With Christmas almost upon us, it’s that time of year when it is OK to be overtaken by flights of fancy. When thoughts that begin “wouldn’t it be funny if” are allowed to take full flight. That surely is justification enough for a particular flight of fancy that will delight those Star Wars afficionados who also know a thing or two about the pro poker scene.
Now when the first Star Wars movie came out, poker was in a very different place to today. Poker rooms were forbidding places frequented by questionable characters, and most people stayed well clear. 45 years on, all that has changed for the better. Poker is, after all, a fabulous game and it is now far more widely accessible for two reasons. One is, of course, the rise of the internet where we can read reviews of trusted online poker sites where US poker players can venture in safety to find a game. The other is the WSOP, which has elevated the top players to sports star status.
That brings us on to today’s festive flight of fancy. If the characters of Star Wars put down their light sabers and took up a hand of cards, which players would they be? There are no right or wrong answers, but here are our suggestions.
Daniel Negreanu – Luke Skywalker
Nudging 50 but still known as Kid Poker, Negreanu was the young prodigy who left his home in Toronto and travelled far to Las Vegas to fulfil his destiny. If that doesn’t sound like a certain Jedi then nothing does. Negreanu also faced his share of trials along the way, going broke more than once on his rise to the top.
Phil Hellmuth – Han Solo
With his unpredictable play and tendency to lose his rag at the poker table, Helmuth has always been something of a wild card. And just as Solo was never shy about sharing his tales of victory on the Kessel Run, Hellmuth isn’t backwards in coming forwards about his victories at the table.
Doyle Brunson – Yoda
With 70 years experience under his belt, Doyle Brunson is the ultimate source of knowledge when it comes to all things poker. Now aged 89, he still regularly shares his wisdom online and has taken to social media like a duck to water. At 6 foot 2, he might not have the physique, but in all other ways, he is poker’s ultimate Yoda.
Jennifer Tilly – Princess Leia
The actress turned WSOP bracelet winner has shown she has the attitude, as well as the talent, to stand up and be counted in a male-dominated environment. At the same time, she’s never afraid to remain feminine. While Princess Leia showed what she could do with a blaster, Tilly lets her cards do the talking.
Chris Ferguson – Darth Vader
So who gets to be the Pantomime Villain in our little bit of festive fun? Chris Ferguson found himself on the dark side as far as the federal authorities were concerned when they took a dim view of his Full Tilt Poker enterprise, and that trademark black hat looks almost as threatening as a full Darth Vadar costume.