WSOP Bracelet Winner Chris Tryba on Upcoming MSPT Golden Gates in Blackhawk, Colorado
Season 5 of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) continues this weekend with an $1,100 Main Event at Meskwaki Casino in Tama, Iowa. The week following that, the tour will stop at Golden Gates Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado, which will run from Nov. 7-16 and culminate in a $200,000 guaranteed $1,100 buy-in Main Event beginning with Day 1a on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 12 p.m.
It’ll mark the second time the MSPT has visited Colorado, with the first coming back in March when 453 entrants took to the felt and created a prize pool of $453,000. Dan Colpoys, who bagged the Day 2 chip lead and going wire to wire on Day 3, won that tournament for $114,156.
Unlike most MSPT stops, the one at Golden Gates will be held over four days instead of three. Day 1a will play 14 levels, and then Days 1b and 1c, which will be held at the same time on Friday and Saturday, will play the same. The surviving players from each flight will then combine on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. and play until a champion is crowned. For a look at the complete schedule, click here.
The MSPT Golden Gates is expected to be even bigger and better the second time around, and one player who is already confirmed to play is World Series of Poker bracelet winner Chris Tryba. PokerNews recently caught up to Tryba to talk about the upcoming MSPT, cabin living, and more.
PokerNews: Can you give us a little update on what you’ve been up to, let’s say since winning your WSOP bracelet?
Tryba: I bought a cabin in Colorado in 2012, just prior to winning the bracelet. It has required much more effort than I had originally thought being that I gutted it, for the most part. It has been a hell of a project that’s nearly finished. I was extremely blessed in that I bought it online sight unseen online. I simply love it.
I’ve played some MTTs, chopping the Foxwoods Main earlier this year with my buddy, Ronnie Peasy, but mostly play cash in Blackhawk at Ameristar where they kick my ass regularly.
Lately, I’ve dove headfirst into the new fantasy sports site, Fantasy Draft. I had been looking for a project outside of poker for quite some time. That’s pretty exciting and I have high expectations of it doing well in a booming industry.
What’s inspiring you to play the MSPT Golden Gates?
My cabin is 25 miles from where the MSPT is being held at the Gates. It’s so nice being to sleep at my own place, and have solid MTTs right up the hill.
Is this the first MSPT you’ve played? If not, what others have you played?
I went and played a MSPT in Iowa. It was a lot of fun and had a fantastic structure. I got owned though [laughs].
Blackhawk, Colorado has a reputation as being a very picturesque place to play poker. Can you talk a little about the beauty there?
The first time I came through Blackhawk was with my buddy Kevin Calenzo. It was the first stop on our tourney tour. I pretty much fell in love with the area immediately. An entirely amazing amount of natural beauty., and as nice as the countryside is, the people are probably nicer. It’s just a great spot. Three years later I bough a cabin and I love it so much.
Any recommendations for those players coming in from out of town on what to do in the area?
Well, Denver is very close, so there’s all that city life like Broncos, Avalanche and Nugget games. There’s a plethora of great restaurants. Sight seeing, fishing and skiing/snowboarding opened last week at Loveland. The list is endless.
Aside from playing the MSPT Golden Gates, what’s next for you as far as poker is concerned?
Well, I have a couple more things on the cabin I want to do, then I’ll probably be heading to my folks’ house, which isn’t too far from Foxwoods. It’s a very peaceful place where I can get in the zone and do my fourth 60-90 day juice fast in preparation for the 2015 World Series of Poker. My mom is a great help with that, which makes it too easy on me. You know how us bears fatten up for the winter. The juicing/exercising and being ready for the summer grind is a priority. Aside from that, I’ll play a lot of stud at Foxwoods and maybe pop off a MTT or two.
For more information on the MSPT Golden Gates, visit msptpoker.com.
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