Playing in a World Poker Tour Main Event is on practically every poker player’s bucket list. Winning a $6,500 all-expense paid package from a ClubWPT freeroll? An absolute dream. For Michael Goldsworthy, of Anderson, Indiana, that dream became a reality — for the second time.
Goldsworthy, a car salesman, is here at the WPT bestbet Scramble Championship playing Day 1B after winning a 776-player winner-takes-all ClubWPT online freeroll to punch his ticket to Jacksonville. The 46-year-old was awarded with a $5,000 seat to the WPT bestbet Scramble Championship, $1,500 for travel, a week's hotel stay, as well as some VIP experiences here in Jacksonville.
During the second break of the day, PokerOrg had the chance to speak to the loyal ClubWPT Diamond member about his journey to get here.
Tell us a little bit about your poker background:
I’ve been playing for years but I’ve been with the ClubWPT Stream Team since COVID.
I play on ClubWPT about three times a week but I don’t get to play live poker as much as I’d like to. When I do get to play, it’s either at the Horseshoe in Indianapolis or, preferably, at Caesars in Southern Indiana.
I’m mostly a tournament player. I’ve played four WPT events and about six or seven WSOP events over the span of about a decade. Most of the WPT events have been in Vegas but I’ve also played at Seminole Hard Rock.
Is this the first time you won a ClubWPT freeroll?
No, this is the second big package I’ve won through ClubWPT. The first one was the $200,000 ClubWPT TV Challenge, where I was one of the six qualifiers. I won $10,000 and a $3,000 travel package to play live in Las Vegas for $50,000. I was really excited to get to play on TV.
Unfortunately, because this happened in 2021, WPT were unable to put on the event in Vegas due to COVID-19. Luckily, WPT took really good care of us and sent us some really nice equipment to our houses so they could put on a great production from home. It was a cool two-hour series and it was a phenomenal experience. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
It was really amazing to do this again. The first time I won a package, my wife and I knew exactly what we were playing for and she was recording me while I played. She sent that clip in and WPT used that for the production footage. It was pretty awesome.
Did you cruise to victory in the freeroll?
Not at all. With three players left, I was the short stack and then the two big stacks collided so I went into heads-up as a 5:1 underdog. When I got heads-up, the thought of winning this package seemed surreal, so I took a few big chances and that paid off.
How were you feeling coming into today?
You know, I’ve spent the last four days relaxing on the beach here in Jacksonville. I wasn’t really worried or nervous at all until about five minutes before I arrived here. I got an uneasy feeling.
How have you been playing so far?
There were some bumps in the road at first but I got a double up in Level 4 with pocket kings to get back to starting stack. Right now, I’m a little bit over that and I’m looking forward to what the rest of the day brings.
All the players here that have bought into a $5K, they’re definitely experienced players. They’re a lot more aggressive. But I’m confident and anyone that can do well on ClubWPT can do well in these WPT Main Events.
What are your goals?
To put my name on the Mike Sexton Cup. That’s the goal. Mike Sexton was from Indiana as well and ever since he’s been on TV, I’ve been a huge fan of his. It would be an honor to do that.
What would cashing this event mean to you?
Cashing this tournament would be an honor. To get my first WPT cash to get my name out there and to have a big Hendon score would be amazing. It would put me in the likes with some of the greats like Scotty Nguyen and Daniel Negreanu. They may have a few more zeroes than me but at least I’d have that number out there.
A win would be life-changing and allow me to be in Vegas next month for the WPT World Championship.
Photos courtesy of World Poker Tour/Katerina Lukina
