As the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise in the Bahamas draws ever closer, PokerNews has been checking in with some of the players who have won their way into the event online.
Ontario-based poker player Dana Karlson is one such player who won their way into the event by playing the Road To Paradise on GGPoker.
PokerNews caught up with Karlson to talk about how he won his WSOP ticket and what he plans to do if he wins one of the fourteen $1,000,000-plus guaranteed events.
The Best Ways to Win Your Way to WSOP Paradise Online and Live
Q&A w/ Qualifier Dana Karlson
PokerNews: How did you win your GGPoker Road To Paradise Package?
Dana Karlson: I qualified on GGPoker after a long break from the game. I hadn’t played poker competitively for about seven years or so. My last event was the Little One For One Drop back in 2014 or 2015. In that event, I went from a top-five stack to busting on Day 2.
Before your break, what was your relationship with poker like?
The PCA was my family’s annual highlight. I would attend with my then-wife and two sons who to this day still smile about our memories and adventures there. I won my seat at the event every year for five or six years in a row. So, I must have played from 2006 to 2011.
In 2010, I made a run in the PCA main event and cashed 118th. I played for a few hours with the eventual winner Harrison Gimbel on my left and Carlos Mortenson and Barry Greenstein to my right. Harrison busted Barry and I took a nice pot off Carlos with a set of twos But I lost a large pot to Matt Haugen holding kings to his ace-queen. He spiked a Queen and went on to place tenth. That was probably my favorite moment playing poker in that event.
The following year I finished fifth in a $2k event which was my last live score. I had great memories, but after that I went through a divorce and sort of faded away from poker.
What brought you back to the game?
I saw GGPoker’s ads with Daniel Negreanu. I had met him a few times and greatly respect him as a player. Plus once he laughed at my kids’ snacks. They were Oreos along with eight other candies, it was only later I saw how healthy he eats!
I saw the ads and decided to play again, maybe try to make some online runs.
I play well when I focus and I seem to be focused again. So when I saw a $1,200 WSOP Paradise package, I honestly saw my kids’ smiles, and the happy memories came back, so I hopped into the event. The table filled up with to only six, maybe seven, guys. Their career earnings sort of stomped on mine so I thought I had just wasted $1,200. But I locked it up and took it down. I couldn’t believe it and immediately called my boys! They’re now in university but still happy for Dad.
Here’s Your Chance to Win a WSOP Paradise Getaway to The Bahamas on GGPoker
What are you most looking forward to in the Bahamas?
My plans are to go enjoy my new and very happy single life. I divorced two years ago and I’m out living again so to speak. I couldn’t be happier it’s in the Bahamas. The islands have meant a lot to my family for many years.
I’m hoping to make a “googs” comeback—my old PokerStars name was “googs”—and to try some new success with my GGPoker handle, “Originalgoogs.” I’m very excited to just bring a buddy and try and make a deep run.
And if that deep run turns into a first-place finish do you have plans for the cash?
If I win the event or get a very deep cash I would use the money to build up my company with my brother and business partner. Then I would travel a bit and definitely play a lot more poker!
5 Fun Non-Poker Activities in the Bahamas During WSOP Paradise
2023 WSOP Paradise Schedule
The 2023 WSOP Paradise shuffles up and deals in The Bahamas on December 3 with the $1,650 buy-in Mystery Millions. This first event has $5 million guarantee, so serves as an ideal curtain raiser for the 11-day festival.
Almost all of the bracelet events promise a minimum prize pool of $1 million, with a $5 million guarantee for the $1,500 Millionaire Maker and the $103,000 Ultra High Roller.
The flagship event of the series is the $5,300 Main Event, which sports an extraordinary $15 million guarantee making it one of the biggest events of the 2023 poker calendar.
| Start Date | Event | Total Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 3 Dec | #1: Mystery Millions | $1,650 | $5,000,000 |
| Mon 4 Dec | #2: Millionaire Maker in Paradise | $1,500 | $5,000,000 |
| Tue 5 Dec | #3: GGMillion$ High Rollers Championship | $26,000 | $10,000,000 |
| #4: Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold’em | $1,100 | $1,000,000 | |
| Thu 7 Dec | #5: High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha | $26,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Fri 8 Dec | #6: No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed | $3,300 | $1,000,000 |
| #7: Super High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | $53,000 | $2,000,000 | |
| #8: Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha | $2,100 | $1,000,000 | |
| Sat 9 Dec | #9: Ultra High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | $103,000 | $5,000,000 |
| #10: Main Event Championship | $5,300 | $15,000,000 | |
| Tue 12 Dec | #11: Flip & Go | $800 | – |
| Wed 13 Dec | #12: No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout (Online) | $1,050 | $1,000,000 |
| #13: Pot-Limit Omaha Championship | $10,400 | $1,000,000 | |
| #14: The Closer Turbo Bounty | $2,200 | $1,000,000 | |
| Thu 14 Dec | #15: High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed | $10,400 | $1,000,000 |