Tournament Series at the Beau

Disclaimer:  My home casino is the Beau Rivage in Biloxi.  I play there more than all other venues combined.

Like a lot of you, I have played in quite a few tournament series in numerous locations including WSOP and WPT events but I want to take this opportunity to applaud the Beau Rivage for the excellence of their tournament series and for the courteous and professional way that these tournament series are run.

The Gulf Coast Poker Championship started last week.  I arrived early on Friday for the start of their opening "Monster Stack" event.  I was greeted by the tournament director, several officials of the tournament, a couple of dealers and, of course, numerous players.  I was also welcomed by several of the Beau poker room staff, including the director of poker operations.  I received numerous handshakes and even several hugs.

You'll notice that I'm not dropping names here.  Nor am I trying to make myself seem important.  In fact, quite the opposite is true.  I am strictly a small fish in a large pond and I know it.  No self adulation nor illusions of grandeur here.

This not to bad mouth the other tournament series that I have attended.  Most of them have been run pretty well and I can't say that I've had any real problems with rudeness or inefficiency with the notable exception of the WSOP Main Event Series in Vegas.  (See my earlier blog "My First WSOP Adventure")  It's just that I feel like a number at most of these other events.  Also, the juice seems to be higher at most of the non-Beau events.

I'm writing this on Monday after the completion of the first full weekend of the Gulf Coast Poker Championship and, to prove that I don't consider myself a major player, I'll go ahead and admit that I'm a paltry $135 ahead as of this writing.

The gentleman that has been running these events for years has moved on to greener pastures and turned the operations over to his longtime assistant.  I have seen no drop off whatsoever in the professionalism, courteousness, and efficiency of the tournament operations.

One of the tournament officials greeted me last Friday with "and there's my favorite player".  I don't kid myself--I'm surely not his favorite player but he goes out of his way to make me feel welcome and important.  No doubt he is equally welcoming to many other players.

Here's the point:  I realize I'm just one of many players.  Not a VIP by any stretch of the imagination.  But the guys and gals at the Beau Rivage poker tournaments series go out of their way to make me feel welcome.  They act as though they're truly thrilled to see me.

These series at the Beau are a real joy to attend and kudos to the courteous and professional ladies and gentlemen that make it so.

Keep up the good work.