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Friday, May 6, 2005
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BHS grad an online poker big-timer
Staff Writer A 2002 Brainerd High School graduate won the online poker game of his life early Thursday on his computer in his college dorm room, securing his spot amongst professional players at the 2005 World Series of Poker in July.
Eric Zard, 21, of Nisswa and a junior at the University of Minnesota, beat out 430 players in an online poker tournament hosted by the Web site, www.bodog.com. While the sports betting Web site sponsors poker tournaments with a $250 buy-in to win a seat at the World Series of Poker, Zard won the top prize in a tournament in which players played with their accrued points, not money.
The Web site will pay the $10,000 buy-in fee for Zard to play in the final World Series event and will give him $2,500 for travel and hotel expenses while in Las Vegas. Zard plans to travel to Las Vegas July 6. The 2005 World Series of Poker will conclude July 15 at the Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas.
Last year Greg "Fossilman" Raymer beat out the other 2,576 players in the 2004 World Series of Poker, winning $5 million. Raymer, too, entered via an online poker site.
Zard said he started the online poker tourney about 8 p.m. Wednesday, winning with an Ace-Six final hand at 1 a.m. Thursday. By the time he reached the final table, several of his friends were watching him play online from their own computers. His roommate had been watching over his shoulder during the entire game.
"We were celebrating like crazy," said Zard, after he won the game. "We were jumping around, calling people. I was shaking. I couldn't imagine winning that and now I'm going to the World Series of Poker.
It's a dream. I'm 21 years old and in a month I get to go to Vegas."
Zard said he couldn't sleep after the game and had a tough time taking a test Thursday. Zard is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. He plans to go to dental school at the university.
"It was a long tournament but it was fun," said Zard. "It was amazing."
Zard said he's been playing Texas Hold 'Em for the past five years. Still, there will be stiff competition at the World Series of Poker.
"I've played a lot of hands online and I feel my game is pretty good as long as I can keep my head straight at the table," said Zard. "I still have a lot of learning to do, but I'm just going to try to go out there and play the best poker I can. If I sit down next to a player like Gus Hansen or Daniel Negreanu it would be absolutely amazing. I'd love to give them my chips. I would love to get taken out by one of them. Who knows, I just want to go out there and have fun just for the experience. I'd love to see how far I get."
When asked what he plans to do to prepare for the Vegas tournament, Zard said he plans to "work on his poker face."
Even if he loses early in the competition, Zard said he'll stay in Vegas and watch the rest of the tournament.
"It's the World Series of Poker," said Zard. "It's a lifetime experience."
Zard is the son of Dr. Clark and Kathy Zard of Nisswa.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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