Breakthrough Scores Have Lucas Vergara Firing on the Tournament Trail
Lucas Vergara is a relatively new face on the live tournament poker scene, mostly playing in cash games over the last decade before taking up tournaments more seriously two years ago.
This past summer, Vergara experienced what most tournament grinders only dream of, achieving a breakthrough score of $148,000 from a runner-up finish in a $3,000 event in Maryland, far surpassing his previous best cash of $9,605. The sun-run was only beginning for Vergara, who two weeks later won the Maryland Poker State championship Main Event for another $111,000.
Now playing Day 1b of the RGPS Main Event here at the Borgata in Atlantic City, Vergara took some time on the last break to speak about his breakthrough summer.
“It’s really amazing. Anyone who plays live poker knows that variance plays a huge role. It doesn’t matter how good you are; you’re not guaranteed anything in this game. So, I’m very thankful and very appreciative to have one of those, let alone two, in such a short span.”
“I tried to be as responsible as I could,” the 28-year-old said of the months following the two big scores. “I didn’t quit my job; I still work full-time in finance. I’ve definitely been playing a lot more and travelling more. I went to Texas, Cherokee, and I’m planning to go to Florida pretty soon. It's just allowed me to keep firing and try to make another deep run.”
This is Vergara’s second time playing an RGPS stop, and he described what he felt sets the series apart from other tours.
“It is a noticeably different atmosphere around this series specifically. I think people are generally just happy to be here and in a good mood. The buy-ins aren’t super big. People know they’re not playing for life-changing money in most events except the Main, but they’re here to play poker and have fun. That translates to your interactions at the table, and just the experience overall. So I think they do a really good job.”
Vergara got off to a rough start in today’s Day 1b, losing his first bullet after his pocket fives were bested by Aaron Hendi’s six-three suited. Vergara wasted no time re-entering and is currently sitting with a healthy stack of 110,000.