The phrase “a chip and a chair” has been commonplace among tournament poker players for decades, referencing Jack Straus' 1982 Main Event victory after being left with a single chip.
Longtime tournament grinder Michael Wang found himself in a similar position yesterday after doubling up Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel in a hand that left Wang with just 65,000. Down to his last five chips, worth two-thirds of a big blind at the time, Wang was all in automatically the next hand just from posting the big blind. His elimination seemed all but guaranteed.