Andrew Parker at the World Series of Poker 2005 in Vegas!
Andrew Parker, better known as "vtparker" online, earned $24,365 at the WSOP 2005 in Las Vegas - Congratulations!
2005 World Series Of Poker
Our highest placed player at a glance:
Name: Andrew Parker
Country: USA
City: Weston, West Virginia
Poker Screenname: vtparker
At IntertopsPoker since: December 2004
Qualified through: Winner of one of our
$10,000 WSOP FREEROLL Tournaments
PLUS $2000 for travel and expenses
Final position: #288 (out of 5,619)
Winnings: $24,365
Total Prize Money: $52,818,610
Interview with Andrew Parker, conducted via email after he returned from Las Vegas:
IntertopsPoker.com: How are you after Vegas?
Andrew Parker: Even a month after the tournament I am still coming down from the experience.
IntertopsPoker.com: How did you like the WSOP - was it the first one you attended?
Andrew Parker: The WSOP was the most fun and the most stressful time I have had, overall even if I did not finish as well as I did I still had a great time.
IntertopsPoker.com: What did you expect before going there?
Andrew Parker: I expected to be overwhelmed with the size of the field, and I was, walking into a huge room with 200 poker tables is very humbling to most novices.
My only goal going in was to try and make the 2nd day.
IntertopsPoker.com: How was it at the tables?
Andrew Parker: Once the tournament got started the other 199 tables disappeared. Luckily for me there were 3-4 other people at the table who also wanted to just enjoy the experience and we carried on a lot of conversation and joked around with each other often, that made the biggest poker event ever seem almost like a home game with a group of friends just have fun.
IntertopsPoker.com: What was your best experience while staying there?
Andrew Parker: It is hard to narrow down my time there to just one best experience.
But getting words of encouragement from former champion Robert Varkonyi after a few bad beats and nearly being knocked out of the tournament on the 2nd day.
IntertopsPoker.com: Do you want to go there next year again?
Andrew Parker: I most certainly want to attend next year, there is nothing like the Main Event to the World Series of Poker. There is not much in the world that can provide that kind of excitement.
IntertopsPoker.com: Will you try to get there by entering a WSOP freeroll tournament with a $10,000 buy-in?
Andrew Parker: Anyone who does not try to get into the main event by entering a freeroll tournament like the tournaments on this website is just plain crazy I think.
What better way to get a chance at millions than a free tournament.
IntertopsPoker.com: Are you satisfied with your final position at the final tournament?
Andrew Parker: As I said earlier my one goal was to make it past the first day, but once the tournament got closer and closer to the money I knew I had a chance at a long time dream.
I am only slightly disappointed in my final position just because I lost track on a couple of hands, but that happens to the best of us. Overall I am very pleased in the way I played and the way I finished and the way I represented all my friends that I play cards with.
IntertopsPoker.com: What was the craziest thing you witnessed?
Andrew Parker: Two words: Mike Matusow.
He is just all over the place, loud, crazy, obnoxious, running around, but a great poker player.
IntertopsPoker.com: Any tips for anybody going there next year?
Andrew Parker: For anyone going next year, STAY PATIENT. That is the main thing to focus on. No matter how aggressive you want to play, you have to be very selective when you want to take your shots. The tournament is such a slow progression that is truly a marathon and you need to pace yourself. You also have to concentrate on everything, from body language to betting style, just every aspect of the game to do well.
IntertopsPoker.com: Thank you for your time and good luck for next year!
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