Parker: Westminster card shark is cashing in at World Series of Poker

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 10, 2006 at midnight

Text size  

• 0 Comments
• Email
• Print

Paul Wasicka, a Westminster man with the nickname "Kwickfish," will walk away with at least $1.5 million from the 37th annual World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. But Wasicka, 25, has his eyes on lots more loot than that when nine poker faces begin play at the final table today - top prize is $12 million.

Not bad for a self-taught competitor who's been playing seriously for only 2 1/2 years.

I caught up with Wasicka via phone Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas during a head-spinning round of interviews. The Fairview High School grad said he took up competitive poker when he tagged along with a friend to the Denver Series of Poker tournament. He finished in ninth place.

"Later that night, I got online and played all night," Wasicka said. "I made $110, which at that time was a lot of money."

Kwickfish, who earned the nickname from a bitter online opponent who got mad when Wasicka beat him with weak hands of cards, has won well more than $200,000 in his professional poker career.

Although his online profile says he's a bartender and restaurant manager, Wasicka says he's turned poker pro and will stick with this gig for now, but not for a lifetime.

"I have a really addictive personality," he said. "I do one thing 24 hours a day, get bored with it and move on to another thing. I'm sure the same thing will happen with poker."

The tony tourney will be broadcast live today via pay-per-view on ESPN, and on tape at a later date.

CINA'S NEW SCENE: Chef Chris Cina, who's rattled pots and pans at various area restaurants, is settling into his own kitchen at T. Kelly's, a breakfast-lunch- and-dinner American Bistro at 1361 Court Place.

The new digs (formerly the Scorpio Cafe) will start breakfast and lunch in September, then add dinner to the menu in October.

His partner, Kevin Geraghty, formerly owned Brendan's, a former blues spot on Market Street. T. Kelly's is a combo of Geraghty's daughters names: Taylor and Kelly.

Cina, who's run kitchens at the Fourth Story and Tuscany, left his last location, Beckett's Table at the Canterbury Club golf course in Parker, two weeks ago. The fare will be good grub at fair prices with free parking, Cina said.

"Nothing on the menu will be over $20," he said. Meanwhile, the diner duo aim to open a Cina signature restaurant next year.

R&R: When community activist Pierre Jimenez was told he needed a new liver last March, the man who's helped others needed a lot of help himself.

Former Denver manager of safety Butch Montoya and other pals set up a bank account to accept donations and threw fundraisers to cover costs Jimenez couldn't because he didn't have health insurance. Last month, Jimenez flew to Hangzhou, off the East China Sea, and a two-hour cab ride from Shanghai, to get the much-needed liver transplant.

"Doctors were very impressed with his condition after the surgery, and his recovery," Montoya said in an e-mail update. "Pierre thought he was going to be in China at least a month . . . Yet, in about two-and-a-half weeks, he was feeling good enough to head for home."

Jimenez is back in Denver recuperating from the operation, and he'd love to hear from fans and friends via e-mail at pierrej7@aol.com.

"Tell people that this would not have been posssible without the outpouring of support from friends and family," he told me in an e-mail. "I am eternally grateful."

THE SEEN: Rocker Billy Idol and bandmates working out hard Tuesday at the Denver Athletic Club. The band was in town for a Wednesday concert at the Ogden Theatre.

EAVESDROPPING on a man at Barolo Grill: "My idea of camping out is staying in a hotel without 24-hour room service."

e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

Featured

• Through Your Lens

  

  Submit your photos or see the Editor's Choice slide show here.

• Rocky Multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.

• Holiday Lights

  

  Is your house the jolliest on the block? Submit your holiday lights display.

• Holiday Gift Guide

  

  Looking to get a jump-start on the holiday shopping season?

• Mount Crushmore

  

  Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.

• Bronco Dean's rant

  

  Listen to Bronco Dean's midweek rant on the Chiefs.

• Broncos Video

  

  Get the latest from Dove Valley as the Broncos prepare for Sunday's matchup.

• Calendar wallpaper

  

  Download this month's desktop wallpaper calendar

• Sam Adams' Open Mic

  

  Open Mic: Stirrin' the Soup with Matt Iseman