POKER
Hector Longo
The offers came rolling in to Salem's Billy Carrier and the rest of the "Rockingham 5."
Nobody budged.
Carrier, 25, was one of five different winners of Granite State Poker qualifiers at the Rock for the World Series of Poker main event.
Over 7,000 entrants, at a cost of $10,000 apiece, are expected for the main event in Las Vegas.
Granite State Poker sent eight players out in 2007, and this year five qualified at the Rock, winning tournaments to gain a spot in the World Series.
Beginning Wednesday, Carrier, Myles McDonough of Watertown, Dennis Rainville of Carlisle, Kay Sweeney of Acton and Jay Murphy of Goffstown, N.H., will be in Vegas at the Rio Hotel attempting to stake their claim as king (or queen) of the poker world.
The odds of them winning the top prize of over $3 million are astronomical, but that's not going to stop a dreamer like Carrier, who sells cellular phones when he's not on the attack at the tables.
"Expect to win, anything less, you shouldn't play," said Carrier.
The World Series main event, once a cloistered event for only the world's elite pros, has ballooned over the last 10 years.
In fact, the "World Series" itself, a stretch of 55 different tournaments, began on May 29 and climaxes with the main event, which for the first time will be covered live by ESPN.
In fact, the final table won't be decided until the fall, as the WSOP folks will create almost a reality series leading up to it. The champion won't be decided until November.
Carrier knows what he's up against, but like all the competitors, he has that special confidence.
"I started playing poker when I was 18 or 19, and I really started to take it serious the past couple years," said Carrier, who finished in the top 15 at Rock's first qualifier last spring but didn't come close again until winning a couple months ago.
"The third time was the charm for me. I was heartbroken that first time, so now, I'm pretty excited about going. It's only natural to have those dreams. I know I think about it constantly. You always have that dream of being on the final table and winning it all."
North Andover's Maren hits it big
It may not carry the weight of the main event, but for North Andover's Jonathan Maren, his first World Series "cash" of 2008 was a memorable one.
Maren entered this week's event No. 43, a "Pot-limit Omaha Hi-Low Split 8 or better" tournament, one of 720 players to pony up the $1,500 entry fee.
One of the more convoluted brands of poker at the series, Omaha Hi-Low features players being dealt four cards, with the ability to use two along with the five shared or community cards, to make hands.
The high and low hands split the pot in the event that was covered live by ESPN360.com. Maren got plenty of face time in his run to a superb fifth-place finish, one spot behind popular pro Eric Seidel, who was attempting to win World Series championship bracelet No. 9 of his career.
Maren pocketed a cool $56,019.
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The Rockingham 5
Here's a look at the five winners at Rockingham Park, who'll have their entry fees of $10,000 apiece paid by Granite State Poker. Beginning Wednesday, they'll be trying to outlast over 7,000 others to win poker's most coveted prize.
Player%Age%Hometown%Expectations
Billy Carrier%25%Salem, N.H.%"Expect to win. Anything less you shouldn't play."
Myles McDonough%57%Watertown%"To play the best I know how."
Dennis Rainville%52%Carlisle%"Get into the money — and win!"
Jay Murphy%39%Goffstown, N.H.%"To place in the money."
Kay Sweeney%37%Acton%"I want to play well, get on TV, and of course, win."
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