The Texan Can Play Some Omaha
Before this summer, John "Tex" Barch was perhaps best known by poker fans for his third-place finish in the 2005 WSOP Main Event. He has had the biggest stack in the room for quite a while now. His stacks topped by an open-mouthed alligator card protector, Barch has about 92,000 chips at the moment. He also has the awe of those playing nearby.
"Gonna have to get me one of those alligators," said a player from the next table over. Barch shrugged and said it hasn't been all that lucky for him.
The player sitting to Barch's left made a comment as well, to which Barch responded "If I were you that's exactly where I'd want to be" -- i.e., sitting to his left so as to be able to act after him.
The soft-spoken player from McKinney, Texas just won his first WSOP bracelet a couple of days ago in the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha (Event No. 20). If he continues his run good here and claims a second, that 2005 ME finish will likely become the second thing people remember him for.