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Blind poker player says he's denied World Series of Poker spot
Message was posted: 08:49 Jun 30th, 2007

User: Sandcastles Rank: Casino Gold: 15120CG Contributor rating: 81520 Status: Offline

BAKERSFIELD - It’s every sports player’s dream to play in the Super Bowl or World Series, and the same holds true for people who play poker as a sport. A Bakersfield man recently earned a chance to live out his dream, but because of his disability, it may not be in the cards. Jason Holbrook has been playing cards as long as he can remember. "I’ve been playing … since I was five years old," Holbrook said. But 16 years after he began playing, Holbrook lost sight of his cards following a car accident. Now 37, he is legally blind, and while that hasn’t hurt his game, it’s changed the way he plays. This disability, though, has hurt his chances of fulfilling his dream of playing in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. "I just read the cards and tell him what's on the table,” said Michelle Espinoza, Holbrook’s card reader. “He plays the hand." Espinoza has been reading Holbrook’s cards for about a year. During the tournaments, she’s by his side serving as his eyes. By qualifying through tournaments at the Golden West Casino in Bakersfield, Holbrook earned the right to play at the World Series of Poker in Vegas with a multi-million-dollar top prize at stake. According to Holbrook, however, he has been told he can’t play because of his second set of eyes. “We had no problem at the Rio,” Holbrook said about his World Tour he played a week and a half ago. Holbrook hasn’t given up on his dream. Now, the man who said he knows when to hold ‘em is hoping to hold onto his seat in the world class competition. "They said we could have a refund, but it's not about that,” he said. “It's about being able to play the game you love, like everyone else." Holbrook’s brother said they plan to go to Vegas anyway to convince organizers to change their mind and allow Holbrook to play. The Rio Hotel did not return our calls for clarification. KGET