4 elite opponents of their fields confronted off in Las Vegas final week in International Poker Desk Discuss Vegas, an occasion that paired Components 1 drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. with Olympic legend Michael Phelps and poker celebrity Antonio Esfandiari.
The GP Desk Discuss Vegas on Tuesday, Nov. 19 inside PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & On line casino kicked off race week as certainly one of a number of celebrity-packed occasions as the town hosted F1 for the second straight yr.
Whereas Leclerc and Sainz Jr. are professional drivers for Ferrari, they had been newcomers to the felt. Fortunately, they’d Phelps and Esfandiari by their sides to assist them wager, elevate and fold, with PokerGO’s Ali Nejad sitting in between the groups and guiding the motion.
However the poker experience was pointless as a nut flush versus second nut flush cooler ended the match in beneath half-hour.
PokerNews attended the filming of International Poker Desk Discuss and caught up with Phelps and Esfandiari throughout their uncommon appearances on the poker desk.
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“It Undoubtedly Will get My Adrenaline Working”
Phelps, probably the most adorned Olympian of all time and an professional in focus and self-discipline, talked about his ardour for poker and “with the ability to play folks, type of decide up on their tendencies, whether or not it is how they breathe, whether or not it is how they put their chips within the center, if they’ve a nervous twitch.”
“Any method that I can decide up any piece of data on a participant, then I can strive to determine how I’ll exploit it in a hand,” Phelps informed PokerNews after the victory. “And for me, it is like a board recreation. You simply get a lot enjoyment taking part in the identical arms so many alternative occasions and so many alternative methods.”
“And for me, it is like a board recreation. You simply get a lot enjoyment taking part in the identical arms so many alternative occasions and so many alternative methods.”
It was a uncommon look on the poker desk for the 23-time gold medal winner, who lives in Arizona. However Phelps does play the occasional poker event and has racked up practically a dozen Hendon Mob cashes since 2008, most lately in a $65 Tuesday event at Horseshoe Tunica final month the place he completed fourth for $508.
“I performed some playing cards whereas I used to be right here in Vegas and I like being on the felt,” he mentioned. “I’ve 4 children, so I haven’t got the possibility to get out and play as a lot as I might prefer to. Nevertheless it positively will get my adrenaline working after I sit down on the poker desk.”
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Taking the Wheel from Ferrari Drivers
Whereas Leclerc and Sainz Jr. are used to being within the driver’s seat, Phelps and Esfandiari led the way in which on Tuesday afternoon as the 2 completed poker gamers talked the Ferrari drivers by way of the nuance and technique of poker.
Within the closing hand, each gamers turned a flush on the board of Q♦8♥4♥6♥ with Sainz Jr. and Phelps holding A♥9♥ towards the Okay♥9♥ of Esfandiari and Leclerc. Sainz Jr. merely known as a flip wager on the recommendation of Phelps earlier than all of the chips obtained in on the clean J♠river.
After the deadly cooler, Sainz Jr. requested his poker companion why they’d known as on the flip as a substitute of elevating. Phelps defined that they’d the absolute best hand with a straight flush blocker and needed their opponent to maintain betting.
“It was superior watching Carlos type of get into his consolation zone,” Phelps mentioned. “Clearly it is totally different taking part in on TV and taking part in with Antonio. It may be intimidating for lots of people. However he type of obtained in his consolation zone.”
The occasion was each a return to poker for Esfandiari, greatest recognized for his televised money recreation appearances and $18.3 million victory within the 2012 Huge One for One Drop, and his first publicity to the racing world.
“It is fairly thrilling,” Esfandiari informed PokerNews earlier than the playing cards had been dealt. “I am new to the game and so I type of need to study and meet the drivers.”
Simply weeks in the past, Esfandiari performed within the PokerStars Huge Sport on Tour at NAPT Las Vegas and adopted up the International Poker Desk Discuss occasion with final Friday’s $10,000 Huge Deal for One Drop at Resorts World Las Vegas.
Head to YouTube to look at the GP Desk Discuss Vegas occasion in its entirety and listen to extra about it on the most recent episodes of the PokerNews Podcast.
*Images courtesy International Poker & PokerGO
Editor & Dwell Reporter U.S.
