HOME BLOGS TOURNEY SCHEDULE  CASINOS LINKS SPONSORS ARCHIVES FORUM WHO'S WHO LADIES MORE CONTACT US LOCALS TWITTER FEEDS FACEBOOK

INTERVIEW WITH PEARL RIVER POKER OPEN TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR PAUL DUTSCH: Paul, you've been a fixture in poker on the Gulf Coast for a while now. Tell us what you foresee for Pearl River resorts and the role poker may play as that casino grows: This will be our 6th event at Pearl River Resorts, each event has been larger than the previous one. I believe the continued increase, can be attributed to the value that Pearl River places on its poker players. Where else adds 4 Seats to its Main Event Megas, has table side food service in the tournament area, guarantees the opener, guarantees the main event, and provides unbelievable hotel rates to its poker players? The overall experience is hard to beat in today's poker environment. There is a reason you are known for the best comps in the Gulf Coast footprint.  We expect two big events every year at Pearl River? What's the room like in between? Yes. Pearl River is currently heading into its 4th year hosting two big events each year! The Pearl River Spring Poker Classic in the spring and Pearl River Poker Open in the fall. Pearl River also host a bi-month $225 Buy In 25k Guaranteed Event in the poker room. Poker room manager Denise Dahl describes the poker room like this: “Pearl River Poker Room is a beautiful and spacious room with action-packed games including all the popular games such as limit, no-limit hold’em and PLO.” What's your favorite game? In my full time playing days, my favorite game was 20-40 limit. These days I like a good Big O game, when I can find one. Who are some players you expect to see having some good results this week? This tournament has some interesting history. Two past events whomever won Event #1 also won the Main Event. Those distinctions belong to Chris L. Davis, and Byrne Wilson, both of Tuscaloosa, AL. It will be interesting to see if either of them can defend that feat! What are some of the food offerings players on the property for players during breaks? As I mentioned earlier there is table side food and beverage service in the tournament area. There is also a Bistro with excellent offerings within a short walk of the poker room. (Its where you can find me at breakfast time!) For that Main Event break, I wouldnt miss out on Phillip Ms Steakhouse! Tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you got into poker? I attended Berklee College of Music in Boston after graduating high school in 1989.  In 1995, I was exposed to gambling when the band I performed in scored a regular Tuesday night casino gig at the Lady Luck casino in Natchez, MS.  I became fascinated with gambling and if it could be beaten.  I learned both the hard way, and based on books that the only possibility was poker.  I continued to play music professionally until 1999, when I began to earn more as a poker player than as a musician.  After getting engaged to be married,  I entered the poker business as a "break in dealer" at the Biloxi Grand in 2003.  I had played poker professionally for 4 years and knew that I could fade the swings, but I wasn't convinced a marriage could.  Since 2005 music has become a hobby and taken a backseat to poker.. Music and Poker?  Sounds like you went you were fated to be a 'traveling man:' I've been in poker a long time, when someone asks how I got into poker I usually say it was a product of a mis-spent youth. The truth is I was playing dice at 10am one morning in 1995, there was a casino wide announcement for a “free” poker tournament upstairs in the poker room…… You still play, tell us a bit about your band: Truck Patch Revival is a 6 piece country based variety band based in Hernando, MS. Their setlist includes songs from modern and classic country all the way through classic rock classics. TPR has played numerous festivals such as The Front Porch Jubilee (Hernando, MS) The Water Tower Festival (Hernando, MS) The Tennessee State Fair (Nashville, TN) McComb Summer Music Fest (McComb, MS) Octoberfest (Cleveland, MS) The only Country band ever asked to perform at the Jackson Rhythm & Blues Fest (Jackson, MS) The Hot Tamale Festival (Greenville, MS) Fire and Feast (Yazoo City, MS) and competed in the Country Showdown and won at The 2013 Jerry Clower Festival. We have shared the stage and opened for country legends and stars like Travis Tritt, Gretchen Wilson, James Otto, Jon Pardi, and Luke Combs, We have had the great opportunity to perform for the Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson. We won Song of the Year for our original song "One Star Delta Night" at the 2016 Josie Music Awards in Nashville, TN. We were also nominated for Group/Band of the Year and Entertainer of the Year at the 2017 Josie Music Awards. We have release a EP and a full length album and just recorded our new single "why Can't You" at Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN. TPR performed and wrote songs for the hit film Attack of the Southern Fried Zombies!! Thanks Paul, looking forward to a great week of poker action.