The ongoing saga of Ellix Powers part one

For those of you who are uninterested in poker, this story may drag a bit but that’s only because you didn’t see the episode on espn. A short summary follows from thepokerforum.com

7th – Ellix Powers – The most incredible “rags to riches” story at this year’s WSOP (and arguably in the 35-year history of the tournament) was Ellix Powers, who once was a homeless man living on the streets prior to cashing in big on the tournament trail. Powers raised a small stake, started playing low-limit poker, entered a few tournaments, and went on a massive rush that continues to this day. He won six-figures at a major tournament in California and came to this WSOP with enough of a bankroll to play in the biggest events in poker. Powers was up front about his impoverished past, and made a number of references to his religious faith – which he says helped him arise from poverty to final table appearances at the World Series. Powers played like a maniac most of the day, often raising without looking at his cards. This made him extremely dangerous and unpredictable to opponents. Powers finally lost his connection when he was eliminated by Hennigan. Powers told an ESPN interviewer, “I’ve been a poor man all my life. The ($40,040 in prize money) is cool. There’s always tomorrow. God bless all of you.”

If you ever get the chance to watch this, believe me you want to. He is the funniest man in poker and acts as crazy as he badgers his opponents, takes breaks to use his cell phone, and is accused by an irate opponent named Mcmanus of “disrespecting the game”.

Either way, I was well versed in Ellix’s exploits before walking into the first day of the World series of poker at the Rio convention center last Friday. I bought in to a cash game with 4 and 8 dollar limits and quickly doubled my hundred dollars, when my buddy Scalley pointed out that Ellix Powers was playing the same limits about 2 tables over from me. As soon as a seat opened at the table, I moved into it, and then into the seat directly next to Ellix. I introduced myself, and we got to talking. He had about 100 bucks in front of him when we started, and he stayed right around there the whole time, but wildly raised at different points within hands.

After putting in two preflop raises, he checked the flop and was bet into by another player. He showed an ace jack of diamonds which hadn’t hit the board as he folded, and his opponent showed an ace king off suit. The next hand the flop came out King of Diamonds, nine of diamonds, four of hearts. Ellix commented, “Why couldn’t you do that last time, dealer” I reminded him that his opponent had ace king and would have been a big favorite in that hand to which Ellix responded confidently “Ill take that draw every time”

At this point, the guy who had the Ace King(and hadn’t opened his mouth in the half hour Id been at the table) said “you want to go over to another table and give me ace king against your ace jack of diamonds, we can go play whatever stakes you want” Ellix quickly said “You want to get cute, how bout I get two nines against your ace king, why are you talking, your always talking. You know you are just donating that money to me right? You know that’s my money?” The guy responded “I think McManus was right about you.” Ellix – “I make my living off guys like you, you know that?” That guy – “aren’t you homeless” Ellix – “Yeah, so what, don’t mean I aint gonna take your money. I been homeless, I got a home now, but I been homeless. I aint ashamed. That’s my money you’re playing with. It wont be there in an hour. I’m gonna bust you, what were you thinking opening your mouth to me. I’m gonna bust you.”

About half an hour after that ellix cashed out down about 20 bucks. I tried to keep instigating the fight as best I could, but there was only a slight back and forth the rest of the way telling each other to “come play this time” as they folded. But even after leaving the table, ellix made sure to come back every 15 minutes or so just to berate the guy again. At one point he came over to a table he was no longer playing at, tapped the dealer on the shoulder in the middle of a hand, and pointed at his nemesis saying “dealer, make sure he knows this money is non refundable.” Then he just pointed right at the guy and said “That moneys nonrefundable, you cant get it back jack” Eventually he moved on to other things, but I stayed at the table and busted the guy out. After taking him down, I won 275 on the day, but this was just the beginning of my adventures with Ellix.

The ongoing saga of Ellix Powers part one

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