Casey Sandretto Finds Validation in WPT Rolling Thunder Victory
Casey Sandretto couldnt stop smiling. Its understandable,he just topped a 458-entry field to capture the his first World Poker Tour title at WPT Rolling Thunder for a career-high $246,600 cash which includes a seat to the 2024 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas in December.
But it was more than that. It was validation. Validation for taking a second chance at a poker career after having tried and walked away from it nearly a decade earlier.
Almost 90 minutes before the tournament actually ended, Sandretto was already partially a winner. He and eventual runner-up, WPT Champion Michael Kinney, agreed to a chop; one that was as close to even as the venue and WPT would allow. But instead of snap-shoving all-in at the very next opportunity, the pair fought hard for the spot on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
Even though Sandretto started the day fourth in chips, he never wavered in his belief that he would find a way to chip up, overtake the massive chip advantage of Yunkyu Song, and anyone else who he came up against.
I played 10 billion Sit & Gos in my life, he said So Iāve been in situations that are similar to that obviously, but not for this much money, he said.
Obviously you have to run good, you have to get some big hands.
Those 10 billion SNGs hes referring to took place in his early 20s. Sandretto, now 37, is a product of the online poker boom and like many poker players of that age, found himself engrossed in the game and looking to give it a real shot as a younger player. But also like many, he ran into an unavoidable roadblock, one that continues to haunt the industry today.
Black Friday just completely wrecked me and I was not prepared at all.
He tried to persist, got backed but also got busted. He grew tired of the grind and made the decision to leave the poker life behind and jump into a real job. One that pays a real salary.
I need to give myself a chance to have a regular good life if Iām not going to be able to make a lot of money playing poker. So I didnāt want to do that, but I did feel like it was the responsible thing to do. I didnt play a single hand for three years.
But the game stuck with him and with the security of a real job, he found his way back to the tables. But as he said, this time it was different.
All of a sudden the games that I played before that felt big to me, didnāt feel as big anymore. And so it felt like, okay, now Iām just playing the game.
He started recording cashes again in 2022, and in early 2023 made the final table of the WSOP Circuit Main Event at Thunder Valley. He played with a new confidence and was able to find a new angle to approach tournaments. One he brought with him to the WPT Rolling Thunder final table. A notion that he could have fun and while the money meant a lot, he just wanted to try to win.
You can be more present in the game when it doesnāt mean as much to you. When the money means a lot, then youāre too focused on, youāre too attached to, the money aspect of it kind of fucks with your head. And I donāt have that anymore, he said. It feels thereās less anxiety attached to it, less of a need to have to win instead of Iām just playing for the love of the game.
Sandretto had some friends on the rail, but more importantly he had family and friends who had his back, watching the livestream from afar. Some of them werent thrilled when he first made a run at being a poker pro, but he says hes got the full support of his family now ā even well before the win.
My familyās super excited and theyāve been really supportive the entire time. They werenāt super thrilled when I was 22 years old and wanted to quit a job to click buttons on the internet for a living, but they supported me and they trusted me with it.
Ultimately, that trust and confidence has turned to validation. Validation of many of his choices, including the notion that he had a knack for this game and a reason to give it a second go as a pro.
For a long time. I felt like I wasted time in my mid-twenties when I could have been doing something else. I probably should have gone to school and got a regular job, but Iāve never felt like that kind of person. And now there is definitely some validation behind that.
While Sandretto thinks people would normally call him a ācynical kind of person, in the afterglow of the win he was reflective of the journey that got him into the Champions Club. Excited, but humble, he knows that it takes both luck and skill to get to the top of the hill.
In the five or six years I was playing live, I didnāt have any opportunities like this, he said. But I had plenty of good opportunities and it felt like every time I got close, I ran not good and nothing went my way every time. It got to the point where it just kind of drives you crazy. After a while, you get so close, you can just taste it.
Today, Sandretto finally got to eat. His score in WPT Rolling Thunder eclipses his entire previous resume and will set him on a path to traveling, playing more, and enjoying his second shot at a poker life.
I definitely will mix in some more events,ā he said. Ill probably mix in some more non-Holdem events this year too, to try to get a bracelet now that Ive got a WPT Championship to my name.
But yeah, I definitely plan on playing a full schedule in Vegas for the summer and maybe even head down to Hard Rock. So a non-zero chance theyāll see me down there.
FAQ
Can you win real money at WPT Global?
Can you win real money at WPT Global?
Yes, you can win real money at WPT Global. WPT Global also offer the chance to win seats in any number of exciting live tournaments.
How many decks are used in poker?
how many decks are used in poker?
In most popular poker variants, such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha, a standard deck of 52 playing cards is used. Each deck contains four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and consists of 13 ranks (Ace, 2 through 10, and the face cards: Jack, Queen, and King).
However, it’s important to note that the number of decks used in poker can vary depending on the specific game or variation being played. For example, some poker tournaments or cash games may use multiple decks to speed up the gameplay or reduce the frequency of card shuffling. In such cases, it is common to use two or more decks that are shuffled together.
What is the bonus code for WPT Global Poker 2023?
![]()
What is the bonus code for WPT Global Poker 2023?
We’ll save you time. The best bonus code for WPT Global is WPT777. By entering the bonus code, players will get a welcome bonus 100% up to $1,200 on the first deposit. The minimum deposit is $20.
What is the best WPT Global bonus code?
![]()
What is the best World Poker Tour bonus code?
Use the WPT Global bonus code WPT777 when registering to get a 100% deposit bonus up to $1200 plus a $100 No Deposit poker bonus.
What is the WPT bonus code?
What is the WPT bonus code?
The WPT bonus code is WPT777. Use this code at WPTglobal.com to get up to $1200 poker bonus. This code has been approved by WPT Global and gives new users the maximum new user offer.
Download & Play WPT Global Application In Shortly
This site only collects related articles. Viewing the original, please copy and open the following link:Casey Sandretto Finds Validation in WPT Rolling Thunder Victory
