'Salute the Troops' Poker Tournament

Cpl. Steven Washam, administrative clerk, sits with his stack of chips during the beginning stages of the "Salute the Troops" poker tournament in Honolulu. Washam would go on to the final military table and place 6th overall. Photo by Cpl. J. Micah Plotts

Blackanthem.com, HONOLULU, Hawaii, August 08, 2005

Servicemembers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines participated with celebrities and poker pros at the Bodog "Salutes the Troops" poker tournament, July 22, at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Honolulu.

Cpl. Steven Washam, administrative clerk and U. S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Marine, was short-stacked, or had significantly fewer chips, on the final military table and came in 6th place, just two spots shy of playing at the final table with poker pro Josh Arieh and celebrities Shannon Elizabeth, an actress from ‘American Pie,’ Jorge Garcia, an actor from ‘Lost’ and eventual winner Estella Warren, an actress from ‘Planet of the Apes.’

Comedians Colin Quinn, Paul Rodriguez and Wanda Sykes also played in the tournament.

The tournament kicked off at 4 p.m. with 10 tables and more than 90 participants. It ended just after midnight at the final table when Estella Warren beat out Sgt. 1st Class Shane Woods, career counselor with the 25th Infantry Division (Light).

Woods put all his chips in and lost to Warren’s pair of queens.

"It was neck and neck after I tripled up. She played perfect though. It was still one hell of a time," Woods said.

Washam came close to landing a spot on the last table, but he had the fewest chips entering the final military table and couldn’t catch a break.

"Those guys were good. I was upset, because I knew being short-stacked I would need monster cards. I just didn’t get them," Washam continued. "It was still a blast, and hat's off to everyone for taking the time to show us we have their support."

Washam, a Coleman, Ala. native, said he usually plays on the weekends with his friends and hopes this experience will help propel his amateur career.

"It was way different from just playing with people you know. Those guys meant business," Washam said. "My friends like to have a good time when we play."

He joined the tournament with two of his poker buddies from Camp Smith and outlasted both of them by a few hours.

"They went out a lot quicker than I expected. They’re both pretty good too, but I guess they just got bad cards," Washam explained.

Washam and all the servicemembers who participated hope for another tournament next year. 

By Cpl. J. Micah Plotts / Marine Forces Pacific