently was hosted June 8th at the luxurious Foxwoods Casino located squarely on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Indian Reservation. That brought many ambitious Deaf players out to the open arena in one sitting to showcase the best Deaf players to the world.

The players continue to play in leagues all over the country to hone their skills in order to become more competitive. Many Deaf poker players open their homes for games, for the social life and camaraderie. It got to the point where some homes were full of cigar smoke and players became craftier in the art of
bluffing.

The No-Limit Texas Hold’em Poker event last Thursday was the first one DeafNation has hosted, with 138 players from 20 states. A raffle drawing was also held; congratulations to Lawrence Poulin of Maine, who won the Las Vegas travel package prize sponsored by Sprint! DeafNation thanks Sprint for making it
possible.

Before the DeafNation Poker Tour began, the players started warming up by playing poker in Foxwoods’ daily 24/7 tournaments, in hopes of increasing their bankroll, until it was time for registration and assignment of tables. As long the Deaf players were within their bankroll, they kept going until they were out.

The serious demeanor of poker escalated among the players once the DeafNation Poker started, with momentum building and the Deaf fans crowded up to the point that fans also watched from upstairs from the Poker Room where fans were also encircled around the final tables. In only 10 minutes after it began, one player became the first player to be out…already!

The tournament had already built up some intensity, and it was so amazing to discover that all the former Deaf poker champions were eliminated early. That brought out new faces from the woodwork and suddenly there was a new competitive field at the final table. The players upped the ante during call ins, emotion was brewing, and adrenaline filled their veins.

Patrick D. Driscoll, of Staten Island, who eventually ended up in 8th place was really blazing hot before he arrived in the final table and faltered being wiped out by Ed Wood, a 62 year-old lanky and tanned Oregon native from Louisiana.

The climax built up to the point where there were two cool cats challenging each other for the championship, which were Joe Neely, 24 years-old, of Virginia Beach and Wood, sitting opposite each other psyching each other out.

The boyish-looking Neely simply looked at Wood with confidence and a twinkle in his eye. Neely kept riding to top Wood for the final $55,000 Chips and won big time with a pair of 3!

Neely and Wood both recently played at the West Palm Beach Poker Tournament, with Neely getting 12th place, and Woods 15th place. Now they ended up 1st and 2nd places respectively at the DeafNation Poker Tour.

Neely walked away with $9729 in winnings, while Woods graciously took home $5244 in their share of the $27,600 pot.

Their practice at online poker and playing poker games in their sidekick pagers enabled them to stay sharp and to advance in experience in playing competitive poker. Neely had only been playing Poker seriously for a year, but playing in a Poker league four times a week helped prepare his mentality in the high-stakes showdown, and as the cool cat he is, he prevailed this time around.

“I plan to pay my bills and to use the rest of money to attend other Poker events to play in,” said Neely, “It was nice having an entourage of my RIT buddies from college to come support me all the way to the championship.”

DeafNation caught up with Robert Brooks, of Denver, CO the Las Vegas Deaf Poker Tourney champ, for an interview with him and others. Many people anticipated a repeat by Brooks, he exuded the same extent of wariness by other players, but this time Brooks succumbed to an early exit. When people realized he was out, immediately the odds became higher for everyone.

“I don’t play online poker because I want to see human faces. I notice being a Deaf person attuned to facial expressions,” said Brooks,”this is why I came to the DeafNation Poker Tour to see live faces and interact with other Deaf Poker players in sign language.”

Bruce Bucci, a 39 year-old Social Studies teacher at Rhode Island School for the Deaf, seconded that notion. Confirms Bucci, “The Deaf players seemed pretty stimulating in action, so I came out as a fan to watch. It was worth it and more!”

Added Karen Fare, a CODA and card dealer at Foxwoods, “I think this is a wonderful thing that there is a Deaf poker tournament here. Everyone was so easy to get along with.” Fare was on hand to help interpret between the players, DeafNation Poker Tour organizer, and the Foxwoods Casino officials. She mingled with the players with ease and enjoyed the banter among them.

The Barish brothers (Jed and Joel) of DeafNation were proud in acknowledging that “Adding the DeafNation Poker Tour brings good exposure to Deaf players and the rest of the world the excitement that climaxes. It also widens the scope of DeafNation endeavors.”