PokerNews Qualifier, Navy Veteran Tom Pierce Takes on the NAPT Main Event

Tom Pierce, a Navy veteran from Wyoming, received a contest via PokerNews for a visit to Las Vegas to compete within the PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Principal Occasion.

The NAPT Gold Go contest winner who appeared on the PokerNews Podcast to just accept his prize competed within the largest event of his life. He’s a leisure participant who’d by no means entered a poker event with a buy-in whilst excessive as $1,000. The price to play the NAPT Principal Occasion for anybody who did not win a seat? $5,300.

Meet the Qualifier

Pierce, 58, grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado and has six kids and 6 grandchildren. He served 4 years with the Naval Aircrew, which helped lead him to his present profession within the aviation trade as an plane mechanic for the the previous 38 years, now working for the College of Wyoming.

Poker has lengthy been a favourite passion for Pierce, who likes to spend time together with his children and grandkids. He advised PokerNews he discovered tips on how to play poker from his grandmother.

“We performed penny ante video games to assist me study to depend, making ready me for varsity. 5-card and seven-card stud was the sport then and as I progressed via college a couple of years I bear in mind this new recreation known as Texas maintain’em that my dad and mates began to play on poker nights on the home in Colorado,” Pierce stated.

Pierce has a full-time job and a household, so he cannot play playing cards on a regular basis. However he stated he makes a visit to Las Vegas “a pair instances a 12 months” to play poker, and performs in some native money video games, largely $1/$2 and $2/$5. He additionally performs on-line now and again.

“I prefer to play Omaha however largely play NLH right here in Laramie. We sprinkle in some Omaha double board bomb pots with a bit of pineapple right here and there. Shout out to my new mates at Poker on the Poudre within the Fort Collins space I attended this 12 months and my mates right here on the native recreation in Laramie,” Pierce stated.

Pierce moved to Laramie, Wyoming inside the previous 12 months after having spent 5 years in Las Vegas working on the Government Airport in Henderson. The NAPT Gold Go winner watches the PokerNews Podcast every week, and stated Kyna England is his favourite host on the present.

Pierce spent a lot of Day 1b seated on the identical desk as Jordan Handrich, one of many present PokerStars Huge Recreation on Tour Season 2 “Free Cannon’s.” He battled deep into the session however was eradicated earlier than the day ended. Regardless of the Day 1 elimination, he gained some helpful expertise competing in a serious poker event.