University of Albany Great Danes Alumni Win Way Into World Series of Poker Finals in 3 of Last 4 Years

It's a coincidence, every one says. It has to be, even if it keeps happening over and over (and over), if only because there's no other plausible explanation that's readily available.

The first time somebody from the University at Albany showed up at the final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event, it was a novelty. Hey, look, a local guy ...

The second time it happened, it made for an amusing if not amazing curiosity.

But what do you say after learning that for the third time in four years, the nine-person final table of the Main Event, the world's pre-eminent Texas Hold'em tournament that starts with more than 6,000 competitors, features a former UAlbany student?

"I don't even know what to say about that," said Eric Buchman, a 2002 graduate and one of this year's finalists for the $8.5 million in prize money. "It is a pretty amazing feat."

As the finalists return to Las Vegas for the final table Saturday (the tournament will air at 9 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN), Buchman is second in total chips.

"This is the guy who I think has the best chance to win the Main Event," ESPN co-host Lon McEachern said of Buchman. "He is just a quality player … and he's sitting pretty in second place. I would fear Eric Buchman if I was one of any of the eight other players."

The Long Island native joins 2006 WSOP Main Event winner Jamie Gold (Class of 1991) and 2007 finalist Hevad Khan, who attended UAlbany 2004-06 before leaving for a poker career, as a Great Dane to hit it big in the tournament aired exhaustively on ESPN.

While at Albany, Buchman would cut out on weekends to hone his game at regional casinos. He says by the time he graduated he had a tidy bankroll of $12,000.

"I would go to the casinos and sleep in my car," he said. "I didn't have the money to blow on stuff" like a room.

"It's been my dream since college," Buchman added, "to win the tournament."

Apparently, others from the uptown campus have shared that dream. So in what's become and annual poser, how do you explain UAlbany's repeated presence at the final table?

You can't.

"It's just throwing darts at the board," McEachern said. "You guys just got lucky."

"It's complete happenstance," added his on air partner, Norman Chad.

The nine finalists each have intriguing stories, Chips leader Darvin Moon is a Maryland logger who doesn't have cable TV. Phil Ivey is considered the best player in the world. At 21, Michigan's Joseph Cada is trying to become the youngest Main Event champion ever. There are finalists from Europe and Florida and Vegas, and Albany. Again, Albany.

Buchman tried to work through the UA question just as he sizes up an opponent. He looked at the variables --there are business skills applicable to poker, and UAlbany has a good business school, he said -- but in the end he folded like everyone else.

"I think," Buchman concluded, "it's just a crazy coincidence."

As it did the last time this came up in 2007, UAlbany find itself in a difficult position of celebrating such a unique feat (and maybe take a little credit) without being seen as promoting gambling. (Gambling is even prohibited on campus.)

"The poker players are three former students, true, but they attended UAlbany over a span of 15 years, and we have 145,000 living alumni," UAlbany spokesman Karl Lunta said. "I think it's a coincidence that these three former students have achieved similar success at poker.
"But we are pleased whenever UAlbany alumni are successful. But we won't take credit for anyone's success in poker. We don't teach poker."

OK, but Chad thinks the school is missing an opportunity.

"It's something I think they would embrace," Chad said. "There are (poker) skills you can pick up at the school. I think it is indicative of some type of intellectual flow that is good, because it is unusual for three people (at the final table to come) from the same school."

Three out of four years may just mean ... something.

Oh, and that off year, 2008? A fourth UAlbany alum, Larry Spraker of Clifton Park made it to Day 2. The Class of 1985 grad grudgingly agrees with the coincidence explanation, but adds, "Geez, it's starting to get awful suspicious."

"Boy, I guess I really let 'em down in '08," he said.

By Mark McGuire