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Alan Percal Hoping to Survive the Money Bubble This Time Around
Day 1b ended just before 3 a.m. yesterday, when Libby Wilson made a straight to bust Alan Percal on the bubble to send the final eight players off to Day 2.
Just eight hours later, Percal made his way back to the Caesars Southern Indiana poker room to take another shot on Day 1c. His day so far? "Better than the last two," he joked.
"It's a little annoying not having a good sleep and playing poker all day, but hopefully I get some extra sleep tonight. It's never fun bubbling a tournament, but it happens. I could have sat there and waited for two of the other stacks. But it happens."
Percal has extra motivation to make it through to Day 2 today so his family can come watch him play tomorrow. "It's nice to do it at home. I'd love my wife to be able to come out and watch a final table. She hasn't gotten to see one yet," he said.
Percal has more than $1.2 million in live tournament earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, and is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the biggest moment of his career. He beat out one of the toughest fields at the WSOP to win the $10,000 Heads-Up Championship in 2016, taking home the bracelet and $320,000 top prize.
Percal wasn't resting on his laurels after that turn in the poker spotlight. Instead, it only made him more driven to improve. "You know, it almost gave me more motivation to, you know, study and play. I kind of felt like I had a little bit more to prove after that, that it wasn't just a little fluke. You kind of get more coverage after things like that happen. I didn't really expect any of that," he said.
"I just love playing this game. It's nice being awake playing the game, so the dealers aren't asking if I enjoy it. I got asked that yesterday after not a lot of sleep on Thursday. This is a great game. I love this game."