Visa Problems Prevent Poker Pro From Entering 2009 WSOP
European poker pro Roy "The Boy" Brindley wants to compete in the World Series of Poker (WSOP), which begins this week, but so far he's been stopped by a foe stronger than any he's faced at the poker table: the U.S. government!
The WSOP got underway Wednesday at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
In an exclusive interview this week with PokerHelper.com, Brindley, a native of London, England, who now lives in Dublin, Ireland, said visa problems are preventing him from getting to Vegas. ? "I have to apply for a visa when I come to the United States," Brindley said. "Three weeks have past since I went to the U.S. Embassy here in Dublin, and so far it has not yet come back to me. It was my plan to come over at the start of the WSOP for about 10 days and play the smaller Omaha events, but with no visa and the days ticking down, I don't know what will happen."
Despite the delay in getting his visa, Brindley said he hopes to at least make it to the USA and Las Vegas in time for the WSOP Main Event, which doesn't start until early July.
"That leaves me with the Main Event, which I will certainly not miss, visa permitting, although I have played it three times and never got beyond the first day," he said. "Furthermore, I miss my children terribly when away these days. So I am registered to play on the first day of the Main Event and plan to go home immediately if eliminated again."
According to tournament records, Brindley has finished in the money in three WSOP events in his career.
In 2007, he finished in 12th place in a pot-limit Omaha tourney, earning $33,493.
In 2005, he finished in 20th place in a pot-limit Omaha tourney, earning $2,540.
In 2004, he finished in 13th place in a pot-limit Omaha tourney, earning $5,000.
Counting all tournaments he has played in, Brindley has won a total of $531,058 in his career.
His biggest payday came in 2006 at the Master Classics of Poker at the Holland Casino in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
He came in second in a pot-limit Omaha tournament and earned $65,033.
Thomas Somach, www.pokerhelper.com
