User:Vegas or the bus!

McEvoy spent the following year flying round from Las Vegas to Michigan. He stayed in Vegas for two or three weeks at a time, learning about Texas Hold'em and various variations as much as possible. After realizing he could make a real living by playing poker, he persuaded his wife to move to Vegas. The McEvoyes sold their home in Michigan, packed a U-Haul trailer with their belongings, and began their journey west.

"I feel like she was the only family member who didn't say anything negative about the move, and she noticed her rights until the very end," McEvoy said of his grandmother, who passed away in 1980 at the age of 98. "Not many people thought it was a very good idea. But I just kept telling everyone that I would be playing in a world championship in five years. Everyone kept saying I was crazy and that I would be back in Michigan in six months."

Almost 30 years later, Mac Boy is still in Vegas. He has grossed more than $2.5 million and owns four World Series bracelets (main event in 1983 and $1,000 limit hold, Razz in 1986 and $1,500 limit Omaha in 1992. In addition, he has regular poker lessons and has written or co-written 12 books on poker strategies.

McEvoy played in his first WSOP game in 1980 and the first time he paid cash in a WSOP game was in the 1982 Razz Tournament. He first played in the main event in 1983 and has not missed one since. Only Berry Johnston (28 consecutive appearances) and Dewey Tomko (33 consecutive appearances) have played more in the main event than McEvoy, who credits his longevity to a "good and clean" lifestyle.

"They call Vegas 'God City' for a reason," he says. "This place takes advantage of your weaknesses. But I don't really drink - maybe I'm drinking a glass of wine here and there - I absolutely hate cigarettes and have never used drugs in my life. It helped me last that long."

The most interesting part of McEvoy's career was his victory at the main event in 1983, when he became the first champion to earn a spot through satellite. Victory was not easy for McEvoy, who won the $1,000 Limit Holdum event in the World Series that year. He had to pass through the field of 108 opponents in the main event, which was a record at the time and his last two opponents were Doyle Brunson and Rod Pitt. Brunson took third place that year, marking the last time Texas Dolly made the final table for the main event.

Peate had a nearly 600,000 chip lead early in the head-up play, but McEvoy fought back and after more than seven hours of play, he won the match. The blinds were a record $8,000-16,000 when McEvoy received a pair of queens. Peate had a fitting grip on K-J, but could only draw a jack in the river, leading to an unorthodox celebration from the normally reserved McEvoy, who earned $540,000. 슬롯